This investigation revealed the existence of a U-inverted curve, i.e. Environmental Kuznets Curve, relating pollutant emissions and technological level of the countries. The model was based on the estimation of regression methods with panel data, using 102 countries during 1960-2000. An alternative approach replaced GDP per capita, by the total factor productivity. In early stages of development, the adoption of dirtier technologies by backward economies is essential for generating knowledge and the future path of innovation. The impact of environmental regulation for these economies can aggravate the technological gap with its neighbors, the developed nations.
Environmental Kuznets Curve; Pollution; Economic Development
