Comparison of the Economic Performance of Turkish Republics in Central Asia with TOPSIS Method

The aim of this study is to compare the economic performance of Turkish Republics in Central Asia with Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods. Turkish Republics have been experiencing a transition from a centrally planned economy towards a market economy since their independence. In this study important macroeconomic indicators are used to determine economic performance. Economic performance evaluation of the country is an important issue for economic management, investors, creditors and stock investors. Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method outranks the countries according to the proximity of the positive ideal solution and distance of the negative ideal solution. Economic Performance of Turkish Republics in Central Asia (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan) are compared with TOPSIS method. İnvestigated with TOPSIS method countries best and worst economic performance years are detected during mentioned period and results are analyzed.

Knowledge Economy and Turkey In Terms Of Innovation and Education

Communication and information technologies have started to emerge since the 40s resulting major changes in the way business has been conducted and effected global economy. Transitions to knowledge-intensive business models become popular since late 1950s. Additionally intellectual capabilities become more important than physical inputs. Having sufficient national production and technology to create a welfare society similar to developed countries is crucial for any modern nation. One of the main developmental leverages for the globalization becomes the knowledge based economic approach. Developed by World Bank “Knowledge Assessment Methodology” is very important methodology in order to measure the progress of countries towards having a knowledge based economy. World Bank's four Knowledge Economy pillars: economic and institutional regime, education, innovation, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) developed for countries to make basic assessment of countries’ readiness for the knowledge economy and help them the transition to a Knowledge Economy. In this study, knowledge economy concept and its properties are presented. Furthermore this paper introduces the analysis of knowledge economy from Turkey’s perspective especially for the role of innovation and education pillars in the development of Turkey.

Is Nuclear Energy the Right Choice for Turkey?

Developing countries need energy supply. Turkish economy is one of the most dynamic in the region. The consumption of electric power in the country is growing rapidly. But the price of electric energy in Turkey is one of the detrimental factors. Of all the neighboring countries, Turkey has one of the highest prices for electric energy. While some academicians and non-governmental organizations supported the Turkish government's plans for establishment of nuclear power plants in Turkey, some others opposed it. Due to increased energy demand, Turkey is continuing to explore the possibilities of introducing nuclear power. Gaining acceptance from local populations, however, may be problematic because nuclear power has a negative image and risk perceptions are complicated by a range of psychological and cultural factors. The main aim of this work is to investigate Turkey's nuclear preferences is it right. We will discusses the Akkuyu nuclear energy projects, market trends and analysis. In addition we will look at Turkey’s nuclear energy policies.

Impact on Organizational Commitment of Attitudes towards Work-Life Balance of Employees

Work and family environment is the areas that individuals spend most of their time and gives the most importance comparatively. Despite the rules, different and perceived thoughts and behavior patterns they have, these fields represent the area continually interacting with each other. Work and family is two most important elements in every person’s life. For this reason, individuals have certain roles in their work and family life. These roles are the most significant roles undertaken in their lives. They have to strike a balance to play the roles in their work and family life and to get the expected yield. Work and life balance is the most important aim for individuals and family members interacting each other in work and family life. Having a balance in work and life is significant not only for working individual but also for the society he lives. Today, the subject how the expectations on work and private life can be balanced has become a specific discipline because of the radical changes on the responsibilities related to work and family. Examining the previous studies, it is seen that workers can’t achieve a healthy balance between work and private life and as a result they can’t work efficiently and can’t allow time to their families. Therefore, they face individually organizational and environmental problems. In this paper, the significance of the balance from the point of individuals and organizations and the extent of influence on work and family balance to employee’s organizational commitment will be studied.

Is Knowledge Economy the End of Union Action?

Production methods transform social structures, including the economy. In the societies that are shaped by old production methods, the existence of those people who earn their living working through these methods will be destroyed altogether and their lives will be harder than they used to be, which will lead to conflicts. It is true that changes make transformations inevitable Labor in the agriculture society was a very important production factor. In the industrial society, on the other hand, workers will serve their labor for the needs of people with a huge capital rather than serving their own ends, which make union action all the same very important. It is true that the potential role of labor as a vital component of the production has been weakened in the industrial societies. The reason for this is that there are now millions of people who can easily replace others in industrial societies. For this reason, the laborers who have faced huge challenges against the capital in this framework started to initiate union action in order to protect their rights. The function or the roles of union actions to have appeared in the industrial societies have changed when faced with information society in the 21.century. Information society forced unions towards change in union actions. Today, there is need for unionists to agree on a new road map in the 21.century for union organizations and activities.

