Dynamic Relationship between Output and Pollution in a Growth Model: Testing Environmental Kuznets Curve for Iran

This paper uses the growth model of Stokey (1998) extended by Deng and Huang (2009) to examine the dynamic relationship between output and environmental pollution in Iran. After solving the model and deriving the necessary conditions for sustainable growth path, the model is used to examine the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for Iran. Using MATLAB software, the model is calibrated for the Iranian economy for the period 1959-2008. This allows us to find optimal paths for key variables. The result shows that that the Iranian economy is not on its optimal sustainable growth path. Moreover, simulation results indicate that there is a positive relationship between income per capita and CO2 per capita over time. Hence, we might claim that the Iranian economy is probably on its early stage of growth. In other words, Iran might still be on the negative part of EKC. In addition, our simulation result shows that there will be a threshold level for per capita income in which the quality of environment starts improving after this point. Hence, one might conclude that the EKC might be true for Iran.