Year 2023, Issue 31
Date published31.3.2023
Table of content
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Galina Chipriyanova, Radosveta Krysteva Hristova
CURRENT ASPECTS OF TRAINING IN ECONOMICS AND ACCOUNTING AT HIGHER SCHOOLSJEL: M41Summary: The development of technology, digitization and Internet have an impact on business, education, etc. The speed of knowledge that becomes obsolete requires the continuous acquisition of new knowledge to be competitive in the labor... The development of technology, digitization and Internet have an impact on business, education, etc. The speed of knowledge that becomes obsolete requires the continuous acquisition of new knowledge to be competitive in the labor market, resp. to implement the lifelong learning strategy. All this requires analyzing the problems about training in accounting in Bulgaria in accordance with the changing accounting practice. The object of research is training in accounting at higher schools, which as of January to December 2022 are accredited to train students in the professional field “Economics” in the educational and qualification degree Bachelor and Master in the field of accounting, and the subject – the new requirements of employers for specialists with higher accounting and economic education, the impact of new technologies on training and accounting practice. The aims are to visualize the key trends in the development of accounting education, the options for their integration into the educational process, and to bring out the possibilities for increasing the competitiveness of specialists with higher accounting and economic education in the Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov on the educational market. The research thesis is that the improvement of accounting education in accordance with European and national priorities, standards and regulations, and in accordance with the changing needs of practice, incl. innovations in the educational process, will stimulate the economic development of the country. The results of the research find expression in analyzing: the concept of student-centered learning; European priorities and institutional possibilities for its implementation; opportunities for creative training in accounting; the implementation of machine learning; acquiring BI competencies of students, etc. -
Lyubcho Varamezov, Iskra Panteleeva, Karmen Dimitrov Vranchev, Boyan Vranchev
RESEARCH THE IMPACT OF GERMAN DIRECT INVESTMENT AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL (AURUBIS BULGARIA CASE)Summary: Today, the effective functioning of the Bulgarian economy is unthinkable without foreign investments. The inflow of investments in our country from other countries, incl. of direct investments, is growing, especially after 2007.... Today, the effective functioning of the Bulgarian economy is unthinkable without foreign investments. The inflow of investments in our country from other countries, incl. of direct investments, is growing, especially after 2007. Their origin is diverse, but the leading place among foreign investors in Bulgaria is occupied by the Federal Republic of Germany. The volume of direct German investments in our country is constantly increasing, they are in various branches and industries, located in almost all regions of the country, and the majority of them are “green” investments. The largest direct German investment in our country – “Aurubis Bulgaria”, is focused in an export-oriented branch (metallurgy) that is key to the development of the national economy. The purpose of the present study is to identify and evaluate the main areas of influence exerted at the regional level by direct German investments, following the example of “Aurubis Bulgaria”. The object of the research is the realized German investment in “Aurubis Bulgaria”, and the subject – the influence it has at the regional level (the region of the Sredna gora region, covering the municipalities of Chavdar, Anton, Chelopech, Zlatitsa, Pirdop, Koprivshtitsa and Mirkovo). The results of the research confirmed the main research thesis that the activity of the German company has a multi-directional impact on life in the municipalities of the Sredna Gora Region and their development – an impact on the development of local business, competition, regional infrastructure, employment, income and the level of unemployment, municipal revenues, internal migration, the environment environment, social life, etc. -
Mariyana Bozhinova, Lyubka Ilieva, Kristina Georgieva, Nevena Rumenova Lyaskova Velikova, Vasilena Shtereva Krastanova
DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM DESTINATION BULGARIA THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMYKeywords: tourism destination, experience economy, specialized forms of tourism, innovations in tourismSummary: Based on creativity, technology and innovation, the experience economy finds wide application in creating new experiences for users of tourism services. Experience-enhanced specialized forms of tourism have the potential to meet the... Based on creativity, technology and innovation, the experience economy finds wide application in creating new experiences for users of tourism services. Experience-enhanced specialized forms of tourism have the potential to meet the specific interests and needs of tourists, adding additional value for them. Questions about tourism development through the economy of experiences are particularly relevant given the need to adapt destination Bulgaria to the new economic reality and consumer expectations. The main research thesis is that the tourism destination Bulgaria can offer an innovative tourist product, using the opportunities of the experience economy when utilizing the available tourist resources for the development of specialized forms of tourism. The current paper aims to explore the strategic possibilities for tourism destination Bulgaria's development through the experience economy. The following tasks are solved to achieve the goal: a theoretical analysis of the experience economy and the management of tourism destinations is carried out, the resources for the development of specialized forms are analyzed, an empirical study of the possibilities for integrating the concept of the experience economy into the product of tourism destination Bulgaria is carried out. As a result of the research, opportunities and guidelines for the development of tourism destination Bulgaria through the experience economy have been outlined. -
