Evolution of Romania's Economic Structure and Environment Degradation - An Assessment Through LMDI Decomposition Approach

This paper studies the relationships between air pollutants (PM , PM , N O) and different diseases (tumors, skin and respiratory) and the factors influencing air pollutant emissions in Romania. The methods are Toda-Yamamoto procedure of non-causality Granger test, grey relational analysis and logarithmic mean Divisia index method (LMDI). Air pollutants intensities dropped significantly over 2008-2017 period due to structural changes. The only economic activity that showed an increase both in volume and intensity of air pollutants, despite a downward trend of farming activities output is agriculture. Technology improvements play a significant role in mitigation of PM emissions and a moderate role in mitigation of PM emissions. For N O emissions technology used contributed to an increase of N O intensities. Health policy makers should address the issue of technology improvements and mitigation of agriculture emissions to improve health of individuals and air quality.