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Environmental Kuznets curves, carbon emissions, and public choice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2010

JODY W. LIPFORD  and
BRUCE YANDLE
JODY W. LIPFORD
Affiliation:
Department of Economics and Business Administration, Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC 29235, USA. Email: [email protected]
BRUCE YANDLE
Affiliation:
Clemson University, PERC Senior Fellow, and Distinguished Adjunct Professor, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, VA, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Concern about global climate change has elicited responses from governments around the world. These responses began with the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and have continued with other negotiations, including the 2009 Copenhagen Summit. These negotiations raised important questions about whether countries will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, if so, how the burden of emissions reductions will be shared. To investigate these questions, we utilize environmental Kuznets curves for carbon emissions for the G8 plus five main developing countries. Our findings raise doubts about the feasibility of reducing global carbon emissions and shed light on the different positions taken by countries on the distribution of emissions reductions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , August 2010 , pp. 417 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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