Politická ekonomie X:X | DOI: 10.18267/j.polek.1499

Institutional Determinants of Regional Poverty in Turkey: Evidence from Advanced Causality Analysis

Yildirim Beyazit Çiçen ORCID...
Yildirim Beyazit Çiçen , Gümüşhane University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics, Department of Economic Theory, Gümüşhane, Turkey

Poverty continues to be one of the major issues in Turkey, as in many other countries, with a large portion of the population – especially in rural areas – living below the poverty line. Those living in poverty have limited access to key public services such as education, healthcare, and housing, which consequently exacerbates social and economic inequalities within society. The gap between wealthy and impoverished groups within society is continually expanding, primarily due to institutional factors that perpetuate this inequality. Drawing on data from 2009 to 2019, this study offers an empirical analysis of the role institutions play in shaping poverty in Turkey. The study applies the panel causality test developed by Juodis et al. (2021) to assess the influence of institutional structures on regional disparities. Infant mortality rates, the number of associate and bachelor’s degree graduates, and the number of convicts is considered key indicators of institutional performance. The statistical analysis reveals a significant correlation between these variables and the 50% poverty rate. The findings suggest that strengthening the institutional framework is essential for addressing regional poverty in Turkey.

Keywords: Institutions, Poverty, Regions, Turkey

Received: August 3, 2024; Revised: January 22, 2025; Accepted: March 3, 2025; Prepublished online: October 21, 2025 

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