Turkey made steady progress in reducing poverty from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s. [3] [4]
Turkey made steady progress in reducing poverty from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s. [3] [4]
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Poverty in Turkey is a multifaceted issue that continues to pose challenges for a significant portion of the population. Despite Turkey's status as a middle-income country with a growing economy, poverty remains a persistent problem, particularly affecting vulnerable groups and marginalized communities.
The causes of poverty in Turkey are diverse and interconnected, influenced by factors such as limited access to education, high unemployment rates, income inequality, regional disparities, and inadequate social welfare systems. One of the key factors contributing to poverty in Turkey is the disparity in educational opportunities. Limited access to quality education, especially in rural areas, can hinder individuals from acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to secure stable employment and break the cycle of poverty. Additionally, high levels of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among youth and women, further exacerbate economic hardship for many Turkish citizens. Income inequality is another significant issue that perpetuates poverty in Turkey.
The gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to widen, with certain regions and communities experiencing greater levels of deprivation and lack of economic opportunities. This disparity not only affects individuals' access to basic necessities but also hinders social mobility and perpetuates intergenerational poverty. Moreover, the lack of effective social welfare systems and inadequate government support contribute to the persistence of poverty in Turkey. Despite efforts to implement social assistance programs, there are still gaps in coverage and efficiency, leaving many vulnerable populations without adequate support. This is particularly evident in rural areas and among minority groups who face additional barriers to accessing essential services and resources.
Addressing poverty in Turkey requires a comprehensive approach that tackles its root causes and provides sustainable solutions. Investing in education and skills development, promoting inclusive economic growth, enhancing social protection programs, and empowering marginalized communities are essential steps towards alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion in the country. While Turkey has made progress in reducing poverty rates over the years, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all citizens have equal opportunities to thrive and improve their quality of life. By addressing the underlying factors contributing to poverty and implementing targeted interventions, Turkey can move closer to achieving a more equitable and prosperous society for all its inhabitants.
Poverty is a persistent challenge in Turkey, affecting a significant portion of the population. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, the poverty rate in the country stood at 21.2% in 2022, with over 17 million people living below the poverty line. Poverty in Turkey is a multifaceted issue, stemming from a range of interconnected factors such as limited access to education, high unemployment rates, income inequality, regional disparities, and inadequate social welfare systems. These issues not only contribute to material deprivation but also perpetuate social exclusion and hinder the overall well-being of individuals and communities.
Despite the Turkish government's efforts to tackle poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, leading to a surge in unemployment and reducing the purchasing power of low-income households. To address poverty in Turkey, a comprehensive and sustained effort is needed. Investing in education and skills development, promoting inclusive economic growth, enhancing social protection programs, and empowering marginalized communities are essential steps towards alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion in the country. in conclusion, poverty remains a significant challenge in Turkey that requires urgent attention. By addressing the underlying causes of poverty and implementing targeted interventions, Turkey can move closer to achieving a more equitable and prosperous society for all its inhabitants.
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The Turkish Statistical Institute publishes rates of poverty at 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% of median equivalized household disposable income. [5] UNICEF used the above 60% figure to estimate that over a third of children were poor on average 2019 to 2021. [6] The World Bank’s poverty line for middle-income countries is $5.50 a day (in 2011 dollars). [7]
Poverty can be understood as a complex and multidimensional condition characterized by a lack of resources and opportunities necessary for individuals and communities to lead a dignified and fulfilling life. It encompasses not only a scarcity of material possessions and income but also inadequate access to essential services such as education, healthcare, housing, and social support systems. Additionally, poverty often results in social exclusion, limited participation in decision-making processes, and a diminished sense of agency and empowerment.
At its core, poverty is a manifestation of systemic inequities and structural barriers that perpetuate economic and social disparities. It is not solely an issue of individual circumstances but is deeply rooted in broader societal factors such as unequal distribution of wealth, limited access to employment, discrimination, and insufficient social safety nets. These factors interact in complex ways, creating a web of challenges that hinder individuals and communities from breaking free from the cycle of poverty. Furthermore, poverty extends beyond financial hardship and material deprivation. It can also manifest in the form of poor physical and mental health, reduced access to quality education, limited social networks, and a lack of opportunities for personal and professional development. These dimensions of poverty contribute to a sense of exclusion and marginalization, further perpetuating the cycle of disadvantage for those affected.
