The effects of education and urbanization on SAP

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate whether Southeastern Anatolia Project is an integrated regional development project based on the concept of sustainable development. It was established to make regional socio-economic development policies, to increase the literacy level of native people, to develop infrastructure, agriculture, energy, industry, natural resources and transportation system. Furthermore, it made a great force for the socio-economic development of the region. Nevertheless, there is a strong relationship between the economic development, education and urbanization. As the level of economic development increases, education level and industrialization increase which yields to urbanization. On the other hand, in SAP region, there is strong tendency for migration from rural to urban areas. People who want to get a better education, housing, employment, health care and infrastructure start to change their places. Also, in the next thirty years, rural population will keep decreasing and the urban population will keep increasing in the SAP region. This is just because of having a better education level, job opportunities and livelihood. © M. Hulusi Demir, Meltem Ince, Çigdem Mehrnaz Nourani Amin, 2006.