Turkish Market Research Articles

Determination of some heavy metal deposits in gluten-free foods in Turkish market with ICP-OES

Determination of some heavy metal deposits in gluten-free foods in Turkish market with ICP-OES

From Supermarkets to Online Shops: How did the Modern Food Retail Geography Change in Istanbul?

Since the 1980s, Turkey has undergone a process of internationalized capital, foreign capital entering the Turkish market and consumption becoming a lifestyle, under the impact of neoliberal policies. This process had a great effect on the retail sector, which has a dynamic structure. In order to survive in the climate of tough competition they found themselves in, retailers became organized, which included entry to new markets, growth through mergers and acquisitions and the formation of new channels. In this article, this process of change is explained using the conceptual framework of the “New” Retail Geography, which sees the relationship between space and retail as bilateral and mutually determinant. This article intends to answer the question, ‘How has the spatial structure of modern food retail[1] changed in Istanbul since the 1980s?’ and it focuses on the metropolis of Istanbul which accounts for a large proportion of total retail sales and where the greatest change is observed. In this context, a spatial diffusion process of change from supermarkets to large scale food retailers, to discount stores and finally to e-commerce, which has become more important with the effect of Covid-19.
 
 [1] Modern food retail or organized food retail can be used.

DETERMINANTS OF NON-PERFORMING CONSUMER LOANS FOR TURKEY: ARDL BOUNDS TESTING APPROACH

Purpose – the aim of this study is to specify the factors affecting the non-performing consumer loans in deposit banks operating in Turkey. Besides the internal factors specific to banks, the effect of macroeconomic factors is also investigated. Research methodology – monthly data of deposit banks operating in Turkey and data on macroeconomic indicators for the period 2005:1–2021:12 is used is the study. With these data, ARDL bound testing approach is applied. If there is cointegration relation between variables, the long and short run coefficients are estimated. Findings – with the two different models created in the study, it has been specified that macroeconomic variables and internal variables have a cointegration relationship with non-performing loans. The rise in loan interest rates and unemployment rate increase the rate of non-performing consumer loans. Conversely, the increase in deposit interest rates and the dollar exchange rate decreases the rate of non-performing consumer loans. For internal factors, it is determined that the increase in the capital adequacy standard ratio and the return on assets decreases the ratio of non-performing consumer loans. Research limitations – the major limitation of this study is to research only the factors affecting the non-performing consumer loans ratio for Turkey. Practical implications – the results obtained in the study are valuable for bank managers and investors. Administrative decisions and investment decisions by considering the factors affecting the non-performing consumer loans ratio will increase the performance of both groups. Originality/Value – studies in the literature generally consider non-performing loans for banks as a whole. However, determining the factors affecting the non-performing loans ratio on the basis of loan types will make a significant contribution to the literature. For this reason, the factors affecting the non-performing consumer loans for the Turkish market is investigated, thus contributing to the literature.

The Mediator Role of Attitudes in Fish Choice Behavior: A Turkish Market Survey

Due to the dynamic nature of demand, it is becoming increasingly important for the fish industry to investigate the changing choice behaviors of consumers in the face of increasing demand. This research investigated the role of attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics, which are the main factors in the fish choice behavior of consumers and in fish consumption behavior. In this context, an ordered probit model was constructed to analyze the effect of attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics as independent variables on fish consumption and purchase intention as the dependent variables. In addition, descriptive statistics were also used to reveal the current preferences related to fish. The data required for the model and descriptive statistics were obtained from 421 participants using a cross-sectional consumer survey covering the main cities of the seven regions of Turkey. The results show that while consumers prefer fish more than red meat and less than poultry, they mostly buy fresh fish from fish markets. Moreover, taste, physical appearance, convenience, wild fish, and seller trust attitudes have a significant and positive relationship with the dependent variable (the frequency of fish purchase and consumption) and price has a negative and significant relationship. Moreover, an increase in education level has a positive and significant relationship with the frequency of fish consumption. The research results provide important suggestions and information for decision-makers in the fish industry to implement effective policies and meet the consumer expectations of producers and distributors in the fish industry. In addition, the current study provides guidance for future research.

