To examine environmental pollution by economic growth and their impact in an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) among developed and developing countries

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 26;14(3):e0209532. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209532. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

This study analyzes the core energy consumption among countries' specific variables by Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis (EKC), for a panel data of 29 (14 developed and 15 developing) countries during the period of 1977-2014. By assessing Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) regressions with first generation tests such as common root, individual Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF), and individual root-Fisher-PP which have been computed individually, the results confirm the EKC hypothesis in the case of emissions of solid, liquid, gases, manufacturing industries and also construction. Hence, we computed the cointegration test by Pedroni Kao from Engle-Granger based and Fisher. Since the variables are co-integrated, a panel vector error correction model is estimated in GDP per capita, emission from manufacturing industries, arms import, commercial service export, and coal rent, in order to perform Pairwise Granger Causality test and indicate Vector Error Correction (VEC), with co-integration restrictions. Moreover, the statistical finding from VEC short-run unidirectional causality from GDP per capita growth to manufacturing industries and coal rent, as well as the causal link with manufacturing industries and commercial service export. Additionally, there occurred no causal link among economic growth, arm import and coal rent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • China
  • Developed Countries / economics*
  • Developing Countries / economics*
  • Economic Development
  • Environmental Pollution / economics*
  • European Union
  • Internationality
  • United States

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide

Grants and funding

Rabnawaz Khan and Dr. Yusheng Kong were supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China No: 71371087 of Jiangsu University. Dr. Yusheng Kong was supported by The School of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of China, http://oec.ujs.edu.cn/en/index.