Year 2018, Issue VOLUME 26
Date published7.11.2018
Table of content
-
Yordan Vasilev, Rositsa Koleva
-Keywords: -Summary: ... - -
Andrey Zahariev
BALANCE SHEET ITEMS OF THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL BANK UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF EU MEMBERSHIPSummary: The research area of the survey is the balance sheet positions of the BNB, and the subject - the convergent aspects of the BNB balance sheet items for the period 01.2006 to 03.2018. The purpose of the survey is to identify the... The research area of the survey is the balance sheet positions of the BNB, and the subject - the convergent aspects of the BNB balance sheet items for the period 01.2006 to 03.2018. The purpose of the survey is to identify the specifics, under the currency board conditions, as well as the dynamics, trend and risk parameters of the BNB balance sheet items, focusing on the currency risk of USD-denominated balance sheet positions and the correlation of these positions with the GDP of Bulgaria. A special focus is placed on currency risk in USD-denominated balance sheet items. The thesis tests the existence of a direct link between dynamics in the BNB balance sheet positions and the growth of GDP, taking into account force majeure factors. The paper has the following tasks: first, study the philosophy and the regulatory framework for the structure of the balance sheet items of the BNB; study trends and dynamics of the balance sheet positions of the BNB for the period 2006-2018; thirdly, the study of the currency risk system and its effect on the balance sheet positions of the BNB; the study of the correlation relations and the influence of the passives on the active positions in the balance sheet of the BNB. Analytical results confirm leadership "risk" status for the item "Cash and cash equivalents ..." (by 61.7% of the variation) in the asset and under "Liabilities to other depositors" the liability (61.7% variation). The final correlation analysis of the relationship between dynamics in capital and liabilities positions and their impact on asset positions places a leading role as a factor of position „Total Liabilities“. The impact of its dynamics is the strongest on „Investments in securities” with a positive correlation from +0.76 and determination coefficient equal to 57.9%. -
Atanas Atanasov, Irina Orlinova Pasheva
CLASSIFICATION, EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTING POSSIBILITIES FOR DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTSJEL: Ì41.Summary: The undeniable interest of economic theory and practice towards financial derivatives makes them a current subject of analysis. The existence of derivatives raises the logical question about their purpose. If an investor... The undeniable interest of economic theory and practice towards financial derivatives makes them a current subject of analysis. The existence of derivatives raises the logical question about their purpose. If an investor participates in the distribution of a company’s profits by holding its shares, why do they apply another instrument that is related to owner’s equity? The derivative markets create favorable opportunities by improving the efficiency of the underlying assets markets. Derivatives have lower transaction costs compared to other transactions with basic instruments on the spot market, they are more liquid and the risk can be transferred into a more effective, simple and inexpensive way. Proof for the significance of derivative instruments is also the EU-accepted IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. Therefore, it is important that the management of every organization is aware of the regulatory framework for financial instruments, as well as the effects of each transaction with financial instrument. The main purpose of the study is to define a classification of derivative instruments and to mark key points in their accounting. The specific objectives that have to be solved are to highlight the alternatives for classifying derivatives and to focus on their immediate current accounting. The thesis is that the adequate classification and evaluation of these instruments are important factors for their correct accounting. The main conclusion is that proper classification of derivatives has a practical significance because there has to be determined whether the instrument has a value at the beginning, which has a timely accounting impact. Their internal and time values have a significant role as well, because in the changes they must be clearly distinguished from the change in the fair value of the derivative itself. -
Yordan Vasilev, Elitsa Petkova
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE INFORMATION ECONOMYSummary: As early as the second half of the twentieth century, it was already clear to all the scholars and researchers of the society and its inherent economy that the industrial economy was on the wane, and its place was gradually occupied... As early as the second half of the twentieth century, it was already clear to all the scholars and researchers of the society and its inherent economy that the industrial economy was on the wane, and its place was gradually occupied by a new, post-industrial (information) economy. The aim of the present paper is to highlight some aspects of the nature and characteristics of the information economy as à necessary intrinsic part of the information society and to identify the strategic and particular conditions for business investment in this new environment. The problems to be solved in relation to the stated objective of the research are: to characterize the emerging information economy and its peculiarities; to