AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF AIR CONTAMINATION IN UZBEKISTAN

Pollution and the economy have been closely interconnected throughout the entirety of human history. The understanding of the relationship between environmental degradation and economic development is incomplete as a result of disciplinary prejudices. The aim of this research is to comprehend the dynamic correlation between air pollution and the economy of Uzbekistan. Additionally, it seeks to examine the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to identify the most effective policy options for reducing emissions while sustaining economic growth. This study utilized the Bayer-Hanck Cointegration test and Granger Causality tests to accomplish its objectives. The presence of Bayer-Hanck cointegration suggests a durable connection between air pollution and economic growth. Furthermore, the Granger causality test demonstrates that there is a causal relationship between economic growth and the three air pollutants, with a significance level of 0.05. This study seeks to address a gap in the current literature by examining the relationship between air pollutants and economic growth. It attempts to investigate the EKC hypothesis and the effects of air pollution on economic growth specifically in Uzbekistan.