Research articleDoes economic, financial and institutional developments matter for environmental quality? A comparative analysis of EU and MEA countries

•This study is to test the hypothesis of the EKC with a sample of 58 MEA and 41 EU.•We use the GMM-system method to solve the problem of endogenous variables.•Policy makers should regulate the role and efficiency of institutional quality.

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) with a sample of 58 MEA (Middle East & African) and 41 EU (European Union) countries for the period 1990 to 2011. The empirical analysis is carried out using the GMM-system method to solve the problem of endogenous variables. We focused on direct and indirect effects of institutional quality (through the efficiency of public expenditure, financial development, trade openness and foreign direct investment) and the income-emission relationship. We found a monotonically increasing relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP in both MEA and EU regions. The policy implication is clear: in order to have sustainable positive economic performance and to reduce carbon dioxide emission in the country at the same time, policy makers should regulate and enhance the role and efficiency of domestic institutions.