ECONOMIC COMPLEXITY AND ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF EU COUNTRIES

Abstract

Environmental degradation, which is the damage to the ecosystem through the depletion of resources such as air, water and soil, is perceived as a global threat. Therefore, countries are implementing various policies to eliminate the risks of environmental degradation that threatens sustainability. In this context, determining the elements that threaten the environment is important for a sustainable environmental policy. There are many elements in the literature that have been proven to have an impact on the environment. One of these elements is economic complexity. “Economic Complexity Index (ECI)" focuses on the production capacities of countries and is considered a measure of the production capabilities of countries. This structural process, in which economies diversify into more complex industries, also has direct effects on the environment. In this context, the aim of the study is to examine the relationship between economic complexity and environmental degradation with data covering the period 1998-2020 using the fixed-effect Driscoll-Kraay method for EU countries. Empirical findings have revealed that economic complexity has a positive impact on environmental degradation. The study shows that a country's environmental performance is highly related to the mix of products it exports.

Keywords

• Economic Complexity
• Environment
• Panel Data
• EU Countries

EKONOMİK KARMAŞIKLIK VE ÇEVRE: AB ÜLKELERİ ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

Hava, su, toprak gibi kaynakların tükenmesi yoluyla ekosistemin zarar görmesi olarak adlandırılan çevresel bozulma küresel bir tehdit olarak algılanmaktadır. Dolayısıyla, ülkeler sürdürülebilirliği tehdit eden çevresel bozulmanın risklerini ortadan kaldırmak için çeşitli politikalar uygulamaktadır. Bu bağlamda çevreyi tehdit eden unsurların belirlenmesi sürdürülebilir bir çevre politikası açısından önem arz etmektedir. Literatürde çevre üzerinde etkisi olduğu kanıtlanan birçok unsur bulunmaktadır. Bu unsurlardan biri de ekonomik karmaşıklıktır (economic compelexity). Ekonomik Karmaşıklık Endeksi (ECI-Economic Complexity Index) ülkelerin üretim kapasitelerine odaklanmakta ve ülkelerin üretim yeteneklerinin bir ölçütü kabul edilmektedir. Ekonomilerin daha karmaşık endüstrilere doğru çeşitlendiği bu yapısal sürecin çevre üzerinde de doğrudan etkileri bulunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın amacı, 1998-2020 dönemini içeren verilerle ekonomik karmaşıklık ve çevresel bozulma arasındaki ilişkinin AB ülkeleri için sabit etkili Driscoll-Kraay yöntemiyle incelenmesidir. Elde edilen ampirik bulgular, ekonomik karmaşıklığın çevresel bozulma üzerinde pozitif bir etkisi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Çalışma, bir ülkenin çevresel performansının ihraç ettiği ürünlerin karışımıyla yüksek düzeyde ilişkili olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Ekonomik Karmaşıklık
• Çevre
• Panel Veri
• AB Ülkeleri

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