Let’s get positive: How foreign language teaching enjoyment can create a positive feedback loop

Let’s get positive: How foreign language teaching enjoyment can create a positive feedback loop

Author(s): Shanshan Yang,Mostafa Azari Noughabi,Elouise Botes,Jean-Marc Dewaele / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE); mindfulness; engagement; burnout; EFL teachers

Research on learners’ foreign language emotions has revealed the existence of a positive feedback loop where increased enjoyment leads to better performance which, in turn, strengthens learners’ enjoyment and boosts overall happiness. The current study follows this avenue focusing on teachers’ foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE) and its relationships with engagement, mindfulness, and burnout. The participants, who were 496 English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers from Iran, completed four electronic surveys. The proposed mediation model based on data collected from EFL teachers indicated that FLTE partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and engagement as well as their burnout. The results revealed that mindful EFL teachers who enjoy the profession are more likely to experience higher levels of work engagement and job satisfaction, thus creating a positive feedback loop. In addition, the findings suggest the importance of positive emotions in EFL teachers’ psychological flourishing based on the tenets of positive psychology. Finally, implications and suggestions for further research are offered.

When time matters: Mechanisms of change in a mediational model of foreign language playfulness and L2 learners’ emotions using latent change score mediation model

When time matters: Mechanisms of change in a mediational model of foreign language playfulness and L2 learners’ emotions using latent change score mediation model

Author(s): Mariusz Kruk,Mirosław Pawlak,Tahereh Taherian,Erkan Yüce,Majid Elahi Shirvan,Elyas Barabadi / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: foreign language boredom; foreign language enjoyment; foreign language playfulness; latent change score mediation model

In a dynamic system, time-dependent links between affective factors can provide more information than the level of response within a single isolated system. In the present study, influenced by the positive psychology movement and the complex dynamic systems theory in the domain of second language acquisition, first, we dealt with change in terms of short-term dynamics and long-term trajectories of foreign language enjoyment (FLE), foreign language boredom (FLB), and foreign language playfulness (FLP) in a sample of 636 learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) using univariant latent change score (LCS) models. Then, we explored the developmental processes involved in how changes in FLE and FLP were associated with changes in FLB. In particular, we tested mediation models to see whether the growth of FLP acts as a mediator between FLE and FLB changes in a multivariant LCS mediation (LCSM) model. The findings showed that (a) in a multivariant LCS model, FLE and FLP increases independently predicted decreases in FLB over time and (b) the growth of FLP acted as a mediator between variation in FLE and FLB. Participants showed interindividual and intraindividual divergences in their L2 emotions, not just on the first time of measurement, but also in short-term dynamics and long-term trajectories. The findings facilitate understanding of the complicated mechanism of variation in L2 emotions, thus potentially contributing to enhancement of pedagogical practices and learning outcomes.

The effects of instructor clarity and non-verbal immediacy on Chinese and Iranian EFL students’ affective learning: The mediating role of instructor understanding

The effects of instructor clarity and non-verbal immediacy on Chinese and Iranian EFL students’ affective learning: The mediating role of instructor understanding

Author(s): Ali Derakhshan,Lawrence Jun Zhang,Kiyana Zhaleh / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: affective learning; cross-cultural comparison; non-verbal immediacy; rhetorical/relational goal theory; teacher clarity; teacher understanding

Drawing on the rhetorical/relational goal theory, this study examined the role of instructor clarity and non-verbal immediacy in affective learning through the mediation of instructor understanding. Data were gathered through close-ended questionnaires from 756 Chinese and 715 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) students, the factor structure and cross-cultural validity of which were supported via confirmatory factor analysis and testing measurement invariance, respectively. Path analysis results indicated that clarity and non-verbal immediacy positively predicted instructor understanding and affective learning; instructor understanding positively predicted affective learning; and understanding was a significant positive mediator in the relationship of non-verbal immediacy and clarity with affective learning. Except for the positive association of non-verbal immediacy with understanding which was significantly higher for the Iranian group, no significant difference was found between the Chinese and Iranian groups in all other associations, providing empirical support for the role of EFL teachers’ positive interpersonal communication behaviors in EFL students’ affective learning, irrespective of the cultural context.

