Bookarion Journal of Social Sciences (BJSS) is an international, Platinum Open Access, and double-blind peer-reviewed journal (e-ISSN: 3108-6683) dedicated to publishing original and ethically sound research across the social sciences. The journal aims to promote interdisciplinary approaches and contribute to the scientific understanding of contemporary social issues through rigorous theoretical and empirical studies. All submissions undergo a strict evaluation process in accordance with COPE publication ethics guidelines. Editor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvan ATAMTURK
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SPENDING BEHAVIOR IN VIRTUAL GAMBLING ADDICTION
The rapid growth of online gambling platforms over the past decade has made it necessary to re-examine the psychological foundations of spending behavior. This review addresses how virtual gambling environments, including betting websites, virtual slot machines, live casino applications, sports betting platforms, and gambling-like in-game mechanics (loot boxes), shape addictive spending behavior, drawing on current literature (39 sources published between 2013 and 2026). Building on the person-product-environment triad traditionally used in gambling research, the study discusses how design elements specific to virtual environments reshape this triad. Findings show that chasing losses and the realization effect, the illusion of control, habit formation, the sense of immersion created by audiovisual cues, and behavioral-economics-based elements of platform and product design systematically influence spending decisions. In addition, the specific vulnerabilities of at-risk groups, such as young men, university students, women, and youth exposed to in-game micro-payment systems (loot boxes), as well as the psychiatric comorbidity of gambling disorder and its association with suicide risk, are discussed. Historical continuity is also addressed, summarizing the evolution of gambling from its institutionalized forms to digital and mobile platforms. The final section evaluates prevention strategies, online cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches, and the methodological limitations of the field, offering recommendations for future research.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zeynep Sezen KOÇYİĞİT (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
CAPITAL-CONSTRAINED AI INVESTMENT: A REAL OPTIONS AND EFFICIENCY FRONTIER APPROACH TO LANGUAGE MODEL FINE-TUNING
Fine-tuning investments in large language models (LLMs) have become central to corporate AI strategies in recent years. This study models fine-tuning configuration selection not merely as a technical choice but as an irreversible investment decision under capital constraints, proposing a decision architecture that integrates real options theory with portfolio efficiency frontier framework. The propositions are empirically illustrated through four complete fine-tuning runs on the Qwen3.5 model family. Findings indicate that the Qwen3.5-9B configuration constitutes the optimal stopping point on the efficiency frontier.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ertunç ERERDİ- Onur ALTUNTAŞ- Tuba ÇELİK- Mücahit AKIN (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE IMPACT OF REGULATIONS ON FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TURKEY
FinTech applications, which are rapidly diversifying across areas such as digital payments, electronic money, open banking, crowdfunding, robo-advisory and crypto-assets, are increasing financial access, reducing the costs of financial transactions and enhancing potential market efficiency; however, they also create new regulatory challenges in terms of consumer protection, ensuring data security, managing cyber risks and safeguarding financial stability. This study examines the role and impacts of regulation within the FinTech ecosystem, which represents the transformation of financial services through technology. Furthermore, by examining the existing legislation in Turkey regarding payment systems, digital banking, data protection and crypto-assets, the fragmented nature of the regulatory framework has been highlighted, demonstrating that FinTech policies require a comprehensive framework that not only encourages innovation but also manages risks. In this context, the following key policy recommendations are put forward: enhancing digital financial literacy, strengthening regulatory flexibility, supporting innovation and R&D infrastructure, developing regulatory sandbox mechanisms, and establishing a FinTech strategy document to ensure coordination at the national level.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mehmet Özgür YARAN- Elif GÜNEREN GENÇ (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DIGITAL FINANCIAL REPORTING SYSTEMS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Today, rapid developments in digital technologies are radically transforming the financial reporting and analysis processes of businesses. The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of digital financial reporting systems on financial analysis processes and to present the advantages these systems provide compared to traditional methods within a holistic framework. The study was conducted using the literature review method; fundamental digital technologies such as eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, cloud-based accounting, and big data analytics were evaluated at a conceptual level. As a result of the evaluations, it was determined that digital systems have replaced traditional reporting based on periodic and static data production; thereby increasing data quality, minimizing the risk of error, and providing real-time access to information. Furthermore, it has been identified that financial analysis, which largely relies on historical data in traditional methods, has transformed into a proactive decision support mechanism capable of producing future-oriented strategic foresights (predictive analytics) thanks to big data and artificial intelligence integration. However, it was emphasized that risks such as data security and technical infrastructure deficiencies must be effectively managed, and it is recommended that businesses focus on digital transformation investments and human resources development.
