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Human Capital, Income, And Environmental Quality: A State-Level Analysis

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  • Goetz, Stephan J.
  • Debertin, David L.
  • Pagoulatos, Angelos

Abstract

An empirical analysis reveals that states with more highly educated populations have better environmental conditions, after controlling for income, population density, and industrial composition. The strategy of raising human capital stocks to maintain or improve environmental quality is proposed as a complement, if not an alternative, to direct government intervention, which consists of command and control, market incentives, and moral suasion. Under this approach, general education becomes the control variable that guides economic behavior in a manner consistent with long-term environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Goetz, Stephan J. & Debertin, David L. & Pagoulatos, Angelos, 1998. "Human Capital, Income, And Environmental Quality: A State-Level Analysis," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 27(2), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:arerjl:31530
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.31530
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    2. Natacha Raffin, 2014. "Education and the Political Economy of Environmental Protection," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 115-116, pages 379-407.
    3. Brouhle, Keith & Khanna, Madhu, 2012. "Determinants of participation versus consumption in the Nordic Swan eco-labeled market," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 142-151.
    4. Ariane Manuela AMIN, 2012. "What Drives Biodiversity Conservation Effort in the Developing World? An analysis for Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 201230, CERDI.
    5. Alessia Cafferata & Marwil J. Dávila-Fernández, 2024. "How robust is the natalist bias of pollution control?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 337(3), pages 1111-1133, June.
    6. Feng, Lingbing & Qi, Jiajun & Zheng, Yuhao, 2025. "How can AI reduce carbon emissions? Insights from a quasi-natural experiment using generalized random forest," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    7. Canan Şentürk & Gamze Sart & Mahmut Ünsal Şaşmaz & Yilmaz Bayar, 2023. "Health Expenditures, Human Capital, and Sustainable Development: Panel Evidence from the New EU Member Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, October.
    8. Yao, Yao & Ivanovski, Kris & Inekwe, John & Smyth, Russell, 2020. "Human capital and CO2 emissions in the long run," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    9. Raghu KC & Jarno Föhr & Tapio Ranta, 2023. "Public Perception on the Sustainable Energy Transition in Rural Finland: A Multi-criteria Approach," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 735-755, June.
    10. Ying Deng & Qianqian Yue & Xin Zhao, 2024. "What Does Air Quality Information Disclosure Deliver and to Whom? Evidence from the Ambient Air Quality Standard (2012) Program in China," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(11), pages 2859-2887, November.
    11. AM Priyangani Adikari & Haiyun Liu & DMSLB Dissanayake & Manjula Ranagalage, 2023. "Human Capital and Carbon Emissions: The Way forward Reducing Environmental Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    12. Bekhzod Kuziboev & Ergash Ibadullaev & Olimjon Saidmamatov & Alibek Rajabov & Peter Marty & Sherzodbek Ruzmetov & Alisher Sherov, 2023. "The Role of Renewable Energy and Human Capital in Reducing Environmental Degradation in Europe and Central Asia: Panel Quantile Regression and GMM Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-12, November.
    13. Hondroyiannis, George & Papapetrou, Evangelia & Tsalaporta, Pinelopi, 2022. "New insights on the contribution of human capital to environmental degradation: Evidence from heterogeneous and cross-correlated countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    14. Shan, Haipeng & Wong, Wing-Keung & Hu, Haichuan & Shraah, Ata Al & Alromaihi, Abdullah & The Cong, Phan & Thi Minh Uyen, Pham, 2024. "Fintech innovation for sustainable environment: Understanding the role of natural resources and human capital in BRICS using MMQR," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    15. Lan, Jing & Munro, Alistair, 2013. "Environmental compliance and human capital: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 534-557.
    16. repec:rre:publsh:v:34:y:2004:i:3:p:245-59 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Busra Agan & Mehmet Balcilar, 2022. "On the Determinants of Green Technology Diffusion: An Empirical Analysis of Economic, Social, Political, and Environmental Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    18. Bushra Yasmin & Rabbia Bibi, 2025. "Measuring the asymmetric effect of corruption on environmental degradation in Pakistan: role of human capital," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(8), pages 19467-19490, August.

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