The unemployment rate is not %13 , it is %9,2 at the moment

This article could not have outlined the truth about Erdogan and Turkey's economy any better. This comment comes from a Muslim, secular Turk (and a friend of Israel), who sees Erdogan for what he is: "an emperor (or should I say sultan) with no clothes." Ironically I need an Israeli forum to make this comment without fearing backlash from Erdogan and his cronies. Keep the constructive criticism up. Few Turks are able to do so in their own country.

No, this article is very accurate in intent. Don't be fooled by the GDP growth number as part of it is because of the significant growth of trade with Israel for example. But aside from that, unemployment in Turkey is in double digits, as is inflation (see the false tie to GDP growth) and the average per capita GDP is barely above 3rd world levels at $12,000 or so. No wonder the Turks want to run to Israel to work and Europe. The discrepancy between Israel's sophisticated post-industrial economy and Turkey's is night and day. Look at the incredibly low life expectancy figures which are lower than Gaza's (check the Worldbook for this) and you get a better picture of just how shabby the economy and the quality of life in Turkey is. Erdogan would do better to shake hands with Israel and get help for his economy to lift his miserable people to a life that is better than we he can provide.

This pending financial crisis is no different in cause to the one the US s going through or for that matter most of Europe. The second half of this Mr. Bechor is that as much as most sane people would like to see Erdo humiliated, a failing Turkish economy does no-one any good. Israel's economy would be hurt if Turkey's took a plunge as will many of our economic partner's economies. A strong SANE Turkey is in everyone's interest. We just need the Turks themselves to work on the SANE part and get rid of Erdo and crew.

pretty much expected as is some tendency for wishful thinking. However, how about yourself? Do you have a dog in this fight too and if you do what kind is that?

Turkey has a "current account deficit", not a budget deficit like Greece. Turkey had a budget surplus in 2011. By the way, current account deficit is a problem but Turkey has enough foreign exchange reserves to handle a currency crisis. So neither economic crisis or Sharia is coming to Turkey, even though you wish so.

The fact is that you can't have a growing economy yet high and rising unemployment. That is an oxymoron. Itself not surprising when a Moron is running the country.

There is something missing in the article a huge "we wish" in the beginning. there are people around, whom were saying "Turkey's gonna be outa NATO soooooon.." repedeately. See what happened, Turkey hosts the defense system for Iranian missile threat. Also about the article, say it a million times, maybe it may come true??

Turkey's economy is nothing but hot air - or why do you think they are so desperately trying to get into EU?!?

It's getting pretty obvious that when the crunch comes to Turkey's economy, he will have the perfect scape goat - Israel of course. He will blame Israel for manipulating the economy and currencies in an attempt to bring down Turkey. The classic slander of the Jews controlling all the banks in the world.. You heard it here first.....

and did not recover this year. In fact from the economic standpoint, Egypt grew last year 8% while Turkey went down 5. It was Mubarak's homeland growing economic self - sufficiency that caused the upheaval. Turkey on the other hand has no other real growth partner than Israel. Erdogan is zealously cutting a branch on a tree, his nation is sitting on. Lately he isn't even cutting. He axing it, some times hitting own toes. But as a noble man from proud tribe he makes a brave face and keeps on axing. As if nobody knows how it ends.

Really? How do you explain the increasing unemployment in Turkey? Do you think that we have not noticed that Marvel -- formerly the second largest shipping company in the world -- has gone bankrupt? Along with over a dozen other large Turkish shipping companies, I might add. Do you think that we are not aware that the Turkish government has underwritten several billion dollars in Marvel guarantees? Do you think we have not noticed that the drydocking berths at Mersin and Iskenderun are lying empty? Quite a change from previous years. Get a grip. Turkey's economy is dead. No matter how desperately the Turkish government manipulates the numbers. What do you think will happen to Turkey when NATO kicks Turkey out and Turkey loses all those lucrative and income-generating NATO bases? You're not the only horse in the race, you know. There are PLENTY of former Soviet republics with just as much strategic value to NATO willing to share for far lower a price. Turkey's a dead turkey. Deal with it. Actually -- given Turkey's ever-increasing closer ties with Iran -- you don't have a choice. Oh -- almost forgot -- millions marching? You're off by about 999,899 marchers. Oh, well. Deal with it. Turkey has always seemed to have an inflated view of its importance.

To all my Turkish firends, You all are manipulated by wrong and biased economic data published by Turkish media. That media are the employee of Erdogan. You have to check foreign economic data on Turkey where actual economic parameters can be viewed. The Erdogan media reflects Turkey as one of the strongest economies in the world and hide many data hidden and undeclared. Just recently T.L. depreciated by almost 10% in a period of time as short as 4-5 weeks. Turkish central bank declared the money which left Turkish economy as USD 1,5 Billion. If such a small amount quaked your currency by 10%, which "WISHFULL THINKING" are you guys talking about? Don't you understand if some real quake takes place in Turkish economy, you won’t even be able to find power to type on your computers? WAKE UP GUYS‼‼‼!

