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An attempt is being made to analyze the geodemographic picture in the rural areas (RA) of Bulgaria within a tenyear period. The authors of the scientific publication are based on the fact that the human population located in the smaller administrative territorial units (neighbourhoods, villages and small towns in terms of area and population) is of key importance for the functioning of social activities, which are basic for economic development in the country. The purpose of the scientific research is to investigate and analyze the natural growth (NG) of the population in the RA of Bulgaria for the period between the two national censuses 2011-2021. The results will present the temporary geodemographic picture of rural municipalities. Methodology in the scientific article is based on the definition of RA in the EU and Bulgaria. It is applied to the NUTS classification for grouping the abovementioned regions of the country, calculation of the natural increase of the population by years is based on the methodology of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) of the Republic of Bulgaria. The visualization of the process - NG of the population in the RA is presented in tables and figures, in which the dynamics of the numerical values for a certain period in per million (‰) and their change during the study are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtualization and online engineering of services are emerging as key themes that will profoundly influence society and industry in the near and distant future. This paper focuses on the transformation of administrative services in universities into virtual services through online engineering. This transition presents challenges not only to universities in Bulgaria but also worldwide. Given the significant impact of technology on the daily operations of universities, it is evident that the digital divide is an issue worthy of investigation. Disparities in the adoption of online administrative services can and will lead to inconsistencies in the economic development of universities. This article aims to explore some of the challenges associated with virtualization and online engineering of administrative services in universities and offers insights into how to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The National Sports Academy "V. Levski" in Bulgaria is a leading educational and scientific institution in Europe for producing specialised personel in the field of Wellness & Spa tourism. The majority of graduates students (Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree) immediately find high-paying jobs abroad and leave the country. Methods: This paper aims to discuss and analyse the ongoing brain drain in the Bulgarian Wellness & Spa tourism industry. The study examines changes in values and beliefs that have significant impacts on employment, labor, and human behavior. Results: The high salaries offered to specialized personnel in the field of Wellness & Spa tourism has resulted in an annual brain drain to countries such as Europe, the USA, and the Emirates. Despite historical traditions, Bulgarian Wellness & Spa businesses are struggling due to the shortage of well-trained personnel. Discussion: This paper discusses changes in lifestyle and the underlying causes for the permanent shortage of qualified employees in the Wellness & Spa tourism industry. The negative economic impact of brain drain on Bulgaria as a tourist destination is also emphasised. Conclusion: The brain drain in the Bulgarian Wellness & Spa tourism industry is affecting operational, managerial, and scientific staff. It is essential to implement policy changes to safeguard the sector. These policies should aim to attract and retain specialized personnel, as well as offer competitive salaries and benefits. Failure to address brain drain could lead to long-term negative impacts on the Bulgarian economy and the country's Wellness & Spa industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed at the conference "Economic Development of European Socialist Countries," which was held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on November 30 to December 6, 1964 is presented. The various reports presented focused on the comprehension of the economic trends and problems in Eastern Europe. Such features and issues considered including balance of payments, labor skills, and technological innovations.

The purpose of this research paper is to examine the goals and challenges of the regional development in a pandemic. In accordance with the set topic, the exhibition follows: ­ Clarifying the essence of the regional development concept. ­ Analysis of the socio - economic situation of different districts in Bulgaria on the basis of summarized data from the beginning of the pandemic. ­ Presentation of the main goals and challenges for achieving sustainable and balanced regional development in a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide evidence for the good timing to forming a unity between Bulgaria and the countries of the Western Balkans in a coordinated effort for building strategic profile and capacity in the commercialization, brokerage and servicing of international innovation and technology transfer (IITT). The timing is right, especially in a post pandemic economic recovery of the world and the course of accession of the Western Balkans to the EU. The study justifies the need of a unified strategic framework, to avoid political and partisan momentary discourse, which might negatively affect the whole region politically, socially, and economically. All the arguments and reasoning in the study assume that the economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic is the crisis of the broken supply chains (GSC). Lives are lost, jobs are lost, and global governments are facing a thread that leaves the citizens of their respective countries with neither medical, not economic safety. It is a priority are to secure sustainability and resilience for each country and region. Countries do consider recovery through reposition on the new global value chains (GVC) structure. Globalization is inevitable and irreversible but at the same time proximity and regional sustainability are a critical factor in international trade and will continue to be on focus. The competitive advantages and even economies of scale in production are not sufficient for the contemporary global economy and international trade. Technologies are and will be more often the objects of international commercial transactions. Thus, more economies