Toward A New Equilibrium: The Intersection of Economy, Population, and Environmental Degradation in Southeast Asia
This study examines the relationship between population growth, economic growth, and environmental degradation in Southeast Asia using panel data from ten countries during the 2018–2023 period. Data were obtained from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank and analyzed using panel regression techniques that integrate both cross-sectional and time-series dimensions. The findings indicate that economic growth is significantly associated with several dimensions of environmental degradation, particularly land-use dynamics, whereas population size does not exhibit a statistically significant effect across the estimated models. The results suggest that environmental outcomes in Southeast Asia are influenced more by economic structure, institutional quality, and environmental governance than by demographic expansion alone. Although the findings are consistent with arguments commonly discussed in the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) literature, this study does not directly test the EKC hypothesis because it excludes nonlinear income specifications. The study highlights the importance of strengthening environmental governance, promoting green technologies, and supporting sustainable development strategies to mitigate long-term ecological pressures. These findings contribute to the growing literature on sustainable development and environmental management in Southeast Asia.