Population growth and the Environmental Kuznets Curve

the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis postulates an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and many local environmental health indicators, while some economists argue that the relationship follows other patterns. By using an overlapping generations (OLG) model, we focus on technological effects, where the properties of the existing pollution abatement technologies could generate the inverted U-shaped EKC and other forms of growth-pollution paths for the less developed economies. Moreover, we examine the effects of population growth on the shape of the EKC, provided that it exists. Simulations indicate positive population growth raises the height of the EKC at every level of output per worker; thus, putting extra burden on environment quality. Empirical evidence from China partially supports the results.