Estimation of GDP from public library usage: Turkey sample

ÖZTEMİZ S., TEKİNDAL M. A.

LIBRARY MANAGEMENT, cilt.41, ss.153-171, 2020 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 41
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1108/lm-10-2019-0078
  • Dergi Adı: LIBRARY MANAGEMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Information Science and Technology Abstracts, INSPEC, Library and Information Science Abstracts, Library Literature and Information Science, Metadex, DIALNET, Civil Engineering Abstracts, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.153-171
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Purpose Public libraries are institutions that provide information services to all citizens in a country and support the development of lifelong learning, awareness and creativity. All these provide an advantage for having a developed economy and being a developed society. This study aims to reveal the interaction between the gross domestic product (GDP) and public library usage in Turkey. The study also purposed to increase awareness of the economic benefits of public libraries. Design/methodology/approach In the study, a vector autoregression (VAR) model and co-integration techniques were used. Johansen co-integration test was used examining the long-term relationship between the variables. Due to the variables moving together in the long term, the vector error-correction model was preferred instead of the VAR model, as a result. Findings According to the causality test results, GDP was found to be affected when there was a change in the number of library users. According to the Granger causality test result, a change in GDP was also found to have a significant effect on the number of library users. All these indicate an interaction between GDP and public library usage in Turkey between 2001 and 2017. Social implications The revealed interaction between GDP and the number of public library users can be useful for policymakers who are making decisions to develop public library services and to increase GDP. Originality/value The interaction between public library usage and GDP can be seen such as an unlikely combination. However, this study presented a mutual interaction between public library usage and GDP. The findings of the study will be of a great importance in developing countries to be motivated to make public library services better.