M. Aykut Attar's research on Turkey's economic demography received the Celasun Family Special Award in May 2013 in an event organized by TEPAV. The TEPAV Merih Celasun Award was given to Professors Murat G. Kırdar, Meltem Dayıoğlu, and İsmet Koç. 

These two awards were given in memory of the prominent Turkish economist and researcher Professor Merih Celasun (PhD, Columbia).

The jury members included Professors Ercan Erkul, Seyfettin Gürsel, Dani Rodrik, Serdar Sayan, Aysıt Tansel, İnsan Tunalı, and Baran Tuncer. 

The Celasun Family Special Award was presented to M. Aykut Attar by Professor Timur Kuran.

M. Aykut Attar is sincerely grateful to the Celasun Family for such a great honor.