Environmental convergence and environmental Kuznets curve: A unified empirical framework

Abstract

Existing studies disjointly addressed the environmental convergence and environmental Kuznets curve hypotheses, though these research lines are theoretically interconnected. This paper proposes a unified empirical methodology to simultaneously investigate both hypotheses, relying on a semiparametric dynamic panel data model that accounts for regressor endogeneity. The approach, when applied to CO2 emissions in 106 countries, suggests that there is no global level evidence supporting the environmental Kuznets hypothesis, while a convergence process is taking place. Our results imply that current international agreements have not been sufficiently binding to globally curb CO2 emissions, especially in high-income countries, as aimed by Sustainable Development Goals.

Environmental kuznets curve and causal links between environmental degradation and selected socioeconomic indicators in Bangladesh

“…However, when continued economic growth boosts the industrial economy and growth-led increase in income approaches to achieve a threshold level of per capita income, countries (middle-income countries) arrive at the next level of the EKC. Further increases of per capita income in the post-industrial economy (mostly tertiary sector-based) lead the countries to the desired level of EKC (downward sloping) where the ecological condition starts to improve (Lawson et al, 2020 ; Suki et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The results of an empirical investigation on the EKC hypothesis vary according to environmental degradation indicators and data used (Lawson et al, 2020 ). The most recent study by Altıntaş and Kassouri ( 2020 ) has examined the EKC hypothesis using both CO 2 and EF for 14 European countries and finds only EF as a compatible tool to predict the EKC.…”

Environmental quality and its nexus with informal economy, corruption control, energy use, and socioeconomic aspects: the perspective of emerging economies

“…When the country is at the peak of its development and reaches a certain threshold point, the government pays attention to improving the environmental quality. As a result, environmental degradation declines and form an ‘inverted U’ shape ( Ozcan and Ozturk, 2019 ; Lawson et al., 2020 ; Suki and Mohd, 2020 ; Wen et al., 2021 ). The phenomena attributed to this shape are the scale, composition, and technique effects through which economic growth contributes to the environmental performance level ( Ozcan et al., 2020 ).…”

Spatiotemporal Evolution of Lakes under Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study in Wuhan, China

“…Therefore, the growth of the GDP, population, and the RSEI in the downtown areas, and Huangpi and Xinzhoum can promote the implementation of protective actions. However, as new development zones, Jiangxia, Caidian, and Dongxihu introduced many new industries and construction projects in recent years [47,48], thus attracting a large number of employees who care more about the development of infrastructures than protection of lakes. Therefore, the population growth in Jiangxia caused lake loss.…”

“…Therefore, the growth of the GDP, population, and the RSEI in the downtown areas, and Huangpi and Xinzhoum can promote the implementation of protective actions. However, as new development zones, Jiangxia, Caidian, and Dongxihu introduced many new industries and construction projects in recent years [47,48], thus attracting a large number of Figure 7 presents the spatial coefficients of meteorological factors. The spatial coefficient of TEM in most lakes was negative, and the values were gradually increasing from southeast to northwest.…”