The Relationship Between Air Transport and Economic Growth: Evidence from G7 Countries and Türkiye

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between air freight and passenger transport and economic growth for the G7 countries and Türkiye. The study was conducted using annual data on economic growth rates, air freight, and the number of passengers transported for the period 1960-2021. The empirical analysis employed the Panel Fourier Toda-Yamamoto causality test. In Italy, a causal relationship was found to run from the economic growth variable to the amount of air freight, while in Canada, there exists a causal relationship running from the amount of air freight to economic growth. Furthermore, in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan, there exists a causal relationship running from the economic growth variable to the number of air passengers. In all countries except Italy, there exists a causal relationship running from the number of air passengers to economic growth. The findings from the analysis indicate a bidirectional causality between air passenger transport and economic growth in many of the countries examined. The findings suggest that countries, including Türkiye, seeking to increase their growth rates should prioritize the development of air transportation.

Keywords

• Air Transportation
• Economic Growth
• Fourier Panel Data

Havayolu Taşımacılığı ile Ekonomik Büyüme Arasındaki İlişki: G7 Ülkeleri ve Türkiye Örneği

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı G7 ülkeleri ve Türkiye için havayolu yük ve yolcu taşımacılığı ile ekonomik büyüme arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Araştırma 1960-2021 dönemi için ekonomik büyüme oranı, havayolu ile taşınan yük miktarı ve havayolu ile taşınan yolcu sayısına ait yıllık veriler kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ampirik analizde Panel Fourier Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik testi kullanılmıştır. İtalya’da ekonomik büyüme değişkeninden havayolu ile taşınan yük miktarı değişkenine doğru nedensellik ilişkisinin olduğu, Kanada’da ise havayolu ile taşınan yük miktarı değişkeninin ekonomik büyüme üzerinde nedensel bir etkiye sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca Fransa, Birleşik Krallık, İtalya, Japonya ve ABD ülkelerinde ekonomik büyüme değişkeninden havayolu ile taşınan yolcu sayısı değişkenine doğru, İtalya haricindeki diğer bütün ülkelerde ise havayolu ile taşınan yolcu sayısı değişkeninin ekonomik büyümeyi nedensel olarak etkilediği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Analizden elde edilen bulgular, incelenen birçok ülkede havayolu ile taşınan yolcu miktarı ile ekonomik büyüme arasında çift yönlü bir nedensellik ilişkisinin mevcut olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre büyüme oranlarını artırmak isteyen Türkiye’nin de dahil olduğu ülkelerin havayolu taşımacılığının gelişmesine önem vermesi gerektiği söylenebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Havayolu Taşımacılığı
• Ekonomik Büyüme
• Fourier Panel Veri

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