The Social Cost of Growth: Unemployment and Environmental Degradation in the Mediterranean Region

Year 2026, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 150 - 166, 26.02.2026

Dilek Alma Savaş

https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1829186

https://izlik.org/JA67UD22GS

Abstract

The interrelationship between economic variables and environmental degradation has been extensively investigated within various economic paradigms, including the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and, more recently, the Environmental Phillips Curve (EPC). Given the increasing global focus on sustainable economic policies, understanding these relationships is crucial for designing effective environmental and labor market policies. The present study aims to examine the hypothesis of the existence of the Environmental Phillips Curve in Mediterranean countries from 1995 to 2021 while also reassessing the validity of the EKC within this regional context. Specifically, this research investigates how economic growth and unemployment influence environmental pollution. The study utilizes the Westerlund cointegration test with bootstrap to verify long-term relationships among the variables. Furthermore, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimation methods are applied to examine the long-run effects comprehensively. The empirical results indicate that the variables are cointegrated, suggesting the presence of a stable, long-term equilibrium relationship. The findings substantiate the validity of both the Environmental Kuznets Curve and the Environmental Phillips Curve in Mediterranean countries. This indicates that there is a U-shaped relationship between economic growth and ecological footprint, and that there is a negative relationship between unemployment rates and ecological footprint.

Keywords

environmental kuznets curve , environmental phillips curve , renewable energy , panel data

Büyümenin Toplumsal Bedeli: Akdeniz Bölgesinde İşsizlik ve Çevresel Bozulma

https://izlik.org/JA67UD22GS

Abstract

Ekonomik değişkenler ile çevresel bozulma arasındaki karşılıklı ilişki, Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi (EKC) ve daha yakın zamanda Çevresel Phillips Eğrisi (EPC) dahil olmak üzere çeşitli ekonomik paradigmalar çerçevesinde kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmiştir. Sürdürülebilir ekonomi politikalarına yönelik küresel ilginin artmasıyla birlikte, bu ilişkileri anlamak, etkili çevre ve işgücü piyasası politikaları tasarlamak için hayati önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışma, 1995-2021 yılları arasında Akdeniz ülkelerinde Çevresel Phillips Eğrisi'nin varlığı hipotezini incelemek ve aynı zamanda bu bölgesel bağlamda EKC'nin geçerliliğini yeniden değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Özellikle, bu araştırma ekonomik büyüme ve işsizliğin çevre kirliliğini nasıl etkilediğini incelemektedir. Çalışma, değişkenler arasındaki uzun vadeli ilişkileri doğrulamak için bootstrap ile Westerlund eşbütünleşme testini kullanmaktadır. Ayrıca, uzun vadeli etkileri kapsamlı bir şekilde incelemek için Tamamen Modifiye Edilmiş Sıradan En Küçük Kareler (FMOLS) ve Dinamik Sıradan En Küçük Kareler (DOLS) tahmin yöntemleri uygulanmaktadır. Ampirik sonuçlar, değişkenlerin eşbütünleşik olduğunu göstermekte ve istikrarlı, uzun vadeli bir denge ilişkisinin varlığını işaret etmektedir. Bulgular, Akdeniz ülkelerinde hem Çevresel Kuznets Eğrisi hem de Çevresel Phillips Eğrisi'nin geçerliliğini doğrulamaktadır. Bu, ekonomik büyüme ile ekolojik ayak izi arasında U şeklinde bir ilişki olduğunu ve işsizlik oranları ile ekolojik ayak izi arasında negatif bir ilişki olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

çevresel kuznets eğrisi , çevresel phillips eğrisi , yenilenebilir enerji , panel veri

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