Eastern Mediterranean University Institutional Repository (EMU i-REP)
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Recent Submissions
Item type:Item, Economic Analysis of the Relationship between Rule of Law, Trade Openness, Environmental Quality and Finance in Europe(Eastern Mediterranean University, 2025) Komissaryuk, Kateryna; Güngör, Hasan (Supervisor)This study investigates the multidimensional role of the Rule of Law (RRL) Index in shaping environmental sustainability, trade openness, and financial development across 38 countries of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and selected European economies during the period 2012–2022. The Rule of Law Index is chosen as the central institutional measure because, unlike other governance indicators such as control of corruption or regulatory quality, it captures the broader legal and institutional environment. It directly reflects property rights protection, contract enforcement, access to justice, and constraints on discretionary power—all of which are critical for environmental governance, cross-border trade, and financial market stability. The study focuses on OSCE and European states divided by legal systems, first legal system is Monist system (mainly EU members), where the international law is automatically part of domestic law. The second system is Dualist system (other OSCE states), in this legal system the international agreements require domestic incorporation before becoming binding. This distinction is crucial, as it allows the research to test how the rule of law interacts with international environmental, trade, and financial obligations. The OSCE region was selected because it provides a unique legal diversity (monist vs. dualist systems) and represents both developed and developing economies, offering a natural comparative setting and ensuring the generalizability of results. Methodologically, the study applies advanced econometric approaches, including Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR), Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), and Robust Augmented Least Squares with Endogenous Breaks (RALS-EG) cointegration techniques. These methods allow robust testing across quantiles and heterogeneous country groups, while addressing cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity. The dataset integrates variables covering the rule of law, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, population dynamics, financial institutions, technological innovation, trade liberalization, and foreign direct investment (FDI). The empirical findings show that a stronger rule of law significantly reduces ecological footprint, demonstrating that effective legal systems play a central role in curbing environmental degradation and promoting sustainability. At the same time, rule of law and economic growth enhance trade openness, although financial institutions exert a constraining effect on trade flows in both OSCE and European economies, pointing to structural rigidities in the financial sector. Regarding financial development, the results reveal that rule of law, technological innovation, and FDI inflows consistently strengthen financial systems across all quantiles, while economic growth exerts stronger influence only at higher levels of development. Notably, trade openness exhibits short-term adverse impacts on financial performance but shows potential for long-term benefits. Overall, the findings underline that the rule of law is not an external background factor, but a foundational determinant of sustainable development, linking legal institutions with ecological, trade, and financial outcomes. The results carry clear policy implications: reinforcing legal systems, promoting renewable energy, restructuring financial institutions, and strategically channeling FDI are essential for climate targets, sustainable trade policies, and long-term financial stability in the OSCE region. Keywords: Rule of law, monism,dualism, Europe, Environmental Quality, Economic Growth, Foreign Direct Investment, Financial Development, International Trade, Rule of Law, Monism, Dualism, MMQR, PMG-ARDL, OSCEItem type:Item, Exploring the Unseen: Understanding the Challenges Encountered by Chefs in North Cyprus' Hospitality Sector(Eastern Mediterranean University, 2025) Özbaşar, Kurtuluş; Öztüren, Ali (Supervisor); Saydam, Mehmet Bahri (Co-Supervisor)This study aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted challenges experienced by chefs working within the dynamic and demanding landscape of the hospitality industry. By delving into the intricacies of their work environment, the aim is to shed light on the day-to-day hurdles they encounter, offering a detailed understanding of the obstacles they face In this study, employed a qualitative research framework to investigate the challenges faced by chefs in the hospitality sector, focusing on their unique experiences. During data collection involved in-depth interviews with chefs in North Cyprus. The findings reveal seven predominant challenges within the culinary industry, encompassing workload and stress, customer expectations, menu creativity and innovation, team dynamics, career advancements, ingredient sourcing, and technology and automation. These insights serve as a valuable resource for industry professionals and researchers alike who are committed to enhancing the culinary profession and elevating the dining experience for customers. The originality of this study lies in its unique focus on addressing the underrepresented area of research concerning the specific challenges faced by chefs in the tourism and hospitality industry. By exploring the day-to-day hurdles encountered by chefs, this research contributes to both academic knowledge and practical insights that can enhance industry practices and ultimately improve the quality of dining experiences for guests. Keywords: Chefs, Hospitality, Restaurant, LeximancerItem type:Item, Fractional Differential Equations with Sonine Kernels(Eastern Mediterranean University, 2025) Yücel, Yıldız Güzoglu; Fernandez, Arran (Supervisor); Mahmudov, Nazım (Co-Supervisor)The method of Mikusinski operational calculus relies on an abstract algebra ´ understanding of integral and derivative operators, which can be used for solving