The Environmental Kuznets Curve in a World of Irreversibility

Fabien Prieur

No 2007.57, Working Papers from Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei

Abstract: We develop an overlapping generations model where consumption is the source of polluting emissions. Pollution stock accumulates with emissions but is partially assimilated by nature at each period. The assimilation capacity of nature is limited and vanishes beyond a critical level of pollution. We first show that multiple equilibria exist. More importantly, some exhibit irreversible pollution levels although an abatement activity is operative. Thus, the simple engagement of maintenance does not necessarily suffice to protect an economy against convergence toward a steady state having the properties of an ecological and economic poverty trap. In contrast with earlier related studies, the emergence of the environmental Kuznets curve is no longer the rule. Instead, we detect a sort of degenerated Environmental Kuznets Curve that corresponds to the equilibrium trajectory leading to the irreversible solution.

Keywords: Overlapping Generations; Irreversible Pollution; Poverty Trap; Environmental Kuznets Curve (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D62 D91 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-dge, nep-ene and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The environmental Kuznets curve in a world of irreversibility (2009)
Working Paper: The Environmental Kuznets Curve in a World of Irreversibility (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fem:femwpa:2007.57

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