Hidden Economy in Southeast Europe: Building Regional Momentum to Mitigate its Negative Effects

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

According to the authors of the policy brief, not declaring in full or partially economic activities in SEE remains widespread in virtually all areas of government – permissions and licenses, labour contracts, social security, taxes and custom duties. It signals a persistent gap between formal and informal institutions and lack of coherent enforcement of rules. Corruption pressure is higher towards those engaged in the hidden economy. At the same time their susceptibility to corruption is also higher, confirming the institutional incongruence. The immense diversity of the scale (from 19 % in Croatia to 81 % in Kosovo), prevailing patterns (no written contracts in Turkey, non-payment of health care contributions in Kosovo, envelope wages in FYR of Macedonia and Bulgaria, non-formalised business in Albania), formal vs informal wage average (higher formal wages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Turkey and lower in Kosovo and Bulgaria) requires country specific tailor-made policies and sequencing of reforms.

РУМЪНИЯ: ИНДИКАТОРИ ЗА НАЦИОНАЛНА ЕНЕРГИЙНА СИГУРНОСТ И ПРЕДИЗВИКАТЕЛСТВА ПРЕД ПОЛИТИКАТА

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

National bulletins present a critical analysis of energy security management in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine, and highlight the major challenges faced by countries in their transition to more transparent and data-driven policy-making processes. The management of state energy enterprises in CEE is strongly influenced by political interference, violating their investment independence and regulatory oversight. This is particularly noticeable in Bulgaria and Ukraine. The political pressure to reduce electricity and gas prices in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia further increases the vulnerability of their energy sectors.Strong dependence on a single source and route for gas supply is the most serious risk to energy security in all countries. In Bulgaria and Ukraine, this risk is exacerbated by their dependence on imported oil from the same source - Russia. While Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine have made efforts for energy diversification, Serbia seems to support the current status quo, although it pays some of Europe's highest natural gas prices.

SERBIA: NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY INDICATORS AND POLICY CHALLENGES. Country factsheet

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

National bulletins present a critical analysis of energy security management in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine, and highlight the major challenges faced by countries in their transition to more transparent and data-driven policy-making processes. The management of state energy enterprises in CEE is strongly influenced by political interference, violating their investment independence and regulatory oversight. This is particularly noticeable in Bulgaria and Ukraine. The political pressure to reduce electricity and gas prices in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia further increases the vulnerability of their energy sectors.Strong dependence on a single source and route for gas supply is the most serious risk to energy security in all countries. In Bulgaria and Ukraine, this risk is exacerbated by their dependence on imported oil from the same source - Russia. While Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine have made efforts for energy diversification, Serbia seems to support the current status quo, although it pays some of Europe's highest natural gas prices.

UKRAINE: NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY INDICATORS AND POLICY CHALLENGES. Country factsheet

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

National bulletins present a critical analysis of energy security management in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine, and highlight the major challenges faced by countries in their transition to more transparent and data-driven policy-making processes. The management of state energy enterprises in CEE is strongly influenced by political interference, violating their investment independence and regulatory oversight. This is particularly noticeable in Bulgaria and Ukraine. The political pressure to reduce electricity and gas prices in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia further increases the vulnerability of their energy sectors.Strong dependence on a single source and route for gas supply is the most serious risk to energy security in all countries. In Bulgaria and Ukraine, this risk is exacerbated by their dependence on imported oil from the same source - Russia. While Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine have made efforts for energy diversification, Serbia seems to support the current status quo, although it pays some of Europe's highest natural gas prices.

