Search

In Bulgaria, like in most countries, the comprehensive assessments on agrarian sustainability are mostly at sectoral or farm levels while there is practically no in-depth study on sustainability at sub-sector (industry) level. This paper tries to fill the gap and assess the sustainability of different sub-sectors in Bulgarian agriculture. First, a holistic hierarchical framework for assessing the integral, economic, social and ecological sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture is suggested, including 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values. After that, an assessment, on the overall and aspects sustainability of major crop, livestock and mixed subsectors of Bulgarian agriculture, is made. It is based on first-hand information collected though in-depth interviews with the managers of "typical" farms in analyzed industries. The study has found out that there is a considerable differentiation in the level of integral and aspects sustainability in individual sub-sectors in Bulgaria, with mixed livestock-breeding, mixed crop-growing, and perennial crops sub-sectors having the highest integral sustainability, while pigs, poultry and rabbits; vegetables, flowers and mushrooms, and mixed livestock-crops subsectors the lowest one. There are also substantial variations in the levels of economic, social and ecological sustainability of different agricultural sub-sectors and individual indicators with the highest and lowest values showing (critical) factors enhancing and deterring particular or overall sustainability of evaluated agro-industries. Results on the integral agrarian sustainability level of this study based on the micro sub-sector (farm) data are similar to the previous assessment based on the aggregate sectoral (statistical, etc.) data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intenselife style at the beginning of the 21st century implies a development of new alternative forms of tourism, related to relaxation, maintenance of good health and recovery of physical and mental balance. Seekers of strong sensations are usually active consumers of specific tourist services, and this is why the extreme forms of tourism are dynamically introduced and offered on the Bulgarian tourist market. The aim of this research is to study the attitudes among participants and observers of one of the most extreme sports in Bulgaria- the off-road. There search aims to show how the conditions of the events satisfy tourists, what their preferences are to improve and diversify their vacation. There search methods used are the following: statistical, historical, comparative analysis, regional analysis, survey. The assessment of this type of tourism is rather positive and based generally on the possibility of combining active recreation with sports, where there are strong sensations and high adrenaline; the possibility of combining extreme forms of tourism with the so called event tourism, which allows the participants to be involved in a particular community; going beyond the traditional everyday life, based on a strongly urbanized lifestyle with high levels of stress and tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examine the impact of consumers' behavior on corporate behavior in terms of strategic thinking and planning. This is a very dynamic process where the development of specific strategies to influence consumers is almost impossible. The aim of this research report is to demonstrate through real examples of Bulgarian mobile operators the types of consumers and to find the objective and subjective reasons that influence the thinking and behavior of consumers. The following tasks were tackled in order to achieve this goal: • Presentation of some mobile operators which impact different target groups. • Survey of main strategies and techniques from business organizations which are targeting the different types of consumers. The methods used for achieving this goal and resolving the tasks are: analysis of consumers and their behavior, analysis of successful practices, and comprehensive approach. The results indicate the need for analysis of dependencies and actual interests and decision-making process of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viticulture is a traditional and important sector of Bulgarian agriculture and alongside with wine production has a strong export potential. Traditions, combined with favourable natural conditions promote the sector on international markets. The accession of Bulgaria to the European Union brought about a number of challenges and new requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy referring to product quality and competitiveness. The aim of the research is to analyse the competitive advantages of viticulture after the Accession and to highlight the opportunities for the sector in the programing period 2014-2020. Several of the commonly used indicators for the evaluation of competitive advantages have been applied such as the Relative index of export advantages - RXA, the Relative trade advantage - RTA and Related competitiveness - RC. The results of the study show the need for measures directed towards a balanced development of the viticultural sector in a few directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-economic changes occurred after 1989, face the problems of the pension systems of Bulgaria and Poland. The challenges faced by the social security systems called for a completely new reforming philosophy. A multi-pillar model of social protection has been introduced with the specifics in both countries. The article's main goal is to follow the reforms implemented in the social security systems of Bulgaria and Poland by examining individual solutions in the field of social security policy, pointing out current challenges and trends in the two pension systems. To achieve this goal the following tasks are completed: • Analysis of the social security systems starting from the beginning of the 90s and of the undertaken measures and steps concerning the reform conduct; • Analysis of the reform's results in relation to the requirements for adequacy and financial sustainability of the new pensions; • Analysis of current challenges facing the pension systems of Bulgaria and Poland; The methods utilized during the study are the system approach, statistical evaluations, analysis and synthesis, comparison methods and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main goal of paper is to analyze beef markets and maintain factors which define supply, demand and prices on international, national and local markets (the example is Bulgarian beef market). The study trying to discover some relations between different factors of the beef market and to assess their impact to pricing at that food supply chain. Most of results are presented at chronological order by mean, absolute and relive values. For determining influence between them is applied factor, correlation and regression analysis. The objectives of paper - beef cattle and supply chain were selected because this sector was developing at Bulgaria in recent