Determining factors affecting regional poverty levels in Türkiye: a comparison of ordered discrete choice models.

Abstract

Background: This study aims to determine the factors affecting the poverty rate among the households in question by region, the western, central, and eastern regions underwent research separately.

Methods: This study uses the ordered discrete choice models: the heteroskedastic ordered logistic regression, generalized ordered probit, and partial proportional odds models.

Results: Based on the findings of the data, statistically significant relationships between the variables; age, gender, levels of education, marital status, the number of equivalent individuals within the household, the existence of individuals under the age of 5 within the household, the presence of individuals over the age of 65 within the household, working status, the number of working individuals within the household, financial difficulty, the presence of income generated through real estate (rent) or securities, residential homeownership, chronic diseases, and the year of data collection were spotted.

Conclusions: Poverty is a multidimensional concept that can emerge due to several economic and social factors. Therefore, the policies that can be developed to reduce poverty can vary. To solve the problem of poverty, countries identify the factors that cause poverty and develop policies accordingly. Factors influencing household poverty levels across regions in Türkiye were identified, and several policy recommendations aimed to alleviate poverty were offered, considering the results achieved in this study. Given the results, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) must implement practical projects that provide in-kind and cash assistance to those in need, offer employment opportunities, and improve the productivity of the impoverished. Continuous aid to the poor without expecting anything in return encourages them to be lazy, which may have a negative effect by increasing their dependency on getting help. In our country, an institutional monitoring mechanism should be established to measure the effectiveness of the in-kind and cash aids provided by central government institutions, local governments, and various non-governmental organizations in the fight against poverty.