Evaluation of Insulin and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog Sales in Turkey Before the Pandemic Period; Projection for Upcoming Years: A Market Analysis Study

This study was designed to evaluate the box sale trends of insulin preparations and glucagon-like peptide-1 (Glp-1) analogs by their therapeutic categories in Turkey. Also, we aimed to project sale trends of these pharmaceuticals in next years. We analyzed the data before the covid-19 pandemic and made predictions based on these data. This study analyzed retail and hospital box sales of insulin preparations from 4 therapeutic categories (fast/short-acting, intermediate-acting, premix, long-acting) and Glp-1 analogs. Total box sales of the insulin preparations were increased by %13,30 in the period examined. While fast/short-acting and long-acting insulin box sales increased with a decreasing upward trend, intermediate-acting and premix insulin box sales decreased. Glp-1 analog sales increased rapidly in this period. Currently, newer pharmaceuticals have been entering Turkish market for diabetes treatment. Less insulin might be required if newer pharmaceuticals are more widely available in diabetes treatment. Also it will be useful to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on access to pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of chronic diseases in future studies.

Safety in Cosmetics and Cosmetovigilance, Current Regulations in Türkiye.

Although it is considered that cosmetics do not have side effects, studies have revealed that a significant number of consumers experience side effects. Undesirable effects arising from the use of cosmetic products have created the need for a reporting and evaluation system, which is responsible for some restrictions on the use of cosmetics ingredients and putting into cosmetic regulation effect, called cosmetovigilance. However, the new cosmetovigilance concept needs some updates to become more effective for public health. For instance, side effects related to cosmetic use have been reported more frequently recently, but this rate is still quite low. Additionally, since the current cosmetic directive does not recognize cosmeceuticals as a distinct category from cosmetics, some products named cosmetic under the laws may affect the bottom layers of dermis and cause systemic side effects. Although the manufacturers must show safety assessments to the Turkish Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency to get a license, after launching they do not have post-vigilance reporting to the institution, which is another problem of the system. In this review, the current cosmetovigilance system in Türkiye was discussed and some hardships encountered were criticized regarding the implementation of the system. Additionally, scientific studies are conducted on cosmetic ingredients that can have side effects and contribute to the developing cosmetovigilance concept. Because of the study, the importance of the feedback of healthcare professionals in the cosmetovigilance system, the consultancy service to be given to the consumer and patient about the contents that should be considered. Besides, there is a need for new studies to indicate the adverse reaction incidence related to cosmetics in the Turkish market. Another outcome of this review article is to understand the importance of the new regulations regarding the increase in the new active ingredients in the cosmetic market.

Risk assessment of oral exposure to phthalates from coffee samples marketed in Turkey

Although phthalate esters (PAEs) are plasticizers widely utilized nowadays to enhance the flexibility and processability of polymeric materials, their presence and detection in the food environment have become an important concern. In this study, phthalate esters (butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and diisononyl phthalate (DINP)) were detected in 40 coffee samples in single-use or large plastic-based packages of different brands collected from the Turkish market. PAEs exposure and non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks were calculated for females and males aged 15–64, depending on their coffee consumption within 24 h. DBP and DINP exhibited the highest level of migration to coffee samples (<LOD - 15.2 ng mL−1 and <LOD - 64.1 ng mL−1, respectively), while BBP was found below the limit of quantification (LOQ). In non-carcinogenic risk evaluations of PAEs, the data showed that coffee was consumed at levels not considered harmful for all ages and genders (HI<1). The carcinogenic risk factor for BBP was determined at grade C, meaning it was negligible (<10−6) for all age groups. However, carcinogenic risk factors determined for DEHP in males and females aged 15–30 years (in the range of 1.50 ×10−4 and 4.87 ×10−4) and females aged 51–64 years (1.45 ×10−4) were detected at grade A, which exceeded the high-level cancer risk (>10−4) reported by the US EPA. Our research findings showed that almost all age groups over 15 were exposed to PAEs orally from the coffee they frequently consumed, which might lead to an excessive risk of cancer in individuals. Therefore, it was concluded that more comprehensive studies should be conducted based on this study, especially regarding cancer risk.

