Search

Abstract: Turkish electricity market law (EML) came into force in 2001 aiming at establishing a financially strong, stable, transparent and competitive electricity market based on bilateral contracts. Also, a balancing and settlement system (BSS) was put into practice in November 2004 to create a market where uncontracted generation can be traded, and actual implementation of the BSS started on August, 1st 2006 following a 21-month virtual implementation period. However, BSS has always been criticized from its beginning as transferring excessive profits to private generation companies. The present paper analyzes the implementation of BSS and argues that current BSS not only undermines the healthy development of the electricity market in Turkey but also prevents power investments due to uncertainties it created. It concludes that since the inconsistency between the objectives of EML and results of BSS in practice is obvious, Turkish policy makers need to modify current electricity market policy in line with suggestions presented in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper studied by Gullu and Ercelebi (2007) includes some problems about the use of ANN approach for the aim of their study. In this discussion, some controversial points of the paper are given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A recent publication on the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition in carbonate platforms of NE Turkey reported some major discontinuities. Based on biostratigraphy and Sr-derived ages, one associated hiatus was estimated spanning the Tithonian whereas the remaining three minor hiatuses are supposed to have occurred during the Hauterivian - Barremian interval. The revision of the material (foraminifers and calcareous algae) from the 2 localities studied led to identify Kimmeridgian strata below the discontinuity and Valanginian to ? lower Hauterivian strata above the discontinuity, but no upper Hauterivian or Barremian strata at the top of the section. The major stratigraphic gap possibly corresponds to the Berriasian and most, if not all, of the Tithonian at this location. • The revision of microfossils from NE Turkey leads to different datings than those obtained earlier, which implied Sr ages. • The hiatus associated to the major unconformity spans the Berriasian and probably most of the Tithonian. • The oldest transgressive deposits above the subaerial exposure surface are Valanginian in age, not Berriasian. • Upper Hauterivian to Barremian strata are reascribed to a Valanginian to (?) lower Hauterivian interval. • Such significant changes in the timing of the events should help writing a different scenario for the area and the Black Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research paper entitled “An economic analysis of energy requirements and input costs for tomato production in Turkey” was carried out examine the energy requirements of inputs and to make input/output analysis for tomato production for various farm size. As a result of the research, better benefit-cost ratio was given on the large farms. However, due to miscalculation of this ratio, line 6 as given in the original abstract “According to the benefit-cost ratio, large farms were more successful in economic performance” should be changed to “According to the benefit-cost ratio, small farms were more successful in economic performance”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the cost-sharing models used by the Anatolian University Libraries Consortium (ANKOS) to determine the amounts that university libraries pay for each consortial subscription. A survey was conducted among library directors and managers of ANKOS member universities to evaluate cost-sharing models in order to create improved models. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed in SPSS, the first time that these cost-sharing models have been assessed on the national level. The results of the study are presented for the benefit of other consortia and scientists/researchers and library professionals working in the field. This article takes a historical and descriptive approach and uses statistical methods to analyze the results of the survey. It also focuses on obtaining objective results from the Consortium members' feedback. As with other library consortia all over the world, many different cost-sharing models have been used by ANKOS. As a result of this study, the most suitable models have been determined for different scales of academic libraries. In negotiations with publishers and vendors, priority will be given to price models preferred by member institutions. The material presented should be useful for all academic librarians concerned with consortium systems, cost-sharing, and e-resource management, especially in the developing world. This paper also provides some key points for academic librarians in the process of establishing a consortium. This paper is an example of successful academic library consortium activities in a developing country and examines, in detail, the developments, opportunities, and challenges experienced since the establishment of the consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severalreports have been published on the history of pioneering women pursuing neurosurgery. Women in Turkey started receiving neurosurgery specialty training later than men, as was the case in other parts of the world. However, compared to other countries, Turkey saw the admission of women in neurosurgery sooner, with Aysima Altınok who obtained her specialization in 1959. Nevertheless, Yıldız Yalçınlar, one of the pioneers, remains relatively unknown. In this paper, we witness Yıldız Yalçınlar's journey, from her graduation from Ankara Medical Faculty in 1954 and her subsequent specialization in general surgery to her arrival in Iğdır as a young surgeon in the early 1960s, where she faced cultural challenges. We explored her transition into neurosurgery, becoming the second neurosurgeon in Turkey in 1965. We examine her complex career progression from receiving her specialization in neurosurgery to her academic journey toward becoming a department chief and her role as one of the founding members of the Turkish Neurosurgery Association. In Turkey, the number of women practicing as neurosurgeons has increased consistently. Despite this upward trend, the representation of women in the field of neurosurgery remains disproportionately low. We hope that Yıldız Yalçınlar's achievements, which began in the early 60s, will encourage women today and contribute to the continuing growth of neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper argues that the achievement of sustainability of public debt requiring the fulfillment of solvency and liquidity conditions in countries for which real interest rates are above the real growth rates is challenging and difficult. Since solvency is a rather complex concept and its governance is difficult and delicate, the paper maintains that such countries could try to achieve the sustainability of public debt by delegating the tasks of securing the observance of solvency and liquidity conditions to fiscal councils (FC) that need to be formed as autonomous public institutions with sufficient financial and technical resources. In Turkey FC needs to be assigned the further task of improving policymakers' incentives to opt for sound government procurement and taxation policies that would lead to the achievement of efficient allocation of resources and elimination of corruption and nepotism in the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We assessed the effect of technological innovation and structural change on carbon emissions in Turkey. • We applied the novel dynamic ARDL and frequency domain causality techniques. • We found that technological innovation enhances the quality of the environment. • We also found nonrenewable energy use and economic growth contribute to environmental degradation. • We found no support for the EKC hypothesis in Turkey. Climate change and environmental degradation have become the most complex and contentious global concerns in recent decades, despite growing worldwide accords demanding that these serious issues must be addressed urgently. Thus, we assessed the effect of technological innovation, economic growth, structural change, and nonrenewable energy use on CO 2 emissions in Turkey using a yearly dataset spanning between 1980 and 2019. The current paper utilized the ARDL bounds test, dynamic ARDL, and Breitung Candelon causality tests to assess these interrelationships. The outcomes of both the ARDL bounds and Bayer and Hanck cointegration tests affirmed evidence of cointegration among the