The impact of input, input repetition, and task repetition on L2 lexical use and fluency in speaking

The impact of input, input repetition, and task repetition on L2 lexical use and fluency in speaking

Author(s): Phuong-Thao Duong,Maribel Montero Perez,Long-Quoc Nguyen,Piet Desmet,Elke Peters / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: fluency; input; input repetition; lexical use; speaking task repetition

The present study investigates the impact of meaningful input on L2 learners’ vocabulary use and their fluency in oral performance (immediate and repeat tasks), as well as whether the effects are mediated by learners’ prior vocabulary knowledge and working memory. Ninety university students learning English as a foreign language were randomly assigned to one of three groups: input (N = 29), input repetition (N = 32), and no-input (i.e., baseline group) (N = 29). The input group watched L2 videos prior to performing an immediate oral task, whereas the input repetition group watched the same videos not only before but also after the immediate oral task. The no-input group only performed the oral tasks without watching the videos. The three groups repeated the same oral task after two days. Results did not show a significant effect of task repetition, input, and input repetition on learners’ lexical use and fluency. However, the fluency and lexical complexity in learners’ L2 speech can be predicted by their receptive vocabulary knowledge and working memory capacity to some extent.

Construct validation of the revised Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI-R) and its relation to learning effort and reading achievement

Construct validation of the revised Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI-R) and its relation to learning effort and reading achievement

Author(s): Abdullah Alamer,Ahmad Alsagoafi / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: metacognitive reading strategies; MARSI; MARSI-R construct; validity confirmatory; composite analysis (CCA); confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); partial least squared structural equation modeling (PLS

Language students apply different strategies to learn a second language (L2), especially when they want to attain proficiency in reading. The aim of the present study was to revisit the validity of the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI-R) among Saudi students using a new statistical method of confirmatory composite analysis (CCA). Past studies modeled MARSI-R as a common factor and applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test its validity. However, studies struggled to provide support for the validity of the MASRI-R with each suggesting different model. Instead, we treat the inventory as a composite, meaning that the items in MARSI-R form and define the inventory and not the other way around. We use partial least squared structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to allow the composite model to be estimated. The results indicated that the constructs of MARSI-R are better operationalized as composites not common factors as supported through CCA exclusively. After confirming the nature of the inventory, we evaluated the extent to which MARSI-R is related to reading proficiency through the mediational mechanism of motivational intensity (i.e., learning effort). Descriptive statistics illustrated that problem-solving strategies are the most used strategy and that females used the strategies more frequently than their male counterparts. Most importantly, the structural model showed that metacognitive reading strategies only exert an indirect effect on reading proficiency, suggesting that the effect of strategies is mediated by motivational intensity (i.e., learning effort). Thus, motivational intensity seems to be mediator in the relationship between metacognitive reading strategies and reading proficiency. Finally, methodological and educational implications are provided.

Musical hearing and the acquisition of foreign-language intonation

Musical hearing and the acquisition of foreign-language intonation

Author(s): Mateusz Jekiel,Kamil Malarski / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: language and music intonation; pitch perception; pronunciation learning

The present study seeks to determine whether superior musical hearing is correlated with successful production of second language (L2) intonation patterns. Fifty Polish speakers of English at the university level were recorded before and after an extensive two-semester accent training course in English. Participants were asked to read aloud a series of short dialogues containing different intonation patterns, complete two musical hearing tests measuring tone deafness and melody discrimination, and a survey regarding musical experience. We visually analyzed and assessed participants’ intonation by comparing their F0 contours with the model provided by their accent training teachers following ToBI (Tones and Break Indices) guidelines and compared the results with the musical hearing test scores and the survey responses. The results suggest that more accurate pitch perception can be related to more correct production of L2 intonation patterns as participants with superior musical ear produced more native-like speech contours after training, similar to those of their teachers. After dividing participants into four categories based on their musical hearing test scores and musical experience, we also observed that some students with better musical hearing test scores were able to produce more correct L2 intonation patterns. However, students with poor musical hearing test scores and no musical background also improved, suggesting that the acquisition of L2 intonation in a formal classroom setting can be successful regardless of one’s musical hearing skills.

