Sample and Data. The data set comprises the information collected through a survey [2] conducted within different parts of the country [3].The sample used in this research represents 8000 observations and was drawn by State Institute of Statistics (SIS) in 2001. However, due to the unavailability of funds for the fieldwork, the original sample size of 8000 was cut half by using random selection within each province. The sample design is a multi-stage stratified cluster which allows comparisons by region and rural-urban places. The sample includes 63 provinces. There are 7 provinces in Mediterranean, 8 in Aegean, 10 in Marmara, 7 in Southeast, 8 in East, 11 in Central and 12 in Blacksea. The unit of analysis in this research is a household. Using 7 broad geographical regions, residential units in each region are divided into population strata such as places with 0- 2,000 people, 2,001-5,000, 5,001-10,000, 10,001-20,000, 20,001-50,000, 50,001-100,000, 100,001-150,000 and places with more than 150,000 people. Clusters are formed by combining 30 households within each population strata. At the final stage, clusters are selected within each population stratum independently by using random selection technique. Clusters obtained this way are proportionate to their size in the population [4]. Considering the possible losses due to non-response, the sample size was determined as 4,300 [5]. There is fair match between the sample and population distributions. Table 1 provides information on sample and population distributions of rural urban areas and of regions. Seemingly, serious differences between urban and rural distributions stems from the fact that rural in the sample includes only villages whereas rural is defined as places with populations of less than 20,000 in SIS statistics. When the households are reclassified according to this SIS criterion, the sample portion of rural households becomes 18 percent [6]. Table 1 Sample and Population Distribution Rural/Urban Places and of Regions, in Percentages Sample Population (20001) Urban2 83.1 70.6 Rural 16.93 29.4 Mediterranean 12.1 12.86 Aegean 12.7 13.44 Marmara 30.7 25.74 Southeast 7.9 9.75 East 7.3 8.93 Central 17.5 16.83 Black Sea 11.7 12.48 1 Estimation by the end of the year. 2 Urban in Turkey is defined as places 20,000 and more population.