Meat alternatives—market and cunsumption

Author(s): Iga Rybicka,Karolina Bohdan,Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Elimination of animal-based products, often related to a vegetarian or vegan diet, is one of the most popular nutritional trends observed around the world. This chapter provides an overview of the assortment, market and consumption of various meat alternatives. Products replacing meat are made of various types of (mostly) plant-based raw materials including pulses/legumes, cereal proteins (mainly gluten), oilseeds, fungi (edible mushrooms) and algae; however, cultured meat and edible insects are also described. The market of meat alternatives was estimated at USD 10,11 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of minimum 15% by 2030. Europe has the largest share (52%) of the global market followed by North America (27%), Asia Pacific (12%), Latin America (6%) and Middle East and Africa (4%). The top producers are Beyond Meat, Boulder Brands, Hain Celestia, Nestlé, Garden Protein International, Vivera, Lightlife Foods, Woolworths, Naturli’ Foods and Sainsbury’s. Despite the fact that vegetarians and vegans constitute 6.4% and 6% of global consumers, respectively, more and more people are willing to either reduce the consumption of meat (62%) or animal-origin (42%) products. This is due to the fact that the consumption of meat-free products plays a role in sustainable development considering multiple health, economic and environmental issues.

Shaping sustainable food consumption attitudes: Bibliometric literature review

Author(s): Natalia Gluza,Doris Antczak,Marcin Gurtatowski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Sustainable food consumption is a crucial aspect of achieving a sustainable future. However, changing people’s attitudes towards food can be a difficult task. In this article, we will conduct a bibliometric literature review to explore the current state of research on shaping sustainable food consumption attitudes. The study uses a sample of 922 papers in various bibliometric analyses. The authors use citation and collaboration analysis to determine the most significant authors and journals, and examine the relationships between the main authors and institutions. Next, they conduct content analysis, using bibliographic coupling, to determine the main areasof research within sustainable food consumption attitudes. The chapter attempts to identify the most important authors, journals and trends in each field.

Household food waste—the origin, level, structure and methods of prevention

Author(s): Bartłomiej Pierański,Luboš Smutka / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Food waste is one of the major problems that humanity needs to solve. The gargantuan amount of food wasted each year, estimated at around 1 billion tonnes, creates a range of environmental, economic and ethical problems. Unfortunately, food is wasted to the greatest extent by households. To a lesser extent, food is wasted by producers or intermediaries. Therefore, the aim of this article is first and foremost to identify the causes of food waste by households. To do this,a conceptual framework has been adopted. It assumes that household food waste originates in three predictable stages—when shopping, storing and serving. In other words, households waste food because they do not prepare the food they purchase, they do not serve the food they prepare, and they do not consume the food they serve. The considerations in the paper are based on the available literature and secondary data.

Парична политика в страните от ЕС – генератор на инфлация и/или растеж?

Author(s): Milena Kovachevich / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Over the past almost two decades, expansionary monetary policy has been increasingly used both during and after the onset of crises of various natures. Although, according to the theory, in the long term the use of monetary policy instruments does not lead to stimulating the economy and increasing growth, the countries in the EU, and more specifically in the Euro area, have systematically implemented a growth-stimulating monetary policy after 2008. Through the prism of cointegration analysis, the study reveals whether there is a long-run relationship between economic growth and money supply and/or whether such a relationship exists between money supply and inflation.

Устойчиво финансиране чрез "зелени" облигации: фактори за успех, ползи и предизвикателства

Author(s): Katerina Vojcheska-Nikodinoska / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Sustainable finance as a key area continues to gain momentum as governments and corporate issuers pay increasing attention to environmental, social and governance factors, and investors, regulators and other stakeholders encourage more robust ESG practices. Interest in sustainable finance accelerated in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for funds to help economies, businesses and people recover in a responsible way that addresses environmental and social challenges. The report is structured in three parts: a literature review exploring the success factors, benefits and challenges of issuing green bonds as identified by researchers in different countries; then we use the methodological potential of the analyzed area to formulate expert research; and we summarize the results of the study and suggestions for its further development. The results show that the issuer’s reputation, good credit rating and environmental, social and governance performance are key considerations for the success of issuing green bonds. The main benefits of green bonds are that they carry low investment risk with the ability to raise large investment amounts while providing quantifiable visible benefits. While the challenges related to the issuance of green bonds include greenwashing, the questionable role of the green bond market in environmental protection, and insufficient financial and economic benefits of issuance.

