SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This study examines the long-run relationship between industrial pollution and income in China using provincial panel data. Four types of pollutants are modelled: waste water, solid wastes, soot and SO2 emission. Two types of income effects are considered: the scale and growth effects. The study finds little evidence of inverse U shape curves as postulated by EKC models; pollutant emissions may go positively or negatively with income irrespective of income levels whereas certain sign of alleviation in pollutant concentration due to income growth is discernible; trade is found to be insignificant while the hazardous nature of pollutants appears to be an important factor for heterogeneity in the income effect estimates; the heterogeneity cautions us against simple panel model specification.