Volatility spillovers between Turkish energy stocks and fossil fuel energy commodities based on time and frequency domain approaches

In this paper, we investigate the volatility spillovers among major energy stocks, the electricity index, and fossil fuel energy commodities (crude oil, natural gas, and coal) using firm-level data in an emerging market, Turkey over the period July 18, 2006–December 31, 2021, which covers important economic events worldwide. To do this, we employ Diebold and Yilmaz's (2012) approach to examine both time-varying and invarying volatility spillovers among markets. Our findings reveal that Turkish energy stocks and the fossil fuel energy markets have high interdependencies, which are significantly affected by global political, financial, and extreme events. The volatility spillovers among markets during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 exceeded the 2008 global financial crisis. We also examine the volatility connectedness between markets based on frequency domain using various frequency bands (short term, medium term, long term). To do so, we adopt Barunik and Krehlik’s (2018) approach and find that the highest performance is recorded in the long horizon compared to short and medium horizons, implying that the impact of volatility spillover transmission from one market to others is persistent (long-lasting) in the Turkish market. Finally, we discuss policy implications for global investors and policymakers based on our results.

COVID-19’s Impact on Global Stock Market Movements and an Examination on Turkish Market

Finansal küreselleşme, 1980’li yıllarda gelişmiş ülkelerde ve 1990’lı yıllarda gelişmekte olan ülkelerde ortaya çıkan sermaye hareket serbestlikleri ile birlikte önemli bir aşamaya geçmiştir. Bu aşamada sistemik risk unsurları artmış, olumsuz gelişme ve beklentiler tüm piyasalara hızla yayılarak etki edebilir hale gelmiştir. Hisse senedi piyasaları özelinde bakıldığında çok sayıda ülke piyasasının “küresel” piyasaya hızlı bir şekilde entegre olduğu görülmüş ancak söz konusu entegrasyonun düzeyi, tüm ülke piyasalarının güçlü bir şekilde birlikte hareket edecekleri seviyelere ulaşmamıştır. Yaşanan krizler karşısında kısa dönemde benzer reaksiyonlar gözleniyor olsa da şoklar sonrası hareketlilikler önemli farklılıklar gösterebilmektedir. Bu çerçevede, COVID-19 hastalığının Dünya Sağlık Örgütü tarafından 11 Mart 2020 tarihinde küresel ölçekte salgın ilan edilmesi ile hisse senedi piyasalarının birlikte hareketlerinde bir değişim olup olmadığı, olduysa değişimin ne şekilde olduğu temel bileşenler analizi ve değişim noktası analizi ile araştırılmıştır. Analizde 31.12.2020 tarihine kadar gerçekleşen günlük endeks hareketleri kullanılmıştır ve Türkiye ile birlikte 20 ülke piyasası dâhil edilmiştir. Ayrıca Türkiye hisse senedi piyasasının, ülkede salgının seyrine ilişkin açıklanan sayı ve kısıtlamalardan ne düzeyde etkilendiği de incelenmiştir.

