Environmental Pressure Evaluation Using Carbondioxide Emissions: An Environmental Kuznets Curve Panel Data Application

Abstract

Environmental pressure evaluation using carbondioxide emissions: An environmental Kuznets curve panel data application This study investigates Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) Hypothesis with a panel data (45x40) application. CO2 emissions representing environmental pressure and GDP per capita values representing economical development are applied. Regarding the critiques on the first term studies in literature, the stationarity and cointegration analyses are conducted extensively. It is determined that even different mathematical forms in the results show similar EKC relationships in practice. In this respect, models estimations show consistency among themselves and they are consistent with the theory Notwithstanding, the models, particularly in logarithmic level, show broad sensitiveness therefore the robustness of the models are found questionable. As to physical emissions values, it is not difficult to predict a short term rise for the carbon dioxide emissions level. Particularly, Turkey, as a developing country with very low values under the turning point, is very likely to show further environmental pressure increase in terms of carbon dioxide emission.