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I consider that the second edition of the book “Conceiving, Writing and Publishing a Scientific Paper. An approach in the context of economic research” is a work of high scientific standing, excellently documented, addressed to knowledgeable readers but also to the new generations of PhD students and researchers interested in attaining the highest academic and scientific performances in the field of Economics. From my point of view, both editions of the book are highly useful for the academic environment. I especially appreciate the authors’ efforts to improve and expand the second edition. This fact is due to the changes occurred in the evolution of scientometric indicators, to the feedback received from readers, but also as the result of the desire to include multiple networks and platforms that take into account professional and institutional profiles, such as to facilitate the researchers’ dissemination of their results obtained in the scientific research activity. The authors benefit on an unanimous recognition and are highly appreciated., fact proven for example by the ten existing reviews of the book’s first edition, published in journals indexed in Web of Science, Scopus and other international databases. I am mostly impressed by the authors’ permanent concern to improve their book’s scientific content. The first edition was awarded the distinction “The Best Book in the Field of Economics” published in 2016 in Romania by the Association of Romanian Economic Faculties, but also by The Association of Cultural-Educational Cooperation from Suceava (ACCES prize in 2016)

Female labor force participation plays a key role in economic development. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as a developing economy, relies mainly on men rather than women to achieve its development objectives. Over a period of fifty years, Saudi female labor force participation is extremely low. This working research paper seeks to identify the challenges and issues of the female labor force in KSA. The study has employed regression model, in which the dependent variable is Female LFPR and independent variables are unemployment rate (u-rate), urban population, fertility rate & higher education. The results have shown that u-rate, fertility rate and urban population show statistical significance on Female LFPR, except higher education. It has been concluded that despite the challenges faced by the female labor force in Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 paves a new path to empower women to contribute to the economic growth of the Kingdom.

Scientific research is a complex process that ends up with a results dissemination stage. This dissemination of results can be accomplished through several methods and practical tools aimed at meeting a number of objectives that are usually defined by the research program. One of the most frequently formulated objectives in the last decades is the writing of papers that can be published in prestigious research journals, particularly in the mainstream journals of that research field. Drawing up such papers implies meeting a series of content, structure and language requirements that must be known and well-understood. The fulfillment of such requirements calls for the existence of competences based on the knowledge acquired from the literature and from the practice of writing a research paper.

The present paper starts from the analysis of the degree of education in higher education in Romania in recent years and the highlighting of the gaps between the Member States of the European Union, with an emphasis on the existing imbalances between the different areas of the country. Thus, if the European Commission defined as desirable a "European Education Area" in which by 2030 at least 45% of young people aged between 25 and 34 will have graduated from a university education program, in Romania the latest data indicate a level below 23% and slightly decreasing in recent years, compared to the European average of 41.2%. The last population census from the end of 2021 indicates for the North-East Region a proportion of only 14.6% of the population aged 20 and over who have completed higher education in the total population of this age group, being the last region in the country, but also from the EU. The dynamics between the last two censuses confirm the lowest increase in this indicator for the poorest region, with +21.4% compared to the Romanian average of +25%. Within the region, Bacău county, with an average of 13.2% at the last census, has the lowest dynamics not only in the region but also in the country, with an increase of only 11.1% of this proportion.

Tourism suрeriorly cарitаlizes on the nаturаl аnd аnthroрic рotentiаl of а country, continuously enriching them, sаtisfying multiрle humаn motivаtions. It hаs а multiрlier effect, introducing in the economic circuit unique аsрects such аs: lаndscарe (for the "consumрtion" of which it is necessаry to trаvel on the sрot), hosрitаlity, solicitude аnd informаtion (geogrарhicаl, culturаl-historicаl, gаstronomic, аrtistic, etc.). By carrying out this paper we want to highlight an overview of the various financing schemes available. The purpose of this paper is to show that not only funding schemes are available, but also various programs in which tourism businesses can participate and receive funding. After exploring the funding jungle, we selected the eight most important European funds and programs, which seem to be "exploitable" for cultural tourism in rural areas.

Local and organic food production is often linked to geographical identity that drives consumers to buy products due to their intangible attributes such as protection of the environment, support of local communities, and preservation of traditions. The primary objective of this paper was to find out if the Romanian consumers preferred a closer location of organic food production. Research results were based on a random survey, with a sample of 424 people from Romania. Seven variables related to consumer preferences and habits were analyzed through descriptive statistics and by Mann Whitney, Wilcoxon, Kruskal Wallis tests, and Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient. Three location situations were taken under analysis: local vs. other national locations; national vs. other EU locations; and EU vs. the rest of the world. The results revealed that Romanian consumers were prone to local organic food sources, as long as 65% of them preferred locally produced foods over other national sources. A closer location was also more attractive in the other two tested situations, as follows: 77% of the sample preferred foods from Romania to those from other EU countries and 62% preferred European products to those from the rest of the world. The paper concluded that the promotion of the concept of a closer location could be an unexplored opportunity for those interested in the Romanian market.

Purpose: Given the context of the Coronavirus pandemic, the purpose of this research is to find out what the future of entrepreneurship will look like. We want to find out which direction the entrepreneurs will go. Design / methodology / approach: We conducted an opinion poll on the trends that will follow in entrepreneurship. The questionnaire had only one question: What do you think will be the future trends in entrepreneurship after the Coronavirus pandemic? Findings: Following the study we found that the first 3 places are freelancing, online entrepreneurship and business globalization that will follow the trend in entrepreneurship. Practical implications: This research comes in support of entrepreneurs regarding new trends to have a successful business.

En esta nota se ofrecen las razones por las cuales se deben elaborar artículos científicos construidos de acuerdo con las normas internacionales establecidas y los principios de rigurosidad y originalidad necesarios para que sean aprobados por los árbitros especialistas en el campo. Además, se desarrollan varias ideas relacionadas con la ética del escritor, destacando las buenas prácticas y aclarando lo que no debe hacerse. Se concluye que solo con buenos artículos, los profesionales e investigadores costarricenses pueden contribuir a mejorar los aportes científicos y profesionales que se puedan generar en el país. De igual manera, las revistas científicas costarricenses mejorarán su visibilidad y aportes a la ciencia mundial.

This paper investigates the landscape of the e-commerce in the European Union (EU), from several angles, bringing into discussion issues related to the concept of electronic commerce, trends and new legislative framework of this domain adopted at the EU level. At the same time, based on Eurostat data, a statistical analysis of the evolution of the e-commerce sector during the 2012-2021 interval with a focus on current period was carried out in terms of the number of companies and the turnover in this, both on aggregate levels of the EU region and of its member states in trying to achieve a deeper understanding of the trends and dynamics of this field. The paper below also drags into discussion aspects related to online sales’ platforms and marketplaces as alternatives to the sales made by the firm through its own website and its own online applications. Last but not least, the prevailing business models in EU electronic commerce (business-to-business, business-to-consumer and business-to-government) are specified.

In this paper, I set out to present the results of the analysis of the energy sector of the Republic of Moldova, and particularly the field of electricity, natural gas and petroleum products. Although I do not claim exclusivity in terms of the aspects researched through this paper, I consider that these aspects have been insufficiently analyzed over time, which is why I express my hope that the conclusions of the undersigned presented in this paper will bring a certain level of usefulness both theoretically and, as well as practice. In this sense, the scientific novelty and originality of the obtained results is embodied in the making of a clear opinion regarding the development of future strategies regarding the sustainability of the energy sector

The global economy is currently facing many challenges, some old and persistent, and some new, in various forms. Gender inequality in the labour market is an older problem that has a global dimension and affects women both in terms of labour force participation and pay. For equal work and similar responsibilities, women earn on average significantly less than men. This paper aims to address gender pay inequalities as a problem of the global economy. The aim of the paper is to review theoretical approaches and explore the extent to which these theories can explain the gender pay gap. The first part of the paper argues for the ethical dimension of the problem studied. Attention is then focused on the main myths that cast doubt on the reality of gender pay discrimination. In the final part, human capital theory, game theory and the theory of labour's contribution to productivity are discussed. Our thesis is that these theories, at a particular level, offer only partial, unsatisfactory explanations. Taken together they provide detail and offer richer explanations of the gender wage gap.

This study aims to understand how an organization's values, norms and cultural habits influence operational efficiency, employee satisfaction and market competitiveness. Among the main objectives of this study, there is the clarification of the notions of "organizational culture" and "company performance", as well as the identification of their different dimensions. Investigating how different aspects of culture contribute to the financial and operational success of the company is also another objective of this paper. The paper also presents an analysis of Dufry UK's organizational culture, exemplifying how Dufry UK chooses to train its managers, based on the premise that the company's success lies in the manager's ability to organize and lead. In conclusion, the paper will provide a broad perspective on how organizational culture can be an engine of performance within companies, highlighting the importance of cultural management as an essential part of business strategy.

As the literary landscape of the 21st century has changed its marketing approach over the years, the bookstagram phenomenon has implemented the most effective means of promotion, namely influencers. Therefore, bookstagrammers are powerful pillars in terms of developing influencer marketing on Instagram. Hence, this paper investigates the nature of book influencers in the literature based on keywords found in the Web of Science online database. Accordingly, a quantitative research encompassing 167 studies viewed through the VOSviewer tool in the form of bibliometric maps is noted. Thus, the study aims to better understand the landscape of book influencers, starting from the analysis of keywords found and, implicitly, the links that are created between them. Moreover, any influencer’s digital action affects the consumers and also increases their trust. This paper provides relevant insights on bookstagrammers, as well as laying the groundwork for future research on the evolution and impact in modern readers' lives.

During its existence, the retail industry underwent profound transformations. Over the past three decades the retail industry has incorporated new technologies, namely Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Big Data Analytics. All these advancements deeply intensified competition in global retailing. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the businesses of global retailers. The purpose of the paper is to present and briefly analyse the evolution of the largest global retailers in terms of their retail revenues in the COVID-19 pandemic period 2020-2021. In this respect, a qualitative research method was used. The results of the paper show that global retailers are dominating the retail industry. They obtained impressive retail revenues even during the COVID-pandemic period 2020-2021. Walmart, the American giant, was by far the largest global retailer in that period.

Today’s dynamic and changing business environment raises numerous challenges for any business organization, irrespective of its size and industry. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought numerous advancements in the information and communications technologies which require continuous innovation. This is why corporations, especially multinational and transnational, have heavily invested in research and development activities in order to increase their efficiency. The rapid spread of digital technologies has determined corporate management to re-evaluate its approach towards innovation and, therefore, corporations began to establish innovation ecosystems. The goal of the paper is to illustrate and analyse the hierarchy of America’s most innovative corporations in the period 2022-2023. The author applied a qualitative research method in order to achieve the aim of the paper. The paper demonstrates that innovation, in general, and corporate innovation, in particular, represent key factors in ensuring business success. The hierarchy of the first ten American most innovative corporations in the period 2022- 2023 was clearly dominated by the corporations from the IT&C sector.

This paper aims to explore how business organisations in the Romanian IT&C sector strategically implement neuro-leadership principles to accelerate the adoption and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, thus enhancing human capital development and promoting sustainable competitive advantages. Applying the focus group method, dynamic discussions were held with 10 representatives of Romanian IT&C companies to highlight how these business organisations strategically implement neuroleadership principles and adopt AI technologies in human capital management. The results of the research, divided into four main themes, reveal the importance of neuroleadership in improving employee competencies as well as overcoming the challenges associated with implementing AI in organisations. Research provides new and relevant insights for leaders in business organisations to effectively adapt to the complexity of technological change caused by AI adoption in human resource management. At the same time, the results reveal the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and development to harness the potential benefits of AI, while mitigating the risks associated with this approach. The originality of the paper is derived from the merging of the fields of leadership, neuroscience, and AI, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics shaping organisational responses to technological innovation. The research addresses a notable gap in the literature by exploring concrete strategies to accelerate AI adoption through neuroleadership principles, enriching the literature on this multidimensional relationship.

Socially responsible achievements growingly not only the activities of business entities, but also the formation of the well-being of society. It is observed scholarly literature records that different conceptions of social responsibility are based on the characteristics that regulate the commercial bodies’ possibilities to participate in community obligation acts by emphasizing the strategic and financial objectives for the enterprises. The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of community interest on developing countries-Jordan as an example, and to provide an overview of the purpose the content of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with track a reviews of the scientific literature. The procedures used to investigate the scientific literature are part of the evaluation engagements. The conducted study validated a notable concern for the business sectors in Jordan and developing countries. This article outlined some of the apparent gaps in developing nations. This is noteworthy because; for the first time, scholars in developing nations are exploring closely into the idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR). By highlighting the advantages and results of speculating on (CSR) actions within their relevant sectors. The paper so lays the groundwork for corporations to engage in such activities.

Economic inequality poses a significant challenge in achieving sustainable development goals on a global aspect. The present paper delves into the complex relationship between economic inequality and sustainability trends, exploring how disparities in income and wealth distribution influence environmental degradation. In order to answer the present question, the author proposes a multidimensional approach, incorporating theoretical frameworks, empirical evidence, and a case study in order to highlight the impact of inequality. The paper examines the mechanisms through which economic inequality hampers progress towards sustainability. Also, it explores potential pathways for reducing these challenges, in ways that include policy interventions, community initiatives, and corporate CSR approaches. By exploring the existing literature and offering insights into future research directions, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interconnection between economic inequality and sustainability, in the end aiming to inform strategies for fostering more equitable and environmentally resilient societies.

In the current context of globalization and technological integration, performance management in educational organizations becomes fundamental to ensure the quality of education and to meet the requirements of the beneficiaries. This paper explores epistemological contents and specific paradigms of performance management, emphasizing the need for continuous quality improvement in the relationship with the beneficiaries of educational services. It argues that performance, a managerial concept quantifiable through efficiency and effectiveness, represents a subjective reality, interpretable and oriented towards achieving the organization’s objectives. The epistemological approach to performance management includes principles and standards that facilitate the alignment of human resources, organizational culture, and communication system to enhance organizational performance. Performance evaluation tools, such as management based on profit centers, management by objectives, and balanced scorecard, are discussed in the context of their adaptation to the specifics of the pre-university education system. The study emphasizes the importance of communication and the need to improve the information system in school organizations, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, as well as to increase the quality of educational services. The paper proposes an integrated approach to the paradigm of performance management, complementary to that of quality management, to meet the contemporary challenges in education.

The primary objective of this research paper is to exhibit bibliometric figures on articles about the digital evolution from education 3.0 to education 4.0, disclosed in the journals listed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2020 and April 2024. The data compiled from 41534 articles within the study’s purview underwent bibliometric scrutiny across six classifications: article and citation count, paramount articles in citations, prevalent keywords, influential nations, preeminent institutions, and foremost journals. This research effort is designed to provide a comprehensive overview and to provide bibliometric network visualisations to elucidate the landscape of pertinent research. Advanced bibliometric techniques, particularly the use of the VOSviewer, were used to generate intricate network maps and conduct in-depth evaluations of the bibliometric data. Bibliometric analysis showed that there are several key trends in the digital evolution of education. Patterns in the adoption and dissemination of specific keywords were observed, shedding light on prevalent themes and areas of focus within the discourse on Education 4.0. Prominent keywords that recurrently appear in the literature were identified, reflecting the core concepts and concerns driving scholarly inquiry in this field. Furthermore, significant insights into the geographic distribution of research efforts were revealed, highlighting the leading nations contributing to the discourse on Education 4.0. Additionally, the most influential academic institutions and journals were identified, underscoring their role in shaping and disseminating knowledge in this domain. By presenting these bibliometric findings, a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of digital education is facilitated, providing valuable information for researchers, policymakers, and educators alike. The originality of this paper lies in its comprehensive bibliometric approach, providing a nuanced understanding of the digital shift in education and offering fresh insights for future research.

