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The Environmental Kuznets Curve: Real Progress or Misspecified Models?

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Listed:
  • Daniel L. Millimet

    (Southern Methodist University)

  • John A. List

    (University of Maryland)

  • Thanasis Stengos

    (University of Guelph)

Abstract

We explore the importance of modeling strategies when estimating the emissions-income relationship. Using U.S. state-level panel data on nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, we estimate several environmental Kuznets curves using the standard parametric framework as well as a more flexible semiparametric alternative. Formal statistical comparisons of the results overwhelmingly reject the parametric approach. Moreover, the differences, particularly for sulfur dioxide, are economically significant. © 2003 President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel L. Millimet & John A. List & Thanasis Stengos, 2003. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve: Real Progress or Misspecified Models?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 85(4), pages 1038-1047, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:85:y:2003:i:4:p:1038-1047
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