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Item Restricted The validity of the environment kuznets curve in East Asia: an examination of the socioeconomic determinants of CO2 and SO2 emissions(2008-10) Puzon, Klarizze Anne Martin; De Castro, Daren Lyndel Vida; Alonzo, Ruperto P.The rapid economic growth of East Asian countries has brought about an increasing scale of pollutant emissions. There is a growing question of whether or not development can coexist with environmental quality. To test the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation, the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) could be used. The EKC hypothesis postulates an inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental quality indicators and income. Thus, the main objective of this study is to verify and analyze empirically the Environmental Kuznets Curve relationship for carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions in East Asia. Panel data analysis was used to test the East Asian EKC for the period 1980 to 2000. It has been found that, for both C02 and S02 emissions, the EKC does exist. Furthermore, it has also been empirically shown that economic, political, demographic, and temporal variables contribute to environmental degradation. For both C02 and S02, the variables for population growth rate and manufacturing share are positively correlated with the level of pollutant emission. The effects of trade liberalization have been found to be positive and statistically significant for sulfur dioxide. Meanwhile, findings on carbon dioxide emissions have demonstrated a negative relationship with a country's external debt burden. In addition, the variable for energy efficiency is negative and significant for both pollutants, suggesting that more efficient technologies can lower environmental degradation. Lastly, the results show that not all countries with a latecomer status in the industrialization process could benefit from being "late" in environmental deterioration issues.