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This bachelor thesis deals with the analysis of the relationship between pollutants and economic development. The validity of the environmental Kuznets curve for various harmful substances for the whole world, as well as for some individual states and groups of states (Russia, Czech Republic, OECD countries, the least developed countries) is verified by means of regression analysis. Correlation analysis is used to assess the dependence of CO2 emissions per capita on the degree of industrialization, representation of services, the share of agriculture, forestry and fishing in the economy

Effect of global poverty reduction on wild animal welfare Abstract This thesis aims to find a connection in the form of theory or economic model between two concepts - world poverty and wild animal welfare. By synthesising contemporary knowledge, we aim to answer the question of whether there are scientifically-based explanations for the relationship between decreasing global poverty and welfare of wild animals. We also aim to answer the question of whether the welfare of wild animals is worsening or improving with declining global poverty. Assuming that animals are sentient beings, their welfare is negatively affected by the variety of human activities. These activities can be undertaken by humans intentionally (e.g. hunting) or unintentionally, with the industrial activities leading to the disruption of animal habitats or chemical contamination of the biosphere. We approach the problem of reducing global poverty on wild animal welfare in two ways. First, we find an explanation of the relationship between the growth of society's wealth and environmental degradation from a macro-perspective using the environmental Kuznets curve and its derivative - animal welfare Kuznets curve. Using these curves, however, the interpretation of the impact of poverty reduction on wild animal welfare can only be very limited....

This diploma thesis examines scientific articles to determine if there is an agree-ment in literature on the topic of relationship between economic growth and en-vironment. This investigation uses meta-analysis to explore the systematic varia-tion across environmental Kuznets curve studies to better understand the specific factors that affect this relationship. Binomial and multinomial logit models are performed. Final results stimulate an ongoing discussion of not discovering any unity in this area.

The aim of this article is to analyse the position of Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the European Union from the viewpoint of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Econometric models for panel data with CO 2 emissions as the dependent variable and four different types of macroeconomic aggregates are employed in the study. The EU-27 data used in the study supports the hypothesis of the EKC. As the EU countries are heterogeneous, the countries are further classified into “rich” and “poor” (according to the level of their GDP), and further analyses are performed. Considering the “rich” EU countries the EKC hypothesis holds, but if the “poor” EU countries are taken into account, the coefficient of the quadratic regressor is positive which relates to the traditional U-shaped curve, not the inverted one. Such a finding is still not in contradiction to the EKC hypothesis, as it assumes that at the low level of economic output, as the development progresses, the emissions increase. The estimated value of the EKC turning point is 19 660 USD (constant 2000 USD) which has not been reached by the “poor” EU countries yet. As for the position of Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the EU, the results are not unambiguous. The CO 2 emissions have been decreasing very slightly in both countries since 1992 (with 1.33 percent mean annual rate of decrease in Slovakia and 1.16 percent mean annual rate of decrease in the Czech Republic). The GDP per unit of energy use (constant 2005 PPP USD per kg of oil equivalent) increased from 3.15 USD to 6.33 USD in Slovakia between 1990 and 2010 (i.e. 3.54 percent mean annual growth rate). The mean annual growth rate of the Czech GDP per unit of energy use was slightly slower: 2.71 percent.

The goal of the article is an introduction of Environmental Kuznets Curve as a concept, discu- ssion of its existence arising from empirical research for different pollutants and its theoretical explanation. The article includes own EKC research result concerning particulate matter in the air. Economic growth, measured as GDP per capita in a given country, is connected with increasing pollution, but after some turning point pollution starts declining. This relationship has an inverted U-shape and is called Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). EKC was first identified in a research by Grossman and Krueger from 1991 [8], other studies came after soon. In the air pollution EKC was identified for SO 2 , NO x a dark matter (smoke), in water pollution for biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, nitrates and some heavy metals (such as arsenic, cadmium or lead). EKC evidence for particulate matter (PM) is mixed, EKC wasn ́t found for CO or CO 2 . However, some authors consider evidence for EKC statistically weak. Standard explanation of EKC comes from [17]: „As the development and industrailization progress, environmental damage increases due to greater use of natural resources, more emissions of pollutants, the operation of less effici- ent and relatively dirty technologies, the high priority given to increase in material output, and di- sregard for – or ignorance of – the environmental consequences of growth. However, as economic growth continues and life expectancies increase, claner water, improved air quality, and a generally cleaner habitat become more valuable...” EKC research has important policy implications: from some point environmental quality impro- ves with ecomic growth. Hence efforts to reduce economic growth to protect environment have in fact the opposite effect...

This thesis addresses the subject of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). EKC is a model expressing the relationship of economic development and environmental damage. The chosen topic is relevant in connection with ongoing discussions relating to global warming and the impact of human activity on this phenomenon. The concept would give us many clues to the future development of pollution not only in developing countries. The paper examines whether research into the relationship of economic development the country and harming the environment makes sense. The paper also seeks to contribute to confirm or refute the concept of the EKC for specific situations. Specifically, the EKC model validation for selected indicators of environmental pollution in the Czech Republic. The main methods of work are research of literature and empirical analysis. Searches of papers and other publications relating to the concept of EKC is shown in the first part. The second part is devoted to empirical testing EKC for various pollutants in the Example of the Czech Republic. Main result of a literature research is that empirical validation of EKC model makes sense. The work with results of those researches has to be very careful. Main output of own research is verifying the validity of EKC model for selected air pollutants in Czech Republic.

The environmental protection is often in conflict with catching up the highest economic level of the country. In some developed countries the higher economic level means also the higher pollution of the environment. Indeed, this is applied only till one point -- the turning point -- from which the trend is applied vice-versa, the higher the economic prosperity of the country, the lower the pollution of the environment. This phenomenon is in environmental economics called the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). Diploma thesis focuses on the analysis of the EKC, from detailed description of the theoretic and econometric framework, factors influencing the EKC, to crucial studies which were published in this area of economics. In connection with the factors influencing EKC the thesis underline the important role of the environmental regulation and state or international ecologic policy, which the work is dealing in initiate part with. The aim of the work is to analyze if the EKC hypothesis is valid in reality or not. Furthermore the diploma thesis targets also the situation of the developing countries -- if they have to go through the same path as nowadays developed countries or if they on the contrary use their experiences.