The Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth in Türkiye and PIIGS Countries

In economies, borrowing may be resorted to in case of insufficient tax and tax-like revenues in financing public expenditures. In this respect, public debts are essential for financing growth and development. The effects of public debts, among the natural income sources of economies, on economic growth are intensely discussed today. The relationship between public debt and economic growth is important, especially in developing countries and relatively fragile economies where savings are insufficient to finance investments. This study aims to reveal the effects of public debt on economic growth in Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain (PIIGS), which are considered the fragile economies of the Eurozone, and also in Türkiye. For this purpose, the study's findings, which analyze the panel data of the relevant countries for the period 1998-2022, basically conclude that public debt positively affects economic growth in Türkiye and PIIGS countries. These findings emphasize the importance of accurately formulating public borrowing policies and implementing appropriate strategies for economic growth in the relevant countries.