The Poverty Effectiveness of Social Security Benefits in Türkiye

This research investigates the role and effectiveness of Türkiye’s social security system and transfer expenditures in addressing poverty. Social security mechanisms are designed to alleviate poverty by helping individuals meet their essential needs. In Türkiye, transfer payments offer temporary relief, particularly to disadvantaged populations; however, they may also foster long-term dependency. Although the immediate impacts of such transfers are widely discussed in the academic literature, their contribution to alleviating structural poverty remains underexplored. This study focuses on how transfer expenditures influence individuals’ ability to achieve lasting well-being. The Turkish context is especially relevant due to recent institutional shifts in social security policy and the increasing politicization of social assistance. Employing data analysis at the regional level, this study assesses the effectiveness of social transfers and explores their structural role in poverty reduction. It also provides policy suggestions aimed at developing more inclusive and durable strategies. The results are intended to offer broadly applicable insights for other developing countries through the lens of Türkiye’s experience.