25 DE ANI, ÎNCEPUTUL SFÂRŞITULUI ECONOMIEI ROMÂNEŞTI

Author(s): I. Gabriel Nastase / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 22/2015

At the beginning of 1990, after the overthrow of the communist regime, the capital of companies, both those in production and services and those in the trade, was kept in an overwhelming proportion of the Romanian state.In the 25 years since the abolition of the communist regime, the main objectives for privatization were taken by foreign investors who hold the controlling stake, so: • cement industry; • Telecommunications; • Steel industry; • Exploitation of oil; • Gas exploitation; • Construction of cars; • Some of the major objectives of mechanical engineering and chemical industry etc.

A NEW MILESTONE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – MOBBING IN A CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING WORK ENVIRONMENT

Author(s): OANA MARIA DRAGOMIR / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2018

It is well known that the managers, leaders, company owners and even more, the researchers have been in a continuous competition in finding and providing the best workplace. Being considered both physical and psychological aspects, all the concerns have been directed to finding a better space, more light, proper smell and sound, sitting or standing desk positions, dressing etiquette and so on, or motivating factors such as trainings, flexible schedules, pay and benefits programs, vacations and many others. All of them thought to raise the balance, the productivity and why not, the happiness of working people in all positions. Furthermore, the leadership aspects were taken very seriously and true leaders became the voices of their teams, but still, a job is a job, and people, due to their nature, get competitive. Competition has more advantages than disadvantages, but we will have to take into consideration that fact that a race would reveal both the best and the worst in people. This is why, more and more, worldwide, we are facing a lot of issues that are apart from the managers’ development plans. We are taking into consideration rough actions like lack of freedom of expression – meaning criticism in front of others, interruptions, verbal threats – or even more, isolation in its many aspects. In addition, the practice of discrediting co-workers is well-known from all times. Generally speaking, we are facing mobbing, considered to be a communicative situation that produces serious damages, both physical and psychological, with long periods of recovery of working people. The aim of the paper is to underline once again that all the management programs may fail unless real-time measures are taken in order to stop the many and various actions of harassment at the workplace and also to provide some guidelines in avoiding the process of terror among co-workers.

Afera „Putnik" (Promet stranaca u Jugoslaviji i Ministarstvo Saobraćaja.)

Author(s): Š. I. Sinovcic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 5/1925

U optužbi koja je od strane narodnih poslanika podnesena Narodnoj Skupštini protivu bivšeg Ministra Saobraćaja G. Veližara Jankovića, izmedju četiri stvari za koje se kaže da se u tome momentu iznose, a da se G. Janković njima ogrešio o zakone i naneo državi znatne materijalne štete, i da je zloupotrebio svoju vlast, na prvome je mestu: Ugovor G. Jankovića sa društvom ≫Putnik≪, koji je zaključen 20. jula 1923, te kojim je društvu ≫Putnik≪ osigurana provizija od 3 posto, i 5 posto, za prodate karte koje to društvo prodaje za račun države.

An empirical analysis of the determinants of economic growth in the Western Balkans

Author(s): Besnik Taip Fetai,Besime Fekri Mustafi,Ariana Besnik Fetai / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2017

The objective of this paper is to assess the main determinants and the policies that affect economic growth in the Western Balkan over the period 1994 to 2015. It employs techniques such as pooled OLS, fixed and random effects model, and Hausman-Taylor model with instrumental variables (IV). The study shows evidence of conditional convergence, indicating the need for an upward move in the steady state level. The results show that foreign direct investments, gross savings and domestic credit to the private sector have a positive effect on per capita growth. On the other hand, initial level of per capita growth, corruption, unemployment, and general government final consumption, have a negative relationship with per capita growth. The study also shows a puzzling result, that schooling is not a significant factor for growth in Western Balkans. The study also highlights the relevance of attracting more foreign direct investments and reduction in corruption