are and will continue trying to build economic capacity by implementation of innovations and new technologies. Timing is critical and internal national research and development (R&D) is often not adequate to the urgency of economic needs. Thus, national and corporate economic subjects are more likely to acquire technology capacity to satisfy their needs, rather than trading the demanded goods or services. In such cases, the IITT is the most efficient and justified approach, though it requires capacity to evaluate, adapt, integrate, monitor, and navigate through a solid scientific background. IITT management set of skills is unique and requires multidisciplinary protocols and scientific expertise. The paper is reasoning that the development of such specialization on the Balkans is well justified by the similarities in the economic background of countries in the region and the open cohesion and convergence programs. In addition to those, the accession process to the EU for the Western Balkans and the EU membership of Bulgaria are tools and access to additional funding sources and IP protection. The EU framework and the union infrastructure are also an engine to reposition Bulgaria and the Western Balkans on the EU markets with products of higher level of technology input and showcase the added value of a specialization of the region in knowledge transfer and application. The paper is advocating the conclusion that economic growth and sustainable development of Bulgaria and the Western Balkans is not possible through a simplified cohesion and convergence process only but through advanced specialization in IITT. The current study concludes, that by a targeted regional policy for industrial specialization in IITT, Bulgaria and the Western Balkans will have a chance to take a leading role in the European economy and in the GVC of the near future. Structuring of the economic profile with substantial dominance of IITT is an opportunity to achieve high level of sustainability, upgrading the social and demographic environment of all individual countries. The Research and Development of new technology as an immense consequence of the IITT specialization of the region is the second stage perspective, which all together with the new technology solutions implication in the region will build and advance proprietary capacity of each individual country and the region for the next decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of Pre-accession to the European Union is filled with measures for assistance for the candidate countries, as to create a favourable accession and harmonization period for the candidate countries' systems. As such, the European Union uses different measures for support of businesses and the economic environment of a candidate country, as a part of a large programme, dubbed "the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA)". Funds used from this Instrument target capacities build-up on different areas within the candidate country throughout the accession period, with the goal of creating progressive and positive developments in the candidate country. The Republic of North Macedonia has been identified as a potential EU candidate since 2003, when the Thessaloniki European Council has granted this status. Since 2005, the country has been granted candidate status, with recommendation to open accession negations in 2015. Therefore, the pre-accession assistance that is to be granted to the country is expected to be similar to countries that have already been through this process and are now members of the EU. For comparison purposes, the support measures from the pre-accession period of two similar, already EU-member countries are compared throughout this paper. Slovenia, as a member state that has similar population, size and political background to the Republic of North Macedonia, is taken into the research of this paper, as well as Bulgaria, which is a country that is most similar to the political and economic situation of the Republic of North Macedonia during its pre-accession period, and it is one of the last countries to enter the EU. Their respective use and allowances under the IPA, with focus on measures within the instrument used to enhance the business environment of each country, are thoroughly analysed throughout this paper, as to offer an insight into what can be expected as business support measures for this period of pre-accession for Macedonia. Additionally, the results from these support measures in Slovenia and Bulgaria give a clearer image as to what should be expected and what can be the impact on development and progress of the business and economic environment of Macedonia, during this pre-accession period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this paper is the corruption in economic and business relations in Bulgaria and the registered new trends. This type of corruption impedes economic development, causing distortions and inefficiencies, hence the necessity of an adequate response. The current meta-analysis of the available literature and the researched practice in a chronological and structured way is trying to explore the latest developments of the theory, legislation, institutional decisions and social attitude towards corruption and to present new approaches and ideas for a solution to the problem. Special attention is paid to the relatively new phenomenon "private-to-private" corruption, the new Bulgarian Act on Counteracting Corruption and on Seizure of Illegally Acquired Property 2018 and the best practices for fighting corruption and investigating fraud with EU funds. Some extra proposals for improvement of business climate are offered with a recommendation for probation. If all that is successful, it could be extrapolated in other fields, countries, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of the youth unemployment situation in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, relatively similar to economic development and with different EU member state status. It analyses distinctions in the corresponding rates on a national level and makes an attempt to summarise skills required in these labour markets which young people need to improve. Methodology: The article is a continuation of previous studies of the authors based on youth unemployment in Bulgaria and, in particular, the barriers before young people to enter the labour market successfully. The research focuses on trends of the levels of unemployment of young people during recent years using publicly available data from Eurostat as well as the skill mismatches which challenge youths to be