Tanya Gorcheva, Zdravko Lyubenov, Ivaylo Petrov
THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL – A PREREQUISITE FOR GENERATING SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN THE BULGARIAN ECONOMYKeywords: sustainable and inclusive growth, Sustainable Development Goals, monitoring of Sustainable Development GoalsSummary: The idea of achieving a balance of interests between the economy and the natural and social environment, subordinated to the understanding of protection and restoration of natural resources, has a leading importance in the... The idea of achieving a balance of interests between the economy and the natural and social environment, subordinated to the understanding of protection and restoration of natural resources, has a leading importance in the construction of modern sustainable policies. The research aims to outline the essence and specificity of the modern policy for achieving sustainable growth, with which the EU, and together with this our economy, strive to improve the well-being of society as a whole. In the overall policy, the European Green Deal occupies a central place because it is seen as a prerequisite for generating sustainable and inclusive growth. In this sense, the areas for the realization of sustainable and inclusive growth in pre-selected economies of EU member states, comparable to that of Bulgaria, are defined as an object of research, according to the Sustainable Development Goals. The research proves the hypothesis that in the EU, as well as in Bulgaria, there are prerequisites, interested parties and means for building a comprehensive policy to achieve and maintain sustainable and inclusive growth, which is supported by the European institutions and the European funds for its financing. The focus of the study is to measure advancement on the EU's Sustainable Development Goals by monitoring progress to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth, which allows a comparative analysis to establish what Bulgaria has achieved. -
Ventsislav Vasilev, Plamen Yordanov, Rumen Erusalimov, Nikolay Ninov, Aneliya Paneva, Valentina Nikolaeva Ninova, Tanya Ilieva, Margarita Nikolova, Yordan Yordanov, Nikolay Valeriev Iliev, Radka Vasileva
SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONVERGENCE OF LIFE INSURANCE AND MARKET-ORIENTED SOCIAL INSURANCEJEL: G22Keywords: Life Insurance, Social Insurance, supplementary compulsory pension insurance, supplementary voluntary pension insuranceSummary: The object of research is the life insurance market and the social insurance market in Bulgaria, and its subject is related to the outline of their organisational and economic characteristics, state, dynamics of development. Despite... The object of research is the life insurance market and the social insurance market in Bulgaria, and its subject is related to the outline of their organisational and economic characteristics, state, dynamics of development. Despite their independence, these markets are related. They complement and compete with each other and have a common aim – to offer greater security to citizens in modern society. The purpose of research is focused on exploring the possibilities of their convergence. In order to realise this purpose, the following tasks are defined: - outlining the organisational and economic characteristics of life insurance and market-oriented social insurance; - studying parameters of the products offered on the life insurance market and social insurance market in Bulgaria; - revealing the specifics of the life insurance market and the social insurance market in Bulgaria and tracking the dynamics of their development; - outlining the directions for convergence of the insurance market and the social insurance market. The research thesis defended by the team is that finding similarities between the insurance market and the social insurance market allows to outline the possibilities for their organisational development and social cohesion through the borrowing of good practices and complementing each other. -
Plamen Petkov, Krasimira Slaveva, Stela Kasabova, Margarita Shopova, Tihomir Varbanov, Evgeni Yashkov Ovchinnikov
WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BULGARIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION – COMPARATIVE ANALYSISKeywords: circular economy, waste management, panel data, dynamics, cluster analysis, structural changesSummary: In the conditions of limited natural resources and adverse impacts on the climate as a result of production activity and consumption, it is becoming increasingly imperative to limit the use of non-renewable resources and the... In the conditions of limited natural resources and adverse impacts on the climate as a result of production activity and consumption, it is becoming increasingly imperative to limit the use of non-renewable resources and the generation of waste. The circular economy is a model of production and consumption aimed at extending the life cycle of products, which minimizes waste. The concept of a circular economy is gaining increasing public importance due to the role it plays in sustainable economic development and the environment. The present study covers the main indicators that characterize waste