High inflation, exorbitant prices and rents, constantly falling purchasing power: in Turkey, the minimum wage is now the new average wage, and the middle class is in danger of disappearing, writes ARD.
"What is 22,000 liras in this country?", says Ahmet, who is 50 years old and works as a doorman in an underground parking lot. 22,000 Turkish liras is a little more than 450 euros - that is the minimum wage in Turkey, writes ARD.
However, at least in Istanbul, no one works for that much, points out Ahmet. This is only the amount from which social deductions are made - in fact, it is double or even more.
For a decent life, let alone a decent living
But even these amounts are not enough, baker Metin calculates. “Taking into account inflation, you should get between 100,000 and 150,000 liras. If a skilled worker like me earns 50,000 liras, about half of it goes to rent. From there - what will you eat and what will you pay the electricity, water and gas bills with?"
Metin supports his family of four alone. Many households manage only thanks to the fact that two or more members work in them. Or they live in more remote areas where it is cheaper - like Metin. He leaves at five and comes home at 7, has dinner and goes to bed. "This is not a decent life," he told ARD.
Meat is only eaten once a month
Metin's family can only afford meat once a month. It used to happen more often - once a week, but before that everything was different. "Five years ago I could feed my family, pay the rent and even save. Not anymore," he told ARD.
Metin has no money for his own home, and rents are constantly rising: for about three years now his rent has practically doubled every year. Theoretically, tenants could object, but few decide to take such a step because they do not know how to act. In Turkey, rents can rise in parallel with inflation, which is currently officially 33 percent. However, independent economists believe that it is at least twice as high.
The minimum wage is the new average
Prices are rising mainly in the areas of food, transport, education and rent, ARD points out. In the past few years, the minimum wage has been increased many times, but higher incomes do not automatically increase with it. As a result, the middle class in Turkey is disappearing, economist Onur Çanakçı told the German public media. The minimum wage has become average. Thus, people's purchasing power has decreased. Those who previously received average wages have now dropped to a lower income group.
Society is becoming poorer, and this could turn into a real explosion, leading to mass protests or strikes. Many, however, do not dare to do anything of the sort, for fear of prosecution, the German publication also writes.
The family prevents the worst
Added to this is the fact that the increasingly widespread poverty is difficult to recognize - thanks to Turkish society, as Çanakçı explains. "The family plays a big role in this respect - it helps to prevent people from becoming homeless and having to live on the streets like in America. This is the main reason for the absence of a social explosion."
But the anger of many people is growing - because of the misery in which they have to live, caused by high inflation. In a September poll by the ASAL public opinion research institute, three-quarters of respondents accused President Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party of misguided economic policies.
Are Erdogan's policies driving investors away?
However, this is not enough to explain the situation, economics professor Alp Erinç Yeldan told ARD. He also criticized the government's approach to the opposition. "The fight against inflation has failed because of the March 19 operations (when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested - ed.), the trials of journalists and the failure to comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights." In other words: "The fact that inflation is unlikely to decrease in the future is mainly due to the fact that we are experiencing a crisis of democracy and the rule of law".
This policy - as entrepreneurs in the country say - also repels investors. And the Turkish economy urgently needs investments.