years. Bulgarian Ministry of agriculture and food reported meat cows are doubled from 2011 to 2016 and recovered beef meat at carcass weight growing with 8% on year base. Whereas Bulgaria is traditional importer of beef (around 1/3 of consummation is covered by imported meat) although ecological resources are very appropriate for developing meat cattle. Those conditions putting meat cattle sector at perspective at Bulgarian livestock but effectiveness at producing and distribution depends of markets factors and policy decisions, which are subject of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct payments are the main component of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). They form approximately 76% of CAP budget in the programming period 2014-2020. The main purpose of the study is to outline the opportunities and challenges for Bulgarian agriculture, based on the analysis of direct payments distribution. The Lorenz curve, as the most widely used measure of inequality, is applied in the paper to surveying the disparities in the direct payments distribution. The results of the analysis show highly uneven distribution of the direct support across Bulgarian farms. The Lorenz curve indicates that payments are accumulated mainly in the larger-scale farms, thereby generating problems for small holdings and structural imbalances. The allocation of EU funds has impacted on the level of investments, productivity and economic efficiency of Bulgarian agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bulgarian economy is part of the global economic system. The foregoing leads to the diffusion of capital, products, innovation, ideas, partnerships. The Bulgarian agricultural sector is the basis of the country's economic development. Enterprise management in the sector is set to diverse challenges. Effective management is associated with the entity's accounting and financial system. This study examines the current state and prospects of the business management of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vine-growing and wine making are one of the sectors of agriculture for which the problems of management of marketing and sustainable development have a specific manifestation. A prerequisite for this are the peculiarities of viticulture and the production and trade of wine and other products from the processing of grapes. The purpose of the report is on the basis of the assessment of the state and the current development of the potential of the wine sector to define the main directions and priorities for achieving the criteria of the National Strategy for Development of Production and Trade with Wine aiming its transformation into a leading sector of the national economy. In the report are depicted the measures related to creating conditions for accelerating the pace of planting new vineyards, for consolidation of vineyards, for implementation of innovative solutions and good world practices for wine and grape production. A place in the report will find also the justification of the main directions and proposals for the development of the organizational structures for grape and wine production, including the forms for cooperation and integration between the companies in order to build cluster formations for implementing wine tourism and other modern forms for production and marketing of wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary Health Care is important for achieving social justice in ideas for people well -being and reducing inequalities in health. Primary Health Care (PHC) is being reached faster and more easily satisfies the basic health needs of people against the backdrop of limited financial resources. PHC in one country could provide care in an effective and fair way, based on general practice, with a key role for the general practitioner. General Practitioners (GPs) are owners and financial managers of their medical practices in the Primary care. Their practices are also small business enterprises providing health services for primary outpatient medical care. The purpose of this article is to analyze the principles and methodology of cash flow management in Primary care (PC). The results present the peculiarities of capital management in Primary care and challenges faced by GPs in their role as owners and managers of their small companies. The cash flows in these medical establishments have been investigated - the limitations and opportunities of GPs to do revenue management. This means they have to be able to manage their revenue within specified deadlines for incomes and to effectively manage costs and without damaging the company's image, to repay their obligations at the latest possible date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actuality of organic farming is revealed as an important policy priority for Bulgarian agriculture and one of the highlights of the Common Agricultural Policy (2014-2020) encouraging farmers to switch to organic farming which should contribute to both: protection of the environment and production of healthy food. The purpose of the study is to assess the production capacity of Bulgarian organic animal husbandry, as a base for its further development and as a result of the social support towards it. To reach this goal the study should accomplish three tasks: - Assessing the level of production of Bulgarian organic animal husbandry - Presenting and analyzing the social support framework for the sector - Offer a conclusion and recommendations for the implementation of the Common agricultural policies of the EU and improvements of the production capacity of the sector. The production capacity of bio-farms is linked to their economic performance and ability to provide the necessary income for the owner and employees. Public support for this type of production has a favorable effect on the economic situation of the sector, but access to the resources provided by the CAP is linked to the still significant administrative difficulties and a high level of transaction costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current research is to introduce the New Institutional Economics (NIE) with the focus placed on Bulgarian agriculture. On the one hand, this includes the description of institutional impact on the separate actors, operating within agricultural organizations. On the other hand, attention should be paid to the way in which the transaction costs of different economic agents are measured. Another aspect of great significance for the study is the application of this approach. This means to adjust the specific research frameworks. The article also includes a methodical dimension. Five methods have been presented: (1) a method for evaluation of the impact of institutional change on adaptability; (2) a method for evaluation of institutional alternatives on a micro-level by measuring transaction costs; (3) a method for evaluation of the effects of change in different time periods; (4) a method for evaluation of processes through the number and type of transactions; (5) a method for analysis of the relation between property rights and transactions