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Conference Program

Draft programme – subject to change (last updated 17 October 2026). All times are TRNC local time (GMT+3).
Download the programme booklet (PDF)

Day 1 · Thursday, 22 October 2026

In person at the Faculty of Business and Economics, Eastern Mediterranean University, with parallel online sessions (Microsoft Teams).

09:30 – 10:00Registration
10:00 – 10:30Opening Ceremony – Senate Room
10:30 – 11:45Keynote Speech – Prof. Dr. Erhan Aslanoğlu, İstanbul Bilgi University – Senate Room
11:45 – 13:00Lunch
13:00 – 14:30Parallel Sessions I: 1A, 1B, 1C (in person) and O1 (online)
14:30 – 14:45Coffee Break
14:45 – 16:15Parallel Sessions II: 2A, 2B, 2C (in person) and O2 (online)

Parallel Sessions I · 13:00 – 14:30

Session 1A: Banking, Bank Performance and Financial Stability

13:00 – 14:30  |  BEA-5  |  Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Eralp Bektaş

  1. Exploring the Effects of Macroprudential Policies on Financial Stability: Evidence from the Egyptian Banking Sector
    Nader Alber, Heba Abdelmoniem Fouad (Ain Shams University; Future University, Egypt)
  2. Accounting-Based versus Frontier-Based Efficiency Measures as Predictors of Future Bank Profitability
    Dennis Olson, Halil Kiymaz (Rollins College, USA; KIMEP University, Kazakhstan)
  3. The impact of interest rate increases on bank profitability: Evidence from U.S. banks
    Anis Samet, Destan Kırımhan (American University of Sharjah, UAE)
  4. When Sovereign Debt Pays: Government Securities Holdings and Profitability in Turkish Banking
    İsmail Felek, Eralp Bektaş (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  5. When Does ESG Pay? National Sustainability, Digital Development, and the Performance of Asian Financial Institutions
    Alimshan Faizulayev (KIMEP University, Kazakhstan)

Session 1B: Islamic Finance, Fintech and Digital Finance

13:00 – 14:30  |  BEA-3  |  Session Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Erkut

  1. One Size Does Not Fit All: Rethinking the Institutional Architecture of Islamic Finance Across Jurisdictions
    Burhan Uluyol (İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Türkiye)
  2. Impact of Digital Finance and Islamic Banking on Financial Inclusion in MENA
    Nada Salim Hakeem, Mustafa Besim (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  3. Digital Finance: Cryptocurrencies, Fintech and CBDCs – Ghana's Delayed Onboarding
    Lydia Sakyibea Quarcoo, Seth Nii Ayi Quarcoo, Samuel Lartey (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus; Ghana)
  4. AI Driven Digital Transformation and Financial Performance of Tourism SMEs in Kazakhstan: The Role of Technology Investment and Organisational Readiness
    Bibinur Orazaliyeva, Barış Memduh Eren (University of Kyrenia, North Cyprus)

Session 1C: Artificial Intelligence, Portfolios and Capital Markets

13:00 – 14:30  |  BEA-4  |  Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Salih Katırcıoğlu

  1. Do GPT-Based Portfolio Agents Diversify? Evidence from Controlled Simulations and Real-Market Validation
    Barış Ziba, Nigar Taşpınar (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  2. When Narratives Become Risk Signals: AI Narrative Regimes, Bitcoin Diversification, and Sustainable Multi-Asset Allocation
    Amin Shakourloo, Asil Azimli (Cyprus International University, North Cyprus)
  3. Shock Transmitters or Shock Absorbers: Which Is More Dangerous to Hold? Network Roles, Sampling Variability, and the Price of Shelter
    Matin Keramiyan (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  4. U.S. Monetary Policy and European Life and Health Insurer Stock Prices: Evidence from a Panel ARDL Approach
    Shahrzad Abdolrahimi (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)

Online Session O1: Corporate Finance, Household Finance and Predictive Modelling

13:00 – 14:30  |  Microsoft Teams  |  Session Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bezhan Rustamov (Rauf Denktaş University)

