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By considering the expansion of the timber trade in southeast Europe as a resource frontier, this article explores the relationships between the transformation of the technical and material conditions of forest exploitation and the development of its labour force. Previous studies have identified the period from about 1880 to 1914 as the last phase of the European timber frontier, with new areas of virgin forest being integrated into the European market. During this period, the arrival of foreign industrialists led to a radical transformation of working conditions, both in terms of quantity and quality. A study of the migration process shows that workers from Austria-Hungary provided a reservoir of labour. A thorough analysis of working and living conditions also helps to understand how migrant labour was necessary to keep costs low enough to maintain the profits of large timber companies. Finally, this study contributes to our knowledge of labour issues in the context of the expanding resource frontiers of the late nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) integration process of transition economies from Southeast Europe has faced significant political and economic challenges. Two decades in, these challenges persist, leading to slower-than-expected economic development and fostering local frustration, nationalism, populism, and migration flows. This article aims to disentangle the institutional complexities in these regions. Using an exploratory, inductive approach based on 30 qualitative interviews across three Southeast European countries, the research conducts a multi-level analysis. The findings reveal that complex institutional settings are characterised by institutional voids and asymmetries stemming from the transition process and EU integration. The perception of the overall institutional setup is central, negatively influenced by institutional voids and asymmetries but positively impacted by participatory law-making approaches. Additionally, competing institutional logics on the micro-level influence companies' perspective. This article provides insights into the institutional challenges faced by companies in transition economies, crucial for policy formulation and development projects in the context of EU integration. The key takeaway emphasises the importance of well-designed participatory policymaking, highlighting the need for careful preparation and a foundation of trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the linkages between the antecedents of the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) model and an individual demographics in four developing countries in Southeast Europe. Three unexplored linkages are introduced, such as employment status, living settlement and financial experience. The article applies the partial least square and non-parametric methods to examine the proposed associations from a dataset of 959 individuals. Evidence reveals that those individuals who are employed, live in urban areas, and have financial experience scored higher in the UTAUT2 constructs. The article suggests the inclusion of additional moderating factors into the UTAUT2 model, which gives a better understanding of the individuals' technology adaption to scholars and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess epidemiological trends of Q fever in six countries of Southeast Europe by analysing surveillance data for 2002–2021 period. In this descriptive analysis, we collected and analysed data on confirmed human Q fever cases, obtained from the national Public Health Institutes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Overall, 2714 Q fever cases were registered during the 20-year period. The crude average annual notification rate was 0.82 (± 2.06) (95% CI: 0.47–1.16) per 100,000 inhabitants, ranged from 0.06 (± 0.04) (95% CI: 0.04–0.08) /100,000 in Greece to 2.78 (± 4.80) (95% CI: 0.53–5.02) /100,000 in the Republic of Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Significant declining trends of Q fever age standardized rates were registered in Croatia, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia, with an average annual change of -30.15%; -17.13%; -28.33% and − 24.77%, respectively. An unequal spatial distribution was observed. The highest average age-specific notification rate was reported in the 20–59 age group (0.84 (± 0.40) (95% CI: 0.65–1.02) /100,000). Most cases (53.69%) were reported during the spring. Q fever remains a significant public health threat in this part of Europe. The findings of this study revealed the endemic maintenance of this disease in the including countries, with large regional and subnational disparities in notification rates. A downward trend was found in Q fever notification rates across the study countries with the average notification rate higher than in the EU/EEA, during the same period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Europe is considered a traditional emigration region in the past and present. Our study looks to the future, and it focuses on migration intentions there. The representative database of the OeNB Euro Survey offers the opportunity to analyse both large- and small-scale as well as group-specific differentiations beyond the question of the potential for future mobility in Southeast Europe. It became evident that migration intentions are still high. It can be seen that pure intentions are often accompanied by concrete plans. The age and level of education as well as a lack of trust in the government policy are important determining factors. The preference for Germany as a destination country in the postYugoslav region indicates the persistence of networks from the Gastarbeiter era. From a spatial perspective, it is also clear that it is mainly the deprived regions of Southeastern Europe where migration intentions are strong. However, the affected sub-regions are not necessarily those in which the plans are very concrete, i.e. there is often a considerable gap between aspirations and capabilities. The long-term and sustainable effects of the migration that is expected to continue, with the corresponding consequences for demographics, education, labour force and social infrastructures, remain problematic.

