The importance of population control and macroeconomic stability to reducing environmental degradation: An empirical test of the environmental Kuznets curve for developing countries

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence of the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for 86 developing countries, over the period 1972–2011. By applying several econometric methods, our robust results confirm the presence of an EKC for developing economies. Moreover, our findings provide evidence that the achievement of greater economic growth in developing economies has had an impact on environmental degradation. By adding other relevant controls (for instance, population size and economic instability), we find a meaningful response by these variables to environmental degradation. We add evidence to the existing literature that controlling population size and ensuring macroeconomic stability could minimize the possibility of an adverse impact by economic development on situations of environmental degradation in the developing world.