Urbanization and Environmental Quality in Africa

Ekpeno Effiong

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Africa’s rapid urbanization pose challenges for her sustainable development. This paper investigates the environmental impact of urbanization for 49 African countries from 1990 to 2010. Using the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) framework, a recently developed semi-parametric panel fixed-effects regression technique, and two atmospheric air pollutants, namely carbon dioxide (CO2) and ambient particulate matter PM10 emissions, the evidence indicates that urbanization reduces environmental pollution. The semi-parametric analysis reveals that the result is more pronounced with PM10 but weaker for CO2 emissions. Moreover, there is no evidence to confirm the Kuznets hypothesis of an inverted U-shaped curve between urbanization and environmental pollution. To reap the benefits of urbanization, there is need for a strategic urban planning with basic infrastructure investment that promotes a green environment.

Keywords: Urbanization; Environmental Quality; STIRPAT; Semi-parametric method; Africa. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C14 C33 O55 Q2 Q20 Q5 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-07-31
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-agr, nep-ene, nep-env, nep-tre and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:73224

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