Let the data speak: semiparametric evidence on the environmental Kuznets curve in Africa

This paper revisits the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis and applies a flexible semi-parametric panel fixed effects technique to identify the true shape of the income-pollution relationship for a sample of 49 African countries for the period 1990–2010. Compared with standard panel data techniques which yields different conclusions, the former show that the income-pollution nexus is non-monotonically increasing and decreasing for \(\hbox {CO}_2\) and \(\hbox {PM}_{10}\) emissions respectively. Hence, the effect of economic growth differs with each atmospheric pollutants and is not sufficient for improving environmental quality. There is need for policies that emphasizes sustainable economic growth and the use of cleaner energy sources.