ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Vicious Cycle of Economic Growth, PM2.5
and COVID-19: Evidence from G7 Countries
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Department of Economy, University of Kocaeli, 41001, Kocaeli, Turkey
Submission date: 2021-09-21
Final revision date: 2022-01-24
Acceptance date: 2022-01-27
Online publication date: 2022-05-16
Publication date: 2022-06-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(4):3141-3152
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ABSTRACT
Developed countries with high use of fossil fuels in production can harm the environment
by contributing more to the formation of greenhouse gases on a global scale. Air pollution is expected
to increase the number of COVID-19 cases in G7 countries with significant industrial output. The aim
of the study is to reveal the awareness of the role of air pollution due to traditional industrial production
which caused the spread of the epidemic, both on economic growth and its role in the spread of the
epidemic. Research is based on monthly data covering the period 2019:12-2021:7. The empirical analysis
has been utilized for the panel cointegration test and the dynamic causality analysis. Particles classified
as PM2.5 have been utilized as air pollution indicators. Health expenses, in order to control general
trends on economic growth and pollution, were also included in the study. The findings of this study
indicate that PM2.5 particle ratios and COVID-19 cases are increasing while economic growth is
taking place in the G7 countries. If these data are associated with the use of fossil fuels in industries,
they will contribute to the creation of public policies that encourage a new generation of energy sources
in production.