more successful when starting their careers. The study gathers information from relevant scientific publications as well as from various reports, dedicated to this topic. Findings: The article distinguishes between the different trends in youth unemployment, looking for specific reasons. It also suggests common barriers for young people to enter the labour market in the countries under review. Practical implications: A clear view on the movement in unemployment rates amongst young people in neighbouring countries and the main barriers for them to start successful careers could be prerequisite for the countries commented to improve their policies towards management of this issue. Moreover, they could combine their efforts and create a synergetic effect trying to tackle the problem regionally. Originality/value: The paper aims to outline common challenges of a few neighbouring countries in the Balkans and, as a result, formulates trends typical for those countries which could be applicable to the bigger part of the region. The study incorporates two points of view -- from a national and individual perspective to analyse labour markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the development of key financial measures in the Trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles industry in Bulgaria. The study refers to data for the 2009-2019 period, retrieved from an official source - the NSI. The analysis of one of the key economic sectors in Bulgaria - Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and the measures studied from a financial and economic point of view, in particular, leads to the conclusion that it is highly dependent on everything that happens in the country in economic and social terms. In structural terms, the study consists of two main parts, covering the characteristics and trends in the Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles industry in Bulgaria for the 2009-2019 period. The positive and negative factors affecting the sector are drawn as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

26 species of invasive alien plant species enter the arable land in Bulgaria as weeds. Some of these species are already causing economic damage and are included in the list of the 100 most economically important weeds. For others, it is only a matter of time before they are included in this list. Possessing a complex of qualities, they spread quickly and aggressively, occupying new areas and settling permanently in them. As artificial habitats in which there is no permanent vegetation, arable land is one of the easiest terrains to invade. The study examines the biological characteristics that determine the invasive nature of this group of plants, their origin, distribution routes, weed crops and control measures that can be taken. Particular attention shall be paid to the additional effects that these species may have on human health, on cultivated crops and on natural habitats located in the neighborhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economics of Agriculture / Ekonomika Poljoprivrede is the property of Institute of Agricultural Economics (IAE) / Belgrade and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The research discussed in the article focuses on public space in urban areas and revitalization activities carried out by local governments. The goals of the paper are to identify the conditions and opportunities for the development of public space by local governments of Bulgaria and Poland, to find regularities (similarities and differences) and to assess the actions taken. The specific objective is to illustrate the process of planning and managing selected large revitalization investments in urban public spaces in Bulgaria and Poland. The research methods used comprise the analysis of literature, including official documents and acts of law and case studies. The paper analyzes the conditions and manifestations of activities taken by local governments regarding investment in public space (development and revitalization of public space programs and investing in real estate) in Bulgaria and Poland, using examples from selected cities. The authors selected two comparable urban areas: Varna in Bulgaria and Poznań in Poland, chosen intentionally due to the similarity of the two post-socialist bloc countries and the availability of information. Bulgarian and Polish state law and various acts of local law were analyzed. The experimental part of the publication introduces case studies of investments in the revitalization of real estate in public space managed by the local governments. It shows examples of projects which are relevant to the development of the cities under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this paper are: first, to briefly review the different theoretical aspects of brain drain and its potential positive or negative, direct or indirect effects on the economy of the home country; second, to highlight the limited empirical research on some of these issues; and third, to discuss on this grounding the empirical evidence on the nature and size of brain drain, as well as its impact on the economies of Albania and Bulgaria. As it appears, the evidence for these two countries and its evaluation as to whether brain drain has been or can be a threat to their development is contradictory and confusing, as it comes out from different casual observations without a convincing analysis. The relevant discussion has not escaped the stereotype way of thinking that the economy and society of these two countries would have been better had emigration of educated persons not taken place, or had those who migrated just returned. The conclusion on policy for brain drain and brain return is that merely hindering the emigration of educated people or trying to motivate their return cannot by itself elevate education and research to higher quality levels and promote development and growth. Without simultaneously developing a friendly and comprehensive institutional and pragmatic framework, such measures are often ineffective or even counterproductive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to present a methodology for the decomposition of economic growth by industry which allows interindustry comparisons. