The Relationship between Income Inequality and Energy Consumption: Evidence from Turkey

Öz

It is stated in the literature that there is a bidirectional relationship between income inequality and energy consumption. In this regard, it is argued that the deepening of income inequality can reduce the total energy consumption by restricting the access of the poor to energy. Secondly, it is argued that individuals' having difficulties in obtaining the energy they need will cause problems in their education, health, and therefore business areas and increase income inequality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of income inequality on energy consumption in Turkey. For this purpose, the Turkish economy is analyzed by employing the Bayer and Hanck (2013) cointegration test over the period 1989-2018. According to the findings, there is no long-term relationship between income inequality and energy consumption. The causality relationship between the variables is also investigated by employing the test of Hacker and Hatemi (2010). According to the results of the causality test, there is no causal relationship between income inequality and energy consumption. In summary, deterioration in income inequality will not be expected to restrict the poor's access to energy and reduce total energy consumption. In short, it can be said that energy consumption and income inequality are independent of each other.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Income Inequality

Gelir Eşitsizliği ve Enerji Tüketimi İlişkisi: Türkiye Örneği

Öz

Literatürde gelir eşitsizliği ve enerji tüketimi arasında çift yönlü bir ilişkinin söz konusu olabileceği ifade edilmektedir. Bu hususta ilk olarak gelir eşitsizliğindeki derinleşmenin, yoksul kesimin enerjiye erişimini kısıtlayarak toplam enerji tüketimini azaltabileceği savunulmaktadır. İkinci olarak, bireylerin ihtiyaç duyduğu enerjiyi elde etmekte zorlukla karşılaşmasının onların eğitim, sağlık ve dolayısıyla iş alanlarında problemlere yol açarak gelir eşitsizliğini artıracağı ileri sürülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı da, gelir eşitsizliğinin enerji tüketimi üzerindeki etkisini Türkiye için araştırmaktır. Bu amaçla Türkiye ekonomisi 1989-2018 dönemi için Bayer ve Hanck (2013) eşbütünleşme testi ile analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, gelir eşitsizliği ve enerji tüketimi arasında uzun dönemde bir ilişki bulunmamaktadır. Çalışmada ayrıca değişkenler arasındaki nedensellik ilişkisi Hacker ve Hatemi (2010) testi ile sorgulanmıştır. Test sonuçlarına göre, gelir eşitsizliği ve enerji tüketimi arasında bir nedensellik ilişkisi söz konusu değildir. Özetle, gelir dağılımı adaletindeki bozulmaların yoksulların enerjiye erişimini kısıtlaması ve toplam enerji tüketimini azaltması beklenmeyecektir. Kısaca, enerji tüketimi ve gelir eşitsizliğinin birbirinden bağımsız olduğu söylenebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• gelir eşitsizliği
• enerji tüketimi
• enerji yoksulluğu

Kaynakça

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