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Environment Quality and Economic Convergence: Extending Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis

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  • Alassane Drabo

    (Centre d''Etudes et de Recherches sur le Développement International (CERDI) - Université d''Auvergne)

Abstract

This paper examines the link between environmental indicators and economic convergence for a large sample of rich and poor countries. While in economic literature income and environment are seen to have an inverted-U shaped relationship (Environment Kuznets Curve hypothesis), it is also well established that an improvement in environmental quality is positively related to economic activity. In the early stage of economic development, the gain from income growth could be cancelled or mitigated by environmental degradation through some channels and create a vicious circle in economic activity unlike in developed countries. This in turn could slow down economic convergence. We empirically assess this issue through an econometric model. We found that environmental degradation affects negatively economic activity and reduces the ability of poor countries to reach developed ones economically.

Suggested Citation

  • Alassane Drabo, 2010. "Environment Quality and Economic Convergence: Extending Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 30(2), pages 1617-1632.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-10-00333
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    Cited by:

    1. Alassane Drabo, 2011. "Agricultural primary commodity export and environmental degradation: what consequences for population's health?," CERDI Working papers halshs-00586034, HAL.
    2. Shahid ALI & Maryam BIBI & Fazli RABBI, 2014. "A New Economic Dimension to the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Estimation of Environmental Efficiency in Case of Pakistan," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(1), pages 68-79, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental quality; Income growth; Economic convergence; Speed of convergence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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