Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in the economy of Côte d’Ivoire using annual time series data of GDP per capita and CO2 emissions over the period 1970-2016. The ARDL bound test approach proposed and applied by Pesaran et al. (2001) indicates a long-run relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions. The existence of a causal relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions is confirmed by VECM Granger causality approach. Using an ARDL model, our results confirm the existence of an environmental Kuznets curve for CO2 emissions. In the long-run, the turning point is 1.826459 thousand US dollars, and this point has been reached for the case of Côte d’Ivoire according to the data in our study. Consequently, we suggest that Côte d’Ivoire implement on the one hand specific and sustained policies to increase GDP per capita to improve environmental quality, and on the other hand implement environmentally friendly regulations to support the country’s economic development.

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