The Pamukkale University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences achieved a significant success at the 2026 Excellence Awards organised by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The doctoral thesis titled “Analysis of the Relationship Between Climate Change and Rural Development in Türkiye: A GMM Approach,” prepared by Dr. Nazan Avcu under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Nihal Yayla, a faculty member in the Faculty’s Department of Economics, was awarded the Doctoral Dissertation of the Year Award in the Social and Human Sciences category. Prof. Dr. Nihal Yayla and Dr. Nazan Avcu received their awards from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the ceremony. Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmud Güngör also congratulated Prof. Dr. Nihal Yayla and Dr. Nazan Avcu on bringing great pride to Pamukkale University and wished them continued success.

Rural Development and Climate Change Measured at the Provincial Level

The award-winning thesis is based on the premise that rural development cannot be explained solely through economic indicators and that climate change is a factor directly affecting the development of rural areas. The study presents a comprehensive framework, extending from the definition of rural areas to the measurement of development and climate change and the econometric analysis of the relationship between these two phenomena.

The first major contribution of the thesis is its approach to rurality not merely in terms of population density or administrative classifications, but through multiple variables reflecting rural living standards. The rural development index developed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) enables the assessment of provincial rural development levels against a comparable measure and provides an analytical basis for policies that take local conditions into account.

The second original contribution of the study is the development of a provincial-level climate change index using data from the Turkish State Meteorological Service. Bringing together different meteorological events within a common measurement framework, this index transforms climate change from an abstract environmental issue into a measurable phenomenon that accounts for differences between provinces.

A Reciprocal and Negative Interaction Identified

The study examined both the impact of climate change on rural development and the impact of rural development on climate change. The findings reveal a reciprocal and negative interaction between the two phenomena. The results indicate that rural development cannot be considered independently of environmental conditions and that climate policies should take into account the socioeconomic structure of rural areas.