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The problem of the aging of the population is a part of the long-term process of societal modernisation, whose permanent part is a programme to activate people of retirement age. In view of the progressing of the aging process of the European population, including Poland and Bulgaria, the issue which is more and more clearly noticeable is and will be the alienation of people of retirement age in the future. The issue of aging societies is increasingly dominant in public debate, where demographic changes are not seen as a threat any longer, but as a challenge and a great opportunity for the economic, social and infrastructure development in many areas, inter alia: healthcare, social welfare, education, culture, tourism, both in the city and in the countryside. A growing group of senior citizens means also a great potential, being an active consumer group perceived by many economic entities as potential customers. This article analyses specific problems associated with the growing group of senior citizens3 in rural areas in Poland.Analyses were based mainly on the mass statistics data (CSO) and the results of the IAFE-NRI4 surveys, which were used primarily to identify the future social developments in rural areas and to formulate general conclusions.The problem of the aging of the population is a part of the long-term process of societal modernisation, whose permanent part is a programme to activate people of retirement age. In view of the progressing of the aging process of the European population, including Poland and Bulgaria, the issue which is more and more clearly noticeable is and will be the alienation of people of retirement age in the future. The issue of aging societies is increasingly dominant in public debate, where demographic changes are not seen as a threat any longer, but as a challenge and a great opportunity for the economic, social and infrastructure development in many areas, inter alia: healthcare, social welfare, education, culture, tourism, both in the city and in the countryside. A growing group of senior citizens means also a great potential, being an active consumer group perceived by many economic entities as potential customers. This article analyses specific problems associated with the growing group of senior citizens3 in rural areas in Poland.Analyses were based mainly on the mass statistics data (CSO) and the results of the IAFE-NRI4 surveys, which were used primarily to identify the future social developments in rural areas and to formulate general conclusions.
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In this paper the competitiveness of key agricultural industries in Greece is analyzed in relation to the rest of the world, using the index RCA (Revealed Comparative Advantage) for the period 2000-2015. The evaluation of the comparative advantage of Greece based on the so-called Balassa index is used to determine if a country has "disclosed" comparative advantage (RCA). The competitiveness against two Balkan countries, Romania and Bulgaria is also analyzed. These two countries were selected on the grounds that they are members of the European Union - and thus trade is made without restrictions - and that they are adjacent to Greece, which facilitates trade. Finally, these countries are in a constant rise in their living standards, which have an impact on consumption habits.The progress and long-term competitiveness of agriculture is not associated with both short-term factors, such as prices or input costs, but with productivity and organization at farm level and at the state level. Apart from the quantity, the natural wealth of the regions and technologies to reduce costs, more attention is given to adding value to the quality of the services they offer and other "off-price" factors.For a country like Greece, integrated into a key international financial institution such as the European Union, with a fully open economy and thus faced with the developments of the changing international environment, the analysis of the competitiveness of individual sectors of the economy never ceases to be timely and important. The measuring of the competitiveness of the agricultural sector is used to draw attention to the strengths and weaknesses in order to create a framework for corrective action, if needed, and suggestions for the future.In this paper the competitiveness of key agricultural industries in Greece is analyzed in relation to the rest of the world, using the index RCA (Revealed Comparative Advantage) for the period 2000-2015. The evaluation of the comparative advantage of Greece based on the so-called Balassa index is used to determine if a country has "disclosed" comparative advantage (RCA). The competitiveness against two Balkan countries, Romania and Bulgaria is also analyzed. These two countries were selected on the grounds that they are members of the European Union - and thus trade is made without restrictions - and that they are adjacent to Greece, which facilitates trade. Finally, these countries are in a constant rise in their living standards, which have an impact on consumption habits.The progress and long-term competitiveness of agriculture is not associated with both short-term factors, such as prices or input costs, but with productivity and organization at farm level and at the state level. Apart from the quantity, the natural wealth of the regions and technologies to reduce costs, more attention is given to adding value to the quality of the services they offer and other "off-price" factors.For a country like Greece, integrated into a key international financial institution such as the European Union, with a fully open economy and thus faced with the developments of the changing international environment, the analysis of the competitiveness of individual sectors of the economy never ceases to be timely and important. The measuring of the competitiveness of the agricultural sector is used to draw attention to the strengths and weaknesses in order to create a framework for corrective action, if needed, and suggestions for the future.
