EIRP Proceedings

The Impact of Public Private Partnerships Instrument in Energy Sector: Case of Albania

2024-02-12T11:30:52+00:00

The energy sector plays a crucial role in the economic development and social welfare of countries, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) have become increasingly popular as a tool to promote investment, to improve service delivery and to foster sustainable development. This paper focuses on the impact of PPPs in the energy sector in Albania, because mostly of PPPs contract in Albania are in this sector (185 contracts). The study qualitative method approach to analyze the impact of PPPs on key indicators such as energy production and energy net balance of Albania. The findings indicate that hydropower plant with PPPs have contributed in increasing energy production during the years, however there are some challenges associated with this PPPs projects including high costs, lack of transparency, and potential social and environmental impacts. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of careful planning, monitoring and project evaluation to ensure the long-term sustainability of PPPs and their contribution to achieving the national energy goals. Overall, this paper contributes to the growing literature on the impact of PPPs in the energy sector in Albania and provides important insights for policymakers in designing and implementing effective PPPs that support sustainable energy development.

The Strategic Management of the Company - the Business Development Solution

2024-02-13T06:11:26+00:00

A business, also known as a business or firm, represents an organization that deals with the trade of goods and/or services to consumers. Businesses predominate in market economy countries, most of which are privately owned. Similarly, businesses can be non-profit or state-owned. The business owned by several individuals is also called a company. For a long time, business management was done in an intuitive way, the success of companies being based, most of the time, on the entrepreneurs' native ability to think as a whole. The great fortunes of the past centuries were achieved, in part, due to luck or favorable circumstances. In recent times, however, management has individualized itself as an independent economic science, the way of management being based more and more on exact formulas and the use of the most correct information for decision-making.

Creating and Promoting a Brand's Image Online

2024-02-13T08:18:21+00:00

With increasing competition, corporations set out to create professional and coherent images to showcase their products. The age of the Internet has led to the emergence of increasingly demanding generations of consumers, and companies need to create advertisements and logos that appeal. The paper analyzes the strategies by which a brand can promote itself in the online environment through the context-adapted use of communication and public relations techniques together with marketing techniques according to the brand's mission, vision and values

Resilience and Energy Transition - Aspects of German Experience

2024-02-12T11:05:43+00:00

Resolutely assuming the role of leader in the process of transition to a zero-carbon economy, the European Union is, from 2020, facing major challenges brought by the Covid-19 crisis and then by the conflict in Ukraine. European countries' commitments to national decarbonisation and energy efficiency targets are being tested by a war whose duration has exceeded the initial estimates of world political factors. In this context, our paper aims to contribute to the analysis of the economic solutions adopted by Germany especially taking into account, on the one hand, the need to reduce the harmful effects produced by the polluting coal industry, and, on the other hand, the energy security requirements of the country in the midst of a period of resilience. The methods used are case study and comparative analysis. The obtained results reveal the adaptation of Germany's energy transition policies in the new context of resilience and the importance of analyzing this experience for Romania's future strategic directions.

Prolegomena for a University of the Future

2024-02-12T13:53:38+00:00

What is a university in the first decades of the 21st century? The reaction of many - in relation to the question above - is reduction. In a general way, paraphrasing Professor Pânzaru, it can be stated that from a quasi-unique university model in the 50s of the last century, in the internal and external educational environment marked by uncertainty of all kinds, we have reached dozens of model universities. Is there a European university model radically different from the others in the wider world or are we on the road to absolute globalization in the field of tertiary education as well? It is a second major query that the present study attempts to answer conclusively.

Political Communication in Crisis Situations. Public Relations Campaigns in Social Media

2024-02-13T07:55:28+00:00

Any organization must be prepared for crisis situations through management plans for each type of crisis, which also include crisis communication chapters. We know the unpredictability of the outbreak of a crisis that entails little predictability of the details of the crisis and that a general response plan is imperative. In the same situation are the political parties which in today's reality are faced with successive crises and which in turn generate other crises. The characteristic of social networks is the great speed in the propagation of messages, which can quickly become viral and accentuate a crisis situation at a much higher rate than through traditional media. The lack of a plan made in the crisis identification stage and then implemented in the crisis situation will create a high risk of not affecting the image of the governing party or parties. The paper aims to analyze the campaigns that Romanian parties run in crisis situations using the online environment and especially social networks. I will focus on researching the public relations strategies used in these campaigns and the feedback provided by citizens.

The Incest in Romanian Law

2024-02-12T10:47:07+00:00

The work includes a brief examination of the crime of incest as provided in the current law. In the analysis, we considered the legal object and the material object, as well as the subjects of the crime, the objective side and the subjective side. We also considered and referred to the earlier offense under the 1969 Criminal Code. The study may be useful to students of law schools in the country, as well as to practitioners in the field of criminal law. The work is part of volume V of the Criminal Law Course to be published this year at a prestigious publishing house in the country.

Non-governmental Organizations and their Role in Humanitarian Actions to Protect the Civilian Population. The Involvement of Amnesty International in the Conflict in Ukraine

2024-02-12T13:29:49+00:00

The dynamics of international relations experienced an unprecedented magnitude starting with the 20th century and was largely due to the economic, social and political changes occurring among the states of the world. The concept of welfare, social, collective security and the right to a decent living has contributed to the valorization of these ideas all over the world, the process being triggered, mainly, within the wealthier societies of the West. Today, the social involvement of the international community is no longer limited to relations between states, on the contrary, both commercial companies and international organizations, be they non-governmental or intergovernmental, are involved in maintaining a security environment in international relations.

Workforce Sustainability And Leadership – A New Technology Industry Model Assessment

2024-02-13T07:25:39+00:00

Asessed as a globalization primary result, (workforce) sustainability proved to be a difficult goal to be achieved by organizationas across the world, thus rising the question in regard to the role of leadership and employees creativity within the process. The current manuscript proposes the asessment of a new workforce sustainability model, designed to lock in the workforce sustainability advancements specific to the technology industry, in both theory and practice. By following a qualitative asessment, the quantitative approach iterates a 26 item survey used to collect data from 174 representatives of the managerial pyramid. Results prove that the eight workforce sustainability proposed latent variables are strongly connected to both leadership and workforce creativity. The proposed asessment tool in regard to workforce sustaianbility of the technology industry proves to have utmost importance, ever since the redesigh of the technology advancements allow the perfect sincon of global workforce to be subject to no border leadership and creativity tools and practices. Contributions to literature counts one of the first attempts to design and asess the results of a technology workforce sustainability model and individually correlate the eight latent variables to two of the most valued elements of the international technology industyry: leadership and creativity.

Some Aspects Related to Identifying and Preventing a Certain Type of Online Behavior

2024-02-12T10:30:40+00:00

The emergence and development of the Internet meant profound changes in society, in the social environment in general, in the mentality and development of the human personality. Freedom of expression faces new challenges in terms of drawing its limits, as the online environment has changed not only the way we relate to each other, but even the way we relate to the law, to what "legal limits" mean. (https://didactform.snsh.ro/). The Internet is a different territory, dominated by its own laws, starting with its emergence in 1965 and continuing with its democratization in recent decades. The supremacy of traditional law falters in this environment because it cannot contain this informational chaos or keep pace with its inventiveness. At a time when humanity is overwhelmed by the volume and impact of misinformation orchestrated with the help of technologies available to everyone, it is imperative that Internet users develop their individual ability to evaluate the information they access in this medium and learn how to use digital means of communication in a way that benefits both themselves and those with whom they interact online. Media and information education must become a strategic objective of educational policies if we want to live in a functioning society, populated with peers capable of distinguishing between truth and falsehood, between facts and opinions, between reality and "alternative facts". (R. Coravu, 2021). Although we also have regulations to combat disinformation and hate speech, for the most part these aspects escape the control of the law in the online environment. That is why, in the end, self-regulation of the big online platforms was resorted to. This study aims to reveal some types of unwanted behavior online, especially on social networks, as electronic alternatives to illegal or immoral behaviors, including those that target children, such as bullying or exposure to inappropriate content. Children, less experienced than adults, can more easily fall into Internet traps. In the literature, treacherous or malicious behaviors have been identified that have a negative effect on people's online experiences and can influence and generate, in a chain, such an effect on other online users, especially young people. Analysis of what constitutes, for example, vaguebooking, subtweeting, self-praise, humblebragging, fear of being left out, mansplaining, tweetstorming, public humiliation, milkshake duck, snooping will be shown and presented (and, subsequently, the publication on social networks of what is heard or seen), fake news, fake images and, last but not least, trolls (whose activity in the online environment is carried out with the stated purpose of leading to confusion, disruption or even conflicts and that can distribute fake news, fake links, etc.). (V. Turk, 2019). We hope that the research carried out will constitute an approach that will determine future analyzes of what represents the causes of unwanted effects, in the online and social environment in general, through the informative content that the study brings.

Female Directors and Salary Excess: A Comparative Study for Spain and UK

2024-02-12T12:31:11+00:00

Current literature shows great interest in the effects of gender diversity on boards of directors. Most studies analyse a direct relationship between diversity and the value of the firm, without studying the intermediate mechanisms that may influence such a relationship. This study, through the use of panel data methodology, presents evidence of the influence of gender diversity on excess executive compensation comparing a set of listed UK and Spanish firms on an 8-year panel data. Several specific contributions are produced by this research. First, because of scarcity of literature of this type, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between gender diversity, board effectiveness, and top managers’ compensation. Second, to our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to compare in depth the corporate governance between the United Kingdom and Spain and their respective effects in Excess executive compensation. Both countries exhibit key differences regarding both the role of the governance contexts and the firms' mechanisms of monitoring that influence the design of executive compensation. The results show a negative and highly significant effect of the percentage of female executive directors on excess executive compensation for both countries. The results also show that women executive directors cause a moderating effect in the relation between board size, the separation of the charges of CEO and president of the board, the percentage of independent directors, the institutional ownership and excess executive compensation. Therefore, the implications of this study go in the direction of the reform of the composition of boards, which might lead to a recovery of confidence in businesses after the recent financial scandals, and the introduction of gender diversity could be the first step towards the improved control and effectiveness of companies. In this way, firms should not only take into account that gender diversity helps to make them socially responsible, with a view to complying with equality legislation and to improving their corporate image, but that increasing diversity on boards can also help them take better corporate decisions.

The Role of the Financial System

2024-02-13T07:15:14+00:00

The financial system is an essential component of our economy. It represents a set of institutions that facilitate the circulation of financial instruments on the financial markets. In other words, the financial system mediates money flow from those who accumulate savings (creditors) to those who make expenses (debtors) to realize projects. For this, they are ready to pay a specific price. Certain institutions such as banks, non-bank lending organizations, savings and loan associations and other specialized entities facilitate the circulation of money.

The Impact of Information Technologies on the Educational Process

2024-02-13T08:49:46+00:00

The objective of the article is to underline the importance of using the information technologies in education as the engine of progress and of the rapid reception and processing of a diverse volume of information in the educational process. The study in question is based on the authors own research, basically to respond the question how the integration of information technologies impacted the educational process as well as to conduct a comparative literature review of the topic by underlining the key findings such as improved access to education and enhanced collaboration. Considering bother the positive and negative aspects of the impact, authors draw the statements about the way people learn and teach. The implications of the paper are far-reaching, but overall can have important feedback for a wide range of stakeholders, from educators and students to policymakers and technology companies, can contribute to the development of more effective and equitable education systems.

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Carasuhat and Zaghen Ecological Restoration Areas (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve)

2024-02-12T11:52:53+00:00

The objective of this research was to evaluate the heavy metal levels in the Carasuhat and Zaghen, ecological restoration areas, within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used to analyze six heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr) in the water samples collected during spring, summer, and autumn in 2022. The results indicated that the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, and Zn (µg/L) were generally within the acceptable limits for Quality Class I (Very Good) and Quality Class II (Good). The study concludes that the degree of heavy metal contamination in the investigated areas is acceptably low and consequently presents a low environmental risk to aquatic life.

Acknowledgments: This work was carried out within the framework of Danube Delta Nucleus Programme Contract nr 41N/2019, PN 19 12 01 02 2019-2022, supported by the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digitization, and the project PROINVENT in the framework of Human Resources Development Operational Programme 2014-2020, financed from the European Social Fund under the contract number 62487/03.06.2022 POCU 993/6/13/ – Cod SMIS: 153299.

Public Administration in an Information Era. Challenges and Opportunities

2024-02-13T06:38:54+00:00

Information Era comes with changes, new challenges and many opportunities for public administration sector. The aim of our research is to identify these challenges and opportunities and the correlation between them. We chose as a research method the exploratory study based on the interview, in which 12 experts from the public administration participated (November - December 2022). The results of the research highlighted the opportunities that exist for public administration in the context of the Information Era, as well as the ways in which they can be exploited. The research findings have useful managerial implications for decision makers from public administration entities.

The Economic Consequences of the Pandemic Crisis on Car Services in Neamt County

2024-02-13T08:32:35+00:00

The Covid-19 Pandemia had a negative impact on the Romanian economy between 2020-2021 and, in particular, on the services sector. Of these, the most powerful affected were the car services which, against the background of the lack of transport of transport, registered a significant decrease in the turnover. This article aims to illustrate the negative impact of the Covid pandemic on car services in Neamt County and to analyze quantitatively a series of pre and post pandemic economic indicators. The results obtained demonstrate the initial hypothesis of the study, the existence of a strong correlation between the pandemic period and the financial results of companies in the field of car services

Corporate Governance in the Era of COVID-19

2024-02-12T11:33:51+00:00

In the context of profound changes in the world economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, corporate governance plays an important role in maximizing performance and increasing credibility for investors. The emergence of new risks and the amplification of existing ones causes the economic environment to comply with the corporate governance requirement for the evaluation, monitoring and improvement of the risk management process. In the framework of this research, we propose, on the one hand, to present the conceptual approaches of corporate governance and, on the other hand, to analyze the degree of compliance of Romanian companies with the requirements of corporate governance. Moreover, we followed the way in which the pandemic changed the optics of companies regarding compliance with corporate governance requirements. The research results show that during the analyzed period, 2016-2021, the degree of compliance in Romania with corporate governance requirements registered a very small increase.

The Fiscal System in Romania

2024-02-13T06:16:37+00:00

The fiscal system in Romania refers to all the laws and rules that govern the taxes and fees paid by individuals and legal entities to the state. This includes income tax, VAT, excise duty, property tax and other duties and taxes. In addition, there are tax incentives such as tax deductions and tax exemptions for certain types of activities or investments. The Romanian tax administration is responsible for the collection of taxes and duties and for ensuring tax compliance of taxpayers. There is also a system of sanctions for those who break the tax rules, such as fines and penalties.

