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The inequality-emissions nexus in the context of trade and development: A quantile regression approach

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  • Hübler, Michael

Abstract

If the emissions attributed to households' consumption rise in their income in a concave way, higher within-country inequality will reduce emissions. To test this negative nexus, the article utilizes simultaneous-quantile regressions with per capita CO2 emissions (or energy intensities of GDP) as the dependent variable and draws on country-level panel data. Overall, the estimates vary considerably across quantiles. Regressions with pooled data support the negative inequality-emissions (energy) nexus, whereas regressions with fixed-effects question it. International trade and international investments are mostly positively related to emissions (energy).

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  • Hübler, Michael, 2017. "The inequality-emissions nexus in the context of trade and development: A quantile regression approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 174-185.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:134:y:2017:i:c:p:174-185
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.12.015
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; CO2 emissions; Energy intensity; Environmental Kuznets curve; Trade; FDI;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • Q3 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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