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The research comprises of an in-depth analysis of the models of vertical integration of Slovenian pig producers. The data were collected in a nation-wide survey (n=152). Besides the structural characteristics of farms, the key focus was on vertical integration of the pig breeders and a set of questions related to beliefs and attitudes towards the contemporary food supply chains. The survey data were analysed with the latent class cluster analysis focused on researched constructs related to cooperation and pig meat supply chain. The results show that rather obsolete and informal organisation structures prevail in Slovenia, which is in contrasts with hypothesis and expectations. Furthermore, farmers significantly differ according to their attitude towards supply chain coordination and business engagement in actual activities of supply chains. The research concludes with various policy implications and business guidance
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In the literature and in the variety of economic theories, there is no commonly accepted definition of competitiveness, and the different definitions and perceptions of competitiveness are mainly due to a different view of the notion and conceptual breadth that is being invested. In the present study, we will look at it from a market performance perspective using an existing theoretical framework based on the definition of the Canadian Competitiveness Group, where competitiveness is related to "the ability to win and maintain a sustainable market share." The purpose of the paper is based on a developed methodological framework from SARA, which is based on two measurement vectors - maintaining market share and adding added value, analyzing the level of competitiveness in key sectors of Bulgarian agriculture. The results of this study will be compared with another well-known and widely-used methodology for analyzing the comparative competitiveness of products and products covered on external markets, known as the Ballasse indexes, allowing for a fuller study of the state and trends in the competitiveness of Bulgarian agriculture.
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In order to generate economic growth and create European jobs, the Common Agricultural Policy promotes effective and competitive agricultural production. The European model requires the use of modern machines and production technologies to ensure sufficient food for the population.The topicality of this issue stems from the desire to secure viable food production through increasing productivity in the agricultural sector and ensuring an acceptable standard of living for European farmers in the context of the EU Common Agricultural Policy.
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Ten years are passed since Bulgaria joined the EU-28, but unfortunately this membership has not brought serious success and growth in wine production. The relative share of grape production for this period decreased by half in the total output of agriculture output to just over 1%. The decline in the production of wine grapes have a negative impact on the production of quality wines. The share of quality wines in total wine production is only 1/3. Global trade in wine has grown, reaching annual sales of 29 billion euros, according to the International Organization of Vine and Wine data, as quality wines are significant niche market. The aim of the report is to outline the opportunities and prospects in the production of quality bulgarian wines and their marketing through local initiatives and government policies.
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Over the last decade, the production of table grapes has grown steadily, with the entry of new producer countries such as Chile, Peru, Argentina, South Africa, Egypt. The strong international competition and the change in consumer preference are the two major factors in the environment that require an improvement in the organization of marketing activities along the supply chain. The use of marketing tools, such as branding, is an opportunity to improve the market performance of table grapes growers and, at the same time, a mechanism to stimulate consumer demand. In this study were analyzed the development of the table grapes market and were outlined the main marketing approaches applied by producers in traditional and emerging countries.
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The purpose of this report is to analyze the more important structural changes in the bank lending of agribusiness in Bulgaria for the period since Bulgaria's accession to the EU and to identify the potential problems and challenges as a result of the economic crisis in our country, on this basis to propose recommendations for improving the financing of the sector.
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The general trend for global population growth is a precondition for the development of agriculture. For that reason management decision-making structures should apply appropriate analytical methods to contribute to their effectiveness.The main objective of the report is to take out and systematize perspectives suitable for project management of SFA, with the following tasks:1. The main theories for decision-making process in project management at SFA (State Fund for Agriculture).2. Model of decision-making process in the EU public sector at EU countries.On these base are presented collected information, general conclusions and guidelines for development of SFA Agriculture.
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The purpose of this study is to analyze and evaluate the financial situation and financial efficiency of the wine-producing enterprises in our country as a result of the overall management of these business organizations. A special methodology for assessing the effectiveness of financial management of wine-producing enterprises is being developed and adapted. We are analyzing liquidity, profitability and return, debt management, revenue and cost effectiveness and managing investment in these organizations.
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The agricultural sector is very comprehensive, and because of its essence and dynamics it can be defined as a highly risky sector. The developing uncertainties, risks and crisis originating from the natural environment, technology, economic and political environment and not least globalization constitute new challenges that the risk management in the sector is facing. The improvement of this process (risk management) will bring better results not only in economic and social aspects, but it will also enhance the sustainability in agriculture.To manage the risk is important to be defined and valued it through different methods. The measurement of the risk is carried out based on different parameters from previous periods. Since, not all of the methods are using the same criteria there is a precondition for variations in the outcome.The main aim of the paper is to analyze and assess various methods for measuring the risk that are applicable for the agricultural sector in Bulgaria as well as to draw conclusions for their implementation together with their abilities and limitations. The gathered information is based on the result of a PhD thesis related to the risk management in agriculture as well project NID.
