Analysis of leadership at the national Bank of Romania

Author(s): Valentin Mihai Leoveanu / Language(s): English Issue: 17/2013

Leadership could be seen as a process to achieve company’s goals through company’s people. In any company and also in banks and central banks, leadership could register notable performance as a result of harmonization between formal and informal organization of the company. Maintaining a dynamic and optimal balance for ensuring the simultaneous attainment of individual aspirations of employees and company objectives should be a goal and a permanent preoccupation of the management team. Nowadays,leadership of the central banks have to face a multitude of issues that concern accountability and credibility of monetary authorities. In this regard, one of the essential characteristics that determine and influence leadership of a central bank was to ensure that the degree of central bank independence from the political authorities of the country concerned. Before and during the international financial crisis, NBR has faced some important and difficult periods, watershed might say, in terms of the proper functioning of his leadership. These include: adopting the strategy of monetary policy based on inflation targeting, the speculative attack on the currency in the period 17 October to 5 November 2008 and the liquidity crisis of Romanian banks with foreign capital.

Cross-cultural qualitative study of students’ awareness of natural disasters in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Egypt

Author(s): Fayadh Hamed Alanazi,Mustafa Ali Khalaf,Mohammed Saleh Alzamil,Abdo Noman M. Almufti / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

In recent years, there has been a remarkable increase in the intensity and frequency of natural disasters. There is no doubt that a thorough knowledge of natural disasters and an adequate awareness of how to protect against their negative consequences will spare many individuals considerable losses. Accordingly, the present study aims to investigate students’ level of awareness of natural disasters within a cross-cultural perspective. Twelve schools in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen were selected (four schools from each country). The total research sample consisted of 180 sixth and ninth grade students randomly selected from the targeted schools, with 60 students from each country. Semi-structured interviews were implemented. The results indicated that most students in the three countries have a false or incomplete perception of earthquakes and volcanoes. Only 20.6% of students had a correct perception of how earthquakes occur. An analysis of students’ drawings of earthquakes and volcanoes revealed that, on average, only 13.3% were able to clarify the scientific reason for earthquakes; the highest percentage of correct answers came from Egyptian students (15.0%), followed by Saudi students (13.3%) and then Yemeni students (11.7%). Religious understanding, culture, and day-to-day experiences of the learners turned out to influence their cognizance and analysis of natural events. It was concluded that students develop intricate understanding and theories based on their beliefs and experiences.

Промяна на фертилния модел в Европа – периоден анализ (1960-2020)

Author(s): Stanislava Moraliyska-Nikolova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between TFR, delayed births and indicators of the average age of mother at childbirth in the conditions of postponement parenthood transition throughout the analysed period. An attempt was made to assess the immediate impact of changes, specifically at the end of the period considered, on cross-sectional fertility rates. Based on the relevant indicators, similarities and differences in the dynamics of the observed processes in the European countries were studied. According to the established similarities in the trends of the considered indicators, groups of countries were formed in which the transition started at the same time and in a relatively close socio-economic context. In this study, more detailed attention was paid to the very pronounced recent postponement of births observed in 2020, when the global Covid-19 pandemic unfolded in Europe at the beginning of the year.

Съвременни аспекти на влиянието на жизнения стандарт върху раждаемостта в България

Author(s): Nikolay Stoenchev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

The article presents the results of a statistical analysis of the dependence of the birth rate in Bulgaria on the standard of living in an up-to-date aspect. Fertility was presented using the gross birth rate and the total fertility rate. In order to assess the standard of living, a complex set of criteria for administrative areas was calculated, taking into account the state of 12 specially selected indicators at the same time. The information used was: the information officially published by the National Statistical Institute, Eurostat and data from the publication “Regional Profiles – Development Indicators” by the Institute for Market Economy. The algorithm of the used methodology was detailed, including the user options and arguments for choice. An international comparison was also made involving the EU Member States. The lack of a significant relationship between the birth rate and the standard of living according to complex criteria in Bulgaria and a moderate negative relationship between the total fertility rate and the standard of living in our country was revealed. When the analysis is based only on the GDP per capita as criteria for the achieved standard of living, the relationship between material well-being and the birth rate turns out to be moderately positive, both for Bulgaria and for the entire set of EU Member States (EU 27). Recommendations were made for selective material stimulation of the population in reproductive age and special attention to support married couples with reproductive problems and vulnerable social communities.

