Air Pollution and Economic Growth in MENA Countries: Testing EKC Hypothesis

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is one of the models describing the relationship between economic growth and environmental quality. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between economic growth and the two environmental indicators (SO sub(2) emissions, CO sub(2) emissions) in 22 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Based on a country level analysis and by using time series data, the study revealed that there is an evidence for SO sub(2-) EKC for Algeria, Tunisia, Yemen, Morocco, Turkey and Libya. Our findings for CO sub(2) emissions also support an inverted U-shape pattern associated with the EKC hypothesis for Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey and Jordan. The results also showed that MENA region as a whole did not show EKC for SO sub(2) emissions and CO sub(2) emissions. Stricter policy measures and higher demands for the adoption of best environmental practices are required in order to generate an inverted U shaped curve relationship between GDP per capita and environmental degradation.Original Abstract: Aplinkos Kuznetso kreives (AKK) hipoteze yra vienas is modeliu, kuriuo aprasomas ekonomikos augimo ir aplinkos kokybes rysys. Sio tyrimo tikslas buvo istirti sssajs tarp ekonomikos augimo ir dvieju aplinkos apsaugos rodikliu (ismetamo SO sub(2) ir CO sub(2) kiekio) 22-ose Artimuju Rytu ir Siaures Afrikos (MENA) salyse. Remi antis analize Salies lygiu ir naudojant laiko eilutes tyrimu parodyta, kad vertinant ismetama SO sub(2) kiekj AKK hipoteze galiojo Alzyre, Tunise, Jemene, Maroke, Turkijoje ir Libijoje. Ismetamo CO sub(2) kiekio vertinimu taip pat patvirtintas su AKK hipoteze susijcs apverstos "U" raides formos modelis Tunise, Maroke, Turkijoje ir Jordanijoje. Rezultatai taip pat parode, kad, vertinant ismetama SO sub(2) ir CO sub(2) kiekj MENA regionui, kaip vienetui, AKK hipoteze negaliojo. Grieztesnes politines priemones ir aukstesni geriausios patirties aplinkos apsaugos srityje peremimo reikalavimai yra butini siekiant gauti apverstos "U" raides formos kreives sasaja tarp B VP vienam gyventojui ir aplinkos bukles prastejimo.