ANTI-CORRUPTION VALUES IN THE SYSTEM OF BRITISH POLITICAL AXIOSPHERE

Author(s): Ihor Kushnar?v / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

Purpose of research. The purpose of the article is to investigate the features of the British axiosphere as an example of public attitudes to political and other forms of corruption. Methodology. The research methodology is the neo-institutional analysis that considers corruption as a destructive informal institution with a devastating effect on the stability of the state. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty lies in the author’s original analysis of the problem of the lack of "zero tolerance" for corruption among the British people, who continue to tolerate it, as well as of the corruption pragmatism of the policy makers. Conclusions. The article states that, despite significant progress in combating all forms of corruption, a peculiar value confrontation of the “anti-culture of corruption” against the “culture of anti-corruption” is characteristic for the Great Britain. It is proved that, despite a large number of strategies, concepts, doctrines etc., a successful anti-corruption policy is impossible without fundamental changes in the social and individual consciousness, significant positive adjustments in norms, rules, and behavior of all kinds of political actors. It is argued that the modern British anti-corruption policy matrix, in order to be effective, should base the fight against corruption not only on the institutional mechanism, but also on formation of a high level of anti-corruption culture among the public, which should become the basis for building the whole system of corruption practices counteraction.

Bezpieczeństwo antykorupcyjne dla rozwoju

Author(s): ALINA HUSSEIN / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 6/2017

Corruption, defined as an abuse of the public power for the illegal private gain, is a serious threat to economic and social development and there is no public acceptance for it in the society. Corruption should be seen not as a social disease, but a pathology of the authority system. Effective prevention of corruption is essential for economic and social development, in particular by eliminating corruptive mechanisms, i.e. irregularities causing or increasing the risk of corruption. The state should provide a sense of anti-corruption security in society, and transparency in law and decision-making, the exclusion of conflicts of interest, disclosure and effective control are essential elements of this security. In Poland, significant but not sufficient progress has been made in the field of anti-corruption security framing.

Conversion of the Existing Monitoring Infrastructure for Manually Ballot Counting in Albania to the Electronic Counting System

Author(s): Romeo Teneqexhi,Loreta Kuneshka / Language(s): English / Issue: 14/2018

Albania has been under communist regime for nearly half a century. In 1991 Albania entered the path of democratic pluralism. Since then, almost a quarter of a century has passed and the counting of votes after every electoral process has been fairly contested by the opposition. Manipulations in the manual numbering process are evidenced in all the reports of the international organizations responsible for monitoring of the elections in Albania. To minimize manipulation in manual ballot papers counting, some centres are set up, equipped with computers, HD cameras and big screens for monitoring purposes only. Every counting table (about 400 in total), according to the law, engages 4-5 commissioners of main parties. The infrastructure mention above gives the other parties the possibility just to observe the counting process. In 2013 parliamentary elections had 72 political parties and imagine 72 people around a single counting table! Ballots are passed manually one by one in front of the camera. During this process, the ballot papers are grouped according to subjects and, in the end of each voting box, the manual counting starts. A long period of time is needed to produce the final results of the elections. We propose and have all the abilities to turn existing infrastructure into an electronic counting system. This monitoring system (computers - cameras - big screens), through a software and some hardware adaptations can be converted into an electronic counting system. Only one person is needed for each counting table and the ballot counting time is drastically reduced. Every ballot gets photographed, archived in digital format, its information goes to the Data Base and the results are reported in real time to the Central Election Commission. No ballot papers can be left uncounted and no sheets can be counted more than once.

Corrupt Practice of Legal Persons as a Factor Restraining the Development of Russia

Author(s): Julia Pavlovna CHEBUNINA / Language(s): English / Issue: 20/2016

The paper considers necessity to perfect the current law of the Russian Federation with respect to legal persons committing crimes in economy. Evidence of corrupt practice of legal persons utilizing budgetary funds are given. The objective side of such crimes is represented by inappropriate utilization of the federal budget on an especially large scale. At that, criminality has a dual character. On the one hand, the subjects of such crimes are the state or municipal structures possessing the corresponding finances. On the other hand, there are legal entities of private law taking advantage of the legal uncontrolled from the side of the state and liberality of the current law.The recognition of the status of a legal person as a subject of crimes injurious to the public provides a basis for solving the problem. Russian legislation must be reduced to the international norms, protection of the constitutional order of the state, the economy of which is shaped by legal persons. The laws must adequately correspond to the criminological situations, take into account the foreign experience, contribute to the active counteraction to formation of criminal communities, elimination of discrepancies in legal norms of the Russian Federation administrative and criminal law.

