Ankara is increasingly focusing on managing its economic crisis, which despite its slow pace is now being acknowledged by the authorities. Political tensions with the United States abruptly plunged the Turkish lira to record lows of more than seven against the dollar in August, overheating the economic climate. The relative easing of bilateral tensions since then have helped the lira regain ground, with the price of the greenback decreasing to about 5.2 liras in late November. The decrease, however, was the result also of economic contraction, which led to imports falling to $16 billion in October, a $5 billion decrease from four months earlier. The contracting economy means a lower demand for foreign exchange. Increased interest rates on the Turkish lira have also been instrumental, encouraging deposit holders to shift from foreign exchange to liras.

Yet the relative decrease in foreign exchange prices does not mean the crisis is over. On Dec. 4, the lira began sliding anew amid investor concerns over early loosening in monetary policy. Also, interest rates on the lira have significantly risen over the past several months and inflation remains over 20%, while the unemployment rate has exceeded 11% and is likely to increase further. Industrial production is on the decline, with figures from the construction sector indicating a significant downtick in what used to be the driving force of Turkey’s economic growth. 

With local elections looming on March 31, the ruling Justice and Development Party is wary of being punishing by angry voters, so the government is scrambling to ease the impact of the crisis. Some of the measures, however, miss the goal of reining in inflation. A tight fiscal policy, for example, has been set as a target, along with a tight monetary policy, but the government has taken steps that water down the fiscal policy such as tax reductions, exemptions, remissions and increased spending in some realms.

It remains to be seen what stance Ankara will adopt in the coming weeks on the minimum wage and salaries. In the meantime, it has been outlining measures to ease the pressure on banks, which, prompted by the government, have opened up loan channels to companies struggling to adapt to the crisis climate. Efforts on this front have included some irregular steps such as the use of the Unemployment Insurance Fund outside its purpose.