ТЪРГОВСКИ МРЕЖИ И КОНТАКТИ: ПРИМЕРЪТ НА ПУЛИЕВИ (30-ТЕ ― 60-ТЕ ГОД. НА XIX В.)

Author(s): Ivaylo Naydenov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

One of the most powerful Bulgarian merchant houses during the Revival period (18th – 19th centuries) was “Pulievi-Georgievi”. Two of the partners – Hristo and Nikola Pulievi continued the business ventures of their father – Teodor Puliev in Galatz and Braila. Pulievi’s nephews (Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev) were also involved in the activities of the firm (Evlogi in 1839) and Hristo (from 1841 onwards). Evlogi’s younger brother Hristo began his entrepreneurial career settling down pеrmanently in the town of Bucharest and Evlogi moved to Galatz. In their turn, Pulievi settled down in Karlovo (after 1841) and continued to deliver products to their relatives. From this point of view “Pulievi-Georgievi” firm is a representative example for family-based company.289The main aim of this paper is to reveal Pulievi’s trade activities. I have chosen that period because in 1839 was established the firm “Pulie-vi-Georgievi”. On the other hand, in 1868 Nikola T. Pulievi passed away.On the basis of the preserved letters, one can say that from 1839 to 1841 Hristo T. Puliev was buying and exporting mainly agricultural products, hides, cloths, aba and so forth in Galatz where his brother Nikola resided according to the merchant contract signed on 1 January 1839. Hristo’s activities were restricted to Karlovo, Filibe (Plovdiv) and Pazardzhik. After 1841, Hristo and Nikola T. Pulievi managed to expand their activities across Ottoman Bulgaria. Around 33 settlements are registered in Pulievi’s letter books and merchant ledgers. After Hristo’s death Nikola continued the joint business ventures with the assistance of Stefan P. Vasilev. They continued to deal with agricultural and craft products after the Crimean War. During that period, their activities spread in 22 settlements. It is obvious that Hristo and Nikola Pulievi restricted their business ventures mainly to the Bulgarian lands in contrast to the business activities (and mercantile networks) of other entrepreneurs during the Bulgarian Revival (XVIIIth –XIXth century).In conclusion I would like to point out that Pulievi’s mercantile network is representative one for the establishment of long-lasting “circle of friends” which was the basis for Pulievi’s successful business activities.

КОНФЛИКТЪТ НА ИНТЕРЕСИ В ЧАСТНИЯ СЕКТОР

Author(s): Vladislav Krastev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The conflict of interests is a current issue, which is the subject of many discussions at international and national level. The concept found its legal definition in the Law on Prevention and Detection of Conflict of Interests, by which the public sector was largely protected. Thus the private sector remained outside the scope of the law. In practice, however, the situation of "conflict of interests" is found in the private318sector too, where there are different individual approaches for its limitation.

Miasto tworzone wspólnie. Przygotowanie i wdrożenie nowej strategii rozwoju Łodzi do roku 2030+

Author(s): Tomasz Bużałek / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The aim of the chapter is to discuss the process of preparing and implementing the development strategy for the city of Lodz by the year 2030+. The document was written and adopted as one of the first in the country after the amendment of the act on the development policy planning. The preparation of the document was a long-lasting process, and one of the main challenges faced by its authors was to find an approach that would keep the strategy up-to-date also after facing unpredictable occurrences and shocks. The draft strategy was developed in a mixed participatory and expert model. Public consultations were announced four times during the work on the document. The vision of the strategy states that Lodz is to be a co-created city that fully uses all available resources. The main basis for development is social capital, and the city’s competitiveness is to be built on the maximum use of all its resources. The strategy assumes the implementation of 4 strategic goals, formulated in response to the questions: “How to survive? How to develop? How to be attractive? How to offer something extraordinary?”. The document contains all the compulsory components, including a spatial model consistent with the Study of the Conditions and Directions of Spatial Development. Such a structure of the strategy was approved during public consultations. Nevertheless numerous proposals of the participants of the consultations was submitted, what allowed to upgrade the document in particular ideas and notes. The Development Strategy for the City of Lodz 2030+ sets the framework for the decade of the city development, staying in line with higher-level strategic documents. According to the document, Lodz is to be a sustainable city with a high quality of life, taking care of spatial development discipline, which will bring the effectiveness in use of its infrastructure. Due to the fundamental role assigned to the co-management of the city by residents, it will be crucial to find the right formula for effective cooperation.