This paper presents a holistic examination of the interaction between the institutional framework and entrepreneurship to achieve the objective of sustainable development. This paper aims to explore the relationship between institutional arrangements, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the member states of the European Union. The research is conducted in response to the global imperative for sustainable development, analyzing the inclusiveextractive institutional dichotomy as a starting point in understanding the complexity of the interaction between entrepreneurship and the promotion of sustainable development. The analysis is based on established theories of institutional economics, essential to capture the manner in which inclusive and extractive institutional arrangements shape the incentives or constraints within which entrepreneurial initiatives unfold. Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in stimulating sustainable development by encouraging innovation, and the institutional framework is decisive for entrepreneurial behavior. Institutional arrangements that encourage business development, through stability, predictability, and promotion of competition, support sustainable development. The study aims to highlight the negative consequences of an institutional framework affected by corruption and bureaucratic obstacles, which hinder innovation and limit the potential for sustainable development. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the nuanced dimensions of sustainable entrepreneurship, highlighting the emergence of socially and environmentally responsible business models, as well as the institutional framework that favors them. In conclusion, this paper addresses the relationship between institutional arrangements and entrepreneurship in achieving sustainable development, and it aims at contributing to the progress of theory and practice in the field of entrepreneurship and sustainability, thus facilitating the transition to more efficient and prosperous societies.

As the world transitions into the era of Education 4.0, characterized by rapid technological advancements, countries like Romania are compelled to navigate through challenges while embracing opportunities to adapt their education systems accordingly. This paper delves into an examination of the challenges and opportunities arising from the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Romanian education system, employing a case study perspective. Drawing upon theoretical insights and actions proposed by Romanian authorities, this research scrutinizes the measures taken to align with the evolving educational landscape. By juxtaposing these actions with European Union regulations, the study evaluates the degree of implementation and assesses Romania’s readiness to meet the demands of the global educational paradigm shift. Through this analysis, the paper aims to shed light on the positioning of the Romanian education system within the framework of Education 4.0, contributing to the existing literature on educational transformations. Furthermore, it endeavours to elucidate arguments both in favour of and against the alignment of Romania with emerging educational trends, thereby offering valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders involved in shaping the future of Romanian education.

The point that innovation is an important milestone of sustainability is widely accepted among scholars, industry agents, and government representatives. This is due to the fact that sustainable development is an urgent issue that requires immediate action and transformation by government, industry, and society as a whole perspective. This paper reviews the literature on innovations that transform individuals, organizations, supply chains, and communities toward a sustainable future. This paper reviews the literature on innovations that will transform individuals, organizations, supply chains, and communities toward a sustainable future. The major studies discussed in this review encouraged in their findings, recommendations, and contributions as we are facing in moving forward toward a sustainable society through innovation and transformation Moreover, this article reviews the diversity of the literature on innovation for sustainable development and proposes a typology of such phenomena. The proposed typology of such phenomena is followed by an overview of the major debates, based on the main subjects it addresses. The point that innovation is a key statement of sustainability is widely accepted by scientists, industry professionals and government representatives. This aspect is possible only by creating sustainable development, which requires constant action and urgent solutions from governments, industry and society. Furthermore, this article emphasizes the diversity of innovation for sustainable development in the literature, proposes a typology of such phenomenon, provides an overview of key articles based on the primary topics it addresses, and identifies a number of recommendations for the future development of the main field of study.

Economic corridors are a key idea in the framework of European economic integration, and they have a big influence on infrastructure connectivity and regional development. Geographical regions or transportation routes that make it easier for people, products, and services to move between states or regions are what they are known as. This essay delves into the idea of economic corridors and demonstrates their crucial function within the framework of the modern European economy. These efficiency instruments, which serve as vital transportation and infrastructure routes that ease the movement of people, products, and services between states and regions, have emerged as a key idea in European economic development. The definition of economic corridors in the context of Europe and their critical role in promoting regional cohesion and economic growth are the main topics of this essay. The study also identifies and highlights the ways in which economic corridors and traditional economies differ from one another and impact and changing the economic dynamics of EU member states and regions. Through a thorough analysis of the unique attributes of economic corridors and their influence on both economic and social integration, this paper offers a thorough understanding of their significance in the contemporary European economy and their ability to influence future regional and economic development. The study looks at various economic corridors and their effects on the European economy, including those related to transportation, energy, and communications. Along with the policies and tactics required to optimize their advantages, it also covers the opportunities and difficulties related to the creation and administration of economic corridors. This paper primarily investigates the definition and features of economic corridors through an extensive review of the literature and analysis of pertinent data. Included in these are factors like its geographic extent, the infrastructure that supports it, and the transportation and trade routes that traverse it. The statement underscores the significance of various forms of economic corridors, including those by land, sea, or air, in fostering regional cohesiveness and competitiveness.

Due to the dramatic spread of information and communication technologies tools increased by the forced lockdown, the digital transition of all economic sectors has become a prime concern for all European countries. Not only that having digital skills and competences was a question that swiftly turned into a priority, but also developing a well-equipped smart infrastructure capable of reducing the digital exclusion of socially disadvantaged groups. Taking into consideration the profound impact of digital technologies on the educational environment, the main objective of this paper is investigating the digital transformation of the Romanian pre-university system after a decade paved with numerous regulatory changes, a global pandemic crisis, and a refugee crisis generated by the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine up to the Romanian borders. At the same time, the paper highlights a comparative overview of key indicators for the education sector of Romania, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova. In order to create resilient education systems, all European countries must urgently adopt and implement sustainable standards that place digital education on top of their priorities. Therefore, regulators and policymakers must focus on their key role in translating the European Commission\’s ambitions for the digital compass 2030 in concrete measures. The research is based on both qualitative and quantitative methods that study the positive impact of ICT on education, but also the challenges that need to be repressed in an effort to reduce the digital exclusion. With the sudden conversion of didactic activities into the digital universe, the negative repercussions of e-learning affected primarily the teachers and students in rural areas with poor/ no access to Internet, but also digitally unequipped. The findings of this research show positive premises for the Romanian educational pre-university system to recover the digital gap in relation to the best education systems in Europe.