Specialized vocabulary across languages: The case of traditional Chinese medicine

Specialized vocabulary across languages: The case of traditional Chinese medicine

Author(s): Cailing Lu,Averil Coxhead / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: corpus analysis; keyword analysis; specialized vocabulary; word lists; Traditional Chinese Medicine

This paper reports on the creation of specialized word lists in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is a discipline using vocabulary across languages (i.e., Chinese and English) and involves learners with different L1 backgrounds. First, a TCM Word List of 2,778 specialized words was established from corpora of TCM textbooks and journal articles. Selection criteria included specialized meaning, keyness in a corpus of general written English compared to the TCM Corpora, and frequency. The resulting TCM list covered 36.65% of the TCM Corpora but had low coverage over corpora of general written English and medical English. The TCM Word List was then divided into three sub-lists based on frequency, and graded into three levels. Level 1 contains high-frequency lexical items in English (e.g., organ, coating); Level 2 contains items that are mid-, low-frequency, or beyond any frequency levels (e.g., pericarpium, metabolism); and Level 3 contains Chinese loan words (e.g., qi, yang). Last, there is an overlap of 309 word families between this list and an earlier TCM list by Hsu (2018), which excludes words from the 1st-3rd 1,000 word families in English. Suggestions for teachers and future research are provided.

Review of Exploring L1-L2 relationships: The impact of individual differences by Richard Sparks

Review of Exploring L1-L2 relationships: The impact of individual differences by Richard Sparks

Author(s): Adriana Biedroń / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: L1-L2 relationship; LCDH; individual differences; Richard Sparks; book review

This paper is a review of Richard Sparks' latest position, Exploring L1-L2 relationships. The impact of individual differences, which summarizes 30 years of his research in the field of SLA. The author is the originator of the Linguistic Coding Deficit Hypothesis (LCDH), later modified to the Linguistic Coding Differences Hypothesis, which is one of the most cited theories in the context of research into foreign language aptitude. The volume contains 7 chapters representing different strands of research.

Review of An advanced guide to multilingualism by Larissa Aronin

Review of An advanced guide to multilingualism by Larissa Aronin

Author(s): Danuta Gabryś-Barker / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: multilingualism; guide book review

As a researcher in multilingualism and multilinguality, I always await any new publications by Larissa Aronin. They not only add to our understanding and knowledge of this fascinating field, but also inspire us to look into the various dimensions not yet explored by other researchers. A truly imaginative and inspiring mind, hers has been a significant contribution to models of multiple language acquisition, the theory of affordances (Singleton & Aronin, 2007), and the material culture of multilingualism, not to forget – what I consider to be her biggest and most fascinating area of research – dominant language constellations (Aronin & Vetter, 2021; Lo Bianco & Aronin, 2020,) and also, fairly recently and still at the developmental stage, the philosophy of multilingualism (Aronin & Politis, 2015).

Recenzja/Review: Christian Kock, Lisa Villadsen (eds) Populist Rhetorics Case Studies and a Minimalist Definition, Palgrave Macmillan 2022

Recenzja/Review: Christian Kock, Lisa Villadsen (eds) Populist Rhetorics Case Studies and a Minimalist Definition, Palgrave Macmillan 2022

Author(s): Agnieszka Kampka / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

INTERDEPENDENCE OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES AND MONITORING AS COMPONENTS OF THE INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

INTERDEPENDENCE OF CONTROL ACTIVITIES AND MONITORING AS COMPONENTS OF THE INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Author(s): Aleksandra Radojević,Predrag Dragičević,Marko Milašinović / Language(s): English / Issue: 36/2022

Keywords: internal control system; control activities; monitoring; financial performance; manufacturing companies;

The subject of research in this paper is control activities and monitoring as components of the internal control system in manufacturing companies in the Republic of Serbia. The aim of this paper is to determine not only interdependence of control activities and monitoring, but also the interdependence of these components of the internal control system with indicators of ROA and ROE of a company. An additional goal of this paper is to examine the existence of differences in the assessment of the importance of control activities and monitoring applicable in manufacturing companies of different sizes. The research included a sample of manufacturing companies operating in the Republic of Serbia. The analysis was performed in the SPSS statistical program, where a correlation analysis was performed using the Pearson Coefficient, as well as the Kruskal-Wallis H test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The obtained results showed the existence of a strong positive link between control activities and monitoring, as well as weak links between control activities and monitoring, on one hand, and ROA and ROE indicators of the company, on the other hand. In addition, the results confirmed that there is no difference in the importance of the application of internal control systems, i.e. control activities and monitoring, in manufacturing companies of different sizes.