The Role of Organizational Culture in Preventing Internal Crises

2024-02-13T08:20:26+00:00

Organizational culture is an ongoing activity and a healthy culture implies that the employee feels safe, that he is valued, that he belongs to a group, and all these things make him choose to stay with the company. Organizational culture represents a lifestyle and is the result of internal practices, norms of conduct, values, aspirations and beliefs specific to that organization. However, organizations are in a permanent competition, the demands of the market force them to change and adapt constantly, both externally and internally in order to succeed. I analyze in this paper how the organizational culture helps the organization to avoid internal crises.

Return to coal or transition to green energy? The future of the energy sector in Europe in the context of the war in Ukraine

2024-02-12T11:17:02+00:00

The energy sector of the European Union was subjected to a systemic shock following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The desire of the Europeans to quickly give up energy dependence on the Russian Federation, until the time of the invasion the largest supplier of natural gas, oil and coal to the Union, sparked a global rush for resources, with repercussions felt across the planet. However, the war in Ukraine also represented a catalyst for accelerating the European Union's transition to renewable energy sources. The present paper aims to identify the consequences of the war in Ukraine on the European energy sector, both from the perspective of the decarbonization process and of ensuring energy security. The methods used are the case study and comparative analysis. The obtained results highlight the fact that the feared return to coal, expected by many as the only solution to ensure the immediate energy security of the European Union, did not take place, the investments in renewable energy sources made in recent years representing a real "lifeline" for Europe in the current context.

Health Education – A Major Challenge for the University of the XXI Century

2024-02-12T13:56:11+00:00

In the tertiary education system, the "new educations" hardly find their place. There are scientific and/or methodological reasons that explain this reality. In the context of the multiplication of crises of various kinds, including those of public health, as well as in the process of rethinking the role (scientific and technical, social, cultural) and the place of universities in the current century, a major challenge arises before the specialists: how does the university of the century contribute 21st in the health education of students, masters or doctoral students in such a way that they, once they become performers in their fields of competence, can become vectors of social and individual health. The current study aims, through the case study, to find out the opinion of young scholars in relation to the need for health education at the level of universities of our time.

Public Relations and Business Marketing

2024-02-13T07:57:53+00:00

Public relations techniques work more and more closely with marketing strategies precisely because today reputation is built mainly online. Public relations is a vital part of any company, regardless of its size and niche, and helps to establish and maintain the best possible public image and reputation. Public relations in the online environment uses digital channels and tools, in harmony with traditional tools and channels, always with the aim of improving the company's relationship with the reference audience or the market itself. In this paper I will analyze how digital PR allows companies to relate to their target audience directly or indirectly thanks to the channels that the Internet makes available and what is the impact on the buying behavior of consumers.

Bigamy

2024-02-12T10:49:45+00:00

The paper includes a brief analysis of the crime of bigamy provided for in the provisions of art. 376 of the Criminal Code. We took into account the pre-existing conditions of the crime (the legal object, the material object and the subjects), as well as its constitutive content (the objective side and the subjective side). Last but not least, I highlighted the consistency of the Romanian legislator for incriminating this kind of acts against the family. The work can be useful to practitioners in the field of law, as well as students and master's students of specialized faculties in the country. This paper is part of the university course on criminal law to be published this year at a prestigious publishing house in the field of legal sciences.

Romanian Diaspora - A Non-state International Actor

2024-02-12T13:34:53+00:00

As a result of the migration phenomena, accentuated in an increasingly globalized world, the Romanian diaspora has distinct characteristics.How is the potential of this important part of the Romanian nation appreciated and valued, which is the legal framework and the objectives of the Romanian state regarding maintaining ties and supporting the preservation, development and expression of the ethnic, linguistic, cultural and spiritual identity of the Romanians outside the borders are some of the aspects that we try to emphasize in our approach. The conclusions of our analysis are based on the recent statistical data and reports of the UN and OECD, the updated legislation in the field and a vast bibliography that addresses the issue.

Tax Regulations Regarding Micro-Entrepreneurs in Romania in the Current Context

2024-02-13T07:33:04+00:00

Currently, in Romania there are two systems of taxation of the incomes and profits of companies - taxation on the income of micro-enterprises and taxation of the profit of companies that are not considered micro-enterprises from a fiscal point of view. The year 2023 brought many changes in the fiscal system of micro-enterprises in Romania. These changes concern the tax rate, respectively the alignment to a single tax rate, unlike the previous periods when there were two tax rates, depending on the number of employees. If in 2022 the tax was 1% for micro-enterprises that have at least one employee and 3% for those that have no employees, by Ordinance 16/2022, starting from January 1, 2023, the tax facility through which enterprises without employees paid tax on 3% income. Starting from January 1, 2023, by Ordinance No. 16/ 2022 of July 15, 2022, the turnover ceiling up to which companies fall under the micro-enterprise income tax drops from 1,000,000 euros to 500,000 euros. Thus, companies that obtain an income of over 500,000 euros will switch to a profit tax of 16%, from the quarter following the one in which this ceiling was exceeded. At the same time, micro-enterprises that do not have any employees on December 31, 2022 will become profit tax payers, starting on January 1, 2023. Companies that from January 1, 2023 leave the micro-enterprise income tax regime must notify ANAF by date of March 31, 2023. Starting from the year 2023, if during a fiscal year a micro-enterprise achieves revenues greater than 500,000 euros or the share of revenues from consulting and/or management in total revenues is over 20% inclusive, it owes profit tax starting from the quarter in which any of these limits have been exceeded. Also, if, during a fiscal year, a micro-enterprise no longer fulfills the employee condition, it owes profit tax starting from the quarter in which this condition is no longer met. This article aims to present the changes brought by 2023 regarding the taxation of micro-enterprises in Romania, but also a comparative study with previous years, as well as a comparison with some European systems regarding the taxation of micro-enterprises, respectively in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany.

Family abandonment

2024-02-12T10:39:34+00:00

In this paper, we have carried out a brief examination of the crime of family abandonment, a crime which in judicial practice has determined some different opinions. We had in mind the examination of the pre-existing conditions and the constitutive content of this crime, through the lens of the judicial practice promoted in the matter. We also considered a brief comparative examination of the legal contents of the offense provided for in the current and previous law. Last but not least, we have also highlighted the two decisions promoted at the level of the supreme court with direct effects in judicial practice. The work can be useful to practitioners in the field of criminal law, as well as students and master's students of specialized faculties in the country. This paper is part of the criminal law course to be published this year at a prestigious publishing house in the country.

Realism, Liberalism and the Current Security Issues in Central and Eastern Europe: A Theoretical Overview

2024-02-12T12:57:10+00:00

Realism and Liberalism include a wide variety of research programs that have proved relevant for the study of Central and Eastern Europe, from an International Relations perspective. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created the need for a review of such approaches, mainly from the perspective of their analyses and predictions regarding Russia’s foreign policy behaviour. The main argument of this paper is that these new developments have opened a new stage in the debate between Realists and Liberals, regarding the architecture of regional security.

Political, Military, and Economic Relations and their Role in the Foundation of Contemporary Society

2024-02-13T07:18:29+00:00

At this moment, the history of international relations means more than the history between nation-states. It deals with not only the affairs between governments but also with all cross-border interactions (trade, emigration, the movement of capital and ideas), with individual actions and non-state organizations (international companies, the Red Cross, the International Monetary Fund, etc.). At the same time, the history of international relations also means investigating how the foreign policy of an actor of this type is carried out. The way of conceiving the history of international relations has changed, just as the substance of the worldwide environment has converted. In fact, the latter became more and more complex, supranational political entities were added to nation-states, universal organizations assumed an expanding important role, economic globalization imposed new realities and democratization allowed increasingly substantial access to public opinion, in the development of foreign policy. With all the certainties we have today regarding the role of the European Union and the institutions that preceded it in maintaining a climate conducive to development on the European continent, the path of integration was more than tortuous. If the war -and its effects- represents the main cause for the adoption of the integrative solution at the European level, as the only solution for maintaining peace on the continent, a causal association that can be traced throughout the last millennium. The first post-war years provided, for the first time, the conditions necessary and sufficient for its imposition, once the first steps are taken in this direction.

The Role of European Commission Recommendations in the Field of Education. Case Study: Recommendation " Digital Education – Enabling Factors for Success"

2024-02-13T08:53:03+00:00

The competences of the European Union in the field of education are limited. However, the activity of the European institutions is in continuous progress. The article analyzes the legal force of the recommendations in European Union law, especially in the field of education. Secondly, the impact of the new recommendation "Digital education – enabling factors for success" is analysed

Current Trends in International Tourism in the Post-Pandemic Period

2024-02-12T12:04:57+00:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the international tourism industry, leading to the closure of borders and travel restrictions worldwide. As the world gradually emerges from the pandemic, the tourism industry is experiencing a significant shift in trends and consumer behavior. This article examines the current trends in international tourism during the post-pandemic period. The article begins by reviewing the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry, highlighting the decline in tourist arrivals and revenue loss. The article then discusses the changing travel behavior of consumers, including an increased focus on health and safety measures and a preference for sustainable tourism. The article also explores the emergence of new trends in the tourism industry, including the rise of domestic tourism, the growth of remote work and travel, and the use of technology in tourism. The article concludes by highlighting the need for tourism businesses and policymakers to adapt to these new trends and develop innovative strategies to attract tourists in the post-pandemic period. Overall, this article provides valuable insights into the current trends in international tourism and offers practical recommendations for tourism businesses and policymakers to navigate the post-pandemic period successfully.

Digital Money and Digital Transition

2024-02-13T06:56:27+00:00

Crypto assets are digital assets that can be used as a medium of exchange or for investment. Unlike traditional banking instruments, they do not require a central ledger, relying on distributed ledger technology that allows transactions to be securely recorded across a network of computers. At the same time, crypto assets are not private; they are not issued or guaranteed by a central bank or public authority. Cryptocurrencies are now used as a means of payment and are a full-fledged asset class in the portfolios of investors worldwide. On the other hand, cryptocurrencies are still considered among the most volatile and risky assets.

Theorizing the Nexus Between Discourses on Migration and Security

2024-02-13T08:43:16+00:00

This paper offers an interdisciplinary examination of the construction of migration as a security issue, grounded on conceptualizations and practices that date back to the 20^th century. A literary review of prior work related to migration theory and human security theory is filtered from the perspective of its discursive construction, thus emphasizing how despite the contemporary changes in the physical, ideological and economic borders, conventions in the field of migration and security that were drawn up in the last century continue to be employed as milestones. Considering that, due to its origins, security discourse has been more politically driven than academic, the importance of the study lies in questioning the underlying understanding of the theoretical framework and therefore opening a new perspective on the importance of international migration flows.

Accounting Issues Related to Renewable Energy Sector

2024-02-12T11:39:42+00:00

Energetic security has become an important topic in politics, business, academic environment and education as a result of geopolitical instability, high increases in gas prices and climate changes. Renewable energy sector has emerged as an alternative to conventional sources of energy. As part of their sustainability strategies, companies are increasingly looking to reduce their energy costs while maintaining continuous business process. As a result, many companies have started to use energy from renewable generation sources. The role that renewable energy plays in a company’s energy strategy is increasingly raised from an operational exercise to a strategic priority. Renewable energy strategies vary from investing directly in a generation asset, or purchasing the power from a third party’s project to buying renewable certificates. This paper seeks to explore the accounting implications of different arrangements related to renewable energy, from the perspective of producers, traders or consumer of renewable energy. This paper will highlight some of the key accounting considerations for power purchase agreement which can be quite a complex issue with a lot of challenges for professional accountants.

Tax Evasion: Consequences, Reduction

2024-02-13T06:20:07+00:00

Tax evasion is a major problem in Romania and has negative consequences on the economy and society. First, tax evasion leads to significant revenue losses for the state, which affects its ability to finance public services and infrastructure investments. In addition, tax evasion creates a competitive disadvantage for companies that pay taxes and fees, as they have to bear a higher tax burden than their tax-avoiding competitors.To reduce tax evasion, appropriate legislative and administrative measures are needed, such as simplifying the tax system, improving tax transparency, increasing the efficiency of tax collection and imposing more severe penalties for those who violate tax rules. Tax education can also play an important role in raising awareness of the importance of paying taxes and promoting a responsible tax culture.

Public Relations and Business Marketing

2024-02-13T08:24:41+00:00

Public Relations in an organization has the role of creating and maintaining relationships with all stakeholders by initiating dialogue, as an honest and permanent source of information with the aim of gaining their trust. Public relations are oriented towards creating the image of the organization and increasing its notoriety by gaining the trust of stakeholders. The public relations practitioner serves as an intermediary between the organization and the entire public of that organization and as a result has responsibilities both towards the institution and towards its various audiences. In the current socio-economic context, it is obvious that the funds allocated for promotion have been reduced and a natural consequence of this phenomenon is the increased attention paid to public relations. Public relations along with marketing can make the difference between profitability and failure for a company. This paper aims to analyze public relations strategies from the perspective of understanding the stages that are the basis of promotion and information campaigns and how the proposed objectives can be achieved efficiently.

Improving the Resilience of Inland Waterways against Climate Change

2024-02-12T11:26:37+00:00

Specialists certified that the inland waterways are vulnerable to climate change and affect the entire economy. The most affected states are those directly connected to the Danube River, and freight transport has an essential role in regional development. We will analyze the impact of climate change on the Danube area, including inland waterways and inland ports. The climate changes for the site were reflected in the water level, considering the storms, wind, and ice. The purpose is to present a synthesis of these effects on the specified site. The results presented are part of the PLOTO project: Deployment and Assessment of Predictive modeling, environmentally sustainable and emerging digital technologies, and tools for improving the resilience of IWW against Climate change and other extremes (HORIZON-CL5-2021-D6-01-09), a project in which is involved the Daubius University of Romania.

The Impact of Online Teaching due to COVID – 19 and Post COVID Period in Albania

2024-02-12T13:59:26+00:00

The teaching process in the higher education institutions during the pandemic period of COVID– 19 was a big challenge all over the world, also for those universities which had applied beforethe online teaching process. This period was difficult referring to different perspectives,including infrastructures, abilities, technicalities, mentality, psychological situation etc.,. Due tothe pandemic's impact on educational institutions, which affected millions of students, there wasthe largest online movement in educational history. Universities had to swiftly transition tovirtual and digital tactics as a result of this abrupt move away from classrooms in many parts ofthe world. The paper employs both quantitative and qualitative approach to study the perceptionsof teachers and students on online teaching-learning modes and also highlights theimplementation process of online teaching-learning modes. The value of this paper is to give acomplete picture and to show all the advantages and disadvantages of ongoing online teaching-learning activities during the lockdown period including establishing the linkage between changemanagement process and online teaching-learning process in education system amid the COVID-19 outbreak so as to overcome the persisting academic disturbance and consequently ensure theresumption of educational activities and discourses as a normal course of procedure in theeducation system, resulting as the invention of an effective tool in the context of performanceimprovement and added value to education services.