for assessment of asset specificity. The methods can integrate various types of evaluation of one and the same economic organization (system) in a single analytical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the project is to review the state and development of prices for households and industrial consumers in the EU member states and to compare the final prices of electricity in Bulgaria with those of the other countries. Eurostat data is used for a period of eight years in order to make a comparative analysis as well as to reflect the types of costs that are formed in determining the prices of electricity for industrial and household consumers. In order to analyze the level of dependence of electricity prices and their comparability with the EU member states, a regression analysis is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting in the agrarian sector is regulated by International Accounting Standard 41: Agriculture and its Bulgarian equivalent National Accounting Standard 41: Agriculture. The possible approaches in estimating the non-current biological assets are two: A) fair value, reduced by sales costs; B) historical cost, determined by the asset acquisition costs. The adoption of the first approach by the agricultural enterprises requires the use if evaluations, established at a market base. Non-current biological assets are excluded from the range of amortization assets. The accounting based on historical cost includes accrual of depreciation of noncurrent biological assets. The purpose of the study is to analyze both possible approaches for evaluation of non-current biological assets regulated by the accounting legislation. On this basis we shall determine the influence of depreciation on the financial results of the agricultural enterprise, implemented by the management of a main dairy herd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the relationship between foreign investment flows and the economic performance of Bulgaria's economic regions. It is a well-known fact that some imbalances exist in the level of development of the economic regions and the territorial localization of foreign direct investments. This uneven distribution - both in terms of economic development and investment allocation - creates serious prerequisites for economic backwardness, depopulation and deepening of demographic problems in some regions. The purpose of this paper is to draw some conclusions and make recommendations using the methods of economic and statistical analysis with a view to overcome the negative consequences and initiate a process of creating prerequisites for a balanced development of Bulgaria's regions and a more even placement of foreign capital flows at both regional and sectoral level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving from a state monopoly to a competitive environment is a major challenge for all energy companies. Under a regulated market, the recognition of costs passes through the regulator regardless of how effective the spending of the funds is. By creating a free energy market, it aims at streamlining production costs, improving energy efficiency and introducing competition in the sector. For the purpose of the analysis, information on the free market price chain is used and an analysis of the share distribution of the network component with VAT and excise is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to develop the methodology of business planning through the establishment of new models for the formation of the product plan of a company. A set of methods such as strategic analysis and synthesis, differentiation method, grouping method, matrix planning method, graphic methods, etc. are used. The results of the study have enabled two models to be developed with the purpose to improve the product planning. The first model involves product allocation depending on their importance for the economy and the development of the company. The second model, created on the basis of the methodology of the Boston Consulting Group, presents the technology for determination of the level of significance of each product. The application of the new product planning models into the practice of the company improves the economic results and adds new value to the corporate valuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to reveal the availability, the type and the rates of corporate growth in certain industrial companies. The role and the relative influence of the total factor productivity in this growth are also determined. The methods and the models of the production functions for analysis and forecasting are offered. Specific factors and opportunities for the increase rates of corporate growth are revealed. The decisive role of the total factor productivity for the development of industrial companies in Bulgaria is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the sources of risk for agricultural cooperatives, which reduce their competitiveness. A systematization of the types of risks for the agricultural cooperatives is carried out, focusing on two risk groups: risks originating in the environment (external risks) and risks within the organization (internal risks). On the basis of an empirical study of the sources of risk for agricultural cooperatives in the North-East region of Bulgaria, empirical models for the internal and external sources of risk are presented. The analyzes allow for generalizations to be made about the nature of the risks to agricultural cooperatives, allowing for effective risk management actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of the environment shows that the competitiveness at the company level is impossible without the presence of innovation activity. Innovation influences consumer opinion, they impose new needs, they refine materials, business processes, technologies and products. Innovation is crucial for the survival, development of Bulgarian industrial companies. Each company's innovation policy is specific, there are no uniform rules or clear instructions for it. It is the basis of creating competitive advantages and it depends on the survival of the company on the market (1). Unfortunately, innovation faces many different barriers. Some of them are of an external nature and are imposed by the environment in which the company operates. Another part is of an internal nature and reflects company culture, management views on development and risk taking, and so on. This paper outlines the state of Bulgarian reality under the conditions of a "timid innovator" and examines the major groups of barriers faced by companies. The work shows an empirical study related to the obstacles to the innovation activity of the Bulgarian managers in the furniture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the article is to show the importance and growing economical interest for organic livestock farming and to underline its potential for the region of South East Bulgaria. For this purpose will be made a review of existing theoretical framework that will settle the scope of organic livestock farming for the purpose of this