The Impact of Economic Growth, Energy, and Financial Sector Development on the Environmental Quality; Evidence from the Developed and Developing Countries

ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates estimates finance induced Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis in order to put forward empirical relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and financial development. Annual data ranging from 1960 to 2011 has been employed to both time series and panel setting for developed and developing countries. Results from both time series and panel data analyses suggest that carbon dioxide emissions in developed and developing countries are in long-term equilibrium relationship; trade and finance sectors have long-term significant impact on carbon emissions and therefore carbon emissions converge to their long-term equilibrium levels through the channels of finance and trade sectors. However, speed of adjustment is different across countries and financial expansion is negatively related to carbon emissions. Impulse response analyses prove that finance and trade sectors have negative (reducing) impact on the emissions levels in the case of developed economies while they have positive impact in the case of developing economies. This supports the reality that developed countries are more successful in adapting energy conservation policies than developing countries. Therefore, authorities in developing countries need to adapt conservation policies effectively in order to prevent increases in emissions levels through expansion in financial and trade sectors. Keywords: CO2 Emissions; Energy; Income; Financial Development; International Trade. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………