Abstract This study aimed to assess epidemiological trends of Q fever in six countries of Southeast Europe by analysing surveillance data for 2002–2021 period. In this descriptive analysis, we collected and analysed data on confirmed human Q fever cases, obtained from the national Public Health Institutes of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Overall, 2714 Q fever cases were registered during the 20-year period. The crude average annual notification rate was 0.82 (± 2.06) (95% CI: 0.47–1.16) per 100,000 inhabitants, ranged from 0.06 (± 0.04) (95% CI: 0.04–0.08) /100,000 in Greece to 2.78 (± 4.80) (95% CI: 0.53–5.02) /100,000 in the Republic of Srpska (entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Significant declining trends of Q fever age standardized rates were registered in Croatia, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia, with an average annual change of -30.15%; -17.13%; -28.33% and − 24.77%, respectively. An unequal spatial distribution was observed. The highest average age-specific notification rate was reported in the 20–59 age group (0.84 (± 0.40) (95% CI: 0.65–1.02) /100,000). Most cases (53.69%) were reported during the spring. Q fever remains a significant public health threat in this part of Europe. The findings of this study revealed the endemic maintenance of this disease in the including countries, with large regional and subnational disparities in notification rates. A downward trend was found in Q fever notification rates across the study countries with the average notification rate higher than in the EU/EEA, during the same period.

Academic medicine encompasses education, research and clinical practice, and plays a crucial role in advancing medical science and training physicians. However, the field faces a crisis, with fewer graduates pursuing academic careers.

This white paper takes the unknown and the vague and movement towards/in those realms – as frames for a discussion of present practice and emergent potentiality of anthropological engagement with peace (building) studies. Arguably, embracing the unknown or vague as generative constants as well as fundamental elements of non-linear peacebuilding further open collaborative, communicative spaces of possibility. Aspects of this discussion are drawn from broader conceptual/methodological considerations in both peacebuilding and social anthropology so as to contribute to an interdisciplinary alignment. Furthermore, the positions and persuasions in this work are (in)formed by extensive, on-going examinations of research and narratives active in Southeast Europe today. By looking to emergent concepts in peace studies via anthropology while moving with regional-specific ethnographies that speak back against North Atlantic hegemonies, there is offered a discussion that brings local realities into transnational (socio-academic) deliberations.

