Gülden Bölük

Do foreign direct investment and renewable energy consumption affect the CO2 emissions? New evidence from a panel ARDL approach to Kyoto Annex countries

This study examines the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the potential of renewable energy consumption on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 21 Kyoto countries using an unbalanced panel data. For this purpose, Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis was tested using panel cointegration analysis. Panel causality tests show that there are significant long-run causalities from the variables to carbon emissions, renewable energy consumption, fossil fuel energy consumption and inflow foreign direct investments. The results of our model support the pollution haloes hypothesis which states that FDI brings in clean technology and improves the environmental standards. However, an inverted U-shaped relationship (EKC) was not supported by the estimated model for the 21 Kyoto countries. This means that economic growth cannot ensure environmental protection itself or environmental goals cannot await economic growth. Another important finding is that renewable energy consumption decreases carbon emissions. Based on the empirical results, some important policy implications emerge. Kyoto countries should stimulate the FDI inflows and usage of renewable energy consumption to mitigate the air pollution and meet the emission targets. This paper provides new insights into environment and energy policies through FDI inclusion.

Potential impacts on agricultural commodity markets of an EU enlargement to Turkey

This report provides an in-depth model based quantitative assessment of the potential impacts of an EU enlargement to Turkey for agricultural commodity markets in Turkey and the EU. For the purpose of the study a detailed dataset and modelling structure for the main agricultural commodities in the EU candidate country Turkey has been developed and integrated into the overall AGMEMOD modelling framework.

EU Enlargement to Turkey: Potential Effects on Turkey’s Agricultural Income and Markets

Turkey is officially recognized as a candidate country for EU membership and formal accession negotiations started in October 2005. Given the importance of Turkey’s agricultural sector, a Turkish accession to the EU could be expected to impact the agricultural markets in both the EU and Turkey. This paper provides an in-depth model-based quantitative assessment of the potential impacts of a Turkish EU-membership for agricultural income and commodity markets, focusing in particular on the effects in Turkey. Results show that the main impacts on Turkish agriculture would be a reduction in subsidies, producer prices, and quantities produced. A decrease in agricultural income, especially for Turkish crop producers (except for tobacco farmers), is also projected. In contrast, producers of sheep meat, broilers and dairy milk would benefit from EU accession due to lower feed costs. Moreover, the demand levels of most commodities are projected to increase due to lower prices, thus Turkish consumers are expected to gain from an accession to the EU.

Concentration in food retailing and anti-competitive practices in Turkey

Abstract As seen in many developing countries, concentration and globalisation have substantially increased in food retailing in Turkey. Foreign direct investment, incentives to reduce informal economy through modern retailing, income, education, economic crises and urbanisation are the main drivers for structural change of the retail supply chain. Market shares of global retailers have increased in general and also food sub-sectors. The restructuring and concentration in food retailing have changed the marketing system and conditions facing firms. Concentration is also expected to increase in the future. With increasing concentration, anti-competitive practices have appeared in the food supply chain in Turkey: listing fees, shelf fees, advertising and announcing fees, discount pressure, unconditional product restoration and forces for own private label product package have been commonly used as anti-competitive practices. Based on the interviews and literature survey and news gathered from newspapers, it is found that several anti-competitive practices are executed by supermarkets in Turkey when these practices are compared with the anti-competitive practices determined by the UK Competition Commission (2000). It is observed that at least 16 of 52 practices are exercised by supermarkets against the suppliers. Moreover, price flexing and sales below cost can be a reflection of the monopoly power in the consumer market segment.