"Scientific research" Almanac

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  IMPROVING THE ‘PERLA’ RATING SYSTEM FOR DISTANCE MONITORING OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN BULGARIA

  The global banking crisis of 2007 raised a number of issues and challenges in the banking sector. One aspect of the debates provoked was connected with the issue of the rating assessments and the methods for objectively measuring the condition of the banks and the sector as a whole. This problem is also reflected in the thesis statement that an ... The global banking crisis of 2007 raised a number of issues and challenges in the banking sector. One aspect of the debates provoked was connected with the issue of the rating assessments and the methods for objectively measuring the condition of the banks and the sector as a whole. This problem is also reflected in the thesis statement that an independent and open rating system for assessing the banking sector helps to increase the discipline, competitiveness and stability of the banking sector. This study aims to assess the feasibility of the PERLA system for assessing the banking sector, developed in 2004 by a team at the department of Finance and Credit, and to find ways for improving it and enhancing the degree of its recognition. This is achieved through analyzing the theoretical foundations of the banking analysis and through building rating systems, and evaluation of its applicability under the Bulgarian conditions by improving the PERLA rating system. In the conclusion the author offers an advanced methodology for assessing the state of the Bulgarian banks (ALER(ts)).

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  E-COMMERCE IN INSURANCE – A FACTOR FOR INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF INSURANCE COMPANIES

  The study presents the results of an empirical study of electronic commerce in insurance, conducted in 2013. The authors argue that the successful implementation of electronic sales in insurance streamlines and improves customer service in the sector. In addition, it reduces the costs, and the price respectively, of insurance policies and ... The study presents the results of an empirical study of electronic commerce in insurance, conducted in 2013. The authors argue that the successful implementation of electronic sales in insurance streamlines and improves customer service in the sector. In addition, it reduces the costs, and the price respectively, of insurance policies and increases their competitiveness in the market. Proving the thesis statement is achieved through solving the following major tasks: - the extent to which insurance companies in Bulgaria use e-commerce is demonstrated through systematized and analyzed data; - the dynamics of development of electronic commerce and the structure of sold on-line insurance products are tracked; - expected benefits of sales realization due to the use of e-commerce by insurers are outlined. It is found out that the companies in Non-life Insurance industry use e-commerce as a promising and convenient way of making purchases and sales of insurance policies and as an important tool to enhance their competitiveness.

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  ASSESSING MARKETING EFFECTIVENESS – PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

  The issues related to marketing effectiveness and linking marketing to a firm’s financial results have been very popular in the economic literature in the past two decades. In this study we try to systemize the accumulated knowledge in this area. We define some methodological problems concerning marketing effectiveness assessment. Based on the ... The issues related to marketing effectiveness and linking marketing to a firm’s financial results have been very popular in the economic literature in the past two decades. In this study we try to systemize the accumulated knowledge in this area. We define some methodological problems concerning marketing effectiveness assessment. Based on the data accumulated we define the category of marketing effectiveness and outline its manifestations. We argue that marketing effectiveness assessment has to be done in different ways according to the assessment object – a separate marketing campaign or a marketing activity as a whole. We propose to use ‘Return on Marketing Investments’ (MROI) for assessing a single marketing campaign, and the change in the marketing assets – for assessing the marketing effectiveness as a whole (marketing strategy). General models for the two types of assessment are proposed.