Digital technologies and digitalization represent a growing trend across countries in Europe, especially for developed economies and markets. Today, it is commonly acknowledged that an important factor for the SMEs’ competitiveness, growth, and success, is the implementation of digital innovation and new tools. The varied and multidimensional reasons that either help or prevent SMEs from adopting digital tools and innovation, nevertheless, are numerous, and the ability of SMEs in Europe to obtain digital advancement and innovation is examined in this paper in relation to the influence of external factors such as governmental policies. By analysing different governmental policies among the EU, the aim of this paper is to establish a connection between various regulations and the innovation performance of Romanian SMEs.

Resolving problems resulting from stagflation conditions accompanied with low economic growth and slow employment growth needs some policies that one of them can be unconventional monetary policy. Thus, this paper proposes to evaluate the effects of unconventional monetary policy shocks using VAR with a new method called sign restrictions. To this aim, it were estimated the effects of three variables ordered as real interest rate, inflation and gross domestic product by imposing positive and negative restrictions on these variables for the period 1961-2021. In this paper, the results of model estimation and impulse response functions is done by identifying and estimating parameters on the basis of imposing negative sign on interest rate according to unconventional monetary policy shocks. Results indicate that decreasing in interest rate causes increasing in GDP. Unconventional monetary policy can raise liquidity in stock market. It also support people by low interest rate loans for production with less cost and less sale price in Iran. Therefore, unconventional monetary policy can be a useful policy for resolving stagflation occurred current years in Iran.Extended Abstract:IntroductionThe global financial crisis(GFC) marked the transition from what many had labelled the period of “Great Moderation” to that of the “Great Recession”. The stress experienced by the financial sector starting in the summer of 2007 put an end to several years of robust growth for the world economy accompanied by moderate inflation rates across most advanced market economies. Across a number of countries, financial intermediation halted, with the peak of the stress manifesting in the final quarter of 2008. Unemployment increased and inflation dropped below central banks’ target levels as economic activity receded sharply. The recovery from the deep recession was also slow in many jurisdictions, with tepid economic growth, sluggish employment growth and subdued inflation. The challenges posed to monetary policy during this period were severe and pushed central banks to resort to actions departing from their established policy frameworks.The set of policy interventions introduced during this period has been labelled as unconventional monetary policy in order to distinguish it from the conventional pre-GFC policy measures. Some unconventional monetary policies were designed to affect term spreads such as long-term risk-free rates, while others were directed at influencing liquidity and credit spreads such as interest rates on various non-risk-free instruments. One of the most important tools in unconventional monetary policy is negative interest rate policy (NIRP). The adoption of negative policy interest rates in the aftermath of the GFC was new. Identification of shocks is one of the most important issues in econometrics for interpreting their impact on themselves and also other variables. Therefore, in case of unconventional monetary policy, VAR model is applied for identifying shocks. In the research, it was identified different shocks using sign-restriction approach in Iran for the period 1961-2021.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to verify and determine changes in training and development processes regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Polish companies. Research Design & Methods: The research was conducted in 100 companies using CAWI and was addressed to human resource (HR) specialists, mainly in large companies from a diverse range of sectors, mainly in manufacturing, public sector, ICT, and transport. The tailored questionnaire consisted of 62 statements addressing the following dimensions: training and development (T&D) policy, organisational expectations, procedures of preparation, implementation and monitoring of T&D, participants, evaluation, and financing and investment in T&D. The theoretical base of the paper is human resource development (HRD) theory. Findings: The results indicate several changes made by organisations as a result of the pandemic, some of which were only temporary, while others became a permanent feature of T&D policies. Generally, Polish companies managed to adapt to the environmental changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the satisfaction of both employees and employers. Implications / Recommendations: Results of the research can be used to improve training and development programmes offered by companies to increase employees’ skills, knowledge, and attitudes in the workplace. They could also help to adjust the training to the new situation and conditions in the post-pandemic period. Finally, they can serve institutions responsible for policy provision of HRD at a national level to provide possibilities to apply for funding for T&D activities. Contribution: No detailed quantitative study has been done so far to analyse if and how training and development activities have changed over the past few years, especially in the Polish business environment.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to identify the ideological functions of economic theory using the historical case of the opinions of classical economists on the poor law as an example (treating ideological sets of ideas as justifications for the social order). Research Design & Methods: The research method adopted in this paper is an analysis of the text carried out in the context of its social function. Findings: The article analyses some moral and social aspects of the emergence of economic theory and shows classical economists’ criticisms of the Old Poor Law as rationalisation of social prejudices of upper classes of society. The essence of the discourse of mainstream economists has been to show low moral resources in the working class as the cause of poverty, together with the thesis that social assistance perpetuates this condition. The opposite of these theories were John Barton’s arguments, portraying welfare as an investment in the moral resources of the poor, allowing them to return to the ranks of working people. This dispute was forgotten for many years, but seems still relevant in the 21st century context. Implications / Recommendations: This paper supports the opinions of eminent scholars (like Blaug or Lindert) that the main problems with poverty are essentially the same in our times as in the 19th century. Blaming poor people for their poverty seems as familiar to us today as it was two hundred years ago. Thus the issue of the welfare state is more moral and political than it is theoretical. Contribution: This paper is a contribution to the identification of the role of social prejudice in the emergence of economic theory.