Translation and Localization of Video Games: An Analysis of Uncharted 4 in Turkish

The aim of this study is to assist game designers, game producers, and video game translators with translation procedures and open doors for future research in the field by offering comparative research following a descriptive method. Globalization and technological advancements have grown academic interest, as well as video game and localization sectors, and understanding the video game translation process is crucial. This study compares the original English subtitles of the video game Uncharted 4 with the professionally adapted Turkish subtitles. Each sentence in Uncharted 4 was coded, and 67 dialogue lines were picked from a wide range of lines that the three coders thought were notable and would fit well within the scope of the study. The coders re-examined the game’s 67 lines in order to achieve an agreement on the suggested lines and the translation approach employed in the dialogue. The video game Uncharted 4 was chosen due to the coders’ contextual awareness of the game series, its global success, and its appeal in the Turkish market as a result of its Turkish version. The translation professionals’ perspectives as coders on the analysis aims to provide additional support for findings and suggestions. The main variables of the study are Domestication and Foreignization, Transcreation, Keeping the Original Language, Literal Translation, Remaining Loyal to the Origin and Re-creating Meaning and Humor.

Руссотурк: Советские Зарубежные Инвестиции и Социальная История Ранней Турецкой Республики

The purpose of this article is to introduce and examine the story of Russotürk, which was established as a venture capital company that was established in 1924 with the collaboration of the Soviet Union and Turkey in Istanbul. Russotürk helped the Soviet Union during the 1920s to overcome the obstacles that were put on export goods in the foreign trade of the Russians as it was a joint-stock company. One of the most important tasks undertaken by the company is to promote and increase the export of Soviet goods in the Middle East and Balkan countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Greece, in which the Soviet Trade Representatives were not allowed to operate. Russotürk, which was trying to attract the attention of the Turkish bourgeoisie, could not prevent the company, with which they were dealing joint business Karadeniz firm, to become partners with White Russians. Thus, the White Russians were effective in the foreign trade of the Soviets until Russotürk was liquidated. Selling Soviet export goods below the average world prices and issuing import licenses in return are among the most criticized issues that the company encountered. Russotürk constantly competed with Arcos and other Soviet economic institutions. The most obvious indication of this competitive situation was the sales of the Soviet agricultural tools in the Turkish market. The founding officials of Russotürk, which had eventful and nontrivial establishment and closure, were tried in the Soviet courts. Russotürk completed its duty and ended its existence when 1927 trade agreement was signed among the Soviet Union and Turkey.

REKABET KURALLARININ ÜLKE DIŞI UYGULANMASINDAN DOĞAN BAĞLAMA KURALI: PAZAR ÜZERİNE DOĞRUDAN ETKİ (MÖHUK m. 38)

Rekabet ihlâllerinden etkilenen her bir devlet kendi rekabet kurallarını uygulamak istemektedir. Burada amaç, rekabet ihlâlinden etkilenen piyasalarda bozulan düzeni yeniden sağlanması ve sağlıklı bir şekilde işlemeye devam etmesidir. Devletlerin aldıkları rekabeti koruyucu ekonomik ve hukuki tedbirler, iç hukuk ön planda tutularak hazırlanmaktadır. Bu nedenle, ilgili rekabet otoritesinin faaliyet alanları mülkilik ilkesi ile sınırlandırmakta, bu durum karşısında da yurt dışında rekabet ihlâli teşkil eden eylemlerde bulunan teşebbüslere hangi gerekçe ile müdahale edileceği ve bir yaptırım uygulanacağı sorunu ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu sorunu aşmak için Amerikan rekabet hukukunda etki kıstasının ortaya çıktığı ve Amerikan pazarının etkilendiği her türlü rekabet ihlâline kendi rekabet kurallarını uygulamaya çalıştığı görülmektedir. Amerikan hukukunda yer alan etki kıstası, Türk rekabet hukuku olmak üzere birçok devletin pozitif düzenlemesinde kendi rekabet kurallarını uygulamak için bir kriter olmuştur. Nitekim RKHK m. 2 uyarınca, teşebbüslerin ister yurt içinde isterse yurt dışında yaptıkları faaliyetlerin rekabet ihlâli teşkil etmesi ve bu rekabet ihlâlinin Türk pazarını etkilemesi durumunda RKHK uygulama alanı bulacaktır. Milletlerarası özel hukuk alanında tek yanlı olarak nitelendirilen bu kural, MÖHUK m. 38 uyarınca iki yanlılaştırılmıştır. Yabancı unsurlu rekabet ihlâllerinden doğan özel hukuka ilişkin taleplere, rekabet ihlâlinden doğrudan etkilenen piyasa hukuku uygulanacaktır. İsviçre hukuku (IPRG m. 137) ve Roma II Tüzüğü’ndeki düzenlemeye paralel olarak kabul edilen bu hüküm kapsamında, Türk hâkimi, rekabet ihlâlinden doğan bir uyuşmazlığın yabancı unsurlu olduğunu tespit ettiği anda, etkinin doğrudan meydana geldiği piyasayı araştıracak ve tazminat da dahil olmak üzere özel hukuka ilişkin talepleri bu bağlama kuralı uyarınca tespit ettiği yetkili hukuk uyarınca sonuca ulaştıracaktır. Yansıyan veya dolaylı etkinin dikkate alınmadığı etkinin doğrudanlığı kriteri sayesinde pazarı etkilenen hukukun uygulanmasını haklı kılan eylem ile etki arasında yeterli bir illiyet bağı kurulmuş olacaktır.

