Election and Wallet: The Effect of Election Periods and Consumer Expectations on Consumer Confidence with ARDL and QARDL Model Approach

The growing significance of consumer confidence and the explanation of the factors influencing this confidence is an important issue worthy of study. This study aims to examine the effects of election periods and consumer expectations on the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in Turkey. To this end, the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) models will be employed. Data on the variables in question were collected on a monthly basis from Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) over the period spanning 2012:1 to 2024:3. The ARDL model findings indicate that election periods exert a positive and significant influence on the TGE, both in the short run and in the long run. The intention to buy or have a house built and the intention to save have positive and significant effects on the TGE in both the short and long run. Conversely, the intention to buy a car and the cost of living index have a positive and significant effects on the TGE in the short run, but no significant effect was found in the long run. The QARDL model reveals that asymmetry is present, with all variables exhibiting disparate effects across different quartiles. The findings of this study indicate that in order to enhance consumer confidence and guarantee economic stability, it is essential to prioritise the housing market, savings patterns and reducing the cost of living. The development of policies that ensure the sustainability of the confidence and stability created during election periods is crucial. The research offers invaluable insights into ARDL and QARDL models that can inform Turkey's economic policies.