We use a large quota-sampled online survey and data on Facebook connections among survey respondents in six successor states of former Yugoslavia to demonstrate that, even more than two decades after the violence had ended, online social connections in this region are substantially related to people's war experiences of combat, victimhood, and forced migration, as well as to their views of the wars' causes, conduct, and consequences. What is particularly important, the sizes of the effects of these war-related factors on respondents' online social networks are substantively large and comparable to those of gender, ethnicity, education, or political ideology. Our findings are an important contribution to the understanding of the deeply pervasive and long-lasting effects of wars on societies. They also highlight the enduring relevance of wartime violence in postwar social networks that is likely to affect efforts at enduring conflict resolution and reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses increased specialisation in husbandry practice and the development of larger livestock as a proxy for spatial and temporal variation in Roman influence in southeast Europe. Data are presented from three regions subject to varying levels of Roman control: (a) the Balkan provinces, under long-term occupation; (b) Dacia, a province from 106 to 271/275 CE; and (c) regions beyond the Empire to the northwest and northeast. While little change in husbandry practice occurs during the early Roman occupation in the first centuries BCE and CE, clear changes are evident across occupied regions in the second and third centuries CE. A cattle-focused economic system develops, likely influenced by an increased focus on arable production, and a significant increase in cattle and sheep/goat size is observed. In the Balkan provinces, while larger livestock persist into the early Byzantine period, there is a decline in specialised cattle exploitation at rural sites in the late Roman period, and at urban sites in the early Byzantine period, concurrent with a decrease in Roman political control. In Dacia, in contrast, average livestock size decreases after the Roman withdrawal, while specialised cattle husbandry persists for several centuries. Beyond the Empire, specialised cattle husbandry is evident from the late Iron Age, but increases in the second and third centuries, perhaps indicating the spread of Roman influence beyond occupied regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the extent to which the perceived quality of institutional performance as an endogenous source of trust and political socialization as an exogenous source of trust determine the emergence of political trust among youth in ten Southeast European countries. It also sheds light on a relatively understudied factor in the formation of political trust: the relation towards the future of society, which is considered an exogenous source of trust. Endogenous origins, particularly satisfaction with democracy, dominate the formation of political trust, while exogenous aspects, presented as aspects of socialization, are less well represented, although still significant. This is especially true for interest in politics and, to some extent, societal optimism, which are important factors in the formation of political trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable democracy in Southeast Europe is closely tied to the level of political engagement among young people aged 14–29. In this study, we examine how different media outlets influence political participation and interest among this population. We employ survey data collected from 10 Southeast European countries to explore this relationship. Our research shows that, except for television viewing, all information sources positively impact young people’s interest in politics and inclination to participate. Digital media exerts the strongest influence, while political discussions also prove to be significant. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the effect of media sources on political engagement is more pronounced among older respondents, suggesting an age-related moderation within this population. We also observe that the quality of national media sectors, including their commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression and competitiveness, does not significantly influence the relationship between media and political involvement. We conclude that media plays a crucial role in fostering political engagement among youths in Southeast Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the annual and low-flow trends of rivers located in Serbia, a part of southeast Europe. To achieve this, a comprehensive framework for flow trend estimation was established using both the conventional Mann–Kendall trend test and its modified version, which considers the serial correlation of flows, alongside the Theil-Sen trend estimator for modeling linear trends. The investigation was performed at a large spatial scale for sites of 80 hydrological stations with negligible human influence. The most important rivers are given as follows: the Velika Morava, Južna Morava, Kolubara, Nišava, Timok, and Toplica rivers. Selected hydrological stations at these rivers drain the watershed areas from 79 km2 to 995 km2 with the respective recording periods (average length of the recorded data is equal to 60 years). The results implied that decreasing annual and low-flow trends are occurring for southern and eastern Serbian river streams while increasing trends were estimated at only a few hydrological sites. Hence, the results assist in revealing the most vulnerable river basins with statistically significant decreasing trends and provide a