Irrespective of their level of development, countries worldwide prioritize poverty in sustainable development strategies and develop inclusive and sustainable programs tailored to the needs and issues of disadvantaged groups in their poverty alleviation strategies. Ensuring disadvantaged groups’ access to basic rights such as quality education and dignified employment by lifting them out of poverty is a priority for the effective use of resources and a productive economy. In fact, inequalities arising from production and consumption relations trigger deprivation alongside the issue of poverty, leading to the emergence of multiple disadvantages. This work contributes scientifically to the social policy literature concerning seven different disadvantaged groups within the conceptual, theoretical, statistical, policy analysis, and solution proposals axis of poverty. The book is comprised of eight chapters. In this book, a conceptual framework for poverty and each disadvantaged group (children, youth, the elderly, women, immigrants, disabled individuals, single-parent families) is presented. Subsequently, the theoretical section, which reveals the relationship between disadvantaged groups and poverty concerning the topic title, and poverty statistics related to the disadvantaged group, are discussed. Moreover, poverty prevention strategies, policies, programs, and/or action plans specific to the disadvantaged group are evaluated. However, due to limited statistics on poverty rates for migrants among the disadvantaged groups covered in the work, a different method was employed in the section on migrant poverty. An econometric study was conducted, referencing Turkey’s data, to examine the international migration-human poverty relationship.

The first chapter titled “Poverty and Disadvantaged Groups in Turkey” examines the issue of poverty in Turkey and its relation to disadvantages from a social policy perspective. In this context, a conceptual framework and historical background regarding poverty have been presented in light of statistical data. This chapter develops a comprehensive approach to the poverty of disadvantaged groups in Turkey.

The second chapter titled “Dimensions of Child Poverty in Turkey and Efficiency of Social Policies” evaluates the effects of social policy practices targeting children in combating child poverty in Turkey. In this chapter, the dimensions of child poverty are examined through the analysis of secondary data.

The third chapter titled “Youth Poverty and NEET in Turkey” addresses the relationship between youth poverty and disadvantage from the perspective of the “NEET” status, which refers to young people who are “Not in Education, Employment, or Training”. While youth poverty is discussed in the context of income inequalities and levels, as well as the mismatch between education and labor markets, this chapter explains the determinative effect of being NEET as a key cause and consequence of youth poverty in Turkey.

The fourth chapter titled “Elderly Poverty in Turkey” provides a conceptual and theoretical explanation of the relationship between old age and poverty. It evaluates the current status of elderly poverty in Turkey and the assessment of existing policies. This chapter discusses various topics such as encouraging late retirement, ensuring a minimum income, considering active aging policies, implementing skill development programs for the elderly, and increasing the responsibilities of both the state and the family in elderly care.

The fifth chapter titled “A New Dimension in the Feminization of Poverty: Poor Women in Wealth” focuses on the feminization of poverty within the framework of women’s disadvantages in the labor market, family life, and social life. It examines the factors causing the feminization of poverty in Turkey and evaluates the measures taken, critically discussing the poverty-reducing effect of women’s employment.

The sixth chapter titled “Disability and Poverty as a Causality Cycle: The Case of Turkey” explores the relationship between disability and poverty and examines the policies implemented to combat poverty among individuals with disabilities in Turkey. This study, which utilizes literature review and statistical data analysis, explains the cyclical causality between poverty and disability and evaluates the effectiveness of current policies in addressing this issue.

The seventh chapter titled “A Phenomenon Rising in Poverty Risk Groups: Single-parent Family Poverty” examines the relationship between single parenthood and poverty, based on existing literature and statistical data. It also investigates the policies implemented to combat poverty among single-parent families in Turkey. This chapter highlights the increasing prevalence of single-parent families and emphasizes the importance of focusing on the poverty situation of these families.

The eighth chapter, titled “The Relationship of International Migration-Humanitarian Poverty in Organic Context”, empirically analyzes the relationship between the poverty of refugees and asylum-seekers, as defined, and that of the local population using two separate econometric models. According to the findings of both models, an increase in the number of refugees and asylum-seekers leads to an improvement in the Human Development Index, consequently reducing poverty among the local population.

This work, titled “Poverty of Disadvantaged Groups in Turkey”, prepared under the editorship of Research Assistant, Ph.D. Muhammed Erkam Kocakaya and Research Assistant Kübra Polat Subaşı, consists of a total of eight chapters. We extend our sincere thanks to Research Assistant, Ph.D. Abdullah Miraç Bükey, Assist. Prof. Abdullah Selim Doğan, Research Assistant Demet Toktaş, Asst. Prof. Merve Çiloğlu Yörübulut, Assoc. Prof. Muhammet Enes Kayagil, Assist. Prof. Murat Kalkan, doctoral student Yüsra Ak, and master’s student Halil Zafer for their contributions to the preparation of this work. We hope that this work, which focuses on this field, will be beneficial to academics, policymakers, students, and anyone interested in the subject.