Beyond the Environmental Kuznets Curve in Africa: Evidence from Panel Cointegration
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Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Abstract
Description
The main objective of this study is to establish the applicability of the environmental
Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in explaining the relationship between environmental
pollution and development in Africa. The EKC has been used to explain such
relationships in a variety of contexts, yet rarely applied in Africa, despite it hosting
both the poorest countries in the world, 60% of those with extreme environmental pollution
vulnerability and having a distinct socio-economic and institutional profile that
tests the validity of such a model. This paper describes an empirical model that applies
the EKC hypothesis and its modifications to 50 African countries, using data from
1995–2010. The empirical analysis suggests that there is a long-term relationship
between CO2 and particulate matter emissions with per capita income and other variables,
including institutional factors and trade, leading to specific recommendations on future
strategies for sustainable development in an African context.
Keywords
HB Economic Theory