The long-run linkages between education, health and defence expenditures and economic growth: Evidence from Turkey

Abstract

In this study, we empirically investigate the long-run relationships between education-health expenditures, defence expenditures and economic growth in Turkey by using annual time-series data for the time period 1950-2005. To estimate these relationships, we use the cointegration method, which allows for the existence of structural breaks. The results show that there are two cointegrating vectors in the system with statistically significant structural breaks. According to the identified long-run equations, education and health expenditures affect economic growth positively, while defence expenditures have negative effects. In addition, the results show that there is a budgetary trade-off between education-health and defence expenditures.