Izak Atiyas

Izak Atiyas

Independent Researcher

Izak Atiyas is an independent researcher and a research fellow of the Economic Research Forum. He was an associate professor of economics at Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey, from 1998 until retirement in 2019. He was also the director of the TUSIAD-Sabanci University Competitiveness Forum between 2011-2019. He worked at the World Bank between 1989-1998. He received his Ph.D. in economics from New York University in 1988. His research areas include data governance, the digital economy and digitalization, climate finance, productivity, economics of micro, small and medium enterprises, industrial policy, competition policy, political economy and regulation of network industries.

Areas of Interest:

  • Industrial Organization and Regulation
  • Anti-Trust
  • Political Economy

Education:

  • Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA, 1989
  • B.A., Economics, Bogaziçi University, Turkey, 1982

Experience:

  • Independent Researcher, Present
  • Associate Professor of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Sabanci University, Turkey, 1998-2019
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Bilkent University, Turkey, 1995-1998
  • Senior Economist, Private Sector Development Department, The World Bank, Washington D.C., 1988-1995

Latest Publications:

  • Liberalization and Regulatory Reform in the Electricity Industry, 2006 (in Turkish), Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) Publication, Istanbul:TESEV 2006
  • Political Economy of Governance Failures, Crises and Opportunities for Reform“ (with Ferhat Emil), published as Chapter 4 of Turkey Country Profile : The Road Ahead for Turkey, Cairo: Economic Research Forum, 2006.
  • When Good Intentions Are Not Enough: Sequential Entry and Competition in the Turkish Mobile Industry,“ with Pinar Dogan, August 2006, submitted.
 
Digitalization in MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Mobile Internet Uptake and Use in Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA Countries

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

May, 2022

Working Papers
Crony Capitalism in the Middle East – Business and Politics from Liberalization to the Arab Spring

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

June, 2019

Edited Volumes
Anatolian Tigers and the Emergence of the Devout Bourgeoisie in the Turkish Manufacturing Industry: An Empirical Analysis

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

November, 2016

Working Papers
Replace Discretion with Rules: How Policy Reform Can Boost Economic Performance

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

May, 2016

Policy Briefs
Structural Transformation and Industrial Policy

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

December, 2015

Policy Perspectives
2
For Transregional Research on Private Sector Development, Digitization and Disruptive Technologies
Inter-Regional Comparison for the Implications of Digitalization and Disruptive Technologies for Sustainable Growth

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

2020-01-01

Arab Spring Development Initiative (ASDI)
Anatolian Tigers and the Emergence of the Devout Bourgeoisie in Turkey

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

2015-06-15

FEMISE
Structural Transformation and Industrial Policy in Selected Southern Mediterranean Countries

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

2013-01-01

Research Initiative for Arab Development (RIAD)
The Political Challenge of Enhancing Competition

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

2012-01-01

Research Initiative for Arab Development (RIAD)
Firm Level Data

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

2010-01-01

Webinars
Challenges of Conflict and Industrial Policy for Development

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

May 13, 2026

Webinars
Measuring the Impact of COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Labor Market, Firms and Households

Areas of Interest: Industrial Organization and Regulation Anti-Trust Political Economy Education: Ph. D., Economics, New York University, USA,... Read More

Jul 05, 2022

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