The effect of social assistances on poverty: The case of Turkey

Poverty issue, which is one of the study subjects of economics, was thought worth for examining also in mutual studies of various disciplines. This shows the fact that poverty is not only a development problem, but also a common problem for humanity. Recent poverty researches shows that poverty is not only common the low-income countries, but it also reached a hurtful level in the countries which have a high welfare level. On the other hand, it is clear that poverty fact results in more fatal consequences for developing and underdeveloped countries. In this study, after poverty was examined conceptually, the reasons and the methods of struggle againist poverty was stated. In addition to this, Social Aids General Directorate's (SYGM), which continues its service in the context of poverty at national level in Turkey, general structure, functioning and the aid programs it put into practice was explained by underlining the means of struggle againist poverty. Poverty dimension in Turkey was examined in the light of numerical indicators at the end of the study and a literature summary about poverty studies was presented. Study was accomplished with the comments on the results obtained there by estimating the effects of the social aid subsidies, which is the subject of the study, with simple and multi regression models. Key Words Poverty, income distribution, social assistances, economic growth.