title: Is inequality harmful for the environment? An empirical analysis applied to developing and transition countries.
abstract: The object of this article is to examine the relation between social inequalities and pollution. First of all we provide a survey demonstrating that, from a theoretical point of view, a decrease in inequality has an uncertain impact on the environment. Second, on the basis of these conceptual considerations, we propose an econometric analysis based on panel data (fixed-effects and dynamic panel data models) concerning developing and transition countries for the 1988-2003 period. We examine specifically the effect of inequality on the extent of local pollution (sulphur dioxide emissions and organic water pollution) by integrating the Gini index into the formulation of the environmental Kuznets' curve.
authors.affiliation: GREThA, Université de Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meunie
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history; D036262:Empirical Research; D004777:Environment; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012940:Social Problems / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors / Q000266:history; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence