2026-03-27
Nikolay Tsonkov, Kamen Petrov
Background . This study highlights the importance of analysing and assessing various aspects of regional connectivity in the context of integrating ICT into infrastructure and related facility management. In Bulgaria and the Balkans, there is a significant deficit in regional transport connectivity, which hinders the formation of a single spatial-economic and transport-geographical community. This creates an urgent need for improved governance and the implementation of ICT solutions to strengthen regional transportation connectivity. Purpose . This study aims to analyse and evaluate alternative approaches to modelling regional connectivity in the context of modern, innovative governance, and to outline opportunities to improve connectivity in the Balkans. Findings . The results of this study demonstrate that an intelligent interconnected model integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, mobile communication systems, and sustainability principles provides an effective basis for comprehensive infrastructure monitoring and management. Simultaneously, the study reveals structural problems in infrastructure management, particularly excessively long project preparation times (averaging around 3 years) and the lack of bypass roads around major urban centres. To develop North-South connectivity in the Balkans, it is necessary to construct a fifth route through Bulgaria. The study found a strong relationship between road network density and regional economic growth. The average road network density in Bulgaria is 0.1800 km of road per km², and the average regional GDP per capita is 12,899.85 EUR. Implications . The incorporation of e-government into regional development can enhance the effectiveness of implementing transport connectivity policies across different modes of transport and their adaptability to the European Union. However, several infrastructure and transportation problems need to be addressed (project delays, lack of bypass roads, and poor rail connectivity). The modernisation of motorways, construction of the rail network, and major infrastructure projects on the Danube (multimodal terminals and bridge facilities) and the Black Sea will shape connectivity patterns. Moreover, this will create preconditions for increased investment in and strengthening of the existing road networks.
2026-03-27
Tamara Merkulova, Tetiana Bitkova, Olena Nikolaeva, Tetiana Stetsenko
Background. Taxation is a fundamental instrument of macroeconomic policy, and its influence across various economic and social domains remains one of the most significant subjects of research. Particular attention is devoted to examining the capacity of taxation to regulate economic cycles, shape dynamic processes, and affect the market equilibrium of an economic system. The development of dynamic models of economic equilibrium incorporating endogenous tax factors as a methodological foundation for macroeconomic policy constitutes a significant research objective. Purpose. This study examines the impact of taxation indicators on macroeconomic dynamics within the dynamic IS–LM framework, incorporating endogenous taxes, mathematical and simulation analyses of oscillatory conditions, and assessment of the influence of tax variables on dynamic regimes. Findings. This study presents a modified IS-LM model with endogenous taxes, demonstrating the potential influence of taxation on the type of dynamics of economic systems, particularly the exit from the fluctuation zone and vice versa. The theoretical analysis of the model consists of two stages: 1) mathematical analysis of the tax parameter’s influence on the type of dynamics of the economic system, and 2) simulation analysis based on the System Dynamics concept. As a result of the first stage, mathematically justified bounds for the tax rate were obtained, which determine its potential (in combination with other parameters) to reflect the diversity of economic systems. In particular, it is shown that for certain values of other model parameters, the transition from fluctuations is possible with both a high tax burden (e.g. above 50%) and a low one (e.g. 20% or below). Implications. The simulation model developed using the System Dynamics concept demonstrates the possibility of analysing feedback loops that include key variables of the model, revealing reinforcing or balancing mechanisms within closed chains of endogenous variables, and of multivariate calculations and analysis of the impact of various combinations of exogenous parameters on selected response functions (GDP or Interest rate) with the subsequent development of regression meta-models.
2026-03-27
Andreea Feraru-Prepeliță, Liviana Andreea Nimineț
Background . In a time marked by globalisation, environmental challenges, and rising social expectations, European businesses face increasing pressure to align profitability with ethical responsibility and sustainable development. Purpose . This study analyses how organisational ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are integrated into European business strategies and assesses their strategic impact on sustainability and competitiveness with a focus on Romania. The study analyses the conceptualisation of CSR, the evolution of sustainability reporting in Europe (2010–2025), compared regional models, and conducted a sectoral analysis that considered changes in EU legislation. Findings . The study applies a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of CSR indicators, such as sustainability reporting rates, performance metrics, and policy data (2010-2025), with qualitative case studies and comparative assessments at the firm and sector levels. CSR has evolved from a voluntary, philanthropic concern into a strategic necessity. Across Europe, 82% of major firms now issue sustainability reports, while Romania’s reporting rate among large companies rose to 74% by 2022, signalling rapid but still incomplete convergence with Western standards and proving the persistence of significant regional differences. CSR and ethics improve innovation capacity, risk mitigation, stakeholder trust and are positively associated with long-term competitiveness. Implications. Corporate social responsibility and organisational ethics have become core drivers of long-term competitiveness in European markets. However, persistent regional disparities mean that Western Europe operates with mature and stakeholder-oriented corporate social responsibility models. In contrast, in Romania, social responsibility remains an emerging component of organisational culture, primarily driven by EU integration and regulatory pressures. For Romania, sustainable success will depend on deepening the transition from formal compliance to genuinely embedding ethical and sustainable business practices.