Validation of the Environmental Kuznets Curve: cases from countries along the Belt and Road

Abstract

‘One Belt, One Road’ is China’s international strategy, and the countries along its routes are mainly developing countries that face a dilemma between economic growth and serious pollution problems. This paper systematically combs the literature related to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in countries along the ‘Belt and Road’ (B&R) for the first time, and collects 87 literature from Web of Science, CNKI and Science Hub. Through the verification of EKC relationship and the theoretical explanation of EKC, the paper focuses on the relationship between economic growth, industrial agglomeration and environmental pollution in countries along the ‘Belt and Road’. Finally, some policy recommendations are put forward.

Keywords

• the Belt and Road
• environmental pollution
• Environmental Kuznets Curve
• industrial structure