THE ROLE AND DETERMINANTS OF SAVINGS ON GROWTH PROCESS IN TURKEY AND THE TURKISH REPUBLICS

In the study, the role of savings in the growth process and the main determinants of savings are empiricaly analyzed in Turkey and the Turkish Republics. Turkey and the Turkish Republics with the important economic and political potentials have a special place between the emerging economies. Under assumptions that saving is a crucial element in the sustainable growth process of these countries, we are looking for clues that will guide policies to stimulate savings. In the study was used a comprehensive data set from the annual frequency data covering the period 1990-2015. The reciprocal relations between the savings, savings deficit, investment spending and growth were analyzed by panel causality tests. Then, the determinants of savings and savings deficit are estimated with linear panel data models. Although the relationship between savings and investments is not very clear, findings show that savings is the most important dynamic of the growth process. It has been determined that savings are affected by consumption and investment expenditures, interest rates, current account balance and demographic factors. On the other hand, consumption, growth and demographic factors were found to be influential on the savings deficit.