Within the scope of the "Noon Seminars" organized by the Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Uğur AKKOÇ from the Department of International Trade and Finance evaluated the relationship between minimum wage, income distribution, and inflation in light of academic data.
The seminar, held on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Martyr Lt. Bekir Can Kerek Conference Hall, addressed the economic repercussions of minimum wage policies. The keynote speaker, Assoc. Prof. Uğur AKKOÇ, presented a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic balances with his presentation titled "The Minimum Wage Illusion."
In the first part of his presentation, Assoc. Prof. AKKOÇ detailed the relationship between minimum wage and income distribution, accompanied by current charts. Drawing attention to the interaction of the middle class with monetary policies, the presentation examined the pressure of minimum wage increases on general wage levels and average wages.
The focal point of the seminar was the "Minimum Wage and Inflation Relationship." Referencing fundamental studies in the literature, Assoc. Prof. AKKOÇ emphasized that minimum wage increases do not always have a direct causal relationship with macroeconomic indicators such as employment and inflation. In light of the findings from academic studies, it was shared with the participants that the interaction between these variables varies according to the economic conjecture.