Is there an Environmental Kuznets Curve for South Africa? A co-summability approach using a century of data

摘要: Abstract There exists a huge international literature on the, so-called, Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, which in turn, postulates an inverted u-shaped relationship between environmental pollutants and output. The empirical EKC has mainly used test for cointegration, based polynomial relationships pollution income. Motivated by the fact that, measured per capita CO 2 equivalent emissions, South Africa is world's most carbon-intensive non-oil-producing developing country, this paper aims to validity of Africa. For purpose, we use century data (1911–2010), capture process development better compared short sample-based research; concept co-summability, designed analyze non-linear long-run relations among persistent processes. Our results, however, provide no support Africa, both full-sample sub-samples (determined tests structural breaks), implying that reduce emissions without sacrificing growth, policies should be aimed at promoting energy efficiency.