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Despite the use of different environmental proxies, the economic and financial development (FD)-environmental quality (EQ) nexus is still enigmatic. In this regard, a new composite environmental quality index (CEQI) is used to holistically represent EQ. Moreover, the Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) method is applied to estimate the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and the financial development Kuznets Curve (FKC) hypotheses using data from 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The findings reveal that economic growth in the first regime positively affects CEQI while having a negative effect after exceeding the threshold and entering the second regime. Also, FD positively affects CEQI for the first regime and has a negative influence for the second regime. Other factors such as energy consumption and composite trade share (CTS) in both the first and second regimes have a negative effect on CEQI. Accordingly, several environmental quality-improving policies are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy has been identified as a critical keyword for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of in-depth empirical literature on the impact mechanisms of the circular economy (CE) and economic growth (GDP) in mitigating e-waste generation (waste electrical and electronic equipment - WEEE). Given Europe's leading position in e-waste generation per capita, the study aims to scrutinize the interplay between CE, GDP, and WEEE for 2010–2020. The research applies advanced econometric methods, primarily centered around the system generalized method of moment and dynamic panel threshold. It was noteworthy that different CE indicators exhibited varying effects on WEEE through the econometric analysis. Therefore, the research uniquely utilized the entropy weight method to compute a holistic composite index for the circular economy (CEI) and gained some interesting findings. Firstly, CEI significantly reduced WEEE, while GDP drove its increase. However, an overly developed CEI of 0.7616 counteracted its beneficial effect. Secondly, the synergy of CEI*GDP engendered the circular economy rebound effect, diminishing environmental benefits. Thirdly, in the circular context, the environmental Kuznets curve was validated, showcasing an inverted U-shaped pattern. Finally, the study found CEI to have different threshold effects, with thresholds of 0.2161 to inhibit WEEE, 0.2114 to avert the circular economy rebound effect, and 0.2360 to leverage GDP in reducing WEEE. These outcomes give insights to policymakers in designing sound policies targeting circular economy development and decoupling e-waste generation from economic growth towards the United Nations' SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions has been analyzed testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis, but traditional econometric methods may be flawed. An alternative method is proposed using segmented-sample regressions and implemented in 164 countries (98.34% of world population) over different periods from 1822 to 2018. Results suggest that while the association between GDP per capita and CO2 emissions per capita is weakening over time, it remains positive globally, with only some high-income countries showing a reversed association in recent years. While 49 countries have decoupled emissions from economic growth, 115 have not. Most African, American, and Asian countries have not decoupled, whereas most European and Oceanians have. These findings highlight the urgency for effective climate policies because decoupling remains unachieved on a global scale, and we are moving away from, rather than approaching, the Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the impact of energy poverty on the aggregate and disaggregate material footprint components such as biomass, fossil fuel, metal ores and non-metallic minerals while considering the economic growth and tourism development during 2000–2014 for the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). By applying econometric tools, the study confirms a positive and significant impact of energy poverty on aggregate material footprint and its components. The same finding has been reached for tourism development. Moreover, this study finds a U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for all indicators used for material footprints. Based on the findings, this study proposes a set of policies for energy poverty alleviation to attain a sustainable environment and inclusive economic growth in the BRICS region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to employ the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method within the insight into the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to verify whether EKC exists in the Nepalese economy. In this research, variables were used, such as carbon emissions per capita, GDP per capita, energy use per capita, trade volume, and urbanization from 1980 to 2021, and the ARDL method was used. The data has been taken in this research except trade volume from the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance, Nepal. The data sets are converted into the natural logarithmic form to minimize the problem of heteroskedasticity. The findings provide compelling evidence for the existence of the EKC in Nepal, that economic growth has an inverted U-shaped impact on carbon emissions. In the early stages of development, economic growth leads to rising carbon emissions, but in the later stages, economic growth becomes associated with declining emissions. Besides economic growth, per capita energy consumption and urbanization emerge as significant drivers of carbon emissions. However, the trade volume is not found to be the driving factor of carbon emissions. The findings of this study have significant policy implications for global climate change issues and Nepal's transition from an underdeveloped to a developing nation. To achieve harmonious economic growth and emissions reduction, donor countries and agencies to partner with Nepal in its ambitious endeavors. This partnership can take shape through multifaceted support as fueling socio-economic progress that aligns with Nepal's commitment to reduce carbon emissions, ensuring that development and sustainability walk together. This research recommends the government of Nepal electrify the transportation landscape by incentivizing the adoption of electric vehicles, paving the way for cleaner air and a healthier planet, empowering Nepal's natural guardians by strengthening public and private forest programs, safeguarding invaluable ecosystems and biodiversity and curbing the tide of waste mismanagement through strict regulations and robust enforcement, transforming a potential threat into a source of innovation and resourcefulness. These measures, aligned with sustainable employment generation, can pave the way for a brighter and greener future for Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analysis the influence of economic growth (EG) and energy consumption (EC) on sulfur dioxide emissions (SE) in China. Accordingly, this study explores the link between EG, EC, and SE for 30 provinces in China over the span of 2000e2019. This study also analyzes cross-sectional dependence tests, panel unit root tests, Westerlund panel cointegration tests, Dumitrescu-Hurlin (D-H) causality tests. According to the test results, there is an inverted U-shaped association between EG and SE, and the assumption of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) is verified. The signs of EG and EC in the fixed effect (FE) and random effect (RE) methods are in line with those in the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) estimators. Moreover, the