The Environmental Kuznets Curve in Rich and Poor Countries: Insights from NASA-MODIS GPP Data

Liping Gao, Hyeongwoo Kim () and Jiquan Chen

No auwp2024-08, Auburn Economics Working Paper Series from Department of Economics, Auburn University

Abstract: This study proposes an alternative approach to examining the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). Instead of using conventional pollution indicators, we employ gross primary production (GPP) data from the NASA-MODIS dataset as a proxy for environmental quality across 131 countries. By estimating the nonlinear relationship between environmental protection and economic development, we confirm the conventional EKC pattern only in wealthy nations, where environmental quality improves as economies achieve higher levels of prosperity. In less developed countries, however, environmental quality tends to deteriorate further as economic growth accelerates. These results suggest that the EKC may be a localized phenomenon, raising concerns about policy suggestions that prioritize economic growth over environmental protection in less developed regions.

Keywords: Gross Primary Production; NASA-MODIS; Environmental Kuznets Curve; Nonlinearity; Income Groups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O0 Q0 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-eff, nep-ene, nep-env and nep-gro
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