outline the branch orientation of the foreign direct investments in the information economy; to highlight the motives that have the most significant impact on investment decisions in the post-industrial economy; to provide guidelines for adapting economic policy in line with the new realities. The research thesis is that: the information economy changes the conditions for conducting business and also the behavior of enterprises, particularly transnational corporations, which necessitates the adaptation of the economic policy to the new realities. The main results of the research can be summarized as follows: The theoretical foundations of the information society and economy have been clarified; The motives for direct foreign investment have been analyzed and the factors that are of major significance for FDI in the new conditions have been derived. On this basis, the relationship between the information economy and the opportunities for direct investment has been assessed; An analysis of FDI in the service sector has been made, with special attention paid to greenfield investments and mergers and acquisitions; Recommendations have been made to the economic policy so that it can be adapted to the new business and economic environment. -
Valentin Milinov, Petko Angelov, Silvia Sasheva Zarkova
EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS ON THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND GREECE)Keywords: global crisis, index of nominal house prices, gross fixed investment in residential buildings, interest rates on loans.Summary: The analysis of the real estate market has been directly related to the dynamic development of the overall price level in recent years. By focusing on the period 2008-2016, we draw attention to the influence of the two main factors... The analysis of the real estate market has been directly related to the dynamic development of the overall price level in recent years. By focusing on the period 2008-2016, we draw attention to the influence of the two main factors - the accession of Bulgaria to the EU and the impact of the global financial crisis, which reflects most seriously on the sectors of construction, production and services. The focus of this paper is on the real estate market in Bulgaria in parallel with Greece, as a neighboring country that has suffered the harsh economic consequences of the crisis. The main research thesis on which the present study has been built is that the geopolitical and economic shocks on a global and national level are a key factor determining the potential of the real estate market. The main objective is to analyze the state of the real estate market in Bulgaria and Greece. The tasks assigned by the authors are: - consideration of the main features of real estate markets in Bulgaria and Greece; - outline the main trends of the real estate market in Bulgaria and other member states from Central and Eastern Europe; - Investigating the potential for investment in real estate in the member states of the European Union by applying the method of Z. Helving; - comparative analysis and assessment of the real estate market in Bulgaria and Greece and outlining the trends of its future development. As a result of the survey a grouping of the European Union countries on indicators for the mortgage market, the real estate market and the economic potential of the countries was carried out. The peculiarities of investments in real estates in the member states of the European Union are distinguished, focusing on the Republic of Bulgaria and Greece and the main factors of the supply and demand for real estate. -
Ventsislav Vechev, Radi Dimitrov
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF ACCOUNTING IN THE PUBLIC SECTORJEL: M 41.Keywords: organization of accounting, depreciation of assets, financial statements, budgetary organizations.Summary: In the accounting legislation in the sphere of the public sector in our country conceptual amendments have been made, which has reflected on the overall organization of the accounting process in the budgetary organizations. However,... In the accounting legislation in the sphere of the public sector in our country conceptual amendments have been made, which has reflected on the overall organization of the accounting process in the budgetary organizations. However, these changes affect individual aspects of the budgetary organizations' accounting, which is why there is currently no entirely new framework for accountability of public sector enterprises. This in turn is a prerequisite for insufficient clarity and, in certain cases, a contradiction in the accounting of specific business operations and processes in the budgetary enterprises. The main purpose of this study is to examine the organization of current and periodic accounting in public sector enterprises. The fundamental research thesis that is being defended is that the improvements in the organization of the current and periodic accounting of the activities of the public sector enterprises are a prerequisite for a true and fair presentation of their financial situation. Proof of the presented thesis requires the fulfillment of the stated tasks: to clarify the significance of the process of convergence of the national accounting rules in the public sector with the international accounting legislation; to outline the main theoretical, methodological and practical problems; to offer reasoned opportunities for improving the current and periodic accounting and reporting process in order to better reflect business operations in the public sector enterprises. As a result of the survey, problems, referred by the authors as main problems, have been outlined in relation with the accounting in these enterprises, and argued opportunities for improvement related to the Chart of Accounts of the budgetary organizations and the presentation of the information in the financial statements have been presented. -
Galina Chipriyanova, Marii Veskov Stoyanov
ORGANIZATIONAL AND ACCOUNTING ASPECTS OF THE BANK GUARANTEE AS A FORM OF SECURITYJEL: M41.Summary: The aim of this article is to analyze the essence of the bank guarantee, to reveal and indicate the possibilities for its utilization in the activities of the non-financial corporations. The tasks that have been performed in order... The aim of this article is to analyze the essence of the bank guarantee, to reveal and indicate the possibilities for its utilization in the activities of the non-financial corporations. The tasks that have been performed in order to achieve the aim are as follows: 1) Inquiring about prices of the bank guarantees as a specific financial service; 2) Analyzing the financial/bank guarantee contracts as the basis of the relationship between the non-financial corporations-clients under bank guarantee contracts and the bank (credit institution)-guarantor; 3) Analyzing the collateral required as guarantee of loan repayment/ reimbursement by the bank-guarantor as a necessary condition for the conclusion of a financial/bank guarantee contracts; 4) Developing accounting models for financial/bank guarantee contracts in the practice of the non-financial corporations-clients under bank guarantee contracts. The main research thesis is that the bank guarantee is a reliable business tool with increasingly wider utilization in the activity of the non-financial corporations, including its application as a securing instrument for the settlement of accounts receivable and obligations arising from commercial transactions and as a necessary condition required by the law. An important significance for accounting for financial/bank guarantee contracts in non-financial corporations-clients under bank guarantee contracts is the type of collateral provided. The conclusions drawn in the study are that the bank guarantee is a reliable business tool/a securing instrument for the settlement of accounts receivable and obligations arising from commercial transactions, it can serve for: 1) improving the accounting organization, 2) accounting models of financial/bank guarantee contracts according to the type of collateral provided and the accounting policy followed in order to ensure fair representation of information in the annual financial statements of the enterprise. -
Lyubomir Ivanov, Evgeni Yashkov Ovchinnikov
APPLICABLE ASPECTS OF ECONOMETRIC MODELING OF DYNAMIC RELATIONSKeywords: dynamic relationship, cointegration, vector autoregression, crosscorrelation, distributed lags.Summary: The paper is focused on the application of the statistical methods for the analysis of dynamic relationships. The relationships among the economic phenomena are realized not only in the distributions of the population, (static... The paper is focused on the application of the statistical methods for the analysis of dynamic relationships. The relationships among the economic phenomena are realized not only in the distributions of the population, (static aspect) but also in the changes that have occurred into it with the time (dynamic aspect). The thesis supported by the authors is that statistical methods used for the analysis of dynamic relationships are both modern and powerful instruments for the researchers that allow to discover new characteristics of the interdependence among economic phenomenon but at the same time, their application is accompanied with many conditions that have to be known and taken into account. The goal of the paper is to systematize the statistical methods for analysis of relationships based on time series data, and to point out their abilities in the advancement and enhancement of the analysis of the economic phenomenon. In order to achieve this goal, we have solved the following tasks: a) to describe the cross-correlation analysis; b) to characterize the distributed lag models (aka transfer function models); c) to study the vector auto regression (VAR) models; d) to describe the cointegration as advanced statistical method for the analysis of non-stationary time series. The established results cover the advanced features of the dynamic relationship models: the interdependence between two (or more) time series; exploration of single relationships and distributed influence; the representation of multidimensional dynamic relationship; the survey of both long-term equilibrium relation and short-term interaction between the variables induced by the deviations from equilibrium state. -
Lyudmil Krystev, Plamen Georgiev
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL BANKS BRANCH NETWORK ‒ A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICEKeywords: commercial banks, branch network.Summary: This study focuses on commercial banking and the development of branch networks as an essential part of the banking system. At the centre of the analysis is the relationship between the expansion of the branch networks of commercial... This study focuses on commercial banking and the development of branch networks as an essential part of the banking system. At the centre of the analysis is the relationship between the expansion of the branch networks of commercial banks and the influence of the following four factors: the dynamics of the economic development cycle at global, national and regional levels; the processes of consolidation in the banking system; the evolution of information technology and electronic banking and regulatory