Capital from the Diaspora, Economy of the Homeland: The Economic Role of the Turkish Diaspora in Turkish Economic History

Yıl 2026, Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1 , 138 - 160 , 31.03.2026

Naib Alakbarov

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1788354

https://izlik.org/JA83BM57RB

Öz

Developing countries face a persistent financing gap as one of the major obstacles to achieving sustainable development goals. Insufficient domestic savings hinder these countries’ ability to secure the financing required for their growth and development objectives, which consequently renders them dependent on external financial resources. External financing plays a crucial role in enabling these countries to undertake essential investments, raise income levels, and improve overall social welfare. In this context, the economic contributions of diaspora communities to their countries of origin have gained increasing recognition as a viable source of external financing. In recent years, diaspora investments have attracted attention in the development literature not only for their financial value but also for their broader developmental impacts. For many developing countries, diaspora contributions go beyond remittances and include direct investments, entrepreneurial initiatives, and the transfer of knowledge, skills, and cultural values. Migrants are thus viewed not only as financial contributors but also as key development actors who bring valuable human and social capital to their home countries. This study explores the role of diaspora investments as an alternative mechanism for development financing, drawing on key insights from the existing literature. It also examines the case of Türkiye, where, particularly since the 1960s, labor migration to European countries—especially Germany—has played a strategic role in national development through foreign exchange inflows and the transfer of skills and experience. Furthermore, the Granger causality analysis for the period 1964–1980 indicated a bidirectional causal relationship between remittances and the trade deficit, whereas the analysis for the period 1964–2020 did not reveal such a relationship.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Financial Gap , Turkish Diaspora , Economic Development , Remittance , Foreign Trade Deficit , Tourism , Turkish Economic History

Diaspora Sermayesi, Anavatan Ekonomisi: Türk Diasporasının Türkiye Ekonomi Tarihindeki Ekonomik Rolü

https://izlik.org/JA83BM57RB

Öz

Gelişmekte olan ülkeler, sürdürülebilir kalkınma hedeflerine ulaşmada en büyük engellerden biri olarak süregelen finansman açığıyla karşı karşıyadır. Yetersiz iç tasarruflar, bu ülkelerin büyüme ve kalkınma hedefleri için gereken finansmanı sağlamasını zorlaştırmakta, bu da onları dış finansman kaynaklarına bağımlı hale getirmektedir. Dış finansman akışları, bu ülkelerin zorunlu altyapı yatırımlarını gerçekleştirmesine, gelir düzeylerini artırmasına ve nihayetinde genel sosyal refahı iyileştirmesine olanak tanıyan hayati bir katalizör işlevi görmektedir. Bu çerçevede, diaspora topluluklarının menşe ülkelerine sağladığı ekonomik katkılar, son dönemde üzerinde durulan ve sürdürülebilir bir dış finansman mekanizması olarak kabul gören önemli bir kaynak haline gelmiştir. Kalkınma literatüründe, diaspora yatırımları yalnızca sağladıkları finansal değer için değil, aynı zamanda çok boyutlu kalkınma etkileri nedeniyle de yoğun ilgi görmektedir. Zira birçok gelişmekte olan ülke için diaspora katkıları, basit havalelerin çok ötesine geçerek doğrudan yabancı yatırımları, kritik girişimcilik inisiyatiflerini ve en önemlisi bilgi, beşeri beceri ve sosyal/kültürel değerlerin transferini kapsamaktadır. Bu perspektiften bakıldığında, göçmenler artık sadece parasal katkı sunan unsurlar değil, aynı zamanda memleketlerine değerli beşeri ve sosyal sermaye aktaran kilit kalkınma aktörleri olarak görülmektedir. Bu akademik çalışma, mevcut literatürdeki temel bulguları kullanarak, diaspora yatırımlarının kalkınma finansmanı için alternatif bir kaynak olarak üstlendiği stratejik rolü derinlemesine incelemektedir. Çalışma, bunun dışında, özellikle 1960'lı yıllardan bu yana başta Almanya olmak üzere Avrupa ülkelerine yönelik gerçekleşen işgücü göçünün, döviz girdileri ve beceri/deneyim transferi yoluyla ulusal kalkınmaya önemli katkılar sağladığı Türkiye vakasını özel olarak ele almaktadır. Ayrıca, 1964-1980 dönemine ilişkin yapılan Granger Nedensellik analizi sonucunda, yurt dışından gönderilen paralar ile dış ticaret açığı arasında karşılıklı bir nedensellik ilişkisi tespit edilmişken; 1964-2020 dönemine ilişkin yapılan analizde bu tür bir ilişki gözlenmemiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Finansman Açığı , Türk Diasporası , Ekonomik Kalkınma , Para Havalesi , Dış Ticaret Açığı , Turizm , Türk İktisat Tarihi

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