Research Article

The Relationship between Economic Growth and Income Inequality in Türkiye: A Post-Keynesian Interpretation Based on Kaldor’s Theoretical Perspective

Volume: 11 Number: 2 October 1, 2025
TR EN

The Relationship between Economic Growth and Income Inequality in Türkiye: A Post-Keynesian Interpretation Based on Kaldor’s Theoretical Perspective

Abstract

This study investigated the association between economic growth and income distribution based on Kaldor's post-Keynesian theory of income distribution. The focus was on how the functional distribution of income was affected by macroeconomic dynamics and therefore Kaldor’s industry-specific growth laws were not considered in the scope of the study. It was aimed to test if economic growth had an effect on inequality and what were the macroeconomic influence factors on such a relationship. Accordingly, annual data for the period 2006-2022 was used to test the short-run relationship between income inequality (as measured by the Gini coefficient) and a set of key macroeconomic variables like GDP per capita, growth rate, unemployment, inflation, schooling rate, and foreign direct investment. Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) Test, Vector Autoregression (VAR) Model and Granger Causality Test were used for the purposes of analyses. The results indicated that the effect of growth on income inequality was positive in the short run. Nevertheless, it was seen that indirect effects including schooling rate and labor market dynamics were potential mechanisms through which growth could affect distribution. These results were reviewed in the light of Kaldor’s post-Keynesian theory and underscored the importance of complementary socio-economic strategies for achieving inclusive growth..

Keywords

References

  1. Abdioğlu, Z. and Yamak, R. (2016). Türk imalat sanayinde sektörler bazında verimlilik çıktı ilişkisi: Verdoorn Yasası. Uluslararası Ekonomik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2(2), 81-91.
  2. Alkin, E. (1970). Keynesyen gelir dağılımı teorisi ve Kaldor modeli. İstanbul Üniversitesi İktisat Fakültesi Mecmuası, 30(1), 45-60.
  3. Alkin, E. (2012). Keynes' yen Gelir Dağılımı Teorisi ve Kaldor Modeli. İstanbul Üniversitesi İktisat Fakültesi Mecmuası, 29(1-4).
  4. Akgündüz, K. (2020). Kaldor Büyüme Yasası'nın Analizi: Türkiye, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Güney Kore Örneği (1985-2018). Uluslararası İlişkiler ve Diplomasi, 3(2), 24-34.
  5. Amri, K. and Nazamuddin. (2018). Is there causality relationship between economic growth and income inequality?: Panel data evidence from Indonesia. Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance, 6(2), 8-20.
  6. Arısoy, İ. (2013). Kaldor Yasası Çerçevesinde Türkiye’de Sanayi Sektörü ve İktisadi Büyüme İlişkisinin Sınanması. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İİBF Dergisi, 8(1), 143-162.
  7. Arslan, F. P. (2019). Gelir dağılımı üzerine Kaleckiyen ve Kaldorcu modellerin bir özeti. Beykoz Akademi Dergisi, 7(2), 266-276.
  8. Boyer, R. and Petit, P. (1991). Kaldor’s growth theories: past, present and prospects for the future. In Nicholas Kaldor and mainstream economics: Confrontation or convergence? (pp. 485-517). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Macroeconomic Theory

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

September 17, 2025

Publication Date

October 1, 2025

Submission Date

April 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 26, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 11 Number: 2

APA
Yücel, D. (2025). The Relationship between Economic Growth and Income Inequality in Türkiye: A Post-Keynesian Interpretation Based on Kaldor’s Theoretical Perspective. Uluslararası Ekonomi Ve Yenilik Dergisi, 11(2), 605-632. https://doi.org/10.20979/ueyd.1675356

International Journal of Economics and Innovation

Karadeniz Technical University, Department of Economics, 61080, Trabzon/Türkiye

https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ueyd


33974

 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.