variables. Furthermore, the outcomes of the dynamic ARDL disclosed that economic growth and nonrenewable energy use contribute to the degradation of the environment, while technological innovation stimulates the quality of the environment. Using the approach suggested by Itkonen (2012), the current paper does not confirm the EKC hypothesis. Lastly, the outcomes of the Breitung Candelon causality revealed a feedback causality association between nonrenewable and CO 2 emissions, while a unidirectional causality exists from technological innovation, economic growth, and structural change to CO 2 emissions. Based on the above findings, we propose that the government of Turkey should restructure its energy sector to address both carbon emissions and production losses by boosting the use of eco-friendly and efficient technologies in the process of production, while also shifting to a more services-based economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the significance of real and monetary integrations for the inflationary dynamics of an emerging country, Turkey. The analysis accounts for 2-digit items of CPI inflation, which can be broadly categorized as tradable versus non-tradable and goods versus services. We find that a fall in the inflation gap between partner countries is mainly related to real integration whereas the co-movement of inflation is prominently driven by monetary policy co-movements. The product-type analysis shows that inflation gap in tradable items between trade partners shrinks and becomes more correlated with the (de)convergence and co-movement of real integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The massification project led to the formation of a university-industrial complex. • Massification is achieved through a state-led spatial fix in newly emerging urban centers. • The developmentalist project created a diversely skilled surplus population. • Youth is entrapped within production sites, debt relationships, and local economies. Turkish higher education has been massified in a fast-paced reform wave through widespread proliferation of public universities in less developed cities, accompanied with the state-led student loan expansion since the early 2000 s. From a geographical-historical materialist lens, this paper elucidates the duplicitous character of the massification project, arguing that rather than democratizing the access to higher education, this transformation prioritized the benefits of local capital accumulation in the newly emerging urban centers to the detriment of the educated youth, entrapping the latter in unemployment, underemployment, and indebtedness, rendering them a diversely skilled relative surplus population. Based on two-year long qualitative research, the paper identifies three intertwined youth enclosures that have functioned as constitutive mechanisms of a spatial fix, forming what this paper conceptualizes as the university-industrial complex : physical enclosure of the university youth in emerging production sites as disposable cheap labour force, temporal enclosure of the graduates in long-term debt relations with the state, and finally social enclosure of the youth for their reproduction in predatory local economies of non-metropolitan cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A critical analysis of the naïve neoclassical theory of capital accumulation. • New empirical results on the Turkish economy for the 1923–2005 period. • Emphasizing the role of heterodox theories of growth and distribution. • Discussing the distributional causes and consequences of growth in Turkey. This paper presents a critical analysis of the naïve neoclassical theory of capital by applying it to Turkish economic history. The paper first develops a unified framework of theoretical predictions on growth, distribution, and dynamic inefficiency. This framework clarifies why the naïve neoclassical theory remains largely misleading in understanding the historical, macro dynamics of a growing, capitalist economy. Using this framework and long-run macroeconomic data for the 1923–2005 period, the paper establishes a new set of empirical findings that contribute to the related literature on Turkey. The paper then discusses the limitations of the naïve neoclassical theory by building on these empirical results and some lessons from Turkish economic history. This discussion summarizes some empirical findings on the distributional causes and consequences of growth in Turkey, by focusing mainly on the role of heterodox theories of growth and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of macroeconomic recovery policies implemented by fiscal and monetary authorities against Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey. A dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, in which Turkey is defined as an open and small developing country, is built. The model contains eight groups of agents, which are two heterogeneous households, the firms producing intermediate, final and capital goods, the commercial bank, the central bank and the government. Stochastic simulations of the model reveal the propagation of Covid-19 shock, the impacts of fiscal and monetary tools on the selected economic variables. The simulations demonstrate that direct fiscal measures are more effective in mitigating negative economic impacts of Covid-19. This paper broadens existing literature on the macroeconomic impacts of Covid-19 by exerting the functioning of different fiscal and monetary measures in a comprehensive framework within a developing country context. • A simulated dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model is constructed. • Covid-19 is introduced as an autoregressive process that directly affects labor supply, aggregate demand as well as households' consumption and external block such as export, global interest rates and inflation. • Direct fiscal measures are much more effective in alleviating negative impacts of the pandemic in Turkey. • A more targeted and harmonious policy mix that includes more direct fiscal tools and prudently accommodative monetary policy would be more appropriate in order to support output and consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatolia witnessed an increase in mobility and interaction during the Iron Age. Peoples from Southeastern Europe and Southwest Asia migrated into and across Anatolia. At the same time, under the influence of expanding and competing polities, trade and military mobility reinforced supra-regional networks across land and sea. Little is known about how animal husbandry practices in Iron Age Anatolia changed in the face of these large-scale movements of people and goods. Especially little understood remains how past mobility and connectivity influenced pig husbandry, as pigs are generally considered rather immobile animals, and Iron Age animal mobility studies tend to focus on pastoralist practices (e.g. Hammer and Arbuckle, 2017). Yet, pig husbandry practices are highly plastic, and may have changed dynamically along with evolving economic and socio-cultural circumstances during the first millennium BC. In addition, palaeogenetic studies provide evidence that durign the Iron Age pigs with European lineages appeared and subsequently spread over Anatolia (Ottoni et al., 2013) suggesting pigs may have been actively incorporated in trade and mobility. Building on these two observations, this paper explores pig husbandry practices over the course of the Anatolian Iron Age (1200–600 BCE) by (1) discussing diachronic change in relative abundance of pigs and mortality patterns over different sites in first millennium BC Anatolia; (2) investigating whether the introduction of European pigs in Anatolia coincided with noticeable phenotypic changes in pig populations by looking at pig biometry using the R package zoolog. Primary data from various key sites are presented (Troy, Klazomenai, Gordion, Kerkenes, Kinet Höyük) alongside a meta-analysis of published zooarchaeological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional agricultural knowledge of local farming communities in centers of genetic diversity is a foundational component of modern agricultural practices. This paper aims to explore how traditional agricultural knowledge of farmer communities and scientific knowledge can be brought together, and become the focus of agricultural research and technologies which meet the priorities defined by farmers themselves. We will address this issue in the context of Turkey, a Vavilov center of genetic origin and diversity for several important crops. The fieldwork of the paper is based on open-ended, in-depth interviews with six pioneer farmers from different