solid basis for the estimation of the design annual and low-flow trends in Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically analyses the impact of fiscal policy on the economic growth of the countries of Southeast Europe. The work was carried out with secondary data from the 12-year period and respectively from 2010 to 2021 and includes 11 countries, so the data belongs to the panel type. The purpose of this paper is to analyze social variables such as government spending, income from taxes, public debt, government effectiveness, fiscal freedom, rule of law index, and corruption in economic growth. For this purpose, we employ different econometric models and techniques such as OLS, OLS Robust fixed and random effects models, and GMM (Generalized Method of Moments). The findings from the research show that fiscal policy instruments have a positive impact on the economic growth of the countries of Southeast Europe, while the effectiveness of the government, the rule of law, and corruption show a statistically significant impact on the economic growth of these countries. The recommendations for the countries are for policymakers in the region to prioritize the development and implementation of sound fiscal policies to stimulate economic growth. By strategically managing government spending and taxation, these countries can enhance aggregate demand, encourage investment, and create a favourable business climate. Furthermore, adopting expansionary measures during economic downturns and adopting prudent debt management practices can contribute to stability, confidence, and sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study asserts that the repatriation of foreign fighters from the conflict in Ukraine poses a significant threat to the peace and stability of the Southeast Europe within the realm of organized crime. It contends that Southeast Europe serves as fertile ground for foreign fighters during times of war crises, facilitating their exploitation by organized crime for illicit purposes. Regarding the context of the Southeast Europe, the study argues, firstly, that serious organized crime groups demonstrate a propensity to recruit individuals with military experience. Secondly, it underscores the historical roots of foreign fighter presence in the region, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Lastly, it highlights the inadequate response and policies at both national and European Union levels to address this concern in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces the complex historical and memory landscape of Southeast Europe in connection with the Second World War and its aftermath. In what ways have responses to mass atrocities in the region been shaped, how have they permeated public discourse, and to what extent have they been reflected in the entangled Balkan history? By analysing occupation, genocide, resistance, collaboration, justice, and memory, this introduction lays the ground for exploring the divergent interpretations of events that continue to influence contemporary attitudes toward reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper is to interpret pathologies on faunal remains in an effort to evaluate the presence of husbandry practices. Bones and bone fragments from the Neolithic site of Dispilio, Greece. Those of domestic species were further studied. The pathological cases were examined macroscopically, the lesions were described, images were taken, and differential diagnoses were undertaken using published literature. 77 out of the 13,026 bones and bone fragments recovered displayed pathological conditions including oral disease, joint disease, trauma and congenital conditions. Most pathologies were found in the axial skeleton of caprines. Pathological conditions in caprines are possibly related to the use of overgrazed pastures and fattening of females and castrates. These cases indicate specific husbandry practices used at the site. Reconstructing husbandry practices is complex, especially in extremely old sites with fragmentary remains. This study provides one of the very few studies of a large Neolithic animal bone assemblage providing insight into early human-animal interactions in Greece. The research is based on the bone material of the two later occupation phases of the site. It includes material from one site. The bone assemblage of the earlier occupation phase should be studied for a diachronic investigation of husbandry practices at the site. Investigation of pathological cases in more settlements would provide a larger database for the evaluation of husbandry practices in Neolithic Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyses the Russian neo-imperialist strategy in the gas trade in Southeast Europe (SEE) and the reactions of the EU and the region’s countries to this. The first argument in the article is that the existence of favourable political, social and economic preconditions is necessary for the application of a neo-imperialist strategy. The second argument is that an individual country’s geographical position determines Russian interest in building transit pipelines on its territory. Because the gas trade exists in the framework of the conflict-cooperation perpetuum between the interested parties, the third argument is that this provokes a reaction from the EU and the affected countries in the form of soft balancing. This approach is intended to curb Russia’s power, but not to completely break a gas trade with this country. As the EU has been making efforts to counteract Russian geo-economic power by promoting diversification of the gas supply and funding new gas infrastructure projects, Russian influence in the region has been decreasing in recent years.