State Marketing as a Factor in the Strengthening of Macroeconomic Indicators

This article deals with the state of marketing and its role in strengthening macroeconomic indicators of the Kyrgyz Republic, but it does not apply in the country properly. The need for the use of state marketing is intensifying with the entering of Kyrgyzstan to EEU as a member. To improve the structure of foreign trade, it is proposed marketing initiatives and research on the study of the external market, the internal potential of the country, specialization of production, the creation of "umbrella brand" for the country, the best way of satisfying consumers of public services, effective control of the quality and safety of products, regulation of the relevant parameters, that meet international standards, the fight against counterfeit, creating a positive image of Kyrgyzstan in the world and others.

Keynesian System, Keynesian Policies and an Evaluation of What Keynes Might Have Advised Today

We have surveyed in this article the development of the Keynesian macroeconomic system since 1936 up to the present. Our approach was, however, analytical rather than historical and descriptive. Keynesian System, hence Neo-Keynesians and modern Keynesian schools, such as New Keynesian Economics and Post-Keynesian Economics visualize that, if left by itself, the economy will give unemployment due to insufficiency of aggregate demand. In the article, the Keynesian policies are analysed with respect to their efficiency. Keynesian System was developed and modified in the face of criticisms by its opponents. We emphasize in our article that the Keynesian System was mainstream most of the time both in academic circles and in implementation. Presently again, basically Keynesian System has the upper hand, mostly New Keynesian Economics and also to some extent, Post-Keynesian Economics.The last section of the article covers an evaluation of what Keynes might have said for today’s economic problems.

The Influence of Intellectual Capital on Firm Value towards Manufacturing Performance in Indonesia

The aim of this study is to analyse the influence of intellectual capital on firm value through firm performance (profitability, productivity, market valuation and growth). Intellectual capital is measured by using a Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC™). Firm value is measured by Tobin's Q. The financial performance consists of Return on assets (ROA), Asset turn over (ATO), Market to Book Value (MB) and Earnings per Share (EPS). Data from this study was obtained from financial statements and annual reports of manufacturing companies that are taken from the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The sample of this study is manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the year of 2011-2013 for 37 companies. The types of data used are secondary data in the form of annual reports by the manufacturing companies. Empirical analysis is conducted by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results of this study indicate that Intellectual capital has a significant effect on profitability, market valuation and growth. Intellectual capital does not significantly affect productivity and firm value. Market valuation significantly affects the firm value. Profitability, productivity and growth do not significantly affect firm value. Furthermore, Intellectual capital which is intervened by the firm performance has a positive effect on firm value.

What Constraints Do the Students have for Nutrition Habits? A Research on Higher Education Students

Heirs of future and potential tourists, students face with various difficulties during university period. The very primary step of physiological needs, eating habits and constraints, of such a wide audience who are supposed to be at the top of self-realization is an issue that is carefully be focused on. The aim of this study which tries to investigate Bartın Vocational School students’ tendency and constraints on nutrition is to search and identify daily main meals and snacks of students; to determine body-mass index on age basis;; and to evaluate the arguments whether interdependent variables such as economic level, place of residence and gender which are allegedly affect nutritional care have influence on food choice. This study is considered important because it assesses dietary habits and tendencies of consumers with different levels of opportunity and limited incomes. In this context, secondary data have been given in theoretical framework. Primary data, on the other hand, have been obtained through a questionnaire that is compiled from various sources. Research problem and hypotheses have been tested by parametric test Independent-Samples T Test and frequency analysis. As results of the research, the findings that students do not have adequate nutrition awareness though their body-mass index is in normal range; that they consume fast food particularly during the day; and that this situation leads to the so-called morbid obesity health problems have been discussed. In addition, policy recommendations and suggestions have been made in this regard.

Relationship between Economic Freedom and Economic Growth in Some Selected Transition Economies: A Panel Data Analysis

This study estimated the influence of economic freedom in transition economies between the years 2000-2012 on economic growth by using panel data analysis. Economic freedom index developed by Fraser Institute was used in the study. The index values prepared by this institute do not cover all economies in transition. In addition, there is missing data for the periods that the study covers in terms of some countries. Thus, the analysis uses the data about 15 economies in transition. The study was conducted within the scope of two different models. In one of these models, the global economic crisis of 2009 was also included. As a conclusion, a negative relationship was found between economic freedom and economic growth when the crisis was not included; however, there was a positive but statistically insignificant relationship when the crisis was taken into consideration.