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Journals / Tarsus Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 7 Sayı: 2

The Effects of Female Labor Force Participation in Türkiye on Life Satisfaction of Women and Men

TÜRKİYE’DE KADIN İŞGÜCÜNE KATILIMININ KADIN VE ERKEK YAŞAM MEMNUNİYETİ ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİ

Sercan Dereli(ANKARA HACI BAYRAM VELİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İKTİSADİ VE İDARİ BİLİMLER FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-4083-8559
Suheyla Erikli Selek(ANKARA YILDIRIM BEYAZIT ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5817-6469
Pages
1–34
Publication Date
2026-09-03
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that female labor force participation has a positive but statistically insignificant effect on women’s life satisfaction, whereas its effect on men’s life satisfaction is positive and marginally significant.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Life satisfaction is a key indicator of subjective well-being in happiness economics.
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Key Findings & Data:This study analyzes the effects of female labor force participation on women’s and men’s life satisfaction and the gender gap in life satisfaction in Türkiye using annual data from the period 2003-2024.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that female labor force participation has a positive but statistically insignificant effect on women’s life satisfaction, whereas its effect on men’s life satisfaction is positive and marginally significant.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:2003-2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Yaşam Memnuniyeti · Mutluluk Ekonomisi · Kadın İşgücüne Katılımı

Abstract

Life satisfaction is a key indicator of subjective well-being in happiness economics. This study analyzes the effects of female labor force participation on women’s and men’s life satisfaction and the gender gap in life satisfaction in Türkiye using annual data from the period 2003-2024. Female labor force participation is used as the main independent variable, while per capita income, unemployment, and inflation are included as control variables. The ARDL bounds testing approach and the Toda-Yamamoto causality test are employed. The findings indicate that female labor force participation has a positive but statistically insignificant effect on women’s life satisfaction, whereas its effect on men’s life satisfaction is positive and marginally significant. Unemployment and inflation have negative coefficients in the women’s and men’s life satisfaction models. In the gender gap model, unemployment is positively associated with the gap, whereas inflation has a negative and statistically significant coefficient. Income is discussed within the framework of relative income and rising expectations. The results suggest that welfare effects should be evaluated together with working conditions, care responsibilities, wage levels, and gender roles.

Özet

Mutluluk ekonomisi literatüründe yaşam memnuniyeti, öznel iyi oluşun temel göstergelerinden biridir. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de 2003-2024 dönemi yıllık verileriyle kadın işgücüne katılımının kadın yaşam memnuniyeti, erkek yaşam memnuniyeti ve cinsiyetler arası yaşam memnuniyeti farkı üzerindeki etkilerini analiz etmektedir. Bu amaçla üç bağımlı değişken ayrı modeller aracılığıyla incelenmiş; kadın işgücüne katılım oranı temel bağımsız değişken; kişi başına gelir, işsizlik ve enflasyon kontrol değişkenleri olarak kullanılmıştır. Analizde ARDL sınır testi ve Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik testi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, kadın işgücüne katılımının kadın yaşam memnuniyeti üzerinde pozitif ancak istatistiksel olarak anlamsız; erkek yaşam memnuniyeti üzerinde ise pozitif ve sınırda anlamlı etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. İşsizlik ve enflasyon değişkenleri kadın ve erkek yaşam memnuniyeti modellerinde negatif katsayılar üretirken, cinsiyetler arası yaşam memnuniyeti farkı modelinde işsizlik pozitif, enflasyon ise negatif yönde anlamlı bulunmuştur. Gelir değişkeni ise göreli gelir ve artan beklentiler çerçevesinde tartışılmaktadır. Sonuçlar, kadın işgücüne katılımının refah etkisinin çalışma koşulları, bakım yükümlülükleri, ücret düzeyi ve toplumsal cinsiyet rolleriyle birlikte değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Dereli, S., Selek, S. E. (2026). The Effects of Female Labor Force Participation in Türkiye on Life Satisfaction of Women and Men. Tarsus Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 7 Sayı: 2, 1–34. https://doi.org/10.56400/tarsusiibfdergisi.1957960

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