Corruption and Anti-corruption Actions in Healthcare

Author(s): Tomasz Adam Karkowski,Dorota Karkowska,Pawel Skoczylas / Language(s): English / Issue: 7.1/2017

Bribery is a common phenomenon. It has various social, moral, economic and political implications, it challenges good management, hinders development and disrupts competition. It violates justice, challenges human rights and impedes the fight against poverty. It also increases the cost of running business, introduces uncertainty in commercial transactions, increases the cost of goods and services as well as deteriorates their quality, which may lead to the loss of life and property, the loss of trust in institutions, and a disruption of honesty and effective functioning of the markets [ISO 37001]. The objective of the article is to present various kinds of corruption that occur in the healthcare sector as well as different anti-corruption actions taken by the entities. The article is based on current subject literature, an analysis of legal acts and various reports published by institutions fighting against corruption in the healthcare. The article is a desk research analysis.

Corruption as an Obstacle to European Integrations

Author(s): Rade Bogojevic,Tatjana Skakavac / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2018

Corruption is not a phenomenon of recent times. It derives from the Latin word “corruptus“, meaning deterioration, blackmail, depravity, bribery, etc. The ancient Greeks and Romans faced this phenomenon and enacted rules aimed at its prevention and suppression. The practice of bribery is as old as the state itself. In the 18th century England, for example, the notion of corruption was associated not only with corrupt government but also with giving bribes. Despite numerous efforts of the international community to put an end to this problem, the fact is that many countries have not ratified the proposed documents of this type yet. In terms of criminal law, corruption-related offences in Serbia today include primarily crimes against official duties, crimes against the economy, and crimes against freedom and civil rights. In this paper, the authors examine some issues related to corruption in light of its harmful effects on the European Integration process.

Corruption Impact on Total Factor Productivity – A Nonlinear Relationship

Author(s): Anna Maria Pluskota,Radoslaw Pastusiak / Language(s): English / Issue: 1.1/2018

The aim of the article is to examine the correlation between corruption and the total productivity of production factors. The study analyzed the significance of the impact of corruption on TFP and the type of this influence – linear and nonlinear. The study consisted of analyzing the most important theoretical arguments appearing in the literature for the possible impact of corruption on TFP. Next, a research hypothesis was formulated, which was verified on the basis of an empirical study. The results of the study indicate the relationship between corruption and TFP, and this relationship is nonlinear. Corruption affects TFP to varying degrees and it depends on the level of corruption in the country. In corrupt countries taking up the fight against corruption indicates much higher TFP increments than in non-corrupt countries. The article tackles the topic poorly described and analyzed in the literature. The impact of corruption on TFP is the subject of few studies, mainly made by foreign researchers.

CORUPŢIA – FACTOR DISTRUCTIV AL DEZVOLTĂRII ECONOMICE ŞI SOCIALE, AL PROMOVĂRII COMPETIŢIEI ŞI COMPETIVITĂŢII

Author(s): I. Gabriel Nastase,Dragos Ionut G. Nastase / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 5/2011

Starting from the realities of Romanian society and the imperative of international cooperation, one of the priority objectives should consider the Romanian government is to create the optimal legal and institutional framework for efficient fight against crime. Among the various manifestations of crime, corruption, democracy prejudice yourself, affecting citizen confidence in the fundamental values of the rule of law: the rule of law, justice, pursuit of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

CORUPŢIEI CA FACTOR GENERATOR DE INSECURITATE

Author(s): Flaviu Raicu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 4/2010

