THE EVOLUTION OF OWNERSHIP, INNOVATION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM MACEDONİA

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ownership evolution, innovation activities and firms performance using firm-level data on 60 privatised enterprises in Macedonia for the period 2001-2010. To examine the nature of this relationship we will develop a model relating the determinants of ownership and performance and apply it to the original dataset collected by the author. Specifically, the investigation will respond to several questions such as the impact of ownership structure and innovation activities undertaken by firms, competition from other firms, sector, location, age, size and other firm characteristics on the firm performance. The main contribution of this empirical work is reflected in the application of new and advanced econometric techniques such as two-step GMM kernel and enhanced CUE (GMM) estimations to the analysis of changes in performance resulting from the change in ownership in Macedonia. By investigating this relationship we provide sufficient evidence to support the view of significant Ownershipperformance relationship of privatised firms in Macedonia

The Monetary policy in the Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania during 2020

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is considered as one of the worst global recessions in history, caused by non-economic factors such as the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic crisis has increased the financial stability and vulnerability across different markets and sectors. These changes required the central banks, governments, and other authorities to take a variety of policy assistance steps to help limit immediate financial stability threats. The goal of this study is to examine how the monetary policies of the Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania, as one of the two key macroeconomic policies, have reacted in response to COVID 19 for the year 2020. This study looks at how the central banks of both countries have altered conventional and unconventional monetary policy tools to combat the pandemic. The analysis is based on the data published by the monetary officials in both countries. The results show that interbank interest rates in the Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Albania were reduced from 2.00% to 1.50% and from 1.00% to 0.50%, respectively, while overnight loan interest rates were reduced from 2.50% to 2.00% and from 1.90% to 0.90%, respectively. An overview of the unconventional measures is also presented

Women Entrepreneurship Development in Kosovo: Challenges and Opportunities

Business leadership by women is a special challenge in Kosovo, as, until the 90s, it was almost taboo. In this context, from 2000 onwards in Kosovo, there have been many businesses run by businesswomen, which is a great contribution to the emancipation of modern society. Women\u27s businesses in Kosovo face many challenges and barriers; thus, this research study aims to address this issue. The purpose of this study is to investigate and find out the challenges and obstacles faced by women entrepreneurs in their business activities. The empirical investigation will be conducted using a questionnaire-based survey of 213 women entrepreneurs in the Republic of Kosovo in 2021. The data were collected through a questionnaire with closed questions. A total of 213 female entrepreneurs from all regions of Kosovo participated in the research. Based on the results achieved through Factorial analysis, one of the main challenging factors of women-led businesses are the instability of doing business that is directly related to high taxes and high loans, bureaucracy, lack of support, lack of modern technology, and access to the market, with statistical significance at 5% level of significance. Business leadership by women needs to be supported by the Government by enabling lower interest rates and granted loans, investments in terms of staff and products, as well as technology modernization

LMS Solution: Evidence of Google Classroom Usage in Higher Education

Background: Learning Management Systems (LMS) represent one of the main technology to support learning in HE institutions. However, every educational institution differs in its experience with the usage of these systems. South East European University’s LMS experience is longer than a decade. From last year SEE – University is adopting Google Classroom (GC) as an LMS solution. Objectives: Identifying factors which encourage LMS activities, with special emphasis on SEEU, might be of crucial importance for Higher Education academic leaders as well as software developers who design tools related to fostering LMS. Methods/Approach: This paper introduces new approach of investigating the usage of LMS, i.e. identifying the determinants of increasing usage of LMS activities, by conducting empirical analysis for the case of SEEU. We apply appropriate estimation technique such as OLS methodology. Results: Using SEEU Usage Google Classroom Report & Analysis Data for spring semester (2016–2017) and winter semester (2017–2018) - SUGCR dataset 2017, we argue that (i) LMS activities are affected by demographic characteristics and (ii) the students’ LMS usage is affected by level and resources of instructors’ LMS usage. Conclusions: The empirical results show positive relationship between student and instructors’ LMS usage

Unravelling open innovation determinants and firm performance relationships in CEE and SEE countries

Purpose Open innovation (OI), by now one of the major concepts for the analysis of innovation, is seen as a methodology for collaboratively designing and implementing solutions by engaging stakeholders in an iterative and inclusive service design process. This paper aims to empirically investigate OI capacities, defined as a cooperative, knowledge-sharing innovation ecosystem, and to explore how it can lead to improved performance of firms in Central and Eastern European (CEE) and Southeastern European (SEE) countries. Design/methodology/approach The study builds on the World Bank/European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD’s) Business Environment Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) dataset for 2009, 2013 and 2019. Primarily, the research model was estimated using log-transformed ordinary least squares (OLS). Taking into consideration that this method might produce substantial bias, yielding misleading inferences, this study is fitting Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood estimators with robust standard errors and instrumental variable/generalized method of moments estimation (IV/GMM) approach for comparative results. Secondarily, the research model was tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate the relationship between five OI capacities and firm performance. Findings The findings indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between most OI capacities and firm performance, except for innovation, which did not show a statistically significant relationship with firm performance. Specifically, research and development (R&D), knowledge and coopetition are statistically significant and positively associated with firm performance, whereas transformation is statistically significant but negatively associated with firm performance. The IV/GMM estimations’ findings support the view that the firm performance is significantly affected by OI capacities, together with some control variables such as size, age, foreign ownership and year dummy to have a significant impact on firm performance. Originality/value This paper fills an identified gap in the literature by investigating the impact of OI on firm performance executed in the specific CEE and SEE country context

LMS Solution: Evidence of Google Classroom Usage in Higher Education

Background: Learning Management Systems (LMS) represent one of the main technology to support learning in HE institutions. However, every educational institution differs in its experience with the usage of these systems. South East European University’s LMS experience is longer than a decade. From last year SEE – University is adopting Google Classroom (GC) as an LMS solution

The Profile of Female Entrepreneurs in the Republic of Macedonia

International audienceThis paper is about women entrepreneurs in Macedonia, conditions for female entrepreneurship, perspectives for development and an array of problems that women entrepreneurs are facing. In order to gain a better picture of current motives, problems and perspectives of Macedonian women in entrepreneurship, a survey was conducted during the period of December 2011 – March 2012, to complement secondary sources. Respondents were asked about motives for starting a business, the size of the business they run, revenues, their family status, management problems, and necessary capabilities as perceived by them. We used Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reports to compare the indicators of entrepreneurial activity between Republic of Macedonia and other countries in the region