Resilience of Poland's economy to external shocks: A comparative study of tourist arrivals in relation to Lithuania, Spain and Portugal

Author(s): Justyna Majewska,Szymon Truskolaski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The chapter explores the resilience of Poland’s economy to external shocks, focusing on the tourism sector. It aims to compare the impact of various crises, such as the financial crisis, sovereign debt crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine, on tourist arrivals in Poland, Lithuania, Spain, and Portugal. Design/methodology/approach: Employing a Vector Autoregression (VAR) model and Impulse Response Functions (IRFs), the study analyses the effects of these crises on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign tourist arrivals (ARR). Data from the Eurostat Dissemination Database, spanning from Q1 2006 to Q4 2022, is used, with adjustments for seasonality and crisis-specific dummy variables. Findings: The research reveals notable differences in how these economies, with varying tourism dependencies, respond to external shocks. Tourism-dependent countries like Spain and Portugal exhibited greater sensitivity in their GDP and ARR to these shocks compared to less reliant countries like Poland and Lithuania. Research limitations/implications: The study’s scope is limited to four European countries and specific crises, suggesting the potential for broader future research. Practical implications: The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and tourism industry stakeholders, aiding in the development of strategies for crisis mitigation. Social implications: The chapter underscores the importance of resilient economic structures and policies in mitigating the broader social and economic impacts of crises. Originality and value: This chapter provides unique insights into economic resilience in the tourism sector during crises. Its comparative analysis across different European countries offers valuable perspectives for economists, policymakers, and researchers in understanding the dynamics of economic resilience and crisis management in tourism-dependent economies.

Substitution of tourism trips as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic—an empirical verification

Author(s): Agnieszka Niezgoda,Ewa Markiewicz / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The aim of this chapter is to empirically verify the thesis (set out in the previous work) regarding the substitution changes in the tourism market caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The question was posed as to whether the travel substitution caused by the pandemic concerned substitution internal or external to the offer of the tourism market. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research was conducted on the supply side and the demand side of the tourism market. The supply-side research comprised a direct (non-standardised) interview among representatives of the three main tour operators organising tourist trips on the Polish market. The demand study used a direct standardised interview method using an interview questionnaire. Findings: The results of the research showed internal substitution processes in the tourism market triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes affected trips to a slightly greater extent in 2020 than in 2021. The research showed lower external substitution, meaning that during the pandemic consumers did not want to give up tourism trips. Research limitations/implications: The research confirms the findings of other authors that the pandemic treated as a transformative force in tourism and hospitality, while the relatively short time after its end prevents long-term conclusions. Practical implications: The results can be used by service providers, to anticipate changes caused by contingencies, as well as to predict trends in tourism product design. Social implications: The research indicates the direction of change that a pandemic may provide a starting point for further observations. Originality and value: Most of the analysis is limited to quantitative phenomena related to the reduction of tourism trips as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The originality of the article is based on the analysis of the substitution processes in the tourism market by internaland external substitution. The added value is the simultaneity of the study on both the demand and the supply side of tourism.

Oценяване на задължения по застрахователни договори

Author(s): Maia Natchkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Measurement of liabilities under insurance contracts recognised in accordance with IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts, is a new and key aspect of insurers’ accounting. Liabilities under insurance contracts are classified depending on the type of concluded insurance contracts that might be burdening, non-burdening, etc. Insurance contracts are initially measured by using three measurement models – general measurement model, variable consideration approach and premium allocation approach. The objective of this publication is to describe how insurers measure their liabilities under concluded insurance contracts, how they present them in the financial statements and what kind of information they disclose about them. For the purposes of attaining the above objective, the publication consistently highlights the classification and measurement models of insurance contracts, the use of estimates and judgements upon subsequent measurement of insurance contracts, the underlying actuarial assumptions for calculation of liabilities (payables) under insurance contracts.

