Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise of Turkey as a new "infrastructure powerhouse" competing with China in the global construction market, highlighting Turkey's unique economic model and the role of government in driving infrastructure development [4][5]. Group 1: Turkey's Infrastructure Era - Turkey's infrastructure capabilities have surged, closely linked to the real estate sector becoming a pillar of its economy [6][7]. - Urbanization in Turkey accelerated from 48.1% in 1983 to 65.95% in 2002, leading to a significant number of substandard housing and informal settlements [8][9]. - By the early 21st century, approximately 10 million illegal buildings existed, accounting for 62% of total housing, with around 20 million people living in slums [8][10]. Group 2: Economic Dependency on Infrastructure - Post-2008 financial crisis, Turkey's reliance on infrastructure became institutionalized, shifting from an export-driven economy to one focused on domestic demand through construction [15][19]. - The construction sector became a key driver of economic growth, with GDP growth averaging 4.9% from 2002 to 2014, while the construction industry grew at 6.5% [13][14]. - The construction industry’s share of total employment rose from 5.6% in 2005 to 7.4% in 2014, reflecting its importance in job creation [13][14]. Group 3: Government and Infrastructure - The Turkish government has significantly expanded the powers of the Ministry of Urbanization, facilitating large-scale construction projects through legislative support [22][23]. - The area of building permits issued increased from 36 million square meters in 2002 to 219 million square meters in 2014, a growth of over 500% [23]. - The Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ) has played a crucial role in providing social housing, constructing over 1.4 million units from 2003 to 2023 [24]. Group 4: Infrastructure as National Capability - The Erdogan government has transformed infrastructure capabilities into national strength, enabling wealth redistribution and creating a new middle class from rural migrants [26][30]. - The close ties between major construction firms and the government have led to allegations of favoritism and corruption, with five major companies being particularly influential [30][31]. - As domestic real estate markets saturate, Turkish construction firms are increasingly looking to expand internationally, raising questions about their competitive positioning against Chinese firms [31].
土耳其基建挑战中国，底气在哪里？
虎嗅APP·2025-08-12 10:31