The existing literature has recognized the role and importance of social capital in natural resource management. Several studies provide empirical evidence that higher levels of social capital may positively affect individuals' behavior towards natural resources management. This study is therefore an attempt to investigate the environmental quality impacts of social capital and central government expenditures on environmental protection, taking spatial dimension into account from 2009 to 2017 for Turkey. A general-to-specific approach has been adopted where spatial variations in the relationships have been examined with a dynamic spatial Durbin model, using the panel data at NUTS3 level. The empirical results do not support the validity of an environmental Kuznets curve, rather a U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve is validated, which exhibits spatial dependence. Estimation results show that industrial production has detrimental effects on the environment, while social capital improves it. The central government expenditures on environmental protection are effective in the abatement of pollution, and its effectiveness is enhanced when social capital is controlled. In addition to spatial spillover effects, our results show the presence of strong path dependency; that is, there is certain pollution inertia. Moreover, environmental protection policies would be more effective if social capital levels are improved.

现有文献已经认识到社会资本在自然资源管理中的作用和重要性。一些研究提供了经验证据，表明较高水平的社会资本可能对个人对自然资源管理的行为产生积极影响。因此，本研究试图调查社会资本和中央政府支出对环境保护的环境质量影响，同时考虑到土耳其 2009 年至 2017 年的空间维度。采用了从一般到具体的方法，其中使用 NUTS3 级别的面板数据，使用动态空间杜宾模型检查了关系中的空间变化。实证结果不支持环境库兹涅茨曲线的有效性，而是验证了 U 形环境库兹涅茨曲线，表现出空间依赖性。估计结果表明，工业生产对环境有不利影响，而社会资本则改善了环境。中央财政环保支出在治理污染方面是有效的，在社会资本得到控制的情况下，其效力会增强。除了空间溢出效应外，我们的结果还表明存在强路径依赖性；即有一定的污染惯性。此外，如果社会资本水平提高，环保政策将更加有效。当社会资本得到控制时，其有效性会增强。除了空间溢出效应外，我们的结果还表明存在强路径依赖性；即有一定的污染惯性。此外，如果社会资本水平提高，环保政策将更加有效。当社会资本得到控制时，其有效性会增强。除了空间溢出效应外，我们的结果还表明存在强路径依赖性；即有一定的污染惯性。此外，如果社会资本水平提高，环保政策将更加有效。