Turkey targets voters with government benefits

One of the major characteristics of Turkish politics is the official policy of distributing social assistance instead of investing strategically to reduce unemployment. Poor segments of society have become dependent upon cash and other assistance, and recipients of it inevitably vote for the ruling party. For the poor citizens, casting a vote once every four years in return for handouts is a good deal. Fear that the assistance will be terminated should another party come to power is a powerful inducement to vote for the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Governments should take action to eliminate poverty, not make people survive on handouts. But for years, per capita national income has been nearly stagnant at $10,000, meaning poverty and dependence are here to stay. Social assistance is funded by the state treasury, which means spending the money collected from citizens as taxes. Naturally, the poor do not want to upset the established order.