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Journals / Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 28 Sayı: 1

The relationship between income inequality and renewable energy consumption: A dynamic panel data analysis for G-20 countries

Gelir eşitsizliği ve yenilenebilir enerji tüketimi arasındaki ilişki: G-20 ülkeleri için dinamik panel veri analizi

Habibe Yaman

Pages
38–48
Publication Date
2026-06-19
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Abstract

Renewable energy (RE) represents a global transformation process with economic and environmental impacts, and countries are taking strategic steps to progress in this area. Income inequality is considered to play a critical role in this process. This study aims to determine the impact of income inequality on RE consumption (REC). The research covers data from 19 G20 member countries from 2001 to 2020. The empirical evidence obtained in the study is based on the two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator derived by Arellano-Bond. Five variables are used in the study. These are REC, carbon dioxide (〖"CO" 〗_2 ")" emissions, trade openness, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and the Gini index (GINI). This research shows that increasing income inequality in G20 countries hurts REC. However, according to the findings, the lagged impact of income inequality is significant. In addition, the effect of other variables (〖"CO" 〗_2 emissions, trade openness, and GDP per capita) discussed in the study on REC is harmful and significant. In conclusion, the findings from the example of G20 countries provide evidence that an increase in income inequality has a lagged negative impact on REC and suggest that policymakers should consider income redistribution measures to promote REC.

Özet

Yenilenebilir enerji (RE) ekonomik ve çevresel etkileriyle küresel ölçekte öne çıkan bir dönüşüm sürecini temsil etmekte, ülkeler bu alanda ilerleme kaydetmek için stratejik adımlar atmaktadır. Gelir eşitsizliğinin bu süreçte kritik bir rol oynadığı düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışma, gelir eşitsizliğinin RE tüketimi (REC) üzerindeki etkisini belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, G20 üyesi 19 ülkenin 2001-2020 yılları arasındaki verilerini kapsamaktadır. Çalışmada elde edilen ampirik kanıtlar, Arellano-Bond tarafından geliştirilen iki aşamalı genelleştirilmiş momentler yöntemi (GMM) tahmincisine dayanmaktadır. Çalışmada beş değişken kullanılmıştır. Bunlar; REC, karbondioksit (〖"CO" 〗_2) emisyonları, ticari açıklık, kişi başı Gayri Safi Yurtiçi Hasıla (GSYH) ve Gini endeksi (GINI)’dir. Bu araştırma, G20 ülkelerinde artan gelir eşitsizliğinin REC’e olumsuz etki ettiğini göstermektedir. Ancak bulgulara göre, gelir eşitsizliğinin gecikmeli etkisi anlamlıdır. Buna ek olarak, çalışmada ele alınan diğer değişkenlerin (〖"CO" 〗_2 emisyonları, ticari açıklık ve kişi başı GSYH) REC üzerindeki etkisi negatif ve anlamlıdır. Sonuç olarak, G20 ülkeleri örneğinden elde edilen bulgular, gelir eşitsizliğindeki artışın REC üzerinde gecikmeli bir olumsuz etkisi olduğuna dair kanıtlar sunmakta ve politika yapıcıların REC’i teşvik etmek için gelirin yeniden dağıtılması önlemlerini dikkate almaları gerektiğini göstermektedir.

Keywords
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Cite This Article

Yaman, H. (2026). The relationship between income inequality and renewable energy consumption: A dynamic panel data analysis for G-20 countries. Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 28 Sayı: 1, 38–48. https://doi.org/10.33707/akuiibfd.1685996

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