Corruption is one of the oldest and most disputed subjects of human relations. Unfortunately, where there are people, people's organizations, activity, organization and power, there is corruption. Corruption is closely related to the phenomenon of power, economic development, people's quality, lifestyle, character, organizational culture (and culture) and, above all, interest. Interest also generates the motif, the moon of human action, but also the reason and the motives of its perverting. Good and bad, legal and illegal, good faith and bad faith, even if they do not coexist, exist together in a permanent conflict, but also in an environment where it is sometimes difficult to distinguish one another. Against this background, corruption does not fade, but blooms. In fact, there is no state in the world to receive the 10th (ten) mark, ie the maximum value of Transparency International's corruption perception index (CPI) on this phenomenon, meaning its complete absence. More specifically, the phenomenon of corruption is part of human society, obviously, as one of its chronic diseases. There has been a great deal about this disease and the treatments that apply to it, but that phenomenon is far from being eradicated or even controlled in the most effective way.

Democracy, Electoral Systems and Lobbies

Author(s): Tommaso Edoardo Frosini / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2014

Effectiveness of monitoring mechanisms and mitigation of fraud incidents in the public sector

Author(s): Kamaliah Kamaliah,Noor-Syazana Marjuni,Norhayati Mohamed,Zuraidah Mohd-Sanusi,Rita Anugerah / Language(s): English / Issue: 30/2018

Fraud in the public sector continues to be the major issue for the governments worldwide. Thus, this study examines the extent of monitoring mechanisms within public systems curbing fraud incidents. The authors’ survey concerned three dimensions of monitoring mechanisms: good governance, internal control procedures and fraud prevention programs. This survey has been conducted among various Malaysian government officers. The results show that, generally, misappropriation of assets is ranked as the most frequent fraudulent case in government agencies. Based on regression analysis, internal procedures or policies were significant in reducing fraud incidents. Additionally, both good governance and fraud prevention programs were proven to have a significant relationship with the occurrences of fraud within government agencies. In terms of the practical aspect, the study provides important information for public servants on the effectiveness and usefulness of good governance, internal control procedures, and fraud prevention program in the public sector. This paper provides an interesting contribution to the understanding of fraud incidents inside government agencies.

ELECTORAL FRAUD METHODS – THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 30 TH NOVEMBER 2008

Author(s): Anca Gabriela Micas,Claudia Anamaria Iov / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF NOVEMBER 30TH, 2008 ARE ACTUALLY THE FIRSTPARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ROMANIA FOLLOWING OUR COUNTRY’S ACCESSION TO THEEUROPEAN UNION IN 2007. THIS ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS THE MAIN ELECTORAL FRAUD METHODS USEDBY THE POLITICAL PARTIES, BOTH DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND DURING THEORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE ELECTIONS. CONCURRENTLY, IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHTTHESE ELECTORAL FRAUD METHODS, THE 2008 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN ANALYZED INCOMPARISON WITH THOSE OF 1946, WHICH LED TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF COMMON STRATEGIESREGARDING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN WAS CARRIED OUT, THE UNFOLDINGOF THE ELECTION DAY, ATTEMPTS AND EVEN SUCCESSFUL MANIPULATION OF THE CITIZENS INCHOOSING CERTAIN PARTIES OR THEIR CANDIDATES. THUS, THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORAL FRAUDMETHODS OF NOVEMBER 30TH 2008 MANIFESTED IN VARIOUS FORMS, SOME OLDER AND SOME MORERECENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO OBSERVE, THROUGH COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, THE 2008PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORAL FRAUD METHODS, NAMELY THE COMMON ASPECTS BETWEEN THEM ANDTHOSE OF NOVEMBER 19TH 1946, FROM AN ELECTION ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT POINT OFVIEW.

