The curvilinear relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth Evidence from India
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY SECTOR MANAGEMENT
Authors: Rasool, Haroon; Malik, Mushtaq Ahmad; Tarique, Md
Abstract
Purpose The genesis of Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) of "grow now clean later" has led to a substantial deterioration of local as well as the global environment. India has not been spared of this malaise and accounts for the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world. Thus, the present study revisits the curvilinear relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution in case of India over the period of 1971-2014. Design/methodology/approach Dickey-Fuller generalised least square (DF-GLS) test developed by Elliott et al. is used to ensure that none of the variables is I(2). The study applies the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds estimation technique to test for the existence of cointegration among variables and estimate long-run and short-run parameters. The study also applies the Bai-Perron structural break test with unknown break date to determine the threshold point. The study further uses the vector error correction model (VECM) Granger causality test to check the direction of causality between variables. Findings The ARDL bounds estimation technique confirms the cointegration among variables. The long-run coefficients of energy consumption, economic growth and financial development are found to have an adverse impact on environmental quality. The results also validate the existence of conventional EKC hypothesis. Bai-Perron structural break test, along with t-test and scatter graph, shows that inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth holds true. The VECM-based causality results support "growth hypothesis" both in the long run and short run. Originality/value The data set has been refined so that the EKC estimation issues raised by Stern (2004) are addressed. In particular, statistical properties of the data set such as serial correlation, presence of a stochastic or deterministic trend, has been adequately taken care of to remove any spurious correlation. Finally, various control variables have been included to provide consideration to issues of model adequacy, such as the possibility of omitted variables bias. To the authors' best knowledge, there is no India-specific study which has taken care of data-related issues, as suggested by Stern, in the estimation of a curvilinear relationship between environmental degradation and economic growth in India. Further, this is the first study which has used Bai-Perron structural break test with unknown break date to identify the threshold point while estimating EKC in India.
Subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in Sjogren's syndrome assessed by four-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY-A JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ULTRASOUND AND ALLIED TECHNIQUES
Authors: Akaycan, Julide; Hidayet, Siho; Bayramoglu, Adil; Yolbas, Servet; Karaca, Yucel; Yigit, Yakup; Ulutas, Zeynep
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular (LV) systolic strain by four-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (4D-STE) in order to provide the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Methods Forty consecutive patients with primary SS diagnosed at the rheumatology outpatient clinic and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. 4DSTE was performed, and global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), and global area strain (GAS) were measured. 4DSTE results were compared with the healthy volunteers. Results No significant differences were observed between the GRS and GCS values of the two groups. A significant difference was observed in the GLS and GAS measurements between the two groups (P = .005 for GLS,P < .001 for GAS). Positive correlation was detected between disease duration and LV-GLS and LV-GAS. Conclusion We demonstrated subclinical systolic dysfunction in SS patients by 4DSTE, which is a sensitive marker of ventricular dysfunction. Deterioration of the LV became more evident as duration of the disease increased. Therefore, we believe that a cardiac evaluation will be of benefit to patients with long-term SS.