An assessment of the Malatya economy following the February 6 earthquake

The primary aim of this study is to comprehensively examine the socio-economic impacts of the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, centered in Kahramanmaraş, on the province of Malatya, and to reveal the transformations that the disaster caused in the city's economic structure. Within this scope, key economic dimensions such as income distribution, unemployment, migration movements, the construction sector, foreign trade, agriculture, and livestock farming were analyzed. The methodology of the research is based on a descriptive analysis approach and adopts a mixed-method design combining both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected form official institutions such as Turkish Institute of Statistics, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, Turkish Institution of Employment, the Malatya Chamber of Commerce and İndustry , and The Provincial Director of Agriculture hile qualitative data were oktakinde from academice publications, local media reports, and field observations. The data were analyzed comparatively for the period 2019–2025, and both the direct and indirect effects of the earthquake were interpreted under thematic categories. The findings indicate that the earthquake significantly reduced production capacity in the construction, agriculture, and service sectors of Malatya. However, reconstruction and recovery activities have generated short-term economic vitality by increasing employment. Moreover, the earthquake deepened income inequality and accelerated migration form rural areas to urban centers and other provinces. In conclusion, the study emphasizes that sustainable development policies, post-disaster economic planning, and long-term support programs aimed at strengthening local production capacity are essential for the balanced recovery of Malatya's economy in the post-earthquake period. Keywords: Malatya's Economy, February 6 Earthquake, , Socio-Economic Impacts, Reconstruction, Income Distribution, Unemployment