Law and Economics: Law Conversations with Nesrin Nas
In our Law Talks event organized by Vicdan Foundation, we had an in-depth discussion on “Law and Economy” with our esteemed guest, economist and academician Nesrin Nas . The event, which started with the opening speech of Foundation President Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu , proceeded under the moderation of Lawyer Çiğdem Koç .
Law and Social Order
In her speech, Nesrin Nas drew attention to the inseparable relationship between law and social order. She stated that law is the fundamental building block that protects the conscience of societies. Emphasizing that the lack of a state of law understanding drags society into poverty and violence, Nas explained the critical role of law in social peace by saying, "A society that loses its conscience produces poverty and deprivation."
Turkey's Rule of Law Problem
Nas touched on Turkey’s decline in the international rule of law ranking. He stated that according to the 2024 World Justice Project report, Turkey ranks 119th out of 142 countries, and that it is at a level comparable to countries such as Zimbabwe and Mali . He emphasized that this ranking clearly shows how the absence of law is regressing Turkey.
The Impact of Law on the Economy
According to Nesrin Nas, economic development is not possible in a country where the rule of law is weak. She stated that the economy cannot recover in countries where institutional structures collapse and political uncertainty prevails. "You cannot solve the crisis by increasing interest rates or distributing the tax burden unfairly," she said, arguing that economic reforms should be supported by a legal infrastructure based on trust.
Authoritarianism and Uncertainty
Nas detailed how the increasing authoritarian tendencies in Turkey affect the law and therefore the economy. Stating that the government uses uncertainty as a management tool, Nas said, "Turkey has become a constitutional state, not a constitutional state of law," and that laws are arbitrarily interpreted and implemented. He explained that this uncertainty is dragging society into more poverty and despair.
Nas stated that the Turkish economy has experienced serious deterioration since 2018 and that injustices in income distribution have been increasing. The rapid rise in prices and deepening budget deficits have made the economic dimension of the authoritarianism process more apparent. Nas warned that economic conditions would worsen further in 2025, emphasizing that economic stability cannot be achieved without legal and political reforms.
Education and Poverty
In his speech, Nas touched on not only the economy but also the great inequalities in education, saying that more than a million students are deprived of education and the number of children suffering from health problems due to hunger is increasing. This backwardness in education is causing social poverty to deepen. Nas stated that lawlessness and injustice are at the root of these problems.
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