differential equations. This has been used for fractional operators of many types, including with Sonine kernels. Here, we use the general Sonine kernel to construct a different algebraic setting in which the general fractional derivatives and general fractional integrals can be understood in a different way. By considering algebraic properties, we construct embeddings and isomorphisms to connect the different rings and fields involved in the fractional Mikusinski calculus, and we demonstrate the ´ advantages and limitations of the more general algebraic setting. In this work, we also study linear fractional ODEs with continuous variable coefficients and general fractional derivative (GFD) operators of Riemann–Liouville and Caputo types defined using Sonine kernels. Using the Banach fixed point theorem, we prove existence and uniqueness of continuous solution functions, and construct solutions explicitly by means of uniformly convergent infinite series involving Sonine kernels. This work is done both for the classical Luchko-type GFDs with Sonine kernels, and for the m-fold versions of these operators, akin to sequential fractional derivatives. Keywords: Mikusinski Operational Calculus, Sonine Kernels, Fractional Calculus, Fractional Differential Equations, Fixed Point Theory.Item type:Item, Exploring the Role of Letter Length on RTs in a LDT: Evidence from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Letter Words in Turkish(Eastern Mediterranean University, 2025) Aslan, Mehmet; Raman, İlhan (Supervisor)The significance of word letter length on processes involved in visual word recognition, therefore, on reading have been reported on English since the 1970s (Forster & Chambers, 1973; Weekes, 1997). The finding that in experimental tasks, such as naming and lexical decision, reaction times (RTs) increase as a direct function of increased letter length has attracted much interest from both theoretical and applied domains. Although the literature on this topic is Anglo-centric and rather limited across languages, in Turkish it is almost non-existent apart from a preliminary naming experiment. Word length effect findings in Turkish were explained by the Dual-Route Cascaded (DRC) model as such that a lexical route is assumed to be used primarily to read all words while the Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) models explain the results as each particular word is associated with a particular sound pattern of activation across a common set of units that are used to process all words. The current study aimed to examine the extent to which word letter length influences RTs in a lexical decision task (LDT) in Turkish with adult native Turkish speakers (N= 150). The Linear Mixed Effect Analysis showed that early acquired words had significantly faster RTs than late acquired words. Although overall a non-significant effect was found for length, nevertheless as letter length increased RTs increased for non-words but not for words. The findings and their implications for Turkish are discussed within the current theoretical models with the aim to pave the path for future experiments. Keywords: Word length effect, age of acquisition, lexical decision task, psycholinguistics.Item type:Item, Heritage and Culture as Identity of Communities in North Cyprus: Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage(Eastern Mediterranean University, 2025) Küçük, Yusuf Gazi; Grchev, Kokan (Supervisor)Culture and heritage are intricately linked forces that influence and shape the identity of the community over generations. As communities develop distinct cultural practices and traditions, their heritage can be seen as an entity with the wealth of collective identity. It is not only a representing the past but also lives in the cultural practices today. This relationship advances development by combining the influences of the past on the present. As communities modernization and socio-economic transformation, developmental elements that were previously important inevitably lose their functionality as community needs. Industrial infrastructures are perhaps the best example of this, as technological development and changing economic patterns outdate a previously thriving industrial site. Many workplaces and entertainment areas which once served as the heart of community life in Northern Cyprus, either have ceased to serve their essential functions or are in the process of being renovated and remodeled. These places are believed to carry significant cultural, historical, and architectural importance to the communities in which they were developed. As it can be followed, efforts to preserve these facilities as important industrial heritage objects began systematically in the 1970s throughout the world. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) played an essential role in stressing the importance of industrial heritage and establishing frameworks for such sites to be regarded as part of cultural heritage that deserves protection. In such cases, adaptive reuse is a particularly valuable option and a serious approach, which facilitates the considered re-use of historic industrial buildings for contemporary purposes whilst consciously keeping intact their structure, character and historicity. This approach allows heritage sites to become part of the contemporary life of the community in a way that respects their significance and responds to past and present community needs, thus protecting cultural heritage in a way that creates benefits in the economic, social and environmental spheres. The main case study of the research is The Cyprus Mines Corporation (CMC) Mining Load Deck located in Lefke. This is a former industrial site that is no longer operational but from today’s perspective, it had high architectural and cultural value and potential. The aim of this research is to analyse the adaptive reuse potential of the site and how such a reuse of industrial heritage can further the sustainability goals of Lefke and the surrounding region. The study will bring in different disciplines ranging from architectural assessment, historical evaluation, community involvement, economic feasibility studies, and environmental impact assessment. Keywords: heritage, culture, identity, industrial heritage, adaptive reuse.