The Employer's Brand

2024-02-13T08:07:08+00:00

Employer branding is a goal for organizations that want to achieve performance through increased employee productivity and workforce retention. The profit and sustainability of the organization are influenced by the perceptions of the employer brand, both internally and externally. Organizational reputation strongly influences employee confidence and productivity, and achieving high-level performance through productivity and efficiency has always been a high-priority organizational objective. The paper aims to analyze how public relations strategies can help a brand become an employer brand.

Performance of Multinational Companies, Through the Prism of Social and Environmental Accounting

2024-02-12T10:52:56+00:00

For all companies, regardless of the field in which they operate, performance is an objective of the investors and an obligation of their management, an attitude which in principle is or should be found in national or state companies, regardless of their size. According to the bibliographic analysis, the evolution of opinions regarding performance were not always convergent, its definition being done both at a general level, but especially through particularized expressions, which, over time, focused on two currents of thought, one characterizing the economic system of companies using specific quantitative indicators and another based on a behavioral perspective oriented towards the quantitative-qualitative side. Since the reality of our days is dominated by the supremacy of multinational companies that imprint the meaning of the world economy, it is implicitly necessary to adopt and adapt a multidimensional vision on performance, which takes into account the interdependencies:

- internal, which manifests itself between subsidiaries, between them and the parent company, between subsidiaries and the company and the employed staff;

- external, which manifests itself between different multinational companies and between their subsidiaries in all economic aspects, quantitatively and qualitatively;

-external, between multinational companies (including their subsidiaries), and the community

If 15-20 years ago, performance also covered the evolution of a simple social trend, over time it turned into an everyday reality, the change being due to multinational companies, which through their migrationist and offensive attitude induced and materialized on a conceptual and practical level the performance of social responsibility activities. Through the prism of this plurivalent vision, a new concept of performance has resulted, namely global performance, with synergistic effect in several directions, namely sustainable economic, social and societal and environmental, ecological, combining financial performance with social and environmental performance.

The need for teaching of Higher Education in the XXI Century

2024-02-12T13:37:50+00:00

The world of our century is in an accelerated dynamic, globalization, the new scientific and technical revolution, the uncertainties of the internal and external environment of training, etc., impose a different way of approaching the didactic process for the training of specialists with a high level of performance in this perpetuum mobiles of the 21st century. As a result, the pedagogy of higher education must develop, in relation to the principles, methods and forms of organization of the educational process, a new theoretical and applied approach that will be centered on the acquisition of general and specific competencies but also meta-competences that will facilitate the evolution future specialists in new fields of knowledge that will undoubtedly appear in the decades to come.

The Importance of Public Relations in Managing an Organization's Image

2024-02-13T07:48:05+00:00

The business world is characterized by fierce competition, and in order to win new customers and keep existing ones, companies must distinguish themselves from the competition, have a specific idea that is reflected in its public image. The public relations activity in an organization has the role of creating a positive public image, on which both strong customer relations and implicitly increased sales are based, as well as maintaining a good reputation. The paper aims to explore the importance of public relations in creating the image of an organization through the offline and online communication strategies chosen as the most effective.

The European Union's Legislative Framework for the Protection of National Minorities: Principles of Non-Discrimination and Equality

2024-02-12T10:44:30+00:00

The European Union, through its institutions, has performed an intenseactivity to reduce discrimination against national minorities, the Parliament,the Commission and the Council have joined forces to become activelyinvolved in creating a legal space relevant for national minorities byestablishing a complex and effective legislative framework in order toachieve this goal.In this paper we aim to include elements of conceptual analysis, withreference to the content and legal dimension of the principles of non-discrimination and equal treatment, in the sense that they are not equivalentto the identity of legal treatment, to interpret scientifically the provisionscontained in European documents to highlight how European legislation andthe mechanisms created by these regulations provide protection for nationalminorities by applying the principles of non-discrimination and equality.For the elaboration of the paper we have used as research methods theanalysis of problems generated by the mentioned subject with reference todoctrinal views expressed in treaties and papers, the documentary research,the interpretation of legal norms in the matter.

Blockchain Applications in the Maritime Sector: A Conceptual Framework

2024-02-12T13:15:21+00:00

The maritime sector can regain its competitiveness by adopting blockchain technology in itssystems. Companies operating in this sector are increasingly interested in utilizing blockchain technologyto stay ahead of the competition. Nevertheless, the use of blockchain technology in the maritime supplychain is still significantly underdeveloped, creating an unexplored critical area. Blockchain technologyoffers an innovative platform that provides transparency and facilitates innovative transactions in themaritime industry, while enabling tracking of goods and data. The aim of this study is to offer acomprehensive outlook on the implementation of blockchain technology in the maritime sector bydeveloping a new conceptual framework that can guide future research. The study also proposesrecommendations for various stakeholders in the maritime sector to leverage the emerging opportunitiesand mitigate associated risks offered by blockchain technology.

SWOT Analysis - A Management Instrument

2024-02-13T07:22:24+00:00

The company's internal environment is made up of all the elements that ensure the achievement of its activity objective. It comes into action as a whole in which the components work together, conditioning each other, potentiating or annihilating each other as the case may be. Strengths are distinctive characteristics or skills that a company possesses at a higher level compared to other companies, especially the competition, which ensures a certain advantage over them. Strengths involve defining and measuring the areas in which the organization excels. Strengths are actually resources or capabilities that the organization has and that can be effectively used to achieve its objectives in terms of performance. The weak points represent activities that the company does not perform at the level of other competing companies or resources that it needs, but does not possess. Weaknesses represent a limitation, a mistake or a defect within the organization that prevents it from achieving its objectives. The external environment has several forms, the most important being: - the stable environment - it is specific to quiet periods, when the evolution of phenomena is slow and easily predictable, it raises few adaptation problems for the company and it is an environment that is increasingly rare in the contemporary economy.

The Coman Case-at the Confluence between Economic Integration and the Field of Fundamental Rights

2024-02-12T10:01:58+00:00

At the time it was delivered (June 5, 2018), the CJEU judgment in the Coman Case was seen as a resounding success for the movement to recognize a uniform legal status across the EU for same-sex couples.

For people without legal knowledge, the concepts of non-discrimination, tolerance, the right to family life, respectively marriage are the prevailing lexical field of this judgment. Upon careful reading, however, the judgment in question, whose reasoning is premised exclusively on the effectiveness of the right to free movement and residence on EU territory for European citizens and their family members, does not put an end to the issue of same-sex marriages.

In fact, the Coman Case is a free movement case, grafted on a matrimonial relationship. This also explains the numerous dilemmas that this decision cannot answer, regardless of whether we look at it from the perspective of economic integration or of the fundamental rights protected by the Union in its areas of competence.

The Image of the Tourist Destination in Romania and the Way Towards an Authentic Country Brand

2024-02-12T12:14:22+00:00

This article explores the image of Romania as a tourist destination and the path towards creating an authentic national brand. Romania has a rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and a growing tourism industry, but it faces challenges in building a coherent and compelling image for potential visitors. To understand the current image of Romania, the article reviews existing research on perceptions of the country and its tourism offerings. While some visitors are drawn to the country's natural beauty and cultural attractions, others have negative perceptions of Romania as a destination due to issues such as corruption, poverty, and infrastructure challenges. The article argues that developing a strong national brand is essential for addressing these challenges and attracting more visitors to Romania. A successful brand will communicate a clear and compelling message about what makes Romania unique and worth visiting, while also addressing any negative perceptions or concerns potential visitors may have. The article proposes several strategies for building a strong national brand, including identifying and promoting unique cultural and natural assets, engaging with stakeholders and visitors to understand their perceptions and needs, and developing a cohesive marketing strategy that communicates a clear message to potential visitors. Overall, the article argues that creating an authentic national brand for Romania is essential for promoting the country as a compelling and worthwhile destination for tourism. By developing a strong brand, Romania can overcome negative perceptions and attract more visitors, while also preserving and promoting its rich cultural and natural heritage.

Some Comments Regarding Romanian Leu

2024-02-13T07:08:53+00:00

It has come a long way from the beautiful Greek and Roman coins, silver coins with the faces of gods or goddesses engraved on them, to the plastic notes rustling in our pockets today. The Romanian Leu is almost 140 years old and is the most diverse currency. These four countries' gold, silver, or bronze coins have circulated throughout history, affecting Romanians' economies and daily life.

Necessity of Cyber Insurance Regulation to Face New Challenges

2024-02-13T08:46:35+00:00

The new realities are imposed by the technological evolution and implicitly, by the evolution of crime in virtual space. Given that real space overlaps with cybernetic space in many areas, the tools from real space must be imported in such a way as to meet immediate and long-term needs. Related to cyber risk insurance, we can mention that an adaptation and a structural repositioning of the concepts in the field of classical insurance is necessary because one of the problems that must be answered is related to the valorization of informational assets and their accounting. Another problem that requires an answer is related to the prior auditing of IT systems, before the conclusion of the insurance contract, and last but not least, perhaps one of the most important questions refers to the post-incident evaluation, after the occurrence of the insured risk. Added to all this is the uneven fluctuation of the registration value of IT data and those related to property rights. Therefore, in this article we will try to argue and demonstrate, as best as possible, the need to establish a unitary regulatory framework related to cyber risks and their insurance

Assessing the Acceptance of Automated Vehicles in China: A Technology Acceptance Model

2024-02-12T11:49:25+00:00

Automated vehicles (AVs) might provide a possible solution for enhancing road safety, but the advantages of AVs can only be achieved if people choose to utilize them. Few researchers have studied the impact of personal and social aspects on AV acceptability, despite the fact that there have been endeavors to comprehend why individuals would utilize AVs. This research aims to address this gap in the literature. A model of AV acceptance was created by supplementing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with personal and social elements, such as trust, subjective norm, and the Big Five personality traits. The reliability of the suggested framework was validated using a questionnaire administered to 547 Chinese drivers. At the onset of AV marketing, perception variables, namely, perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PUF) from the Technology Acceptance Model, had a substantial impact on the purchase intention (PIN) of consumers towards AVs. But most significantly, it was subjective norm and trust that most significantly led to describing whether or not consumers would accept AVs. Certain personality traits also played a pivotal role regarding AV use purpose. Neurotic individuals were less inclined to acknowledge AVs and exhibited reduced trust. Essentially, such results suggest that AVs marketing to prominent persons might aid in forming healthy social relationships. Perceptions would substantially influence AVs adoption in the initial stages of development.

Income Taxation of Natural Persons: Concrete Methods of Calculation

2024-02-13T06:22:26+00:00

Personal income taxation is a complex process that involves several stages. In Romania, the income tax system is based on the principle of progressive tax, which means that the higher the income, the higher the percentage rate. The concrete ways of calculating the tax include determining the annual gross income from all sources of income, including income from wages, pensions, dividends, rents and others. After determining the gross income, deductible expenses, such as contributions to private pension funds or other types of insurance, are subtracted from it. These expenses can reduce the amount of gross income and, implicitly, the amount of tax owed.The tax is calculated by applying a percentage rate, which varies according to the income level and is established by law. Then, net income is calculated, i.e. gross income less deductible expenses. The tax owed is then determined by multiplying the net income by the percentage tax rate. In addition, there are also tax deductions for certain categories of income, such as income from self-employment or from investments in start-ups, which can reduce the amount of tax owed. It is important to pay attention to all the details and correctly calculate the tax due to avoid tax penalties.

Wages in Romania in the Current Economic Context

2024-02-13T08:29:20+00:00

The year 2023 brought many changes in the salary system in Romania. These changes concern both the minimum wage in the economy and the way social contributions and payroll tax are calculated. GD no. 1,447/2022 establishes that starting from January 1, 2023, the minimum gross basic salary per country guaranteed in payment will be 3,000 lei per month, for an average work schedule of 165.33 hours per month, representing 18.14 lei /hour. GEO no. 168/2022 establishes that starting from January 1, 2023 for the field of construction, the gross minimum basic salary per country guaranteed in payment is set in money, without including allowances, increments and other additions, at the amount of 4,000 lei per month, for a normal working hours on average of 165.33 hours per month, representing on average 24.19 lei/hour. According to HG 905/2017, salary changes are sent to REVISAL within 20 working days from the date on which it is changed. On the one hand, the system of salary deductions will have two components: the basic personal deduction and the additional personal deduction, granted within the limit of the monthly taxable income achieved, and the number of employees who will be able to benefit from this facility will increase. This change was regulated at the legislative level by means of OG 16/2022 and is applicable starting from January 2023. On the other hand, the same ordinance makes changes to the ceiling for granting certain extra-salary benefits, offered by the employer. In order not to be taxed, these incomes must amount to no more than 33% of the basic salary corresponding to the job held. It is important to note that not all extra-salary benefits that an employer can grant are subject to this ceiling. This article aims to present the changes made in 2023 regarding the salary in Romania, but also a comparative study with the year 2022, as well as an analysis with some European salary systems.

Innovative Aspects in Entrepreneurial Activity - Comparison between Romania and Turkey

2023-05-11T11:38:30+00:00

In times of pressing social challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, migration, social inequalities and population growth, we realize that attitudes and skills are needed that pursue creative tasks and offer new solutions to complex social problems at an international level. This situation calls for entrepreneurial behavior and an entrepreneurial society that rewards such behavior.

Creativity helps entrepreneurs with one of the most important steps in their business journey: coming up with a fresh business idea. Entrepreneurs with a high level of creativity are often able to come up with exceptionally creative business ideas that fill a niche gap in the market.

The article aims to make a comparison of the recent entrepreneurial activity existing in Romania and Turkey.

Some Aspects of the Execution of Court Decisions regarding the Establishment of the Residence of Minors and the Exercise of the Right to Personal Ties with the Minor

2024-02-09T13:42:08+00:00

Having as a legal basis the provisions of art. 910-913 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in this paper we will analyze the factual situation, the evidence administered in such civil processes in which a parent requests the application of penalties, because the other parent of the child does not comply with the court decision either regarding the establishment of the minor's home, or regarding the visitation schedule. Finally, based on the cases presented and the legislation in the field, we will try to answer the questions: who benefits from the mechanism of penalties applied by the court? Does this mechanism lead to the closeness between the non-resident parent and the child or to the relaxation of relations between the child's parents?

