The Relationship Between Fiscal Equalization and Local Democracy in Turkey

Mehmet Akif Özer; Halil Ceyhun Üstündağ

Makale detayları

The Relationship Between Fiscal Equalization and Local Democracy in Turkey

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Akif Özer | Halil Ceyhun Üstündağ

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kamu Yönetimi | Kamu Maliyesi

Dergi:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.405-432

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356271

pISSN:

2667-405X

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Local governments are administrative units responsible for meeting the common needs of the people living in a specific region such as a province, district, or town and providing local services. Because they are closer to the public, they can address the needs of the community more quickly and effectively. For this reason, local governments have always been intertwined with the concept of local democracy, which refers to the participation and representation of the public in the decision-making processes of local governments. Local democracy strengthens this relationship by increasing public participation in local governments, promoting a more transparent, accountable, and participatory governance approach. The healthy functioning of this relationship depends on the concept of fiscal equalization, which refers to the fair and balanced distribution of financial resources between the central government and local governments. For local governments to effectively carry out their duties, they must have adequate financial resources. Fiscal equalization is achieved through methods such as transferring a portion of tax revenues to local governments and allocating a share from the central budget. Among the key actors in this process is the budget, which is an essential tool for local governments to deliver services effectively. In such an environment, local governments are tasked with providing services at the lowest cost and highest quality. They must use their resources efficiently, without waste, to meet the needs of the public. While local democracy and fiscal equalization ensure that local governments operate in a fair and participatory manner, the budget and efficiency aim to improve the proper use of resources and the quality of services. In this study, the issue of fiscal equalization in the context of Turkey will be evaluated from the perspective of local autonomy and democracy.

 Local governments are administrative units responsible for meeting the common needs of the people living in a specific region such as a province, district, or town and providing local services. Because they are closer to the public, they can address the needs of the community more quickly and effectively. For this reason, local governments have always been intertwined with the concept of local democracy, which refers to the participation and representation of the public in the decision-making processes of local governments. Local democracy strengthens this relationship by increasing public participation in local governments, promoting a more transparent, accountable, and participatory governance approach. The healthy functioning of this relationship depends on the concept of fiscal equalization, which refers to the fair and balanced distribution of financial resources between the central government and local governments. For local governments to effectively carry out their duties, they must have adequate financial resources. Fiscal equalization is achieved through methods such as transferring a portion of tax revenues to local governments and allocating a share from the central budget. Among the key actors in this process is the budget, which is an essential tool for local governments to deliver services effectively. In such an environment, local governments are tasked with providing services at the lowest cost and highest quality. They must use their resources efficiently, without waste, to meet the needs of the public. While local democracy and fiscal equalization ensure that local governments operate in a fair and participatory manner, the budget and efficiency aim to improve the proper use of resources and the quality of services. In this study, the issue of fiscal equalization in the context of Turkey will be evaluated from the perspective of local autonomy and democracy.

 Local governments are administrative units responsible for meeting the common needs of the people living in a specific region such as a province, district, or town and providing local services. Because they are closer to the public, they can address the needs of the community more quickly and effectively. For this reason, local governments have always been intertwined with the concept of local democracy, which refers to the participation and representation of the public in the decision-making processes of local governments. Local democracy strengthens this relationship by increasing public participation in local governments, promoting a more transparent, accountable, and participatory governance approach. The healthy functioning of this relationship depends on the concept of fiscal equalization, which refers to the fair and balanced distribution of financial resources between the central government and local governments. For local governments to effectively carry out their duties, they must have adequate financial resources. Fiscal equalization is achieved through methods such as transferring a portion of tax revenues to local governments and allocating a share from the central budget. Among the key actors in this process is the budget, which is an essential tool for local governments to deliver services effectively. In such an environment, local governments are tasked with providing services at the lowest cost and highest quality. They must use their resources efficiently, without waste, to meet the needs of the public. While local democracy and fiscal equalization ensure that local governments operate in a fair and participatory manner, the budget and efficiency aim to improve the proper use of resources and the quality of services. In this study, the issue of fiscal equalization in the context of Turkey will be evaluated from the perspective of local autonomy and democracy.

 Yerel yönetimler, belli bir bölgede yaşayan halkın ortak ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak ve yerel hizmetleri sunmakla görevli idari birimlerdir. Halka daha yakın oldukları için toplumun ihtiyaçlarını daha hızlı ve etkili bir şekilde karşılayabilirler. Bu nedenle yerel yönetimlerin karar alma süreçlerinde halkın katılımını ve temsilini ifade eden yerel demokrasi kavramıyla yerel yönetimler her zaman iç içe olmuşlardır. Yerel demokrasi, halkın yerel yönetimlere katılımını artırarak daha şeffaf, hesap verebilir ve katılımcı bir yönetim anlayışını destekleyerek bu birlikteliği her zaman sağlamlaştırmıştır. Bu ikili arasındaki ilişkinin sağlıklı yürüyebilmesi ise mali tevzin denilen merkezi yönetim ile yerel yönetimler arasında mali kaynakların adil ve dengeli bir şekilde dağıtılmasını ifade eden kavrama ve bunun uygulamalarına bağlıdır. Yerel yönetimlerin görevlerini etkili bir şekilde yerine getirebilmeleri için yeterli mali kaynağa sahip olmaları gerekir. Mali tevzin, yerel yönetimlere vergi gelirlerinin bir kısmının aktarılması ve merkezi bütçeden pay ayrılması gibi yöntemlerle sağlanır. Sürecin ana aktörlerinden bütçe de yerel yönetimlerin hizmetlerini etkili bir şekilde sunabilmesi için önemli bir araçtır. Böyle bir ortamda yerel yönetimler, hizmetlerin en az maliyetle ve en yüksek kalitede sunulması ile görevlendirilmişlerdir. Kaynaklarını israf etmeden, halkın ihtiyaçlarını karşılayacak şekilde kullanması gerekmektedir. Yerel demokrasi ve mali tevzin, yerel yönetimlerin daha adil ve katılımcı bir şekilde çalışmasını sağlarken, bütçe ve etkinlik ise kaynakların doğru kullanımını ve hizmetlerin kalitesini artırmayı hedefler. Bu çalışmada söz konusu kapsamda Türkiye özelinde mali tevzin hususu, yerel özerklik ve demokrasi açısından değerlendirilecektir.

Makale detayları

The Relationship Between Fiscal Equalization and Local Democracy in Turkey

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Akif Özer | Halil Ceyhun Üstündağ

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kamu Yönetimi | Kamu Maliyesi

Dergi:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.405-432

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356271

pISSN:

2667-405X

Local Governments

Local Democracy

Fiscal Equalization

Budget

EfficiencyYerel Yönetimler

Yerel Demokrasi

Mali Tevzin

Bütçe

Etkinlik

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Mehmet Akif Özer | Halil Ceyhun Üstündağ

Yayıncı: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar: Kamu Yönetimi | Kamu Maliyesi

Dergi: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.405-432

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001356271

pISSN: 2667-405X

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Mehmet Akif Özer | Halil Ceyhun Üstündağ

Yayıncı:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kamu Yönetimi | Kamu Maliyesi

Dergi:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.27 Issue 2, pp.405-432

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001356271

pISSN:

2667-405X