Ablam Estel Apeti , Bao We Wal Bambe , Eyah Denise Edoh , Alpha Ly
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Recent analyses have highlighted the fact that the richest people contribute disproportionately to the increase in CO2 emissions, and thus to global warming. So far, the literature has mainly provided descriptive analyses linking wealth inequality to carbon inequality, raising concerns about the identification of the relationship between the two variables. Against this background, this paper advances the issue by examining the effect of wealth accumulation on carbon emissions, thus providing robust econometric validity. Based on a large sample of 200 countries from 1990–2020, our regression estimates support the hypothesis that wealth concentration significantly increases carbon inequality and accounts for nearly 20% of the CO2 emissions of the richest people. Our findings also highlight some heterogeneity, confirming the prominent role of industrialized and newly emerging countries such as China and India in global carbon emissions. Finally, transmission channel analysis suggests that the effect of wealth inequality on inequality in CO2 emissions is channeled through deterioration in institutional quality, captured by the level of democracy and environmental legislation introduction, and the marginal propensity to emit, captured by global emissions per capita.
期刊介绍:
Ecological Economics is concerned with extending and integrating the understanding of the interfaces and interplay between "nature''s household" (ecosystems) and "humanity''s household" (the economy). Ecological economics is an interdisciplinary field defined by a set of concrete problems or challenges related to governing economic activity in a way that promotes human well-being, sustainability, and justice. The journal thus emphasizes critical work that draws on and integrates elements of ecological science, economics, and the analysis of values, behaviors, cultural practices, institutional structures, and societal dynamics. The journal is transdisciplinary in spirit and methodologically open, drawing on the insights offered by a variety of intellectual traditions, and appealing to a diverse readership.
Specific research areas covered include: valuation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and development, ecologically integrated technology, integrated ecologic-economic modelling at scales from local to regional to global, implications of thermodynamics for economics and ecology, renewable resource management and conservation, critical assessments of the basic assumptions underlying current economic and ecological paradigms and the implications of alternative assumptions, economic and ecological consequences of genetically engineered organisms, and gene pool inventory and management, alternative principles for valuing natural wealth, integrating natural resources and environmental services into national income and wealth accounts, methods of implementing efficient environmental policies, case studies of economic-ecologic conflict or harmony, etc. New issues in this area are rapidly emerging and will find a ready forum in Ecological Economics.