results verified that EC can obviously positive impact the SE. To reduce SE in China, government and policymakers can improve air quality by developing cleaner energy sources and improving energy efficiency. This requires the comprehensive use of policies, regulations, economic incentives, and public participation to promote sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) over the period 1981–2018. The link between economic growth and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is analysed. The study includes causality analysis and controls for cross-sectional dependence (CSD), slope heterogeneity, stationarity and cointegration patterns. Estimations validate the EKC hypothesis for Denmark and Iceland, but not for Norway and Sweden. Finland data show no significantly visible trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prospect of decoupling economic development from CO2 emissions in Ghana is examined in this paper, with an emphasis on the manufacturing, export, and adoption of renewable energy sectors. The paper investigates the long-term and short-term correlations among CO2 emissions, renewable energy consumption (RNE), population growth (POP), manufacturing value-added (MVA), Economic growth (GDP), and exports (EXP) using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing method using time series data from 1990 to 2020. The outcomes show that the variables are long-term cointegrating. Long-term GDP and CO2 emissions show a positive but negligible correlation, whereas exports show a negative and insignificant correlation. In the near term, using renewable energy has a markedly undesirable consequence on releases, yet, over time, the connection is positive and negligible. Because the turning point when economic expansion results in lower emissions is not apparent, the Environmental Kuznets Curve concept is not entirely substantiated. The report emphasizes how specific laws encouraging the use of renewable energy, environmentally friendly export and manufacturing processes, and technical advancements are necessary to help Ghana move toward a low-carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to shed light on the experience of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in balancing three main pillars: the environmental criteria, the reduction of CO2 emissions and the economic growth. Based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework, it will assess the causal relationship between economic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, trade openness and energy use and environmental indicators such as CO2 emissions. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis relies on a period of 40 years (1981–2020) where data is extracted from the World Bank database. This study uses the unit root test for time series stationarity, the optimal lag length test, the "Johansen" test for co-integration and the vector error correction model. Findings: The paper concludes to two major findings. On a short-term basis, CO2 emissions and economic indicators are negatively correlated, whereas on a long-term basis, there is no association between CO2 emissions and economic indicators in the UAE. Research limitations/implications: The research ends with important recommendations. It illustrates the importance of rationalizing the use of primary resources and the necessity to embrace successful and efficient policies in the energy production. Practical implications: More specifically, UAE is urged to address the problem of CO2 emissions in the electricity sector and increase awareness of the use of environmentally friendly processes in the transport and industrial sectors. While setting their economic agendas, UAE are encouraged to meet environmental criteria and invest in renewable energy projects such as "Shams 1", the largest solar power plant outside of Spain and the USA. Originality/value: The current study is significant in its research on the environmental impact of economic development, trade openness and energy use policies in the UAE. It uses CO2 emissions as an environmental proxy and evaluates the environmental policies adopted in the UAE to reduce its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global economy has reported an unprecedented increase in growth rates over the last 2 decades, due to rapid evolution in transportation and communications. The rapid growth of international trade has increased the demand for fossil fuel, leading to exacerbated environmental risks. Air transportation is an essential operational practice in trade openness and has many economic benefits. However, its effect on CO2 emissions is not well understood. Studies on the causal relationships between air transportation, trade openness, economic growth, and CO2 emissions are lacking, especially across Middle Eastern countries. This study targets Saudi Arabia, one of the largest countries in the Middle East region in terms of economic capabilities and geographical area, to investigate the impact of air transportation, trade openness, and economic growth on CO2 emissions. To this end, data was derived from the World Development Indicators (WDI) established by the World Bank for the period 1991-2023. An autoregressive, distributed lag autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model was used to analyze associations among the study variables; the empirical findings confirm that air transportation, trade openness, and economic growth have positive and statistically significant effects on CO2 emissions in both long- and short-run scenarios. However, the results illustrate that economic growth alone is unable to sufficiently reduce CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia, indicating a lack of connection between economic policies and environmental goals. Thus, these results indicate that the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is not valid for Saudi Arabia. In addition, this study provides useful insights for policymakers to mitigate CO2 emissions. Suggestions include attracting foreign investment, modifying the structure of trade, mitigating the reliance on imports and enhancing exports, while focusing on green strategies for economic growth, replacing fossil fuels with clean and renewable sources, subsidizing environmentally friendly technologies, and enacting decarbonizing regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a dynamic model to capture the interaction among the environment, human capital accumulation, and economic growth. We emphasize the mechanism that pollution stock depresses human capital accumulation, which has received increasing support from empirical studies. The model predicts that the development of pollution-intensive industries can help an economy gear up a short-run prosperity, but it impairs the capability for long-run economic growth, trapping the economy at a low development level. The cost for a dirty economy to switch is expensive and even infeasible if the environmental degradation is irreversible. Policy interventions, such as tax on pollution and subsidy on human capital, can help alleviate but cannot eradicate the economic stagnation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation, by testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis in Vietnam, a main export‐oriented country that features a long period of economic growth. The main originality of this work is that, unlike previous studies, it uses ecological footprint as the main indicator for environmental degradation. This allows to reconsider the results from previous studies that only focus on CO2 emissions performances. The cointegration between the analysed variables is investigated using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. To determine the