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE: CONCEPTUALIZING A STRUCTURAL MODEL OF HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING IN HEALTHCARE IN SLOVENIA

Author(s): Dalibor Stanimirović,Radivoje Pribaković Brinovec / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The healthcare system’s effectiveness depends mainly on healthcare workers’ knowledge, skills, and motivation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Systematic planning of human resources is, therefore, an essential prerequisite for ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of the health care system. This article outlines a structural human resource planning model in health care and explores the complexities involved. A detailed analytical framework is proposed, drawing on various materials and evidence to outline the factors that influence human resource planning in health care. The in-depth analytical process employs an extensive literature review to provide greater credibility to research findings. It investigates numerous sources and materials, both in national and international contexts. The purpose of human resource planning initiatives in healthcare is to calculate the needed number of healthcare workers in the future based on past and current data and assumptions about future supply and demand trends. The research findings reveal this is a very challenging task, as there are typically many unknowns when planning for the future. In addition, planners often need more reliable data and systemic deficiencies. Furthermore, the study shows that unplanned and delayed solutions concerning human resource needs in healthcare can only alleviate problems. Still, they cannot replace effective strategic measures and timely structural changes within the healthcare ecosystem.

A Valuable Contribution to the History of Sociology in Yugoslavia

Author(s): Ljubiša R. Mitrović / Language(s): English,Serbian Issue: 3/2023

The paper is a review of the scientific contribution of Russian sociologist, Professor Zinaida T. Golenkova, PhD, particularly in the field of research of Yugoslav (and Serbian) sociology in the period of its socialist development, as well as Golenkova’s personal engagement in the cooperation between (Soviet) Russian and (Yugoslav) Serbian sociologists in the period from the 1960s to date. Having in mind the wealth of history of Serbian and Yugoslav sociology, to the research of which Golenkova largely contributed, the paper pleads for the development of a special academic, sociological discipline that would deal with the development of sociology in Serbia.

A cognitively valuable reminder and memory of Vojin Milić’s sociological contribution

Author(s): Božo V. Milošević / Language(s): English,Serbian Issue: 3/2023

This opinion/review deals with a valuable collection of sociological articles that were previously presented at an especially organised scientific meeting at the Institute for Sociological Research of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, which was held in September 2022, to honour 100th anniversary of the birth of Vojin Milić, an influential Serbian (and former Yugoslav) sociologist. The authors of these articles are predominantly younger-generation sociologists, whose professors were Milić’s former undergraduate students, master or doctoral students.In the nine original articles that these proceedings contain, the scientific contributions of Vojin Milić are systematically analysed in five key areas of sociology (sociological theory, history of sociological thought, methodology of sociological research, sociology of knowledge, and sociology of science). The authors of the articles presented in a very structured, systematic and critical manner some of Milić’s most important views, which make him recognisable among sociologists even after more than a quarter of a century since his passing.It is indisputable that they made a valuable effort to reaffirm what is most noteworthy from the domestic cognitive (sociological) legacy, which contributed to international reputation of Serbian sociology and thus allowed for a more substantial and comprehensive introduction of it to the domestic younger generations in science.

MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN EAST FLORES REGENCY, EAST NUSA TENGGARA PROVINCE

Author(s): Fernandes Simangunsong,Simon Petrus Lamawato,Imelda Hutasoit / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

This study focused on exploring and analyzing management planning in the administration of local government, management of public services, and governmental leadership, while determining and analyzing the problems faced in the district management, as well as the possible development model for district management. This study used the constructivist approach (discovery and assimilation), and it involved 10 respondents. The results showed that in the district management in East Flores regency, the management of planning had not been implemented optimally; the management of public services had not been implemented optimally, effectively and efficiently; and the governmental leadership had been properly implemented in terms of service, but it had not been optimally implemented in terms of administrative management duties. The management development in the aspect of management of planning was expected to be carried out through these stages: setting goals, developing commitment to goals, developing effective action plan, following the steps of achieving the goals, and maintaining flexibility of planning.

