ABSTRACT
The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is a hypothesis that various indicators of environmental degradation first increase and then decrease as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita increases. This model has been a very popular explanation of changes in environmental quality. Recent research shows, however, that economic growth itself usually reduces environmental quality and that other factors have reduced environmental impacts over time. On the other hand, the impact of growth is often less and the other factors stronger in richer countries. Therefore, the relationship between environment and development is more complex than the EKC portrays.