Public Investment in the Field of Higher Education in Bulgaria. Optimization of the Financial Policies Concerning the Education System in the Country

Author(s): Darina Neycheva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Education is believed to be the most important factor for achieving sustainable economic development, which underlines the significance of market mechanisms fundamental for financing higher education. The subsidy of the higher education in state universities in Bulgaria is provided as a compensation given by the society in advance for the future benefits expected by the students. However, the current model of financing has resulted in a surplus of specialists in some areas and shortage of such in others. It is also crucial to consider the inefficiency arising from the fact the majority of people who benefit from the subsidies, and who after graduation decide to leave the country, or to work something completely different from the field of the specialty acquired. There are, of course, some measures taken by the state, as well as other approaches yet to be considered. For instance, optimization of subsidization models, as well as involving the business deeper in the higher education system, which will attract more funds, career opportunities, orientation towards the needs of the job market, and it will also guarantee practicality. Withal, the tuition fees and financial policies should be optimized to foster our economic growth, our social progress and competitiveness, as well.

Жизненият стандарт като критерий за провеждането на успешна икономическа политика в България

Author(s): Yana Stoencheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Thе present report has a goal to reveal the territorial differences in the living standards of the population in the districts of the country. To achieve this goal, various indicators are used that reflect the material well-being of the population. The results of the study show that the country has a sustainable economic policy leading to an increase in living standards.

"Сребърната икономика" в Европа и ролята на социалните иновации за подобряване качеството на живот на потребителите на социални услуги

Author(s): Tanya Vazova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The growing trend of an aging population in Europe highlights the challenges, innovations and new policies needed to improve the lives of older people. The development and use of the available labour potential of all people of working age is an important task to address demographic challenges. We need to prepare and adapt to reality by accepting people over 60+, and sometimes over 50+, as a resource important to society, not a burden. In the conditions of the modern changes two tendencies in relation to the aging population stand out: the opportunity to be useful both for themselves and for society in the new realities, taking into account their activity and "common sense"; the development of the "silver economy", which includes all economic activities related to production, health, social, educational and other services designed to meet the needs and improve the quality of life of older people. The impact of population aging is presented in this report; the concept of the "silver economy" is considered, including a wide range of activities that meet the needs of older people as consumers and presents good innovative practices developed and implemented in some EU member states.

Трансформация във вижданията за планирането на невоенните ресурси в интерес на отбраната при кандидатстването за членство в НАТО

Author(s): Dimitar Hristov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The report examines the practices of wartime planning of non-military resources in the interest of defence in the period 1940-1990 and qualitatively changed views on their planning after the adoption of the National Security Concept in April 1998 and the Military Doctrine of 1999, which created the necessary foundations for the reform of national defense. The new views consider the wartime planning of non-military resources in the interests of defence as an element of civil-military attitude and are enshrined in the Concept for Civil Resource Planning in the interests of Defence, which is the basis for the development of a new normative basis suitable for the pre-accession period of membership of the European Union and NATO and and in the following years

Zakończenie

Author(s): Edyta Małecka-Ziembińska / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

Tourism Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Bulgaria and the Neighbouring Countries

Author(s): Petya Ivanova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The main aim of this paper is to analyze some key indicators determining the degree of tourism sustainability. It studies tourism sustainability indicators in Bulgaria compared with its neighbouring countries and uses an established methodological apparatus for studying tourism sustainability, developed by the World Economic Forum. The research places emphasis on an analysis of the balance in the triple bottom line of economic-environmental-social goals determining sustainability. The research methodology includes theoretical-methodological analysis, comparative analysis, empirical analysis, systemic approach. Based on the analysis carried out, the strengths of the offered tourist product in Bulgaria are highlighted, as well as the weaknesses regarding sustainability, which need improvement measures.

