Is the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis valid for developing countries? A survey

This paper surveys the existing Environmental Kuznets Curve studies and discusses to what extent they may be valid and applicable for developing countries. We found that, given the shortcomings in both the theoretical and empirical aspects of the analyses applied to this hypothesis, no one-fit-for-all inverted-U-shaped curve can describe adequately the relationship between growth and pollution –which does not only imply challenges but also opportunities for developing countries: indeed, they are the ones in charge for the choice of their own sustainable development trajectory in the future. If they manage to coordinate adequately their structural, institutional and technical policies, all the while making good use of the already-existing techniques in pollution abatement, they will be able to tunnel or leap-frog the EKC trajectory derived from developed countries’ experience, thus making a win-win situation happen for both economy and the environment as soon as possible.