Question

What is the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and what leads to its shape? Why is it more likely to be observed for local pollutants and less likely to be observed for global pollutants?

Answer 1

Answer- The environmental Kuznets curve is hypothesized relationship between various indicators of environmental degradation and per capita income. This implies that environmental impact or emissions per capita are an inverted U shaped function of per capita . The shape of inverted U shaped Kuznets curve hypothesis, as per capita national income of a country increases, in the initial stage of growth, inequality or income distribution rises and after reaching the highest degree in the intermediate level the income inequality falls. It may be applicable to loca pollutant like urban waste and water pollution. When it comes to pollution with transboundary impact, especially global pollutant such as CO2, no country has sufficient to regulate these emissions.