Copyright (c) 2026 Esra GÜLER (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE INDEPENDENT AUDIT PROCESS
This study examines the areas of use of artificial intelligence technologies in the independent auditing process, the contributions they provide to auditing activities, and the risks associated with these technologies. With the rapid acceleration of digitalization and the significant increase in the amount of data generated by businesses, traditional auditing methods have become insufficient in dealing with large and complex data structures. In this context, artificial intelligence applications such as data analytics, machine learning, robotic process automation (RPA), and natural language processing (NLP) have increasingly begun to be used in independent auditing processes. The study employs a literature review method to evaluate the effects of artificial intelligence technologies on independent auditing practices. The findings indicate that AI-supported systems provide significant advantages particularly in fraud and anomaly detection, risk analysis, evaluation of audit evidence, and continuous auditing applications. These technologies enable large datasets to be analyzed in a short time, unusual transactions to be identified more quickly, and auditing processes to be carried out more effectively. In addition, automation systems reduce repetitive tasks and allow auditors to focus more on analytical evaluations. However, the study also reveals that artificial intelligence applications involve certain risks and limitations, including data security concerns, high technological costs, the need for qualified personnel, and the lack of transparency in algorithms. Therefore, it is concluded that artificial intelligence systems should be considered as supportive technological tools that enhance auditors’ professional judgment rather than replace auditors entirely. As a result, it is anticipated that artificial intelligence technologies will become more widespread in independent auditing processes in the future and will play a significant role in the transformation of the auditing profession.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zeliha DÜNDAR (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE CONTRIBUTION OF DATA ANALYTICS TECHNIQUES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS
Financial statement analysis is considered an important tool for evaluating the financial position, operating results, and overall financial performance of businesses. Traditional financial analysis methods have long been used to provide information about companies’ liquidity structure, profitability level, and financial sustainability. However, the digital transformation process, the rapid increase in data volume, and the growing complexity of financial markets have made some limitations of these traditional methods more visible. In particular, relying solely on historical financial data, conducting analysis processes manually, and evaluating limited data sets restrict the ability of traditional methods to generate future-oriented predictions.This study examines the contributions of data analytics techniques to financial statement analysis within the framework of the existing literature. Firstly, the conceptual structure of financial statement analysis and traditional analysis methods are discussed. Subsequently, the concept of data analytics, the main techniques used in data analytics, and the application areas of these techniques in financial analysis processes are evaluated. The findings in the literature indicate that data mining, machine learning, and artificial intelligence applications provide significant contributions in areas such as financial performance evaluation, risk analysis, financial failure prediction, fraud detection, and strategic decision-making processes.The results of the study reveal that data analytics applications make financial analysis processes faster, more comprehensive, and prediction-oriented. In addition, data analytics applications increase the accuracy of financial analysis by enabling the evaluation of different data sources together. Nevertheless, traditional financial analysis methods still maintain their importance and provide more effective results when used together with data analytics applications. Consequently, it is concluded that data analytics techniques play a transformative role in financial statement analysis processes and have strategic importance for modern businesses.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rüya YENİ (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ON CGI AND HYPERREALISM: AN EXAMINATION OF THE AVATAR FILM SERIES IN THE CONTEXT OF REALITY
This study examines the presence, functioning, and aesthetic outcomes of “graphic thinking” in cinema. It argues that the cinematographic image is not merely a photographic or pictorial representation rather, particularly within the context of digital cinema, it becomes a structure consciously constructed in accordance with principles of graphic aesthetics. In this respect, the study aims to demonstrate how graphic thinking operates as both an aesthetic and a narrative principle in film. The research addresses the transformation of cinematographic design in contemporary cinema, shaped by the development of digital technologies, through the framework of graphic aesthetics and visual design. Within this scope, the Avatar film series directed by James Cameron is selected as the case study. The visual universe of the series is analyzed in terms of digital cinematography, virtual camera use, color dramaturgy, composition, lighting design, and motion capture technologies. The findings indicate that, with the advancement of digital production processes, the cinematographic image has shifted from being a recorded reality to a designed and graphically constructed entity. In this context, the Avatar series is considered a significant example that reveals the transformative impact of graphic aesthetics on narrative structure, spatial perception, character representation, and viewer experience.
