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Environmental Kuznets Curves for Carbon Emissions: A Critical Survey

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Author Info
Nektarios Aslanidis (University Rovira Virgili)
Abstract

The empirical finding of an inverse U-shaped relationship between per capita income and pollution, the so-called Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), suggests that as countries experience economic growth, environmental deterioration decelerates and thus becomes less of an issue. Focusing on the prime example of carbon emissions, the present article provides a critical review of the new econometric techniques that have questioned the baseline polynomial specification in the EKC literature. We discuss issues related to the functional form, heterogeneity, “spurious” regressions and spatial dependence to address whether and to what extent the EKC can be observed. Despite these new approaches, there is still no clear-cut evidence supporting the existence of the EKC for carbon emissions.

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Paper provided by Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei in its series Working Papers with number 2009.75.

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Date of creation: Sep 2009
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Handle: RePEc:fem:femwpa:2009.75

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Related research
Keywords: Environmental Kuznets Curve; Carbon Emissions; Functional Form; Heterogeneity; “Spurious” Regressions; Spatial Dependence;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
C20 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - General
Q32 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development
Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General
O13 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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