"Scientific research" Almanac

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  STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE PRODUCT PORTFOLIO OF BULGARIAN INSURANCE COMPANIES

  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 ... 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.

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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.

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  CLASSIFICATION, EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTING POSSIBILITIES FOR DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

  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 ... 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.