Copyright (c) 2026 Paşa BEKTAŞ (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
SOCIAL CAPITAL: AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIAL WORK
The relation of social capital with social policy and social service is very important for these areas to focus on social change and development. In order to ensure this development, the place of social capital is very important and plays a very important role. Social capital facilitates social policies and social work practices in the modern world and makes these structures survive dynamically. Today, it is aimed to make more use of social capital in underdeveloped and developing countries and the applications for this purpose are implemented. These programs aim to eliminate poverty, income distribution inequality, social rights and social development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ömer AVCI https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ASSURANCE AND AUDIT PRACTICES IN REDUCING GREENWASHING RISK IN CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS: AN INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE REVIEW AND A TURKEY-CONTEXTUAL ASSESSMENT
This study examines the risks of greenwashing in corporate sustainability reports and analyzes the role of assurance and audit practices in mitigating these risks, based on international literature and complemented by an analytical assessment within the Turkish context. As sustainability reporting becomes increasingly strategic for corporate transparency and accountability, debates on the credibility and reliability of reported information have intensified. Voluntary reporting structures, measurement inconsistencies, standard misalignments, and communication-driven managerial incentives may create conditions that enable greenwashing behavior. Within this framework, the study discusses the influence of factors such as types of assurance, audit scope, independence, and methodological approaches on reporting credibility, emphasizing that assurance is not merely a technical verification process but also a mechanism associated with ethics, corporate governance, and stakeholder trust. Findings from international research are synthesized and classified through a critical perspective, after which practice-oriented implications and policy-focused reflections are developed for the Turkish institutional and regulatory environment. The study contributes a conceptually grounded and integrative framework to the debate on assurance and auditing in sustainability reporting, while also identifying future research avenues such as measurement approaches, audit quality indicators, and cross-context comparative analyses.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yağmur Ateş (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND INFLATION EXPECTATIONS ON PRIVATE PENSION FUND OPERATIONS
This study examines the extent to which private pension funds are influenced by inflation and inflation expectations within the framework of inflation and money illusion, and evaluates how investment decisions made within the Turkish Private Pension System (PPS) are shaped under these dynamics. The central question of the study is whether private pension funds, which are designed as long-term saving instruments, are guided by short-term perceptions and expectations in periods of high and volatile inflation. In this context, the study addresses the effects of the divergence between nominal returns and real welfare gains on investment behavior from the perspective of money illusion. The analysis is conducted using monthly data on inflation, inflation expectations, and private pension fund transactions covering the period from January 2022 to November 2025. Given that the relationship between inflation expectations and realized inflation varies over time during the period under review, the analysis is carried out across two subperiods: the 2022–2023 period, during which expectations diverged markedly from realized inflation, and the post-2024 period, in which expectations and realizations followed a relatively parallel path. As a methodological approach, correlation analysis is employed to identify the direction and strength of the relationships among variables, while fund purchase and sale behaviors are evaluated based on monthly growth rates. The findings indicate that fund purchase behavior in the private pension system exhibits a stronger association with inflation expectations than with realized inflation. These results demonstrate that money illusion constitutes an important behavioral mechanism shaping investment decisions in private pension systems.