Sporda Giyilebilir Teknolojilerin Birleştirilmiş Teknoloji Kabul ve Kullanım Teorisi 2’ye (Utaut-2) Göre Davranışsal Niyetlerin İncelenmesi: Nabız Monitörü Örneği

Teknolojinin her alanda gösterdiği gelişim, spor ekipmanları konusunda da önemli mal ve hizmet çeşitliliğini doğurmaktadır. Bunlardan biri olan nabız monitörleri aktif spor yapan bireylerin egzersiz kalitesini etkilemektedir. Bu ise, söz konusu mal ve hizmetlere dair geliştirilen davranışsal niyetlere etki etmektedir. Nabız monitörleri spor yapan bireylerin antrenmanın yeri, antrenman süresi, antrenman mesafesi, kalori tüketimi gibi birçok aktivite göstergesini yakalamasına imkân veren cihazlardır. Birleştirilmiş teknoloji kabul ve kullanım teorisi 2 üzerinden yapılan bu araştırma ile nabız monitörlerinin spora dair katkıları ve kullanıcıların davranışsal niyetleri incelenmiştir. Tarama araştırmalarının veri toplama metodu olan anket aracılığıyla yürütülen çalışma sonucunda katılımcıların cinsiyet, yaş, eğitim durumu ve spor alışkanlıklarına göre oluşturulan değişkenlerin davranışsal beklenti temelindeki niyetleri araştırılmıştır. Bu niyetler performans beklentisi, çaba beklentisi, sosyal etki, kolaylaştırıcı koşullar, ücret değeri ve hedonik motivasyon olarak belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonucunda kullanıcı deneyimine işaret eden kolaylaştırıcı koşulların önemli bir değişken olduğu bulgulanırken hedonik motivasyon ve ücret değerinin de davranışsal beklenti niyetinin önemli yordayıcıları olduğu gözlemlenmiştir.

Assessment to propose a maximum permitted level for ochratoxin A in dried figs

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A (OTA) are chemical hazards in dried figs that induce adverse effects on international trade. However, there is no maximum level (ML) for OTA in dried figs worldwide. Risk assessment of OTA in dried figs has drawn great attention for establishing an ML or providing other risk management advice to control or prevent contamination. In this study, the occurrence of aflatoxins and OTA in dried figs available on the Turkish market was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). The incidence rates for aflatoxins and OTA were 14 % and 8 %, respectively. The present study also aims to estimate chronic dietary exposure to OTA, as well as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the sum of aflatoxins (AFT) and assess the risks to human health. The mean chronic dietary exposure estimates to AFB1, AFT and OTA for adults across the two consumption scenarios amounted to 0.0039–0.1341, 0.0044–0.1682 and 0.0005–0.0491 ng kg-1 b.w. day-1, respectively. Under the scenario of the high consumption, the calculated margin of exposure (MOE) values for AFB1 were lower than 10 000, which raises a health concern. However, the estimates of exposure to OTA based on both available occurrence data and different hypothetical MLs resulted in higher than an MOE of 10 000, and there is no health concern. This study also proposes setting an ML of 8 or 10 µg kg-1 for OTA in dried figs by the national and international authorities for protecting consumer health.

