maliye

Maliye is a Turkish term for public finances and the government body that manages them. It denotes both the field of public finance in economics and the administrative apparatus responsible for fiscal policy, budgeting, taxation, and revenue administration. In modern Turkish usage, maliye encompasses the domain of state finances and the institutions that oversee them.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Ottoman Turkish maliye, ultimately from Arabic al-māliyah or Persian māliyat, meaning finances or property. While the term historically referred to the finance ministry, contemporary Turkish government structure often uses Hazine ve Maliye Bakanlığı (Treasury and Finance Ministry) to describe the merged treasury and finance functions, reflecting organizational changes in recent years. Despite this, maliye remains a common shorthand for public finance as a discipline and for the historical ministry.

Functions: maliye covers budgeting and fiscal planning, tax policy and administration, including revenue collection and customs, as well as government debt management. It also includes treasury operations, expenditure control, financial management and auditing, and the publication of financial statistics and reporting. The concept underpins macro-fiscal policy and the overall financial governance of the state.

Scope and significance: as a core element of state governance, maliye shapes how resources are collected, allocated, and utilized to fund public services, investments, and social programs. It interacts with monetary policy, economic planning, and regulatory frameworks to maintain fiscal stability and transparency.