Copyright (c) 2025 Prof. Dr. Elçin AYKAÇ ALP- Dr. Ahmet Cihat ERDOĞAN (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DETERMINANTS OF PROFITABILITY IN THE BORSA ISTANBUL CEMENT SECTOR: A PERSPECTIVE ON CASH FLOW AND ACTIVITY EFFICIENCY
This study examines the determinants of profitability in the capital-intensive Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST) Cement sector from the perspectives of operational efficiency, growth dynamics, and cash flow indicators. The main objective of the study is to go beyond traditional profitability analyses and reveal the impact of operational efficiency and cash generation capacity on the “quality of profitability.” In this context, data from 11 cement companies traded on the Istanbul Stock Exchange for the period 2014-2023 were tested using dynamic panel data analysis methods. The study uses Return on Assets (ROA) as the dependent variable, while the independent variables are categorized as operational efficiency (Asset Turnover Ratio, Inventory Turnover Ratio, Debt Turnover Ratio), growth (Asset and Sales Growth), and cash flows (Operating, Investing, Financing). The analysis findings show that the strongest determinant of profitability in the cement industry is “operating efficiency,” not “growth.” The positive and strong effect of Asset Turnover and Inventory Turnover on profitability proves the importance of efficient use of assets. In contrast, the negative effect of Debt Turnover indicates that paying off debts too quickly weakens liquidity and reduces profitability. The most striking finding of the study is that Cash Flow from Operating Activities (CFOA) has a negative impact on profitability, contrary to expectations. This is explained by the pressure on operational cash flow caused by high energy costs and long collection periods in the sector. Furthermore, no statistically significant effect of asset and sales growth rates on profitability was found. In conclusion, the study reveals that sustainable financial performance in the cement sector can be achieved through operational efficiency, strategic inventory management, and balanced cash flow management rather than volume growth.
Copyright (c) 2025 Başak ERDEM ÇANKAYA- Mehmet ÜRKMEZ (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE IMPACT OF CLOUD-BASED ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS ON THE FINANCING FUNCTION: AN ANALYSIS OF CASH MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING AND RISK CONTROL IN BUSINESSES
The digital transformation process has transformed accounting information systems into strategic information infrastructures that support financial decision-making, cash management, and risk control. Cloud-based accounting systems, as a key reflection of this transformation, contribute to a faster, more transparent, and more effective execution of the financing function. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of cloud-based accounting systems on firms’ financing function within the framework of cash management, financial decision-making, and risk control. A conceptual research design is adopted based on a systematic review of the recent literature, and the findings are evaluated within an integrated framework. The findings indicate that cloud-based accounting systems facilitate cash flow management, enhance budgeting and financial planning processes, enable earlier detection of financial risks, and improve the quality of financial reporting, thereby supporting faster and more accurate managerial decision-making.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gülçin ADIYAMAN (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE IMF AS A POLITICAL ACTOR IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT: A THEORETICAL ASSESSMENT
International financial crises are not merely periods in which economic imbalances intensify; they are also critical moments in which the roles and functions of international institutions are redefined. Such crises create a context in which the boundary between the discourse of technical intervention and political decision-making becomes increasingly blurred. The International Monetary Fund, particularly during crisis periods, emerges as one of the central actors of global economic governance due to its expanded intervention capacity andgrowing influence over decision-making processes. Although the IMF’s activities in times of crisis are often justified in terms of macroeconomic necessities, the programs it implements and the conditionality mechanisms it employs generatelasting political effects on states’ policy space. This article approaches the IMF not merely as a technical provider of stability in crisis periods, but as a political actor with specific interests, priorities, and discursive frameworks. The theoreticalframework developed through realist, neoliberal institutionalist, and critical perspectives demonstrates how IMF interventions during crises are interpreted in fundamentally different ways. The 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 crisis render visible the interaction between technical justifications and power relations in the IMF’s decision-making processes, showing that the institution operates not as a neutral regulator in crisis management, but as an influentialactor in the reproduction of the global economic order.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kübra Hatice Bildik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
USING A DIGITAL TWIN ARCHITECTURE FOR MINIMUM WAGE DETERMINATION: THE MWDT FRAMEWORK FOR TÜRKİYE
