Record Details
Using country-level forest coverage to analyze the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Using country-level forest coverage to analyze the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve |
| Names |
Gulpen, Sam Franciscus Johannes
(creator) Jaeger, William K. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 2014-08-05 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 2015 |
| Abstract | This thesis seeks to analyze the relationship between economic growth and environmental quality, in this case measured by forest cover, and analyzes whether this relationship is consistent with an Environmental Kuznets Curve. Additionally the relationship between population density and forest cover was analyzed. A simple theoretical model is derived that describes a number of conditions under which the socially optimal growth path of forest cover may be consistent with an Environmental Kuznets Curve. This curve shows that, as income per capita increases, forest cover will initially decrease and, upon reaching a turning point, may eventually increase. A time series panel dataset consisting of 96 developing and developed countries, spanning from 1950-2010, was constructed from the FAOs Global Forest Resource Assessments. The empirical analysis included a number of explanatory variables, such as income per capita and population density, and other factors that could influence the growth path of forest cover. Results of the random effects estimations proved to be inconclusive after adjusting for the heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation present in the data. Evidence in favor of an Environmental Kuznets Curve, based on the results, is therefore limited but is not sufficient to support or refute its existence. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Access Condition | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ |
| Topic | Environmental quality -- Econometric models |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/51837 |
