How Migration Fuels Informal Employment and the Transformative Role of Education Policy in Türkiye
Romaya Journal: Researches on Multidisciplinary Approaches, cilt.2026, sa.2, 2026 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2026 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Dergi Adı: Romaya Journal: Researches on Multidisciplinary Approaches
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: C32, Education Policies, FA-ARDL Test. JEL Codes: J46, Informal Employment, International Migration, J61, J68
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Given its strategic geographical position, Türkiye serves both as a transit corridor and a destination for migrants, particularly from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, making it a key hub in global migration flows. This study examines the dynamic relationship between international migrant labour and informal employment from the perspective of the potential transformative power of education, using data for Türkiye for the period 2000–2023. To account for nonlinear dynamics and structural breaks that are uncertain in time and location, the fractional-frequency Fourier ARDL bounds testing method is employed. Findings indicate that informal employment is particularly highly sensitive and strongly responsive to changes in the migrant labour force. Education expenditures significantly weaken the strong relationship between migrant labour and informal employment, whereas health expenditures have no significant effect on this relationship. These findings suggest that international migration may increase labour market vulnerabilities through informal employment, but strategic education policies can act as a structural lever to mitigate this negative effect.