Welfare Perceptions of the Youth: A Case Study of University Students in Turkey

. This paper discusses the welfare perceptions in Turkey, in particular among the university students. It finds growing financial concerns among university students in terms of social and economic welfare. This is despite the recent economic, social, and cultural transformations in modern Turkey during the past two decades. Meanwhile, the latest pandemic is likely to have deteriorated these perceptions. The paper is based upon survey outcomes from different cities’ university students across Turkey. We employ the standard chi-square test of independence to test our hypotheses. It analyzes the Turkish university students’ current welfare, happiness, contentment with life, and the future financial wellness perceptions. Despite little or no academic attention, these widespread perceptions of the welfare state policy areas have proven to be a critical aspect of their evaluation, efficacy, and the validity processes. Therefore, understanding the welfare perceptions of the youth may potentially provide significant contributions to carving the nation’s socioeconomic policies in the middle and long term. An up to date understanding of these perceptions may, therefore, prove vital toward a roadmap regarding the socioeconomic policies to be implemented looking forward. The paper demonstrates and elaborates on understanding the underlying fundamentals behind the decreasing optimism, the worsening income and wealth inequalities, as well as the worsening welfare perceptions among the youth in Turkey.