"Sustainable development" as a label within business studies: What can be learned from a bibliometric analysis?

Author(s): Marija Čutura,Ivan Novak,Dijana Ćavar / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2017

In a modern society, the issues of sustainable development have evolved on different levels, from the new global frameworks over governmental policies to the new business models. In the 1980s, the term sustainable development emerged from the relationship between preserving the planet and meeting human needs (IUCN, 1980). The general idea behind the concept of sustainable development is to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (United Nations General Assembly, 1987). As one of the main challenges in economics and business, the concept of sustainable development has also emerged in the wide area of business economics. The aim of this paper is to provide an extensive literature overview dealing with the concept of sustainable development within a field of business economics. For the purpose of the analysis a bibliometric approach with multiple correspondence analyses has been used on the Web of Science Core Collection database for the observed period of ten years. The results illustrate the importance of sustainable development as a topic, as well as wide range of approaches and variety of sub-topics linked to the concept of sustainable development in business and economics literature.

#22 Energy and Good Governance in Bulgaria. Trends and Policy Options

Author(s): Ruslan Stefanov,Valentina Nikolova,Dobromir Hristov,Assen Dyulgerov,Kiril Gegov,Georgi Kaschiev / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

The report explores the major deficiencies in the strategic, institutional, and legal framework of the Bulgarian energy sector. The analysis of the management of state-owned energy companies and large energy infrastructure projects reveals the disregard for even the most fundamental principles of accountability and control in their planning and implementation. This has affected negatively the Bulgarian taxpayers and consumers, has jeopardized the financial stability of the state-owned energy companies, and, ultimately, has reduced the energy security of the country. The report recommends that the implementation of the large energy infrastructure projects be reconsidered and be based on a sound cost-benefit analysis with regard to Bulgaria’s energy security.

#24 Green Energy Governance in Bulgaria at a Crossroads

Author(s): Ruslan Stefanov,Denitza Mantcheva,Nikolay Tagarov,Dobromir Hristov,Valentina Nikolova / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

The current report reviews existing policies for energy sustainability in Bulgaria and the EU, the main achievements and challenges in their implementation, and discusses the central issues to Bulgaria’s sustainable development agenda. The report presents a summary of the transition to sustainable development in Bulgaria, and offers policy recommendations for improving the governance of the Bulgarian green energy sector. Achieving security, sustainability, and competitiveness in the energy sector is a daunting task for a union of twenty-seven states, especially since the issue of securing the supply of energy has traditionally been a national matter. In their drive to reach climate change and energy targets during the past decade, European governments have utilized quick fix solutions like turning to nuclear power or replacing coal with gas, thus burdening future generations with nuclear waste disposal and increasing EU’s energy dependence on Russia. Yet, two major events – the gas crisis of January 2009 and the Fukusima nuclear disaster of March 2011 – have reshaped the thinking and rekindled the debate on the ways of achieving energy security and stability of supply in Europe.

#30 Energy Sector Governance and Energy (In)Security in Bulgaria

Author(s): Ruslan Stefanov,Todor Galev,Martin Tsanov,Martin Vladimirov,Nadejda Gantcheva / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

This report explores the major governance deficiencies in the Bulgarian energy policy regarding the strategic, institutional, and legal framework of the sector. The report focuses on state capture of energy policy by private political and economic interests that led to bad management practices in the sector, to lack of consistency in the legal and regulatory framework, to deteriorating investment environment, and to the involvement of the country in infrastructure projects that undermine the national long-term strategy and policy priorities. This has affected negatively the Bulgarian taxpayers and consumers, has jeopardized the financial stability of the state-owned energy companies, and, ultimately, has reduced the energy security of the country. The report recommends that the implementation of the country’s energy policy should be reconsidered and should be based on EU priorities and on sound cost-benefit analyses with regard to Bulgaria’s energy security.

