Economic development and CO2 emissions : a nonparametric panel approach

We examine the empirical relation between CO©ü emissions per capita and GDP per capita during the period 1960-1996, using a panel of 100 countries. Relying on the nonparametric poolability test of Baltagi et al. (1996), we find evidence of structural stability of the relationship. We then specify a nonparametric panel data model with country-specific effects. Estimation results show that this relationship is upward sloping. Nonparametric specification tests do not reject monotonicity but do reject the polynomial functional form which leads to the environmental Kuznets curve in several studies.

Azomahou, Théophile, François Laisney and Phu Nguyen Van (2006), Economic development and CO2 emissions : a nonparametric panel approach, Journal of Public Economics 90 , 1347-1363