The Environmental Kuznets Curve Semi-Parametrically Revisited

This paper re-examines the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) across countries using a semi-parametric regression estimator, which places no restrictions on the functional form. Our results using crosscountry panel data on Sulfur and Carbon Dioxide strongly suggest that the relationship between wealth and environmental degradation is not bellshaped, as suggested by an EKC. Rather that there is a positive link for the very poorest countries and no clear relationship for richer countries