İstanbul Ekonomi Danışmanlık Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (Istanbul Economics) was founded on the conviction that public affairs advisory can and should be done with integrity. We conduct all of our advisory, research, and public affairs activities in strict accordance with the following principles which define how we work with our clients, with public institutions, and with each other.
Independence: We maintain full intellectual and institutional independence in all engagements. Our analyses and recommendations are based exclusively on evidence, data, and professional expertise. We do not allow client relationships, funding sources, or external relationships to influence the substance of our work. We kindly decline mandates that would require us to compromise this independence.
Integrity: We communicate honestly with clients, counterparts, and the public. We do not misrepresent our qualifications, the scope of our services, or the nature of our conclusions. We do not produce or endorse analyses that we know to be misleading, incomplete, or designed to obscure rather than illuminate. The credibility of our work is the foundation of our business, and we protect it.
Impartiality: We do not advocate for political parties, factions, or ideological positions. Where our work intersects with contested policy questions, we present evidence-based perspectives and let the argument stand on its own merits without partisan bias. Our public affairs practice is oriented toward constructive dialogue, not political alignment.
Conflict of interest: We identify and disclose potential conflicts of interest at the outset of every engagement. Where a conflict arises during an ongoing mandate, we notify the affected client promptly. Where a conflict cannot be adequately managed through disclosure or internal separation, we decline or withdraw from the mandate. We do not allow commercial considerations to override this discipline.
Professional conduct: We hold ourselves to rigorous standards of professional conduct in every client interaction and in every piece of work we deliver. This means timely, capable, and transparent communication; thorough and accurate documentation; and a consistent commitment to quality that does not vary by client or mandate value. We engage policymakers, regulators, and public officials with respect for their institutional roles. We do not seek to exert undue influence, misrepresent our client’s position, or engage in conduct that could embarrass our clients, our counterparts, or ourselves.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Istanbul Economics is committed to a working environment built on mutual respect, equal opportunity, and the dignity of every individual. We value diversity in background, perspective, and experience, and we believe it makes our work stronger. We actively promote and support equality across all aspects of our professional life: how we recruit, how we develop talent, how we make decisions, and how we treat one another. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, socioeconomic background or any other characteristic. We recruit, develop, and retain people based on merit, competence, and professional potential. We are committed to creating an environment where every member of our team feels respected, heard, and able to contribute fully.
Confidentiality: All information shared with us in the course of a professional engagement is treated as strictly confidential. We do not disclose client identities, mandates, or sensitive commercial or strategic information to third parties without explicit written consent, except where required by applicable law. Client data is handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and our internal information security standards. This commitment extends beyond the duration of any engagement. All individuals working for or on behalf of Istanbul Economics are required to sign confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements before engaging with any confidential information.
Information Security: We maintain robust information security practices commensurate with the sensitivity of the work we do. Access to client and business information is restricted to authorized individuals on a strict need-to-know basis. All work devices are subject to our internal security standards.
Compliance: We operate in full compliance with applicable Turkish law and, where relevant, with international standards and best practices in our fields of activity. Where international standards and best practices set a higher bar than the applicable legal minimum, we aspire to meet them.
Accountability: These principles are not aspirational. They are operative standards that govern our professional conduct without exception. Senior management is responsible for upholding them and for fostering a culture in which every member of our team understands their importance.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding how Istanbul Economics has conducted itself in any engagement, we invite you to contact us directly at [email protected].