Turkey’s Economy Is Beating Peers While Leaving People Poorer
Turkey’s economy expanded at a faster pace than most peers in the third quarter, but soaring inflation pose a threat to incomes.
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Turkey’s economy probably expanded at a faster pace than most peers in the third quarter, but soaring inflation and a slump in the lira triggered by central bank interest-rate cuts pose a threat to incomes and longer-term growth.
Data due Tuesday will likely show the $765 billion economy beat most Group of 20 nations to grow an annual 7.4%, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey. Gross domestic product surged 21.7% annually in the second quarter from a contraction at the peak of the pandemic, the biggest increase since at least 1999.
Domestic demand strengthened “thanks to the faster vaccine rollout and economic reopening, which was evident in retail sales,” said Fatih Akcelik, an economist at Deutsche Bank. Strong exports and better tourist revenues helped, he said.
Under pressure from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the central bank has slashed 4 percentage points off borrowing rates since September. Erdogan, whose popularity has dropped ahead of 2023 elections, portrayed the rate cuts as central to a pivot toward an economy with greater investment and job creation. Yet the policy stance has come at the cost of lira depreciation and faster price gains.
Strong real GDP growth isn’t translating into higher living standards for many as inflationary pressures lead to declining purchasing power for some households.
The lira sank past 13 per dollar for the first time last week, capping the second-biggest plunge in 20 years after Erdogan defended his demands for lower borrowing costs. The weaker currency means GDP per capita in dollar terms has fallen, with inflation already hovering around 20%. Turkey’s statistics office will announce price increases for November on Friday.
Tighter financial markets and significantly deteriorating expectations could pull down domestic demand and “become more pronounced on the 2022 GDP growth path,” said Inanc Sozer, an economist with Istanbul-based Virtus Glocal Consulting.
Central bank Governor Sahap Kavcioglu will chair the next rate-setting meeting on Dec. 16, with Erdogan maintaining his pressure for further rate cuts.
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