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The environmental Kuznets curve and equilibrium indeterminacy

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  • Fernández, Esther
  • Pérez, Rafaela
  • Ruiz, Jesús

Abstract

We illustrate that the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) could be the result of indeterminacy of equilibria. In a simple neoclassical growth model with a single environmental externality in households’ utility function and with public abatement, we characterize the condition on the parameters in preferences and in the pollution technology leading to local indeterminacy of equilibrium. Estimates of the crucial parameters of the model using data from economies that display the EKC satisfy the theoretical indeterminacy condition. We find that the presence of abatement activities is not a necessary condition for indeterminacy equilibria and hence, an EKC to arise. On the other hand, non-separability of consumption and pollution in the utility function is crucial.

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  • Fernández, Esther & Pérez, Rafaela & Ruiz, Jesús, 2012. "The environmental Kuznets curve and equilibrium indeterminacy," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 1700-1717.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:36:y:2012:i:11:p:1700-1717
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2012.05.004
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    Cited by:

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    2. Stefano Bosi & David Desmarchelier, 2017. "Are the Laffer curve and the green paradox mutually exclusive?," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 19(5), pages 937-956, October.
    3. Stefano Bosi & David Desmarchelier, 2016. "Are the Laffer curve and the Green Paradox mutually exclusive?," Working Papers hal-04141602, HAL.
    4. Stefano Bosi & David Desmarchelier, 2018. "Pollution and infectious diseases," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 14(4), pages 351-372, December.
    5. Wang, Min & Zhao, Jinhua & Bhattacharya, Joydeep, 2015. "Optimal health and environmental policies in a pollution-growth nexus," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 160-179.
    6. Stefano Bosi & David Desmarchelier & Lionel Ragot, 2015. "Preferences and pollution cycles," Working Papers hal-04141382, HAL.
    7. Stefano Bosi & David Desmarchelier, 2021. "Pollution effects on disease transmission and economic stability," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 17(2), pages 169-189, June.
    8. David DESMARCHELIER, 2022. "Reconsidering the interplay between endogenous growth and the Environmental Kuznets Curve," Working Papers of BETA 2022-03, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    9. Maxime MENUET & Alexandru MINEA & Patrick VILLIEU & Anastasios XEPAPADEAS, 2021. "Growth, Endogenous Environmental Cycles, and Indeterminacy," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2889, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.
    10. Maxime Menuet & Alexandru Minea & Patrick Villieu & Anastasios Xepapadeas, 2020. "Economic Growth and the Environment: A Theoretical Reappraisal," DEOS Working Papers 2031, Athens University of Economics and Business.
    11. Omar Licandro & Luis A. Puch & Jesús Ruiz, 2018. "Continuous vs Discrete Time Modelling in Growth and Business Cycle Theory," Documentos de Trabajo del ICAE 2018-28, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Instituto Complutense de Análisis Económico.
    12. Chaudhry, Azam & Tanveer, Hafsa & Naz, R., 2017. "Unique and multiple equilibria in a macroeconomic model with environmental quality: An analysis of local stability," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 206-214.
    13. Antoci, Angelo & Borghesi, Simone & Galeotti, Marcello & Russu, Paolo, 2022. "Maladaptation to environmental degradation and the interplay between negative and positive externalities," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    14. José Gaspar & Liliana Garrido-da-Silva & Paulo B. Vasconcelos & Óscar Afonso, 2023. "Local and global indeterminacy and transition dynamics in a growth model with public goods," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 22(2), pages 271-314, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental Kuznets curve; Local indeterminacy; Environmental taxes; Pollution; Public abatement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • Q28 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy

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