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Impact of economic capabilities and population agglomeration on PM2.5 emission: empirical evidence from sub-Saharan African countries

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Abstract

The utilization of economic capabilities to raise production in the economy enhances the industrial activities and use of transportation. These activities deteriorate the quality of the environment and raise the level of particulate matter (PM2.5). The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of economic capabilities and population agglomeration on PM2.5 emissions for the sample of 23 sub-Saharan African countries—a highly polluted region of the world. The study used panel regression from 2007 to 2015 and found that production capabilities are highly significant and directly effecting PM2.5 emissions. The Kuznets hypothesis does not hold in this region, and the concentration of population in urban areas is also significant. To avoid the problem of possible endogeneity in the empirical model and for robustness check, the study also utilized system GMM and found consistent results. The findings of the study are highly valuable to reduce PM2.5 and propose that the policymakers in Sub-Saharan African countries should opt for industrial specialization rather than economic complexity and ensure that the proper measures are taken to control PM2.5. Moreover, population concentrations should not be taken place in a few main urban cities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to appreciate the Economics and Chemical Engineering Departments of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore campus, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, for providing research facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

    Summaira Malik

  2. Department of Economics and Business Administration, Division of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan

    Asim Iqbal

  3. Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

    Asma Imran

  4. School of Business and Economics, University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Usman

  5. National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Nadeem

  6. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Botany, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Murree Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan

    Saira Asif

  7. Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

    Awais Bokhari

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  1. Summaira Malik
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Correspondence to Awais Bokhari.

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Malik, S., Iqbal, A., Imran, A. et al. Impact of economic capabilities and population agglomeration on PM2.5 emission: empirical evidence from sub-Saharan African countries. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 34017–34026 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10907-9

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