Copyright of Sociology & Space / Sociologija i Prostor is the property of Institut za drustvena istrazivanja u Zagrebu (Institute for Social Research of Zagreb) 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.)

This paper focuses on the increasing prominence of digital labour platforms in the labour markets of Southeast Europe, and compares the supply of online labour from nine selected countries: Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Digital labour platforms, as an innovative business model, play an important role in today's labour markets by linking the demand and supply of digital work. Southeast Europe is no exception to this trend, and has become an important supplier of online labour. With the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this and other new forms of employment further increased both globally and in Southeast Europe. Despite this trend, online labour often remains invisible and under the radar of national policymakers and regulators, as well as national statistical agencies, due to the globalised nature of online platforms. This paper aims to shed light on the development of online labour in the countries studied, based on publicly available data collected through Gigmetar, a web scraping tool designed to monitor trends on the number, gender, incomes, and occupations of online workers.1 The paper compares online labour from nine countries active on the most significant general digital labour platforms (Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru) from February 2022 to October 2022. The criteria for the comparison include occupations, 2 gender and income. The analysis is based on the data of approximately 80% of the total number of active digital workers on the platforms under investigation. The paper points out the similarities and differences in online labour between the countries of Southeast Europe. For example, the number of online workers increased in all the countries, with creative services and multimedia and software development comprising the most dominant occupations in each country. Moreover, men are more commonly represented in these digital markets than women. However, these generalities hide remarkable differences between the countries in terms of the number of online workers per capita, the comparative advantages of each country based on the composition of the online labour force in terms of professions, variations in the gender gap in income distribution, and the average hourly labour price demanded by workers. The results of our analysis may provide useful information to national policy makers as they work to address the challenges in the labour market brought by technological advancements. This information can also be used to develop policies in areas such as labour rights, education and training, and gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kosovo is located in a key position in the central-west part of the Balkans, providing an opportunity to understand the far-field effects of distributed intracontinental deformation caused by the Aegean extension in the south and Adriatic compression in the west. It is also situated along the NE-SW trending Shkodër-Pejë transverse zone, where the Dinarides and Albanides-Hellenides orogenic belts are juxtaposed. While the instrumental seismicity of Kosovo indicates the activity of this fault zone and many others, the active faults in the country were not discussed in detail in the current literature. In this study, we analyzed both the geomorphic and structural features of major mountain front faults in western Kosovo (i.e., Pejë, Istog, Krojmir, and Prizren faults) to reveal the relative assessment of their activities and kinematic characters. Geomorphic and morphometric analyses of all four different mountain fronts studied indicated high activity and tectonic uplift rates of over 0.5 mm/a. On the other hand, according to the collected kinematic data from the observed fault planes, the studied faults are mainly of normal character, representing a dominance of NW-SE-directed extension in western Kosovo, which is most probably caused by the rollback of the subducting slab in the Hellenic trench. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The updated checklist of the bryophyte flora of Albania (SE Europe), with the addition of eighteen new records (and several regional ones) presented here, comprises 583 taxa (species, subspecies, varieties) representing 212 genera and 96 families. The main list includes tabular distributional data by region. Reports after 1950 are differentiated from the earlier ones. The list is organized taxonomically (hornworts, liverworts and mosses) and in alphabetical order within each division. Updated synonymy and a systematic synopsis are presented at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an overview that systematically maps the historical development, thematic foci and temporal trends of research in Balkan – Southeast European studies. It uses bibliographic and content analysis as well as other tools to synthesize around 8000 scholarly publications on the Balkans – Southeast Europe that are indexed in the Web of Science databases (SSCI, A&HCI, ESCI, BKCI-SSH). We provide a visual representation of the intellectual historiography and the conceptual content and dynamics of Balkan – Southeast European studies, identifying the most prominent works, the active research themes and the emerging trajectories in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of innovations is an important driver for transformation processes in human societies. It is carried by two crucial conditions – the flow of information and the adoption/appropriation of the innovation. While the latter is a social and cultural process, the first is among others carried by mobility. Mobility in this context can take on different forms and range from migration events up to small-scale everyday mobility between neighbours. In this article, the transmission of ideas and technology without major migration events will be treated. This is based on two case studies – the spread of agriculture from Central Europe to South Scandinavia and the spread of copper metallurgy from Southeast to Central Europe. For both, the spatio-temporal spread of the innovation will be described and factors influencing the information flow and the process of adoption will be taken into account. This will help to develop a more detailed understanding concerning the transmission of ideas and technology without major migration events and allows us to follow the question of what roles did mobility and other factors play in it.

Copyright of Sociologija/Sociology: Journal of Sociology, Social Psychology & Social Anthropology is the property of MOD International 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.)

Copyright of Sociologija/Sociology: Journal of Sociology, Social Psychology & Social Anthropology is the property of MOD International 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.)