THE CASE OF DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE IN TRGOVSKA GORA IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA: ECONOMIC AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

THE CASE OF DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE IN TRGOVSKA GORA IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA: ECONOMIC AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Author(s): Vitomir Popović,Njegoslav Jović / Language(s): English / Issue: 36/2022

Keywords: nuclear waste; economic and legal aspects; environment; international relations; Trgovska gora;

The storage of nuclear waste planned by the Republic of Croatia in Trgovska gora, located on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina in its northern part, causes controversy and has far-reaching consequences for the population, flora and fauna, and the environment itself. In parallel with these consequences, it will affect the economic development of 13 municipalities in the Una basin. Croatia has already carried out part of the research, examined the terrain and moved on to geological research. In addition, an environmental impact study is planned and should be completed by 2023. Bosnia and Herzegovina has committed itself to find a solution through diplomatic channels with the Republic of Croatia and the application of international legal standards in this area, as well as legal options available to BiH to protect its interests and mechanisms to deter Croatia from disposing nuclear waste at the site. In the event that Croatia implements this project and builds a nuclear waste dump in Trgovska gora, in addition to environmental consequences, it will affect the economy of municipalities in the Republic of Srpska in terms of a fall in real estate prices, jeopardize agricultural land and create a significant outflow of population.

STOCHASTIC MODELING OF OPTIMAL LOGISTICS IN THE FUNCTION OF MAXIMIZING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EFFICIENCY OF SMEs

STOCHASTIC MODELING OF OPTIMAL LOGISTICS IN THE FUNCTION OF MAXIMIZING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EFFICIENCY OF SMEs

Author(s): Mirjana Landika,Vanja Sredojević,Vedran Šupuković,Velibor Peulić / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2021

Keywords: efficient operation; optimal management; model forecasting; realistic metrics; international;

The concept of business activity conditions specific procedures and activities in order to maximize the difference between output and input variables while taking into account the uncertainty of the business outcome. The business outcome is determined by a number of factors that are under the control of the decision maker. However, a number of factors are conditioned by stochastic quantities, which obey the laws of probability of a random variable whose value the decision maker cannot influence but must anticipate and respect in the business decision making process. Conditionality of business results with the market component refers to user expectations, and it requires a model approach by which the uncertain business future is recomposed into business expectations, with a high level of reliability. Modeling of the system by the process of mathematical simulation enables the calculation of variants of business future in the present time without realizing business strategies before their selection and classification. The modeling process includes business system analysis, factor selection, qualitative and quantitative expression, classification of variables, functional linking, formulation of probability distribution of random variables, and the choice of time frame for simulation. The process of mathematical simulation indicates the management consequences of business alternatives, thus the decision maker is guided by business expectations and recruits business logistics in accordance with the decision. The simulation model is adapted to the specific management problem, specific conditions and circumstances of decisionmaking. It does not have a universal character and must be constructed specifically for each management situation.

MACROECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF INVESTMENT IN THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

MACROECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF INVESTMENT IN THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

Author(s): Jelena Bjelić,Ognjen Erić,Slaviša Kovačević / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2021

Keywords: investment; gross savings; indebtedness; GDP; FDI; interest rate; the Balkans;

