The State and the Corporate Private Sector in the Recent Restructuring of Turkish Retailing

Abstract

The Turkish retail industry is experiencing a transformation towards larger-scale retailing. This restructuring has occurred at a time when an assertive corporate private sector has begun to look ready to take the leading role from the state in the development process; and when efforts (real and perceived) towards a cautious and gradual retreat of the state from economic activities have been intensified. This paper addresses the transformation and, because of the above mentioned simultaneity, places substantial emphasis on the role of the state in the development process and in the changes recently experienced in the distribution system. In the process, the paper compares the Turkish experience with those of other countries in which the role of the state has been far-reaching.