There are multiple measures that are used to determine the poor households, however, within the households below the poverty threshold, there are differences that exist among them. This paper explores poverty in South Africa using the poverty depth measure, which refers to the extent to which the income of the poor falls below the poverty line. The paper presents a succinct conceptualisation of poverty and the income poverty line measurement, and then goes on to examine the various ways in which poverty depth can be measured. The paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on poverty gap and introduces the concept of poverty depth. The literature review shows that there are weaknesses in the poverty gap as traditionally conceived. A calculation of a poverty depth is done and an analysis of the determinants of poverty gap using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is conducted. The results show that the head of household’s characteristics such as gender, employment status and marital status are significant in explaining the variation in the poverty depth. The paper reveals that the poor are different in their circumstances and recommends targeted interventions in dealing with poverty at household level.

This paper plans to examine the effects of board extent on non-performing assets (NPA) and firm value measured as comprehensive financial performance (CFP) of banks in Bangladesh using data from 2016 to 2022. Using a sample of 210 firm-year observations, this paper reveals that NPA is significantly related to board size, which signals that a big board of directors (BODs) is linked with lowering the extent of NPA in the context of developing economies like Bangladesh. Besides, the affinity between board extent and firm value proxies as CFP is positive, but the result is not consequential. This research would be value additive to the literature because it examines the effects of board size on NPA and CFP, which is scanty in the corporate finance literature. Furthermore, this research finds no literature that applies CFP as the performance measure of banks, especially in Bangladesh.

This paper examines the economic and financial advantages of improving international collaboration between Ukraine and Poland in the development of alternative energy projects. It conducts a thorough evaluation of existing and forthcoming renewable energy generation technologies, using expert, Delphi, and methods based on statistics to identify the most promising and universally applicable solutions. The calculation of the payback period for small-scale green energy projects pays particular attention to the actual duration of the period in the case of small business ventures. The findings are summarized with a vision for the future Ukrainian-Polish cooperation in the scope of green energy cooperation and specific instruments and processes that could contribute to the success of the collaboration. The article outlines the potential approach that involves the isolation of the cooperation between Ukraine and Poland in green energy relying on the creation of investment and venture funds, public support for the manufacturing of a renewable energy component, and the establishment of non-volatile industrial complexes. Additionally, measures such as independent small alternative power plants and the initiatives for the development of the Ukrainian-Polish joint network of alternative energy are mentioned. The current war between Ukraine and Russia has drawn attention to the crucial need for energy security and diversification, making Ukraine-Poland collaboration on green energy projects all the more important. Ukraine may minimize its reliance on the Russian energy supply by focusing on renewable energy programs, while Poland can invest in sustainable energy to boost regional stability and economic progress. The article points out that the continuation and advancement of green energy initiatives require international cooperation. The paper offers detailed guidance on how the financial, economic, and technological opportunities and relations between Ukraine and Poland may be enhanced.

The continuation of warfare in the territory of the country causes many economic, environmental and social problems. That is why it is important to study the influence of critical risks on the mechanism of managing defence resources, which the state’s ability to withstand in difficult times and to ensure the protection of state borders depends on. The main purpose of the paper is the evaluation of scientific and practical principles of determination and analysis of critical risks in the defence industry. Subject to the foregoing, the paper investigates the main scientists’ approaches to the definition and classification of critical risks, which affect the mechanism of defence resource management. It also provides a multiple-factor analysis of critical risks, which affect the mechanism of defence resource management. An effective system for managing critical risks that affect the mechanism of defence resource management was developed in the work. It gives recommendations aimed at reducing the degree of influence of critical risks on the mechanism of defence resource management. The study uses general and special methods of scientific research, in particular, the method of scientific abstraction to timely find and use in practice the indicators of evaluation of critical risks and effective methods of their reduction; the methods of comparative and structural factor analysis to evaluate the indicators under study; the method of logical generalization to provide directions and recommendations for reducing the influence of critical risks on the defence resource management system. The paper is the first to comprehensively analyze the influence of critical risks on the mechanism of defence resource management. The authors highlighted the concepts of responding to critical risks that influence the mechanism. The practical importance of the paper is that the introduction of an effective critical risk management system will allow improving the efficiency of this mechanism.

The digital agriculture adoption strive by farmers could be assimilated with the adoption efforts of the computer technologies (ICT) by their respective users in other professional fields. Therefore, this paper proposes the adaptation of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology (UTAUT) model to explore the motivations for the use of digital tools by field crop farmers in Romania. The history of TAM and UTAUT is explored as well as the usage of UTAUT2 and UTAUT3 in digital agriculture adoption studies globally. Furthermore, comparison is also made with other farmer studies based on a different research architecture conceived also to explore their motivations to use digital agriculture tools. The proposed model is building on the decades long research and validation of the UTAUT model, and it will be employed in subsequent quantitative studies to evaluate the Romanian farmers’ motivations to embrace the digital agriculture technologies and practices. The paper is the outcome of the individual research done by the author and it was enhanced following academic debates and conference presentations. It is deemed to have a dual applicability, as a field tool for academic research but also provides guidance for companies developing digital tools for farmers in Romania and beyond.

