Environmental Degradation and Economic Growth: Do Emerging Economies Follow the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis? by Prof. Chow and Mr. Mukesh Dangol

We were delighted to have Prof. Chow and Mr. Mukesh Dangol — her co-researcher and a 2022 graduate of our university — as guest speakers at this month’s lunch seminar, where they delivered talks on the theme “Environmental Degradation and Economic Growth: Do Emerging Economies Follow the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis?”

The seminar addressed how the development pathways of emerging economies can significantly influence the global environment. The speakers tested the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis by applying a panel quantile regression analysis. Their results validated the existence of the EKC: while per capita energy consumption showed a consistently positive impact on per capita CO₂ emissions across all quantiles — with increasing influence in higher quantiles — both trade openness and urbanization were found to reduce emissions.

The use of quantile regression enabled a more nuanced understanding of emission patterns across countries, offering valuable insight for designing effective, targeted environmental policies.

 

We look forward to hosting more engaging seminars on a wide range of topics in the future and encourage everyone to participate.

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