The Relationship Between Income Distribution and Environmental Degradation in Türkiye

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 621 - 629, 30.06.2025

Bengü Kayapalı Aslan

Abstract

Environmental degradation and income inequality are global issues that are on the agenda of countries around the world. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of income distribution on environmental degradation in Turkey between 1990 and 2020. The effects of income distribution on environmental degradation were examined using the ARDL bounds test approach and the Toda-Yamamoto causality method. The findings of the study show that economic growth increases environmental pollution in the short term, while income distribution and industrialization do not have a statistically significant effect on the environment. The long-term findings show that economic growth increases environmental pollution, while an increase in income inequality reduces emission levels. Additionally, it was found that industrialization has no significant effect on environmental degradation. Based on the findings of the study, the conclusion section identifies the relationship between income distribution and environmental degradation in Turkey and presents recommendations to reduce income inequality and mitigate environmental degradation.

Keywords

Income Distribution, Environmental Degradation, Economic Growth, Türkiye, ARDL

Türkiye’de Gelir Dağılımı ve Çevresel Bozulma Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Çevresel bozulma ve gelir eşitsizliği sorunsalı, küresel bir sorun olarak ülkelerin gündeminde yer almaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı, Türkiye’de 1990-2020 dönemi için gelir dağılımının çevresel bozulma üzerindeki etkisinin belirlenmesidir. Çalışmada gelir dağılımının çevresel bozulma üzerindeki etkileri, ARDL sınır testi yaklaşımı ve Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik yöntemi ile incelenmiştir. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgular, ekonomik büyümenin kısa dönemde çevre kirliliğini artırırken, gelir dağılımı ve sanayileşmenin çevre üzerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir etkisi olmadığını göstermektedir. Uzun dönemdeki bulgular ise ekonomik büyümenin çevre kirliliğini artırırken, gelir eşitsizliğindeki artışın emisyon seviyelerini azalttığını göstermektedir. Bunun yanında çevresel bozulma üzerinde sanayileşmenin anlamlı bir etkisinin olmadığı da tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgulardan hareketle sonuç bölümünde, Türkiye’de gelir dağılımı ile çevresel bozulma arasındaki ilişki belirlenerek gelir dağılımında eşitsizliği, çevre sorunlarında çevresel bozulmayı azaltıcı yönde öneriler sunulmaktadır.

Keywords

Gelir Dağılımı, Çevresel Bozulma, Ekonomik Büyüme, Türkiye, ARDL

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