  1. Market Valuation Effects of Strategic Corporate Divestitures: Evidence from Indian Listed Firms
    Prajakata Patil (Swarrnim University, India)
  2. Zero-Leverage Firms under Uncertainty in Asian Markets
    Jennifer Pieter (Bina Nusantara University, Indonesia)
  3. Retirement Planning Behavior in the Digital Era: The Roles of Financial Literacy, Retirement Attitudes, and FoMO
    Ronny Situmorang (Bina Nusantara University, Indonesia)
  4. Fixed-Income Issuance: Development Finance or Debt Refinancing? A Purpose-Based Comparison of Selected Bond Markets, 2024-2026
    Mustafa Salameh, Naser Abdelkarim (Arab American University, Palestine)
  5. UEFA Champions League Match Outcome Prediction Using Physics-Informed Neural Networks: The Role of Team Market Value
    Semra Demir, Andaç Batur Çolak, Ayben Koy (Mehmet Akif Ersoy University; Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University; Fenerbahçe University, Türkiye)

Parallel Sessions II · 14:45 – 16:15

Session 2A: Macroeconomics and Monetary Policy

14:45 – 16:15  |  BEA-3  |  Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Besim

  1. The Effect of Aggregate Demand and Supply Variables on Inflation in South Africa: Evidence from the ARDL Approach (1979-2023)
    Kaiballah Conteh (Erciyes University, Türkiye)
  2. Inflation Management in Import-Dependent Economies: Evidence from Nigeria's Monetary Policy Experience
    Obioma Chidiebere Obijama (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  3. Asymmetric Crowding-Out under Smooth Structural Change: Public and Private Investment in the United Kingdom, 1997–2026
    Cagay Coşkuner, Mohamadamin Shojaei (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  4. Financial Development, Digital Connectivity, and Economic Growth in Arab Countries: The Role of Structural Breaks and Macroeconomic Factors
    Ponle Henry Kareem (Girne American University, North Cyprus)
  5. Consumption-Income Dynamics in India: A Dual Adjustment Approach
    Mohamed Mumin Abdulle, Mustafa İsmihan (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)

Session 2B: Capital Markets, Energy and Time-Series Methods

14:45 – 16:15  |  BEA-5  |  Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Mete Feridun

  1. Filtering Economic Time Series: The Two-Step Boosted HP Filter (2sbHP)
    Denis Dinand (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  2. How Does Governance Compliance affect Stock Market Returns in terms of Industry Effect: A Worldwide Evidence
    Nader Alber, Ata Eid (Ain Shams University; Egyptian Chinese University, Egypt)
  3. Cost-Effectiveness of HFO and LNG Generation Technologies for a Small Island Power System: Evidence from the TRNC
    Saba Shirzadifooladi (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  4. A Retrospective Benefit-Cost Analysis of Solar PV Plants: Stakeholder and Health Impacts
    Kehinde O. Olusoga, Glenn P. Jenkins, Mehrshad Radmehr (Cyprus International University, North Cyprus; Queen’s University, Canada)

Session 2C: Emerging Markets and Multidisciplinary Session

14:45 – 16:15  |  BEA-4  |  Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Eralp Bektaş

  1. Stock Market Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects for a Sustainable Stock Exchange
    Benoit Kekwandi (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  2. Shattering the Spatial Illusion: How Internalized Cultural Schemas Shape Female Professional Well-Being in Remote Work
    Ceyda Dayıoğlu (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  3. Managing Employment Relationships During Chronic Load-Shedding: A Qualitative Work-in-Progress Study of Gauteng Guesthouse SMEs During South Africa’s 2022-2023 Load-Shedding Crisis
    Chipochashe Faith Biti (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  4. Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management in Northern Cyprus: Exploring the Conditions Shaping Adoption and Non-Adoption
    İmge Söker (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)

