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How does urbanization affect carbon dioxide emissions? A cross-country panel data analysis

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  • Zhang, Ning
  • Yu, Keren
  • Chen, Zhongfei

Abstract

As a crucial indicator of modernization, urbanization has significant effects on carbon dioxide emissions. Using a panel data of 141 countries over the period of 1961–2011, this paper analyzes the impact of urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions empirically. We employ two-way fixed effects model based on the extended STIRPAT theoretical frameworks. Our results show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between urbanization and carbon emissions and the turn point is around 73.80%. But excessive urban concentration can claim the benefits of high-level urbanization. These findings can also help policy makers to use efficient urbanization to curb the carbon emissions, especially for the Asian countries that with high density of population.

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  • Zhang, Ning & Yu, Keren & Chen, Zhongfei, 2017. "How does urbanization affect carbon dioxide emissions? A cross-country panel data analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 678-687.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:107:y:2017:i:c:p:678-687
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.03.072
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