This study analyzes the impact of crucial macroeconomic variables on investments for six selected Balkan countries (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania) in the period from 2005 to 2020. Most of these countries are on the path to European integration, and Croatia has been a member of the EU since 2013. Their development and macroeconomic goals are mostly identical, and one of the main is the requirement of a high level of investment in order to achieve higher growth rates and overcome the development gap in relation to EU countries. The research starts from the hypothesis that the selected factors (independent variables): gross savings, FDI, interest rate, GDP growth and external debt, affect the total investments in the region. To prove this hypothesis, a panel analysis model was applied, that is the panel with a fixed effect as a more relevant model for estimation. The results show that savings and external debt are significant variables, whereby savings have a positive impact on investment, while the impact of public debt is negative. Real interest rates also determine investment, which is shown by their marginal significance and negative numbers. In other words, higher interest rates discourage investment. Finally, the analysis shows that GDP growth is not significant, but the direction is logical and slightly encourages investment. Foreign investments are also an insignificant variable, but they have a positive direction, which explains why the deficit of domestic investments is only partially compensated through the FDI.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND DOWNSIZING: IMPLICATIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND DOWNSIZING: IMPLICATIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Author(s): Marko Slavković,Marijana Bugarčić,Jasmina Ognjanović / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2021

Keywords: knowledge management; downsizing strategy; organizational performances; economic crisis; downsizing; pandemic covid-19;

Downsizing as a corporate restructuring strategy aims to reduce significantly the number of employees in order for the company to adjust to the reduction of revenues resulting from the influence of environmental factors. Workforce reduction is most often implemented during economic crises, which is why it is associated with ambivalent outcomes. Reducing the number of employees through reducing the budget for salaries can have a favorable impact on reducing costs and thus enable the company to operate in the short term. The departure of employees from the organization is associated with a potential loss of organizational knowledge that can reduce the company’s competitiveness and have a negative impact on business. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of workforce reduction on knowledge management and organizational performance. A questionnaire filled out by managers from 75 companies was used to collect data. Correlation analysis and multiple hierarchical regression were applied to determine the relationship between the observed variables. The results showed that downsizing has a statistically significant and negative impact on organizational performance. Knowledge management has a positive impact on organizational performance and reduces the negative impact of workforce reduction on organizational performance during the implementation of downsizing. The obtained results give clear practical guidelines to managers that downsizing can have negative consequences on organizational performance if the protection of organizational knowledge is not taken into account and that managers must focus on knowledge in order to preserve potential for competitiveness and performance. The obtained results have a much broader significance in all those situations (restructuring, digitalization, business model change, etc.) in which the company needs to reduce the number of employees.

POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPING A SERVQUAL MODEL FOR MEASURING USER SATISFACTION

POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPING A SERVQUAL MODEL FOR MEASURING USER SATISFACTION

Author(s): Perica Macura,Aleksandar Smiljanić / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2021

Keywords: marketing services; SERVQUAL; customer satisfaction; regression and correlation analysis;

This paper will explore the possibility of adapting the original SERVQUAL model for measuring customer satisfaction. The possibility of developing this model is given through its adaptation in practice. When it comes to services, customization of the original model is necessary due to their intangible nature. In the empirical part, the analysis of the level of user satisfaction with innovative electronic products and services of banks will be conducted through five dimensions of the adapted SERVQUAL model: efficiency, reliability, responsibility, trustworthiness and kindness, where the differences between the characteristics of an excellent bank and the consumer’s perception of the performed services of the bank were examined. The collected data were statistically processed in the IBM SPSS program and included in the regression analysis, correlation matrix formation, as well as the analysis of importance – performance. The results of this research can provide additional useful information to decision makers to identify which dimensions of satisfaction with the service cause a sense of happiness in a customer, and which dimensions offer room for improvement of the service levels, in order to achieve the goal – a happy and satisfied customer.

IMPACT OF CROP PRODUCTIVITY ON POVERTY AMONG FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN GHANA

IMPACT OF CROP PRODUCTIVITY ON POVERTY AMONG FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN GHANA

Author(s): Boahen Atta Oppong,Edward Ebo Onumah,Ramatu M. Al-Hassan,Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2021

Keywords: policy; technology; productivity; income; welfare; agroecology;

Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy I & II sought to increase crop productivity to reduce high poverty incidence in farm sector, but the magnitude of impact of the productivity on poverty is not present in all agro-ecological zones in Ghana. The aim of the study is to estimate poverty headcount ratio, poverty gap and poverty severity, and link crop productivity to poverty according to agroecology subject to a two-step instrumental variable regression technique using Pseudo Panel data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS rounds 5 & 6). Farmers’ poverty headcount ratio, poverty gap, and poverty severity reduced from 57%, 25%, and 14% in 2005 to 37%, 14%, and 7% in 2013 respectively. The result further indicates that 1% growth in crop productivity reduces the probability of poverty headcount ratio, poverty gap and poverty severity by 0.28%, 0.38% and 0.75% respectively in all agro-ecological zones. Additionally, the paper shows that education, livestock and remittance income reduces poverty, while household size and great distance to access water increase poverty differently from agro-ecology. The study recommends rapid crop productivity growth by prioritizing technology adoption and institutional coordination to suit agro-ecological conditions among the poor, illiterate and non-partisan.

