"Scientific research" Almanac

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  DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL BANKS BRANCH NETWORK ‒ A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE

  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, ... 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

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  APPLICABLE ASPECTS OF ECONOMETRIC MODELING OF DYNAMIC RELATIONS

  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 ... 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.

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  OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE INFORMATION ECONOMY

  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 ... 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.