By: Şevket Pamuk

This article examines Turkey’s economic development since 1820, highlighting that Turkey’s growth and human development metrics align closely with global averages, slightly above those of other developing countries. The study identifies low investment rates, limited schooling, sluggish productivity growth, and low technology production as proximate causes for moderate GDP per capita growth. It emphasizes the significant role of institutional changes and political dynamics, including international regulations and elite-driven reforms, in shaping Turkey’s economic trajectory. Despite these challenges, Turkey achieved noticeable economic development, albeit with fluctuating growth rates influenced by global conflicts and internal policies .