THE IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ON HEALTH EXPENDITURES IN TURKEY

Abstract

To reinforce the concept of sustainable development, planning for green and sustainable transformations has become increasingly important across all economies, given the realities concerning ecosystem management and the natural limits of growth driven by linear processes. Considering the rapid output growth that generates high carbon emissions, the relationship between environmental quality and health has gained rising significance in both developed and developing countries. Within this framework, quality healthcare services viewed as a strategic sector with high added value and positive externalities, and the corresponding healthcare expenditures are regarded as key components of sustainable development.Accordingly, this study analyzes the impact of selected environmental and socio-economic indicators on health expenditures in Turkey from 1990 to 2023 using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The findings reveal a long-term relationship among the variables: while improvements in environmental quality and education reduce healthcare expenditures, higher income, life expectancy, and urbanization increase them.

Keywords

• Sustainable Development
• Health Expenditures
• Load Capacity Factor
• Vector Error Correction Model
• Turkiye

TÜRKİYE’DE SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİR KALKINMANIN SOSYO-EKONOMİK VE ÇEVRESEL BOYUTLARININ SAĞLIK HARCAMALARINA ETKİSİ

Abstract

Sürdürülebilir kalkınma anlayışını pekiştirmek amacıyla, ekosistem yönetimi ve doğrusal süreçlerin yönlendirdiği ekonomik büyümenin doğal sınırlarına ilişkin gerçekler göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, tüm ekonomilerde yeşil ve sürdürülebilir çözüm/dönüşüm planlamaları önem kazanmaktadır. Öte yandan yine doğrusal süreçlerle desteklenen, yüksek karbon emisyonlarına yol açan hızlı çıktı büyümesi göz önünde bulundurulduğunda hem gelişmiş hem de gelişmekte olan ekonomilerde çevre kalitesi ve sağlık ilişkisi gündemde daha fazla yer bulmaktadır. Bu süreçte yüksek katma değere ve olumlu dışsallıklara sahip stratejik bir ekonomik ve sosyal sektör olarak kaliteli sağlık hizmetleri ve harcamaları, sürdürülebilir kalkınmanın yapı taşlarından biri olarak görülmektedir. Bu bağlamda çalışmada Türkiye’de 1990-2023 yılları arasında seçilmiş çevresel ve sosyo-ekonomik sürdürülebilir kalkınma unsurlarının sağlık harcamalarına etkisinin Vektör Hata Düzeltme Modeli ile analizi amaçlanmaktadır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre değişkenler arası uzun dönemli ilişkiye rastlanmaktadır. Çevre kalitesinde ve eğitim düzeyinde artış sağlık harcamalarının azalmasına sebep olmakta iken; gelir seviyesi, yaşam beklentisi ve kentleşmenin artması ise sağlık harcamalarında aynı yönlü etki yaratmaktadır.

Keywords

• Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma
• Sağlık Harcamaları
• Yük Kapasitesi Faktörü
• Vektör Hata Düzeltme Modeli
• Türkiye

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