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Is there a waste Kuznets curve for OECD? Some evidence from panel analysis

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Abstract

We empirically investigated the existence of a Kuznets curve for OECD area in terms of municipal solid waste generation by utilizing a panel data covering the 2002–2017 period. Results from GMM and between estimators conclude that an inverted U-shaped Kuznets relationship holds for OECD countries, but only in relative terms. Results show that consumption expenditure is one of the main drivers of waste generation. Country-based estimations of random coefficient approach state that 8 out of 16 high-income countries and only 2 out of low-income countries have achieved decoupling the waste generation from consumption expenditures. Some policy implications are recommended.

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Notes

  1. Australia, Chile, and New Zealand are excluded from the analysis.

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  1. Department of Economics, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, Turkey

    Fırat Yılmaz

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Yılmaz, F. Is there a waste Kuznets curve for OECD? Some evidence from panel analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 40331–40345 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09109-0

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