Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Pinar Ceylan

Author

Pinar Ceylan
ERC Postdoctoral Researcher, Ghent University

Pinar Ceylan is an economic historian specializing in Ottoman economic and rural history. She is currently an ERC Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University. Previously, she held postdoctoral positions at Humboldt University and Ghent University, supported by prestigious fellowships, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. She earned her PhD from the London School of Economics, where she examined markets, prices, and consumption in the Ottoman Empire from the late 17th to mid-19th centuries. Her current research focuses on market integration, rural inequality in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the long-term trajectory of Ottoman waqfs. Ceylan’s work has been published in leading journals such as The Economic History Review and Agricultural History Review, and she has contributed to major edited volumes and policy reports. Beyond academia, she has been actively involved in civil society initiatives, particularly in human rights and sustainable agriculture.

Content by this Author

Market integration in the Middle East and the Balkans, 1560-1914

Trade has re-emerged as a central issue in global policy debates, as governments debate not only the costs and benefits of trade, but also the underlying determinants of market integration. To inform the discussion, this column reports new research evidence on the experiences of the former Ottoman territories in the Middle East and the Balkans over nearly four centuries, tracing the evolution, drivers and consequences of trade integration across these regions.

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Untapped talent, unrealised growth: jobs and women in the MENAAP region

Only around one in five women of working age participate in the labour markets of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As this column explains, the region can no longer afford to leave half its human capital underused. Expanding women’s labour force participation is central to growth and resilience in the face of looming demographic change.

Closing the gender gap in political participation in MENA

Women across the Middle East and North Africa participate less than men in politics – not only in political parties and elections, but also in petitions, boycotts, protests and strikes. This column reports evidence from ten countries showing that differences in education, employment and political attitudes explain part of this disparity, yet a significant gender gap remains.

Labour demand and informal employment in Egypt’s manufacturing sector

Egypt’s manufacturing sector faces a dual challenge of weak job creation and persistent informality. Drawing on survey evidence on business behaviour and labour market dynamics, this column explains why job creation is limited and informal work remains such an integral part of how firms organise production. The generation of more formal jobs requires a comprehensive policy approach, one that goes beyond enforcement of labour regulations to reshape the economic environment in which firms and workers make decisions.

Challenges of conflict and industrial policy for development

How effective is industrial policy as a tool for long-term economic growth and development? Against the backdrop of the conflict currently engulfing the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP), a new report argues that while industrial policies are widely used across the region, they can only address market failures and foster growth when they are aligned with country capabilities, implemented with accountability and backed by capable institutions.




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