Internet economy in the context of geo-economics: The case of Aydın

In this study titled Internet Economy in the Context of Geo-economics: The Case of Aydın, mainly the relationship between economics and sociology and between economics and geography is discussed and the study is materialized at the point where these three disciplines intersect. This is an inter-disciplinary study and the concepts of geo-economics, internet economy and competition are explained. In the development process of geo-economics, the definitions, scopes, and components of strategy, geo-strategy and geo-politics are taken up and the importance and the main characteristics of geo-economics are presented. The dynamics, main characteristics and its differences from traditional economics of internet economy that has emerged through the development and spread of information and communication technologies are analyzed. Policies and strategies that are necessary for the creation and development of a permanent climate in the firm, region and nation triangle through the harmonization of global competitive power, which is accepted as the precondition for the success of geo-economics and internet economy, world-scale thinking and behavior with local potentials, are presented. In this context, in order to bring up the geo-economic values of the province of Aydın, which is very important for Turkey?s economy, and determine the policies that should be followed to make them demanded products in world markets, the exporting firms in Aydın are analyzed in terms of geo-economics and internet economy and their competitive powers and strategies aiming at increasing competitiveness are tried to be understood.The main hypothesis of this Ph.D. thesis is the idea that countries that can apply the knowledge shaped by the geo-economical structure and supported by the process of innovation to their industries and that can transform it into societal benefit through internet economy can have global competitive power and realize development and growth by gaining feasibility and productivity.The topic of study is investigated in five chapters. In the first chapter, the methodology of the study is presented. In the second chapter, the definitions of geo-economics, internet economy and competition and the relationship of these concepts with each other and their main characteristics are discussed. In the later chapter, the geo-economical structure of the province of Aydın is determined and Aydın?s background of numerical transformation and the reflections of new formations that have emerged in this direction upon Aydın are presented. In the fourth chapter, the exporting firms operating in the province of Aydın are analyzed in terms of geo-economics and internet economy. In the last chapter, a general evaluation of the study, conclusion and some suggestions are presented.As a result, it is observed that geo-economics is effective in determining competitive power and that the traditional scope of competitive power has changed because of internet economy. Although true understanding of global vision and the use of geo-economic resources in this direction are necessary characteristics, these characteristics should be supported by the quality of service, encouragement of competition, innovation and trade-mark management. In order to make a growth strategy based on geo-economics sustainable, priority should be given to the creation and application of right national and regional strategies based on wide-scale participatory internet economy.The economy of the province of Aydın have been becoming more competitive and open to global markets by using its geo-economic advantages. Together with this structural transformation, access to new technologies is being easier, a process-centered betterment is being noticed in the production of goods and services, costs are being rationalized and productivity is increasing. However, the same globalization dynamic is making the sustainability of competitive advantage and growth momentum harder. The province of Aydın is still far from satisfactorily using the power and advantages of internet economy in the global market.