Turkey’s incomes circle the drain
The AKP government’s national income projections fall short of targets.
One of the most ambitious goals of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, which has ruled Turkey for 13 years, was to boost national income. To achieve that goal, however, might require a miracle.
In July 2013, the government issued the 10th five-year development plan, which listed these goals:
- At the end of 2013, per capita national income will rise to $11,183.
- In 2018, per capita national income will reach $15,966.
- Annual average growth in the 2014-18 period will be 5.5%.
According to the AKP 10-year vision for 2023 that accompanied the five-year plan, for the 100-year anniversary of the Turkish republic the target for per capita national income is $25,000.
Even today, the goals appear impossible to reach. But nobody can deny that the AKP government was successful in the first four years of economic reforms it executed. For example, the per capita income of $3,492 in 2002 rose to $7,586 in 2006.
