The effect of R&dD on macroeconomic variables in Turkey after 2001

The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of R&D on macroeconomic variables in Türkiye after 2001, with a particular focus on identifying the relationship between R&D expenditures, economic growth, and unemployment. Theoretically, R&D expenditures are expected to have a positive effect on economic growth, while their impact on unemployment is generally considered to be indirect and lagged. This effect emerges through technological innovation, productivity gains, and the creation of new sectors. The relationship between R&D expenditures, economic growth, and unemployment in Türkiye during the 2001–2023 period was analyzed using ADF and PP unit root tests and the VAR (Vector Autoregressive) model. The study consists of four sections. The first section provides definitions of R&D and related concepts. The second section discusses the reflection of R&D on macroeconomic variables such as economic growth, unemployment, foreign trade, and competitiveness. This section also presents information on R&D-based growth theories. The third section focuses on R&D and macroeconomic variables (economic growth, unemployment, foreign trade, and competitiveness) in the context of Türkiye. The fourth section includes a review of the empirical literature, the econometric analysis of the impact of R&D expenditures on economic growth and unemployment, and the evaluation of the results.