Does energy intensity matter in the nexus between energy consumption and economic growth regarding capital-energy substitution?

This article investigates how the non-linear connection between energy consumption and economic development is influenced by energy intensity level in the context of energy-capital substitution. We firstly analyze the substitutability/complementarity between energy and capital by estimating VES production function within the standard Solow growth model framework for 58 countries over the period of 1975-2017. The selected countries are classified into four groups according to their relative energy intensity levels and their accessibility to energy.