Determinants of material deprivation among working individuals in Turkey: A micro data analysis

Material deprivation is assessed as the inability to meet basic needs at an adequate level and the inability to achieve desired living conditions according to the economic conditions of the country in which one lives. In this context, it can be presumed that the material deprivation of working individuals is less than that of others, but the risk of material deprivation among working individuals is also quite high. These risks can be reduced by investigating the reasons and determinants and identifying the factors that cause material deprivation in working individuals. In this context, this study analysed the phenomenon of material deprivation in working individuals in Turkey from multiple dimensions using the microdata sets of the TURKSTAT 2013-2018 and 2022 Income and Living Conditions Survey. The first phase of the study focused on whether the socio-economic, demographic, and environmental factors of employees had a differentiating effect on material deprivation. The second phase examined the sectors in which these individuals worked, while the third phase investigated the professions and positions held, aiming to identify any sectoral and occupational disparities in the likelihood of experiencing material deprivation. The results of the logit and marginal effects analyses revealed that the probability of experiencing material deprivation among employed individuals in Turkey varied based on socio-economic and demographic factors, such as age, gender, marital status, education, health status, and income. Among these, education emerged as the most decisive factor. Additionally, the study showed that working in the manufacturing and construction sectors increased the likelihood of material deprivation compared to other sectors, while employment in the health and education sectors reduced this likelihood. The final phase of the analysis highlighted the differentiating effect of job position and occupation on material deprivation. The results of the study also showed that the pandemic and the recent economic conditions had a significant impact on employee material deprivation. The study was concluded with a discussion of the results concerning material deprivation among workers across the three phases, alongside various recommendations