parameters of the Environmental Kuznets Curve in the sample, this work additionally analyses long‐ and short‐run estimations. The paper shows that the EKC hypothesis holds in the long term for Vietnam when using ecological footprint. Nevertheless, it also shows that not only growth but also primary energy consumption contributes to increased environmental destruction. An active ecological policy and the decrease of fossil energy use seem necessary to allow Vietnam to keep a high level of economic growth and reduce environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nonlinear effects of public debt on economic growth in Asian developing economies through the application of panel Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) regressions and panel vector autoregression (VAR) models. Our analysis reveals a statistically significant nonlinear (i.e., an inverted U-shape) relationship between public debt (as a percentage of GDP) and GDP per capita growth. The turning points are identified at 52 percent for all Asian developing economies and 50 percent for Asian coastal developing economies. Asymmetric mutual feedback effects are observed between economic growth and public debt, contingent on the level of public debt. These two-way effects are both statistically significant and more pronounced when public debt surpasses its threshold level. Additionally, our results unveil geographical (cross-country) heterogeneity in the mutual feedback effects. These findings carry significant policy implications, emphasizing the necessity of employing region-specific debt threshold levels and asymmetric response coefficients in the analysis of public debt policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we apply a detailed country level data in the 1961–2015 period to investigate the relationship between weather variables, CO2, share of renewable energy sources, gross domestic product, and total factor productivity in a standard Cobb–Douglas production function by using an instrumental variable approach. Our findings suggest that economic growth has been positively affected by temperature and CO2 emissions, while climate vulnerability varies significantly between rich‐poor countries. Furthermore, the negative nexus between renewable sources and CO2 emissions demonstrates its importance for optimal environmental policies design while an inverted U‐shaped relationship for temperature and emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the literature on the relationship between industrialization and environmental quality. Despite an abundant literature on the subject, existing studies have not yet investigated the role of environmental policy stringency in the transmission of the effects of industrialization on environmental quality. This study uses a panel of 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with data covering the period 2000–2020. The use of the system GMM methodology shows that industrialization – measured by – the value added of industry and the value added of manufacturing – significantly deteriorates the quality of the environment. However, the introduction of the environmental policy stringency variable as a transmission channel produces a detrimental effect of industrialization on CO2 emissions up to thresholds of 37.33 and 37 respectively for the industrial sector and the manufacturing sector. For an environmental policy stringency above these thresholds, industrialization significantly reduces CO2 emissions. Finally, we found the Environmental Kuznets Curve between economic growth and CO2 emissions. Thus, a strengthening of environmental policy can help these countries to develop a virtuous relationship between industrialization and the quality of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study pioneers the analysis of transport Kuznets curve (TKC) for passengers in 31 Chinese provinces using data from 1980 to 2018 and a comprehensive non‐parametric econometric analysis approach. The empirical analysis finds convergence among most of the provinces in terms of travel frequency and economic growth, as well as the nexus between the variables. There is a non‐linear positive effect of economic growth on travel frequency in all 31 provinces, and evidence for the existence of TKC – in full or in part – in 30 provinces. The study provides the initial motivation for policymakers to undertake policies and projects commensurate with each province's transport growth nexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a nationwide field experiment in China to evaluate the direct and indirect impacts of assigning firms to public or private citizen appeals when they violate pollution standards. There are three main findings. First, public appeals to the regulator through social media substantially reduce violations and pollution emissions, while private appeals cause more modest environmental improvements. Second, public appeals appear to tilt regulators' focus away from facilitating economic growth and toward avoiding pollution-induced public unrest. Third, pollution reductions by treated firms are not offset by control firms, based on randomly varying the proportion of treated firms at the prefecture level. (JEL D22, L82, P28, P31, Q52, Q53, Q58) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, environmental concerns have emerged as significant obstacles to economic advancement, leading to a critical examination of the complex relationship between environmental sustainability and economic expansion. With the economy expanding swiftly and environmental hazards intensifying, immediate action must be taken to address these problems. This necessitates innovative policies and practices that foster sustainable economic growth while minimizing environmental impact. To solve these issues, this study proposed an extensive analytical framework employing machine learning techniques, particularly artificial neural networks (ANNs), to investigate the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. According to the EKC hypothesis, environmental degradation worsens before economic growth occurs. This study examines GDP per capita and key environmental indicators to measure economic development, using data from Anhui Province, China, from 2012 to 2019. The analysis provides empirical support for the theory and establishes a modeling framework that seamlessly integrates ML methodologies with EKC analysis, systematically examining and assessing the EKC's reliability for Anhui Province. The intricate interplay between Anhui Province's environment and economy, utilizing industrial waste gas, wastewater, and solid waste as critical indicators, evaluates environmental quality. At the same time, per capita GDP is the economic growth parameter. The findings indicate that the EKC does not adhere to an unchanging law but instead displays variations in distribution characteristics. The experimental results of the proposed ANN model demonstrate an impressive accuracy rate of 87%, outperforming five alternative models, including RF, KNN, DT, and LR. This superior model performance underscores the effectiveness of the ANN-based approach in capturing the intricate dynamics linking economic development and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory and its possible relevance in the context of China and the complex and one-of-a-kind interaction between financial innovation, environmental deterioration, and China. China's fast industrialization and consequent economic expansion have been accompanied by significant environmental difficulties, despite the country's status as the world's second largest economy. The research takes a secondary data approach to its investigation of this topic, drawing on a large dataset that spans many decades to ensure a thorough