Browsing by Subject "Political Economy"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Open Access
Fiscal decentralization : a political economy approach
(2013) Aslım, Erkmen Giray
This study presents a theoretical approach to analyze income and welfare implications of fiscal decentralization in a static closed economy model where political factors are taken into account. We provide two alternative Scenarios: in one scenario government acts like a social planner and solves optimally for the level of fiscal decentralization; in the other scenario government is politically oriented and solves for the optimal tax rate. Under both scenarios we obtain non-cooperative solutions resulting from the interactions of the central government with local governments. Comparative statics of the model provide explicit solutions which enable us to derive policy implications. In order to get a better and deeper insight on the model, we also perform calibration and simulation analyses. We observe that benevolent government enhances social welfare whereas Leviathan CG enhances efficiency, measured by effective tax collection.
Open Access
Formation and representation of interests in Turkish political economy : the case of MÜSİAD (Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association)
(2002) Çemrek, Murat
This thesis examines the case of Müstakil Sanayici ve İşadamları DerneğiMÜSİAD [Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association] to evaluate the formation and representation of interests within transformation of the Turkish political economy in the last two decades. The relatively liberalization in Turkey with further integration into the global markets led the development of civil society but it has not meant the waning of the “strong state” tradition. Thus, MÜSİAD as other Turkish business associations has been very dynamic to develop strong adaptability vis-à-vis strong state. The study benefits from Truman’s “disturbance,” Olson’s “collective action” and Salisbury’s “exchange” theories to delineate the emergence, development and mobilization of the association as well as the theories of pluralism, corporatism and clientelism to explore the essence of interest representation in Turkey. The thesis analyzes the institutional framework and organizational structure of MÜSİAD and argues that the role of Islam for the association has been quite functional providing a common bond for its members, motivation to (re)gain the markets in the Islamic world captured by non-Islamic forces and a way of moderating the labor. MÜSİAD’s reference to the East Asian model was also parallel to its Islamic discourse blended with its emphasis on moral and communitarian values. 1997 has been a turning point for MÜSİAD in its de-emphasis of its ideological pillars as Islam and East Asian economic development model. Following the economic crisis in East Asian countries and the February 28 process, MÜSİAD retreated from its references to both factors. In short, the examination of MÜSİAD is illuminating in terms of illustrating the depth and extent of the Islamic business activity in Turkey as well as the rise of new business elite that could develop a challenging culture vis-à-vis the state.
Open Access
A Neo-Marxist analysis of the privatization of security
(2014) Dölek, Burçak
There is an increase in the role played by non-state security actors in daily lives and in politics during the last three decades. Although a number of different questions and issues related to private security in different contexts are discussed within the existing literature, there is a lack of solid critical political economy analysis of the increasing role played by non-state security actors. This thesis examines the question of how we can understand or make sense of the increasing role played by non-state security actors from a critical political economy perspective. While examining this question, this thesis brings in a neo-Marxist approach by attending to the state-market-security nexus. By considering the privatization of security from a critical political economy perspective, this study focuses on capital accumulation at the global and local level through examining some Western and African countries. Additionally, the thesis makes a historical and contemporary analysis of privatization of security against the background of state’s role in security field. In this way, this thesis emphasizes the need for going beyond the existing literature on privatization of security by considering the politics of security as a tool of order which legitimizes the power of the state in protecting capitalist accumulation and the hegemony of capital.
Open Access
Politics and the bureaucracy in policy making process: a general framework and its application to the Turkish case
(1996) Gürgür, Tuğrul
The aim of this Master Thesis is to construct a framework to analyze interactions between politics, society, and the bureaucracy with each other. This framework is then adapted to the Turkish case to model policy making mechanisms in economic issues. When the bureaucracy emerges as a separate actor in the political field, the relationship between political actors and the society significantly changes. It may mitigate the problems observed in this relationship by providing an information and commitment mechanism or it may lead to a new set of problems. Unless politicians are able to 'discipline' the civil service, they cannot govern the state. The furkish case is an example of how participation of the bureaucracy to the relationship between politics and society affects economic variables.
Open Access
Politics of interdependence: an analysis of Turkish-Greek economic relations
(2016-06) Yazgan, Nüve
Over the last two decades, there has been a dramatic increase in bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey in many areas from trade to tourism. This increase has taken through both state and non-state level initiatives. It has become difficult to ignore the existence of the economic interactions between the two countries.Previous studies in the literature have mostly ignored the political economy of relations.The purpose of this thesis is to examine the current state of economic relations between Greece and Turkey, and how these affect the two states‟ political relations. Therefore it asks the question “to what extent do economic ties reflect on the evolution of political relations between Greece and Turkey?”This research studies bilateral economic relations by focusing onthe fields of trade, foreign direct investment, energy and tourism interactions between the two countries and revisits liberal/neoliberal approaches of economic interdependence to explore their relevance in the Turkish-Greek case. It aims: 1. To examine the scope of economic interdependence between two countries, 2. To ascertain the limitations and opportunities in fields of economic interaction, 3. To determine the extent to which economic interactions between the two countries can be helpful in transforming relations and whether increasing economic interdependence provide opportunities for the resolution of their bilateral political problems.