The role of shadow economies in ecological footprint quality: empirical evidence from Turkey

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the role of shadow economies in the levels of ecological footprint for the case of Turkey. Annual data set ranging from 1961 to 2014 was used with this respect. The results of this study verify the long-term and positively elastic impact of shadow economic activities on the level of ecological footprint in Turkey; that is, 1 % change in shadow economic activities results in a 1.008% change in ecological footprint in the same direction. This study, therefore, reaches a significant conclusion that in Turkey, shadow economies are long-term and essential drivers of environmental pollution.