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Freedom from Pollution? The State, The People, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve

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  • Bond, Craig A.
  • farzin, Hossein

Abstract

We develop and estimate an econometric model of the relationship between several local and global air and water pollutants and economic development while allowing for critical aspects of the socio-politicaleconomic regime of a State. We obtain empirical support for our hypothesis that democracy and its associated freedoms provide the conduit through which agents can exercise their preferences for environmental quality more effectively than under an autocratic regime, thus leading to decreased concentrations or emissions of pollution. However, additional factors such as income inequality, age distribution, and urbanization may mitigate or exacerbate the net effect of the type of political regime on pollution, depending on the underlying societal preferences and the weights assigned to those preferences by the State.

Suggested Citation

  • Bond, Craig A. & farzin, Hossein, 2004. "Freedom from Pollution? The State, The People, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve," Working Papers 190904, University of California, Davis, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:ucdavw:190904
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.190904
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chahreddine ABBES, 2009. "When Free Trade is Good for the Environment?," EcoMod2009 21500000, EcoMod.

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