This study treats minimum wage setting in Türkiye not as choosing a single raise rate but as a multi-criteria decision problem with trade-offs across worker welfare, poverty risk, wage distribution, employer costs, informality, prices and public finances. Fragmented data, the gross-to-net translation shaped by tax–contribution–transfer rules, and uncertainty about employment and price pass-through weaken the evidence chain. Building on ISO/IEC 30173, the paper proposes a Minimum Wage Digital Twin (MWDT) as a modular decision-support architecture rather than an automated decision engine. A digital-thread data layer harmonizes wage/employment indicators, cost-of-living measures and policy rules, producing versioned snapshots for each decision cycle. In the model layer, M1 computes gross-to-net and budget impacts via microsimulation; M2 runs sector/region vulnerability and employment stress tests; M3 maps cost shocks to prices and living-cost baskets; and M4 generates distributional and adequacy KPIs. The scenario layer versions alternative wage levels, indexation rules and coverage assumptions under a common snapshot and rule set, enabling consistent KPI-basket comparisons. The objective is to enhance transparency and strengthen the institutional learning cycle within the Turkish context by initially piloting at the digital shadow level (characterized by one-way data flow from physical to digital), and then, through bidirectional feedback of post-decision inflation, compliance, and employment signals updating the rule sets and parameter bands, converging toward a digital twin. A governance/reporting layer records audit trails and model/parameter versions and packages outputs for stakeholders and experts. Developed through a design-science lens, MWDT supports phased piloting at a “digital shadow” level and calibration using post-decision outcomes, strengthening transparency, reproducibility and institutional learning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kerem ÇOLAK- Bora YENİHAN (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DOES INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY ALWAYS ENHANCE COMPETITIVENESS? EVIDENCE FROM OECD COUNTRIES
The institutional framework that reduces economic uncertainty and guides the behaviour of market participants has become a critical determinant of countries’ long-term growth trajectories and their capacity to compete internationally. In a global environment characterised by the heightened mobility of capital and technology, cross-country differences in welfare are no longer explained solely by the availability of production factors, but increasingly by the quality of the institutional arrangements that govern their effective use. From this perspective, a well-functioning institutional framework that ensures orderly market operations, protects property rights, and lowers transaction costs emerges as a key foundation of sustainable competitive advantage. The aim of this study is to empirically examine the impact of institutional quality on national competitiveness, focusing on 35 OECD countries over the period 2008-2017. Measures of competitiveness are drawn from the Global Competitiveness Index and the World Competitiveness Yearbook, while institutional structure is captured using the World Bank’s Governance Indicators. The empirical findings indicate that Regulatory Quality and Government Effectiveness exert statistically significant and positive effects on both competitiveness measures. By contrast, the Rule of Law variable is found to have a negative impact on competitiveness. Overall, the study demonstrates that market-friendly regulations and bureaucratic effectiveness support competitive advantage, whereas the compliance costs associated with excessive regulation and rigid legal procedures may constrain competitiveness.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hüseyin KARAGÖZ- Nazım EKREN (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF CORPORATE ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE IN TIMES OF CRISIS: ANALYSIS OF VOLATILITY IN MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS IN SELECTED ASIAN COUNTRIES
In the 21st century, the interaction between national and international stakeholders has intensified under the influence of globalization and the neoliberal economic order; this process has accelerated the formation of a new knowledge-based macroeconomic structure and system of relationships. Data and information management has become a decisive factor in harmonizing the preferences, priorities, roles, and functions of stakeholders. This harmonization process has largely begun to be carried out through economic intelligence activities. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of these systems on growth performance and macroeconomic stability by examining the differences in macroeconomic performance and volatility structures during crisis periods between countries in the Asian region that have and do not have institutional economic intelligence systems. As a method, the performance of the relevant country groups during crisis periods was evaluated using comparative static analysis; in particular, the volatility structure related to exchange rates and stock market indices was examined using ARCH family models, and annual trends were analyzed. The findings reveal that countries with institutional economic intelligence systems are able to integrate stakeholder interests on common ground, enabling them to move away from volatile macroeconomic conditions and achieve sustainable growth performance. It is estimated that this integration is possible through the effective regulation of areas of economic vulnerability. The original value of the study lies in demonstrating that countries with institutional economic intelligence systems possess a type of early warning mechanism thanks to their capacity to analyze pre-crisis conditions, and that this mechanism contributes to the formation of a more stable macroeconomic structure during crisis and recovery processes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammed Ali Çınar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0