Analysis of the Transformation of Turkish Exports: From Trade Liberalization Until Today

Abstract

Turkey implemented a structural adjustment program in the 1980’s aiming to liberalize foreign trade and capital markets. The program was based on an “export-led growth” strategy and it helped Turkey to experience a notable trade transformation particularly in the last two-three decades. To illustrate it, although Turkey was considered to be a major exporter of low value-added textiles, clothing and agricultural products in the past; but she has become a major exporter in high-value added products such as motor vehicles, iron and steel products, electrical and non-electrical machinery at present. In this respect, this paper investigates the developments in Turkish trade, analyze the effects of foreign trade liberalization and assess in details the overall profile of Turkey’s international comparative advantage. Within this framework, Turkish export performance is analyzed empirically and trade indices such as Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA; henceforth), Lafay index, Herfindahl - Hirschman and diversification indices are visited. All in all, the study aims to find out how the structure of Turkish trade has changed in the last three decades and how the exports performed in this period.

Keywords

• Export Performance,Competitiveness,Trade Diversification,Turkey

Türk İhracatında Yaşanan Dönüşümün Analizi: Ticaretin Serbestisinden Bugüne

Öz

Türkiye, dış ticaretini ve sermaye piyasalarını serbeştleştirmek maksadıyla 1980’lerde yapısal bir dönüşüm programı uygulamıştır. Mezkur program “ihracate dayalı büyüme” stratejisini temel almış ve Türkiye’nin özellikle son yirmi-otuz  yılda kayda değer bir ticaret dönüşümü  yaşamasına yardımcı olmuştur. Örneğin, yakın zaman öncesine kadar Türkiye tekstil, giyim eşyası ve tarımsal ürünler gibi düşük katma değerli ürünler ihracatçısı iken, günümüzde ekseriyetle motorlu araçlar, demir-çelik ürünleri, elektrikli ve elektriksiz makineler ihracatçısı konumuna gelmiştir. Bu kapsamda, bu çalışma Türk ticaretindeki gelişmeleri tahkik etmekte, dış ticaret serbestisinin etkilerini analiz etmekte ve Türkiye’nin uluslararası mukayeseli üstünlük profilini detaylarıyla incelemektedir. Bu çerçevede, Türk ihracatının performansı ampirik olarak incelenmiş ve Normalize Edilmiş Karşılaştırmalı Üstünlük Endeksi, Lafay Endeksi, Herfindahl - Hirschmann ve  Çeşitlilik Endeksi gibi göstergelere yer verilmiştir. Sonuç itibariyle, bu çalışma son 30 yılda Türk ticaret yapısının nasıl değiştiğini ve ihracatın nasıl bir performans gösterdiğini ortaya çıkarmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İhracat Performansı,Rekabet Edebilirlik,Ticaret Çeşitlendirmesi,Türkiye

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