#mission2030: Austria’s Strategy for a Low-Carbon Transformation

Author(s): Łukasz Ogrodnik,Marek Wąsiński / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2018

The Austrian government is implementing its energy and climate strategy to 2030, the aim of which is to stimulate the economy and achieve energy independence through the use of clean technologies. The strategy signals potential points of contention with Poland, including in nuclear and coal energy. At the same time, it indicates potential fields of cooperation regarding low-emission transport.

(046) A “RESET” WITH ALGERIA: THE RUSSIA TO THE EU’S SOUTH

Author(s): Hakim Darbouche ,Susi Dennison / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

There are striking similarities between the ways that Algeria and Russia have handled the EU, particularly since Abdelaziz Bouteflika came to power 12 years ago. Like Russia, Algeria is an important supplier of energy – in particular, natural gas – to Europe. As a result, it has traditionally enjoyed stronger relations with key member states, especially its energy clients, than with the EU as such. But Algeria’s current sense of vulnerability in a dramatically changing region presents a potential opening for increased European engagement and, over the long term, influence. It is important that the EU’s attention does not remain focused only on the other countries in the region that have been affected by the Arab revolutions in more obvious ways. The EU is currently revising its European Neighbourhood Policy. But if Algeria does not engage fully with it, there is a risk that it could be isolated. However, the shifts currently taking place in Algeria and its neighbourhood create an opportunity for a “reset” in EU–Algerian relations. Such a reset could increase the EU’s ability to influence the course of domestic events in Algeria by using engagement to support economic modernisation and spread the rule of law. Over the longer term, as confidence builds on both sides, the EU could use a more functional relationship to increase its voice on the need for political reform.

(Ne)vidljivi okoliši: problem klimatske (ne)pravde u klimatskoj fikciji

Author(s): Marijeta Bradić / Language(s): Croatian / Publication Year: 0

This paper addresses the problem of representation of climate change in literature, through the prism of environmental and climate justice as movements emerging from certain limitations of climate sciences that are approaching climate change from a political and ethical perspective. The movements of environmental and climate justice are based on the assumption that world’s most politically and economically powerful nations function in a way that enables them to maintain their own high consumption levels while shifting the ecological burdens onto less developed countries. In other words, those who contribute the least to the pollution of the environment will be affected the most by the ecological crisis. In the context of climate change, injustice is manifested within marginalised groups, including women who are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of environmental pollution and ecological catastrophes. Although these movements are politically oriented, they can also be seen as cultural movements focused on the questions of ideology and representation, as shown in contemporary literature and literary criticism (Sze 2002). In this sense, the common place in contemporary theory is that literary texts could be useful for establishing communication between climate science and general public (Ghosh 2016; Mehnert 2016; Trexler 2015). Following this assumption, the text will analyze Helen Simpsons’ Diary of an Interesting Year as an example of how contemporary literary production can effectively present abstract and hardly visible climate issues and thus contribute to climate justice discussions.

10. Bienalna konferenca European Society for Environmental History: Boundaries in/of Environmental History

Author(s): Žiga Zwitter / Language(s): Slovenian / Issue: 15/2019

10. Bienalna konferenca European Society for Environmental History: Boundaries in/of Environmental History, Talin, 21.–24. avgust 2019

2006-2009 Doğal Gaz Krizleri Sürecinde Türkiye’nin ‘Güvenilir Güzergâh’ Tezinin Enerji Güvenliği Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi

Author(s): Şeref Çetinkaya,Ahmet Öztürk / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 63/2019

The fact that energy has been an important area of the international system in recent years is directly related to its ability to affect the stability of the national economies. It is a fact that the problems to be experienced in the economy carry a serious risk to both national security and social welfare. As a result of these characteristics, the energy issue has been one of the reasons of the tensions between the European Union and Russia since the beginning of 2000s. Especially the natural gas-based crises between Russia and Ukraine directly affected the European countries and brought the issue of energy security back to the agenda. These developments in the Black Sea are closely related to Turkey. In the process of Russia-Ukraine natural gas crises in 2006 and 2009, Turkey built energy diplomacy on the fact that Ukraine could not provide enough energy security and that it could be the best alternative to this situation. This study aims how Turkey played a role on these tensions between Russia and the EU.

