Mekansal Etkiler Altinda Ampirik Büyüme Modelleri: Türkiye Üzerine Bir Uygulama

(This paper is in Turkish) In this study we analyze the regional development process in Turkey by using the two traditional regional empirical growth models, Neoclassical convergence equations and Post-Keynesian Verdoorn’s Law, for the period from 1990 to 2000 at the NUTS 3 level under the spatial effects. Evidence obtained from the convergence equations with non-spatial effects rejects the validity of both absolute and conditional convergence hypotheses, while spatial econometric models taking into account the interaction between the regions in the growth process reveal existence of a weak convergence between the regions of Turkey. The results indicate that regional development disparities and location significantly affect the growth process of the regions in Turkey. Verdoorn’s Law indicates that there is a strong positive relation between manufacturing productivity growth and output growth and hence, manufacturing industries are also subject to increasing returns to scale. However, spatial econometric models of Verdoorn equations show that there is no significant spillover effect to accelerate productivity growth in the regions. According to the results obtained from both specifications, interaction between the regions is very weak and limited. Therefore we argue that it is inevitable to review regional policies in Turkey to reduce regional development disparities.