Pertumbuhan Ekonomi dan Degradasi Lingkungan di Negara Berbasis Sumber Daya: Tinjauan Komparatif Lima Teori Ekonomi Lingkungan

Abstract

Environmental degradation and climate change highlighted the tension between economic growth and environmental sustainability, particularly in countries dependent on extractive industries such as mining, oil, and gas. This study comparatively evaluated five major environmental economic theories Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH), Limits to Growth, Jevons Paradox, and Race to the Bottom through an integrative literature review of publications from 1970 to 2024. The findings showed that while all theories offered conceptual insights, the Pollution Haven Hypothesis provided the strongest explanation for environmental degradation in resource-dependent economies. Regulatory disparities and the pursuit of foreign investment encouraged pollution-intensive industries to relocate to countries with weaker environmental governance. Although the EKC suggested that growth could improve environmental quality over time, evidence indicated that structural dependence on extractive industries often delayed this transition. Environmental degradation was best explained by the interaction of pollution transfer, regulatory competition, and technological rebound effects. Future research should prioritize comparative cross-country studies in the oil and gas sector, contrasting developed resource-rich countries with strong institutions and environmental standards against developing extractive-dependent economies. Comparative analysis should assess differences in regulatory stringency, revenue management, technological adoption, and sustainability indicators such as emissions intensity and ecological degradation. Strengthening governance capacity, transparency, and international regulatory harmonization should be emphasized to prevent pollution havens and promote more sustainable extractive development.