Title: Re-examining the growth-emissions nexus: does the latecomer advantage alter the environmental Kuznets curve?

Authors: Klarizze Puzon; Ruperto Alonzo

Addresses: Laboratoire Montpellierain d'Economie Theorique et Appliquee, Université Montpellier 1, UMR5474 LAMETA, F-34000 Montpellier, France. ' School of Economics, University of the Philippines, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract: The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis describes an inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental quality indicators and per capita income. In comparison to previous studies on the EKC, this paper tests for the potential advantage of latecomer economies. It is presumed that latecomers will learn from the more efficient pollution abatement technologies employed by their predecessors. Thus, it is predicted that they will attain lower levels of environmental damage than their industrial predecessors at the same income level. To investigate this, this paper uses the contextual case of East Asian economies. In summary, the results imply that not all countries with a latecomer status in the industrialisation process could benefit from being 'late' in environmental deterioration issues.

Keywords: EKC; environmental Kuznets curve; latecomer advantage; environmental quality indicators; per capita income; latecomer economies; pollution abatement; efficiency; East Asia; industrialisation; environmental pollution; economic growth; emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2012.050970

International Journal of Green Economics, 2012 Vol.6 No.3, pp.298 - 316

Published online: 12 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article