policy and restrictive measures including insolvency procedures that the central bank establishes in its supervisory capacity for the banking sector. The aim of this study is to offer a critical evaluation of the factors influencing the decision-making concerning the dynamics in the branch network of commercial banks, both at a sector level and in the context of the individual banks. The paper comprises four main parts: Firstly, a critical review of the regulatory system and contemporary scientific studies in the area of bank administration and branch network management, including the structure of decision-making factors in relation to expanding, maintaining or reducing the network of bank branches; Secondly, historical and empirical-applied analysis of the dynamics in the licensed banking institutions and their positioning on the competitive banking market in Bulgaria; and thirdly, analysis of the financial indicators for the banking system and the related trends in the development of the branch network of the commercial banks in Bulgaria and their staffing. As a result of the study, it has been confirmed by the empirical data for the Bulgarian banking market that after 1989 the dynamics in the branch network was originally due to the dynamics in the creation and merger of banking institutions. During the period of EU membership, this process has been based mainly on the key factors developed with the priority of the regional demand and supply of banking services. About the two leading banking institutions, in terms of bank staff numbers, number of branches and personnel per branch for the two leading Bulgarian banks, the analysis has shown the following results: 3049 people, employed in 173 branches with a 17.6 average number of employees per bank branch for Unicredit Bulbank (data relating central management as well) and respectively, in the system of DSK Bank - 4115 people with an -
Momchil Antov
APPLICATION OF THE EUROPEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH THIRD COUNTRIES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR THE POSITION OF CUSTOMS CONTROL IN BULGARIAJEL: M49.Summary: Goods origin should be regarded as a complex economic category, which, from a customs perspective, predetermines the existence of specific control guidelines. The variety of free trade agreements between the EU and third countries... Goods origin should be regarded as a complex economic category, which, from a customs perspective, predetermines the existence of specific control guidelines. The variety of free trade agreements between the EU and third countries introduces a number of requirements, the compliance of which must be verified by the customs authorities. This necessitates the availability of clear technological provisions regarding the issue of proofs of origin by the Union and the verification of such proofs provided by beneficiary countries. The study aims to assess the feasibility of the free trade agreements between the EU and third countries in our country and thus define and justify the specific characteristics of the customs procedures with regard to the origin of imported goods. This aim has been achieved through: First. Assessment of the free trade agreements between the EU and third countries in terms of their importance; Second. Assessment of the relevance of the European free trade agreements for the Republic of Bulgaria; Third. Discussing the specific characteristics of the main customs procedures for control of the origin of the goods. The main research thesis is that the provisions of free trade agreements and the related origin of imported goods are the main subject of customs control and, as being such, they have a significant impact on the foreign trade relations of our country. As a result of the study, the importance of EU free trade agreements with third countries has been justified by the position of the customs control carried out in the Republic of Bulgaria. The foreign trade relations of our country have been analyzed and conclusions have been drawn as to the extent to which the Bulgarian business benefits from the possible customs preferences based on the origin of the goods. -
Plamen Yordanov Pantaleev, Martin Emilov Marinov
POSSIBILITIES FOR APPLICATION OF PENSION INSURANCE ORGANISATION OF TEACHERS IN BULGARIAJEL: H55.Summary: An attempt has been made to justify the thesis that the organisational development and improvement of the applied differentiated approach has a significant capacity to turn the pension insurance into a socio-economic corrective of... An attempt has been made to justify the thesis that the organisational development and improvement of the applied differentiated approach has a significant capacity to turn the pension insurance into a socio-economic corrective of the market evaluation of teachers’ labour by providing pensions in the amount appropriate to the contribution and significance of the teaching profession for the formation of human capital and socio-economic development and prosperity in Bulgarian society. The study of the opportunities for organisational development and improvement of the teachers’ public pension insurance is the main objective of the survey. The following specific tasks are set: study of principles and guidelines for differentiation of insurance activity; justification of the need for continuing development and improvement of the applied differentiated approach in the organisation of the pension insurance of teachers in Bulgaria; study of the specifics and evaluation of public pension insurance protection of teachers in Bulgaria; formulating proposals for development and improvement of public insurance of teachers in Bulgaria. The results of the survey show the need to develop and improve the pension insurance of teachers. Proposals to transform payments from the Teachers’ Pension Fund into a function of pension insurance contributions have been formulated. Organisational changes that bind the amount of pension for insured length of service and old age of teachers with their contribution to community development have been proposed. -