Addressing poverty requires a holistic approach that recognizes its multidimensional nature. Effective interventions should not only focus on improving income levels but also aim to enhance access to essential services, promote social inclusion, and empower individuals to participate fully in society. By addressing the underlying causes of poverty and implementing comprehensive strategies, it is possible to create a more equitable and just society where all individuals have the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential. conclusion, poverty represents a profound and entrenched challenge that requires a deep understanding of its multidimensional nature. By acknowledging the complexity of poverty and its far-reaching impacts, societies can work towards implementing sustainable and inclusive solutions that address the root causes of poverty and create pathways for individuals and communities to break free from its grip.
The 2023 EU report on the country said "Türkiye still lacks a dedicated poverty reduction strategy. Sustained price increases further posed the risk of poverty for the unemployed and wage laborers in precarious jobs. The poverty rate reached 14.4%, up from 13.8% in 2021. The severe-material-deprivation rate reached 28.4% in 2022 (2021: 27.2%). The child poverty rate for 2022 was particularly high at 41.6%. In 2022, social assistance payments amounted to TRY 151.9 billion, or 1.01% of GDP. Türkiye has fragmented benefits at local and national level, and it still lacks a general minimum income scheme." [8]
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In conclusion, the issue of poverty in Turkey is a multifaceted challenge that requires a comprehensive and sustained effort to address. It encompasses a wide range of interconnected factors, including limited access to education, high unemployment rates, income inequality, regional disparities, and inadequate social welfare systems. These issues not only contribute to material deprivation but also perpetuate social exclusion and hinder the overall well-being of individuals and communities.
While Turkey has made progress in reducing poverty rates, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all citizens have equal opportunities to thrive and improve their quality of life. It is imperative to recognize that poverty is not solely an issue of individual circumstances but is deeply rooted in broader societal factors. Therefore, addressing poverty in Turkey requires a holistic approach that tackles its underlying causes and provides sustainable solutions. Investing in education and skills development, promoting inclusive economic growth, enhancing social protection programs, and empowering marginalized communities are essential steps towards alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion in the country.
By addressing the multidimensional nature of poverty and implementing targeted interventions, Turkey can move closer to achieving a more equitable and prosperous society for all its inhabitants. Ultimately, overcoming poverty in Turkey demands a collective effort from government, civil society, and the private sector to create an enabling environment where individuals and communities can break free from the cycle of disadvantage. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, promoting equal opportunities, and addressing systemic barriers, Turkey can work towards building a society where every individual has the chance to lead a dignified and fulfilling life. Together, by acknowledging the complexity of poverty and its far-reaching impacts, we can strive to create a more just and equitable society for present and future generations.
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In Turkey, the issue of child poverty is a significant concern that demands urgent attention. With a high poverty rate of 41.6% in 2022, the situation is deeply troubling. According to UNICEF, in 2020, 32% of children were living in poor households, and 34% were experiencing various forms of material deprivation. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the plight of children, potentially increasing the child poverty rate from a baseline of 15.4% to 24.7%. This increase underscores the critical need for targeted interventions and support systems to uplift vulnerable children and families across the country. furthermore, the low rate of female labor force participation in Turkey is a pressing issue.
In 2022, only 30.4% of women were estimated to be participating in the workforce, significantly lower than their male counterparts. This disparity is stark when compared to the OECD and EU-19 averages of 61% and 64% for female labor force participation, respectively. The underrepresentation of women in the workforce not only hinders their economic empowerment but also represents a missed opportunity for the country's overall development. Addressing this gender gap is essential for reducing poverty and fostering sustainable economic growth. Turkey's agricultural sector, which employs approximately 15% of the workforce, faces challenges related to low productivity.
Despite being a major food producer, Turkey is a net importer of wheat, with a significant portion of its supply coming from Russia and Ukraine. Enhancing the productivity and resilience of the agricultural sector is crucial for reducing poverty and ensuring food security for the population. The country is also highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods, which pose a significant threat to both lives and livelihoods. Over 2 million people and more than 6% of Turkey's GDP are exposed to disasters annually. The devastating floods that occurred in the Black Sea region in 2023 resulted in significant damage and loss of life, further underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation measures.
Turkey's monetary policy has also played a role in shaping its economic landscape. While many countries have raised policy rates to combat inflation, Turkey has taken the opposite approach by lowering interest rates. This divergence has contributed to economic instability and challenges in controlling inflation, further impacting the welfare of the population. Amid these challenges, Turkey has implemented various poverty alleviation measures, including the establishment of universal health coverage in 2003 and a seismic risk reduction program. The World Bank reports that the share of people living below the $6.85 per day poverty line nearly halved to 9.8% between 2006 and 2020, indicating progress in poverty reduction efforts. These initiatives reflect Turkey's commitment to addressing poverty and improving the well-being of its citizens, despite the complex and multifaceted nature of the challenges at hand.
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Turkey's commitment to poverty alleviation is evident through its comprehensive measures aimed at improving the well-being of its citizens. One of the significant steps taken by Turkey is the establishment of universal health coverage in 2003.This system ensures that every resident in Turkey has access to comprehensive healthcare services, regardless of their financial situation.
It covers a wide range of services, including preventive and curative care, hospital treatments, and prescription medications. This initiative has played a crucial role in reducing the financial burden of healthcare on individuals and families, thereby contributing to poverty alleviation. response to the country's vulnerability to natural disasters, especially earthquakes, Turkey has implemented a pioneering seismic risk reduction program. This program, which started in 2006, focuses on mitigating the vulnerability of public buildings through the development of strict construction standards and third-party reviews.
By enhancing the resilience of infrastructure and public spaces, Turkey aims to minimize the impact of natural disasters on communities, particularly those already facing economic challenges. Social assistance payments are another essential component of Turkey's poverty alleviation strategy. In 2022, these payments amounted to TRY 151.9 billion, equivalent to 1.01% of the country's GDP. These payments are targeted towards supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population, providing them with essential financial assistance. By addressing immediate financial needs, social assistance programs contribute to reducing the depth and severity of poverty, thereby enhancing the overall well-being of individuals and families.
Another important initiative is the Social Risk Mitigation Project (SRMP), which aims to mitigate the impact of economic crises on the poor and help them cope with the associated challenges. By providing support during times of economic uncertainty, this project contributes to building resilience within vulnerable communities and reducing the long-term effects of poverty. Looking ahead, Turkey has set ambitious goals to combat poverty. By 2030, the country aims to reduce the proportion of people living in poverty by at least half, using national definitions.
They also aim to implement comprehensive social protection systems and measures, ensuring substantial coverage for the poor and vulnerable populations. By outlining these goals, Turkey demonstrates its commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all its residents. These poverty alleviation measures underscore Turkey's dedication to improving the lives of its citizens and addressing the complex challenges posed by poverty. By providing universal healthcare, focusing on disaster resilience, and implementing social assistance programs, Turkey is striving to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all its residents, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and prosperity for the nation.
In economics, income distribution covers how a country's total GDP is distributed amongst its population. Economic theory and economic policy have long seen income and its distribution as a central concern. Unequal distribution of income causes economic inequality which is a concern in almost all countries around the world.
In economics, a cycle of poverty or poverty trap is when poverty seems to be inherited causing subsequent generations to not be able to escape it. It is caused by self-reinforcing mechanisms that cause poverty, once it exists, to persist unless there is outside intervention. It can persist across generations, and when applied to developing countries, is also known as a development trap.
Feminization of poverty refers to a trend of increasing inequality in living standards between men and women due to the widening gender gap in poverty. This phenomenon largely links to how women and children are disproportionately represented within the lower socioeconomic status community in comparison to men within the same socioeconomic status. Causes of the feminization of poverty include the structure of family and household, employment, sexual violence, education, climate change, "femonomics" and health. The traditional stereotypes of women remain embedded in many cultures restricting income opportunities and community involvement for many women. Matched with a low foundation income, this can manifest to a cycle of poverty and thus an inter-generational issue.
Poverty reduction, poverty relief, or poverty alleviation is a set of measures, both economic and humanitarian, that are intended to permanently lift people out of poverty.
The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the economic and social conditions that influence individual and group differences in health status. They are the health promoting factors found in one's living and working conditions, rather than individual risk factors that influence the risk or vulnerability for a disease or injury. The distribution of social determinants is often shaped by public policies that reflect prevailing political ideologies of the area.
In developing countries and some areas of more developed countries, energy poverty is lack of access to modern energy services in the home. In 2022, 759 million people lacked access to consistent electricity and 2.6 billion people used dangerous and inefficient cooking systems. Their well-being is negatively affected by very low consumption of energy, use of dirty or polluting fuels, and excessive time spent collecting fuel to meet basic needs.
In China today, poverty refers mainly to the rural poor. Decades of economic development has reduced urban extreme poverty. According to the World Bank, more than 850 million Chinese people have been lifted out of extreme poverty; China's poverty rate fell from 88 percent in 1981 to 0.7 percent in 2015, as measured by the percentage of people living on the equivalent of US$1.90 or less per day in 2011 purchasing price parity terms, which still stands in 2022.
