Economic complexity and environmental pollution: Evidence from the former socialist transition countries

Arbeitspapier

This study examines the link between economic complexity and environmental quality by exploiting the similar starting points of the former socialist transition countries after the fall of the iron curtain. We refer to the extended theories of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), stating that environmental pollution follows an inverted u-shaped course with respect to economic complexity. Using comprehensive data of 27 countries for the period 1995-2017, our results show that the EKC can be found for countries whose complexity rose over time. Additionally, since the results for production-based and consumption-based CO2 emissions are similar, we can discard emissions offshoring as a major explaining factor. Consequently, our findings suggest that more complex products are the drivers of the EKC. However, as the turning point is associated with high levels of pollution, our estimates imply that complexity may even exacerbate environmental issues in the short and middle run in less developed countries.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Diskussionspapiere ; No. 124

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Environment and Growth ; Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Natural Resources; Energy; Environment
• Subject: Economic Complexity ; Environmental Kuznets Curve ; Former Socialist States

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bucher, Florian ; Scheu, Lucas ; Schröpf, Benedikt
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Lehrstuhl für Arbeitsmarkt- und Regionalpolitik
• (where): Nürnberg
• (when): 2022

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/251520
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET