Asymmetric Effects of the Defense Burden on Environmental Degradation: Evidence from NATO Countries

Rapid industrialization tends to occur at the expense of natural resources. Thus, countries are inclined control resources for their development objectives, which may create conflicts when allocate scarce national defense. As a major military block, NATO poses potential threat environmental degradation, as it comprises large industrialized arms manufacturers and spenders. Therefore, aim this study is investigate asymmetric effects defense burden on has rarely been studied in empirical literature. Panel ARDL NARDL methodologies were used analyze period 1965–2018 15 oldest members NATO. The findings panel analysis do not indicate any significant effect (ME) carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) long term. On other hand, indicates that asymmetric; 1% negative change ME leads 0.08% drop CO2 In line with these findings, results causality tests verify validity treadmill destruction theory.