Изобретения, създадени от световноизвестни личности в сферата на музикалния и филмовия бизнес

Author(s): Vladislava Pacheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The subject matter of this paper are patented inventions owned by world-famous personalities. The nature of inventions and ways of protecting innovative products in the music and film business as inventions are outlined. Patent protection of inventions under national patent laws is identified, as well as exceptions to protection. It analyses the role of inventions as a fundamental object of industrial property, which provides its owner with a monopoly advantage and provides him with various opportunities for realization and profit. Examples are given of inventions created by world-famous personalities such as musicians, producers, and actors.

Актуални тенденции в издателския бизнес

Author(s): Jouliana Tomova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The report explores the current state and challenges facing the publishing business in the context of dynamic and turbulent world processes, identified with exponential growth in information exchange opportunities and the development of Artificial Intelligence with wide-ranging but also narrowly specialized functions, the creative industries are at a crossroads . Questions about intellectual property in the publishing business, both in its theoretical, legal and technological dimensions, as well as in the purely practical applications that confront us with the multi-layered variability of everyday life, are posed with increasing urgency and sharpness. It is important to emphasize that intellectual property rights in the publishing business are a fundamental mechanism for protecting the creative efforts of authors, translators, art designers, illustrators, etc. from the fields of literature, science and the arts and at the same time provide an opportunity for economic stability for publishers and the publishing business. In this context, the management and protection of intellectual property rights plays a key role in the success of the publishing business.

Справедливото компенсационно възнаграждение при свободно използване в ЗАПСП

Author(s): Mehti Melikov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The article examines the challenges in overcoming a specific deficit of the Bulgarian Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act (CNRA), preventing the collection and distribution of compensation fees for authors and publishers of any printed works, in respect of reproductions on paper or any similar medium for non-commercial purposes, under the terms of Art. 25, para. 1, item 1 CNRA. Given the free nature of the use for personal purposes under the statutory rules, it is accepted that the compensatory remuneration should be collected indirectly when it is included in the price of goods or services related to such use. In this context, account should be taken of the fairness of the mechanisms for collecting compensation remuneration and their relationship to the intrinsic nature of the use. Taking into account the nature of compensation remuneration and on the basis of available market data on the nature of the actual use, the article points to ways of finding fair compensation mechanisms and the place of authors and publishers as beneficiaries of such compensation.

Относно задължението на държавата за осигуряване на основното право на свободно предвижване

Author(s): Vasil Iliev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The article will examine the issue of the basic obligation of the state to ensure the basic right of free movement regulated in Art. 35, paragraph 1 of the CRC in the application of Art. 162 RTL. A review of the practice of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Bulgaria regarding the provision of the right to free movement will be carried out. In conclusion, a reasoned conclusion will be reached, does it contradict Art. 162 RTL of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. The question will be raised regarding the need for de lege ferenda of Art. 162 RTL in the part in which it covers the application to Bulgarian citizens with a foreign national license to drive a motor vehicle, issued by a country that is not a member of the European Union, or by another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or from the Swiss Confederation.

Incidence of Fake News Shared on Social Networks and Risk Assumed by University Students

Author(s): Carlos Arturo TORRES-GASTELÚ,Joel Angulo-Armenta / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The objective of this paper is to analyze the perception of university students towards fake news by assessing the relationship between the incidence of fake news shared by themselves within their social networks and the risk assumed by students when sharing news they do not fully trust. Quantitative study through the application of a survey using a Likert scale applied to 313 students from different careers of the Faculties of Administration and Pedagogy of the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico. Processing was carried out with descriptive and inferential statistics. The results point out the correlation between the risk assumed and the cases of false news shared indicating the existence of cases in university students with little predisposition to inquire into the reliability of the information, and who in turn, risk sharing it anyway. The variables of sex, age, semester, and educational program do not influence the risk that students assume when sharing news. However, students who claim not to share news they distrust also share fake news they do believe in on their social networks.