examination of the dynamic interaction between financial innovation and numerous environmental variables. The primary objective of this research is to determine whether or not recent developments in financial technology have contributed to the current trends of environmental degradation in China. In keeping with the central tenet of the EKC hypothesis, this study uses cutting-edge econometric techniques to investigate the existence of nonlinear correlations and inflection points. In addition, the research analyzes how policy interventions and regulatory measures have shaped the tendencies spotted. In elucidating the usefulness of financial innovation as a tool for promoting environmental betterment, this study's findings substantially contribute to the current discussion around sustainable development and economic policy. This research also carefully assesses the applicability of the EKC theory in China, providing insights that may be used to inform future environmental policy decisions. Ultimately, the success of measures to promote sustained economic growth and the preservation of the environment in China depends on an in-depth understanding of these delicate relationships. In addition, the lessons learned from this study have the potential to serve as a guide for economies facing similar difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study comprehensively analyzed the nexus between economic growth, health expenditures, education, and the environment in Nigeria, using data obtained from Central bank of Nigeria and World Bank. By utilizing a robust dataset spanning from 1981 to 2021, the study employed autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to uncover intricate relationships. Results, both short-run and long-run analyses, reveal that health and education spending, and gross fixed capital formation positively correlated with economic growth. Conversely, the findings demonstrated that population growth and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) exerted detrimental effects on economic growth due to the negative impact on the health of the working population. Additionally, the inverted U-shaped relationship between the macroeconomic footprint and income confirms the validity of Nigeria's Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) phenomenon. Lastly, the findings of this study hold important policy implications, emphasizing the need for technological advancements and innovative solutions to address the challenges associated with economic growth, health expenditures, education, and the environment in Nigeria. Policy measures promoting birth control through contraception and family planning should be embraced to effectively manage the country's rapidly growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EI is an important pillar of modern economic development and a key factor in ensuring national strategic energy security. The upgrading of China's Energy Industry (EI) faces a series of problems and challenges, such as excessive energy production, difficulty in energy technology innovation, and low energy efficiency. The significance of this study lies in its endeavor to tackle these challenges by focusing on several facets, including the promotion of innovation in energy technology and the enhancement of energy management. Utilizing the Kuznets Curve (KC) theory and considering energy export restrictions (ER) as a constraint, the study analyzed the impact of China's EI upgrading. It analyzed the relationship between changes in indicators such as EI resource utilization rate, degree of ERs, export proportion, and resource allocation proportion of energy enterprises and the impact of China's EI upgrading. According to the experimental results, it can be concluded that when the resource utilization rate was between 30% and 60%, the energy export volume showed a significant growth trend. As it gradually approached saturation, the contribution of energy production growth began to weaken and showed an inverted U-shape. Examining how the expansion of Economic Relations (ERs) affects the enhancement of China's Economic Infrastructure (EI) within the framework of the Knowledge Capital (KC) can provide valuable insights. It offers guidance on striking a balance between exports and domestic demand in China's economic development, facilitating the formulation of export policies, supporting structural adjustments and advancements in China's EI, and contributing to the promotion of sustainable development (SD). Additionally, this analysis aids in preventing potential issues and safeguarding both the ecological environment and the interests of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the relationship between agricultural methane and nitrous oxide emissions as a function of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and its quadratic term in 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries (1990-2019). It also considers the stock of foreign investment to test the polluting paradise hypothesis, agricultural land (AL), and, additionally, methane for nitrous function. The study comprised unit root and cointegration tests. Coefficients were estimated by using fully modified least squares (FMOLS), correlated common effects (CCE), and augmented mean group (AMG). Results by FMOLS show statistical evidence of an environmental Kuznets curve in the set of countries for methane and support the polluting paradise hypothesis. However, results from CCE and AMG show the opposite. For nitrous oxide, FMOLS confirms a U-shaped curve. The above supports a joint environmental policy for both gases, where AL is a key element. The previous results must be corroborated with other methods and the studies extended to other countries over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To become the fastest-growing large economy in the world, India has set a target growth rate of 9%, reaching an economy of $5 trillion by 2024-25. It is an immense challenge to meet the growth target and keep the CO2 emissions under control. The present paper aims to discover the determinants for explaining CO2 emissions in India by conducting a complete decomposition analysis, where the residuals are fully distributed to the determinants for the country from 1990-2018. The analysis reveals that the biggest contributor to the rise in CO2 emissions in India is the expansion of the economy (scale effect). The intensity of CO2 and the change in the composition of the economy, which nearly move in tandem, also contribute to the rise in CO2 emissions, although more slowly. A declining energy intensity of the Indian economy is responsible for a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions. As a typical result for an upcoming economy, this paper did not find evidence for an environmental Kuznets curve. This implies that continued economic growth will lead to increased CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation has been exhaustively explored from a theoretical and empirical perspective. However, most of the studies explore symmetric relationships, and none of these studies explicitly address the role of governance and financial development. Hence, this study uses both symmetric and asymmetric methods to investigate the linkage between governance, financial development, economic growth, and CO2 emissions in Pakistan over 1990–2018. The empirical findings show that governance supports environmental sustainability by reducing CO2 emissions. Moreover, adverse shocks in governance increase CO2 emissions. However, the findings of linear and nonlinear ARDL revealed that financial development increases environmental degradation by exacerbating CO2 emissions. Moreover, the results validated the Environment Kuznets Curve in Pakistan as more income reduces