21. YÜZYIL ENERJİ SAVAŞLARINDA TÜRK CUMHURİYETLERİ’NİN YERİ ve ÖNEMİ

Author(s): Çağrı Kürşat Yüce / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 17/2013

Energy consumption and the need to continue on a global scale, as in the past and in recent years. Oil and natural gas will continue to be the primary energy source until 2030 despite all the alternatives to meet this need. As a result of this situation, energy resources will continue to be one of the most important determinants of the twenty-first century. In addition, at least a half century, dominance of oil in the field of energy will continue to. Energy experts frequently reported that the “cheap oil” era has ended and price volatility in the oil market will continue to today.The Caucasus and Turkestan (Central Asia) regions including the Turkish Republics maintained its importance throughout history due to various reasons. Today, however, due to the rich energy resources, especially oil and natural gas, they took part in the world’s agenda. In this study, the important actors of the energy wars and reserve status of the energy resources of the Turkish Republics in the Caucasus and Turkestan regions were briefly described. In addition, as well as importance of energy resources for the region and the world’s nations, beginning in the late twentieth century and growing competition over energy resources of the Caspian Sea were discussed today.

3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL IN FABRICATION OF ELEMENTS FOR WHEEL MODEL

Author(s): Paweł Leśniewicz / Language(s): English / Issue: 23/2017

This paper illustrates an experience related to the use of 3D printing technology during the fabrication of elements for a supporting arm. The arm was a part of a test stand designed for an investigation of rotating wheels in contact with the ground. One of the crucial elements of a supporting arm is the hub, which was originally made from aluminium, however it was decided to replace it by the one made from ABS using 3D printing technology. The author decided to describe difficulties encountered during fabrication of the hub, together with a set of recommendations for future use of 3D printers.

4D Printing as an Innovative Technology for Creating Agile, Shape Morphing Products Meeting Individual User Needs

Author(s): Łukasz Wiechetek,Arkadiusz Gola / Language(s): English / Issue: 12.1/2019

3D printing is a quite popular technology, frequently used to create unique threedimensional objects. It has many areas of application: architecture, marketing, art, fashion music, but also marketing and business. In marketing and business, it is mostly used for increasing effectiveness of market research, faster product development, decrease logistics costs, or meet changing, unique customer requirements. Recently we can observe fast development of 3D printing consumables – filaments. Today’s printers can use not only synthetic materials, wood-like materials, resin, rubber, metal, concrete or paper but also new generation of smart materials. As a result of 3D printing development there can be seen a big interest in next printing generation – four-dimensional printing (4D printing). This technique can use a similar hardware as 3D printing but uses special filaments (polymers/hydrogels) so that the printed object can be transformed. Their physical parameters can be changed by adding some energy to the system, and because of that this technology is also called active object printing or shape-morphing systems printing. The aim of the article is to present 4D printing technology, its possibilities of usage and future applications mainly in the area of commerce and logistics. The paper contains brief characteristics of 4D printing technology, description on interesting and promising 4D printing startup projects. At the end of article, the authors present the impact of 4D printing technology on markets and business processes performance.

9. BIENALNA KONFERENCA EVROPSKEGA ZDRUŽENJA OKOLJSKIH ZGODOVINARJEV: NATURES IN BETWEEN: ENVIRONMENTS IN AREAS OF CONTACT AMONG STATES, ECONOMIC SYSTEMS, CULTURES AND RELIGIONS

Author(s): Žiga Zwitter / Language(s): Slovenian / Issue: 13/2017

Place: Zagreb Date: 28. June - 1. July 2017

A Brief Overview of Current Drug Repurposing Approaches for COVID-19 Management

Author(s): Pedro da Fonseca Soares Rodrigues,Douglas Vieira Thomaz / Language(s): English / Issue: 04/2020

This brief overview is intended to shed light on the current drug repositioning (also called drug repurposing) in the therapeutics of the novel coronavirus disease which emerged in 2019 (COVID-19). In this sense, the repositioning drugs for new indications can offer a better risk-versus-reward trade-off when compared to other drug development strategies, given that it makes use of drugs whose safety profile are already understood. Nonetheless, this approach allows healthcare professionals to promptly tackle the disease by investigating readily available drugs against it.

