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Convergence in Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Emissions Since 1850 in OECD Countries: Evidence from a New Panel Unit Root Test

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Abstract

The convergence of air pollution is a key assumption in several environmental impact assessment models and one of the major ingredients for multilateral climate agreements and allocation of emission rights. In this paper, the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions’ convergence among 32 OECD countries is examined using the panel stationarity test of Nazlioglu and Karul [1] that provides for smooth breaks, cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneity across the cross-sectional units. For robustness sake, we have also used a panel stationarity test that accounts for sharp breaks. Overall, the findings reveal that there is convergence of SO2 emissions among the OECD countries. The results imply that adjusting the mean value of the relative SO2 emissions trend path should be a key concern of the OECD nations. Moreover, the findings signify that instead of following independent paths in pollution control, the OECD countries are gravitating towards a similar standard of environmental performance. Moreover, the forecast of future relative SO2 emission figures can be based on its past values.

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Notes

  1. Usually the existing literature will only test the cross-sectional dependency of the original series. We have also tested cross-sectional dependency of the relative series since the unit root testing has been conducted on the relative series in the process of testing for convergence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business, Multimedia University, 75450, Melaka, Malaysia

    Sakiru Adebola Solarin

  2. Rajagiri Business School, Rajagiri Valley Campus, Kochi, India

    Aviral Tiwari

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  1. Sakiru Adebola Solarin
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  2. Aviral Tiwari
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Correspondence to Sakiru Adebola Solarin.

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Solarin, S.A., Tiwari, A. Convergence in Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Emissions Since 1850 in OECD Countries: Evidence from a New Panel Unit Root Test. Environ Model Assess 25, 665–675 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-019-09687-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-019-09687-5

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