The Impact of Excessive Workload on Job Performance of Healthcare Workers during Pandemic: A Conceptual Mediation - Moderation Model

Author(s): Saswat Barpanda,Greeshma Saraswathy / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The paper conceptualises a mediation-moderation model of burnout, coping styles and personality traits to explain the impact of excessive workload on job performance of healthcare workers. The authors used an extensive literature review to conceptualise the above model. The model emerged with a theoretical causal relationship of the impact of excessive workload on job performance and how burnout, coping style and personality intervene in this relationship. It concluded with the propositions of a conceptualised moderated mediation. The paper adds value in terms of policy implications that have been clearly articulated, keeping in mind the relevance of the work in the context of pandemics.

Research Status and Trend of Family Finance-Based on Visual Analysis of Journal Papers from CNKI and WOS

Author(s): Xiaoshu SONG / Language(s): English Issue: 83/2023

With the sustained economic growth, the importance of family finance has become increasingly prominent. In this research, the papers collected by Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS) were visually analyzed via CiteSpace software, and a knowledge map for the field of family finance was constructed, which displayed the current situation, hotspots, and trends of family finance research from multiple angles in an all-round way. The results show that the number of published Chinese and English papers is increasing year by year, among which English papers are mainly contributed by American scholars, with relatively little cooperation and exchange between countries. In Chinese literature, the cooperation between authors and institutions is also limited. At present, the research in the field of family finance is ushering in a stage of rapid development, and the research hotspots mainly focus on financial literacy, financial knowledge, risk finance, and inclusive finance. Given this, the future research should focus on the cooperation among authors, institutions, and disciplines, and meanwhile, increase in-depth research on digital finance, and digital divide. These efforts will promote the further development of research in the field of family finance in China.

Асен Игнатов: Думи и свят

Author(s): Dimitar Dimov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2023

Nowoczesny rolnik dzisiaj

Author(s): Jolanta Kluba,Barbara Szczepańska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 01/2023

This article presents the results of research that allowed us to outline the profile of a modern farmer and assess whether their defining characteristics translate into a willingness to implement biological innovations in their farm. For individual farming in Poland, biological innovations are of paramount importance for several reasons. However, larger, more extensive farms are primarily interested in adopting these innovations due to economic pressure. Medium-sized farms (5–50 hectares) do not face the same economic pressures, often having diverse sources of income. Therefore, it is essential to identify the factors that may promote innovation and those that are significant barriers to their adoption. As the research results show, these factors are associated with the realization of the modern farmer profile. The article is based on research conducted as part of the NCN Miniatura grant titled “The Profile of a Modern Farmer and the Implementation of Biological Innovations in Individual Farms.”

Princíp partnerstva a participácie v plánovaní rozvoja mesta (príklad mesta Košice)

Author(s): Jana Knežová / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 3-4/2016

The involvement of multiple stakeholders in the development planning of municipalities and cities is a prerequisite for strengthening local democracy. Applying the principle of socio-economic partnership and civil participation is quite a difficult process in practice. Especially, to ensure the compliance with other principles of good governance such as effectiveness, efficiency and others is essential. The paper focuses on the critical analysis of partnership and participation principles in the development planning process in Košice in the context of new challenges stated by the European Union policy 2014-2020 in the field of sustainable urban development.

Пространства на затваряне и динамики на институционализация: семейната грижа за хора с увреждания в България

Author(s): Galina Goncharova,Ina Dimitrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 59/2023

The main focus of the article are the families of children with disabilities in Bulgaria as spaces that generate and affirm institutional culture. We conceptualise them as situated in a complex of legacies and current conditions that are deeply disabling in their very essence. It is these elements that drive families of children with disabilities in Bulgaria to almost invariably take on basic institutional characteristics. We highlight the dynamics and interactions of the traumatic images of the legacy of state socialism, the actual barriers during the transition period, the coping strategies chosen by families and, ultimately, the grim effects with regard to the affirmation and implementation of the idea of independent living for people with disabilities in Bulgaria.

The Social Circus in the Construction of Citizenship. A study from Citizenship Competencies for A Democratic Culture

Author(s): Antonio ALCÁNTARA ALCÁNTARA / Language(s): English Issue: 84/2024

This research aims to investigate the role of the Social Circus in the construction of citizenship through the learning and practice of citizenship competencies. The Social Circus provides a platform for learning circus and creating spaces for collective creation to promote personal, group and community empowerment to improve the quality of life of the participants and the society that surrounds them. Previous research has focused on the Social Circus’ personal and group workspace, but there’s still little literature on the construction of community and citizenship. This research studies the qualitative component in more depth, using a case analysis approach and The Reference Framework of Competencies for Democratic Culture developed by the Council of Europe (2018). To achieve so, two projects that use the concept of Social Circus and have a community perspective have been selected. Semi-structured interviews, group discussion and data analysis were used for the selection process. The results indicate that the Social Circus is an ideal setting to learn and practice citizenship competencies for a Democratic Culture during class, in the preparation of the show or final exhibition and/or in the community spaces related to the project.

