Environmental Kuznets Curve: An Updated Empirical Vision for Ecuador

Abstract

The Environmental Kuznets Curve provides a conceptual and empirical tool to discuss the relationship between economic development and environmental deterioration in the advancement of the study of the Anthropocene. The analysis is performed using World Bank data from 92 countries with at least 60 interludes and is subjected to a polynomial function model. The results show that the curve is N-shaped for countries with high per capita income. The fulfillment of the turn for Ecuador is related to a trend that can accept the assumption of the Kuznets Environmental Curve. Likewise, the study is limited to the ambiguities in the heterogeneity between countries, therefore, the analysis of the effectiveness of environmental policies, spatial variations and the long-term trend is recommended as future research.