Merih Celasun was born in Bursa in 1936. He graduated from Bursa Erkek Lisesi in 1954 and went to the USA for his undergraduate studies. He obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University in New York.

He returned to Turkey in 1965 and started to work at the State Planning Organization. After serving at various positions in the Organization, he worked as Economic Planning Department Head between 1968 and 1969. He joined the academia in1970 in Middle East Technical University Department of Operational Research.

In 1974-75 period, he worked as a Senior Economist in World Bank, Washington DC. Then he returned Turkey and joined Middle East Technical University Department of Economics in 1982. He assumed a number of administrative positions and thought many economists until 1999. Between 1999 and 2004, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Economics Administrative and Social Sciences at Bilkent University. His research interests included macroeconomic policy and public finance, human development and income distribution, and trade and industrialization.

He passed away on August 25, 2004 leaving behind a devoted family, loving friends and students, numerous research and publications, unforgettable talks and memories and advices and observations that guided the lives on many.

Professor Merih Celasun was an intellectual both with his profound passion about economics which he specialized in and with his knowledge in many disciplines. He is still at the heart of his acquaintances with his modesty and good humor.