emissions. Our empirical results have several policy implications for environmental sustainability and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, energy consumption has increased exponentially. Using fossil fuels to produce energy generates high shares of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases. Moreover, financial authorities at the global and European levels have recognized that climate change poses new risks for individual financial institutions and financial stability. The analysis contributes to the literature in two critical ways. First, the research attempts to develop a map of the transition risk of the EU. In detail, it defines an indicator that will identify the transition risk the EU bears. Second, it analyzes any relationships between the CO2 emissions, economic growth, and the renewable energy of each European country from 1995 to 2020, highlighting the short and long-run relationships. The methodology used is the ARDL. The results show the long-run relationship between GDP, renewable energy consumption, and CO2 emissions is evident. Indeed, economic growth may increase environmental pollution in Europe, while an increase in using renewable energy may reduce CO2 emissions. Therefore, this implies the trade-off between economic development and CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the results indicate the difference in the short-run relationship across countries. However, the results demonstrate that the choice of the European Union to increase the use of renewable energies is more than fair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the relationship between financial development and economic growth in the MENA region from 1996 to 2022. Using panel data, it assessed whether financial institutions and financial markets had differing impacts on economic growth. Various statistical methods, including OLS, GMM, quantile, and U-tests, were employed to analyze this correlation. Our findings revealed a nonlinear relationship between financial development (institutions and markets) and economic growth, characterized by an inverted U-shaped curve. This relationship was influenced by the MENA region's limited financial regulations and the "vanishing effect". Financial institutions were found to have an insignificant impact on economic growth but played a role in constraining it. Conversely, financial markets significantly contributed to growth initially, but this effect diminished over time, eventually turning negative. Additionally, this research highlighted the positive influences of liquidity and exports on economic growth, while noting that the rule of law and political stability had adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution is a serious threat to the sustainable development of Middle East countries, especially Iran. Therefore, in this article was analyzed the decoupling relationship between CO2 emissions energy-related and economic growth in 6 Middle East countries in period 1990-2019. First, CO2 emissions driving mechanisms were quantified using Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method, and then decomposed into factors of CO2 emission coefficient, energy intensity, economic activity and population. The decoupling state findings using the Tapio model show that population and economic activities factors were main drivers of CO2 emissions in these countries. The results of decoupling elasticity showed that Iran was in a weak decoupling state in period of 1990-1999 and 2015-2019; It means the simultaneous increase of economic growth and carbon emissions, of course, by faster economic growth; Iran had also an expansive coupling state in period of 2000-2014, which indicates that CO2 emissions increase along economic growth. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have reached an ideal situation in recent years. These countries have moved from a negative decoupling and expansive coupling state to a strong decoupling state, where economic growth has been accompanied by a reduction in carbon emissions. The Kuwait and Turkey have been in weak decoupling and negative expansive decoupling states in the last 3 decades, in which economic growth was accompanied by an increase in carbon emissions. At the beginning, the Egypt has changed to a weak decoupling state and then moved to an expansive negative decoupling state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the relationship between green finance development, carbon emission intensity, and economic development in China's 30 provinces. The entropy approach is used to calculate the green finance development index, and a panel vector autoregressive model is established using this index along with economic development and carbon emission intensity. The study finds that green finance can promote economic growth and help achieve emission reduction objectives, while increasing carbon emissions can also promote economic growth. The study also highlights regional differences, with the economic growth of the eastern and central regions negatively correlated with carbon emissions after surpassing the inflection point of the environmental Kuznets curve. Additionally, the study suggests that there is still room for growth in green finance in the western region. The findings have important policy implications for China in developing targeted development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the nexus between per capita gross ocean product (GOP) growth and total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) discharged from land-based sources in Guangxi and China. Multiple pollution indicators, such as red tide area (RTA), seawater quality area (SWQA), and eutrophication area (EA), were used as marine environmental quality indicators, and annual time series data during the period 2010–2019 were employed. The data were analyzed using the environment Kuznets curve fitting model. Results showed that the average annual growth rates of the GOP and gross domestic product (GDP) of China were 9.88% and 10.79%, respectively, and those of Guangxi were 13.62% and 10.02%, respectively. The average annual GOP ratio in GDP for Guangxi and China was 6.59 and 9.47, respectively. The marine tertiary industry was the most dominant marine industry; it accounted for 41.12–50.01% (mean: 46.12%) of Guangxi's GDP and 47–60% (mean: 52.47%) of China's GDP. The TP, COD, SWQA, and EA of Guangxi and the TP, TN, COD, SWQA, and EA of China displayed inverted U-shaped GOP growth. These findings indicate that the marine economic growth and marine environmental quality of Guangxi and China are harmonious. However, TN increased synchronously with marine economic growth in Guangxi. Therefore, the industrial structure must be further optimized, pollutant discharge management must be strengthened, and the harmonious development of Guangxi's marine economy and marine environment needs to be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution continues to attract significant research interest for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers all over the globe. Theoretically, the environmental benefit of economic growth should be greater than its negative externality with higher level of development. However, from the African perspective, countries with higher economic performances often face several environmental challenges, which raises the doubt whether economic growth helps or constrains environmental quality improvement. Under the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, this study re-examined the effect of economic growth on CO2 emissions conditional on the dynamics of urbanization, renewable energy, and good governance across 47 African countries using panel data from 1996 to 2019. We employ panel cointegration tests to establish whether