The Relationship Between Medical Literacy and Knowledge Management

Author(s): Marija LUGONJIĆ,Karmen ERJAVEC / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The permanent goal of health promotion is to achieve full health care for all citizens, as a basic human right. Strategic monitoring of citizens' health implies constant promotion and education of the protection of people's health throughout their lives, in order to reduce the incidence of leading diseases and injuries and to ease the suffering of patients. Health equality and solidarity between all countries of the European Union and the world and their inhabitants is imperative, emphasizing the responsibility of each individual and the entire community for the continuous development of health. The aim of the paper is to show the connection between knowledge management and health literacy, as well as to point out the importance of population education in the segment of health literacy.

Wkład Mikołaja Kopernika do rozwoju myśli ekonomicznej i jego percepcja przez polskich uczonych

Author(s): Mirosław Bochenek / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

Nicolaus Copernicus developed original concepts. Unfortunately, his writings remained unknown for 300 years. It took Polish scholars more than 200 years to discover and interpret them. The aim of this study is to identify his most important contributions to the field of economics, while the research problem is to try to assess their correct reading. In doing so, the deductive method and the method of critical analysis of literature were used. The author of this study has accessed works about Copernicus written by 125 writers. Of these, 73 dealt with the law of money circulation and only 21 with monetary theory. Of the first group, 36 recognised the Astronomer as the discoverer of the law of inferior money and almost as many attributed its authorship to Thomas Gresham. In contrast, 12 (one of whom later changed his mind) researchers considered Copernicus to be the founder of the bullion theory of money, 9 authors attributed to him a quantitative theory, and 2 ascribed to him the nominalist theory.

Współczesna ekonomia instytucjonalna w świetle metafizyki

Author(s): Jerzy Boehlke / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

This chapter aims to present and evaluate the metaphysical conditions and consequences of scientific cognition on the ground of modern institutional economics. The attempt made to identify the dominant way of defining metaphysics in institutional economics indicates the focus of methodological reflection in this area on syntactic and semantic analysis, that is, on the properties and structure of the concepts used. Questions of a metaphysical nature, concerning the meaning and “first” reasons for the existence of social entities ofan institutional nature have not, so far, received a satisfactory answer. The analysis of the syntactic and semantic aspects of metaphysics contributes to the growth of the number of possible interpretations and understandings of the concept of institutional order and the objects that constitute it, rather than to the determination of the “first” causes and meaning of the existence of the entities that constitute it. This is demonstrated by analysing the basic concepts and categories of institutional economics, such as example, institution, ownership, transaction costs, firm. In the light of hermeneutics, such effects of cognition are acceptable and, with the current state of methodological knowledge, practically only possible. However, this is not enough to discover the truth about the world of institutions in the classical sense. Building further interpretations and ways of understanding institutional entities is still possible and necessary. However, this does not exempt economists from the search for the truth about the institutional order, the criterion of which is experience.

NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

O filozofii ekonomii, której nie potrzebuje ekonomia

Author(s): Bartosz Scheuer / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

Philosophy, including economic philosophy, is usually considered a privileged field of study. Therefore, it is rarely considered that it may be irrelevant or even harmful to the economics. There are two main areas of consideration in contemporary economic philosophy. The first is the application of the philosophy of science to economics, the second is the problem of realism of assumptions in economic models and theories. In the chapter I indicate the reasons why the arrangements made in both of these areas are unnecessary for economics. The conclusion of the considerations is that economics needs, above all, a philosophy of culture, because as a science it should be perceived as a field of culture.

Co czeka nauki ekonomiczne?