parts of Turkey, 22 farmers in Kars who are stewards of genetic resources and holders of traditional agricultural knowledge, two millers/farmers and a scientist from Kafkas University in Kars. The paper aims to lay out, from farmers' perspectives: (a) what are the priorities for agricultural research and technologies that can enable the continuation of traditional agricultural practices and heritage, and sustain farmers' livelihoods at the same time (b) in what ways can these priorities be realized. As such, the paper aims to contribute to the debate on democratization of agricultural research. The paper will argue that even though a great potential for integrating traditional agricultural knowledge with scientific knowledge exists, in the absence of a relational context in which farmers and experts can engage with each other on equal grounds, individual efforts by innovative farmers will remain limited in terms of changing power relations and prioritizing farmers' knowledge and research needs. • Traditional agricultural knowledge (TAK) is crucial for modern agriculture. • Structural constraints hinder bringing together TAK and scientific knowledge. • Existing research does not address traditional farmers' priorities. • Individual efforts by innovative farmers are limited in transforming power relations. • Relational context where farmers and experts equally engage each other is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the current energy mix and the power generation infrastructure of Turkey have been analyzed and two different hydrogen based alternative scenarios applied on Burdur TIMES energy model to foresee the economic and environmental results in the 2016–2031 time period. An improved RES was created to illustrate the current energy network of Burdur city and to determine the relationships between energy carriers and the respective technologies, and then this structure is specified by the relevant data, including fuel cell-powered land vehicle technologies integrated into the land transportation demand side. This paper analyses the feasibility of hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier in the fuel mix for electricity generation in Burdur City to achieve sustainable economic growth, to improve the energy security by minimizing respective environmental emissions and indicate the possible implications of the introduction of the hydrogen supply chain and respective fuel cell end-use technologies in a city level energy modelling perspective. Burdur is selected as the target city to implement the designated level of land transport passenger demand by hydrogen technologies; and after implementation of hydrogen cars in 2020; it has been evaluated that only 0.09 PJ of hydrogen car activity prevents a total of 43.44 kT CO 2 emission in Burdur, addressing the 8% of the total emission in the base scenario between the analysis time horizon. Finally, hydrogen has been evaluated as a clean, dependable option to diversify the energy mix on the current energy supply system of Burdur. • A reference energy system developed for Burdur City in Turkey. • Hydrogen chain supply specified into the reference energy system. • An integrated optimization model structured for the hydrogen supply chain. • A long-term urban bottom-up energy model created for hydrogen in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to evaluate the vertical-to-horizontal, V/H, spectral acceleration ratios from the earthquake ground motions recorded during the February 6, 2023 Turkey-Syria seismic events, which include doublet events with moment magnitudes of M w 7.7 and M w 7.6 that struck the city of Kahramanmaraş and a considerable aftershock with M w 6.7 that mainly struck the city of Nurdağı. Statistics of the observed V/H spectral ratios computed from records that have peak ground acceleration larger than 0.1 g showed that most records of the three earthquakes yielded spectral V/H ratios higher than 2/3, which is a typical value recommended by several seismic codes. Additionally, comparison of the observed V/H spectra with respect to the Ground Motion Predictive Models, GMPMs, for V/H ratios introduced by Bozorgnia and Campbell (2016), BC model, and Bommer et al. (2011), BAK model, revealed that both GMPMs mostly underestimate the V/H ratios at long spectral periods. Residual analysis showed that the capability of the BAK model for large source-to-site distances is more than that for small distances for which the ratios may be underestimated specially at long periods, while the estimations of the BC model do not significantly depend on the distance. Additionally, comparison of the observed V/H ratios with those computed based on the current 2018 edition of the Turkish seismic code indicated that the three considered earthquakes mostly yielded V/H ratios considerably higher than the code-based values in the long period range that could have higher damaging potential than those ratios in short period range. • Evaluation of the spectral vertical-to-horizontal, V/H, during the 2023 Turkey-Syria seismic events. • V/H spectra based on GMPMs and the Turkish seismic code. • Evaluation of the predictive equations using residuals analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many aspects of our lives have changed during the pandemic including the accelerated adoption of technologies. Education was one of the segments that was disrupted by the pandemic, therefore Student Information Systems became critical at that time. This paper explores the adoption of Student Information Management Systems in multiple Turkish universities. The research model was adopted from a study conducted in the US, which is based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. More than three hundred students from seventeen universities responded, and the results indicated key factors of adoption. Furthermore, differences with the case in the US were identified. • Adoption of Student Information Systems. • Impact of a Pandemic on Technology Adoption. • Geographical differences between US and Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Facilitating mobility is important for creating tourism demand and is legislated by the visa policies of nations. Most countries implement visa regulations aimed at homeland security which also deter genuine travellers hindering domestic economy by means of tourism, trade, science and knowledge exchange. Turkey, on the other hand, has been implementing liberal visa policies in recent decades in order to boost the number of visiting travellers and thereby support tourism. In this paper, we used a decision tree approach to decipher the hampering impact of restrictive visa regimes on tourism demand, employing the inbound tourism data from eighty-four countries to Turkey in the period of 2000–13. We discovered the predictors that have the strongest impact on tourism demand using the Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID), Exhaustive-CHAID, Classification and Regression Trees, and Random Tree algorithms, and found that visa restrictions are as prognostic via the information fusion based sensitivity analysis. We recommend policy-makers describing liberal visa policies to the greatest extent in view of immigration issues and security threats they pose in order to improve the mobility across nations Highlights • The paper studies the tourism demand predictors using a decision tree approach. • CHAID, Exhaustive-CHAID, CART, and Random Tree algorithms yielded consistent results. • Visa regimes variable is found to be predictive via information fusion based sensitivity analysis. • Tourism industry needs to find new "trails" in order to prosper and grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a study of migration patterns out of Turkey since 2016, this paper examines how state-sponsored gendered violence contributes to international migration. While gender-based violence is acknowledged as a critical driver of migration, existing scholarship generally focuses on domestic violence and violence by non-state actors. This paper examines how gendered violence perpetrated or encouraged by the state can force migration. While women in Turkey have long experienced shifting approaches to women's rights, after the July 2016 coup attempt, state-led and state-sanctioned violence intensified and became visible as a tool to repress alleged dissidents, minorities, and LGBTQ individuals. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with recent migrants and an analysis of news articles and reports by international governmental and non-governmental organisations, the paper identifies gendered forms of violence perpetrated by the Turkish state that lead to decisions to migrate. In doing so, the paper draws attention to the role of state-sponsored gender-based violence as a cause of human mobility. • State-led and state-sanctioned gendered violence drive international migration • Violence perpetrated by the state becomes visible after the 2016 coup in Turkey. • The state's response to the coup visibilises the violence against women. • Women of different backgrounds experience different forms of violence in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an empirical research, this paper explores Ugandan migrant women's experiences as cheap undocumented migrant workers in gendered segments of the labour market and in prostitution in Turkey. They often face labour exploitation, discrimination as well as sexual harassment. When these difficulties are combined with the pressure from home and paying off debt, some Ugandan women are even pushed to sell sex. This paper argues that migrant women's involvement mechanisms in prostitution involves varying degrees of lack of choice as a result of gendered migration processes, criminalisation, coercion, exploitation and agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is a long-standing interest in the relationship between women's employment and intimate partner violence (IPV). • Studies have generally investigated the effect of women's employment on IPV. • This paper focuses on the reverse link and looks at the impact of IPV on women's labour market outcomes in Turkey. • Our findings point that being subject to IPV is associated with an increased probability of a woman participating in the labour market. • Amongst the potential underlying mechanisms, we provide suggestive evidence that the positive link is most likely driven by rent extraction. This paper investigates the impact of intimate partner violence on the participation of women in the labour market and their access to employment in the form of being a wage worker, self-employed or unpaid family worker. To address the possibility of endogeneity, especially due to simultaneity, between intimate partner violence and female labour force participation, we use the history of violence, both of the woman and her partner, as instrumental variables. Our results provide evidence that intimate partner violence is associated with an increased probability of a woman participating in the labour market. Further analysis shows that the rent extraction mechanism is the most likely explanation for the positive relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes global shifts in migration and population demography and the simultaneous increase in nationalism and xenophobia. The literature lays out a need for more research examining how young people from immigrant or refugee backgrounds are being affected by contemporary trends in nationalism and xenophobia across diverse national contexts. This article concludes with an overview of five papers addressing the topic in the special section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A combination of coercion and consent-building explains the AKP regime's resilience. • The prosperity appeal of developmentalism is vital in grasping the consent-building. • Prosperity is narrowly interpreted as growth, fueled by the construction sector. • To achieve growth, heavy environmental costs of construction are given consent. • Authoritarian-populism and developmentalism are interdependent. The era of the AKP—the incumbent regime in Turkey since 2002 under Mr. Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership—has been marked by the interdependent functioning of authoritarianism, populism and developmentalism; the three pillars worked and reworked to garner popular support, win legitimacy and co-opt or buffer opposition. One pivotal area where these three pillars have surfaced is the environment, along with the grievances the regime created. The puzzling point in this picture is that most of the social dissent that directly or indirectly arose from such developmentalist projects has only been partially pronounced, and did not translate into a robust anti-government stance. AKP supporters who were adversely impacted from these projects have mostly continued to back the party. Although the AKP's authoritarian power puts constraints on any kind of opposition, there is an additional element that needs to be addressed in any form of coercion, real or perceived: people seem to be partially or fully convinced that shouldering environmental costs is a must on the path to prosperity. This paper uses a Gramscian framework to unpack the AKP's specific combination of authoritarianism and consent-building in the environmental domain to better understand the resilience of their hegemonic power, and claim that the prosperity appeal of developmentalism made it possible for the AKP to legitimise its claim to rule by drawing on broad-based support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey’s rapid economic growth followed by increasing gap between domestic energy production and consumption signifies the large-scale integration of low-carbon and renewable resources into energy system. Turkey’s energy demand is increasing and supplying fossil energies such as oil and gas is becoming more challenging due to the lack of domestic hydrocarbon resources. The country is facing two main issues; first, maintaining energy balance and second, handling environmental issues. Nevertheless, Turkey has substantial renewable and low-carbon energy resources with co-benefits for the country’s fast growing economy and environmental sustainability. This paper aims to present a comprehensive update on Turkey’s renewable and low-carbon energy sector. It reviews not only the current status of the technology, policy and economy, but also provides an insight into the social aspects as well. From a policy point of view, the paper critically discusses Turkey’s energy strategy and perspectives and from the social point of view, the paper argues that there is a research gap in recent literature regarding public awareness and social acceptance of low-carbon energy technologies. Also, the future challenges for promoting low-carbon society in Turkey are discussed in terms of sustainable development and socio-environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper enables a screening of existing irrigation dams in order to assess and rank potential sites for small hydropower development by using a Geographic Information System (GIS)-fuzzy logic multi-criteria scoring technique. The following criteria are evaluated: dam characteristics (reservoir normal level, reservoir capacity, dam purpose, dam ageing), and grid connection spatial characteristics. The proposed method estimates the suitability degree of each criterion separately and then aggregates them into a Site Suitability Index (SSI). Existing irrigation dams in Turkey are assessed in order to be utilized for hydropower development. The overall score of each candidate site is obtained and, their performance is compared for different strategies. One of the most suitable dams, Karadere, was chosen as a case study. By using the daily continuous monitored data, we showed that flow and head is highly variable during the irrigation season. Accordingly, we evaluated an innovative compact medium-head hydro turbine that can capture those fluctuations with its operational flexibility and minimal civil works. Moreover, an optimal path methodology was applied to find the best grid connection route from the dam to its nearest substation considering the site land use characteristics in order to minimize land expropriation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anatolide-Tauride block in the Tethyan belt represented passive northern continental margin of Gondwana throughout Paleozoic time. In this paper, we report on a relatively large amphibolite-facies metaquartz-syenite to -granite complex (~ 60 km2) in the Eastern Anatolia, the easternmost part of the Anatolide-Tauride block. Igneous textures in the metaintrusive complex are variably preserved. The preserved igneous minerals include mesoperthite + quartz ± aegirine-augite ± sodic amphibole ± calcic amphibole ± biotite and ± allanite. Mesoperthite is the sole feldspar in well-preserved igneous textures, suggesting hypersolvus nature of the original quartz syenite to granite. In the well-recrystallized samples, mesoperthite is partially or totally replaced by discrete grains of plagioclase and K-feldspar. U–Pb dating on igneous zircons from three samples yielded Silurian igneous crystallization ages (430–440 Ma). All rock types have typical geochemical characteristics of A-type syenite to granite with relatively high abundances of FeO*, Na 