Testing the long-run effects of economic growth, financial development and energy consumption on CO2 emissions in Turkey: new evidence from RALS cointegration test.

This study analyses the long-run effects of economic growth, energy consumption and financial development on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Turkey using annual time series data for the period 1965-2018. This research investigates the relationship between the variables using a RALS-EG (residual augmented least squares-Engle and Granger) cointegration test procedure developed by Lee et al. Stud Nonlinear Dyn Econ 19:397-413, (2015). In addition, this study uses a bootstrap causality analysis developed by Hacker and Hatemi-J J Econ Stud 39:144-160, (2012) to specify the causal relationship between the series. RALS cointegration test results show a long-run relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth, energy consumption and financial development. According to a dynamic ordinary least squares estimation, economic growth has a negative and statistically significant effect on CO2 emissions, whereas energy consumption and financial development have positive and statistically significant effects on CO2 emissions in the long run. In particular, energy consumption is the most effective parameter of environmental pollution in Turkey. However, the causality test results indicate a unidirectional causal relationship from financial development to CO2 emissions, economic growth and energy consumption. Increasing the investment in renewable energy sources will be an effective policy tool to improve the environmental quality in Turkey.

Towards sustainable development in China: do political rights and civil liberties matter for environmental quality?

China is a rising power of the twenty-first century with its brilliant economic performance as a result of the transition to the free market economy model. However, China's economic development process has caused high environmental costs. For the past decade, China has been the leading country responsible for global carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). Therefore, determining the dynamics that have a reducing effect on CO2 emissions in China is very important for the development of sustainable environmental policies. This paper aims to examine the impacts of the institutional structure on environmental sustainability in China. To this end, the study follows the method of cointegration with multiple breaks that produce robust econometric results and consider structural changes. According to the results, (i) the validity of an N-shaped EKC relationship is supported between economic growth and environmental pollution. (ii) Industrialization and trade have an increasing impact on environmental pollution. (iii) Political rights and civil liberties have a reducing effect on environmental pollution. Consequently, this study implies that political rights and civil liberties can make an important contribution to achieving sustainability goals in China.