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Carbon emissions, income inequality and environmental degradation: the case of Mediterranean countries

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  • Fateh Belaïd, Sabri Boubaker, Rajwane Kafrouni

Abstract

This study examines the main driving forces affecting short- and long-term CO2 emissions pattern due to changes in growth and income inequality for 11 Mediterranean economies over the period 1990—2012. It proposes an autoregressive dynamic distributive lag dynamic panel specification to (i) test for non-linearity between income inequality and CO2 emissions, (ii) assess whether there is a differentiated effect of income inequality on CEO2 emissions depending on the level of GDP, and (iii) test for other sources of non-linearity between income inequality and CO2 emissions. The results indicate a negative and significant association between income inequality and carbon emissions which means that greater inequality leads to environmental degradation. However, in the short-run, the results show a positive and significant relationship between the income inequality and CO2 emissions

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  • Fateh Belaïd, Sabri Boubaker, Rajwane Kafrouni, 2020. "Carbon emissions, income inequality and environmental degradation: the case of Mediterranean countries," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 17(1), pages 73-102, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:liu:liucej:v:17:y:2020:i:1:p:73-102
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    Cited by:

    1. Wan, Guanghua & Wang, Chen & Wang, Jinxian & Zhang, Xun, 2022. "The income inequality-CO2 emissions nexus: Transmission mechanisms," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
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    3. Fateh Belaîd & Sofien Tiba, 2023. "Repercussions the Covid-19 Pandemic on the SDGs Achievement: Is it a New Era for the Development?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(1), pages 138-147, February.
    4. Hou, Aoyu & Liu, Ao & Chai, Li, 2024. "Does reducing income inequality promote the decoupling of economic growth from carbon footprint?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    5. Obadiah Jonathan Gimba & Abdulkareem Alhassan & Huseyin Ozdeser & Wafa Ghardallou & Mehdi Seraj & Ojonugwa Usman, 2023. "Towards low carbon and sustainable environment: does income inequality mitigate ecological footprints in Sub-Saharan Africa?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10425-10445, September.
    6. Gaies, Brahim & Nakhli, Mohamed Sahbi & Sahut, Jean-Michel, 2022. "What are the effects of economic globalization on CO2 emissions in MENA countries?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    7. Sofien Tiba & Fateh Belaid, 2021. "Modeling The Nexus Between Sustainable Development And Renewable Energy: The African Perspectives," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 307-329, February.
    8. Omri, Anis & Omri, Henda & Slimani, Sana & Belaid, Fateh, 2022. "Environmental degradation and life satisfaction: Do governance and renewable energy matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income inequality; Environmental degradation; Economic growth; Heterogeneous panel;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C2 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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