"Scientific research" Almanac

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  ESTIMATING WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY AND PRICE SENSITIVITY FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES USING ADAPTIVE CHOICED-BASED CONJOINT ANALYSIS

  In this study, we present and prove an empirical approach for measuring willingness-to-pay and price sensitivity for educational services (master's programs in economics and management) offered in substitution setting with low visibility of the actual consumer value. Our experiments are based on adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis. We estimate ... In this study, we present and prove an empirical approach for measuring willingness-to-pay and price sensitivity for educational services (master's programs in economics and management) offered in substitution setting with low visibility of the actual consumer value. Our experiments are based on adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis. We estimate willingness-to-pay on an individual level, based on part-worth utility estimates derived using hierarchical Bayesian approach. At the aggregate level, we specify and derive market response functions and thresholds at which price sensitivity changes dramatically. Based on part-worth estimations we build a „market simulator”, based on optimization gradient method. Based on it we found the „optimal” product bundle that maximizes the share of consumers' preferences in two dimensions – institutional and competitive. We found that the present supply of integrated educational services is not relevant to the structure of preferences of the potential students. In terms of financial management of educational institutions, there is considerable potential for optimizing cash flows by rethinking and changing their price policies – from uniform charges for different master’s programs towards nonlinear pricing.

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  RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BUSINESS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN BULGARIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

  The study aims to find out the state and problems associated with the use of Internet technologies in Bulgarian small and medium enterprises, to reveal the reasons for the backwardness of our SMEs compared to those in the EU and to develop methodological materials and recommendations for more efficient use of modern ICT in Bulgarian small and ... The study aims to find out the state and problems associated with the use of Internet technologies in Bulgarian small and medium enterprises, to reveal the reasons for the backwardness of our SMEs compared to those in the EU and to develop methodological materials and recommendations for more efficient use of modern ICT in Bulgarian small and medium businesses. To fulfil the stated objective 56 small and medium enterprises were surveyed and the results for the application of Internet technologies in business were processed. The main issues are highlighted and options to solve them in our reality are proposed. The most important scientific contributions of the study can be presented as follows: an in-depth analysis of the results of the survey is made and concrete solutions are proposed to overcome the backwardness of Bulgarian SMEs; a methodology is developed to study the state of using Internet technologies in Bulgarian small and medium business; concrete methodological materials are provided for the needs of SMEs to use the Internet more successfully in business; the state and problems in the use of Internet technologies in SMEs in the EU are analyzed thoroughly; options are offered for systematic training of SME owners and managers, incl. e-learning in the field of Internet technologies.

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  DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AT D. A. TSENOV ACADEMY OF ECONOMICS (A modest anniversary – a modest view of what has been done)

  The study is dedicated to the fifteenth anniversary of the Institute of Scientific Research at D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics and the decision to publish the Scientific Research Almanac. It makes a historical review and outlines the main points of the development of the institute and the almanac. It systematizes the issues and publications of ... The study is dedicated to the fifteenth anniversary of the Institute of Scientific Research at D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics and the decision to publish the Scientific Research Almanac. It makes a historical review and outlines the main points of the development of the institute and the almanac. It systematizes the issues and publications of the Scientific Research Almanac. Current priorities are presented as well as some opportunities for the development of scientific research at D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics.