Spatial analysis of water quality and income in Europe

Erik Brockwell; Katarina Elofsson; George Marbuah; Sandra Nordmark

doi:10.1016/j.wre.2021.100182

Spatial analysis of water quality and income in Europe

Erik Brockwell^*
, Katarina Elofsson
, George Marbuah
, Sandra Nordmark

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Environmental Science - Environmental social science and geography

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) relationship between water quality and income within the European Union, considering spatial interdependences across countries. To this end, we apply a spatial econometrics framework using panel data, at the national level, for twenty EU countries across seventeen years, 1998 to 2014. Furthermore, we account for the role of human and livestock population size, institutional quality and economic openness for water quality. Results show that a significant EKC relationship is seen with an inverted N-shaped relationship between income and water quality. Water quality is decreasing in income for low income levels, increasing in income when GDP per capita for medium income levels, and deteriorating for high income levels. Eight out of twenty countries have income levels associated with a declining water quality. Spatial spillovers between countries are significant. Higher livestock density levels are associated with lower levels of water quality, while institutional quality and openness to trade are positively associated with water quality.

Original language	English
Article number	100182
Journal	Water Resources and Economics
Volume	35
Number of pages	15
ISSN	2212-4284
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wre.2021.100182
Publication status	Published - Jul 2021

Keywords

Environmental kuznets curve
Institutional quality
Spatial error model
Spatial spillovers
Water framework directive

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10.1016/j.wre.2021.100182Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S2212428421000074-mainFinal published version, 591 KBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Spatial analysis of water quality and income in Europe",

abstract = "The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) relationship between water quality and income within the European Union, considering spatial interdependences across countries. To this end, we apply a spatial econometrics framework using panel data, at the national level, for twenty EU countries across seventeen years, 1998 to 2014. Furthermore, we account for the role of human and livestock population size, institutional quality and economic openness for water quality. Results show that a significant EKC relationship is seen with an inverted N-shaped relationship between income and water quality. Water quality is decreasing in income for low income levels, increasing in income when GDP per capita for medium income levels, and deteriorating for high income levels. Eight out of twenty countries have income levels associated with a declining water quality. Spatial spillovers between countries are significant. Higher livestock density levels are associated with lower levels of water quality, while institutional quality and openness to trade are positively associated with water quality.",

keywords = "Environmental kuznets curve, Institutional quality, Spatial error model, Spatial spillovers, Water framework directive",

author = "Erik Brockwell and Katarina Elofsson and George Marbuah and Sandra Nordmark",

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year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1016/j.wre.2021.100182",

language = "English",

volume = "35",

journal = "Water Resources and Economics",

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T1 - Spatial analysis of water quality and income in Europe

AU - Brockwell, Erik

AU - Elofsson, Katarina

AU - Marbuah, George

AU - Nordmark, Sandra

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) relationship between water quality and income within the European Union, considering spatial interdependences across countries. To this end, we apply a spatial econometrics framework using panel data, at the national level, for twenty EU countries across seventeen years, 1998 to 2014. Furthermore, we account for the role of human and livestock population size, institutional quality and economic openness for water quality. Results show that a significant EKC relationship is seen with an inverted N-shaped relationship between income and water quality. Water quality is decreasing in income for low income levels, increasing in income when GDP per capita for medium income levels, and deteriorating for high income levels. Eight out of twenty countries have income levels associated with a declining water quality. Spatial spillovers between countries are significant. Higher livestock density levels are associated with lower levels of water quality, while institutional quality and openness to trade are positively associated with water quality.

AB - The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) relationship between water quality and income within the European Union, considering spatial interdependences across countries. To this end, we apply a spatial econometrics framework using panel data, at the national level, for twenty EU countries across seventeen years, 1998 to 2014. Furthermore, we account for the role of human and livestock population size, institutional quality and economic openness for water quality. Results show that a significant EKC relationship is seen with an inverted N-shaped relationship between income and water quality. Water quality is decreasing in income for low income levels, increasing in income when GDP per capita for medium income levels, and deteriorating for high income levels. Eight out of twenty countries have income levels associated with a declining water quality. Spatial spillovers between countries are significant. Higher livestock density levels are associated with lower levels of water quality, while institutional quality and openness to trade are positively associated with water quality.

KW - Environmental kuznets curve

KW - Institutional quality

KW - Spatial error model

KW - Spatial spillovers

KW - Water framework directive

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85109448134

U2 - 10.1016/j.wre.2021.100182

DO - 10.1016/j.wre.2021.100182

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85109448134

SN - 2212-4284

VL - 35

JO - Water Resources and Economics

JF - Water Resources and Economics

M1 - 100182

ER -

Spatial analysis of water quality and income in Europe

Abstract

Keywords

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