2 O, K 2 O, Nb, Ga, Zr, Ce, and Zn, and low abundances of MgO, CaO and Sr, resulting in high ratios of Fe/Mg and Ga/Al. Geochemical features such as (i) the absence of negative Nb–Ta anomalies on multielement variation diagrams, (ii) the enrichment of Nb and Ce relative to Y, and (iii) Y/Nb, Yb/Ta and Ce/Nb ratios similar to those in ocean island basalts point to A 1 -type syenite and granite which are thought to be differentiates of ocean island basaltic magmas. Estimated magma temperatures based on zirconium saturation range from 850 to 990 °C, indicating derivation of the original quartz syenite and granite from high-temperature juvenile magmas. Initial εHf values of the igneous zircons from two samples are 2.59 ± 1.14 and 2.30 ± 1.29, while δ18O values of the zircons range from 5.41 to 7.32‰ with a median of 6.50 ± 0.48‰. All these isotopic characteristics suggest that the quartz syenite to granite were derived from high-temperature mantle magmas with insignificant crustal assimilation. The Late Ordovician-Silurian A-type igneous rocks in the northern part of the Anatolide-Tauride block were probably related to a rifting event at the northern margin of Gondwana, leading to the opening of the Paleo-Tethys. This interpretation is also supported from (i) regional geological features of the Early Paleozoic sedimentary successions suggestive of extensional setting during the Late Ordovician-Silurian, (ii) the presence of Silurian anorogenic magmatism in continental blocks detached from Gondwana during Early Paleozoic time, and (iii) the presence of Silurian deep sea sedimentary blocks in Paleo-Tethyan accretionary complexes. Unlabelled Image • The Anatolide-Tauride block was passive continental margin throughout the Paleozoic. • A metaintrusive complex in the Anatolide-Tauride block displays anorogenic affinity. • It formed during Silurian from differentiation of OIB-type melts. • Late Ordovician-Silurian time represents a rifting period at the northern Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Anatolia (WA) hosts numerous I-and S-type plutons with variable compositions. This paper presents new comprehensive geology, petrography, bulk-rock and mineral chemistry, Sr Nd isotope, zircon U Pb, biotite and hornblende Ar/Ar and first apatite U Th / He age data for seven plutons (Baklan, Evciler, Eybek, Ilıca-Şamlı, Kozak, Uludağ, Yenice) in WA. Western Anatolia granitoid plutons (WAGPs) are mainly granodiorite, with minor monzonite, diorite, quartz monzonite and granite. The dominant minerals are K-feldspar (usually orthoclase and rarely microcline), plagioclase (albite, oligoclase), amphibole (hornblende), biotite, quartz, and accessory minerals are titanite, zircon, apatite, and opaques. The crystallization temperatures are relatively uniform (640-740 °C) but pressures range from those typical of the upper crust to those typical of the mid crust. The plutons are characterized by moderate to high SiO 2 (58.1–73.7 wt%), K 2 O (2.1–6.9 wt%), and relatively low P 2 O 5 (0.03–0.60 wt%) and most are I-type and metaluminous, except for the Uludağ pluton that is S-type. They are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs e.g. U, Th, Rb, and K), light rare earth elements (LREEs) and Pb, and depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), high field strength elements (HFSE, e.g. Nb, Ti) and Sr, Ba and P relative to other LILEs. The plutons display small Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*: 0.17–1.15) due to probaly suppression of feldspar fractionation/or partial melting of lower crust. They have relatively high initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.705775–0.708357 and low initial 143Nd/144Nd = 0.512290–0.512581. The LA-ICP-MS 206Pb 238U age analyses of zircon in addition to 40Ar/39Ar dating of hornblendes and biotites suggest that the plutons were emplaced between 29.4 Ma and 19.8 Ma and cooled with a relatively high rate (∼363 °C/Ma). These ages correlate with the collision between the Sakarya Zone and Anatolide–Tauride Platform in Rupelian to Burdigalian time. The (U Th)/He apatite ages range from 19.8 Ma to 7.6 Ma, for the WA granitoid plutons and indicates that the crustal terrains hosting the seven plutons had complex exhumation histories within their arc environment. Consequently, these ages constrain the crystallization, cooling and exumation times of the Oligocene to Miocene plutons in a post-collisional setting on the northern margin of Gondwana. [Display omitted] • The plutons emplaced and cooled between Rupelian and Burdigalian. • They had distinct exhumation histories in a post-collisional system. • The plutons were likely formed by melting of the lower crust. • Fractional Crystallization played minor role in their evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper re-considers girls' education in Turkey from both a capabilities and a feminist perspective. First, it critically looks at the policies, legislation, and NGO and government led campaigns aiming to increase girls' enrolment, and points out the lack of feminist perspectives and concerns in these initiatives. Then, drawing from 20 in-depth interviews with girls and 5 interviews with teachers in the most socio-economically deprived region of Turkey, the paper explores girls' schooling and educational opportunities in Eastern Turkey from a combined capabilities and feminist perspective, in order to generate a richer information basis than numbers alone for policy and evaluation. The findings tease out capabilities which are missing in the focus of policies and campaigns, and invite a re-design of educational policies and initiatives from a capabilities-focused praxis that is context and gender sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the forecasting of Turkey’s electricity domestic consumption using hybrid algorithm, which bases on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Iterated Local Search (ILS) algorithms. The approximation forecasting of an important energy source like electric for countries such as Turkey, which greatly imported energy sources, is so vital. In this paper, electricity domestic consumption model is first proposed by hybrid approach of ACO and ILS. Both techniques are quite simple and powerful stochastic local search method. ACO uses pheromone update mechanism to escape the local optimum. ILS applies iteratively local search to an initial solution until finding a local optimum; then it perturbs the solution and restarts a local search. This paper aims combining the advantages of these two algorithms to perform successful estimations. We use some economic indicators such as population, gross domestic product (GDP), import and export when Hybrid Electricity Domestic Consumption Estimation (HEDCE) model is developed. HEDCE equations proposed here are linear and quadratic. Results show that Quadratic_HEDCE find better solution because it can reflect better the variations of used indicators. The HEDCE models forecast Turkey’s electricity domestic consumption until 2030 under dissimilar scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dam development in southeastern Turkey is a highly-disputed issue, fanned by the Turkish–Kurdish conflict, socio-environmental and historical–cultural concerns, and international geopolitical interests. This paper focuses on discussions around the Ilisu Dam and shows how different actor coalitions imagine different hydrosocial territories regarding this mega-hydraulic project currently under construction. Imaginaries, counter-imaginaries and endeavours to materialize them go far beyond technical projects, portraying the dam to (re)configure the territory physically, ecologically, socio-economically, symbolically and discursively. The paper embeds competing hydro-territorial constructs and claims within an analysis of governmentality and the multi-scalar and multi-issue politics of dam opponents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Turkey as in Europe, the share of natural gas (NG) in the generation of electricity has shown a dramatic increase since the 1990s. Although Turkey faced two economic crises in the last decade, its total electricity generation has increased by 60%. NG consumption was 0.43 bcm in 1987 and reached 40 bcm by 2014. A big fraction of total electricity generation (TEG) is produced from NG. While the NG-based electricity generation was 0.2% in 1985, its share increased rapidly and it has reached to 48% of the TEG in 2014 and share of NG in total thermal power is about 60%. The goal of this paper is to review the historical development of the electricity and NG sectors, and to forecast and review the process of electricity generation with NG. Additionally, this