INTERDEPENDENCE OF FISCAL CONSOLIDATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN EU COUNTRIES WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT

INTERDEPENDENCE OF FISCAL CONSOLIDATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN EU COUNTRIES WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT

Author(s): Biljana Gojković / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2021

Keywords: public finances; fiscal consolidation; primary balance; public debt;

The concept of fiscal consolidation is most often mentioned during major economic crises, which are usually the result of economic shocks caused by crises such as the one in 2008, but also the last crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In such circumstances, as a rule, high deficit and/or enormous growth of public debt occur. Therefore, many countries need to consolidate fiscally their public finances. In this paper, the focus of the analysis is on the impact of fiscal consolidation on the economic growth of the European Union with different levels of development. It is assumed that countries with low incomes and less developed economies have a special obligation and a need for stable public finances. The same refers to the small and open economies that are largely exposed to the stability/instability of the surrounding countries. Therefore, it is very important that countries with a low level of development pay special attention to the fiscal stability of the country’s public finances.

Methodology for Analysing the Relationships Between Physical Parameters and Price Variables in Regional Demand for Wind Electricity (As Applied to the Latvian Aggregator)

Metodologia analizy zależności między parametrami fizycznymi a zmiennymi cen regionalnego zapotrzebowania na energię wiatrową (w zastosowaniu do agregatora łotewskiego)

Author(s): Kristina Silinevica,Kristina Mahareva,Inna Stecenko / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2022

Keywords: natural and price indicators; electricity sector; correlation and regression models; sinusoidal dependence; Latvian regional aggregator

In this article, the methodology is proposed for the complex analysis of the correlation and regressiondependencies of the relationship between the electricity price and the wind power generation inthe electricity market in accordance with the National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030 to increasethe share of renewable energy sources (RES) in electricity generation. Both business models and technologiesfor regulating the supply and demand of electricity (EE) are changing significantly in the modern environment.The European Green Deal1 has the main objective of becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continentby 2050. The use of renewable energy significantly reduces the dependence on fossil fuels as a sourceof energy, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The growth of renewable energy sources can alsohelp stabilize energy prices in the future, once they constitute a significant proportion of the electricity mixthat powers businesses and households. Voluntary optimization of electricity consumption and energy-savingby the final consumer entails the economic impact carried out by the Demand Response (DR) mechanism.The adapted models help to understand this mechanism and establish the development of the Latvian regionalaggregator, which, in turn, strengthens energy security in the European Union countries and improves energysustainability and resilience.

Burden of Proof: Standard of Proof in Court Proceeding. Latvian Experience

Ciężar dowodu: stopień dowodu w postępowaniu sądowym. Doświadczenia Łotwy

Author(s): Tatjana I. Jurkeviča / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2022

Keywords: law; burden of proof, standard of proof; civil procedure; administrative procedure; administrative offense procedure; criminal procedure

The topicality of a subject matter burden of proof in major court proceedings is based on anambiguous understanding of the standard of proof in legal practice, that is, of the moment when a fact isconsidered to be proven or unproven. The goal of an article is to research legal regulation of burden of proofin civil procedure, administrative procedure, administrative offence procedure and criminal procedure lawand to determine standard of burdens of proof within each of these procedures. The burden of proof or dutyto prove a claimed fact is an essential element of any evidentiary proceedings. The determination ofa standard of proof is an ambiguously understood issue in legal theory and especially in legal practice.Ambiguous understanding of standard of proof in legal practice may cause determination of unproven factsas proven or vice versa, or even lead to finding innocent persons as guilty. The author, researching the burdenof proof in the so-called major court proceedings, provides an explanation of the legal aspects of its standards.