European Priorities in Education for Green Sustainable Development

2024-01-15T11:11:13+00:00

The Green Deal is the future development priority for Europe. Besides curbing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change, the Europeans need to adjust to the new realities with resilience and awareness (Abban et al., 2023; Khan et al., 2023; Nuta, 2008; Nuta, 2011). In order to follow the new development pathways, education plays a critical role (Jiang et al., 2023). Several priorities affecting citizens' everyday lives were recognized as of utmost importance for the future. The transition to renewable energy or eliminating inequalities and structural gaps between European countries and between different citizens are just some of these policy options. The study aims to review these policy options and the level of implementation. At the same time, an objective is to assess the formal and informal education's role in raising the awareness level among Europeans.

Environmental Challenges for Balkan Emerging Countries - An Overview

2024-01-15T10:56:51+00:00

Balkan countries are ex-communist countries that must recover from structural and development gaps (Moldovan and Lobont. 2014, Nuta et al., 2015a, Nuta, 2008; Nuta et al., 2023; Nuta and Nuta, 2012). At the same time, they need to adapt rapidly to the new green economic growth paradigm and to involve actively in environmental protection. Their ecological protection regulatory framework was subjugated to the need to attract investors from abroad to ensure an increased economic output at the cost of environmental degradation, as in all ex-communist developing economies (Khan et al., 2023; Nuta, 2011; Nuta and Nuta, 2017; Nuta et al., 2021; Shahbaz et al., 2023; Tiwari et al., 2023). The study's primary goal is to assess the actual situation and the perspectives for the shift from economic growth based on raw materials exploitation and heavy industry towards green economic options and energy efficiency.

The Impact of Oil Price Shocks, Energy Consumption, Trade Liberalization on CO2 Emissions in China

2024-01-15T11:13:20+00:00

The quality of the environment has become a subject of great importance nowadays due to the complex impact of environmental degradation on economies and citizens everywhere on the globe. China, one of the world's biggest polluters, attracts the attention of researchers by the way its economic model has contributed to the environmental damage (Abban et al., 2022; Ayad et al., 2023; Balsalobre-Lorente et al., 2023; Cigu et al., 2020; Dilanchiev et al., 2023; F M Nuta , A C Nuta (2012) Jiang et al., 2023; I. Khan et al., 2023; S. U. Khan et al., 2023; Nazam et al., 2022; Nureen et al., 2023; Nuta et al., 2021; Nuta, F. M. (2011a); Nuta, F. M. (2011b) Petrea et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2023; Nuta et al., 2015; Nuta & Nuta, 2017); (Nuta) et al., 2023)(Nuta & Nuta, 2020); Nuta, A.C., & Nuta F.M. (2012); Nuta, A. C. (2008), Nuta AC, Cristina Nuta AC, Chirila V, Roman A, Pusca AC (2015); Nuta, A. C. & Nuta, F. (2014a); Nuta, A. (2014b). Nuta, F. M. (2011a); Nuta, F. M. 2011b.; F M Nuta , A C Nuta (2012) Hatmanu,M., Lobont, O.R. Albu, C., Moldovan, N.C., (2014); Lobont, O.R., Moldovan, N.C., Bociu, A.; Chis, C., (2018); Moldovan, N.C., Hatmanu, M. Lobont, O.R., (2014), Vatavu,S. Dogaru, M, Moldovan C.N., Lobont O.R.,(2022)

This study proposes an analysis of the impact of economic growth, trade liberalization, energy consumption, and oil price shocks in China from 2002 to 2021. Our methodological approach proposes a dynamic simulated ARDL model to assess the negative and positive changes occurring in the variables along with their short-run and long-run relationships.

The ARDL bounds test results confirm a long-term relationship among trade liberalization, oil price shocks, economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the results of a novel dynamic simulated ARDL disclosed that trade liberalization is positively connected to CO2 emissions in China in the long run. Moreover, there is a negative relationship between oil price shocks and CO2 emissions in the case of China. The analysis further proposes some concrete policy implications of the results.

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Literature on the Determinants of Environmental Degradation

2024-01-15T11:04:35+00:00

Environmental degradation becomes a systemic risk influenced by individual or collective action. Progressively, we feel the effects of environmental changes. Global stakeholders are searching for measures to mitigate the pace of environmental damage generated by the economic growth models in place and advocate for switching towards green development options. Urbanization, economic growth, financial development, innovation, renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption, and globalization are only examples of factors used in different studies to describe how human activities impact the environment. Nevertheless, they depend on the economic development level and can have mixed effects. The literature includes a wide range of studies on the impact of certain factors on the environment. We aim to analyze the literature to highlight the influence of the relevant elements on the environment, highlighting the contextual factors. There are three directions to follow in the study of the empirical literature: the factors influencing the environment, whether it is a positive or negative impact, and the environmental component included in the analysis. The last direction is significant to assess as most studies (Abban et al., 2022; Abban et al., 2023; Ayad et al., 2023; Balsalobre-Lorente et al., 2023; Cigu et al., 2020; Dilanchiev et al., 2023; F M Nuta , A C Nuta (2012) Jiang et al., 2023; I. Khan et al., 2023; S. U. Khan et al., 2023; Nazam et al., 2022; Nureen et al., 2023; Nuta et al., 2021; Nuta, F. M. (2011a); Nuta, F. M. (2011b) Petrea et al., 2021; Tiwari et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023) use the level of carbon emissions to discuss environmental degradation. Lately, recent research (Nuta et al., 2015; Nuta & Nuta, 2017; Shahbaz et al., 2023) used ecological footprint to assess environmental issues. However, many other environmental features are less explored

The Nexus between FDI, Renewable Energy and Environmental Quality – a View on the Moderating Role of Remittance

2024-01-15T10:50:34+00:00

Economic growth is still at large the main goal for world governments. Shifting the development patterns towards sustainability and green economic growth is challenging in a globalized world. Economic activities were always in close relation with energy consumption and environmental degradation (Ayad et al., 2023; Dilankiev et al., 2023; Nureen et al., 2023; Nuta et al., 2015; Nuta and Nuta, 2020; Nuta, 2011; Nuta et al., 2015b; Zhang et al., 2023). To keep a steady economic growth and at the same time to mitigate the environmental issues, several policy options are available, such as switching from classic energy sources to renewable energy (Abban et al., 2022; Abban et al., 2023, Balsalobre-Lorente et al., 2023; Shahbaz et al., 2023; Tiwari et al., 2023). The aim of this study is to explore the potential role remittance can play in moderating the relationship between foreign direct investments, renewable energy and environmental quality. Using the OLS approach on a panel of top remittance receiving economies, will help us debate on the nexus between variables and suggest several policy recommendations based on the study results.

An Investigation on the Use of Online Financial Services

2024-01-15T11:16:07+00:00

Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly evident and necessary to use the Internet in various actions, and the young generations integrate the new technologies more and more intensively. The coronavirus pandemic boosted the openness of citizens' behavior to use online services in all areas. The financial sector (especially the banking sector) had to react to this impulse and adapt its approach to satisfying the needs of its clients, diversifying its activity. Completing the services offered at the bank's branch through online services was necessary. Considering the digital transition process, it will remain a necessary option for developing the capacity of banking systems worldwide (Nuta et al., 2023; Nuta & Nuta, 2020; Nuta, & Nuta, 2012; Nuta, 2008; Nuta, Chirila, Roman & Pusca, 2015; Nuta & Nuta, 2014a; Nuta, 2014b; Nuta, 2011a; Nuta, 2011b.; Nuta & Nuta 2012; Hatmanu, Lobont, Albu & Moldovan, 2014; Lobont, Moldovan, Bociu & Chis, 2018; Moldovan, Hatmanu & Lobont, 2014; Vatavu, Dogaru, Moldovan & Lobont, 2022). The intensity of the change in user behavior thus became the central element of our analysis.

Fiscal Morality and Environmental Responsibility

2024-01-15T11:08:07+00:00

The decision of individuals regarding the payment of taxes, although it seems predetermined, can be distorted in the presence of certain factors such as education, social and cultural values, religion, and trust in the government . Tax compliance could also be correlated with the decision to comply with environmental regulations. If taxation is perceived as an unethical tool by taxpayers in their relationship with a government they perceive as corrupt or irresponsible; the same could happen with the attitude toward compliance with environmental regulations use the level of carbon emissions to discuss environmental degradation. Lately, recent. Our study proposes the analysis of how the level of fiscal morality in various states, as measured in the specialized literature, can influence compliance with environmental regulations and the measures that mitigate to ensure the quality of the environment. A number of recommendations will be generated from the results of our analysis.

Environmental Quality Related Challenges for Emerging Economies – from Pollution Haven to Green Economic Growth

2024-01-15T10:53:50+00:00

Environmental issues are critical for national economies worldwide, and the mitigation of their adverse effects is a priority. There is a general agreement that economic activities, are responsible for endangering the environmental quality and for creating serious problems for natural habitats (Abban et al., 2023; Balsalobre-Lorente et al., 2023; Nuta et al., 2015a; Nuta et al., 2015b; Tiwari et al., 2023). However, the pollution that generated the climate change was possible due to the fact that between different regions existed deep development gaps and their evolution was different in terms of pace and opportunities. Thus, for recovering the gaps some of them depended on foreign financial resources (Ayad et al., 2023; Shahbaz et al., 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). To attract the needed investments, in many cases they used less strict environmental protection regulations as a competitive advantage. In other words, they became pollution havens, were less advanced technological production methods created economic output on the expense of deteriorating the ecological environment, excessive exploitation of raw natural resources, intensive energy consumption, and pollution. In this study, the focus is on discussing the challenges that emerging economies encounter for switching their development patterns to embrace green economic growth options.

Innovation and SMEs: A Binom of Economic Growth - Case of Albania

2023-05-19T19:38:01+00:00

Businesses are constantly seeking new, innovative methods to operate, strengthen their position, and obtain a competitive advantage in the present environment. Innovation entails more than just a new concept. Innovation is regarded as the major driver of growth in SMEs and the assurance of long-term sustainability. Innovation improves SMEs' ability to respond to market changes and increase their performance. The degree to which small and medium-sized businesses incorporate innovation into their strategies typically determines their success and survival. Several ways can be employed to accomplish this goal. One method is to re-engineer the existing business models using innovation practices.

Through a thorough literature review, the primary goal of this study will be to examine innovation as a significant factor in the growth of SMEs, specifically its impact on their performance. Inferential statistics on innovation measures and key performance indicators will be interpreted as part of the analysis. In the case of Albania, the study includes a regression-type model that investigates the association between SMEs' performance and innovation. Using the built-in model, a positive relationship between innovation and performance is expected, implying that the commitment to the innovation metrics will increase SME performance and, as a result, economic growth.

SDG 1 2030 for ending poverty- can Albania achieve this goal?

2023-05-19T12:26:51+00:00

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze the multidimensional aspects of poverty in the case of Albania, to explore and identify the individual factors or characteristics that determine the state of poverty, in order to propose programs and targeted policies according to the region and according to individual and family characteristics.

Prior Work: A considerable amount of studies have focused on the determinants of poverty in order to better understand the dimensions and structure of poverty. While income/expenditure has been shown to influence subjective perceptions of poverty, other characteristics such as family size, employment status, and region have also been shown to be important and are also the focus of this study.

Approach: The study relies mainly on primary data supplemented and supported by secondary data. Primary data were collected through surveys using structured questionnaires and consultation with experts in the field. Secondary data were obtained from various publications such as books and websites.

Results: The results of the econometric model showed that household size and residence are the factors that affect the well-being of the households in the sample.

Implications: In accordance with the results of this study, policy makers and organizations can initiate policies that target the regions and social groups with the greatest problems.

Value: the binary model used in this study is a usefultool for analysis, policy-making, and monitoring purposes. It allows understanding of the factors that determine poverty and identification of vulnerable household groups. The results obtained should be used in the development of effective social policies.

Keywords: multidimensional; determinants; household;binary model

Study on the Use of Tools of Management on the Performance of Local Public Administration

2023-07-19T11:23:30+00:00

Performances in a certain sector of activity are related to its basic element, the beneficiary of the work/product/service. In order to know the level of performance within public entities in relation to knowing the level of coverage of needs in communities, it is necessary to develop, implement, analyze and improve some standard and alternative mechanisms for their evaluation. Everything that is delivered to the community, from the local public administration, must be quantifiable. This quantification of public administration performance can be realized through the voluntary use of managerial tools to help manage all types of existing resources and what can be attracted. Consolidating and developing the use of tools and methods for evaluating the performance of public entities is possible by knowing their reliability and impact.

Directions for Improving the Internal Audit of some Stocks of Circulating Assets

2023-05-31T09:57:34+00:00

The objective of the article is the study of directions for improving the internal audit of some stocks of current assets according to the degree of functionality with a brief statement of the form of their manifestation, for the improvement of the procedural framework and practice in this field. The study in question, carried out mainly through the monographic method and other components inalienable to the dialectical method of knowledge, is based on the authors' own research, as well as theoretical concepts in this field on different dimensions described in the specialized publications of local and foreign scholars, the principles basic and the provisions of professional standards in the field. The results of the empirical study of the current state of the accounting of the distinct patrimonial elements allowed the group of authors to formulate some directions for improving the internal audit of the stocks of current assets according to the degree of functionality with a succinct statement of the form of their manifestation, cur would be: the argumentation of the methods stock assessment and the application of sampling methods in the audit, the improvement of the documentary verification methods of the movement of goods and materials, the organization of the inventory during the audit and the standardization of the audit checks.

FDI Flows in Balkans: What is Contributing to this Important Pillar for Growth?

2023-05-23T06:08:12+00:00

Many countries in the Balkan region have long been awaiting their accession in the European Union. Countless efforts, governmental reforms and policies are undertaken to ensure compliance with the international standards, adoption of best practices and to steer economic growth. Foreign direct investments serve various functions in the host economies, thus potentially triggering also economic growth. Given other advantages that these countries have such as the favorable climate and geographical location, FDI can become an important complementary pillar for growth if supported by adequate reforms targeting justice system, fair competition, and stability. On the face of rapid globalization, it becomes important to know how the region is benefiting from international capital flows and how various factors from different spheres shape them. In this paper, secondary data collected over the course of the last decade is used to study the financial, political, legal, and economic factors that shape FDI. The panel-data regression analysis allows identifying how policymakers can channel their policies into supporting FDI and creating solid foundations to reap the full benefits arising from them. This study provides an up-to-date, comprehensive analysis, which does not only contribute to the existing regional literature, but also to academia, practitioners, and pertinent stakeholders.

Management of Budgets for Agricultural Crops in the 2023-2024 Agricultural Season

2023-05-31T10:06:46+00:00

The purpose of the article is the in-depth analysis and information of domestic agricultural producers regarding the specifics and peculiarities of the 2023-2024 agricultural season and practical recommendations regarding the reduction of negative effects in the context of the economic crisis and recession.

In this context, the authors analyzed the situation of the income and expenditure budgets for the year 2021 and their estimate for the 2023-2024 agricultural season (2020 and 2022 were excluded from the analysis, because they were years with pronounced droughts, and the price of agricultural production of was quite tall).