This article is full of wishful thinking. The credit buble in Turkey is a fact, but the banking system is required to hold large reserves. The turkish banking systems weathered the storm of 2008/2009 without bailouts. The unemployment is more in the 9-10% range (it was 12 % during the world finaniak crisis - you people should check the dates of your sources!). I believe many want to see Turkey fail simply because they don't like Turkey and its position towards Israel and its politics. So they make unsubstantiated claims and even publish them in "quality" news outlets and people actually bite, because it suits their hate towards Turkey and the Turks. This is just sad.

From CIA factbook (or use google) Budget deficit for: Germany: -3.3% Turkey: -3.6% Israel: -3.8% World average: -5.5% Canada: -5.6% France: -6.9% USA: -8.8% UK: -10.2% Greece: -10.5% Just so you know what you are talking about. Btw. you are hurting the jewish cause by these lies.

If this column is in essence true then we have seen a gigantic world media cover- up of the Turkish situation. This would not surprise. The global media ignores so so much of what is really happening in the world , and focuses on a few pet items. Consider the difficult situation of millions of people throughout the world, of which nothing at all is written in the global media. Consider that the Arab Palestinians get ninety - five percent of Lefty sympathy. A sad situation indeed for all of mankind.

Your comment is wrong. America's net foreign debt is approximately 90% of GDP, but its budget deficit is only 35% of GDP. This is only 2-3 times as much as Turkey, not 6 times as much as you make it seem. Nonetheless, your point is well taken. America's economy is in shambles.

It is worth pointing out that the gaza strip has had growth rates in the order of 25% a year for the last few. This is the highest in the world. It matter where you are starting from. If I have three dollars, and you give me one, my "growth rate" is 33%!! Look at the per-capita numbers to tell a fuller tale.

Let's suppose for one moment that Turkey somehow manages to become a full EU member - what will it be: net contributor or net receiver?

Because he dont know the exact number and comparison an apple with a peer..Grece has budget deficit (% 12),Turkey has trade deficit,not budget deficit..and also turkey has budget surplas..So Mr Bechor must reading ecomomics..Turkey can finance trade deficit..

I've read analysis by Barry Rubin saying that the secular Kemalist Republic ended a few months ago. Do you and other anti-Erdogan citizens agree with this notion?

Besiktas 5 Maccabi Tel Aviv 1.

In general the author seems to have zero idea about economics. He is apparently comparing Turkey's current account deficit with Israel's and Greece's budget deficits. These are very different things

...if you dont believe come to Turky and see it self. But stop writing Lies and a amateur article! btw. are you jealous or what ?

In 2002 when AKP took over, the Turkish foreign debt was 42 billion dollars. Today it stands at Half a trillion dollars........Official unemployment is 13%.. unofficial 20%. Its a paper tiger... Every major news organization is talking about the Turkish "Bubble" From Economist to Financial Times.... This Turkey should get ready for a hard landing....

If Turkey becomes a EU member, it would be a net RECIPIENT - like most EU countries. Your point being? PS. If Turkey had been a EU/EURO member, it would have had to pay 10 billion euros to Greece. Turkey has a budget deficit of 3.5 % (a little more than Germany); a total debt of 42 % of GDP (like Luxemburg!) and the CAD is also narrowing. I really wonder where the author of this article has his numbers from. Besides, Germans should be happy about the Turkish economy posting big growth. That way, the Turks will finally give up on the EU and jobless Turks in Germany may consider returning home in the future. So, you should hope that the Turkish economic miracle continues!

Get real. Everybody knows about Turkey's dire straits (except, apparently, the Turks). Turkey has a HUGE trade deficit, and an even bigger budget deficit. Your government manipulates numbers and has no independent accounting system. Turkey cannot even borrow any more, its credit rating has been heavily compromised by virtue of its ever-closening ties to Iran and Syria, two international pariahs. The ongoing massacre of innocent Kurdish civilians is not helping Turkey's cause, either. Neither, for that matter, is the ridiculous posturing by Erdogan. The release of the Palmer Report, which pointed up -- much to the humiliation of the Turkish government -- the role that the Turkish government played in financing, backing, encouraging and supporting the ridiculous flotilla episode pretty much guarantees Turkey's involuntary departure from NATO quite soon. If you seriously believe what your government is telling you about the Turkish economy, and Turkey's role in the Middle East, then you are severely deluded.