A CAUSALITY ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Author(s): Daniel Francois Meyer,Kazeem Abimbola Sanusi / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2019

In terms of macro-economic policy, gross fixed capital formation, which is the major component of domestic investment, is seen as an important process that could accelerate economic growth. This study re-examines the controversial issue of causality between domestic investment, employment and economic growth using South African data. The traditional assumption of causality running from investment to economic growth has remained inconclusive while empirical findings on the investment and employment growth nexus are also largely unsettled. The study makes use of quarterly data from 1995Q1 to 2016Q4 within the framework of the Johansen cointegration and Vector Error Correction Models (VECM). The empirical findings suggest that a long run relationship exists between domestic investment, employment and economic growth, with causality running from economic growth to investment and not vice versa. The results also demonstrate that investment has a positive long-run impact on employment. The empirical evidence further suggests bi-directional causality between employment and economic growth, while evidence of uni-directional causality, from investment to employment, is also found. The major implication of the study is that although there is bi-directional causality between economic growth and employment, economic growth does not translate to increased employment in the long run confirming “jobless growth”. Investment is found to be a positive driver of employment in the South African economy in the long-run. The study concludes that, in order to stimulate employment, investment enhancing policies, such as low interest rates and a favourable economic environment should be put in place to accelerate growth. Measures to promote economic growth, such as improved infrastructural facilities and diversification of the economy, should be further engineered so as to encourage increased investment.

A COMPARATIVE NEXUS OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF FILLING STATION CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN OWERRI, IMO STATE: AN EMPIRICAL PERSPECTIVE

Author(s): Joy Oguzie,Peter Njoku,Ulari Onwuka / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2019

The discovery and use of crude oil and its refined products have evidently had positive effects on the economy but one can’t turn a blind eye to the many negative effects it has had and is still having on the environment. Prominent amongst them is the hazardous effects filling stations who are involved in the sale of oil products as the downstream sector have on the environment coupled with the fact that most filling stations do not comply with the reports of Environmental Impact Assessment carried out sequel to their construction. As such, this study sought the significance of EIA exercise in filling stations construction and the extent to which their activities affect the environment in other to ascertain how sustainable the filling stations are. The study which is descriptive survey has a sample size of 110 respondents. Furthermore, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and for the hypotheses, using t-test and correlations to ascertain relationships. It was found that the significance/importance of carrying out an EIA exercise is non-negotiable. Further analysis also showed that the filling stations do not go through with what is contained in the EIA reports, as their operations are not also done in accordance with best practices as they release a lot of pollutants to the environment which aids in rapid degradation of the environment. All these prove beyond doubt that filling station construction projects in Owerri, Imo state are not on a sustainable path and as such it is recommended that all stakeholders such as Government regulatory agencies which include the Department of Petroleum Resources, Filling station owners/workers and even personnel in the Construction sector should join hands in ensuring that filling stations are properly planned, constructed and that their operations are environmentally friendly. The Federal Ministry of Environment (FME), Environmental activists, Civil Societies, etc. should also embark on a massive orientation as a large part of the populace do not know what EIA is all about.