The final conclusion of the group of authors boils down to: lavender culture is highly profitable, the production processes are fully mechanized and it is a payment with increased resistance to drought (in dry years the quality of the essential oil is higher), which is extremely important in conditions of climate resilience and it is recommended to be practiced for small farmers to diversify incomes in rural areas.

Sustainable Urban Development Policies and Practices in Albanian. A Comparative Study with Developing Countries

2023-05-31T06:01:07+00:00

Abstract

Sustainable urban development is a critical aspect of ensuring long-term economic, social, and environmental well-being in cities around the world. Albania is a developing country that faces numerous challenges in achieving sustainable urban development due to rapid urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, and limited financial resources. This paper provides a comparative study of sustainable urban development policies and practices in Albania with other developing countries.

The study analyzes the existing policies and practices in Albania and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of these policies in achieving sustainable urban development. The paper also compares the policies and practices of Albania with other developing countries. The analysis highlights the similarities and differences in policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and outcomes. A great effort will be conducted to compare the urban development based on the indicators of the urban development

The findings of the study suggest that Albania has made some progress in implementing sustainable urban development policies and practices, such as promoting energy efficiency and green spaces. However, significant challenges remain in areas such as affordable housing, waste management, sustainable transportation and urban planning. The comparative analysis also indicates that Albania can learn from the experiences of other developing countries and adopt best practices that are tailored to its local context.

In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of sustainable urban development in Albania and other developing countries. It highlights the need for policymakers to develop comprehensive and integrated policies that address the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The study also provides recommendations for improving sustainable urban development policies and practices in Albania and other developing countries.

Keywords: Sustainable urban development, developing countries, policies and practices

The Telecommunications Industry and Its Impact on the Albanian Economy

2023-07-24T14:36:45+00:00

This paper aims to show the importance of the telecommunications industry in the economic growth of Albania. The earliest studies developed in different countries show us that the connection between these factors exists. According to the early studies of Norton (1992), telecommunication helps to reduce the transaction costs, promoting efficiency in different sectors of the economy. According to Leff (1984), telecommunication also influences the economy through the positive effects of network externalities, reduction in information costs, and facilitating the effective and timely coordination among agents. This positive relationship between these factors, on one hand, affects the increase in demand for new services in the telecommunications on the other hand, encouraging the growth of investments in this industry. The latest studies show that a 1% increase in Fixed Broadband Penetration brings a 0.08% increase in GDP and an increase of 1% in mobile Broadband Penetration, brings an increase of 0.15% in GDP. Said that, the purpose of this study is to statistically identify the relationship between these two factors in Albania, highlighting some conclusions on the telecommunications industry and development prospects, which may be the subject of future publications. In the present study, a regression analysis reveals that the relationship between telecommunications and economic growth is highly significant for regions in Albania. Telecommunications development measured in number of broadband lines per hundred inhabitants are found to significantly affect GDP. Many countries in the world are recognizing the role of telecommunications in economic growth, but with all the initiatives to modernize the telecommunications infrastructure, less developed countries like Albania are behind in their efforts because investments are needed for other infrastructures such as: education, energy, roads and bridges, and other physical infrastructures which are also vital for economic growth. How does the situation in Albania stand in relation to developed and less developed countries?

Savings or Investment. Personal Budget Management

2023-05-19T10:58:27+00:00

The studies carried out by the rating companies place our country in a not very honourable place, but actually on the contrary, according to the survey carried out about financial and banking education, which contributes to the level of well-being. We are ranked 123 out of 143 states that participated in this study. The level of financial education, the degree of "literacy" in managing one's own finances, shows us that, in Romania, four out of five people do not have even the most basic knowledge about finances. Percentage wise, financial illiterates represent 78% of the population. The completely unfavourable context should make both decision-makers and strategy makers think, as well as every citizen. We consider it appropriate to briefly present some of the financial instruments that could ensure a better life at retirement age.

Aspects Regarding CyberSecurity Developments on SaaS Software Platforms

2023-07-25T06:52:05+00:00

This paper explores the dynamic interplay between cybersecurity, legislation, and SaaS platforms, focusing on the current landscape, potential future threats, and emerging legal challenges. SaaS providers, acting as custodians of considerable amounts of personal data, are significantly impacted by diverse legal frameworks such as the GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. These frameworks mandate stringent data protection and security measures. The paper further elucidates the sector-specific regulations and discusses the complex issue of cross-border data transfers, underscoring the need for adequate safeguards. This work examines how laws deal with cybersecurity threats and emphasizes the importance of complying with them to reduce these risks. It addresses challenges and conflicts that arise when SaaS and cybersecurity laws intersect, including issues related to data ownership and protection responsibilities. This paper makes suggestions to improve legal protections through international collaboration, adapting laws to keep up with technology, and ensuring transparency in data processing. It also explores potential future threats and legal challenges, such as cyber threats powered by AI, quantum computing, privacy paradoxes, and questions about data sovereignty. Therefore, the paper stresses the necessity of staying ahead of regulatory changes and fostering a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that blends technology, people, processes, and legislation.

Albanian Migration: An Overview on its Trends and Patterns.

2023-05-31T10:20:36+00:00

Migration as a global problem, in Albania has been an ongoing phenomenon since the early 1990s, when the political and democratic changes in the country resulted in a number of economic and social changes. In 2021, out of 447.2 million residents in the EU, 37.5 million were born outside it, or 8.4% of the total population, 23.7 million were citizens of non-EU countries. Albania is one of the countries that has a considerable number of immigrants in the EU. A substantial number of Albanian moved outside the country in search of better opportunities and a higher standard of living. The primary destination countries for Albanian migrants are neighbouring: Greece and Italy, due to their geographical and cultural proximity. Migration in Albania is still a serious challenge in the road of Albania in European integration. According to Eurostat, the number of citizens of Albania receiving citizenship in the EU in 2020 was 146 % higher than in 2010. Albania in 2021 is in the third place (5.4%) of individuals who have received European citizenship, as well as the second place (13.3%) in the rejection of requests for European citizenship. The purpose of the paper is to present an overview of albanian migration, political and economical background of different migration waves, what are the challenges and new characteristics of albanian emigrants in recent years, how the characteristics of albanian emigrants has changed in the last years, making some comparison with some other Western balkan countries. The paper is based on different reports, data of the governmental and international institutions, other research papers on Albanian migration and official statements.

Organic Farming from the Economic Perspective for Romania

2023-07-18T07:13:27+00:00

Romania's accession to the European Union in 2007 produced several changes and advantages, but also various rules to follow and objectives to achieve. Some of the proposed objectives were the achievement of climate neutrality and environmental protection. The effects associated with global warming and environmental degradation have a significant impact on people's quality of life, both in urban and rural areas. In this sense, public programs and plans have an important contribution to the course of ecological improvement and bring methods that aim to achieve notable changes at the environmental, social and economic level. Organic agriculture in Romania currently occupies an important role in the country's economic development, it is a strategic branch of the economy because the population's interest in organic products is growing and farmers' profits are not negligible. The researched topic is current and important, because the subsidies granted by the European Union through European funds are consistent for the agricultural sector and have increased every year, being supplemented by the funds offered from the national budget of Romania. The purpose of this research is to identify the advantages of practicing ecological agriculture for Romania and for farmers, from an economic point of view, but also for the benefit of the environment and the climate. The results obtained through this study can support farmers to move towards organic farming, as it exposes the way to access agricultural subsidies and the compensatory payments possible to obtain. The opportunities that arise due to the development of this agricultural sector are diverse, namely: products with higher prices, traditional occupations, ecotourism with attractive incomes, sustainable development of agriculture, diversity of products and the formation of new market areas.

Green Finance Development in Albania

2023-05-27T00:37:54+00:00

Green finance has emerged as a critical tool in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable economic growth. Albania, has started to explore the potential of green finance to support its transition to a low-carbon and resilient economy. This paper aims to provide an overview of the current state of green finance in Albania, gives an insight of the main developments in the banking and energy sector as two of the main sectors contributing in the greening process the green pathway and furthermore lists the challenges and opportunities for further development. The paper builds on existing literature, which is mainly in the form of reports. There is a number of promising initiatives and projects underway, but academic researches for Albania are missing. In order to achieve the main objective, a desk research and semi structured interviews with stakeholders of the main financial institutions have been conducted. The results obtained from analyzing the quantitative and qualitative data indicate the early stage of green finance development in Albania, the problems and challenges of this transition. The study contributes in developing additional theoretical basis related to green finance in Albania and gives proper recommendations for further development

Are the Fiscal Rules in Albania Reducing the Fiscal Deficit?

2023-05-31T21:17:21+00:00

Abstract: Countries face various challenges that force governments to increase government spending to mitigate the effects on the citizens, thus increasing the fiscal deficit. The question raised is whether the fiscal rules are reducing the fiscal deficit in Albania. This paper aims to throw some light on this matter, supporting it empirically which is the gap in the existing literature. The data covering the period 2000-2022 were obtained from the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Albania, INSTAT, and the World Bank. EViews 7 and the method of LS were used for the empirical analysis. Three regressions were performed to specifically see the impact of fiscal rules (dummy variable), economic growth, and public debt on the fiscal deficit. The results indicate a negative relationship between fiscal rules and economic growth to the fiscal deficit, and a positive relationship between public debt to the fiscal deficit, however, in each case, the relationship is statistically insignificant. The government can rely on these results to ensure the appropriate mechanisms to receive the benefits of fiscal rules, while other academics can deepen the analysis by evaluating the impact of the fiscal rule strength index in Albania and in the region as well.

Keywords: Empirical Evidence, Debt, Economic Growth, Government, Public Finance

JEL Classification: E62, H68, O47

Enhance energy cross-border trading in the Balkan region.

2023-05-30T11:15:54+00:00

A key development in the southeast European energy sector is the agreement between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro to develop a regional electricity market. As will be explained, benefits would arise from competition and co-ordination in a regional electricity market considering the diverse resources of the countries involved, difference in demand shapes and the possibility for sharing capacity reserves. Benefits would be displayed in the form of lower end-user prices for a given level of system security. In this context, one key issue is the regional electricity balance and potential for cross-border trading between the countries in the region. Under this framework, the concept of a Balkan Benelux has been developed regarding regional energy co-operation and views on the western Balkan six (WB6) countries initiative: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. This led to the WB6 countries’ transmission system operators, national regulatory authorities, energy ministries and power exchanges signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 27 April 2016 (Energy Community, 2016). The MoU signatories agreed to implement day-ahead market integration between the six countries with the aim of achieving market coupling of national day-ahead markets with at least one neighboring WB6 or EU country by July 2018 and cross-border balancing co- operation between the WB6 countries by December 2018. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of cross-border trade in SEE based on economic electricity exchange and to bring together the latest available knowledge on energy developments in the region and provide comprehensive data on energy demand, system characteristics, market integration and cross-border exchange between the Balkan countries challenging. In this framework, the energy crisis gave rise to strengthening market integration and paving the way to decarbonization in the Energy Community as well as in the Balkan Countries. The energy transition continues to unfold in the Contracting Parties in the EU, showing positive trends with regard to boosting renewables, investing into energy efficiency and reducing emissions, even though it was not driven by political or business decisions to phase out coal; (i) Reducing the carbon footprint, (ii) Making the energy market fit for decarbonization (iii)Boosting deployment of renewables (iv) Making energy efficiency the first fuel; (vi) Reaching a decarbonized energy future.

Barriers and Enablers of Circular Economy: A Systematic Literature Review

2023-07-24T12:51:11+00:00

Recent studies have undoubtedly supported the necessity of moving towards a circular economy.

To promote this need and identify the most effective and rapid solutions, a deeper understanding of which obstacles restrict and which catalyze the transition of organizations to the circular economy is necessary. With this in consideration, this study examines the drivers, obstacles, and practices that influence the development of the circular economy in emerging economies. through a systematic literature review. were taken in the study from Scopus database. The "Prisma" approach is used to examine the circular economy in terms of its enablers and inhibitors, and VOSviewer is then used to investigate the most investigated terms and their relationships, the most frequently mentioned authors and links between citations, as well as to identify the least explored keywords. Based on a systematic literature review and bibliometric analytical procedures: Top management commitment, consumers lack knowledge and awareness about reused/recycle products, infrastructure and logistics, financial limitation, short-term orientation, the lack of environmental education and the lack of supply chain are the most mentioned barriers by researchers. On the other hand, the main drivers towards circular economy models are innovation, cooperation, waste reduction, industrial symbiosis, etc.

This study contributes to an abundance of knowledge on circular business models, the challenges they face, and the drives that move them forward especially in emerging countries. This could aid decision-makers in implementing the proper incentive programs and serve as a roadmap for more research in this field.

Education – The Portal to a Green Society

2023-07-20T09:07:43+00:00

We are overwhelmed by information about climate change, the most publicized being the disasters caused by various extreme phenomena. In addition, the twin transition (digital and green) represents one of the main topics at the level of European institutions. But, are we ready to genuine reconfigure our society? The current work aims to bring to the forefront the role of education in this process of transforming our society and proposes some transformation solutions to higher education institutions (HEIs) to be included in “green university” category. Benchmarking HEIs’ development strategies with those of the top 10 green universities in the world, can be the starting point for designing new regulatory frameworks and directing fund flows towards sustainable design policies. Working together towards a common goal – a greener and safer society, will pave the path for us to follow locally, nationally and internationally. A key challenge of this article is to draw attention to the importance and urgency of climate change mitigation, and another challenge is to raise the awareness of leading policy makers and civil society, as drivers and triggers of transformation, about the role of education and the high level of support needed in reconfiguration and greening of the entire educational framework.

Role of Tourism in a Green Economy

2023-06-19T06:15:28+00:00

Recently, industrialization without considering environmental issues has led to the climate change crisis in the world. In this regard, green economic growth is essential for the future and life of next generation and in the long term, it will lead to sustainable development. One of the sectors that contributes to green economy is Tourism sector. The development of the path of "green tourism" to minimize impact on the environment, will create environmentally friendly leisure options, making responsible travel, saving money, making choices on energy-saving technologies with low impact on the environment. In this regard, it is of great importance to clarify that the relationship between tourism and green growth is conducive to promote the harmonious coexistence of tourism industry benefits and economic and environmental systems. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impacts of tourism on green economic growth through a descriptive analysis, as well as the advantages of "Green Economy” in tourism. One of the most important results achieved is that the transfer to a "green" economy would not only improve the environmental situation, but also will create a favorable image for tourism and increase the number of tourists, the employment potential and encourage socioeconomic growth.

