Trade Openness and Poverty Nexus: An Empirical Analysis on Selected Countries

Öz

This study empirically examines the effects of trade liberalization on poverty, a dynamic area of debate in the international economic literature. The benefits promised by Free Trade Theory appear to have materialized when examined in the context of today’s developed economies. Although it has been tested by major crises from time to time, the free-market system has gained acceptance in today’s world; as competing systems have collapsed one by one, it has taken their place and continued to expand its presence. In the literature, alongside views arguing that trade reduces poverty through the channel of economic growth, there are also approaches that contend that high-income groups have disproportionately benefited from the increase in prosperity brought about by globalization, while the poor have been excluded from the process. Building on these theoretical differences, this study seeks to answer the following question: “Does trade openness reduce poverty?”. The study examines data from 31 OECD countries for the 2003–2020 period using panel data analysis. The results of the panel data analysis indicate a positive relationship between trade openness and poverty across the OECD as a whole, suggesting that liberalization increases poverty. The study discusses the asymmetric effects of trade openness policies on poverty within the framework of geographic and institutional dynamics.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Trade Openness
• Poverty
• Panel Data Analysis

Dışa Açıklık ve Yoksulluk İlişkisi: Seçilmiş Ülkeler Üzerine Ampirik Bir Analiz

Öz

Bu çalışma, uluslararası iktisat literatüründe dinamik bir tartışma alanı olan ticari serbestleşmenin yoksulluk üzerindeki etkilerini ampirik olarak incelemektedir. Serbest Ticaret Teorisinin üretmeyi vaad ettiği yararlar, günümüz gelişmiş ekonomileri açısından incelendiğinde gerçekleşmiş gibi görünmektedir. Her ne kadar dönemsel olarak büyük krizlerle sınansa da serbest piyasa düzeni günümüz dünyasında kabul görmüş ve rakibi olan sistemler birer birer yıkılırken onların da yerini almış ve varlığını genişleterek devam ettirmiştir. Literatürde, ticaretin ekonomik büyüme kanalıyla yoksulluğu azalttığını savunan görüşlerin yanı sıra, küreselleşmenin getirdiği refah artışından ağırlıklı olarak yüksek gelir gruplarının faydalandığını ve yoksul kesimlerin süreçten dışlandığını ileri süren yaklaşımlar da mevcuttur. Bu teorik farklılıklardan hareketle çalışma, "Ticari açıklık yoksulluğu azaltır mı?" sorusuna yanıt aramaktadır. Çalışmada 31 OECD ülkesinin 2003–2020 dönemi verileri panel veri analizi yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Panel veri analizi sonuçları, OECD genelinde ticari açıklık ile yoksulluk arasında pozitif bir ilişki olduğunu, yani serbestleşmenin yoksulluğu artırdığını göstermektedir. Çalışma, dışa açıklık politikalarının yoksulluk üzerindeki asimetrik etkilerini coğrafi ve kurumsal dinamikler çerçevesinde tartışmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ticari Açıklık
• Yoksulluk
• Panel Veri Analizi

Kaynakça

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