Counterfeit Probiotic Drugs

Aim: Counterfeit drugs are a threat to human health worldwide. It can be seen that insufficient research has been conducted on the subject of counterfeit drugs related to potentially addictive drugs seized by the authorities. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not there are drugs for sale in the Turkish market, which are counterfeit drugs under the heading of probiotics which are defined as micro-organisms with a positive effect on health when taken in certain quantities. Material and Method: A total of 17 different probiotic products in capsule, drops or sachet form, which were permitted for sale, were obtained from randomly selected chemist’s shops in the province of Malatya. Results: There was nothing missing or counterfeit on the packaging of the 17 products examined. When the contents were investigated, no deficiencies or excess micro-organism production was determined in the first 12 products. In product #13, there was no production of one of the mentioned micro-organisms. In products # 14,15, 16, and 17, more than one micro-organism stated in the prospectus could not be obtained. Conclusion: As the checking of products sold in chemist’s but controlled by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock is not easy, there is a need for tighter supervision. This can be provided by sending the samples taken during audits to the correct laboratories, making detailed examinations, and evaluation the amount of active substance.

Trimethylamine and Biogenic Amine Levels of Various Fish Products Sold in Turkish Markets

Çalışmada Türk marketlerinde ticari olarak satılan 17 farklı işlenmiş balık ürününün (dondurulmuş Alaska mezgiti, hamsi filetosu, sardalya filetosu, berlam filetosu, Asya kedi balığı filetosu, palamut, Atlantik somon; tütsülenmiş kurutulmuş uskumru, alabalık, Atlantik somon; marine edilmiş uskumru, hamsi, kırmızı biber soslu hamsi ve acı biber soslu hamsi; tütsülenmiş-marine edilmiş uskumru, hamsi) biyojenik amin içeriği hızlı HPLC metodu kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Balık ürünlerinde en fazla miktarda bulunan biyojenik aminler putresin, spermidin, spermin ve dopamin olmuştur. Test edilen balık ürünleri arasında histamin birikimi sadece dondurulmuş Atlantik somon, marine kurutulmuş uskumru ve marine acı biber soslu hamside gözlenmiş olup, 10 mg/100 g olarak belirtilen yasal limitin altında kalmıştır. Balık ürünlerinde tiramin histamine kıyasla daha yüksek oranda birikime uğramıştır. En yüksek tiramin içeren balık ürünleri, 8,5 mg/100 g, 5,27 mg/100 g ve 3,5 mg/100 g değer ile dondurulmuş Atlantik somon, acı biber soslu marine hamsi ve tütsülenmiş-marine uskumru olmuştur. Putresin ve kadeverin birikimi tüm balık ürünlerinde sırasıyla &amp;lt; 33,53 ve &amp;lt; 19,87 mg/100 g olarak bulunmuştur. Balık ürünlerinin trimetilamin (TMA) içeriği ise 6,6-22 mg/100 g arasında olmuştur. Balık örneklerinde toplam biyojenik amin değeri en düşük dondurulmuş Alaska mezgitinde gözlenirken (28,8 mg/100 g), dondurulmuş Atlantik somon en yüksek biyojenik amin içeren (232,3 mg/100 g) balık ürünü olmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda, test edilen çoğu işlenmiş balık ürününün iyi kalitede olduğu gözlenmiştir. Ancak bu sonuçlar işlenmiş su ürünlerinde insan tüketiminde güvenliği sağlamak için dikkatle izleme çalışmalarının yapılması gerektiğini ortaya koymuştur.