Author(s): Marian Gorynia / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The author intends to formulate a set of remarks on the expected future of economic sciences (an answer to the question: what will it probably be like?), and also to present recommendations on what should be done in the sphere of the development of economic sciences to increase their impact in the sphere of social agency and usefulness. In this chapter the author refers to several selected threads/aspects of the issue raised in the title. The choice is arbitrary and selective and refers to the author’s publications in which he posted his thoughts on the topics discussed. Several parts are distinguished in the structure of the text. The first one contains the answer to the question: why are the subject of the discussion here the economic sciences and not economics itself? The second part touched upon the topic of developing scientific research at the level of academic degrees and the title of professor. The third part develops thoughts on teaching economics at the academic and higher education levels. In the fourth part, the attention was focused on economic education at the primary and secondary school levels. Finally, in the fifth part, attention was focused on universal economic education beyond universities and schools.

Finanse publiczne w świetle ekonomii instytucjonalnej

Author(s): Stanisław Owsiak / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The aim of the chapter is to examine the extent to which the institutional economics method can be useful for analysing phenomena and processes in the area of public finances. Based on a critical analysis of the literature, the work takes into account the achievements of institutional economics. Key concepts of institutional economics were selected for consideration, such as: contract, social contract, transaction costs, trust, allocative efficiency. It was examined to what extent these tools can be helpful in explaining phenomena and processes in public finances. The mission of the chapter is also to encourage economists dealing with institutional economics to take broader account of the theory and public finances in their research. Based on the analysis of selected categories of institutional economics, in the final part of the work, an attempt was made to assess public finances in Poland.

Ekonomia instytucjonalna i fenomen korporacji

Author(s): Anna Ząbkowicz / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

What is economic-institutional input in recognising business group activities and significance? The results of literature studies are contained in two major sections. Section1 informs about respective findings derived from Williamson’s and North’s theories constituting the core of new institutional economics. Section 2 presents respective extracts from inputs in economic-political thought by such institutionalists as Commons and Galbraith. The comparison inclines the author to following claims. Although the first strand of thought, thanks to Northian studies, recognizes politics in institutional environment of firm, it basically tends to avoid problems of power and subordination. The other strand claims that these problems do matter in economic analysis because due to concentration of power and wealth business groups enjoy advantage both in the economy and polity. The conclusion says that this dominant position of business groups must not be overlooked because of its practical consequences for economic diagnosis and policies.

Czy ziemia i kapitał to wciąż odrębne czynniki produkcji? Instytucjonalne uwarunkowania finansyzacji ziemi na obszarach wiejskich

Author(s): Bazyli Czyżewski,Aleksander Grzelak,Anna Matuszczak / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The chapter is a voice in the discussion of the need to develop a separate theory for the factor of land and land rent, arguing the thesis that the institutional constraints of land financialisation in rural areas are so persistent and socially adequate that reducing land to another type of capital is theoretically inappropriate. The financialisation of agriculturall and results in its inevitable outflow to other uses, which is socially undesirable both from the perspective of environmental common goods, as well as from the perspective of food security and the agrarian question viewed through the lens of agricultural income deprivation. The financialisation of land thus provides a rationale for deeper and more precise regulation of agricultural land circulation. From the farmer’s point of view, land will never be just an income stream discounted by an alternative rate of return, at least not in the European Model of Agriculture. In conclusion, the development of land factor economics and land rent theory is needed as the sources of land rent evolve, particularly in the context of global criteria that will inevitably determine the individual perspective over time.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SMART CITIES: AN ETHICAL IMPERATIVE