Plamen Yordanov Pantaleev, Ivan Grozdanov Ivanov
PAYMENTS FOR PROPHYLAXIS AND REHABILITATION AS A FORM OF RISK PREVENTION IN THE PUBLIC SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM OF BULGARIAJEL: H55.Summary: An attempt has been made to substantiate the thesis that the organisational development and improvement of prophylaxis and rehabilitation payments have significant capacity to promote prevention and overcome the consequences of risk... An attempt has been made to substantiate the thesis that the organisational development and improvement of prophylaxis and rehabilitation payments have significant capacity to promote prevention and overcome the consequences of risk as a form of proactive approach to the public social security management. The study of the opportunities for organisational development and improvement of the payments for prophylaxis and rehabilitation is the main objective of the study. The following specific tasks are set: study of the principles and limitations of the prevention of risk in the social insurance activity; justification of the need for continuing integration and development of prophylaxis and rehabilitation as an element of the Bulgarian social security system; study of the specificity of morbidity and traumatism among insured persons; evaluation of payments for prophylaxis and rehabilitation and formulation of proposals for their organisational development and improvement. The results of the survey confirm the necessity to make payments with a preventive and long-term effect, testify to the achievement of good organisational level of prophylaxis and rehabilitation in the NSSI system and outline the opportunities for their development and improvement. Organisational changes with significant capacity for continued successful integration of prevention and overcoming the consequences of risk as a form of proactive approach to the public social security management in Bulgaria have been proposed. -
Rumen Erusalimov, Pavel Valeriev Dimitrov
INFLUENCE OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN DETERMINING THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF TECHNICAL RESERVES FOR MOTOR THIRD PARTY LIABILITY INSURANCEJEL: G 22.Keywords: insurance, technical reserves.Summary: The problems arising from the recent global financial and economic crisis have led to a rethinking of many texts both in local laws and at Community level. New rules and regulations have gradually been introduced concerning all... The problems arising from the recent global financial and economic crisis have led to a rethinking of many texts both in local laws and at Community level. New rules and regulations have gradually been introduced concerning all economic agents operating within the European Union. The introduction of these regulations in the field of insurance is associated with the adoption of Solvency II Directive. The implementation of the Directive in the Bulgarian legislation was realized with the adoption of a new Insurance Code, effective as of 1 January 2016 and Financial Supervision Commission’s Ordinance No 53 of 19 January 2017, which determines the order and method of allocation of technical reserves by the insurers working on the Bulgarian insurance market. The study assesses the impact of the regulatory framework on the technical reserves of insurance companies offering Motor Third Party Liability Insurance. It outlines the problems that insurers have to deal with and the effect that the methods, used for calculating the required amount of technical reserves, have on the insurance company’s balance sheet. The study has shown that there are differences in the methodologies described in the Solvency II Directive and Ordinance No 53 of Financial Supervision Commission. They concern the valuation of insurance companies’ assets and liabilities, the recognition of cash flows and the treatment of insurance income and expenses. Therefore, legislative changes are needed to synchronize the requirements of Bulgarian legislation with the European Directive Solvency II, with a view to optimizing the amount of technical reserves for Motor Third Party Liability Insurance. -
Rositsa Simeonova
LEASE AGREEMENTS IN LESSEES’ FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ACCORDING TO IFRS 16 LEASESJEL: Ì41.Summary: A main requirement in financial statements is to faithfully present the information about their elements. This also applies to financial information regarding a lease. After the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases and its entry into force on... A main requirement in financial statements is to faithfully present the information about their elements. This also applies to financial information regarding a lease. After the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases and its entry into force on January 1, 2019, it is of paramount importance to know and apply its requirements. The changes in this Standard primarily concern the reporting of lease agreements and their presentation in the lessee’s financial statements. The research objective is to present the main points when applying the IFRS 16 Leases in the lessee’s statements. To achieve the objective the following tasks have been set in the study: Clarifying the need for a new lease accounting standard, outlining the purpose and scope of the standard, establishing the right to lease agreement and distinguishing it from services, and its accounting and presentation in the lessee’s financial statements. Studying and clarifying the main points of IFRS 16 Leases is related to the assumption that knowing them well is a prerequisite for their proper accounting and presentation in the financial statements and hence raising their credibility. The results achieved in the course of the study are mainly of a practical nature and can be used when applying this new accounting standard in Bulgarian accounting practice. -
