Causal relationship between trade openness, economic growth and energy consumption: A panel data analysis of Asian countries

•This study analyzes causality between energy, growth and trade in the Asian region.•Empirical results supported cointegrating relationship between variables.•Positive impact of growth and trade openness on energy usage is found in the long run.•Bidirectional Granger causality is observed between selected variables in the long run.

This paper explores the causal relationship between economic growth, trade openness and energy consumption using data of 15 Asian countries. The study covers the period of 1980–2011. We have applied panel cointegration and causality approaches to examine the long-run and causal relationship between variables.Empirical results confirm the presence of cointegration between variables. The impact of economic growth and trade openness on energy consumption is found to be positive. The panel Granger causality analysis reveals the bidirectional causality between economic growth and energy consumption, trade openness and energy consumption.