Economic growth and the environment: reassessing the environmental Kuznets Curve for air pollution emissions in OECD countries

This paper tests the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for four local (SO x , NO x , CO, VOC) and two global (CO 2 , GHG) air pollutants. Using a panel data set of thirty OECD countries, the paper finds that the postulated inverted U-shaped relationship between income and pollution does not hold for all gases. A meaningful EKC exists only for CO, VOC and NO x , where for CO 2 the curve is monotonically increasing. For GHG there is indication of EKC, but most countries are still on the increasing path of the curve. SO x emissions follow a U-shaped curve.