ASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF UNIVERSITIES ON THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSES: THE CASE OF IZMIR UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS.

Universities are continually challenged to streamline their programs and investments to a progressive society. Both students and local businesses relay on universities to provide individual, social and economic impacts on the community. In this paper, an analysis of universities as a source of financial stability and investment within localities is discussed. Focus is placed on the implementation of economic practices between the Izmir University of Economics and the district of Izmir, Balcova. The study employs several descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models to analyze a detailed survey of 168 local businesses. The results of this economic impact study shows that students, faculty, staff and university expenditures may have an increased positive effect on the local economy. Local businesses continue to find the university and its community as keys to their financial success. This impact on the local and city economy has a possibility of generating significantly greater returns in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]