Sustainability and Innovation at Tirana Universities: Students Perceptions on Sustainable Development in Higher Education in Albania

2023-07-21T14:02:42+00:00

Economic, social and environmental sustainability (ES) are today important variables to various fields of economy. Higher education institutions play an important role in addressing sustainable development goals. Governments have raised their attention and awareness related to better usage of natural resources, greener economy, recycling and circular usage of products. In line with the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations, Environmental Sustainability is a matter of high concern globally. The paper aims to analyze Sustainable Development Goals in action at universities in Albania.

Methods of Preventing School Dropout through Sports

2023-05-09T19:41:41+00:00

Abstract: In this study, we examined how sports activities can be used to prevent school drop-out among children and adolescents in disadvantaged areas. We used a correlational analysis methodology using SPSS software to assess the correlation between participation in sports activities and school performance, absenteeism and motivation for school. Our results showed that there is a significant and positive correlation between participation in sports activities and school performance, motivation for school and attendance. In particular, students who participate in sports activities on a regular basis experienced a significant increase in grade point average, a significant decrease in absenteeism, and a significant increase in motivation and commitment to school. These results suggest that sports activities could be an effective way to prevent dropout and improve school performance among children and adolescents in disadvantaged areas. It is important to stress that these correlations cannot be considered causal, but only associative, as there were other factors that could influence school performance and absenteeism, such as socio-economic status and parents' educational level. However, our data provide strong evidence in favor of the use of sport activities as an effective way to prevent dropout and improve school performance among children and adolescents in disadvantaged areas.

Organizing and Coordinating a Keiretsu Group in the Japanese Economy: Business Network Based on Soft Power

2023-07-24T11:21:03+00:00

Maybe the most grounded contention for the Japanese commerce framework was the surprising capacity and readiness to test and attempt modern things, to see to other frameworks and learn. This was accomplished with eagerness on all fronts within the improvement of Japanese specialized, organizational, administrative and fabricating aptitudes. Japanese industry was checked by fast section into modern areas by firms that delighted in the proceeded bolster of associated companies. Showcase competition was adjusted by budgetary, commercial and generation participation, with the arrangement and operation of keiretsu bunches getting to be an imperative column of the organization of advertise relations in Japan from the 1950s to the show day.

The People of the Earth - The New Rules of Geopolitics

2023-05-29T05:39:18+00:00

The article aims to provide an objective picture of the new rules of geopolitics and universal values. As we can see, globalization will come to influence all aspects of our daily lives, on all levels: social, economic, ideological, ecological, etc. The main methods used in the study are observation and case study. The article highlights in a unique way that each country/nation will undergo drastic transformations. As we learn from the specialized literature today, geopolitics is dominated by the issue of ecology and energy, the fact that we are referring to an intangible heritage, which must be protected. The contradiction between the interests of the people and those of the ruling classes is embedded in the tension that often pits relations between states against the common interest of humanity. The article is important and valuable for students, scientists, researchers and more, because it provides a clear picture of the changes that are taking place globally and a possible perspective on the future.

The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance II Role on Promoting Regional Cooperation within Western Balkan Countries

2023-06-15T12:55:06+00:00

Regional and territorial cooperation is an important component of funds dedicated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance II (IPA II). The participation of the state, private entities, community and third sector make cross border cooperation a strong tool for joint initiatives in various economic, social, environmental and political fields. Within IPA II, the Western Balkans CBC has been provided an added value in terms of funding local development in isolated, peripheral areas that have historically received little policy attention and investments from national governments. The focus of the research will be on CBC funds results regarding regional cooperation within WBC. The paper will analyze the cross-border cooperation differences between different municipalities based in financial assistance from EU, IPA II funds (2014-2020) as a region at the external border of EU identification of different degrees of involvement of border municipalities/settlements in cross-border cooperation in the Balkan region and its impact in promoting good neighbour’s relationship.

Is Microcredit an Effective Short-Term Tool in Curbing Migration? The Case of the Rural Areas of Shkodra, Albania.

2023-06-06T05:55:42+00:00

Albania has recently faced the phenomenon of migration, which has become a major problem even for current politics. In the last 10 years, the population of Albania, and especially that of the mountainous areas, has been significantly reduced. Based on INSTAT data the net migration level is -32,823 which a significant figure in comparison with the population is. Net migration in 2021 is 2.2 times greater compared to 2017. During a study work carried out to measure the impact of microcredit on the social economic indicator of rural areas in Shkoder (northwest of Albania), we notice that in this area with significant natural resources people cannot use them due to a lack of liquidity. The unemployment rate is also too high in this region, so they see emigration as the only alternative to improve their livelihood.

In this paper, we aim to analyze what is the effect of microcredit on curbing migration in the short term and to indicate measures needed in this case from the government or other actors.

Two groups (borrowers, not borrowers) are interviewed, and using the z-test we are going to compare their opinion on their possible migration to reach a conclusion.

Security in the Western Balkans

2023-07-10T11:24:58+00:00

The states of the Western Balkans are located in a very favorable geostrategic position for the times of war that we are living between Russia and Ukraine. The Balkan Peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the northwest, the Ionian Sea in the southwest, the Aegean Sea in the south, the Turkish straits in the east, and the Black Sea in the northeast.

It is important to understand that all the states of the Western Balkans are in support of peace and stability, also in the same cone, they have many problems among them, which makes this region unpredictable in some aspects, not only social and economic, but also political and strategic. Many of the countries of the Western Balkans seek integration in the EU and have come a long way to fulfil all the recommendations of the EU, on the other hand, the EU is very interested in this region as it wants the integration of these countries to ensure stability and democracy in this region.

It is an important step to integrate these countries as soon as possible precisely to prevent the spread of conflict and the degradation of the social and political situation, the membership of these countries as soon as possible will mean cooperation and stability for the region and a combined inhibition of wars possible in the future, undertaking joint initiatives for economic, social and political well-being.

Some Theoretical-Practical Considerations regarding Land Estate in the Republic of Moldova

2023-05-29T05:35:35+00:00

This article examines patrimony and especially land estate in the Republic of Moldova. Our approach is important because the issues of patrimony and property, of forms of property, have been the subject of heated contradictory discussions for centuries. These controversies were and are substantiated, even more, they continue to be fueled by a complex of economic, philosophical-religious ideas, theories and conceptions.

The domain issue in general and land in particular, which in our opinion is part of the domain of the institution of patrimony and the institution of property, is part of the category of topics that have sparked fierce discussions and controversies among public law theorists, starting from the century. XIX

International Relations in the Contemporary World, Geopolitics and Diplomacy

2023-07-20T10:45:48+00:00

Transparency of Financial Communication of Banks in Relationship with Customers

2023-07-21T07:13:11+00:00

The article is part of a topic imposed within the Ethics in Commerce, Tourism and Services discipline, bringing into debate a recent phenomenon, namely, how transparent is the communication of banks in the relationship with consumers, providing detailed, clear and precise information. Although there is legislation in the field, transparency is not always found in the case of banks' financial communication in the relationship with customers, the process being essential to ensure their trust and to avoid any misunderstanding or dispute. The article highlights the usual methods by which the transparency of financial communication of banks in relation to customers is achieved, as well as the degree of sustainability of banks in relation to the environment, with examples from the banking system in Romania.

Extending VLC Safety applications using mixed technologies and microservices

2023-05-20T11:02:51+00:00

The World Health Organization and the European Commission in 2018 announced the initiative to support the implementation of actions to reduce the number of accidents by 50% by year 2030. This initiative is an indicator of the recognition of the major impact of road accidents in the society. This desire in relation to the ever-increasing number of vehicles is a major challenge for the society. Of the 22 actions envisaged, only one is aimed at implementing new technologies, but this is at the request of car manufacturers to intelligently adapt the speed and help drivers to meet speed limits. Since these measures may be insufficient, according to the annual reports to reach the proposed target, we come up with new research that changes the driving style, from one prone to the immediate ability to respond to anything intervening on the road, to one informed with multiple communication systems, optical using visible light and radio using mobile communications to increase road safety. Using all vehicle entries in traffic every second in a database we are able to send alerts to all road users may concern that alert, giving them more time to make a decision, especially with the purpose of reducing their speed ahead.

The Role of Tour Operators and Tourist Agencies in Promoting a Sustainable and Socially Responsible Tourism

2023-07-21T08:01:54+00:00

The paper aims to present the honesty of tourist activities and the approach of ethical principles based on basic values in the case of tour operators and tourist agencies, which carry out activities that promote sustainable or socially responsible tourism. Both forms of tourism can influence tourist behavior and promote sustainable and socially responsible tourism practices and products through a range of actions. The applicability part with details on how the values and vision are intended to be highlighted, as well as guidance to the executive staff on ethical standards and how to achieve them, remains a challenge, however.

Human Resources Attraction and Retention in Tourism Industry in Albania – addressing effects of the great resignation

2023-05-31T22:42:34+00:00

Tourism plays a crucial role in Albania's economic development, contributing 20% to the country's GDP in 2019. One in five jobs in Albania linked to tourism, travel, and related activities, according to the World Tourism and Travel Council. However, the growth of this sector is currently hampered by a shortage of human resources, as many employees resigned or changed careers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the country is facing high levels of migration to western countries, exacerbating the shortage of human resources. Given the scarcity of human resources, companies in the hospitality industry are implementing various strategies to attract and retain employees. This research analyses the human resource development approaches of organizations operating in the hotel industry, with a focus on those in the growth phase that compete with high-quality service. In-depth interviews indicate that organizations are implementing ad-hoc interventions, such as increasing salaries, improving benefits, or providing short-term training on industry standards or new techniques. However, these organizations are generally failing to design career paths and offer development options for staff in the tourism industry. This exploratory study aims to design implications for industry-led human resource development initiatives for business continuation and competitive advantage.

Opinions on Resilience to Biological Crises

2023-05-23T06:44:40+00:00

Resilience to crises has always been a fundamental option of the world. The biological crisis is an easy type of crisis, cheap to institute globally or in specific targeted areas. It can have consequences that are hard to predict and impossible to counter. The protection of numerous social groups in relation to the presumption of biological attacks is a thorny issue, nationally and internationally. The insurmountable difficulty consists in the impossibility of protecting or isolating the entire population, simultaneously with the development of normal life and natural economic activity. Obviously, the defensive biological capabilities of the states should be of an enormous level, compared to the reduced but effective dimensioning of the offensive biological capabilities. Biological events in recent history, such as the COVID 19 pandemic, have highlighted just a few of the major aspects of biological challenge.

Artificial Intelligence - AI - in the Paradigm Professional Photography

2023-06-13T05:23:22+00:00

The field of photography is vast, with multiple forms of expression, and digital photography is now known, due to the technical means of procurement ( from smartphone to professional cameras ) and communication channels ( media, social networks, image base platforms, etc ) an unprecedented development, many of the innovations brought to the field being due to the artificial intelligence ( AI ).

The University of the 21st century as a plurilingual and pluricultural space: the case of medical students in the context of migration in Romania

2023-05-28T20:26:43+00:00

This paper aims to present the motivations of a group of international students enrolled in the English division of the Faculty of General Medicine, at Ovidius University of Constanta, who intend to pursue medical training in Romania, to return to the country of origin after obtaining the medical degree or to go elsewhere for the medical specialty or to practice medicine. The main objective is to study the motivational process of this student population in the context of long-term academic international migration and temporary migration to Romania in order to determine the role it plays in the 21^st century university, which represents one of the actors in the knowledge economy. To do this, we use oral data collected through semi-structured interviews which will be subjected to qualitative and quantitative content analysis. The conclusions of this article will highlight the importance of the presence of international students in Romanian universities and the knowledge of their motivations in the context in which among their challenges are an increased attractiveness and visibility at an international level. This study can be important for other researchers interested in sociolinguistics, in international student migration for studies and in the study of language pathways and motivational factors and can offer a useful tool for all actors involved in the reception and the training of this category of students. The originality of the study lies in the fact that this category of international students, future doctors, as well as the context remain little discussed in national and international scientific literature.

Text Codification for Statistical Production using Machine Learning

2023-07-18T08:11:35+00:00

Objective

The main objective of this research is the usage and evaluation of Machine Learning algorithms for automatic text codification in statistical production process.

Prior Work

This is an evolving area of research due to rapid changes in technology as well as the new data ecosystem. The paper will build on previous research done on text classifications techniques.

Approach

In this paper Machine Learning algorithms will be used and evaluated for text codification. Natural Language Processing and classification algorithms will be implemented in Python.

Results

Machine Learning is powerful in the process of automation and modernization of statistical production lifecycle. Machine Learning algorithms performance is different for text classification. Data pre-processing and balance on the training data set are important to achieve good results.

Implications

This study shows that machine learning can be used in automating part of the statistical codification process. The results of this paper will serve the work of Albanian administration and more specifically statistical production.

Value

This research is a contribution to the usage of Machine Learning for the modernization of the codification process. It will serve as an initial work towards improving the timeliness and lowering statistical production costs

Effectiveness of Active Labour Market Policies: Literature Review

2023-06-16T06:21:30+00:00

The field of labor market policy covers a very wide array of instruments, through which governments intervene on behalf of citizens encountering difficulties in the labor market (Clegg, 2015). This paper focuses on the Active Labor Market Policies, as an instrument to improve access to jobs for unemployed jobseekers, especially jobseekers belonging to vulnerable categories. The aim of this paper is to present the latest findings regarding the ALMPs effectiveness, through a literature review process. The qualitative method approach analyzes the effectiveness of ALMPs in the context. This paper is based on and presents the review of many articles and working papers in this field. Many observational evaluation studies have been published. The min findings indicate that there are many factors determining the effectiveness of the interventions (through ALMPs) like program length, monetary incentives, individualized follow up and activity targeting. Also, a recent study suggests that these programs are more likely to yield positive results when GDP growth is higher and unemployment lower, and that programs aimed at building human capital show significant positive impact. This paper contributes to the increase in knowledge regarding the effectiveness of ALMPs in general and especially in Albania, focusing on the recent literature and data regarding ALMPs implementation in this country.

A Sustainable View of Public Administration for a Bucharest Smart City

2023-06-09T04:50:58+00:00

Bucharest city needs a strategic sustainable change, which requires the involvement of the public administration, as well as, the academic institutions, the private and non-governmental sector, in order to create a new smart vision of the city. The paper is based on the experience gained as an editor of a Smart City magazine, for a decade, and on European and international research.

Through this work, we want to highlight the importance of the collaboration between the public administration and the stakeholders, as well as the role of the public sector in transforming the capital city into a Smart City.

Peculiarities of the Personality of Teenagers Raised in Single-Parent Families. Studies and Research

2023-07-26T11:24:42+00:00

The paper presents a series of research on the personality of adolescents raised in single-parent families focused on various aspects of emotional, social, and academic development. While there is no one-size-fits-all recipe for all teens, some studies suggest that they may experience specific challenges compared to teens raised in two-parent families. It is important to note that research results may vary and that factors such as financial resources, parents' education level, emotional stability, and family support network can significantly influence the experience of adolescents in a single-parent family.

