The effects public expenditures and taxes on internal migration: Evidence from Turkey

Simply the fact of migration is the population movements that come up when individuals move from one region to another. Population movements have significant effects in many areas, especially in the development process. Although migration is beneficial for the immigrant under the assumption that it is motivated by individual interests, it may not be beneficial to society as a whole. Especially in developing countries, migration can cause crowding of cities, unemployment problems and regional imbalances. Therefore, the determinants of internal migration are an important issue to be examined. In this study, the effects on the internal migration of public spending and taxes, were examined in terms of NUTS 2 regions in Turkey. 26 According to the results of the dynamic panel data analysis related to the Level 2 region, no statistically significant relationship between public expenditures and internal migration could be established; a negative relationship was found between tax revenues and internal migration. In terms of functional classification of public expenditures, an inverse relationship was found between security and defense expenditures and net migration rate.