paper compare the use of NG in electricity generation in Turkey and World, and analyze the supply–demand projections and future prospects in the field of energy. Results obtained from the present study show that a diversity of energy resources has not been achieved and as it is today in meeting the increasing energy demand, NG will continue to be a priority in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis using 40 year spanned time series for the Turkey case. CO 2 emission series representing environmental pressure and GDP per capita values representing economic development are used for the period 1968–2007. A cointegration has been determined among nonstationary series. First phases of an inverted U form EKC relationship have been determined for Turkey from the econometric estimations. This result is conflicting with that of the similar models for Turkey case. On the other hand, this conflict refers the important arguments in the literature and constitutes the main points of the paper. Sensitivity critiques (for example, Ahking et al.) for cointegration tests (Johansen and Engle–Granger tests) have been supported in our study. Moreover, we detected important diversion in results according to drift and trend assumptions both in CI vector and EKC model specifications. We conclude that building EKC model according to cointegration (CI) equation restrictions can be important source for diversion when sensitivity exists in estimations and cointegration tests; therefore, EKC estimations should be held in non-restrictive way. The additional structural reasons have been also discussed for developing country EKC cases. The most important one is that the narrow income sample of developing countries makes it possible to be defined by similar but different paths; therefore, policy implications to be drawn from those analyses should not ignore this feature of developing country analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the effect of maternal education on child health and the channels in which education operates by exploiting a change in the compulsory schooling law (CSL) in Turkey. In order to account for the endogeneity of education, variation across cohorts induced by the timing of the CSL and variation across provinces by the intensity of additional classrooms constructed in the mother’s birth provinces is used as an instrumental variable. The results indicate that mother’s primary school completion improves infant health, as measured by very low birth weight, and child health, as measured by height-for-age and weight-for-age z -scores, even after controlling for many potential confounding factors. This paper also demonstrates that maternal education leads to earlier preventive care initiation, reduces smoking, reduces fertility, and increases age at first birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the psychological and socio-cultural adaptation processes of Syrian refugees in Turkey using semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews among 15 participants. The study explored the themes and issues emerging in the psychological and socio-cultural adaptation processes such as life-satisfaction, contact with the host community and future plans of Syrian adults. Berry's acculturation model (1997) is used to form the theoretical basis of this research. Our findings revealed that psychological and socio-cultural adaptation of Syrian refugees are strongly influenced by economic concerns, pre-migration expectations, religion and perceptions of Turkish natives' expectations/ attitudes towards Syrians. From the perspective of the informants, economic concerns and uncertainty regarding duration of stay have a negative impact on refugees' acculturation, leading to delayed psychological and socio-cultural adaptation. Positive perceptions of Turkish natives' expectations/ attitudes towards Syrians are perceived to increase motivation to seek social support, which promotes well-being and life satisfaction in Turkey. Yet, negative perceptions such as prejudice and discrimination, may pose a risk for psychological health and low socio-cultural adaptation. One major finding of the paper is the two-fold impact of religion on Syrian refugees: Religion can be considered a binding/ equalizing function subsuming refugee and native groups under a superordinate identity. Nonetheless, it also appears to generate social distance when perceived as a threat to the secular national identity. The findings of this research can be used to minimize factors that undermine favorable acculturation outcomes and promote factors that facilitate high levels of psychological and socio-cultural adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of the study is to rank and evaluate renewable energy sources that are the only alternative of non-renewable energy sources, according to twenty-six regions in Turkey. Multi-criteria decision making methods are widely employed in the solution of energy selection problems because energy selection problems contain many criteria contradicting each other. In this study, the importance levels weights of the evaluation criteria were measured by the Fuzzy Entropy method. Later, with the Fuzzy COPRAS and Fuzzy MULTIMOORA methods, renewable energy sources alternative rankings were acquired for the regions. According to the fuzzy COPRAS results in Appendix 2, the hydroelectric energy source has been defined as the suitable renewable energy source alternative for seventeen regions. According to the fuzzy MULTIMOORA results in Appendix 2, the hydroelectric energy source has been determined as the suitable renewable energy source alternative in the first rank for eighteen regions. With this study, a resource is presented to regional investors to reach an investment decision for renewable energy sources. This study constitutes an indication for development agencies along with investors. • Ranking and evaluation of renewable energy sources. • Weights of the evaluation criteria were measured by the Fuzzy Entropy method. • The Fuzzy COPRAS and Fuzzy MULTIMOORA methods were applied for ranking. • Paper concentrates on choosing the most proper RES for twenty-six regions. • Hydropower have been classified as a suitable alternative RES for most regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is not any statistically significant impact of the Syrian refugees on crime rates in Turkey in the short-run (1-year after the treatment). • Staggered difference-in-differences analysis shows that the provinces where refugees make up over 1 percent of the total population do not demonstrate any statistically significant impact on their crime rates in the long run, either. • There is a negative impact of treatment intensity on crime rates per capita when the impact of refugee population share is analyzed using an instrumental variables strategy. The same analysis for the crime rates per native resident produces null effects. • Overall, the empirical analyses provide causal evidence for a rather lower propensity of crime commitment among the Syrian refugees in Turkey compared to the country's native population. The null effects of refugees on crime rates per native resident, on the other hand, can be interpreted as a non-significant spillover effect of refugees on native criminality. • Higher expected costs of crime commitment for refugees such as deportation and negligible adverse impacts of them, on average, on the natives' labor market outcomes, among other mechanisms, might have played an important role in these findings. The impact of immigration on crime continues to stir heated debates in public policy circles around the world. Surveys indicate that host societies favor controversial measures because they are concerned about what they perceive to be an impingement exacted on their security with each new wave of migration. Seeking whether there is any truth to such perceptions, this paper analyzes the refugees' impact on crime rates, using the case of Turkey which has started to host the world's largest refugee population within any national borders due to the Syrian civil war. In doing so, the paper employs instrumental variables, difference-in-differences (DiD), and staggered DiD methods to explain if the conflict-fleeing Syrians have pushed Turkey's crime rates higher in the short and the long run. It also controls for a multitude of time-varying provincial characteristics and presents a battery of robustness checks against various identification threats. As a result, DiD estimates show that refugees do not have any causal effect on the crime rates in Turkey. More strikingly, its IV estimates provide evidence for a rather negative effect on the crime rates