One of the major characteristics of Turkish politics is the official policy of distributing social assistance instead of investing strategically to reduce unemployment. Poor segments of society have become dependent upon cash and other assistance, and recipients of it inevitably vote for the ruling party. For the poor citizens, casting a vote once every four years in return for handouts is a good deal. Fear that the assistance will be terminated should another party come to power is a powerful inducement to vote for the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Governments should take action to eliminate poverty, not make people survive on handouts. But for years, per capita national income has been nearly stagnant at $10,000, meaning poverty and dependence are here to stay. Social assistance is funded by the state treasury, which means spending the money collected from citizens as taxes. Naturally, the poor do not want to upset the established order.

An Aug. 21 report in Hurriyet by Nese Karanfil clearly indicates that social assistance is the most powerful pillar keeping the AKP in power. She reported, "In 2002, social assistance was 1.376 billion lira [$560 million], 0.50% of national income. In 2013, however, the amount spent was 20 billion lira [$8 billion], 1.35% of national income. In 2014, the money allotted to social assistance was some 30 billion lira [$12.4 billion], 2.5% of national income."

The magic formula that keeps the government in power lies in these figures.