External Environment and SMEs Investment in The Ghanaian Oil and Gas Sector

Author(s): Michael Karikari Appiah,Bayu Taufiq Possumah,Nizam Ahmat,Nur Azura Sanusi / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2018

There is the need to integrate SMEs into the high-value Oil and Gas Sector to enhance socio-economic development of Ghana particularly Job creation and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. This study examined the impact of external business environment on SMEs willingness to invest in the Ghanaian oil and Gas Sector. Using binomial logistic regression analysis we analyzed primary data from 245 SMEs from Ghana during the periods between 2015-2016. The study found that SMEs that had ready access to finance, reliable electrical supply, required technical qualification, no competition from foreign companies, well informed on Oil and Gas investment opportunity were more likely to invest in Ghanaian oil and gas sector. We also find that corruption perception, political stability and training support in the capacity building had no significant influence on SMEs willingness to invest. We suggest that future studies should cover internal firm factors, perceived barriers as well as macro-level factors. Also, the study was limited to Ghanaian SMEs, future researchers may replicate this study in other oil-producing countries in Africa including; Nigeria, Uganda, Angola and South Africa.

FIRMELE FANTOMĂ ÎN ROMÂNIA. CONSECINŢELE ASUPRA BUGETULUI DE STAT ŞI MEDIULUI DE AFACERI

Author(s): I. Gabriel Nastase,I. Nicolae Penescu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 32/2017

In the Romanian business environment, a situation that is extremely improper for a normal functioning of companies is perpetuated for a very long time, with negative effects including on the state budget. One of the major causes of the abnormal situation is the maintaining of legislative and procedural conditions, favorable to tax evasion through "phantom" companies.

Indicators for assessing the financial condition and municipality management

Author(s): Jarmila Šebestová,Ingrid Majerová,Irena Szarowská / Language(s): English / Issue: 31/2018

The aim of the article is to create a set of indicators for assessing financial stability and municipality management. Local governments in the Czech Republic are fully financially responsible for their budget and management. Financial stability of municipalities is a crucial condition for long-term sustainable development as disproportionate debt can generate risks for providing public services and their standard functioning. The Ministry of Finance defined a set of financial indicators (SIMU system) which could be used for financial stability evaluation, but only two of them are obligatory (a share of liabilities to total assets in percentage, and the current ratio). Indisputable advantage is its standard form of financial evaluation for all municipalities and relatively simple method of calculation based on delivered data. Main disadvantage can be seen in the fact that the municipality receives feedback only for two indicators, which have a recommended value. The municipality does not get a clear idea of the state of its cash position and this approach is not taking into account short-term and long-term indebtedness as well as the size of the municipality. That is why a new methodology based on three groups of indicators (budgetary management, indebtedness and liquidity) was developed and tested. The article presents results about local governments in the Moravian-Silesian region. The methodology increases transparency in the municipality management and supports citizen´s engagement into public matters through standardized approach to each municipality based on seventeen ratios.

Influence of Governance Indicators on Illicit Financial Outflow from Developing Countries

Author(s): Anselm Komla Abotsi / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

Economic growth has traditionally been attributed to the accumulation of human and physical capital and the increased productivity arising from technological innovation. The quest to attract physical capital led to the design and implementation of policies and the building of institutions by governments of developing countries to create a congenial investment environment to attract foreign investors. The multinational corporations operating in these developing countries take advantage of these policies to profit from these countries in terms of capital through both legal and fraudulent activities. For governments and stakeholders to be able to fight this menace of illicit financial outflow, there is a need for a comprehensive scrutiny of the quality of governance indicators that enhance the activities of these multinational companies. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the influence of cross-country indicators of governance on the illicit financial flow from developing countries. This study is based on secondary data (panel) derived from the Global Financial Integrity, World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators. The total number of developing countries included in the analysis is 139, and 1562 observations are included. Using the multilevel estimation approach, the study finds that regulatory quality has a negative and significant influence on the illicit financial flow, while government effectiveness, corruption and FDI net inflows have a significant positive effect. This finding calls for developing countries to design and implement sound policies, build effective and accountable institutions, control corruption and enhance regulatory quality to control this issue.