The effect of corruption on carbon emissions in developed and developing countries: empirical investigation of a claim

Abstract

The impact of corruption on carbon emissions is one of the main objectives of empirical studies on environmental economics. Recently, a theoretical discussion was conducted on the significant impact of reducing the level of corruption on environmental quality in developing rather than in developed countries. In this study, an empirical investigation of this claim was conducted using panel data which included 61 countries, between 2003 and 2016. The effects of corruption on carbon emission were considered using a panel threshold model. The threshold variable included human development index (HDI) which divided countries into developing and developed ones endogenously. According to the results, the value of threshold (γ = 0.753) was consistent with the categorization of UNDP countries by HDI. In developing countries, for each unit of increase in the corruption index –which means a decrease in corruption levels– we observe a 0.08 unit decrease in carbon emission while carbon emission is no longer affected by the corruption levels in developed countries and decrease in corruption does not have a significant effect on carbon emission levels.

The influence of corruption on environmental sustainability in the developing economies of Southern Africa

“…This confirms earlier results produced by World Bank (2010) that corruption is greatly affecting sustainable growth of the African region. As well, Akhbari and Nejati (2019) also express that corruption in developing economies heightens environmental degradation by high emissions.…”

“…In this regard, there is greater empirical literature that has established the reciprocal influence of corruption and the natural environment ( Akhbari and Nejati, 2019 ; Sinha et al., 2019 ; Wang et al., 2020 ; Candau and Dienesch, 2017 ). As such, evidence supports that corruption is one of the determining variables which impacts the procedure of natural environment preservation and lessening this cause has much influence on the rate of green economic development along with sustainability.…”

The dynamic relationship between regional corruption and carbon emissions in China

“…Wang et al ( 2019a , b ) suggest that under the influence of the invisible economy, corruption further increases the emission of pollutants in China (Wang et al 2019a , b ). Akhbari and Nejati ( 2019 ) believe that there is a threshold effect between corruption and CO 2 emissions in 161 countries of the world (Akhbari and Nejati 2019 ). According to Rodriguez and Galindo Villardon ( 2019 ), lower corruption levels result in higher environmental performance index (Rodriguez and Galindo Villardon 2019 ).…”

“…This indicates that the country’s environmental performance is relatively low and that the environmental challenges are serious (Wang et al 2018 ; Kazerouni et al 2019 ). As measures to mitigate climate change and reduce emissions become more urgent, China faces the twin pressures of corruption and carbon emissions governance (Akhbari and Nejati 2019 ).…”

Mens Rea and State Loses on Corruption Cases: An Analysis of Corruption Court Judgment of Semarang

“…So that it will withhold or not withhold, the reason can be found in the investigator's consideration. In essence, when the perpetrators' actions are said to have complied with the offense, the investigator only needs to see whether the perpetrators have mens rea for the actions so that criminal liability can be held (Akhbari and Nejati, 2019). The criminal law doctrine says that criminal liability is determined by mistakes made by the offender.…”