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses the growth decomposition methodology developed by Ivanov and Ivanov and Webster for tourism and generalizes it for all industries in the national economy. Findings - The methodology is exemplified with analysis of the contribution of specific industries to economic growth in Bulgaria for the period 2000-2005. However, the model presents an approach that is general and can be applied to other countries and industries. Research limitations/implications - The methodology identifies the direct impacts of specific industries on the per capita growth of real gross domestic product/gross value added. Future research might integrate indirect and induced effects in the analysis. The methodology could be further refined by decomposing the gross domestic product/gross value added to their constituent elements. Practical implications - The paper identifies the industries in the Bulgarian economy that generate economic growth. Originality/value - The paper introduces a new methodology for measuring the contribution of specific industries to economic growth. It might be of value to both academics and macroeconomic policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the benefits associated with the use of intelligent (smart) packaging, which are gaining popularity and recognition as a technological innovation that brings benefits to all participants in the economic process. Theoretical summary is given about the nature of smart packaging and the advantages of their application for the retail trade and the consumers. Moments related to the regulatory requirements for their use are given. Data on the global market for smart packaging and for the production of packaged goods and packaging in Bulgaria in general are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper emphasizes the close interrelatedness among various levels of bargaining in transition economies. Focusing on the Bulgarian case, the author argues that in Bulgaria and other transition economies, neither purely national nor purely company-based bargaining is occurring; instead, the 'social partners' (interest groups representing labor and business) have developed a multi-level bargaining structure that encompasses and links together national, company, industry, and regional levels. Multi-tier bargaining is prompted, on the one hand, by simultaneous pressures for centralization and decentralization during economic restructuring, and, on the other, by the need to legitimate the social partners at all levels. The author shows that in Bulgaria, increasing interdependencies and interactions among levels of bargaining have helped secure greater flexibility, adaptability, and survivability during extremely uncertain times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study estimates the impact of human capital on growth by focusing on three countries which differ in the human capital's structure and quality: the Czech Republic, Estonia and Bulgaria. Human capital is measured by the labor force having completed at least upper secondary education. The co-integrating regressions based on the neoclassical production function are solved by the DOLS method with structural breaks. The results do not support the hypothesis that higher educational attainment per se accelerates aggregate output since the countries differ in both the sign and magnitude of the regression coefficients. However, the findings justify the view that the role of tertiary education increases with the level of economic development. One plausible explanation of this outcome is that the quality of human capital is more important for growth than its quantity. With regard to that, the paper provides evidence that in the European economies the foreign language learning used as a measure of the quality of schooling is more strongly linked to the increments of real GDP per capita than educational attainment. The impact of higher education might be explained also in light of the labor market channel, specifically the deepening qualification mismatch in countries with rising tertiary education graduation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bulgarian economy has consistently ranked as one of the last among the EU countries regarding national competitiveness and factor productivity. Currently, its growth is modest and cannot qualify as a catch-up. A number of analyses have been dedicated to this topic, the results indicating various qualitative and quantitative factors or their aggregates as the cause for this lagging behind. This paper is an attempt to find out whether net foreign direct investment can help to improve the economic growth in Bulgaria. The analysis by Granger regarding the causality relationship between the GDP components and foreign direct investment inflows makes it clear that FDI affects not only government spending, which suggests that they cannot cause a change in the political institutions that determine the economic institutions. In short, at present foreign direct investment cannot be considered a source of economic growth due to the lack of investment in strengthening the market mechanisms by government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the development of migration processes to and from Bulgaria and their impact on the country's economic development. More specifically, it addresses the characteristics and trends of emigration from Bulgaria and those of immigration to the country. Its aim is to explore the complex internal structure and trends in individual migration flows in a very interesting historical period in which two strong external factors influence Bulgaria, the EU and the whole world in general - the global financial and economic crisis and the refugee crisis. In this environment, the processes are developing dynamically, changing the balances in the various migrant groups and increasing the unpredictability of migration. The paper firstly presents the European labour market and the free movement of people as external environment of migratory movements. It studies all structural features of outgoing migration, then the characteristics of incoming migration to the country. Lastly, it assesses the demographic and economic effects of immigration. Instead of a conclusion, the paper draws some recommendations on some effective policies to deal with the negative effects of emigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper argues that cross-border cooperation is important for border regions for building productive economies and inclusive societies. It justifies also the need of integrating sustainable development principles into regional development practice. The paper analyses levels and dynamics of key socio- economic indicators of the Northeast Region of Macedonia and Kyustendil district in Bulgaria such as regional - GDP, gross value added, employment, economic structure, demographic indicators. It concludes by presenting prospects for development of cooperation in the cross border regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the trends and development of Bulgarian beekeeping. The study is based on official statistical data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and fieldwork study for the period 2009-2012. To achieve the above aim, first of all, the authors trance the changes in the production of honey until 2012 and second they analyze the distribution of farms according the number of bee colonies and prophylactic methods of their feeding up. In addition, in study was revealed the reasons for distribution of the bee colonies and identified the important problems facing the sector in term of the legislation, protection of the bee colonies, the control of the importing the queen bees and market development of the bee products. The one of main results of the study showed that the number of bee colonies in the country decrease even highly expert-oriented production of honey in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development of a country depends on many factors. One of them is the balanced development of regions. The aim of this research is to study the inequalities between regions (NUTS 3 level) in Bulgaria by application of the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI), a tool, which is based on 10 important for regional development indicators. The paper presents the last RCI ranking list (for the 2016 year) and analyses and compares it with the ranking lists for previous years. The results show significant inequalities between the capital region and other regions for the whole period and relative small imbalances between other regions. The RCI ascertained relatively stable groups of most competitive and most non-competitive regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to investigate the sources of economic growth in Bulgaria and Macedonia. We use a growth accounting framework based on production, demand and sector-side approach, for the period 2000-2015. The tree-sided approach enables the analysis of similarities and differences of growth models in the two countries, through altered perspectives. The estimated results of the conventional decomposition of economic growth sources indicate that the main driver of annual rate of economic growth in both countries is investment in physical capital. However, the differences are found in the contribution of labour force and TFP contribution. The higher contribution of labour force is found in Macedonia, while the contribution of TFP is more significant in Bulgaria. Additionally, the results based on demand-side approach of the sources-of-growth analysis indicate that the households consumption and government spending are the main growth drivers in both countries, with negative effects of trade deficit and, as well, negative contribution of net export to economic growth. Furthermore, the estimated results of growth accounting based on sector-side approach show that the economic growth in both countries predominantly is driven by trade and service sector, with lower contribution of manufacturing. Finally, the paper depicts several policy suggestions and recommendations based on underlying insights, estimated results and conventional guiding principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study is to introduce level and trends of development in Bulgarian beef cattle. Current paperwork is based on research among members of bull breeding association in Bulgaria during 2019, public data from 2007 to 2020 and own observation based on meeting farmers. In needs for analyzes are used statistic and marketing methods. The results include structure of cattle herds, farm size, diffusion in territory of the country, meat produce, prices and suggestions of development by farmers. The paper presents some specifics in marketing of beef cattle and characteristics of their meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the current economic and social regional performance in Bulgaria. It is aimed at outlining the regions' differences in the country and giving relevant recommendations how to narrow this disparity in the future development. The purpose of the regional progress is to achieve faster economic progress and cohesion in order that the country catch up sooner with the average EU level of economic development. Three basic aspects of the regional disparity are considered: demographic, social and economic. The efficiency of the national policies for regional development in Bulgaria as well as the opportunity given by the EU funds are discussed in view of achieving considerable progress in the regional cohesion in Bulgaria and the country's efficient EU integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the main parameters of the sustainable development of the urban and rural environment as a basis for ecological development of the Bulgarian Black Sea region. Based on the problems of urbanization in the post-totalitarian transition in Bulgaria, conclusions and findings are made about the nature and the parameters of the implementation of the second pillar "Green Bulgaria" of the Plan for Recovery and Sustainability of the Republic of Bulgaria. The thesis is defended that the future development of Bulgarian Black Sea region should be based on environmental friendliness and sustainability. An attempt has been made to highlight the positive and negative changes in the ecological development of the Bulgarian Black Sea region over the last three decades. The main guidelines for the necessary changes in the regulatory aspect are presented. They should ensure the protection of the air, soil, water and nature of the Bulgarian Black Sea region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, came in 2020, on the economic development of European Union countries, including Bulgaria. The negative impact on the economic performance of the European countries is investigated by analyzing the dynamics of several indicators, such as economic growth, unemployment, production in manufacturing, construction production, retail sales. The results of the analyses showed that the countries, registered the largest total number of coronavirus cases were the most negatively affected in terms of economic growth rates, unemployment, and manufacturing production. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic had stronger negative effects on the economic performance of the European countries than the international financial crisis in 2008-2009. The reason for the stronger negative effect of the health crisis on the economic development of the countries compared to the financial crisis in 2008 is its comprehensiveness and the impact on almost all sectors of the economy, and not only the impact on the financial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper questions what role should universities have in the twenty-first century society. Historically the development of higher education is closely related to the growth of economy and society and university's mission evolved during the centuries to respond to the changing societal needs. They survived by turning organisational confusion and crisis into opportunities for re-examination, innovation and rejuvenation. The current crisis and the changes we are undergoing can be an opportunity for a new start. However, imagining a new role for universities requires to conceive what kind of society we want to live in, and what are the conditions that will make it possible. In a 'new society', aiming at equity and sustainability, universities will be the cultural reference points for their communities, will have an essential role as a social institution, and will contribute to establishing local social dynamics. Universities will be key organizations and supporters in regional and national innovation system, with a primary role in developing the competitiveness of Europe's economies. Moreover they will have social responsibility and public engagement, linking generations as well as today and tomorrow's workforce, being the educative reference for students, lecturers, and the whole community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper examines the dynamics of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Bulgaria and in the EU. The key objective of the study is to analyze the FDI dynamics and particularly in the energy sector during the period 2007-2013. In the globalized world FDI is one of the main factors of economic growth, integration and further globalization. Our motivation to analyze the investments in the energy sector in Bulgaria is related with the fact that as a part of the European Union (EU) the Bulgarian energy system in the period after the EU accession it should have transformed itself significantly -- from an energy system reling heavily on a single state-owned nuclear power plant and several old coal power plants to a newly more energy efficient and complying with the global environmental standards system. Nowadays, the role of investments in the RES sector is gaining a rising importance and in the current study we will try to evaluate its overall influence over the sector as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the effects of R&D investment on the essential components of the economic development such as economic growth, competitiveness, labour market and inequality reduction. The main purpose of the research is to highlight the position of Bulgaria in the world economy concerning R&D development. In the article frame, the authors compared the R&D expenditures dynamics of Bulgaria and the EU28 by the prism of innovations in business and higher education. Systematisation literary sources and approaches for solving the problem indicated that R&D caused the changes in the job market that led to the necessity to adjust the university system. There is currently a lag. Methodological tools of this research were as follows: the method of processing quantitative data, content and comparative analyses, situational and sectoral analyses, and graphical dynamic analysis. The object of research is the dynamics of investments in innovations in Bulgaria and EU28. The emphasis is placed on the role of research centres, enterprises, clusters and education institutions in R&D development to assess the level of innovation achieved through R&D. The obtained results of an empirical analysis showed that the cluster approach raised R&D to a new level and helped to bring universities and business together. Rethinking of the public policies and investing in technology centres will help for the adaptation to the new realities of the labour market. The research results could be useful for employers, high tech research centres and universities. This study is expected to be the base for further studies dedicated to boosting economic competitiveness and social welfare due to the promoting implementation of innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Reimbursable Advisory Services on Accelerating Resilience to Disaster Risks, the World Bank worked with the Interior Ministry of Bulgaria to develop a proposal for the National Disaster Risk Profile of Bulgaria. The purpose of this document, which is the fourth technical annex to the proposal for the National Disaster Risk Profile, is to provide particular conclusions, information, and techniques that were utilised to evalu-ate the risk of landslides in Bulgaria. For the first time at the national level, landslide risk assessment procedures based on ISO/IEC 31010:2019 Risk assessment techniques are being developed and applied in Bulgaria. The five primary categories in which the results are presented are physical safety, economic security, social well-being, environmental security, and security of tangible assets and critical infrastructure. The uncertainty (confidence) parameter is utilised, and it is subdivided into the following three basic categories: low uncertainty, medium uncertainty, and high uncertainty. The produced results demonstrate consistent applicability to empirical data analysis and real-world situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to highlight how tourism, especially tourism in border areas is affecting the economic development of the territories. Tourism is considered to be one of the sectors with the greatest potential to generate economic growth worldwide. It may represent, however, a significant increase in support for emerging economics and an important clement in reducing poverty and disparities between regions. Romania-Bulgaria border area is situated in a geographical area with remarkable natural potential, alongside the Danube River and Black Sea coastal zone. The paper addresses issues that range from the general vision of researchers regarding the influence of tourism on the economy, cross-border tourism, and aspects of the Romania and Bulgaria's level of tourism competitiveness in international context. Finally, the article presents a critical analysis of the links between economic and tourism development in the counties, respectively, in the districts of Romania-Bulgaria border area, by correlating specific indicators homogeneous collected by the involved countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Balkan