Carotenoids are an abundant group of lipid-soluble antioxidants in maize kernels. Maize is a key target crop for carotenoid biofortification focused on using conventional plant breeding in native germplasm of temperate areas traced back partially to traditional cultivars (landraces). In this study, the objectives were to determine the variability of lutein (LUT), zeaxanthin (ZEA), α-cryptoxanthin (αCX), β-cryptoxanthin (βCX), α-carotene (αC), and β-carotene (βC) contents in the grain of 88 accessions of temperate maize from the Croatian genebank, and to evaluate the relationships among the contents of different carotenoids as well as the relationships between kernel color and hardness and carotenoid content. Highly significant variability among the 88 accessions was detected for all carotenoids. On average, the most abundant carotenoid was LUT with 13.2 μg g−1 followed by ZEA with 6.8 μg g−1 dry matter. A Principal Component Analysis revealed a clear distinction between α- (LUT, αCX, and αC) and β-branch (ZEA; βCX, and βC) carotenoids. β-branch carotenoids were positively correlated with kernel color, and weakly positively associated with kernel hardness. Our results suggest that some genebank accessions with a certain percentage of native germplasm may be a good source of carotenoid biofortification in Southeast Europe. However, due to the lack of association between LUT and ZEA, the breeding process could be cumbersome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes the example of post-Ottoman Niš to argue that the transformation of post-Ottoman cities was not a local, nationalism-induced architectural phenomenon, as suggested by the studies of "de-Ottomanization," but rather a global development which was made possible through the dismantling of the local Ottoman legal regime of urban property. Focusing on the waqf as a quintessential Ottoman form of urban property, this article examines how war and displacement of the Muslim population on the one hand, and new associations between the modern city and particular forms of property on the other together contributed to the destruction of the waqf despite its protection by international law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent empirical evidence from post-communist Southeast Europe suggests that state capture is no longer limited to opportunities for rent extraction and the economic gain of businesspersons, oligarchs, tycoons, and individual politicians. Rather, it offers political parties a potent means of survival, allowing them to win the next elections and maintain political office. In this article, I look into what kind of research these developments, which have been seen across Southeast Europe, demand. I revisit the three issues that have remained understudied from the perspective of party state capture since the publication of initial research on the topic by O'Dwyer and Grzymała-Busse in the mid-2000s. These are the organization of political parties, the nature of public administration, and the measurement of state capture. I claim that party patronage has become the regional political parties' main activity, with parties being transformed into a pool for the recruitment of future party-loyal public officials tasked to extract public funds. As a consequence, the public administration sees a radical re-politicization, the elimination of professional standards, and the large-scale abuse of public funds. These changes enable a more objective measurement of the cost of state capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, marketing has been revolutionized by digital sources, which provide marketers with rich information on potential consumers. Consequently, this article explores the evolving opportunities that online communities present to marketers in collecting consumer insights. It advances Southeast Europe's marketing researchers' understanding of netnography by introducing them to its concept, procedures, and implications. This study triangulates the data through utilizing seven one-to-one in-depth interviews with fashion designers, employing two focus groups with fashion consumers who actively congregate in online communities, and through conducting netnography on a fashion-related online community. This article demonstrates netnography practices, and experiences with the goal of having fashion designers and marketers understand its potential as an efficient method for providing effective qualitative market intelligence. It shows that netnography is a relatively easy, cost-effective and time-efficient approach, and it supports brand development through achieving a better understanding of consumer perceptions. Overall, netnography has great potential as a marketing research tool. Online fashion community members' views support it as most of them prefer to participate in netnographic research. Nevertheless, the majority of fashion designers in Southeast Europe are not fully aware of the method and its exact procedures and, hence, avoid using it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most protest paradigm studies examining news media's portrayals of protesters are based on an assumption that the way the paradigm operates within the U.S. media system is similar around the globe. To overcome these weaknesses, this content analysis (n = 1200) of protest-related news coverage in two Balkan and two Central American countries examines how media clientelism-manifested via ownership, concentration, and state advertising-influences media representations of protesters. Results highlight important regional differences in protest coverage, and confirm the role of government and elites in clientelist environments is more complex than hypothesized. We found that while clientelism contributes to the protest paradigm, delegitimizing coverage is not automatic, and varies by frame and media ownership, as political and economic interests differentially influence protest coverage depending not just on the outlets' ties to the state, but also the social contexts surrounding the protests themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a large sample of youth (N = 10,398) from 10 countries of Southeast Europe, the present study analyzed the effects of different dimensions of religiosity on various types of substance use across three different religions. The results, based on risk ratios and binary logistic regression, indicated that belief in the importance of God is generally a much stronger protective factor against substance use than church attendance or personal prayer. At the level of the entire sample, risk ratios revealed that finding God to be highly important reduced the likelihood of using hard drugs by as much as 69% and the likelihood of using soft drugs by 74%. In the case of alcohol use, the effect was weaker and less robust. Overall, the results of this study results point to the high relative importance of belief in God as a factor strengthening an individual's ability to refrain from substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Strategic Issues of Northern Hungary ECONOMY-REGION-SOCIETY / Észak-magyarországi Stratégiai Füzetek GAZDASAG-REGIO-TARSADALOM is the property of University of Miskolc, Faculty of Economics 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.)

