An Inquiry of Environmental Kuznets Curve inBangladesh: A STIRPAT Analysis

Abstract This paper empirically examines the existence of the environmental Kuznets (EKC) curve in Bangladesh. To fulfill that purpose the stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology (STIRPAT) approach is employed over the 1971 to 2020 periods.In this study, the F-bound test is utilized to establish the existence of the co-integration relationship among variables. And the short-run and long-run elasticity of explanatory variables is investigated by employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. This research also employed a pairwise granger causality test to explore the direction of causality between them.Empirical result prove the existence of co-integration relationship among CO2 emission, GDP per capita, quadratic form of GDP per capita, population and R&D. The findings provide strong support for the presence of the EKC in the case of Bangladesh. Beside that significant inverse relationship also obtained between CO2 emission and the level of Technological advancement or R&D.The presence of EKC hypothesis argues that Bangladesh has the capacity to accomplish sustainable economic development. This study strongly advocates for higher government investment in research and development in tertiary level education which is indispensable for a green economy.In the context of Bangladesh, the STIRPAT-based EKC theory has not been the subject of a significant number of investigations. Regarding the short and long run presence of EKC in the Bangladeshi economy, there is substantial debate among scholars. Our study will contribute to future research on the short- and long-run presence of EKC in Bangladesh's economy.JEL: C22, E22, O13, O32, O44, Q50