The 13th Museum Talks Session Focused on “Awareness and Literacy Regarding the State Budget”

The 13th event in the “Museum Talks” series, organized by our university’s Center for Marine Sciences Application and Research (DEBİM), addressed the topic of “Awareness and Literacy Regarding the State Budget.”

Emphasis on the “Common Wallet”

The opening remarks for the event, held on Thursday, October 8, at the Marine Life Museum, were delivered by DEBİM Director Prof. Dr. Deniz Ayas. The guest speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihan Yüksel, a faculty member in the Department of Finance at our university’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.

During the discussion, the state budget was evaluated through the concept of the “common wallet,” which represents society’s shared resources. Understanding how public revenues are generated and how expenditures are directed toward specific needs was addressed within the framework of civic awareness, the protection of shared resources, and accountability.

The Social Importance of Budget Literacy

The presentation emphasized that a lack of budget awareness can lead to the waste of public resources, a decline in economic efficiency, and an erosion of the trust relationship between citizens and the state. The importance of budget literacy in enabling citizens to monitor and question the use of public resources was evaluated.

Psychological and sociological factors influencing budget awareness were also among the topics discussed; individuals’ attitudes toward shared resources were examined through concepts such as rational ignorance, the bystander effect, social loafing, and cognitive dissonance. The role of education, public engagement, civic consciousness, and the development of an ethical culture in fostering a sense of ownership regarding the budget was also discussed.

The discussion, to which participants actively contributed with their questions, continued through a mutual exchange of views. At the conclusion of the event, DEBİM Director Prof. Dr. Deniz Ayas presented Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihan Yüksel with a certificate of appreciation for his contributions.

Press and Public Relations Department