management as one of the main pillars in the methodology adopted by Eurostat, which monitors progress in the transition from a linear to a circular economy. The main objective of the research is connected, on the one hand, with an empirical assessment of the state, trends and challenges among the countries of the European Union in terms of waste management, and on the other hand, with establishing the place of Bulgaria in the EU through a comparative analysis of the waste management indicators. The results confirm the research hypothesis that the actions and measures in Bulgaria regarding the transition to a circular economy are performed at a slower rate than those in the leading countries in the EU. There is a lag in the growth rates of the studied indicators compared to the average for the countries of the European Union, and during the period our country falls into the cluster of countries characterized by the lowest levels of the indicators covered in the study. -
Stoyan Prodanov, Petko Angelov, Silvia Sasheva Zarkova
MACROPRUDENTIAL POLICIES – A FACTOR FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY IN THE BALKAN COUNTRIESKeywords: macroprudential policies, macroprudential measures, macroprudential instruments, Balkan countries, financial systemSummary: The scope of the present study covers the macroprudential measures and policies applied in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, undertaken to prevent financial risks and achieve financial stability in the period 2016-2020. The... The scope of the present study covers the macroprudential measures and policies applied in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, undertaken to prevent financial risks and achieve financial stability in the period 2016-2020. The purpose of the study is to examine the scope, structure and depth of the applied on the economies of the countries of the Balkan Peninsula in the post-crisis period, macroprudential policy and macroprudential instruments. The main thesis that the author team will try to defend is that, despite the differences in the economies of the Balkan countries and the divergence in the pace of development, the introduction and improvement of the various categories of macroprudential instruments, all the countries of the region are oriented towards the convergence of the macroprudential packages of measures – mainly, the already Basel III harmonization on minimum capital requirements. This convergence in the implementation of macroprudential policies is related to the common regulatory framework in the EU and the aspiration of non-EU Balkan countries to join the EU, which could happen after minimizing systemic risks and achieving the minimum macroprudential objectives. In order to achieve the thus formulated thesis, the authors set the following research tasks: to derive the essential characteristics of the macroprudential framework; to present in a theoretical aspect the experience of the Balkan countries in the implementation of macroprudential policies; to examine and analyze the applied supervisory measures in the Balkan countries. -
Elitsa Lazarova, Nadezhda Veselinova, Yuliyan Gospodinov, Mariela Stoynova
STRATEGIC ASPECTS OF THE ELECTRONIC ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IN THE MUNICIPALITIES IN BULGARIAKeywords: digital transformation, electronic administrative services, electronic administrative servicing, digitalization.Summary: Digital transformation is a particularly relevant research topic due to the serious differences between individual countries – from the analysis of large data¬bases of information in leading countries to those significantly lagging... Digital transformation is a particularly relevant research topic due to the serious differences between individual countries – from the analysis of large data¬bases of information in leading countries to those significantly lagging behind in the process. The goal of this study is to formulate solutions for improving and acce¬lerating the digital transformation of municipal administrations by providing strategic recommendations for optimizing their electronic administrative services. To achieve the goal, the following tasks have been assigned: 1) an assessment of the digital transformation in the European Union; 2) an examination of Bulgaria's strategic and regulatory framework for digital transformation; 3) a map of the current state of the electronic administrative services in the municipalities in Bulgaria; 4) an outline of challenges and guidelines for improving the electronic administrative services in the municipalities in Bulgaria. The article argues that in order to overcome the challenges of digitization in the municipal administrations in Bulgaria, it is necessary to optimize the processes in them. The conclusions and generalizations are based on a two-stage study conducted in the period May–September 2022 and on the basis of various scientific research methods: content analysis, critical analysis of documents, induction, and deduction. As a result of the conducted research, Bulgaria's progress in relation to electronic administrative services in municipalities has been reported, external and internal barriers have been identified, and guidelines for improving and accelerating the digital transition of municipal administrations have been systematized. -
Petya Emilova, Veselin Popov, Kremena Marinova, Margarita Stotirov, Martin Aleksandrov
DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM OF A TOURIST DESTINATIONKeywords: digital transformation, tourist destination, digital ecosystem, digital ecosystem of a tourist destinationSummary: Digital transformation is a modern phenomenon that is affecting many areas of the economy, including tourism. The development of a digital ecosystem (DE), which integrates diverse participants that collaborate to achieve the same... Digital transformation is a modern phenomenon that is affecting many areas of the economy, including tourism. The development of a digital ecosystem (DE), which integrates diverse participants that collaborate to achieve the same goal via a common digital platform, is a critical stage in the digitization process. DE is an important step in the digitalization and transformation of tourist destinations (TD) into smart destinations. The aim of the current study is to examine the present status of digitalization of business organizations in TD Veliko Tarnovo and to describe the opportunities for DE development. To achieve the goal, the following tasks must be completed: The ICTs supporting digitization in the tourism sector are identified, the concept of "digital ecosystem," as well as their key characteristics, are defined, the current state of digital transformation in TD Veliko Tarnovo is analysed, the participants in TD's DE, as well as the benefits, new opportunities, and risks for them are identified. The main research thesis is that TD's DE provides an environment and tools for combining many resources from various participants in order to build innovative services for clients. As a result of our research, we have concluded that there is a lack of information about the possibilities of DE among the tourist organizations in TD Veliko Tarnovo, as well as a lack of technical and technological readiness to participate in it. To fill this gap, they must first become acquainted with the benefits of DE, their position in it, and the risks associated with such a digital platform. -
Penka Shishmanova, Yordan Vasilev, Lyudmil Nestorov, Tanya Todorova, Aleksandrina Borisova Aleksandrova, Elitsa Petkova
READINESS OF ECONOMICS STUDENTS FROM HIGHER SCHOOLS IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PLANNING REGION FOR REALIZATION ON THE LABOUR MARKET UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATIONSummary: The implementation of new technologies in economic activity is a question of present interest, given that it leads to transformation of existing business mo¬dels. This, in turn, changes the required personnel training. The aim of... The implementation of new technologies in economic activity is a question of present interest, given that it leads to transformation of existing business mo¬dels. This, in turn, changes the required personnel training. The aim of the present paper is to study the degree of readiness of economics students for professional realization under the conditions of digital transformation and to identify the main challenges and priorities as a basis for improving their preparation. In relation to this the following research objectives are set: to examine the main characteristics of digital transformation and some good practices in this regard while focusing on higher education; to analyse some documents regarding the development of higher schools in the NC planning region; to study the opinion of economics students about the quality of the training they have acquired in regard to the new requirements of the labour market; to derive guidelines for improving the degree of employment readiness of future economists. The main research thesis is that students have a certain employment readiness in the digitalising economy, but their knowledge and skills are rapidly becoming outdated or insufficient, which necessitates continuous training, and higher education institutions should serve these needs. The results of the research show that economics students in the NC planning region have the potential for employment under the conditions of digital transformation. However, some guidelines for improving their qualification have been derived, on the basis of self-assessment of their competences. -
Andrey Zahariev, Galina Zaharieva, Margarita Mihaylova, Katya Ivanova, Margarita Nikolova
THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN BULGARIAN FINANCIAL ENTERPRISESKeywords: human resources management, insurance companies, credit institutions, pension funds, digitalizationSummary: Digitalization affects every sphere of economic life. In financial enterprises, it is transforming human resources management. The purpose of the research is to study the degree of digital transformation of the human resources... Digitalization affects every sphere of economic life. In financial enterprises, it is transforming human resources management. The purpose of the research is to study the degree of digital transformation of the human resources management in Bulgarian financial enterprises and to highlight the main benefits for them, as well as the obstacles they face in this process. Three main tasks are to be performed: building a theoretical framework of the research; empirical study of the degree and aspects of digital transformation in the human resources management of Bulgarian financial enterprises; systematization of the main problems and advantages of digital transformation in the human resources management of financial enterprises. The thesis is formulated as follows: digital transformation in financial enterprises is a vector process, with a systemic nature, which finds empirical evidence in the human resources management in an environment of an adapting regulatory framework, pandemic challenges, investment requirements and expectations for improved competitiveness and efficiency. The problem area of the study is human resource management policies and practices in Bulgarian financial enterprises, and the subject is the impact of digitalization on human resource management policies and practices in Bulgarian financial enterprises (banks, insurers and insurers). The research methodology is a questionnaire survey with 54 questions. Digitization has stimulated the introduction of teleworking, which in FP has been further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.