Elemental profiling of toxic and modern primers using ICP-MS, SEM-EDS, and XPS: an application in firearm discharge residue investigation

ABSTRACT The characterization of firearm discharge residue (FDR) as a piece of evidence plays an essential role in interpreting the forensic cases involving the use of firearms, such as robberies, murders, suicides, and serious attacks. In the last decade, modern or non-toxic primers have emerged due to environmental issues. Forensic examination of gunshot residue (GSR) has become challenging as primer compositions now vary greatly. The goal of this paper is to provide the elemental profiling of both toxic and lead-free cartridge primers available in the Turkish ammunition market. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used in this investigation. Multivariate statistical methodologies such as principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis were used to interpret the elemental profile data determined in the residue generated after ignition of the cartridge primers. Three components were observed: Ba-Sb-Pb-Cu-Gd, Ti-Sr-Zn, and Al-Ca-Ga, which is also consistent with the PCC analysis. SEM-EDS was employed to confirm the existence of GSR particles. The binding energies, determined using XPS, indicated the chemical state assignments in samples such as Pb(NO3)2, Sb2S3, Ba(NO3)2, CuO, ZnO and MoS2. This research will improve the robustness of the interpretation of GSR-related evidence.

Price spikes, temporary price caps, and welfare effects of regulatory interventions on wholesale electricity markets

There is growing empirical evidence of increasing price volatility and price spikes in electricity markets as a result of variable renewable energy generation, extreme weather events, and other factors. While price spikes are needed to cover the fixed costs of power plants, they may also signal market flaws and anti-competitive behavior. Regulatory authorities have imposed market price caps to protect consumers and prevent abusive supplier behavior. In addition, some regulators have imposed temporary price caps during or after severe events; however, these caps may be driven by political motives rather than economic logic in weak institutional settings. This paper evaluates the welfare effect of the temporary price cap implemented in 2017 on the Turkish electricity market. By using matching and panel data methods, we show that the temporary price cap reduced the total welfare but did not affect market clearing price and projected supply. Our detailed analysis shows that this decision was driven by non-economic motives, and identifies a number of fundamental problems in the Turkish market that limit the effective functioning of the market.

On modelling electricity spot prices: A case study for the Turkish market

This paper demonstrates the significance of jump threshold in terms of modeling and generating realistic trajectories for an electricity spot price process. Determining the suitable threshold and choosing among distributions proposed in literature are key to the followed moment-matching strategy. This is implemented in a two-factor model framework with the Turkish spot electricity price data. The market studied is a developing one which has taken huge steps in liberalization by learning from more advanced markets, yet with limited research on her spot price dynamics. The selected two-factor model entails downward jumps, which are increasingly getting essential components of the process with the progressing integration of renewable sources. Such components are notably observed since 2015 in the spot market. Moreover, considering structural changes in seasonality both improves the model fit and reveals the same year as the break year for Turkish market. Finally, underlying economic interactions and policy implications for the market are discussed.

Evaluation of heavy metals in Roasted Coffee powder in Iran and Turkey

Nowadays coffee is a popular beverage around the world used in many food industries such as chocolate, dairy industry and also confectionery. Therefore, its quality required special attention. On the other hand, heavy metals have been attracted the attention in food products due to their toxicity and health risks in the food chain. Since coffee is a desirable widely used drink in the world for different age groups, this study aims to measure the concentration of heavy metals and some other elements in several brands of coffee powder from Iran and Turkey markets. After sample collection and preparation, heavy metals were measured using ICP-MS according to the AOAC method. The results showed that fortunately lead, cadmium, cobalt, silver, chromium, and mercury were not detected in any coffee samples. Also, it was observed that Nickel was only found in 3 samples, which was less than the standard limits. The pH of all samples was measured and the range was 5.03 to 6.32 in Iranian and Turkish samples. However, there was a lack of evidence in heavy metals amounts in coffee, this study reveals successful practical information in this field in Iranian and Turkish market but also according to the importance of this issue, further comprehensive studies is needed all over the world. Key words: Coffee; lead; cadmium; mercury; ICP-MS.