research. A general overview of the Dynamic market growth for organic products and its perspectives will be drawn along with existing rules and EU regulations especially in the field of eco and organic certification. Some main conclusions will be made following the existing official statistical data and trends. A general conclusion on organic livestock farming profitability compared to conventional farming systems will be made to approve the competitive advantage that it could provide to the region of Southeast Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A problem that many companies in Bulgaria are facing is that the rules, originating from legislation or business policies eventually end up in many different places in the company, with many opportunities for misinterpretation along the way. Traditionally, in most information-intensive companies, their business logics is often hidden in the business processes, manuals or work instructions, or hard-coded in their (succeeded) information systems. This has led to complex and inflexible processes and systems, and as a result, the inability to quickly respond to changing circumstances, regulations and requirements as a part of the Bulgarian reality. In this paper, we explain the role of business decisions and rules in an integrated company design approach, using "The Decision Model" for implementation-independent modeling of the business logic. When modeling business logic, business processes and information as separate, coequal domains, loosely coupled through a limited set of linking elements, the resulting designs become much more flexible and manageable. By first specifying them in an implementation-independent way, it becomes easier to verify whether a design actually meets the requirements of the business. And once there is agreement on the correctness of the design, different implementations can be derived from it. Business agility, i.e., the capability of companies in Bulgaria to rapidly adapt the organization to a changing environment and changing requirements, becomes increasingly important. Although business rules approaches receive a lot of attention as a way to achieve this, their potential is not yet fully exploited. The Decision Model provides an implementation- and technology-independent way to model business logic, which can be loosely coupled with enterprise architecture, business process and information modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of innovation processes in the country should be based on the context in which the country's economy has been developing since 2009. From the beginning of that period until 2015 the National Statistical Institute reported about seven years in which steady economic growth would not be achieved. Internal consumption and investment activity remain low due to the lack of new business projects of good quality. Under such conditions, the innovations and the development of entrepreneurial activity develop exceptionally slowly due to the problems mentioned above, but not because of a purposeful government policy. The present paper is aimed at presenting an analysis of innovation processes in the country without going deep into the main problems that innovative enterprises in the country face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution to Industry 4.0 the Bulgarian business needs to improve not just innovations and human resources, but to change their "software" to manage their own business. Thus, the change of business requires a next generation of marketing and respectively, a brand new marketing organization. The main purpose of the paper is to open a discussion where is a need of new marketing organization as well as does it possible to change the existing marketing or to evolve it. So, the paper is based on the good practices of the world leading companies and explore the opportunities to introduce them to the Bulgarian industrial business. The methodology approach of the paper is based on the theoretical and methodological research of the contemporary marketing literature and lessons learnt from the business. The structure of the paper is: 1. Introduction: next steps and requirements of Industry 4.0 approach to change business inside; 2. State of art: discussion on the marketing organization and its evolution; 3. Methodology approach: introducing the steps to establish a marketing leadership in Bulgarian industrial business; 4. Empirical results: presentation of the possibilities to enforce the evolution of marketing organization; 5. Conclusions: next steps of the good marketing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the historical development of the Bulgarian industrial policy after Bulgaria liberation from the Turkish slavery to the present days, several major development periods clearly stand out. They differ from each other with their specific in terms of economic governance. In the submitted paper, the author makes a brief review of each of them, highlighting their most important features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chocolate is one of the most delicious and popular desserts on earth, but for many people around the world, it is also a serious industry. It is made from cocoa beans that grow on cocoa trees. Historians believe that chocolate consumption dates back before Columbus discovered North America, mainly in Central American societies, where it has been used for more than five millennia. Archaeological excavations prove that in Costa Rica, the Mayans drank cocoa about 400 B.C. Today, however, chocolate production and consumption is a complex commercial task that covers manufacturers and trade networks around the world. The number of cocoa miners in the world is over 14 million people. Almost 35% of the cocoa beans originate in Côte d'Ivoire. This article aims to analyze the main problems and difficulties in the world's cocoa-producing countries as well as to compare the producers, importers and exporters of cocoa and chocolate products in the European Union, including Bulgaria, by focusing on the change in production and consumption over the last years to highlight main trends and dependencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a quantitative evaluation of the welfare effect of the introduction of proportional taxation in Bulgaria in 2008, an effect that operates through the grey economy channel. Using a general-equilibrium model, augmented with informal sector, a computational experiment is performed to evaluate the welfare gain from the adoption of proportional taxation. The lower effective tax burden in the new tax regime produces a relocation of people into the official sector, stimulates investment, and increases output and consumption. Finally, under the flat tax regime, the size of the informal sector is smaller, and quantitatively consistent with OECD (Is informal normal? Towards more and better jobs in developing countries. OECD, Paris, ) and European Commission (Tax reforms in EU member states, Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, p 2012, ) figures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]