Economist Gülten Kazgan dies at age 99

Prominent economist and academic Gülten Kazgan has passed away at the age of 99. Born in Istanbul in 1927, Kazgan was a highly influential figure in the fields of agricultural economics, development, and Turkish economic history.

After graduating from Istanbul University's Faculty of Economics in 1950, she studied at the University of Chicago under Nobel laureate Theodore W. Schultz via a Rockefeller scholarship. She later returned to Istanbul University, where she rose to the rank of professor. Kazgan also played a foundational role in the establishment of Istanbul Bilgi University, serving as its founding rector and later receiving the title of Emeritus Professor in 2010.

Her extensive body of work includes studies on globalization, economic growth, and the evolution of political economy. The Istanbul University Faculty of Economics Alumni Association expressed deep sadness over her passing, noting her reputation as a ‘teacher of teachers.’