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Why is the Labor Share so Low in Turkey?

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  • Burak Ünveren
  • Seçkin Sunal

Abstract

type="main"> The labor share in the income of Turkey is confoundingly low according to official figures. By comparison, the average labor share of OECD members is two times higher than that of Turkey. Is this because labor productivity is low, or is it because imperfect competition, which amplifies profits, is overwhelmingly high in Turkey? We estimate preferences, technology parameters, and price markup in a dynamic general equilibrium model to answer this question using GMM. To our surprise, the results suggest that the crucial factor suppressing the share of labor in Turkey is high price markup, and the role of low productivity of labor is negligible. The results are robust to the use of different instrumental variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Burak Ünveren & Seçkin Sunal, 2015. "Why is the Labor Share so Low in Turkey?," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 53(4), pages 272-288, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:deveco:v:53:y:2015:i:4:p:272-288
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    Cited by:

    1. Aykut Mert Yakut & Ebru Voyvoda, 2017. "Intertemporal CGE Analysis of Income Distribution in Turkey," ERC Working Papers 1703, ERC - Economic Research Center, Middle East Technical University, revised Feb 2017.
    2. Attar, M. Aykut, 2021. "Growth, distribution and dynamic inefficiency in Turkey: An analysis of the naïve neoclassical theory of capital," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 20-30.

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