Title: World emissions and economic growth: application of non-parametric methods

Authors: Tetsuya Tsurumi, Shunsuke Managi

Addresses: International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79–4, Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240–8501, Japan. ' International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79–4, Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240–8501, Japan

Abstract: The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesises an inverse U-shaped relationship between a measure of environmental pollution and per capita income levels. In this study, we apply non-parametric estimation of local polynomial regression (local quadratic fitting) to allow more flexibility in local estimation. This study uses a larger and globally representative sample of many local and global pollutants and natural resources including Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) emission, CO₂ emission, CO₂ damage, energy use, energy depletion, mineral depletion, improved water source, PM10, particulate emission damage, forest area and net forest depletion.

Keywords: pollutants; economic growth; EKC; environmental Kuznets curve; non-parametric method; environmental pollution; biological oxygen demand; emissions; carbon dioxide emissions; carbon dioxide damage; energy use; energy depletion; mineral depletion; water sources; particulate emissions; forest depletion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2009.022085

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2009 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.69 - 83

Published online: 18 Dec 2008 *

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