per capita whilst finding a null effect on the crime rates per native resident in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide a comparative overview and evaluation of various legal frameworks for electronic money and online payment matters by mainly evaluating and comparing U.S., EU and Turkish Law, occasionally making a comparative analysis in terms of conformity as to how EU countries assess or accept European Commission (“the Commission”) regulations. By realizing a comparative study, this paper analyses whether the world, especially the EU is on the right path and moving forward while trying to recover ambiguities and faults in EC Directives. This paper also evaluates new regulations in Turkey in both general and comprehensive aspects, and reveals the importance of small differences in the Law compared to the EC Directives and how these do affect Turkey and can make them better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the most of the post-disaster permanent housing implementations, dwellers are left alone after the completion of their houses. However, the importance of monitoring and evaluation is highlighted in the last few years. Accordingly, the basis of this paper is to present a study conducted in the province of Van, Turkey, which was stricken by two earthquakes in the late 2011. The study focuses upon the rural settlements reconstructed after the earthquakes, and investigates the adaptation of dwellers who resettled almost a year before, which is an appropriate period of time to observe the early outcomes of adaptation. The paper presents the quantitative results using IBM SPSS 21 of the analyses applied for the indicators selected with regard to physical, economical, social and demographic characteristics of the area, dwellers, and the implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This paper investigates the determinants of intermediaries’ power over farmers’ margin-related activities in Adana, Turkey. In doing so, a holistic model of intermediaries’ power over farmers’ margin-related activities is proposed. The objective of this model is to contribute to a better understanding of the power relationships between farmers and intermediaries. It is argued in the paper that a balance of power needs to be established between farmers and intermediaries because it leads to the rise of more efficient trading relationships, with reduced transaction costs and improved chain coordination. Multiple linear regression is employed to analyze the hypothesized relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific collaboration networks, as a prototype of complex evolving networks, are studied in many aspects of their structure and evolving characteristics. The organizing principles of these networks also vary in different scientific disciplines, demonstrating that each discipline has specific connecting rules. Retrieving the co-authorship data from the ISI Web of Science, we constructed networks of four disciplines (engineering, mathematics, physics and surgery) as a subset of the Turkish scientific collaboration network spanning 33 years’ data. To provide a comparative perspective on the network topologies, we studied some statistical and topological properties such as the number of authors, degree distributions, authors per paper and papers per author histograms and distributions. These properties yield that the rapid growth of high education in Turkey (i.e. doubling of the number of universities and students within the last decade) had boosted the number of publications and increased the level of collaborations in the scientific collaboration networks. We showed the occurrence of Matthew effect in career longevity distributions, and also outlined the Heaps’ law relation in the scaling of the collaborations as well. We outlined the prominent properties of each subset, while the similarities and deviations from the interdisciplinary networks are also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between crude oil prices and stock market returns in Turkey taking into account volatility spillovers that are exemplified by second moment effects. Using weekly data from 1990 to 2017 and time varying causality-in-mean and causality-in-variance tests and taking into account structural breaks, we model each series as an EGARCH process in order to capture any leverage effects in the volatility of returns. Empirical results suggest crude oil prices as measured by Brent benchmark have significant effects on stock market returns in Turkey. While we fail to document significant spillover effects stemming from oil prices in the entire sample, there are significant spillover effects from crude oil price changes to stock market returns in 1993 and 2008–09. These results suggest that government policies must take into account risk spillover effects between markets and that investors are better off monitoring crude oil markets in portfolio allocation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global academic division of labor plagues contemporary academic production. The epistemological implications assign southern knowledge to the status of "data" for the use of northern "theory." The institutional consequences affect the training and promotion of scholars, and the distribution of academic resources. The persistence of global power relations in academic production is an indicator of the achievement of the West in establishing a Eurocentric relationship with the rest of the world. This paper looks at the manifestations of the contemporary academic division of labor in scholarly writing. We examine articles published in three international academic journals, based in Japan, Turkey, and the United States, and focus on the different ways in which authors use geographic markers, words that indicate that a title, an abstract, or a sentence is written in reference to a particular location—a country, a city, or another geographic entity. Scholarship in the North relies on a writing style that reflects and reproduces its privileged position in the global academic division of labor. However, southern scholars tend to write in a style that makes heavy use of geographic markers, which reflects their underprivileged position in global academic world as "case" or "data" producers for northern theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the Syrian refugee students' sense of school belonging and educational aspirations in Türkiye. The study used a mixed methodology. The sample consisted of 318 Syrian students in middle (grades 5–8) and high schools (grades 9–12) in a metropolitan municipality located in a large city in central Anatolia in the fall of the 2021–2022 academic year. The quantitative data was collected with the Sense of School Belonging Scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and factor analysis were used to analyze the quantitative data. The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with 15 voluntary students through an interview form with open-ended questions, and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The results indicated that students' perceptions sense of school belonging was at a medium level. Student perceptions of their sense of school belonging differed based on student gender, duration of stay, and the schools in which they were enrolled. A sense of belonging was important for students in certain schools. Students' educational aspirations were related to family socioeconomic status, social alienation, school acceptance, parental education, and the gender of the students. The paper concluded by suggesting that targeted policies are required for the improvement of the sense of belonging of Syrian refugee students. • Gender was important for both student sense of belonging and student aspirations. • Female students face more difficulties to continue their education. • Attending all-girls religious public schools related to stronger sense of belongingness. • Teacher support is most critical factor for refugee student sense of belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the social and psychological factors associated with the well-being of Syrian women who migrated to Turkey due to the Syrian civil war, both employing in a paid job and non-employing. For this purpose, semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews in their mother tongue were carried out with 25 participants. The thematic analysis method was applied to the data, following the guidelines suggested by Braun and Clarke (2006). The well-being of Syrian refugee women was found to be related to two main clusters, which emerged as themes from the analyses: (a) Attitudes of Syrian refugee women and their close relatives