Turkey, between West and East: Turkish economic policy under the AKP government [La Turchia fra Occidente e Oriente: la politica economica della Turchia durante il governo dell'Akp]

Albeit acknowledging the positive effects of the AKP government’s activity (2002-2007) on the Turkish economy, which has thrived over the last few years, Ugur observes how such effects tend to diminish whenever the AKP seeks to develop an economic policy framework of its own. In his view, this depends more on the executive’s credibility deficit than on the new measures introduced. Analysis of institutional and governance indicators reflecting the quality of policies implemented and their effect on economic performance suggest that, rather than claim credit for results achieved in the past, the AKP government should be more committed to the pursuit of institutional and political reforms. Finally, Ugur highlights some of the structural weaknesses of the Turkish economy which the first AKP government was able to ignore thanks to the post-2001 revival, but which the second AKP government will be forced to address.