The Relationship between Environmental Quality and Urbanization under the LCC Hypothesis: Empirical Evidence from Türkiye

Abstract

The load capacity factor is a recently developed and highly comprehensive environmental quality indicator that takes into account not only the consumption side of nature but also the supply side. Therefore, recent studies have used the load capacity factor as an environmental quality indicator. In this context, unlike the previous literature, this study aims to test the long-run effect of economic growth and urbanization on the load capacity factor in Türkiye within the framework of the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis. Annual data for the period 1961-2022 and Fourier-based time series techniques (ADF, ADL, and FMOLS) are used to test this effect. Moreover, the long-run robustness of the study is also tested using Fourier-based DOLS and fractional frequency flexible Fourier Toda-Yamamoto (FFFF-TY) causality techniques. The empirical findings of the study indicate that the LCC hypothesis is valid in Türkiye, but income in Türkiye is not sufficient to improve environmental quality. Moreover, the findings reveal that increasing urbanization deteriorates environmental quality by reducing the load capacity factor. Based on the empirical findings, policymakers in Türkiye should urgently implement some policies to improve environmental quality. For this, policymakers should take steps to invest more in renewable energy sources. In addition, necessary steps should be taken to establish green growth. Finally, comprehensive environmental strategies should be developed and implemented with common stakeholders to establish sustainable urbanization.

Keywords

• LCC Hypothesis
• Environmental Quality
• Urbanization
• FADL
• Türkiye

LCC Hipotezi Çerçevesinde Çevresel Kalite ve Kentleşme Arasındaki İlişki: Türkiye’den Ampirik Kanıtlar

Abstract

Yük kapasitesi faktörü, son zamanlarda geliştirilen ve doğanın sadece tüketim tarafını değil, aynı zamanda arz tarafını dikkate alan son derece kapsamlı bir çevresel kalite göstergesidir. Bu yüzden son dönem çalışmalara bakıldığında yük kapasitesi faktörünün çevresel kalite göstergesi olarak kullanıldığı görülmektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışma, önceki literatürden farklı olarak Türkiye’de yük kapasitesi eğrisi (LCC) hipotezi çerçevesinde yük kapasitesi faktörü üzerinde ekonomik büyümenin ve kentleşmenin uzun dönemli etkisini test etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Söz konusu etkinin testi için 1961-2022 dönemi arasındaki yıllık veriler ve Fourier temelli zaman serisi teknikleri (ADF, ADL ve FMOLS) kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca, çalışmanın uzun dönem sağlamlık sınaması yine Fourier temelli DOLS ve kesirli frekanslı esnek Fourier Toda-Yamamoto (FFFF-TY) nedensellik teknikleriyle sınanmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen ampirik bulgular, Türkiye’de LCC hipotezinin geçerli olduğunu fakat Türkiye’deki gelirin çevresel kaliteyi iyileştirebilecek seviyede olmadığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, bulgular artan kentleşmenin yük kapasitesi faktörünü azaltarak çevresel kaliteyi bozduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Ampirik bulgulardan hareketle, Türkiye’deki politika yapıcılar çevresel kalitenin arttırılması için bazı politikaları ivedilikle hayata geçirmelidir. Bunun için politika yapıcılar, daha fazla yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarına yatırım yapacak adımları atmalıdır. Ayrıca, yeşil büyümenin tesisi için de gerekli adımlar atılmalıdır. Son olarak, sürdürülebilir kentleşmenin tesisi için ortak paydaşlarla kapsamlı çevresel stratejiler oluşturulmalı ve uygulamaya konmalıdır.

Keywords

• LCC Hipotezi
• Çevresel Kalite
• Kentleşme
• FADL
• Türkiye

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