there is a long-run equilibrium relationship among our variables. We also apply pooled mean group ARDL (PMG-ARDL) techniques and the Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test to determine the long- and short-run effects of economic growth, urbanization, renewable energy consumption, and good governance on CO2 emissions. The results from the PMG estimator validate the EKC hypothesis since a 1% surge in GDP per capita increases emissions by 0.61% in the long run, while a 1% increase in its square decreases emissions by 0.03%. In the short-run, economic growth does not exercise any significant effect on emissions. Furthermore, results indicate a significantly negative and positive long-run effect of renewable energy and governance, respectively. Finally, our causality test shows bidirectional relationship between CO2 emissions and all the explanatory variables. Henceforth, we provided policy implications based on the study's results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in Turkey, which shows the relationship between environmental pollution and income level and/or growth. Thus, in this study, the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions per capita (CO2) and income per capita in Turkey was investigated with the non-linear distributed lag autoregressive limit test (NARDL) method for the years 1970-2020, taking into account the effect of openness on pollution. Unlike previous studies that tested the validity of EKC in Turkey, it is thought that the apply of the NARDL method and the use of more recent data set will contribute to the relevant literature in this study. According to the empirical results obtained, it has been determined that the Environmental Kuznets Curve is N-shaped cubic polynomial in Turkey. In this context, it can be said that Turkey is facing the danger of “growth without a future” in terms of environment. Therefore, it is thought that reducing the unconscious consumption of non-renewable energy resources and increasing investments to be allocated to renewable energy resources will be beneficial for the country's economy in order to reduce environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism plays an important role in fostering economic growth within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum member countries. Nevertheless, the development of this sector has resulted in significant depletion of natural resources and pollution. This research aims to determine the relationship between tourism, economic growth, and environmental pollution in both developing and developed APEC economies from 1995 to 2020. By adopting the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework, two dynamic panel data models are estimated employing Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and causal relationships are established using the Dumitrescu–Hurlin test. The results indicate that tourism and economic growth have had a positive influence on the rise of environmental pollution in both groups of economies during the specified period. This research offers new insights by analyzing twelve developing and nine developed APEC economies over a span of 25 years, estimating two DOLS models, conducting Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality tests, and presenting evidence of EKC for both types of economies. Consequently, the implementation of policies that foster the preservation of natural areas, the utilization of renewable energies, and the promotion of sustainable tourism practices is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies whether the carbon intensity of human well-being has an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) pattern with respect to economic growth in Bhutan using annual data from 1971 to 2018. Furthermore, it examines the short-term and long-term dynamics of the causal relation between emissions and growth in wealth and also whether recent trends of economic growth are carbon neutral. Econometric estimations, such as ordinary least squares, vector error correction model and variance decomposition, are applied alongside other appropriate statistical tests. The findings show that, in Bhutan, the carbon intensity of human well-being increases with economic growth and fails to support the EKC hypothesis. Long-run causality was found running from the carbon intensity of human well-being to GDP per capita and also from population growth to GDP per capita. The econometric analysis also revealed that the increasing emission of carbon dioxide is being absorbed and its negative effects are negated through rising forest cover hence, Bhutan appears to be a carbon-neutral nation. This paper is a valuable contribution to the literature and has significant policy implications. Furthermore, it provides an integrated and sustainable growth model discourse to the rest of the world which is ailing with severe emissions and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing and construction (M&C) sector not only plays a vital role in promoting economic growth, but is also a significant contributor to global air pollution. Growing concerns regarding air pollutant emissions necessitate a more disaggregated (i.e., sectoral) investigation in order to identify the major contributors. This study employs aggregated and disaggregated data to determine the fundamental effects of economic growth (i.e., overall growth and sectoral growth) on air pollutant emissions (APE) (specifically, PM2.5 and PM10 released by the M&C sector) in SAARC economies between 1995 and 2018. It assesses the environmental Kuznets curve (i.e., inverted U-shaped and N-shaped) using the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), panel-corrected standard errors (PCSE), and generalized method of moments (GMM) techniques. The sectoral analysis reveals the presence of an N-shaped EKC while the overall analysis indicates an inverted U-shaped EKC. Population, financial development (FD), and merchandise exports (MX) have no influence on the estimates. Population and FD increase APE in all models, whereas the effects of MX vary between models. As SAARC economies are capital-deficient, these economies can adopt unbalanced environmental protection policies. First, focus on major contributing sectors (e.g., M&C sector) to curb APE, then focus on less emitting sectors in turn. By implementing pollution reduction strategies on M&C sector activities, governments may reach their threshold (peak) points earlier than expected. A reduction in APE is impossible without rigorous monitoring and application. Being capital-deficient nations and given the collective nature of the problem, a Transboundary Haze/Pollution agreement is required to solve this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the relationship between tourism, energy consumption, trade openness, economic growth, and CO2 emissions for 20 economies of the APEC region from 1995 to 2017. This paper employs cross-sectional dependence with heterogeneous panel estimation techniques. The data confirms cross-sectional dependence, and the CIPS panel unit root test shows that the variables are stationary at their first differences. The Westerlund panel cointegration test affirms a long-run relationship among the variables. Tourism and trade openness have significant positive effects on CO2 emissions while economic growth and energy consumption adversely affect CO2 emissions in the long-run. The panel non-causality test reveals that there is a one-way causality running from tourism to CO2 emissions and economic growth to CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, for the first time in Taiwan, uses the mixed frequency vector autoregressive (MF-VAR) model in the high-frequency dataset to investigate the causal association between economic progress