Although research highlights the challenges associated with growing up in a single-parent family, it is essential to remember that not all teenagers will experience the same problems. Each adolescent is unique and will be influenced by various factors, including individual temperament, level of parent and community support, and family financial and emotional resources.

Teleworking or Working at Home Carried out within Institutions

2023-07-10T10:05:27+00:00

Information plays a crucial role in maintaining interpersonal relationships and developing society. The use of information technologies has caused a rapid change in our society. Although society bears the negative consequences of cybercrime, technology is still used in a wide variety of fields. This proves that it is, in fact, indispensable. To limit cybercrime, states should continue to develop computer technology and create legislation to criminalize harmful acts committed through technology. It is also necessary that the people involved in the fight against this phenomenon receive the necessary training. It is, at the same time, important that the population is well informed regarding the security of IT systems, thus providing an effective barrier against IT crime.

Cyber Attacks in the Context of Russian-Ukrainian War

2023-07-20T13:46:44+00:00

Geopolitics studies are becoming more and more important in the current context, because the conditions that influence the evolution of a state are determined by its relations with the states around or in the region, as well as the area of economic, political, cultural, ethno-confessional and military relations- strategic. From this point of view, in the past, there were some archaic ideas that became the subject of various schools of political, geographical and humanistic research, as well as modern investigations of geopolitics, geostrategy and geointelligence. Moreover, it is important to identify how the inherent risks of hybrid warfare can be combated, including knowledge and understanding of the notions and concepts that underlie it, as well as the institutions capable of countering it and ensuring security. The use of information technology has become essential for the proper functioning of society. Despite all the risks involved, the world continues to make use of computer systems, thus triggering an increase in cybercrime, which has become an important piece of the criminal puzzle. In response, states are encouraged to take steps to modernize the legal framework necessary to sanction people who use computer systems to commit illegal acts. It is also important that people engaged in the fight against cybercrime receive the appropriate education.

The Importance of Financial Law in the Public Law System

2023-08-16T06:24:30+00:00

In order to carry out the activities of the European communities and, therefore, to achieve the
objectives provided by the treaties, they have needed certain financial resources since their establishment. The
situation is currently valid within the European Union. These resources must cover the expenses necessary from
an administrative point of view, identifying the funds necessary for the functioning of community institutions
and bodies, especially the funds necessary to support the so-called operational expenses, which correspond to
the realization of the policies provided by the treaties (Lefter, 2003, p. 237). Currently, the European
construction is no longer possible without its own financial framework, namely adequate financial resources,
and the process of establishing this framework had an inconstant evolution. The EU had to find and establish
financial resources for the implementation and development of community policies. The controversies
regarding fiscal and budgetary issues were not absent from this field either and concerned a varied range of
aspects: the EC's own financial resources, the budgetary imbalance, even the rivalries between the community
institutions (respectively the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers).
Therefore, the overwhelming importance of the patrimony to support the entire activity of the collective subject
of law is highlighted.

Some Aspects Regarding the Provisions of Articles 175 and 308 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code

2023-07-18T10:30:01+00:00

When the legislator considers that a concept used in a legal text has a meaning specific to the field regulated by the respective provisions, he chooses to provide a legal definition for it. This is the case of the notion of "public servant", which benefits from a legal definition in the content of Art. 175 of the Criminal Code, this definition being necessary for understanding the criminalization rules to which the author has this qualification. Sometimes, for reasons of criminal policy, the legislator chooses to criminalize distinctly, in an attenuated version, the same behaviour but committed by persons other than the public servant, as it is the case with the provisions of Art. 308 Para. (1) of the Criminal Code. The problem that arises is that of applying these legal provisions to concrete cases.

International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters

2023-07-19T10:46:16+00:00

In the current development of contemporary society, international collaboration in various fields between sovereign and equal rights states becomes an indisputable reality, imposed by objective needs.

The principle of cooperation is today unanimously accepted in relations between states, contributing to mutual knowledge between nations, to ensuring progress and development, to consolidating a lasting peace and achieving legal harmonization.

Along with the expansion of the legal foundation on the basis of which cooperation in the field of international legal assistance is carried out, the spectrum and volume of assistance that can be claimed to be provided has inevitably been broadened. In addition, the possibilities for international cooperation in the field of international legal assistance have diversified: new initiatives have appeared to coordinate cross-border issues at the European level, and the community building has been enriched with new institutions such as, for example, Eurojust, which contributes to the improvement of cooperation between the competent authorities of the member states, in particular by facilitating the examination of requests for mutual legal assistance at the European level and of extradition requests.

Legal Mechanisms in the Case of Inheritances from Life Insurance Contracts

2023-05-29T06:10:49+00:00

For an insurance contract to become a legal act, the person who wants to cede an insurance risk to an insurer, has the obligation to pay an insurance premium to the insurer who takes over the insured risk. The latter undertakes that, upon the occurrence of an insured risk, it will pay to the insured or the third person designated in the insurance contract, an indemnity limited to the insured amount. In this sense, regardless of the nature of the insurance contracts, we can say that, by signing an insurance contract, a legally binding agreement arises, whereby a party called the insurer undertakes to pay to the other party called the insured or to the beneficiary designated in the contract, an amount of money defined in the insurance contract, the insured amount, and the other party, called the insured/contractor, undertakes to pay the insurance premium established in the contract, under the established terms and conditions.

And in the case of life insurance contracts, the internal content becomes a legally binding agreement, considering that the contractual conditions as well as the additional terms and provisions are described.

In conclusion, from the perspective of the protection of human and material patrimony, we can say that the insurance contract is not used to the extent of the needs of both individuals and legal entities, although the costs of insurance contracts in relation to the insurance risks assumed by the insurers are quite low; however, in the event an insured risk occurs, the benefits of the insured are of the nature of covering the damage suffered.

Application of the Principles of International Humanitarian Law, State of Law, State of Facts Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

2023-07-20T12:26:54+00:00

Internationally, the relations between nations are regulated by an international legal framework, almost unanimously recognized and which aims to regulate optimal cooperation. On a social level, the relations between the state and the citizen are also included in the national or, as the case may be, federal, community, etc. legislation. Both in one case and in the other, the types of established relationships lead to the democratization of the relationships between the parties, an absolutely indispensable standard in contemporary society. In the end, what interests the individual the most is the achievement of a standard of personal, general well-being, in the case of communities.

The Humanitarian Activity of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Conflict in Ukraine State of Law State of Fact

2023-07-20T12:09:45+00:00

It can be easily observed that, nowadays, we are witnessing a humanitarian discourse, increasingly focused on the introduction, application and observance of humanitarian principles both in conflict zones and behind the front. There is an increasing interest in the bureaucratization and professionalization of humanitarian actions, along with the increasingly active involvement of companies, international non-governmental organizations, the state and, not least, public opinion. That is precisely why it was considered that a greater number of international law subjects, or of actors involved in humanitarian activities, damages the activity of non-governmental organizations both from the point of view of results and from the point of view of international law.

Psychological Aspects in the Assessment of the Crime Scene Statements

2023-06-06T05:40:32+00:00

It is significant that the activity of discovering crimes, identification and capturing the suspects, as well as establishing by evidences their guilt, as a pretrial activity, is necessary for the prompt and firm combating of crimes as well as their prevention, representing the purpose of criminal law, but also the immediate and prospective purpose of the criminal process.

But, the assessment of statements of persons involved in the criminal process at the crime scene is difficult, both objectively and subjectively. The part of objective difficulties complicates the realization of the given activity, being determined, first of all, by gaps and contradictions allowed by lawyers during these activities. The objectives causes could be the insufficient training of the law enforcement officers, prosecutors that have to pass through themselves the knowledge of the all peculiarities of procedural-criminal law, as well as a certain degree of frequent learning, practicing of the tactical-criminological and psychological procedures for carrying out the act of assessment of crime-scene statements of the persons involved in the criminal process.

The complex research of the assessment procedure of the crime scene statements of persons involved in the criminal process has a great theoretical and practical importance and a predominant psychological connotation.

Guaranteeing the Rights of Persons Sentenced to Life Imprisonment: Normative Framework and Objective Realities

2023-06-06T05:48:22+00:00

Life imprisonment is a criminal punishment, which consists in depriving the convict of his freedom for the rest of his life. In accordance with the provisions of the criminal law, this type of punishment is established only for exceptionally serious crimes. The national enforcement law, in many aspects, treats persons sentenced to prison and persons sentenced to life imprisonment distinctly, this category of punishment being much more restrictive. It is important to mention that the principle of humanism and the principle of the equality of convicts are enshrined among the principles of criminal execution legislation. Thus, in the context in which both prison and life imprisonment consist of deprivation of liberty, there would be no grounds to impose distinct behaviors on the two categories of convicts, especially when we refer to their fundamental rights. The role of criminal punishment is not to create suffering for people, regardless of the type of crime committed. Thus, the restrictions to which the person is subject must be proportional to the seriousness of the facts, in order to correct the offender’s behavior.

Reflection on Albanian legislation related to decentralization in local self-government in the light of EU legislation

2023-05-29T17:10:47+00:00

The Constitution of the Republic of Albania defines the principle of decentralization of power as one of the basic principles based on which the local government is established and operates. In its three dimensions, political, administrative and financial, it is exercised through the implementation of the constitutional principle of local autonomy. The treatment in the Albanian legislation of these dimensions, in any case, has aimed to bring it closer to the requirements of international documents and standards. The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania regulates the implementation of political decentralization, such as the transfer of political authority to the local level, through elections for local self-government bodies. The legal framework for the organization of local government, for local self-government and financial decentralization regulates the way of organization in the territory of the local government, the ways for the transfer of responsibility for matters of administration of some central public functions of the local unit and the financial power. The international observers of the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission, CoE, evaluate the Electoral Code as a legislative product that reflects the principles and standards for democratic elections. The drafting of legislation for the organization and operation of local government has been developed as a complex process, with international support and expertise, but, in any case, with great political burdens. In this legislation, the main requests expressed in the international documents and in the EU legislation have been addressed, in relation to the political, social and economic context of Albania. The efforts of the Albanian society for legislative reforms aimed at improving the legal framework for the most effective functioning of the principle of decentralization and local autonomy, are faced with two main challenges: (i) the great political burden that accompanies any such initiatives and reforms and (ii) the lack of will to implement the legislation. Efforts to centralize decision-making on important issues of regional and local development and to replace decentralization with the process of deconcentration, contradict the principles and requirements set forth in international documents for the decentralization of local government.

A Precis of the Abuse of Power by Revenue Authorities in Nigeria and Proposals for Reform

2023-07-10T08:42:05+00:00

The article discusses how the broad powers that are granted to the revenue authorities under the Nigerian tax laws have unfairly and negatively affected all taxpayers in Nigeria. It investigates the taxing powers of the states, the abuse of such powers and the discretional limits of the Nigerian state tax officials. The article calls for the revamping of the current tax laws, with a view of enhancing the legal rights of taxpayers in Nigeria. It discusses the rights of taxpayers under the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, and other relevant tax laws. It is submitted that the Nigerian states sometimes abuse their taxing and discretionary powers, which in turn negatively affects taxpayers’ rights. The problems encountered by taxpayers in obtaining justice given the wide powers granted to the Nigerian tax authorities are identified and discussed. Accordingly, it is recommended that certain provisions of the existing tax laws should be amended and/or expunged.

The Expertise on Data Derived from Technical Surveillance Measures

2023-08-21T11:15:08+00:00

This paper aims to analyze the expertise on data resulting from technical surveillance, given that expertise is a legal means of proof of major importance, consisting in conducting investigations, technical analyzes, assessments and conclusions.

In the practice of the courts, the expertise performed on optical media was considered necessary in order to identify the registered audio-video persons. In such situations where the faces of people surprised by the images can be observed only partially because they do not appear in the foreground, the opinion of an expert is necessary in order to confirm the identity of the defendant.

At the same time, in the situation where the voices of people caught by recordings are unclear due to the quality of the sound, by performing a technical expertise on optical media containing the data, the quality of the recordings can be improved.

Thus, the activities are carried out by a specialist from a certain field and are carried out by the disposition of the criminal investigation body or of the courts, having as main purpose the clarification of some facts or circumstances that form the object of a process.

From this perspective, the paper is of both academic and practical importance, as the paper is addressed to both legal practitioners and litigants who have been the subject of technical surveillance.

At the same time, expertise is a useful means in building a defense in criminal cases in which the evidence is based on data obtained from technical surveillance.

Public Management – its Role and Importance in Social Assistance

2023-10-02T12:48:10+00:00

Public administration represents, from an organizational point of view, an integrated system made up of organs and institutions whose functioning is intertwined and interconnected. The structure of the administration designates, on the one hand, the institutional components of the administrative system, and on the other hand, the functional compartments of each public institution. The research method is based on a questionnaire used in social assistance. The results of the questionnaire will demonstrate the importance of applying the social assistance in management.

Global Drug Addiction

2023-10-04T05:40:16+00:00

A growing number of new unregulated drugs ('legal highs') have emerged in recent years which are also marketed on the Internet and often used on the recreational and night clubbing circuit. The EU has set up a system to detect new substances on the market and a mechanism to assess their risks and ban across the EU those substances that pose risks. The Council Decision on the information exchange, risk assessment and control of new psychoactive substances establishes an early warning system, enabling a rapid exchange of information on a new psychoactive substances emerging in the EU. When a new substance gives rise to concern, the EMCDDA and Europol can draw up a Joint Report, based on information on the substance collected from across the EU. Based on this Joint Report, the Commission or the individual of EU countries can request a risk assessment of the substance. Since 1997, EU countries notified more than 400 new psychoactive substances through the Early Warning System on new drugs. Those substances that pose risks to health are subjected to risk assessment and if they are harmful, they are withdrawn of the market from the whole EU.

Risk Management in Social Services

2023-10-02T12:49:36+00:00

Risk management is a continuous process. Once a professional has committed to a particular risk course of action, they must continue to monitor, identify, and respond to progressive risks, as they may change even within the course of a single intervention. The aim of the research is the continuous development of additional risk management strategies including file instrumentation, depending on the risk characteristics, operational intra- and inter-institutional partnerships in risk management; complying with standards and legislation, creating and complying with work procedures, complying with and updating the risk register.

Knowledge Management System

2023-10-04T05:24:15+00:00

Over time, organizations have invested in knowledge, knowledge representing an essential aspect of their development, developing concepts such as knowledge management and knowledge management systems (KMS). Knowledge management is a branch of knowledge management that involves capturing the explicit knowledge of individuals or teams within organizations, extracting tacit knowledge, and sharing it through various methods to all members of the organization for use. The contribution of information technology in the organization's knowledge management is the knowledge management system (KMS) that captures, stores and disseminates important expertise throughout the organization, generating a series of positive effects related to the knowledge sharing process.

