Determination and Comparison of Development Levels' Across Regions: Turkey Case

This study aims to compare and scrutinize development levels of cities and regions in Turkey. Socio-economic statics that effects development levels of cities acquired form Ministry of Development. Within the context of the essay, factor analysis relying to principles components utilized and as a result, 10 basic factors found. Based on these factors, development indexes developed for cities and six development stages defined: Advanced (1), High (2), Upper Intermediate(3), Average(4), Low(5), Very Low(6). Istanbul is the only city that reaches advanced level and its development index doubled Ankara, the second most developed city. Comparing development indexes of the regions, we classified Marmara, West Anatolia, Aegean and Mediterranean close to upper intermediate level. Low-level regions are East Anatolia and Southeast Anatolia regions. In overall Turkey with 3 levels of development could be included in upper intermediate level. Even though 63% of all cities are between 4-6 developments levels the reason that Turkey's average appears as 3rd level is mainly because high population concentrated in advanced and upper intermediate regions. Finally yet importantly, main problem of these highly developed regions is unemployment.