Article: An Open Call to Economic Management – Inflation and Transparency Issues
A well-known writer in the field of economics has written an interesting article about the inflation situation in Turkey and related issues. The writer emphasizes that the problem of inflation in Turkey is not only due to economic reasons but also psychological and expectation effects.
According to the writer, a large portion of the public has doubts about the announced inflation rates, and this situation fuels the psychological aspect of inflation. Furthermore, the writer states that citizens do not believe the announced figures, which weakens hopes that inflation will decrease.
Here’s a summary of what the writer has said on this topic:
Psychological Aspect of Inflation and Lack of Trust
The article highlights the strong public perception that the inflation rates are not real, and this perception affects the price-setting processes. Citizens’ failure to accept the announced rates results in proactive price increases by individuals or institutions. This leads to the normalization and acceptance of price hikes in society. It is noted that the culture of protesting against price hikes, especially in the private sector and among the public, has diminished, and this is reflected in Turkey’s high inflation environment.
Lack of Transparency and TÜİK’s Situation
The article criticizes TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) for its lack of transparency and failure to take steps to regain public trust. The writer makes an open call to the economic management, urging TÜİK to open its doors to the press, academics, and relevant individuals for one day. This would allow TÜİK to demonstrate how inflation calculations are made and provide clear information about how prices are collected. It is argued that such an action could reduce doubts about inflation rates and eliminate the psychological effects of inflation.
The Futility of Hiding Prices and Weights
The article also points out that TÜİK’s efforts to hide certain prices have backfired, as these prices have already been exposed to the public. These concealment efforts only increase public suspicion, and the article stresses that these suspicions are justified. Moreover, criticisms are made regarding the attempt to prevent the public from learning about certain prices, with examples showing that these hidden prices are already known by the public, rendering such secrecy meaningless.
Eurostat and Comparisons with Other Countries
The article finally touches on the frequent references made to Eurostat. It argues that Eurostat does not interfere with Turkey’s national policies but TÜİK follows Eurostat’s statistical standards. While the writer acknowledges that Eurostat sets general frameworks for certain statistics, they emphasize that Turkey maintains independence over its national policies.
Conclusion
The general message of the article is that inflation and economic management need to be handled correctly, and transparency must be ensured. The writer emphasizes that TÜİK should share its inflation rates and calculations transparently with the public to regain trust.
SOURCE: ekonomim.com/kose-yazisi/ekonomi-yonetimine-acik-cagri/806344
Author: Alaattin AKTAŞ / summary edited and translated by BTT
