Linking Human Development Index, Urbanization, Economic Growth and the Ecological Footprint: The Case of MINT Countries

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between human development index, urbanization, economic growth and ecological footprint in MINT countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkiye) for the years 2003-2022. First of all, the cointegration relationship between human development index, urbanization, economic growth and ecological footprint was examined with Gengenbach, Urbain and Westerlund (2016) panel cointegration. As a result of the cointegration analysis, it was concluded that the variables were cointegrated. The long-term relationship was estimated by the DOLSMG method. According to the DOLSMG estimator, it was determined that a 1% increase in the human development index in MINT countries reduced the ecological footprint by 1.89%, a 1% increase in urbanization increased the ecological footprint by 0.22%, and a 1% increase in economic growth increased the ecological footprint insignificantly. Secondly, the relationship between human development index, urbanization, economic growth and ecological footprint was examined with Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) panel causality analysis. According to the findings, there is a bidirectional causality relationship between ecological footprint and urbanization in MINT countries. Additionally, the findings of the study show that there is a unidirectional causality relationship from ecological footprint to human development index and a unidirectional causality relationship from economic growth to ecological footprint.