Economic and commercial life in Aydın during the early years of the Republic (1923–1950)

ABSTRACT ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL LIFE IN AYDIN DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC (1923 – 1950) Buse Selin ÇETİN Master's Thesis, Department of History Thesis Advisor: Dr. Günver GÜNEŞ 2025, XV + 254 pages From past to present, countries have implemented various economic policies with the aim of increasing the welfare of their societies, ensuring sustainable development, and achieving economic growth. The primary objective of these policies has been to build a strong economic structure in order to enhance social welfare. However, the steps taken towards economic growth and development have not always progressed smoothly. Internal structural problems, external pressures, and global developments have sometimes prevented the expected outcomes of the implemented economic policies. The process of globalization, international capital movements, and global economic crises have particularly disrupted economic balances in developing countries and made it more difficult to effectively implement these policies. Within this framework, this study examines the economic and commercial structure of the city of Aydın in Turkey during the period from 1923 to 1950, which began with the proclamation of the Republic and is known as the "single-party period." The study provides a detailed analysis of Aydın's situation in the fields of agriculture, trade, and industry during this era. It also evaluates the impacts of global economic policies and reforms on Turkey and how these were reflected in Aydın. Developments in production, transportation, trade, and the financial system are analyzed from a comprehensive perspective. In this context, agricultural activities in Aydın, especially the cultivation of key products such as figs, cotton, olives, and grapes, are discussed in detail. The effects of the export and import balance on the local economy are also revealed. Thanks to the railway network, Aydın was connected to the port of İzmir, which allowed the agricultural products produced in the region to reach global markets. The study also examines industrial investments, the growth of small businesses, the commercial life of Aydın, and the contributions of local merchants to the economy. Additionally, transportation and urban development activities, the advancement of banking services, and especially the development of cooperatives are considered among the fundamental elements of Aydın's economy. In this regard, the credit opportunities provided by local financial institutions and the support cooperatives offered to farmers and tradesmen constitute another significant dimension of the research. The global and national developments of the period directly affected Aydın's economic structure. Major global events such as the Great Depression of 1929 and the Second World War caused economic fluctuations and disruptions in production-consumption balances in Aydın, just as they did throughout Turkey. The laws and tax regulations introduced during this period aimed to mitigate the local effects of wartime economies and crises, yet they also directly impacted local producers and merchants. This study examines Aydın's economic and commercial development from a multidimensional perspective and reveals the local impacts of the economic policies implemented during the early years of the Republic. It evaluates the transformation in Aydın's economic and commercial life within the framework of both local and national policies and discusses the local effects of Turkey's general development strategies through the example of Aydın. The study provides a detailed analysis of how Aydın's economic structure evolved from agriculture to industry, from transportation to the financial sector. Keywords: Aydın, Economy, 1923, Economic Life, Republic,