Multidimensional rural poverty and its determinants in turkey

In this study, after estimating multidimensional rural poverty indices for Turkey for the years 2006-2016, effects of policies applied in this context were analyzed. Multidimensional poverty indices were compared with one-dimensional ones and related macroeconomic variables and the policies affecting them were reviewed historically. Based on the findings, some suggestions were given to reduce multidimensional poverty in Turkey. Overall and rural multidimensional poverty indices for Turkey were found to be 0.41 and 0.51 respectively for the research period. Both overall and rural multidimensional indices estimated based on variables of region, household size and education level of the household head were found to be more than 2.5 times higher than the one-dimensional indices in almost all of them. The greatest determinant of both overall and rural multidimensional poverty is housing payment arrears. Although there are some general improvements in overall and rural indices during the period, deteriorations were also observed in "to eat meat -or another adequate source of proteins- regularly", "Have payment arrears (excl. housing)" and "living in a household with at least one unemployed individual" parameters. Policies affecting multidimensional poverty were analyzed in two broad categories: social support and rural development investments. Effects of these policies were analyzed with 3 different econometric approaches. According to the results of the three analyses, coefficients of the private social support variables were found to be negative and statistically significant, implying an adverse effect on multidimensional poverty. The effect of state support differs based on the method employed. According to the results, the most important variables on multidimensional poverty were found to be household size and to be working in the agricultural sector in Turkey.