The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Leadership

2023-10-04T05:28:05+00:00

Traditionally, intelligence has nothing to do with emotions. Intelligence means the ability to have thinking skills, to find solutions to problems. There are studies that show that a high IQ does not guarantee success in a person's life, IQ contributes 20%, while 80% is attributed to other forces. In the present research, we aim at answering the question: “What is the relation between the level of emotional intelligence of a leader and the type of leadership it exercises?”

The Right to Respect for Private Life: Domestic and Community Regulations

2023-10-04T05:43:04+00:00

The impact generated by numerous conceptions regarding human rights has been noted since antiquity, in the works of philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, Plato. Man, as a product of society and at the same time, producer of society, can be characterized according to its interests, because the human being is a social being. Accepting the specific character of each individual constitutes the principle of respecting his life and being. The right to private life was mentioned for the first time in 1890, in the United States, by Samuel Warren, a lawyer from Boston, together with his friend, Louis Brandeis, a professor at Harvard University, in the work entitled "The right to private life". It was defined by them as the right to be left alone.

"The right to respect for private life", "the right to privacy" or "the right to private life" represents a fundamental right of society, human dignity and freedom, both in national and international legislation. In Romania, the New Civil Code requires respect for private life. Its provisions mention the facts that constitute violations of the right to private life, but also the legal means that the individual benefits from to defend his right to privacy. At the European level, the protection of the right to private life is guaranteed by art. 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, but also by the practice of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Considering the aforementioned, I started in this article from explaining the term private life approached in the European context, I described how private life is protected both by European legislation and by Romanian legislation aligned with the European one, I emphasized the importance of protection personal data in this context, concluding with the description of art. 8 of the Convention for the Respect of Human Rights, an article so requested in the European Court, even by the citizens of our country.

Towards the Profile of the University Teacher in the 21st Century

2023-10-05T12:36:20+00:00

Being a teacher means assuming a role that involves vocation, social responsibility, a solid scientific training, a didactic culture, and, finally, the desire and ability to study permanently. It seems that, in the 21st century, these skills are not enough for the teaching profession. The proactive character of its practical activity is a sine qua non condition in the 21st century, this presupposes a vision, and in the action plan a systematic concern for equipping students with the “skills of the 21st century”. The current study tries to highlight, through a qualitative analysis, this profile.

Analysis of the Impact of Leadership Competences in School’s Organizations

2023-10-06T09:25:46+00:00

The leader of an organization has constantly faced difficulties and obstacles that bring to the fore plan, in the case of organizational members, doubts regarding the success of the shared vision. Also, the leader must be able to be present in the collective emotional dimension, as according to the nature of the assumed mission, the school organization demands both emotionally and intellectually activities of teaching staff. The survey method was used for the present analysis based on a questionnaire. It was applied to a sample of schools’ organizations from Galati and Braila area.

The Need for Mentoring Activities in Public Administration in Romania

2023-10-11T06:03:47+00:00

The present study analyzes the models from the public administration of some countries where the mentoring activity works, as well as the possibility of introducing the mentoring activity in Romanian public administration. We consider the need identified in the public administration and we propose to identify its benefits on the career of the employees.

The Communication – An Important Factor in Organizational Management

2023-10-11T09:04:05+00:00

The purpose of this approach is to highlight the role of communication for the success of the organization. At the same time, the communication is a vital tool in achieving organizational objectives. When considering the leadership of an organization, a good manager must perform the functions of planning, organizing, hiring, motivating, and controlling through communication, to achieve the desired performance. Even though some managers consider the fact that effective communication is necessary only for the motivation part, in communication the reality is that it is indispensable in the performance of all management functions. Organizational communication is seen as the mainstream of efficiency and organizational performance.

Participative Management

2023-10-16T09:35:41+00:00

At the level of Romanian public institutions, strongly centralized and conservatively from the managerial point of view, the participation of public sector employees in the decision-making process through various forms imposed by the institution was formal and without content, due to an over-regulated and totally centralized ideology. Thus, the lack of participative experience and practice, backed up by an exercise undertaken in public organizations in the early 1990s, led to a reconstruction of the collective mentality. The paper is concerned with the analysis of participative management at AFDJ (Lower Danube River Administration) Galati.

Managerial Strategies in Promoting the Image of a Public Institution

2023-10-17T05:22:27+00:00

The aim of the research is to investigate the attitude of the population towards the Romanian Gendarmerie. In order to analyze the perception of the public image of the Romanian Gendarmerie, a questionnaire was developed, including various questions on the institution and the image perceived by the population. The answers received revealed that a favorable image and a good reputation mean more support and respect from the population.

The Rise of FinTech and the Need for Robust Cybersecurity Measures

2023-11-10T11:28:06+00:00

The increasing use of financial technology (FinTech) has transformed the financial sector and has
provided consumers new and innovative products and services, whilst enhancing competition in the industry
and accelerating the race to digitization. However, the rapid growth of FinTech is also exposing individuals
and businesses alike to ever-increasing cyber security risks and challenges. Cyberattacks on financial and
banking institutions, as well as targeting of vulnerabilities in financial apps and products by threat actors are
becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and costly, with potentially devastating consequences for the integrity,
stability, and trust in the financial system. The purpose of this work is to review the current state of business,
the cyber security-related risks and challenges associated with this sector, the relevant regulations, and the best
practices in the Fintech industry. The study's findings are reflected in the presentation of several strong and
proactive cybersecurity measures aimed at reducing risks and guaranteeing the confidentiality and integrity of
financial transactions.

Decisive Procedures Used In Domestic Crises Management During Hybrid War

2023-05-23T06:19:42+00:00

The decisive procedures are ways to engage and to reduce or to annihilate the center of gravity specific for domestic crises, methods that are activated after the use of some preliminary procedures. As it is knowing, as a general rule, preliminary procedures set the necessary framework for subsequent interventions which may finish the management approach of the situation that came up. Decisive procedures include dynamic actions multiply focused on reducing the potential to affect specifically the various hotbeds appeared on the national territory. The success of the efforts undertaken in the management of the operative situations emerged depends on the rapidity of the intervention, the quality of the allotted structures, the procedures used and the efforts’ synergy. It is important that the management effort of the situations emerged to make use of procedures defined by high efficiency, carried out by professional structures which benefit from an extended inter-agency collaboration. The Hybrid War is the worst possibility for these days.

Technological Crises Management And Resilience

2023-05-23T06:25:19+00:00

Technological crises are ordinary presences in the general context of the human society’s development. Their forms of manifestations may be different, ranging from various accidents to destructions of works of art, crashing of travel platforms or facilities, dismantling of various sizes. The efforts directions regarding the crisis management will be aimed at protecting the personnel affected, the target groups in the proximity and the related environment, at the same time with reducing the direct effects generated and the negative consequences that came up. As a general rule, the crisis management is short lasting, and the consequences’ management is long lasting. The intervention structures established, immediate and subsequent, will be composed as such according to the type of crisis. The unitary command/control will be provided in synergy at the central level, with a large autonomy for the factors in charge, deployed in the crisis hotbeds. In certain situations, the teams of personnel with certain capabilities will be provided as structures.

The Report of Expertise in the Criminal Process, between Reality and Possibility

2024-01-10T08:11:09+00:00

In judicial processes, the task of judicial experts (hereinafter – expert) is to contribute to the explanation of some issues indispensable to the solution of the case. The expert has an important role, and in numerous cases, the forensic expert report is a decisive means of evidence when formulating the elements of the court decision. Therefore, the activity of the expert must comply with the general principles that underpin any judicial procedure and, first, the fairness of the process. As in the administration of other means of evidence, both in civil matters and in criminal matters, the states are obliged to organize the expertise in such a way that they respect the principles of adversity and equality of arms. The exact ignorance of the object of the judicial expertise leads to the incorrect orientation of the criminal investigation bodies and the court if an expertise is ordered, since the object of each type of judicial expertise is not always known (technical, forensic, medico-legal, accounting) or of each type of forensic expertise (chemical, trajectory, ballistic, etc.). Also, not knowing the object of the judicial expertise also leads to the confusion of the expertise with various purely procedural actions (for example, the experiment within the investigation), the unfounded disposition or rejection of the expertise, its replacement with other ways of knowing the opinion of some specialists - for example, requesting a technical-scientific finding or a simple technical opinion.

International Relations in post Ukraine War. Geopolitics and Diplomacy in the Light of New Alliances

2024-01-25T08:11:52+00:00

The Ukraine War has brought significant changes in the geopolitical landscape of the world as well as for the future of international relations. This paper examines the changes in alliances and diplomatic relations that have emerged in the aftermath of the crisis, focusing on the role of emerging regional and global actors in shaping the current dynamics. The crisis has exposed the fragility of existing diplomatic and security arrangements in the region, and has created new opportunities for cooperation and competition among major powers. The emergence of new alliances and partnerships, has challenged traditional power dynamics in Europe and has added a new dimension to the diplomatic and geopolitical game in the region. China and Russia are forging closer ties, the Quad emerging as a key alliance in the Indo-Pacific region, and the EU seeking more autonomy in foreign policy, potentially challenging US dominance. Drawing on insights from international relations theory and diplomatic history, this study analyses the strategic and tactical implications of these developments for global and regional powers. It also explores the potential for future cooperation and competition in the light of changing diplomatic alliances and geopolitical interests for the shaping the future of international relations.

Comparative analysis of access to social benefits and advantages for migrant workers, their family members and other categories of EU migrant citizens (I)

2023-11-23T13:37:28+00:00

The aim of this Analytical Note is to provide information on the access to social and tax benefits and advantages as defined in Art. 7 para. 2 of the Regulation 492/2011 on freedom of movement for workers within the Union, the restrictions applied in Member States in granting those benefits and the personal scope of the right.

Article 7 paragraph (2) of Regulation 492/2011 on the free movement of workers within the Union provides for the right of workers who are nationals of one Member State and who are employed in another Member State to have access to social and fiscal advantages in the same way like the nationals of the host country. The purpose of this provision is to ensure equal treatment and non-discrimination for workers moving within the EU.

Social benefits refer to benefits related to social security, including health care, pensions, unemployment benefits and family benefits. Tax advantages refer to benefits related to the tax system, including tax credits, deductions and exemptions.

However, Member States may apply restrictions on the granting of these benefits to workers moving within the EU. These restrictions must be justified on grounds of public policy, public safety or public health and must be in accordance with EU law.

The personal scope of this right extends to workers who are nationals of one Member State and who are employed in another Member State, as well as to members of their families. Family members are defined as spouse or partner, children and other dependent relatives.

It should be noted that this right does not apply to jobseekers or those who are not employed in another Member State. In addition, access to social and tax benefits may be subject to conditions and requirements applicable to all workers in the host country, which we will present below.

Comparative analysis regarding access to benefits and social advantages for migrant workers, their family members in the EU (II)

2023-11-23T13:35:59+00:00

Directive 2004/38 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States lays down minimum conditions under which Union citizens and members of their families shall execute their rights to move and reside in the territory of Member States. However, the Directive 2004/38 also covers the issue of social benefits in a twofold way. First of all the right to social benefits may be treated as a condition to have the right to legal residence at the territory of the host Member State. Secondly, according to the Directive 2004/38 only those applicants having a right to reside may be entitled to equal treatment as regards access to particular social benefits. Regulation 492/2011 aims to secure and guarantee for migrant workers, including frontier workers, equal treatment with national workers as regards access to social benefits. In this context, Regulation 492/2011 aims at facilitating the principle of equal treatment as enshrined in the primary law (i.e. Art. 45 of the TFEU). The concept of “social advantages” as defined in Art. 7(2) of Regulation 492/2011 is interpreted by the CJEU very broadly, as it covers not only all benefits connected with contracts of employment, but also all other advantages which are open to citizens of the host Member States and consequently are also open for workers primarily because of their objective status as workers or by virtue of the mere fact of their residence on the national territory. However, it shall be emphasized that according to the case law of CJEU, access to social benefits in the host Member States shall not be unconditional for all migrating EU citizens and members of their families. Therefore consequently, as regards workers and member of their families, who may as a rule, prove to have a genuine link with the employment market of the host Member State, they are entitled to unconditional access to social benefits in this State. But as regards other groups of migrants, depending on the nature of certain benefits, it is possible to require from them to have a certain degree of integration in the host Member State in order to entitled to certain benefits. It shall be emphasized that beyond the scope of this note are issues concerned with social security benefits which are subjected to EU coordination schemes based on Regulation 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems.

Agile Management and Leadership in Education

2023-07-26T11:31:15+00:00

Agile Management is a project and team management method that promotes flexibility and adaptability. In the education system, Agile Management can be applied in developing and implementing educational programs, research projects, or the Management of educational organizations.

Agile Leadership, on the other hand, involves creating a culture of collaboration and trust within an organization, where individuals are empowered to take on their work and contribute to the organization's success. This involves developing a shared vision and purpose and promoting transparency, openness, and continuous learning.

Agile Management and Leadership enable organizations to respond more to changing customer needs and market conditions while fostering innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Studying the Factors Related to Teachers` Work Engagement in Albanian Lower Secondary Schools

2023-05-29T11:19:55+00:00

The quantitative assessment of work engagement, the identification of determining factors and their ranking according to the effect on work engagement among teachers of lower secondary schools in Albania are the aims of this study. Information gathered from interviewing a sample of 198 randomly selected teachers was used for this study. Work engagement of teachers is assessed at the "moderate" level (3.5 scores). Dedication is the most important component causes greater effects on work engagement (3.8 scores). Absorption ranks second (3.7 scores). Factors related to energy at work have the smallest effect (3.2 scores). Gender and marital status of the teacher affect the level of commitment to work (p<0.05). It is estimated that commitment to work reaches the highest level among teachers aged 31-40 years old and teachers who have 5-10 years of work experience. The study does not identify differences in the commitment to work of teachers who work in the city and their colleagues who work in rural areas. Teachers in public schools are more engaged than their colleagues in private schools (p<0.05).

Methods of financing the health system in the Republic of Moldova

2023-05-31T06:51:01+00:00

The financing of a health system refers to the way in which the necessary funds are collected in order to carry out the activity in the healthcare sector, as well as to the way in which these funds are allocated and subsequently used. The chosen method of financing, combined with the type of organization of the health system, determines who has access to healthcare, its cost, the productive efficiency and, last but not least, the quality of the services offered.

At the current stage, at the international level, the specific characteristics regarding the organization, operation and financing of the healthcare system are being studied, which consist in the combined nature of financial relations and financial resources, the aspects of public and private financing being analyzed.