Ethical Problems of Forecasting in Practical Geopolitics

Author(s): Vihra Pavlova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

Practical geopolitics is identified as a real or declarative applied activity. It is characterized by a high degree of institutional commitment and subjectivism, presented in the form of political expediency. In practical geopolitics, forecasting is carried out in the depths of the so-called “analytical centres” or “think tanks,” claiming to shorten the distance between academic works and policies, providing intellectual products that reach the general public faster and that are more accessible to incumbent politicians who are “too busy” to engage in more thorough analyses. However, their conceptual results rather tend to crowd out fundamental research, because the latter influence decision-makers in the long-term perspective and make a significant contribution to the construction of the cognitive structures on which the leadership relies when determining its foreign policy approaches.

Karakteristike tržišta rada u Hrvatskoj i suvremene vanjske migracije

Author(s): Monika Komušanac / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2024

The paper analyzes the characteristics of the labor market in Croatia, the changes in the demographic potential of the working-age population, and the structural determinants of the labor system. The movement of the number of able-bodied, active and inactive population from 2013 until today, points to a trend of decreasing the able-bodied contingent, economic activity and unemployment of the population, and an increase in employment. The analysis showed that the structural problems on the labor market in Croatia are an insufficiency of educational staff, structural unemployment, youth unemployment, and the mismatch between the supply and demand of jobs. Such characteristics of the work system influenced the movement of the determinants of external migration in Croatia, especially after 2013. Simultaneously with the strengthening of emigration, the number of immigrated persons also increases, so that from 2013 to 2022, their number amounted to about 195 thousand of mostly foreign citizens. We can establish that we are talking about free economic migrations and an increased inflow of labor, mostly unskilled workers, which makes up for the lack of domicile workforce. Structural- selective unemployment in Croatia can be analyzed on a general level according to age groups and according to education, and on a specific level, through indicators of the skills mismatch on the labor market. The total unemployment rate in Croatia has experienced a significant decline since 2013, and current unemployment is the lowest in the youngest working age, and the highest in the age over 40. Compared to 2013, the share of unemployed persons with primary and lower secondary education in Croatia is continuously decreasing, the share of unemployed persons with upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education levels is slightly falling (with frequent oscillations), while the share of unemployed persons with tertiary education is increasing. Problems on the labor market in Croatia have been noticeable after the global economic crisis of 2008 and its high unemployment, and in the last ten years also in the areas with a low level of economic activity of the population and a lack of domestic labor for the functionality of certain sectors of activity. On the other hand, the structure of the emigrant contingent, in which the young and able-bodied population predominates, points to the outflow of labor force of medium and high qualification levels. The review of research on recent emigration confirms the complex conditionality of leaving Croatia, and among the main factors a group of economic ones arising from the macroeconomic situation and structural deficiencies in the labor market stands out. In addition to economic factors, other types of factors are strengthening, which is why the continuation of the emigration of the Croatian population and the immigration of the foreign population are likely to be expected. The isolated and presented indicators and trends point to the complexity of the relationship between economic and labor factors, contemporary migration patterns and demographic characteristics of the resident population, in accordance with previous theoretical and empirical knowledge.

Hitra urbanizacija na Bjelašnici: od olimpijskih iger do neoliberalnih investicij

Author(s): Leila Krivošić Dizdarević,Alma Hudović Kljuno / Language(s): Slovenian Issue: 1/2024