A Critical Analysis of the Established Explanations about the Nature of Ecotourism

Author(s): Nazmiye Erdoğan,İrfan Erdogan / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2012

This qualitative study questions the prevailing explanations about the nature of ecotourism. The major aims of the study are (a) to point out that the widespread notions and theoretical attributions about the character of ecotourism should be reconsidered and (b) to express the need for critical questioning and design in qualitative and quantitative academic studies in social, management, administrative and tourism sciences. The article explains, first, the basic rationale for legitimizing, market building, supporting, sustaining and expanding the capitalist market, including ecotourism practices, and connects the concept of environment with economy, and inclusion of tourism and ecotourism in sustainable development. Then, it discusses the nature of dominant explanations of ecotourism. The study concludes that widespread explanations of the nature, structure, activity and outcome of ecotourism rarely match the nature of daily ecotourism practices. Instead, they generally create, employ and sustain functional myths about industrial practices, relations, causes, effects and outcomes of ecotourism. They provide strategically prescriptive and normative ethics and principles that are mostly unattainable. They consciously or inadvertently ignore the fact that the notion of ecotourism is deeply embedded in the logics of ideological normalisation of corporate activities, commodity circulation, technological end-product distribution and use, and global governance of the economic, political and cultural market conditions.

A Debate on the Product Lifecycle Implications and Product Market Behavior

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Author(s): Larisa Ivascu,Anca Draghici,Jorg Niemann / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

The product life-cycle marketing approach is a concept that describes the sales and profit margin of a given product category over a prolonged period - from lust to dust. The concept holds that a product's sales and profits change over time in a predictable manner-at least in the four distinct major stages of introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. It is important to understand product life-cycles curves to make the best use of engineering resources. The paper presents figures that characterize various industry products and their life-cycle curves. The amount of development money invested in a product intended for rapid market penetration, for example, is considerably less than for a one destined to a long-term stable, mature market. In this context we illustrate the types of feedback used by engineering during the various stages of product life-cycle. Finally, we consider that engineers responsible for product or process improvement must recognize what phase of the product life-cycle is in to practice the most effective research.

A fuzzy multi-criteria decision making methodology based upon the interval Type-2 fuzzy sets for evaluating renewable energy alternatives in Turkey

Author(s): Abit Balin,Hayri Baraçli / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2017

Energy is substantial for social development and has an essential role for the survival and development of human as an environmental factor. Due to the serious increase ofthe world's primary energy price and rapid development of Turkey's economy, energy consumption of Turkey has become a major problem. For that purpose, opinions of the decision makers upon the relative importance of selection criteria are determined by using a fuzzy AHP procedure based upon type-2 fuzzy sets, and fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making based upon the interval type-2 TOPSIS method is used to rank the best renewable alternative energy. In this paper, a fuzzy multi criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology was proposed to determine the best renewable energy alternatives for Turkey, because type-2 fuzzy sets provide additional degrees of independence to represent the uncertainty and the fuzziness of real world applications. The results showed that wind was the best alternative for Turkey's energy investments, as being followed subsequently by solar, biomass, geothermal, hydraulic and hydrogen. The results were based upon the opinions of three energy planning experts who ranked the energy alternatives according to the ten criteria we have selected.

A GIS Approach Regarding Tourism Suitability of Wetland Areas of Romania

A GIS Approach Regarding Tourism Suitability of Wetland Areas of Romania

Author(s): Nicu Ciobotaru,Theodor Lupei,Lucian Laslo,Monica Matei,Mădălina Boboc,Ana Maria Velcea,Gyorgy Deak / Language(s): English / Issue: 23/2017

Tourism suitability refers to a certain touristic potential development regarding an area; considering the natural environment resources; the existing infrastructure and the number of tourists that visit the area for a certain amount of time. Tourism suitability also indicates how tourism resources can be exploited in a given area. To determine tourism suitability of the wetlands a set of spatial and statistical data with various sources were used. In the purpose of creating a set of maps that can reflect the level of tourism suitability; there were used spatial and statistical data for every locality that has a wetland nearby; data such as: localities and wetland placement; transportation network; bird; fish and amphibian species distribution; accommodation; inhabitants; tourists. The results of the analysis offered a series of indicators for tourism activities such as wetland suitability per locality.