toward women's employment; and (b) working conditions and/or domestic responsibilities. The results show that having good working conditions, being supported by family, and being involved in social life positively contributed to the well-being of employed refugee women. Unfavorable working conditions, perceived gender and ethnic discrimination, and negative attitudes of family members toward women working, on the other hand, were found to have a detrimental impact on their well-being. Regarding non-employing women, barriers such as domestic responsibilities and the negative attitudes of spouses that restrain them from working in a paid job or being involved in social life appeared to have a negative impact on their well-being. We discussed our findings in light of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A smart grid is a system that uses information and communication technologies to integrate, in an intelligent way, all users connected to the electrical power system considering their behaviour and actions. For this purpose, information about the electrical network, such as the current, the voltage or the power, is gathered together over time so that the behaviour of suppliers and consumers can be observed and automatically coordinated. Smart grids are becoming a significant part in the configuration of future electrical power systems. A lot of research has been done on using smart grids to achieve highly efficient and user-friendly electrical power systems. Many new methods have been introduced to solve the difficulties energy providers face when transforming conventional electrical networks into smart grids. These difficulties include the integration of renewable energy and different grid systems at national and international levels due to changes in frequency, voltage and in the synchronisation mechanism. This paper provides an outline of the European smart grid projects and gives an overview of the current infrastructure and smart grid applications of the Turkish Electricity Production System Operator (EUAS), Turkish Electricity Transmission System Operator (TEIAS), and Turkish Electricity Distribution System Operator (TEDAS). In this paper the feasibility of the further steps required is described and some assessments are made and suggestions given on smart grid developments in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The empirical results of the paper show that the private fixed capital accumulation in Turkey is constrained by the demand constraint and the availability of financial resources. The significance of the liquidity variable clearly points out that credit policy and accommodating monetary policy with the lower rates of interests must be the essential elements of economic policies that revive investment in Turkey. It seems from the empirical results that the cost of capital has a significant but discouraging effect on investment expenditure. With this empirical finding it also becomes evident that fiscal stimuli would work in stimulating private investment, they must be the essential components of an investment programme in Turkey. In regard with the purpose of this paper, the variable, namely the willingness-to-invest, that is expected to capture the perception of investors on investment climate, also appears to be significant factors for the overall sample period. Interestingly, the speed of adjustment of private investment from disequilibrium is fairly slow. This is because there may be some frictions (such as heavy tax burden) and/or some structural constraints (e.g. insufficient infrastructure and inadequate legislative structure) in the economy causing this slow down. In reviving private investment, especially in the long run, one must pay attention to the importance of these factors, and appropriate government actions have to be taken. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the emergence of urban planning for climate change in Turkey, with particular reference to climate change mitigation, and to assess the prospects of a gradual transition to low carbon urbanisation. The paper first establishes an analytical perspective, in terms of normative models of low carbon urban development and the specificities of Turkish urbanisation processes. This perspective informs the analysis of the evolution of policies to reduce carbon emissions from cities which led to adoption of the first Turkish National Climate Change Action Plan in July 2011. The paper then argues that a move towards low carbon urbanisation is contingent on integrating national energy and climate change policies with evolving national policies for urban development and regeneration. The paper concludes that recent national policy innovations are an important first step and that continuing international support will sustain the momentum, but that significant progress towards low carbon urbanisation in Turkey will depend on the effectiveness of continuing efforts to improve the regulation of urban development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper deals with income inequality in the selected MENA countries focusing on the dynamics of domestic wage differentiations. The main aim is to identify the sources of inequalities. GDP per capita, share of manufacturing sector, urban share of population, gender participation in the labor force, education and openness may be possible factors. The paper analyzes pay inequalities using a panel regression model where the Theil index is used as the dependent variable. The results show that GDP per capita and female labor force participation have positive (increasing) effects, and openness has a negative (decreasing) effect on pay inequalities in these countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Over the last two decades; technical, economic and environmental benefits of hydroelectric power make it an important contributor to the future world energy mix, particularly in the developing countries. Turkey has a total gross hydropower potential of 433GWh/yr, but only 125GWh/yr of the total hydroelectric potential of Turkey can be economically used. By the commissioning of new hydropower plants, which are under construction, 36% of the economically usable potential of the country would be tapped. Turkey''s total economically usable small hydropower potential is 3.75GWh/yr. It is expected that the demand for electric energy in Turkey will be about 580 billion kWh by the year 2020. Turkey is heavily dependent on expensive imported energy sources that place a big burden on the economy and air pollution is becoming a great environmental concern in the country. In this regard, renewable energy resources appear to be the one of the most efficient and effective solutions for clean and sustainable energy development in Turkey. Environmentally friendly energy development has enormous implications for developing countries as major emitters due to their rapid economic and population growth. With some possible options, the paper concludes that the reduction of emissions can only be achieved when policies are supportive and well targeted, standards and incentives are realistic and flexible, and the public is actively responsive to environmental degradation. Turkey''s high rate of energy-related carbon emissions growth is expected to accelerate, with emissions climbing from 57 million tons in 2000 to almost 210 million tons in 2020. Carbon intensity in Turkey is higher than the western developed nation average. In this regard, renewable energy resources appear to be one of the most efficient and effective solutions for clean and sustainable energy development in Turkey. This paper deals with Turkey''s renewables energy sources for sustainable environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The growing research on gated communities has largely regarded them as isolated and isolating places, rather than considering residents’ relations with other spaces and communities. This paper seeks to examine these external contacts through exploring the ways in which gated communities establish relations with local political actors. This is done through an examination of two gated communities in Gokturk and Omerli, Istanbul, and an analysis of the differences between them. On the basis of semi-structured in-depth interviews with residents and locals, the paper demonstrates how gated communities engage with the outside world in contrasting ways. By focusing on the conflict between Islamist and secular people, the paper also argues that gated communities are active urban agents, establishing interdependent relations with local political actors which can change urban space and politics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]