Author(s): Daniela Popescul,Laura-Diana Radu / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is promisingly complementing the technological landscape associated with smart cities, consisting of contextual combinations of solutions based on the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile devices, mobile communications via satellites or short-range, data platforms, Virtual and Augmented Reality, etc. The benefits associated with the use of AI relate to improving services and optimizing resource utilization, with the stated aim of ensuring a better life for citizens in urban areas. The top-down approach in the design and implementation of technological solutions associated with smart cities remains dominant, as a consequence of the power and impact of major stakeholders (technology producers and policymakers), and the social sustainability of technological initiatives is not sufficiently explored. Against this background, this paper aims to analyze the ethical challenges associated with the use of AI in smart cities development projects. The “black-box” functioning of AI tools and the related privacy concerns will be discussed, with a focus on identifying sound solutions for an ethical use of AI in smart cities. Our results show that the eXplainable AI (XAI) approach enhances transparency, trust, control, efficiency, fairness, ethical compliance, accountability, bias mitigation, privacy, and security of AI in smart cities, and a responsible AI implementation implies diverse privacy techniques like encryption, differential privacy, anonymization, edge computing, multi-party computation, federated learning, machine learning, and blockchain.

BETWEEN POLITICS AND ECONOMICS: FINDING DETERMINANTS IN INCREASING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS

Author(s): IONUȚ-ANDREI PRICOP,Ion Mușchei / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Recent developments in international economics have certainly increased the attention of European citizens to the phenomenon of financial stability. However, the present research aims to analyse the impact of different political and economic factors on the financial stability of European citizens in a pre-pandemic era. In order to determine whether or not such an impact exists, we have used panel data analysis covering 26 of the 27 EU countries over a 10-year period, between 2010 and 2019. The statistical research has indeed shown us the link between different variables, both economic and political, with the financial stability of European citizens, which can be taken into account by political decision-makers.

RELEVANCE OF MASTER DATA MANAGEMENT AS PART OF DATA GOVERNANCE AND A CRITICAL FACTOR FOR CORPORATE SUCCESS: A SCIENTOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Author(s): Matthias Schmuck / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Master data management and data governance are critical in today's business world, as organizations increasingly rely on data to make informed decisions and gain competitive advantage. This article examines the relevance of master data management as an integral part of data governance for business success using scientometric methods. Through the systematic evaluation of specialist literature and research work, a comprehensive understanding of the importance of master data management and data governance is gained. The analysis identifies key concepts, trends and research gaps in the field of master data management and shows how effective management of master data strengthens data governance and thus has a significant impact on corporate success. These findings provide valuable impulses for companies to optimize their data strategies and gain a sustainable competitive advantage. The results also form the basis for further research based on design science research, supported by qualitative literature analysis and expert interviews in a real business environment, to construct a master data management artifact that is influenced by data governance experiences.

OPTIMIZATION OF MASTER DATA MANAGEMENT: A MATURITY MODEL

Author(s): Matthias Schmuck / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Master data management forms the foundation for the success of modern organizations by ensuring the quality, consistency and availability of data. Determining the maturity level of this management system is crucial to identify weaknesses and potential for improvement. This study presents a model for assessing the maturity of master data management because of analysing previous research findings on maturity models in general, master data management maturity models in particular, data governance and practical experiences. The proposed model provides a comprehensive assessment framework according to which various aspects of master data management can be analysed and evaluated to identify the current state and potential development paths. It provides a tool to gain insights into best practices and challenges that organizations should consider when optimizing their master data management. Furthermore, the results serve as a basis for further research. The aim is to construct an artifact for measuring the success of master data management that is influenced by data governance experiences.

TRANSFER PRICING. THE TAXPAYER'S RIGHT TO BE HEARD

Author(s): Natalia Șvidchi / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Transfer pricing represents a challenge both for the taxpayer and the tax administration. As transfer pricing cases have increased in Romania over the past few years, legal practitioners must face the task of understanding the rationale of the inherent functional and economic analysis, which is far from being exact and straightforward, but rather increasingly interpretative and highly challengeable.In this paper the author provides a brief presentation of the arm’s length principle and of the current legal framework in Romania, followed by a theoretical analysis of the taxpayers right to be heard during transfer pricing tax inspections accompanied by two cases from practice.The author’s conclusion is that, considering the specificity of transfer pricing, the tax inspection has the obligation to inform the taxpayer during the tax inspection whenever it intends to make an adjustment or an estimation of the transfer prices. Moreover, prior to making any adjustments or estimations, the tax administration has the obligation to request from the taxpayer additional explanation and information in writing.