The aim of this paper is to examine the existence and persistence across various portfolios of stocks of the January effect, a market anomaly suggesting that security prices exhibit distortions in the first month of every year compared to the rest of the year. The existing empirical studies on the January effect in contemporary financial markets, particularly in recent years, are somewhat limited. To provide a comprehensive overview, this paper utilizes data encompassing all American stocks listed on NASDAQ, AMEX, and NYSE from 1980s to 2023. The selection of the American stock market as the sample is based on its complexity and substantial trading activity. This investigation delves into the anomaly by assessing its impact on stock portfolios categorized by size, book-to-market ratio, and dividend yield. Additionally, the paper scrutinizes cross-sectional variations within the portfolios to uncover potential patterns explaining this anomaly, by looking at the corresponding quintile distribution. The data undergoes regression analysis using dummy Ordinary Least Squares. The results of the analysis reveal that the anomaly affects only a subset of stocks that share common characteristics: small capitalization, high book-to-market value and the ones that did not yield investors any dividends. The results are in line with previous findings in literature, particularly those of Ross (1983) and Reinganum (1983), suggesting evidence in favour of the window dressing hypothesis and the tax-loss selling hypothesis.

This paper delves into the relationship between inflation and economic growth, two pivotal elements in contemporary economic discussions. It aims to demystify and elucidate these concepts, particularly examining how they are interlinked through the development of a comprehensive econometric model. The study pays special attention to key economic indicators such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI) and the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition, the paper considers the role of monetary and fiscal policies in managing inflation and fostering economic growth. This exploration not only contributes to a deeper understanding of economic dynamics but also offers valuable insights for policymakers and economists in formulating effective economic strategies.

This paper illustrates economic challenges on motherhood, womanhood, children, and the issue of GBV. It has become evident in numerous families that societal role of mothers has shifted immensely. As a result, many scholars decided to study the various components of motherhood. Hence, the objective of this paper is to comprehend motherhood in society and its acceptance in the domestic domain. Becoming a mother was not the mother’s decision, it was a response to sociocultural pressure that held women accountable pertaining to children. Women had distinct motherhood experiences, but it is kept secret from the family and society. The issue of GBV cause mothers to face immense pressure in a morally acceptable motherhood society. Therefore, mothers have a very negative perception of motherhood, particularly in a highly demanding patriarchal society.

The last decades have seen an increase in entrepreneurial development based on innovation. Having access to innovation and setting up a business in a country that can serve as an innovationenabler can increase the degree of attractiveness of that respective country. Governments around the world have adopted innovation-centered views and implemented relevant policies to serve as a driver for reaching high competitiveness and to ensure a more rapid economic and, implicitly, social progress. The aim of the paper is to present the top ten countries in the world in their evolution specific to the Global Innovation Index (GII) for the 2021-2023 period. The research methodology is based on a qualitative method. The paper shows that the top ten ranked countries in the world using this specific index remained the same for the investigated period, also maintaining a fairly constant relative position for the three years subject to analysis, Switzerland being the acknowledged leader.

The automotive industry has always represented a key sector within the economy of any country. Moreover, its significant contribution to the gross domestic product of many countries transformed this industry into one of the main pillars of the global economy. Therefore, numerous countries have built and produced various motor vehicles on different continents. The purpose of the paper is to briefly present and analyze the evolution of the world motor vehicle production on the four continents (Europe, America, Asia-Oceania, and Africa) in the period 2018-2022. The research methodology is based on a qualitative research method. The paper shows that the pre-pandemic period was a better period for the automotive industry than the pandemic period. Also, it demonstrates that AsiaOceania dominates the production hierarchy by continents.

Action nominalizations are employed in business English to attain a higher degree of condensation, abstraction, and accuracy. This paper reports on a corpus-based study of the actual usage patterns of -tion nominals in business news. In contrast to previous corpus-based studies of nominalizations, we adopt a syntactic approach and focus on the realization of the argument structure of -tion nominals. The primary aim of the paper is to shed light on the formal characteristics of the action nominalization patterns in business English, as well as to identify tendencies in the usage of -tion nominals in business writing.

This paper tackles the speaking skill, in general, and its role in language teaching and learning, focusing also on various ways of developing it, in particular by the employment of the debate technique EFL/ ESP classes. The theoretical part of the paper further deals with several definitions of the debate technique, with the classification of debates and with the advantages brought by the implementation of debates in EFL/ ESP classes – in particular as far as the enhancement of the learners’ speaking skills is concerned. The practical part of the paper proposes a case study which consists of an experiment that will highlight the benefits of the debate technique when adequately used in the Business English teaching and learning processes.

The purpose of this paper is to further strengthen the belief within the academic, professional and policy making communities about the need to speed up the adoption of Agriculture 4.0 technologies in the Romanian farms as the grassroot constituents of the national agriculture in order to secure their future competitiveness in the context of new European agricultural policies and regulations. A review of the most influential papers and the bibliometric mapping of articles on change management as well as ways to accelerate change processes through change agents is discussed. Agrinnovator is the think tank of young digital agriculture practitioners in the Romanian farms. Their public policy proposal to create The Farm Technology Officers Program in order to accelerate digitalization through relevant change agents is also discussed. Their interviews highlighted the need for government support in creating scale and impetus for the digitalization of agriculture. It is deemed to be a structural countrywide change that will happen faster if the adequate change agents are used.