and carbon dioxide emissions over time periods spanning from 1970Q1-2019Q4. This study also includes primary energy consumption as a control variable for analysis since the bias of missing variables could lead to misleading results. In accordance with the forecast error variance decomposition and the Granger causality test, our empirical findings imply that the MF-VAR model has more explanatory power than the traditional VAR model. The empirical LF-VAR model results demonstrate a reciprocal and causal association between economic progress and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is supported by evidence; primary energy consumption significantly influences economic progress. Additionally, MF-VAR model results also indicate, in Taiwan, a reciprocal and causal association between economic progress and carbon dioxide emissions as well as between primary energy consumption and economic progress. Based on the finding of the results, this study suggests policy implications to the government that an effective energy strategy should be addressed along with the plan for economic development in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sakarya Journal of Economics / Sakarya Iktisat Dergisi is the property of Sakarya Journal of Economics / Sakarya Iktisat Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hacettepe University Journal of Economics & Administrative Sciences / Hacettepe Üniversitesi Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Hacettepe University, Faculty of Economic & Administrative Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aims to examine the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in 37 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries over the period from 1960 to 2019. Panel Quantile Regressions (QR) show that for the lower quartile, economic growth does not impact emissions; for the central quartile a U-shaped curve emerges; while for the upper quartile, an N-shaped curve is found. In addition, cointegrating regressions highlight that economic growth, fossil fuel consumption, and population exert a detrimental effect on the environment, while renewable energy consumption reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These results are confirmed by panel causality tests since a feedback mechanism is found between CO2 emissions and the remaining series. Furthermore, single-country estimates provide evidence of great variability in the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of government spending, income, and tourism consumption on CO2 emissions in the 50 US states through a novel theoretical model derived from the Armey Curve model and the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. The findings of this research are essential for policymakers to develop effective strategies for mitigating environmental pollution. Utilizing panel cointegration analysis, the study provides valuable insights into whether continued increases in government spending contribute to higher pollution levels. By identifying the threshold point of spending as a percentage of GDP, policymakers can make informed decisions to avoid the trade-off between increased spending and environmental degradation. For instance, the analysis reveals that Hawaii's tipping point is 16.40%. The empirical results underscore the importance of adopting sustainable policies that foster economic growth while minimizing environmental harm. These findings will aid policymakers in formulating targeted and efficient approaches to tackle climate change and promote long-term environmental sustainability in the United States. Moreover, the impact of tourism development on CO2 emissions varies across states, with some US states experiencing a decrease while others see an increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety risk, as an implicit cost of social and economic development, endangers the health of global residents, including China. To systematically understand the impact of socioeconomic development on food safety risk and to establish a sound modern governance system of food safety in China, this paper uses provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020 to explore the relationship between food safety risk and socio-economic development factors such as economic growth and income inequality by employing a two-way fixed effect model and moderating effect model. The results show that the food safety risk is a Kuznets curve, and the turning point is about RMB 58,104.59 per capita GDP (based on prices in 2011). However, under the moderating effect of income inequality, the turning point of the Kuznets curve of food safety risk will shift to the right, and the curve will be flattened. In other words, income inequality has a negative moderating effect on the "inverted U-shaped" relationship between economic growth and food safety risk. When dealing with food safety problems, the goal of stable and sustained economic growth and common prosperity should be incorporated into policy formulation to enhance the governance effectiveness of food safety risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased concern for green economic growth made many countries shift from simply pursuing economic growth to a green economic growth mode to protect resources and the environment. Against this background, we calculated China's green GDP and studied the impact of economic growth on environmental quality. For green economic growth, we employed income per capita, its square, information and communication technology, sports industry ecosystem efficiency, and human capital. We applied innovative econometric techniques such as cross-sectional dimensions (CSDs) tests, cross-sectional augmented Dickey-Fuller (CADF), cross-sectional augmented Pesaran and Shin (CIPS) tests, Westerlund co-integration test, generalised method of moments (GMM), and fully modified least squares (FMOLS) estimators. The obtained outcomes showed the inverted U-shaped EKC hypothesis, which validates the green economic growth theme. However, ICT was negatively associated with carbon emissions. Similarly, sports industry eco-system efficiency (SIE) showed an insignificant negative impact on the explained variable. Human capital was inversely associated with carbon emissions. In addition, the moderate role of the SIE significantly reduces carbon emissions. In addition, the D-H panel causality test results showed a significant causal association among the selected variables. Owing to the outcomes, we proposed imperative policy implications for the desired level of green economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the role of government spending on environmental sustainability based on a framework that combines the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis with the Armey curve hypothesis. Specifically, the inverted U-shaped relationships between carbon (CO2) emissions and economic growth (EKC hypothesis) and between government spending and economic growth (Armey curve hypothesis) are analyzed using a composite EKC model tested for cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity, panel unit root, panel co-integration, and the augmented mean group estimation. In so doing, this study pursues a potential transmission mechanism leading from government spending to CO2 emissions through the growth channel and presents a novel way to develop a better understanding of how economic growth policy and energy policy can be synchronized. Empirical results show that economic growth acts as a transmitter between government spending and CO2 emissions in the USA, UK, and Canada. However, the composite EKC hypotehesis is confirmed only for the USA and Canada, where the optimal level of government spending that maximizes CO2 emissions is 29.87% and 29.22% of