Social stratification and consumption patterns in Turkey


Aydin K.

SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH, vol.75, no.3, pp.463-501, 2006 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 75 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11205-005-1096-7
  • Journal Name: SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.463-501
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In this article, by analyzing consumption practices of Turkish households, I attempted to identify whether there are distinctions between different social classes in Turkey. Stated another way, I assessed and explored the impact of socio-economic forces on consumption patterns, taste and lifestyle. In doing so, I tested emprically, two theoretical approaches, Bourdieu's "reproduction theory" and Giddens "class Structuration thesis". A total of eight dependent variables are analyzed in terms of the linkages between those selected consumption items and social structure. In general, the emprical findings indicated that the intersection and reinforcement of social class variables, such as income, education, occupation, sector, and neighborhood differentiation, determined consumption patterns and lifestyle differences in Turkey.