Journal of Social Sciences / Balkan Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Balkan Journal of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents results of a study which estimates the impact of human capital on growth in Bulgaria over the period 2000-2012. The empirical models are based on the extended Cobb-Douglas production with three inputs-labor, physical capital and human capital. Export and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are included as well. The quantity of human capital is measured by the share of people in the labor force aged 25-64 having completed at least upper secondary education. The outcome suggests that the share of people with upper secondary education enters insignificantly the regression model. Moreover, its short-run accumulation is related negatively to real output per capita. When tertiary education is considered, the result is positive and statistically significant. In general, the study cannot fully support the hypothesis that education fosters growth because people with upper secondary education twice outnumber those with tertiary education. The results also imply that the upward trend of real output is attributed mainly to FDI, physical capital accumulation and export. A reasonable explanation of the non-significant role of secondary education is that the quality of human capital is a crucial factor for growth especially in countries where the average educational level is relatively high. According to the results of a partial correlation analysis foreign language proficiency explains a large part of the variation in output per capita across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to review from a regulatory perspective the major trends in the development of the bank services sector in Bulgaria. The analysis covers the period from the first years of transition until present and stresses the importance of regulatory issues. The objective of the research is to prove that bank regulation was a key factor in sustaining the financial sector both during the transition from a centrally planned into the market economy and also today, when it is being confronted with the global financial crisis. The research methodology includes an overview of the research work on financial services development in transition economies and a case study with a retrospective analysis on the development of bank services in Bulgaria in the 90s as well as on current credit portfolio tendencies and their future prospects. The paper highlights the role of the Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and their contribution to the progress made in the financial services market in Bulgaria. The research results underline the importance of a solid regulatory base for sustaining the development of the financial market in the country and for sound financial management of the bank services sector in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the need for managing the risk at which the photovoltaic installations (PVI) in Bulgaria are exposed and includes the description of the method. The available literature does not provide the costs of the potential losses which can be detrimental for a PVI investor. Considering the specific character of the information needed for this research, an expert evaluation is considered to be an appropriate approach for acquiring it. The data retrieved will be used for the Monte Carlo method in order to establish which risks cause greatest damages to PVI and to improve their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to analyze and explore franchise appurtenance to large companies as an alternative strategy for development of Bulgarian tourism. Special emphasis is placed on the specific features of the new business model. The advantages and disadvantages of modern franchising concept are explored. Attention is focused on tourism sector, which is a beneficiary of the irreversible process of globalization and its acceleration factor. As a result of the dynamic market transformations, there is a real need to review the impact of the restructuring priorities of socio-economic nature. The role of franchising in hospitality is highlighted. The main reasons for its rapid development in Bulgaria are defined and analyzed in details. An analysis of the Bulgarian franchise market is made and the main results of operation of the new business alternative to Bulgarian tourism are displayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from a centrally planned to a more market-oriented economy provides a natural experiment on the role of institutions and exchange in economic development, and more specifically on firm growth. This paper uses survey data from Bulgaria to analyse the impact of exchange problems and institutional innovations on farm growth. Late payments have a negative influence on farm growth, while contracting with interlinked programmes has a positive effect on farm growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the theory of the knowledge economy, the paper interprets the role of the industrial property for improving the competitiveness of the firms and the significance of the patent-license firm policy for their innovative development. Based on analysis, the article formulates conclusions on using the intellectual property in the firms in Bulgaria: ·Exclusive rights on the objects of industrial property do not provide real economic benefits to the Bulgarian firms. ·The imitators are a serious threat to the industrial property of the firms, and the increase of the number of violations of the rights of the industrial property is a main problem in all sectors. ·The weak activity of the technological market in Bulgaria is a direct result of the low technological profile of the Bulgarian economy and of the lack of motivation of the firms creating and introducing new technological solutions. In conclusion the paper makes the statement that the industrial property is not considered and used as an economic resource by the firms in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents problems to the educational preparation of the Bulgarian population, to the forming and presence of human capital, including such with high level and quality. It focuses the attention on more important barriers to increasing the quality of the human capital of the country, as well as some premises to the unfavorable phenomena and processes in the education. The paper states that the development of the education and human capital of Bulgaria should become a strategic national priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]