V prvem desetletju 21. stoletja se je območje pod vrhom Bjelašnice, ene izmed štirih gora v okolici Sarajeva, ki so bile leta 1984 prizorišče zimskih olimpijskih iger, začelo hitro urbanizirati. Da bi to območje spremenili v sodobno letovišče, so bili tam zgrajeni novi hoteli in stanovanjski objekti, čeprav brez skupne oblikovalske vizije in ob precejšnjem neodobravanju prebivalcev. Avtorici sta v članku proučevali razvoj gorskega letovišča Babin Do pod vrhom Bjelašnice in ga primerjali z razvojem podobnih zimskih letovišč v Franciji. Za študijo primera sta izbrali francoski gorski letovišči Flaine in Les Arcs, ki so ju v šestdesetih letih 20. stoletja v okviru vladnega programa Plan Neige zasnovali ugledni arhitekti, od takrat pa sta se že precej spremenili in povečali. Njuni izsledki so pokazali nekatere podobnosti v urbanističnem načrtovanju in arhitekturi Babinega Doja ter proučevanih francoskih letovišč, čeprav je med njimi šestdeset let razlike. Nekatere stavbe v Babinem Doju ustvarjajo prijetno gorsko letoviško ozračje, ker pa za to območje ni regulacijskega načrta in je zato natrpano z nastanitvenimi objekti, hkrati pa nima dovolj skupnih javnih prostorov in storitev, ki bi privabljale obiskovalce vse leto, tega gorskega letovišča ne moremo obravnavati kot primer uspešnega prostorskega razvoja. Treba bi bilo čim bolj zmanjšati nadaljnje škodljive vplive na naravno okolje, človekovi posegi v naravo pa bi morali biti bolj premišljeni in trajnostno usmerjeni.

The rapid urbanization of Mount Bjelašnica: From Olympic Games to neoliberal investments

Author(s): Leila Krivošić Dizdarević,Alma Hudović Kljuno / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

In the early 2000s, Mount Bjelašnica, one of the four Olympic mountains around the city of Sarajevo, experienced rapid urbanization. In an attempt to create a modern mountain resort, but without a general design vision and with substantial criticism from residents, new hotels and other accommodation were built. This article offers insight into the development of the mountain resort at Babin Do on Mount Bjelašnica, comparing it with the development of similar mountain resorts in France. Case studies are the mountain villages of Flaine and Les Arcs, both created in the 1960s by prominent architects as a part of the government program Plan Neige; however, they have largely been changed and extended since then. The findings show certain similarities in the urban planning and architecture at Babin Do with the case studies examined in France, even over a period of sixty years. Although certain buildings in Babin Do create a positive mountain resort ambience, the absence of a regulatory plan that has caused overcrowding with accommodation, and the lack of common public space along with poor all-year activities show that this mountain resort cannot be considered a successful development. Further damage to nature should be minimized, and development should have been more considered and sustainable.

Proučevanje potenciala za zagotavljanje kulturnih ekosistemskih storitev pri načrtovanju zelene infrastrukture v obmestni krajini: pristop z matriko strokovnih ocen

Author(s): Vita Žlender / Language(s): Slovenian Issue: 1/2024

S širjenjem mestnih območij v obmestne krajine postaja potreba po učinkovitem načrtovanju zelene infrastrukture čedalje pomembnejša za ohranjanje ekološke celovitosti območij in človekovega dobrega počutja. V članku je predstavljena matrika strokovnih ocen kot metoda vrednotenja potenciala območij, da zagotavljajo kulturne ekosistemske storitve (KES), pri načrtovanju zelene infrastrukture (ZI) v obmestni krajini. Strokovnjaki z več področij so sistematično ovrednotili različne vrste rabe zemljišč in pokrovnosti tal ter varstvene režime, značilne za obmestne krajine, in to glede na kategorije KES. Poleg potenciala za zagotavljanje kulturnih ekosistemskih storitev so ovrednotili tudi potencial za povzročanje kulturnih ekosistemskih nevšečnosti. Njihove ocene so bile združene in na tej podlagi so bile izdelane karte, na katerih so razvidna območja z visokim potencialom za zagotavljanje KES in tista, na katerih bi lahko ekosistemi povzročili nevšečnosti. Opisani pristop je bil nato uporabljen v treh študijah primera, pri tem je bila dokazana njegova učinkovitost pri določanju prednostnih območij za načrtovanje ZI in izvedbo upravljavskih posegov. Izsledki raziskave opozarjajo na pomen upoštevanja KES pri načrtovanju ZI, saj lahko to izboljša odpornost krajin, družbeno blaginjo in ohranjanje kulturne dediščine v dinamičnih obmestnih okoljih. S presojo, vrednotenjem zbranih strokovnih ocen in jasno prostorsko predstavitvijo rezultatov za posamezno proučevano območje je bila potrjena uporabnost matrike strokovnih ocen kot uporabnega orodja za načrtovanje trajnostne ZI v krajinskem merilu.