The Effects of Energy Imports: The Case of Turkey

Abstract

It is seen that many developed nations are taking serious actions to use domestic rather than imported energy resources. Contrary, Turkey -a developing country- is getting more dependent on imported resources of energy, such as natural gas. This study analyses the consequences of this policy on some macroeconomic variables. Granger causality test statistics are calculated to search for relations between total energy consumption / imported energy resources and gross domestic product, industrial production index or private sector fixed investment. The results indicate that although total and imported quantity of energy affects gross domestic product, the national income, the origin of energy resource –such as being domestic or not – does not effect industrial production. As for the determinants of energy imports the test statistics indicate that private sector investment Granger causes energy imports.Energy consumption; Granger causality; VAR