What is the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation? This short piece introduces a special issue on environmental Kuznets curves (EKC), exploring the hypothesized 'inverted-U' relationship between environmental degradation and per capita income. The paper highlights the widespread interest from academics and policymakers regarding EKC analysis and its implications for environment and development. The introduction outlines the contributions of the special issue papers, comparing their empirical results with previous analyses of EKC relationships. It also highlights the additional insights provided by these papers on EKCs. The analyses include several empirical results that compare with previous analysis. By contextualizing the contributions of the special issue, this piece sets the stage for a deeper examination of the EKC phenomenon. This article serves as an overview and positions the environmental Kuznets curve within current discussions on economics and environmental policy.
As an introductory piece in Environment and Development Economics, this paper establishes the context for the special issue on the environmental Kuznets curve. The piece serves as an overview for the journal's audience and contextualizes the issue within current discussions on economics, environmental policy, and demography. The citations to the paper highlight its relevance within the field.