Abstract

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis posits an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation suggesting that pollution initially increases with economic development but eventually decreases as income continues to rise. This study explores the EKC hypothesis by analyzing a broad spectrum of countries with varying levels of income and development. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset that includes both developed and developing nations we employ advanced econometric techniques to test the robustness of the EKC relationship across different environmental indicators and economic contexts. Our findings reveal nuanced patterns: while the EKC relationship holds in some regions it varies significantly based on the type of pollution and the level of economic development. We also investigate factors such as governance technological advancement and international trade which influence the EKC dynamics. This research contributes to the understanding of