Online Session O2: Artificial Intelligence, Accounting and Financial Markets

14:45 – 16:15  |  Microsoft Teams  |  Session Chair: TBA

  1. Improving the quality of accounting information through predictive value using AI tools (random forest): Iraqi banks listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange
    Maryam Khalid Nasser, Jaber Hussein Ali, Mohanad S. Al-Musaylh (Southern Technical University, Iraq)
  2. Maintenance cost forecasting for Strategic Cost Management: A Comparative Study between MARS and ARIMA Models at the Basra Refinery
    Sura Khalis Safah Jasim, Jaber Hussein Ali, Mohanad S. Al-Musaylh (Southern Technical University, Iraq)
  3. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence: Regulatory, Legal Governance and Policy Implications for Emerging Economies and the Financial Services Industry
    Seth Nii Ayi Quarcoo, Lydia Sakyibea Quarcoo (Ghana; Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  4. Conditional Correlation and Directional Connectedness in Latin American Stock Markets: Complementary or Redundant Measures?
    Dacio Villarreal-Samaniego (National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM), Mexico)
  5. Tulip Mania as a Rhetorical Instrument: How a Debunked Narrative Shaped Four Centuries of Financial Discourse
    Wonjeong (Alice) Hong (The Madeira School, USA)

Day 2 · Friday, 23 October 2026

Online sessions via Microsoft Teams.

10:00 – 11:30Online Session O3: Fintech, Digital Banking and Behavioural Finance
11:30 – 11:45Break
11:45 – 13:30Online Session O4: Climate, Energy, Growth and Digital Assets
13:30Closing Remarks

Online Session O3: Fintech, Digital Banking and Behavioural Finance

10:00 – 11:30  |  Microsoft Teams  |  Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Mete Feridun

  1. Electronic Money: Use of Electronic Money in Türkiye
    Hüseyin Ünözkan, Evrim Tüleyli, Miray Tokgöz (Mudanya University; Haliç University, Türkiye)
  2. Trust, Digital Incentives, and Customer Loyalty in Banking: A Türkiye–Germany Comparison of Traditional and Digital Bank Users
    Seren Deniz, Kaya Tokmakçıoğlu (Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye)
  3. Impact of Fintech on Tax Collection Efficiency of OECD Countries
    Güneş Topçu, Can Bekaroğlu (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Türkiye)
  4. When Do Robo-Advisors Mitigate Behavioral Biases? A Contingency Framework Based on Investor Profiles
    Fatemah Lessani, Naime Usul (Social Sciences University of Ankara; Atılım University, Türkiye)
  5. From Awareness to Adoption: What Drives Young Adults Willingness to Use Crowdfunding as Alternative Finance?
    Helena Nikolic (University of Zagreb, Croatia)

Online Session O4: Climate, Energy, Growth and Digital Assets

11:45 – 13:30  |  Microsoft Teams  |  Session Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nigar Taşpınar

  1. From Rainfall to Returns: Climate Risk Along the Agri-Food Value Chain
    Ihlas Sovbetov, Müge Burcu Özdemir (Istanbul Aydın University; Yaşar University, Türkiye)
  2. Health Impacts of Using Natural Gas in Electricity Production in the TRNC
    Hasan Ulaş Altıok (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  3. The Role of Impact-Investment on Economic Growth: Theory and Evidence
    Hakan Yetkiner, Murat Aşkar, Yener Coşkun, Mustafa Reha Okur (Izmir University of Economics, Türkiye)
  4. Economic policy uncertainty and cash holdings of the casino and gaming companies: fuelled by hope and hedged by precaution
    Nouhaila Chaar (Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus)
  5. Riding on the Chain: State-Dependent Volatility Transmission Between Coins and Tokens
    Eyad Abdel-Hafez, Amro S. Alamaren (Shandong University, China; Al al-Bayt University, Jordan)
  6. An AI-Adaptive Mathematical Framework for Financial Reputation Assessment of NFT Owners in Blockchain-Based Financial Ecosystems
    Henry Ugochukwu Ukwu (Amsterdam Tech, Netherlands)

Each presentation is 15 minutes, followed by questions at the end of the session. The Microsoft Teams link will be sent to online presenters before the conference.

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