Copyright of Socioloski Pregled is the property of Srpsko Sociolosko Drustvo 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.)

Southeast Europe is considered one of the most vulnerable regions in the context of climate change, and projected future summer warming is expected to exceed global rates significantly. Despite the importance of this problem, there have been few studies that utilized Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) Global Circulation Models (GCMs) and the multi-model ensemble approach to examine extreme heat events on a regional scale. Additionally, the NEX-GDDP dataset, successfully applied in other parts of the world to assess extreme heat, has not yet been utilized for Southeast Europe. This study aims to fill that gap, presenting the time evolution and spatial distribution of extreme heat events in Southeast Europe for the historical period 1950–2005 and for the expected future climate up to the end of the 21st century based on the NEX-GDDP dataset. In order to leverage the strengths of the multi-model ensemble approach, a set of purpose-tailored indicators, such as the annual number of hot days, the maximum number of consecutive hot days, and hot spell duration at different thresholds, is computed by the daily maximum temperature data from all datasets, produced by NEX-GDDP (21 for the historical period and 42 for the future period). The E-OBS dataset is used as a reference for evaluating the NEX-GDDP's capability to simulate the features of the observed historical extreme heat events. The results show that the multi-model ensemble can satisfactorily capture the occurrence of extreme heat events in the historical period, and therefore it is reasonable to assume that the NEX-GDDP dataset has the potential to reproduce such extremes in the projected future. The study provides clear evidence that the persistence and spatial extent of extreme heat will increase significantly. Some indicators that were not relevant for the historical period due to the high-temperature threshold will become helpful in assessing extreme heat in Southeast Europe in the latter part of the century. Thus, under the RCP8.5 scenario, the area-averaged duration of hot spells at 32 °C and 34 °C will increase from near zero in 1976–2005 to 60 and 45 days, respectively, by the end of the century. The indicators used in the study may be helpful for decision-makers to implement climate change mitigation strategies and actions adequately. The findings are consistent with general tendencies in maximum temperatures considered in our previous works but also with the outcomes of recent studies dedicated to the future climate of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on survey data from representative national samples of young people, we compared the impact of nine different factors of emigration desire among young people from 10 countries of Southeast Europe. The results show that (1) the impact of factors of necessity decreases with higher levels of Human Development Index (HDI), while factors of ambition tend to have stronger impact. We also found that across all 10 countries, (2) the experience of having been abroad is the strongest predictor of higher emigration desire, and that (3) the emigration desire of young people tends to decrease with higher levels of HDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper is a continuation of research in the series that examines the weak form of the efficient capital markets theorem in Southeast European transitioning economies. Model modifications are based on learnings through the previously established inapplicability of foreign exchange metrics. At the same time, the model is being expanded by incorporating new research markets, extending the time coverage to the longest duration to date, between 2005 and 2021, to cover economic bust and recovery periods and research inherent improvements in the capital market context, and adding new variables to provide more sturdiness and conclusiveness. Methodology: The paper applies the panel pooled mean group estimator by aggregating cross-country data. By using level series prime data instead of differentials, this method enables efficient use of information and resolves at best the identified market shallowness. Results: The statistical results of empirical research infer the inefficiency of the investigated markets with greater robustness and supplementary new information revealing more powerful corrective investor and policy behavior in collectively more mature markets. Conclusions: The findings firmly reiterate subpar capital markets performance in a prolonged and more comprehensive environment. The recommendations conclusively emphasize the importance of structural reforms to support sustainability through elementary setup drivers, such as transparency, governance, judiciary productivity, and policy support, inter alia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper is a continuation of research in the series that examines the weak form of the efficient capital markets theorem in Southeast European transitioning economies. Model modifications are based on learnings through the previously established inapplicability of foreign exchange metrics. At the same time, the model is being expanded by incorporating new research markets, extending the time coverage to the longest duration to date, between 2005 and 2021, to cover economic bust and recovery periods and research inherent improvements in the capital market context, and adding new variables to provide more sturdiness and conclusiveness. Methodology: The paper applies the panel pooled mean group estimator by aggregating cross-country data. By using level series prime data instead of differentials, this method enables efficient use of information and resolves at best the identified market shallowness. Results: The statistical results of empirical research infer the inefficiency of the investigated markets with greater robustness and supplementary new information revealing more powerful corrective investor and policy behavior in collectively more mature markets. Conclusions: The findings firmly reiterate subpar capital markets performance in a prolonged and more comprehensive environment. The recommendations conclusively emphasize the importance of structural reforms to support sustainability through elementary setup drivers, such as transparency, governance, judiciary productivity, and policy support, inter alia.

