Researchers from Trinity College, Dublin, looked for patterns in data from 133 systemic economic crises that affected 98 countries over a 40-year span.
Their analysis suggests that countries relying on a broader range of energy sources experience longer recovery times. However, the best predictor of economic recovery was the extent to which a country relied on renewable energy.
The researchers said that while their findings came from a widely diverse set of societies and their economies, the extent of reliance on renewable energy consistently accounted for a major proportion of the variability in economic recovery time.
They believe the analysis provides strong support for nations to strengthen their focus on the renewable transition.
Professor Ian Donohue, lead author of the research, said: “Our findings highlight the importance of the intrinsic link between natural resources provided by ecosystems and the stability of the economies that rely on them...