Rural poverty refers to situations where people living in non-urban regions are in a state or condition of lacking the financial resources and essentials for living. It takes account of factors of rural society, rural economy, and political systems that give rise to the marginalization and economic disadvantage found there. Rural areas, because of their small, spread-out populations, typically have less well maintained infrastructure and a harder time accessing markets, which tend to be concentrated in population centers.
Social protection, as defined by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, is concerned with preventing, managing, and overcoming situations that adversely affect people's well-being. Social protection consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, exclusion, sickness, disability, and old age. It is one of the targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10 aimed at promoting greater equality.
The causes of poverty may vary with respect to nation, region, and in comparison with other countries at the global level. Yet, there is a commonality amongst these causes. Philosophical perspectives, and especially historical perspectives, including some factors at a micro and macro level can be considered in understanding these causes.
Bangladesh is an under-devoloped nation. Despite rapid economic growth, poverty remains a major issue. However, poverty has declined sharply in recent history. Shortly after its independence, approximately 90% of the population lived under the poverty line. However, since economic reforms and trade liberalization of early 1990s, along with accelerated economic growth since early-2000s, Bangladesh have experienced a dramatic progress in reducing poverty. The remarkable progress in poverty alleviation has been recognized by international institutions. According to World Bank, more than 33 million Bangladeshi people have been lifted out of poverty since 2000; as measured by the percentage of people living on the equivalent of US$1.90 or less per day in 2011 purchasing price parity terms.
Nigeria had one of the world's highest economic growth rates, averaging 7.4% according to the Nigeria economic report that was released in July 2019 by the World Bank. Following the oil price collapse in 2014–2016, combined with negative production shocks, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate dropped to 2.7% in 2015. In 2016 during its first recession in 25 years, the economy contracted by 1.6%. Nationally, 43 percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, while another 25 percent are vulnerable. For a country with massive wealth and a huge population to support commerce, a well-developed economy, and plenty of natural resources such as oil, the level of poverty remains unacceptable. However, poverty may have been overestimated due to the lack of information on the extremely huge informal sector of the economy, estimated at around 60% more, of the current GDP figures. As of 2018, the population growth rate is higher than the economic growth rate, leading to a slow rise in poverty. According to a 2018 report by the World Bank, almost half the population is living below the international poverty line, and unemployment peaked at 23.1%.
Brazil has been tackling problems of income inequality despite high rates of growth. Its GDP growth in 2010 was 7.5%. In recent decades, there has been a decline in inequality for the country as a whole. Brazil's GINI coefficient, a measure of income inequality, has slowly decreased from 0.596 in 2001 to 0.543 in 2009. However, the numbers still point to a rather significant problem of income disparity.
The social determinants of health in poverty describe the factors that affect impoverished populations' health and health inequality. Inequalities in health stem from the conditions of people's lives, including living conditions, work environment, age, and other social factors, and how these affect people's ability to respond to illness. These conditions are also shaped by political, social, and economic structures. The majority of people around the globe do not meet their potential best health because of a "toxic combination of bad policies, economics, and politics". Daily living conditions work together with these structural drivers to result in the social determinants of health.
Socio-economic mobility in Canada refers to the movement of Canadians from one social class or economic level to another, The data shows an increase in intergenerational social mobility, however it is argued that such trends have remained stable since the 1990s.
Education inequality in China exists on multiple levels, with significant disparities occurring along gender, geographical, and ethnic divides. More specifically, disparities exist in the distribution of educational resources nationwide, as well as the availability of education on levels, ranging from basic to higher education.
Kenya is a upper-middle income economy as of 2024, with kenya's GDP 2024 hitting [[204.6B $]]. This is Due to increasing technology innovation Services. Although Kenya's economy is the largest and most developed in eastern and Central Africa, 16.1% (2023/2024) of its population lives below the international poverty line. This severe poverty is mainly caused by economic inequality, government corruption and health problems. In turn, poverty also worsens these factors. The Kenyan government's efforts to address poverty have received help from international institutions as well. The incident rate of poverty has steadily decreased, as shown by a recent MPI index.
Sustainable Development Goal 1, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015, calls for the end of poverty in all forms. The official wording is: "No Poverty". Member countries have pledged to "Leave No One Behind": underlying the goal is a "powerful commitment to leave no one behind and to reach those farthest behind first".
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) are connected through their common goals of addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development through policies and international cooperation.
Climate shelters are a place of refuge for populations that seek shelter from extreme climate events exacerbated by the effects of urban heat islands. They include cooling centers, but also encompass parks and other outdoor spaces designed to provide a harbor for cooler temperatures than surrounding areas. Several cities have designed programs to implement urban climate shelters.
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