Of the ten selected countries in Southeast Europe, seven recorded a demographic deficit during the period 2006-2019. The timeframe of this research is conditional upon the availability of data and the fact that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, data relative to the post-2019 period are not relevant. Using the human security concept as an analytical framework, with the help of statistical analysis based on selected indicators, we have reached the result that the health situation to a highest degree contributed to Slovenia, Montenegro and North Macedonia maintaining approximately the same number of inhabitants, while Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania recorded a demographic deficit. Research shows that the long-term development strategies of countries should be based on the quality of life of citizens in order to ensure their sustainability and survival.

The paper considers the role of investments in agriculture at the macro level, observing 13 countries over ten years. The countries included in the research are the Central-Eastern and South-East European countries. The importance of investments in agriculture is seen through their direct impact on the increase in production in agriculture, i.e., through the increase in gross added value in agriculture. The primary objective of this research is to determine, using the SPSS program, which independent variables affect the gross added value in agriculture. In other words, it aims to select variables for developing and evaluating the model that will show a significant relationship with the gross added value in agriculture. Due to the nature of the research subject, the dependency technique was applied in the paper, specifically, multiple regression analysis, which determined the correlation level of the selected variables with the increase in agricultural production. As for the qualitative methods, the statistical method was used to collect, process and present the results, while the comparative method was used to compare the collected data and draw certain conclusions. The research results indicate that investments play a significant role in achieving gross added value in agriculture, which means that investments largely determine economic growth in the agricultural sector. By applying the appropriate model, it was also determined to what extent variations in gross value added in agriculture can be explained by variations in total agricultural investments. By developing the obtained model, it was concluded that, in addition to other included variables, investments have the most significant impact on the gross added value in agriculture. More specifically, the most important investments are the ones that directly affect agriculture and investments in research and development.

The impact of remittance inflows on economic development is contested in the existing literature. This article applies a panel auto regressive distributed lag to examine the impact of remittance inflows on economic growth and self-employment percentage in a panel of seven Southeast European countries between 1996 and 2020. The countries included in the panel are characterized by higher remittance inflows and include Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The findings of the article indicate that there is no short-run relationship between remittance inflows and economic growth, but that remittance inflows are a significant contributor to economic growth in the long run. The article finds that in the short run, remittance inflows actually decrease the self-employment rate which can be attributed to the poverty alleviation impact of remittance flows, while there is no statistically significant relationship between remittance inflows and the self-employment rate in the long-run. This indicates that there are opportunities to utilize the significant remittance inflows in more meaningful ways to stimulate investment opportunities.

Adoption of any budget is perhaps the most important and time-consuming activity of any government. As a modern tool for linking strategic planning and budgeting, performance budgeting is conditio sine qua non for implementation of modern multi-annual budgeting system. Performance budgeting was first introduced in the United States and today different models are used in practice. The aim of this research is to investigate the state of implementation of performance budgeting reform(s) in the South East Europe (SEE) countries, namely Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, Greece, Slovenia, and Turkey and their struggle to implement performance budgeting reform. The United States, Australia and the European Union are the examples of developed countries implementing performance-based budgeting and their experience can be helpful to SEE countries in their efforts to establish working performance budgeting system. In this research, the focus is on answering questions about presence and elements of national performance framework, UN Sustainable Development Goals, performance budgeting framework and characteristics, and authority for the design and implementation of performance budgeting system. Based on the research results, the authors provide recommendations for better implementation of performance budgeting in selected countries.