TESTING SOME HYPOTHESES OF "RELATIVE BACKWARDNESS" FOR ELEVEN NEWLY INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE TURKISH CASE

Özet

The main objective of this paper is devoted to the testing of some hypotheses of Gerschenkron's relative backwardness approach for newly industrialized countries which are considered as the latecomers of the twentieth century. Based on the test results obtained in this paper, it can be argued that the experience of the twentieth century latecomers does not completely support the validity of Gerschenkron's hypotheses. The paper is further concentrated on the analysis of Gerschenkron's approach in the Turkish case. The outcome of this analysis indicates that the Turkish case presents strong support for the validity of some of Gerschenkron's hypotheses. The main objective of this paper is devoted to the testing of some hypotheses of Gerschenkron's relative backwardness approach for newly industrialized countries which are considered as the latecomers of the twentieth century. Based on the test results obtained in this paper, it can be argued that the experience of the twentieth century latecomers does not completely support the validity of Gerschenkron's hypotheses. The paper is further concentrated on the analysis of Gerschenkron's approach in the Turkish case. The outcome of this analysis indicates that the Turkish case presents strong support for the validity of some of Gerschenkron's hypotheses.