Three years back the rate was 200,000 Liras to a dollar. And, when I was stationed in Ankara, we could get 8 Liras only for one dollar. Fixed salary income groups have been worst hit and have gone on strikes quite often. The overall prosperity appears to have absorbed this negative development. No one was seen starving, famished or begging.
Shops are over-flowing with consumer items.
Both husband and wife have to work to eke out a decent living. Generally they do. Food too has become quite expensive and restaurants serve smaller portions. I shall try to touch upon the complex problem of inflation in another column. Suffice here to mention that the Turks thrive on crises, they have almost overcome the severe setback caused by the earthquake of August, 1999.