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The agricultural commodity markets have a complex political and economic character, both domestically and internationally. The arcane nature of many policy interventions in these commodity markets and the many heterogeneous interests exacerbate this complexity. Identifying superior policy options is not difficult, but the feasibility of reform depends on the power of vested interests and the ability of governments to identify tradeoffs and possible linkages that will allow them to pursue multiple goals (food security, income transfers, expansion of domestic value added) more efficiently.
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For the conditions in Bulgaria the investment in social entrepreneurship may become a key factor in providing employment and development of entrepreneurial initiatives leading to sustainable rural development. Social entrepreneurship is a paradigm that can be seen as one of the solutions to reduce poverty, migration, depopulation and retention of the working population in rural areas. The research aims to reveal the role and benefits of social entrepreneurship for sustainable rural development through analysis of the factors and barriers to its application. It is important in rural areas to create suitable conditions for building social enterprises with a large scope covering all vulnerable groups of the territory. In this context, the logical connection between the factors of social entrepreneurship is discussed which takes into account the peculiarities of rural areas in Bulgaria in connection with its application. Some of the most important factors, challenges and constraints that have been analyzed are economic, social and institutional. The results show that sustainable rural development can be achieved in solving socially significant problems with the means and approaches of social entrepreneurship and its promotion in rural areas.
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Labor resources are one of the most important territorial factors of regional development, in particular rural development. Labor resources are a crucial prerequisite and a condition for deepening the processes of territorial specialization and concentration. The significance of labor resources for achieving high levels of economic growth is conditioned by the perception that labor is the most important demographic condition for economic development, including in rural areas. In this context, the aim of the project is to analyze and assess the population size and dynamics as a primary factor determining the potential of labor resources in rural areas of Bulgaria. To achieve the goal, literary sources, statistics and analysis are used. Key results, conclusions and recommendations are summarized.
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Bulgaria's membership in the European Union determines the economic orientation of agricultural farms in the country in line with the main priorities of sustainable rural development. Although there are significant agricultural farms in Bulgaria, small and medium-sized farms account for a significant share of the total number of farms. The main objective of this paper is to present the consulting services, offered to small and medium-sized farms in North Eastern Bulgaria andto research the necessarily of additional consulting services as a key factor for the sustainable development of these farms. The paper presents the scope and requirements to be met by the agricultural farms in Bulgaria in order to be classified as small and medium, the fields in which they can receive the consultancy services necessary for their development, as well as results from a primary research, focused on the necessary of additional consulting services needed for their sustainable development.
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Territory and its features are an integral part of human life since ancient times. With its special features it has a significant impact on the quality and way of life of the people who inhabit it. Irrational and appropriate use of the resource potential of the territory, regardless of its geographic location causes problems in the economic development of the territory and to deepen interregional differences, which is in contrary to the objectives of European economic policy. The purpose of this report is to reflect the essential problems in the drive and the development of rural communities in the region of Ruse, their potential and prospects for development. Presented is a model for the assessment of the degree of development of the region and of entrepreneurial activity in it as the basis for the construction of an appropriate strategy for the future development of rural communities.
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Wine tourism is a specific product structure that combines wine-tasting and wine-drinking travel with culture, history, beautiful scenery and good cuisine. The report examines how the development of wine tourism has a different impact on wine producers and at the same time offers opportunities for multifunctional development of rural areas and is depicted its development in Bulgaria. It is underlined that the broad understanding of wine tourism allows the development of cluster or other types of associations in our country and are presented good practices that contribute to the sustainable development of wine tourism in our country.
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A characteristic feature of rural areas in Bulgaria is lagging behind. Following the general direction of sustainable development, the CAP and RDP contribute to solving economic, social and environmental problems in rural areas. The measures included in them aim to achieve a balanced development of rural areas, stimulating the competitiveness of the agrarian sector and improving the quality of life of the local population. The purpose of the report is to present the demographic and economic characteristics of rural areas and impact on the CAP and the RDP 2014-2020.Key words: rural areas, RDP.A characteristic feature of rural areas in Bulgaria is lagging behind. Following the general direction of sustainable development, the CAP and RDP contribute to solving economic, social and environmental problems in rural areas. The measures included in them aim to achieve a balanced development of rural areas, stimulating the competitiveness of the agrarian sector and improving the quality of life of the local population. The purpose of the report is to present the demographic and economic characteristics of rural areas and impact on the CAP and the RDP 2014-2020.
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