The Environmental Kuznets Curve from Multiple Perspectives
Date
01.01.2008
01.01.2008
Authors
William K. Jaeger, Van Kolpin
JEL Code
Q2,D61,O13
Q2,D61,O13
Keywords:
Environmental Kuznets Curve,Economic Growth,Environmental Quality
Environmental Kuznets Curve,Economic Growth,Environmental Quality
Publisher
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Editor
Carlo Carraro
Carlo Carraro
The analysis finds that in addition to U-shaped paths of environmental quality arising for growth in income per capita, growth in population can also produce socially efficient patterns that are U-shaped. Sufficient conditions for both types of paths are identified for a range of models and parameters, including symmetrical models with homothetic, constant-returns functions such as with CES functions. Similar results are also shown to arise in decentralized economies under either homogeneous or heterogeneous income levels.