Turkey's Economy
Construction, Tourism and the 2023 Earthquake
How construction and tourism powered Turkey's economy, how the February 2023 earthquakes exposed weak building enforcement, and the economic cost.
Construction and tourism are big parts of Turkey’s economy.
Tourism
- Turkey receives around 50 million or more foreign visitors a year, among the world’s top destinations.
- Tourism earns large amounts of foreign currency.
- A weak lira made Turkey cheap for foreigners.
Construction
- Housing and infrastructure boomed in the 2000s and 2010s.
- Construction amnesties let owners legalise buildings that violated codes by paying fees.
The 2023 earthquakes
On 6 February 2023, two powerful earthquakes struck southern Turkey and Syria.
- Over 50,000 people died in Turkey.
- Tens of thousands of buildings collapsed.
- Damage was estimated at over 100 billion dollars by a government-linked estimate.
Building codes
Turkey had modern codes after the 1999 Izmit earthquake, but weak enforcement and amnesties meant many buildings weren’t safe.
Lessons
- Enforcement matters as much as rules.
- Short-term gains from amnesties created long-term risks.
The amnesty building
A building owner paid a fee under a construction amnesty to legalise extra floors added without permits. In the earthquake, the building collapsed.
Thinking good building codes guarantee safety
Codes need enforcement; amnesties undermined safety.
Key takeaways
- Tourism brings around 50 million or more visitors a year.
- Construction amnesties legalised unsafe buildings.
- The 2023 earthquakes killed over 50,000 people in Turkey.
- Enforcement matters as much as codes.
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