Environmental Kuznets Curves: A Study on the Economic Theory and Political Economy of Environmental Quality Improvements in the Course of Economic Growth

by Michael P. Vogel

Overview

Environmental Kuznets Curves - one of the most controversial issues of current environmental economics - suggest that economic growth may lead to environmental quality improvements. Why and under which circumstances this may be so, are the questions addressed in this book. The approach taken is formal, using techniques of static and dynamic optimisation. In addition, the main assumptions, arguments and conclusions are also presented in a non-formel way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783642585173
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	12/06/2012
Series:	Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems , #469
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Why Does the Environment Matter?.- 1.2 Patterns of Environmental Change.- 1.3 Objectives and Methodology.- 1.4 Overview of this Study.- 2 Economic Determinants of Environmental Quality Changes.- 2.1 Emission Accounting.- 2.2 Unintentional Emission Reductions.- 2.3 Intentional Emission Reductions.- 2.4 Valuing Environmental Quality Improvements.- 2.5 The Emergence of Demand for Pollution Reductions.- 2.6 Concluding Remarks.- 3 Environmental Preferences, Socially Optimal Growth, and Pollution.- 3.1 The General Model and its Dynamics.- 3.2 Extension to n Dimensions of Environmental Quality.- 3.3 Functional Forms for Utility and Environmental Quality.- 3.4 Is Environmental Quality a Luxury?.- 3.5 Concluding Remarks.- 4 Income Distribution, Desired Environmental Policy, and Green Middle-Class Elitism.- 4.1 Environmental Policy and Environmental Quality.- 4.2 Distributional Inequality and Pollution.- 4.3 The Middle Class and Environmental Protection Issues.- 4.4 Sensitivity of Income to Environmental Policy Changes.- 4.5 A Private Supplement to Public Environmental Quality.- 4.6 Concluding Remarks.- 5 Environmental Concern, Green Campaigning, and Corporate Lobbying.- 5.1 Environmental Concern and Public Environmental Policy.- 5.2 Green Campaigning.- 5.3 Corporate Lobbying.- 5.4 Green Campaigning Revisited.- 5.5 Concluding Remarks.- 6 Endogenous Environmental Policy and its Effects on a Growing Economy.- 6.1 A Multi-Sector Growth Model with Pollution.- 6.2 Government Objective and Policy.- 6.3 The Development Phase.- 6.4 The Environment Phase.- 6.5 Concluding Remarks.- 7 Environmental Kuznets Curves: Limitations and Opportunities.- 7.1 A Simple Concept and its Complex Realisation.- 7.2 Environmental Kuznets Curves: Not a Cure-Ail.- 7.3 From Cowboy Economyto Spaceman Economy.- Symbols and Abbreviations.- Figures.- References.