Regional Disparities and Turkey - The Case of Istanbul

Istanbul is a unique city with its historical background and places. But, the fact that 15 million people live in the same city makes it difficult to live here. In the end, it is a city which has reached its limits.

Istanbul, hosting the 18.6% of Turkey's population with 15.09.231 people, became Turkey's most crowded city.  Istanbul is more crowded than the 129 out of 201 countries in the world including Greece, Portugal, Sweden, and Cuba.

Migration from rural has been an important issue in Turkey for decades. The first migration wave from rural to urban was supported by the Government on the purpose of rapid urbanization and industrial development.

Turkey is a country with regional disparities. Private Sector invests more in the Western side of Turkey. Hence, job opportunities are better in those areas. People who can not make living in rural sides decide to come to Istanbul to have a better life. In other words, Istanbul is the city where you can live your American Dream.

The government should invest in places which of the private sector doesn't and therefore create equal opportunity for all. The government should invest in the East and provide employment, thus, preventing the migration to the big cities, such as Istanbul.

Regional Disparities of Turkey. Source: ResearchGate.

Emel
Dec 2018