Research Article

Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy

Volume: 14 Number: 2 August 30, 2026
TR EN

Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy

Abstract

The objective of this study is to empirically analyze the impact of corporate tax, income tax, inheritance and gift tax, motor vehicle tax, excise taxes, domestically collected value-added tax, and value-added tax on imports on income inequality in Türkiye. The findings obtained using the ARDL method and annual data for the period 2000-2023 are as follows: i) All variables become stationary after first differencing. ii) There is a long-term relationship between the dependent and independent variables, and the explanatory variables explain the dependent variable at a stable level in the long run. iii) It has been determined that a rise in income tax, corporate tax, and excise tax increases redistribution and thus reduces income inequality. In contrast, a rise in domestic value-added tax and inheritance and transfer tax reduces redistribution and thus increases income inequality. Therefore, policymakers should rely more on income and corporate taxes among direct taxes, and on excise taxes among indirect taxes, to reduce income inequality in Türkiye.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Policy and Administration (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 30, 2026

Submission Date

May 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 2

APA
Tezel, K., & Akalin, G. (2026). Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 14(2), 1412-1436. https://doi.org/10.18506/anemon.1695347
AMA
1.Tezel K, Akalin G. Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2026;14(2):1412-1436. doi:10.18506/anemon.1695347
Chicago
Tezel, Kadir, and Güray Akalin. 2026. “Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy”. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 14 (2): 1412-36. https://doi.org/10.18506/anemon.1695347.
EndNote
Tezel K, Akalin G (August 1, 2026) Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 14 2 1412–1436.
IEEE
[1]K. Tezel and G. Akalin, “Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy”, Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 1412–1436, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.18506/anemon.1695347.
ISNAD
Tezel, Kadir - Akalin, Güray. “Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy”. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 14/2 (August 1, 2026): 1412-1436. https://doi.org/10.18506/anemon.1695347.
JAMA
1.Tezel K, Akalin G. Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2026;14:1412–1436.
MLA
Tezel, Kadir, and Güray Akalin. “Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy”. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 1412-36, doi:10.18506/anemon.1695347.
Vancouver
1.Kadir Tezel, Güray Akalin. Income Inequality and Taxes: An Empirical Assessment for The Turkish Economy. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2026 Aug. 1;14(2):1412-36. doi:10.18506/anemon.1695347