GDP, respectively. In contrast, the optimal level of government spending equivalent to 28.30% of GDP minimizes CO2 emissions in the UK. The key policy implication is that governments can achieve sustainable economic growth by setting standards for their spending levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics have become an indispensable part of modern life. Although plastics, which become waste after use, are recycled for the economy, they have become a critical problem because many cause environmental pollution and threaten life. It is known that the use of plastics has increased rapidly in parallel with the increase in income that has emerged from the increasing industrialization since the 1950s. According to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth. Considering the critical importance of the plastic waste problem, plastic waste should also be evaluated with the EKC approach. For this purpose, panel data analysis was applied to the plastic waste data of the European Union (EU) countries. Research findings show that the EKC validates plastic waste in EU countries from 2004 to 2019. This shows that environmental policies should be planned around the Plastic Waste EKC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study contributes to the ongoing debate on environmental sustainability and the low-carbon agenda in terms of an analysis of a relatively new international association, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Based on panel data from SCO countries from 2000 to 2020, the hypothesis of the existence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) was tested. The results showed the validity of the EKC hypothesis for the SCO countries; in particular, the gross domestic product and natural resource rents have a connection with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while trade openness, foreign direct investment and the use of renewable energy sources reduce GHG emissions in the long term. It was also found that the effect of economic growth on GHG emissions in the long term in the SCO countries has the form of an inverse N-curve. Based on the analysis performed, recommendations are offered to improve energy policy in the field of alternative energy sources, natural resources—rents on them, openness to foreign markets and attracting foreign investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2015 Paris Agreements that pledged a global reduction of CO2 emissions, almost all European countries have started to define and implement diverse climate change regulation measures to tackle the tragedy of the commons. In this context, the need to investigate the relationship between CO2 emission and economic growth in terms of GDP has increased for a deeper understanding of macroeconomic developments while applying carbon reduction policies to be reached. The link between growth and CO2 is not obvious and it continues to be widely discussed. The current paper aims to identify the specificities of the relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP growth by applying panel VAR specifications in Europe (for a time span of 1995-2022). We have chosen to introduce two kinds of frequencies. The main result resulted from estimations is the existence of two different thresholds. Unsurprisingly, there is a positive long-term CO2 emission in case of GDP shocks for both regimes. However, regarding the CO2 emissions shocks, regime 1 depicts a continuous decrease in GDP growth whereas in regime 2 there is a continuous rise in GDP. This output reinforces the idea of a non-linear relationship between the CO2 emissions and the GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Panorama Económico (1870-2171) is the property of Economic Panorama Magazine / Revista Panorama Economico and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates the role of informality in the relationship among renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emissions in a panel of 19 Eastern and South African countries. The empirical strategy exploits the panel generalized method of moments, panel fixed effects models using the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, panel method of moments quantile regressions, and the Dumitrescu-Hurlin bootstrap panel Granger causality analysis. The results are fourfold. First, nonrenewable energy consumption is positively associated with CO2 emissions, while renewable energy consumption is not. Second, there is a nonlinear ∩ -shaped relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions, consistent with the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Third, the results show a nonlinear ∪ -shaped relationship between informality and CO2 emissions, suggesting that higher informality is associated with lower CO2 emissions up to a certain critical point beyond which further increases in informality precipitate higher CO2 emissions. Fourth, the results show unidirectional causality from CO2 emissions to renewable energy, from CO2 emissions to nonrenewable energy, from informality to CO2 emissions, and feedback causality between GDP growth and CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: In the last years, a lot of attention has been paid to economic inequality -- a phenomenon that may lead to what some commentators predict as the end of capitalism. At the same time some economists believe that the economic inequalities are natural and excessive inequalities can be reduced through the process of economic growth. The natural starting point in the discussion concerning the relation between inequality and economic growth is the theory proposed by Simon Kuznets, according to which inequality rises in the early phases of economic development but falls eventually as the growth advances, taking the shape of the inverse-U shaped pattern. The empirical validity of the so-called "Kuznets curve" has been intensively investigated, but the evidence is ambiguous. In this context re-examining Kuznets theory in CEE countries is interesting especially because of the observed rapid economic growth as a result of structural transformation in these countries. Aim: The aim of the study is an attempt to investigate the nature of relation between economic growth and income inequality levels in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries in years 2004-2020 and verify if the analysed relation is taking an inverse-U shape as indicated by the Kuznets curve. Results: The results of conducted analysis indicate that the evidence for an inverted-U shaped relation between inequality levels and economic growth in CEE countries is much less robust than what is implied by Kuznets curve theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis under natural resources (NRs) constraint in nine Asian-Pacific countries with data spanning from 2000 to 2019. Using Pooled OLS estimations, results show that economic growth is on a pathway from which environmental quality is improved. Hypothesising that NRs exploitation is a potential factor that can exacerbate environmental quality, the study shows that the Asian economic structure is on a "green-resilience" path when controlling for total and each NRs component. The magnitude of each NR component in the ability of increasing CO2 emissions is characterised. Results are robust with different methods of estimations (control variables, alternative dependent variable, Two Stages Least Squares (2SLS)-3SLS Instrumental Variables strategies, Panel-Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) and Driscoll and Kraay methods). As policy implications, Asia-Pacific countries should amplify eco-innovation, development of renewable energies and fiscal policies as they positively impact FDI on green growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]