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Distribution of income and toxic emissions in Maine, United States: Inequality in two dimensions

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  • Bouvier, Rachel

Abstract

Ecological distribution refers to inequalities in the use of environmental sinks and sources. This article explores one such dimension of ecological distribution — that of toxic air emissions. Using data from the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators model and the United States Census Bureau, I analyze the distribution of both environmental risk and income at the block-group level in the state of Maine. The state of Maine was chosen for its historical dependence upon natural resources as well as its economic and spatial heterogeneity. Results clearly indicate that the toxic air emissions are distributed much more unequally than is income, and that those inequalities are reinforcing. While not in itself an indication of environmental injustice, such analyses may help us to rethink the assumption that there is a tradeoff between income and pollution.

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  • Bouvier, Rachel, 2014. "Distribution of income and toxic emissions in Maine, United States: Inequality in two dimensions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 39-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:102:y:2014:i:c:p:39-47
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2014.03.005
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    2. Lin Guo, 2017. "Income Inequality, Household Consumption And Co2 Emissions In China," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 62(02), pages 531-553, June.
    3. Karine Constant & Natacha Raffin, 2016. "Environnement, croissance et inégalités : le rôle particulier du canal de la santé," Revue française d'économie, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(3), pages 9-29.
    4. Alexandre BERTHE, 2016. "Inequalities in the access to water and sanitation services in the North and the Nordeste of Brazil: what lessons for social justice?," Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) 2016-07, Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA).
    5. Lucas Cain & Danae Hernandez-Cortes & Christopher Timmins & Paige Weber, 2023. "Recent Findings and Methodologies in Economics Research in Environmental Justice," CESifo Working Paper Series 10283, CESifo.
    6. Hamisu Sadi Ali & Sallahuddin Hassan & Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata & Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata, 2016. "Dynamic Impact of Income Inequality on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Africa: New Evidence from Heterogeneous Panel Data Analysis," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 6(4), pages 760-766.
    7. Jorge A. Bonilla & Claudia Aravena & Ricardo Morales-Betancourt, 2023. "Assessing Multiple Inequalities and Air Pollution Abatement Policies," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(3), pages 695-727, March.
    8. Jorge A. Bonilla & Claudia Aravena & Ricardo Morales-Betancourt, 2021. "Assessing Multiple Inequalities and Air Pollution Abatement Policies," Documentos CEDE 19465, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
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