The causes of the changes in the rate of profit in Turkey: 1972-2003

The aim of this study is to analyze the movement of the rate of profit and the factors affecting the changes in the rate of profit in Turkey for the period of 1972-2003. In the study, first, distinctive changes in the rate of profit are observed and Turkish economy is divided into periods according to these changes. With these analyzes it has been shown that, the major transformations in economics and politics, and the movement of the rate of profit affect each other in Turkey. Secondly; the rate of profit is decomposed into two parts as the profit share, which represents distribution and output-capital ratio (productivity of capital) which represents technology. Then, the effects of changes in these two variables on the rate of profit in the short-run and in the long-run are analyzed. The findings of the study reveal that, every time the rate of profit declines, capital recovers from economic crisis by adjusting distribution against labor. In the long run, the rate of profit tends to fall. The decreasing productivity of capital has a determining role in this fall of the profit rate.