Mahfi Eğilmez questioned the $126 trillion account: The real figure is lower

Economist Mahfi Eğilmez challenged the commonly cited $126 trillion figure for the size of the global economy, arguing the real number is lower and citing the distorting effects of inflation and exchange rates in Turkey as an example. He said nominal GDP comparisons across countries are inflated when local-currency figures are converted at current exchange rates during periods of high inflation and currency depreciation. Eğilmez argued that using such conversions overstates the true size of economies like Turkey's and, by extension, the global total. The debate matters because investors and policymakers rely on cross-country GDP comparisons to gauge relative economic weight and allocate capital. Watch for whether international bodies adjust their methodology or publish inflation-adjusted, purchasing-power-based estimates that narrow the gap with Eğilmez's lower figure.