Investigating the Impact of Economic Growth on Pollution Index in Emerging Market Countries

Abstract

This research aims to provide answers to two problems: to analyze the influence of economic, ecological, and demographic variables on environmental quality and which variables of the three have more influence on environmental quality. Using panel data analysis, with 24 Emerging Markets countries as the research objects and a series for the period between 2013 to 2022, it was found that: (a) the variables of economic growth, greenhouse gases, petrol consumption, and population influence the pollution index, while carbon emissions have no significant effect on the Pollution Index in Emerging Market countries; (b) the variables that have the greatest influence on the pollution index in emerging market countries are ecological and demographic variables compared to economic variables. Based on the findings, the implications for policy implementation are: (a) providing understanding to the public about ecology; (b) increasing population must be balanced with increasing education for the community to provide information about maintaining environmental quality; and (c) directing a sustainable economic development model in all countries through an appropriate and consistent policy framework. Theoretically, this research contributes to sharpening and understanding the flow of thinking of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-03-07 Full Text: PDF