In the 2022-2023 school year, about 47% of candidates were admitted to their first-choice high school, while 1.44% were not admitted to any school. This research paper explores the dynamics of Romania's educational landscape, focusing on the National Evaluation Exams in the 2022-2023 school year. The paper investigates the path of pupils who, despite obtaining passing final admission scores, were not assigned in the first admission round to an upper-secondary educational facility. Two crucial research questions guide this study: on one hand, how many of these students competed in a different county than their residential county? On the other hand, what similarities and differences exist among them in terms of performance at the National Exam and average scores in the lower-secondary educational cycle? The findings aim to shed light on the challenges and opportunities within Romania's education system.

In recent decades, although most tourists have made several trips during a year, the average length of their vacations has decreased. The tendency to reduce the average length of stay of tourists has been evident in many destinations around the world in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to conduct an analysis of how the average length of stay of tourists in the main categories of destinations in Romania has evolved over the last decade, providing details about the evolution regarding tourist destinations located in the Romanian Black Sea coastal area. Starting from the possible causes identified in this paper, of the almost continuous decrease in the average length of stay in these destinations, we consider it necessary to undertake more in-depth studies, to find out the causes of these developments, which will be the basis of future development and marketing strategies regarding the respective tourist resorts.

This paper investigates workaholism, initially identified as an uncontrollable urge to work incessantly, evolving from a positive work ethic to a recognized psychological and behavioral disorder. It explores the nuanced development of workaholism, examining its transition within professional and psychological contexts. The paper delves into the psychological factors contributing to workaholism, such as inherent personality traits and examines the role of organizational environments and societal norms in fostering workaholic behaviors. It highlights how specific workplace cultures and societal attitudes towards productivity and achievement can exacerbate workaholic tendencies. The article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of workaholism's psychological, behavioral, and socio-cultural dimensions, emphasizing the need for a shift towards balanced and sustainable work practices in modern professional environments to address workaholism and enhance overall workforce well-being and productivity.

In this scientific paper, we will conduct a multiple regression analysis using the nongovernmental credit (NGC) as the dependent variable and the inflation rate, unemployment rate and the M2 – money supply as independent variables, over a ten-year period, specifically the period of 2013-2022. The study was conducted analyzing the macroeconomic data of Romania and the purpose of this paper is to perform multiple regression analysis method to determine how turbulences such as the pandemic crisis, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the energy crisis, have impacted the nongovernmental lending activity and to find whether there is a significant association as determining factors (a correlation) between the mentioned variables.

The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how important it is for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to have a sufficient budget to carry out the missions entrusted by law. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has very important responsibilities in terms of maintaining public order and intervention in emergency situations. The Romanian Police, the Romanian Gendarmerie, the Romanian Border Police, which are in charge of maintaining public order, as well as the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, which is in charge of extinguishing fires and providing first aid through SMURD ambulances, are active within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In this paper, the possible negative impacts of the application of the Government’s Emergency Ordinances regarding some fiscal-budgetary measures, adopted in 2023, will be presented.

The financial system and its components are of interest to economists, researchers and practitioners in the field of banking finance. In Romania more than 77% of the total assets of the financial system are represented by the banking component. Based on this evidence, the paper is an empirical analysis of the evolution of the volume and structure of banking assets in Romania in the period 2020-2023. By analysing the share of foreign versus domestic capital, we also wanted to draw attention to a possible risk of contagion, as external factors have emerged in recent years and are currently affecting the economic and financial balance. The motivation for this paper comes from the fact that the structure and share of foreign capital in the Romanian banking system shows how sensitive the system is to contagion risk. In the current period, when international events are happening rapidly, the study is timely.

This paper explores the impact of implementing chatbots in the internal audit process of public education entities. The study analyzes the efficiency and effectiveness of chatbots in optimizing audit operations, highlighting benefits such as increasing efficiency, improving audit quality and facilitating communication between auditors and institution staff. The results highlight the significant contributions of chatbots in reducing administrative burdens, saving resources and creating a more transparent and adaptable audit process. The paper provides relevant insights for public entities seeking to integrate emerging technologies into their internal audit practices, highlighting the importance of chatbots in the effective evolution of this field.

Artificial intelligence, the latest chapter of the technological revolution, has a tremendous potential to change every area of our lives. This article has focused on a specific form of artificial intelligence, namely generative intelligence, which facilitates the generation of content in all its forms (text, image, video, audio, programming codes, etc.). Thus, generative artificial intelligence has a crucial role in education, allowing for the personalisation of educational content and facilitating the learning process. In the beginning, the paper has highlighted conceptual delimitations regarding artificial intelligence and its applications in education, along with advantages and limitations, highlighting that the adoption of generative artificial intelligence solutions, such as ChatGPT, in higher education in economics has been relatively underexplored in the literature. In order to cover these gaps identified in the literature, have been presented, in the second part of the paper, the methodology and results of an exploratory research, conducted on a sample of 364 undergraduate and master's students at the Faculty of Business and Tourism within the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. The research has provided insight into the perception of Business Administration students regarding these applications. The results indicated a high level of awareness and interest in content generation models and highlighted that users with favourable perceptions regarding the quality of content generated by such applications tend to believe that their integration into academic endeavours can foster creativity and enhance employment prospects.