Economic complexity and environmental pollution: evidence from the former socialist transition countries
Bucher F, Scheu L, Schröpf B (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
DOI: 10.1007/s10663-023-09575-y
Abstract
This study examines the link between economic complexity and environmental pollution by exploiting a massive and unprecedented decline of CO2 emissions and complexity in the former socialist transition countries after the fall of the iron curtain. We refer to the extended theories of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), stating that environmental pollution follows an inverted u-shaped course with respect to economic complexity. Using comprehensive data of 27 countries for the period 1995-2017, our results show that the EKC can be found for countries whose complexity rose over time. Additionally, since the results for production-based and consumption-based CO2 emissions are similar, we can discard emissions offshoring as a major explaining factor. Consequently, our findings suggest that more complex products have influenced the u-shaped course of the EKC. However, as the turning point is associated with high levels of pollution, our estimates imply that complexity may even exacerbate environmental issues in the short and middle run in less developed countries.
Authors with CRIS profile
Benedikt Schröpf
Lehrstuhl für Volkswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Arbeitsmarkt- und Regionalpolitik
Involved external institutions
Hungary (HU)How to cite
APA:
Bucher, F., Scheu, L., & Schröpf, B. (2023). Economic complexity and environmental pollution: evidence from the former socialist transition countries. Empirica. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10663-023-09575-y
MLA:
Bucher, Florian, Lucas Scheu, and Benedikt Schröpf. "Economic complexity and environmental pollution: evidence from the former socialist transition countries." Empirica (2023).
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