Stefan Simeonov, Silvia Sasheva Zarkova, Aneliya Peneva
RELATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEBT AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY, A PARALLEL ANALYSIS OF THE PROCESSES IN BULGARIA AND GREECEKeywords: relations between government debt and investment activity, methods of debt management, securitized debt, stock exchange activity indicators, market capitalization.Summary: The present study aims at a parallel analysis of investment, and in particular stock exchange activity and government debt, as well as finding a dependency between the dynamics of these processes and highlighting those stock... The present study aims at a parallel analysis of investment, and in particular stock exchange activity and government debt, as well as finding a dependency between the dynamics of these processes and highlighting those stock indicators, for which the relationship with the debt dynamics is of greater significance. The study is based on the thesis of presence of a strong influence with inverse dependence of the debt burden on the investment activity. We also maintain the hypothesis that the sensitivity of capital markets to the dynamics of government debt is stronger than that of the real-sector investments, driven by the nature of indirect investments and the rapid transfer of capital through liquid stock markets. As a theoretical basis of the survey we have set up a systemic methodology for government debt management and highlighted dependencies on key macroeconomic factors. The methodology of the survey includes a selection of the main measures for the structure and burden of government debt and specific indicators, and indicators for analyzing the investment activity. In order to investigate the dependencies between the two processes, we apply specific comparisons between debt and investment indicators, as well as correlation analysis. We analyze in parallel the debt dynamics and the investment activity in the real sector and the stock exchanges in Bulgaria and Greece for the period 2007- 2017. The results show that the activity of both stock exchanges have had a pronounced negative trend since the beginning of the global recession, which has been going on for ten years now. We have established a strong reverse relationship between the Athens Stock Exchange activity indicators and the Greek debt in its structural components. As far as Bulgarian capital market is concerned, these dependencies are less expressed. We have found arguments for a critical negative impact of the debt burden on investment activity in the real sector, expressed by the correlation between debt dynamics and direct investments in the national economy and foreign direct investments. Our hypothesis for a stronger impact of the debt burden on stock exchange transactions than on real sector investments has been confirmed. -
Aneliya Paneva
STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE PRODUCT PORTFOLIO OF BULGARIAN INSURANCE COMPANIESJEL: G22.Summary: The structure of the portfolio of insurance companies shows what consumer preferences to different insurance products are. The comparison of product structures makes it possible to determine whether there is a change in the pattern... The structure of the portfolio of insurance companies shows what consumer preferences to different insurance products are. The comparison of product structures makes it possible to determine whether there is a change in the pattern of insurance consumption, to outline the reasons if there is a change and insurers to take adequate actions in line with new trends in consumer demand. The objective of this article is to assess the strength of the structural changes in the product portfolio of Bulgarian insurance companies. The assessment of the structural changes is done by tracing the dynamics in the distribution of Gross Premium Income by insurance sectors and insurance classes and also on the basis of the values of the integral coefficient of structural changes. The thesis defended is that tracking changes in the product structure makes it possible to identify the dynamics of the market shares of the insurance sectors and the insurance classes, to outline the trends in their market positions and to assess the degree of change in the consumer preferences. In order to achieve the objective and to prove the thesis, the following tasks have been formulated: formation of the structure of the insurance market by calculating the market shares of general and life insurance; formation of the structure of the product portfolio in general and life insurance by calculating the market shares of different types of insurance; establishing the changes in the positions of the individual insurance sectors and insurance classes in the product structure; characterizing the strength of the outlined structural changes. The survey results show that there have been changes in consumer preferences for different insurance products during the period under review. The changes in the product structure of life insurance are the most significant.