party AK under scrutiny for reassessment of social benefits, welfare expenditure, and population dilemma
Turkey's AK Party Commissions Study on Four National Issues
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in Turkey has ordered a study on four critical national issues, aiming to address pressing concerns facing the country. The study, which is part of the AK Party's strategy group's examination, focuses on the social security system, social welfare programs, public budget expenditures, and population decline.
One of the key areas of concern is Turkey's declining population growth. Projections indicate that the elderly population in Turkey will rise from 13.5% in 2030 to 38.5% by 2080. This trend is attributed to falling birth rates and an aging population, issues that the AK Party is also examining closely.
Former AK Party deputy Ali Babacan, who heads the strategy group, has stressed that fertility rates have dropped below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman in Turkey. This demographic shift is expected to have significant implications for the future, as globally, three workers support one retiree, whereas in Turkey, one worker supports roughly 1.5 retirees.
The study also includes an examination of Turkey's social security system, which experts have warned is approaching collapse. The system faces numerous challenges, including informal employment, early retirement, political interference, inefficient use of funds, incomplete collection of premiums, and high contribution rates.
Budget discipline and spending controls have failed to prevent inefficiencies, excessive luxury expenditures, and favoritism in public procurement. Public sector spending in Turkey is described as a "black hole." Measures such as restricting travel or office expenses alone are insufficient to address systemic issues in Turkey's public sector spending.
Babacan noted that previous reform packages on democracy, justice, and public administration failed to materialize, leaving uncertainty about whether this new initiative will produce meaningful results. He also reported that government aid programs in Turkey often fail to reach those in need.
The study on the four key national issues in Turkey—the social security system, social welfare programs, public budget expenditures, and population decline—was commissioned by the Turkish government. The study on the declining population growth is also part of the four issues being examined by the AK Party.
The AK Party strategy group will examine Turkey's falling birth rates and aging population in the hope of finding solutions to these pressing issues. The outcome of this study could have significant implications for the future of Turkey, as the country navigates the challenges of an aging population and a strained social security system.
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