Matteo Ferraris
(Università del Piemonte Orientale and HERMES, matteo.ferraris@eco.unipmn.it)

Abstract - This paper provides a specific application of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory in order to explain the correlation between income and household waste generation. The main purpose is contributing to enhance the connection between theoretical and empirical analysis. We develop a theoretical model that highlights a U-shaped path of income-refuse relationship depending on the environmental effort of households in recycling and consumption. The existence of delinking also depends on other socio economic variables that affect the shape of the curve. The econometric analysis finds evidence supporting the existence of EKC relationship using Italian data at the municipality level.