A statistical assessment of the ecological dimension of the Romanian economy

Starting from the available statistical information this paper proposes an analysis of the ecological dimension of the Romanian economy. Considering the crucial importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to diminishing greenhouse effects an econometrical model has been conceived so as to study the correlation between these emissions and their main determinants. Some major difficulties in detailed environmental data collection and constructing long time series have been revealed on this occasion.

A statistical assessment of the ecological dimension of the Romanian economy

Starting from the available statistical information this paper proposes an analysis of the ecological dimension of the Romanian economy. Considering the crucial importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to diminishing greenhouse effects an econometrical model has been conceived so as to study the correlation between these emissions and their main determinants. Some major difficulties in detailed environmental data collection and constructing long time series have been revealed on this occasion

Statistical investigation on the IT market in Bucharest

This paper represents the results of a pilot survey conducted on a set of it specialists concerning their behavior on the IT market as buyers. Demand estimation is one of the main purpose of the research. Initial hypothesis were that people in Romania are using Internet and IT systems as a tool to develop social and cultural relations, to be informed more and more compared to classic ways of access to culture and information. The research purpose was also to determine the main cross classification variables as the main influence factors on IT market in Bucharest

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA USED AS BASIS FOR AN EFFECTIVE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

The immediate reality reveals a significant difference in terms of practical use between public and private property management. It can be noticed that the emphasis is placed to a higher extent on the private property management, which is more profit-oriented, compared to the public property management, driven by the public sector’s purpose to achieve the welfare of its citizens. However, during the last years, the interest in assets management has grown also at municipal level. The motivation for applying a strategic municipal property management comes from the necessity to mach the municipal long-term needs for their own use of properties, as well as to use their properties in order to attract investment and promote sustainable socio-economic development of their cities and regions. Referring to the Balkan area, a lack of strategy can be noticed with regard to the real asset management of municipal properties. In order to support the efforts of the municipalities in articulating real asset strategies, a project on “Municipal Property Management in South- Eastern Cities (PROMISE)†is carried on (2009-2012), supported by the ERDF within the South-East Territorial Co-operation Programme. It is expected to contribute to supporting urban environmental sustainability improvement through regeneration programmes, to promoting economic sustainability via the encouragement of innovative investments, to facilitating social sustainability through urban social infrastructure development, as well as to improving social services and social cohesion policies. This paper, derived from the above mentioned project, emphasizes the importance of using the most suitable classification criteria in order to ensure an effective municipal property management. In the beginning a comprehensive international literature review and a structured conceptual clarification are provided, referring to papers like those by Jolicoeur and Barret (2004) and Musil (2006) as having had an important contribution to this topic. Then, specific classification criteria in the case of Romania are pointed out, followed by a discussion on features of assessment extracted from the evaluation practice. The results may contribute to the identification of reliable variables that can be used as a starting point for the strategic management of municipal properties. Keywords: municipal property, classification criteria, strategic management

Statistical investigation on the IT market in Bucharest

This paper represents the results of a pilot survey conducted on a set of it specialists concerning their behavior on the IT market as buyers. Demand estimation is one of the main purpose of the research. Initial hypothesis were that people in Romania are using Internet and IT systems as a tool to develop social and cultural relations, to be informed more and more compared to classic ways of access to culture and information. The research purpose was also to determine the main cross classification variables as the main influence factors on IT market in Bucharest.survey, questionnaire, behavior evaluation, independent variables, stochastic association, information

THE CAPACITY OF URBAN CENTRES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ROMANIA. AN INQUIRY FROM R&D AND INNOVATION PERSPECTIVE

Among the EU countries, Romania displays the highest share of rural population (45%), most of it employed in agriculture. Moreover, there is a significant variation between the eight NUTS 2 regions with regards to the urban distribution and dynamics, with important intra-regional differences between the constituent counties. This paper proposes an inquiry into the capacity of urban centres to contribute to rural development in Romania from R&D and innovation perspective. First, the rural-urban gap is discussed, pointing at the consequences of the delay in implementing the reform of the production system in agriculture in terms of employment and income. Then, the positive influence of towns and cities on raising the share of employment in non-agricultural activities in rural areas is demonstrated by means of the available statistical data. Further on, the analysis of the regional dimension of R&D and innovation shows an increasing polarisation both between and within the eight development regions. The main conclusion is that the regions or counties with predominantly agricultural activities developed in subsistence households are not enough prepared to access R&D and innovation results. This conclusion is also confirmed by a regression model that analyses the influence of rural areas on regional growth. The above findings are examined in correlation with the expected positive contribution of the current rural development programme as well as of the regional operational programme and competitiveness sectorial programme funded by the EU

Trends in Restructuring NMS Regional Economies as Responses to Transformation, Crisis and EU Membership. A Spotlight on Suceava County

The current research has concentrated on the following questions: What are the trends in restructuring Suceava's economy and which regional development factors were the most important (exogenous, endogenous, structural, socio-political ones, etc.)? Which is the relationship between social disparities and economic growth? Which regional/local policies proved to be the most successful for economic regeneration? How important was the external intervention for county's development? In order to respond these questions in-depth interviews were carried out with representatives of county and city office, national and regional authorities, Regional Development Agency, chambers of commerce, business associations, higher education institutions, and implementing authorities. Also, statistical socio-economic data were gathered and processed and strategic documents on development strategy, as well as various reports on evaluations of public policies have been studied. The study has been conducted within the GRINCOH FP7 project

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA USED AS BASIS FOR AN EFFECTIVE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

The immediate reality reveals a significant difference in terms of practical use between public and private property management. It can be noticed that the emphasis is placed to a higher extent on the private property management, which is more profit-oriented, compared to the public property management, driven by the public sector's purpose to achieve the welfare of its citizens. However, during the last years, the interest in assets management has grown also at municipal level. The motivation for applying a strategic municipal property management comes from the necessity to mach the municipal long-term needs for their own use of properties, as well as to use their properties in order to attract investment and promote sustainable socio-economic development of their cities and regions. Referring to the Balkan area, a lack of strategy can be noticed with regard to the real asset management of municipal properties. In order to support the efforts of the municipalities in articulating real asset strategies, a project on "Municipal Property Management in South- Eastern Cities (PROMISE)" is carried on (2009-2012), supported by the ERDF within the South-East Territorial Co-operation Programme. It is expected to contribute to supporting urban environmental sustainability improvement through regeneration programmes, to promoting economic sustainability via the encouragement of innovative investments, to facilitating social sustainability through urban social infrastructure development, as well as to improving social services and social cohesion policies. This paper, derived from the above mentioned project, emphasizes the importance of using the most suitable classification criteria in order to ensure an effective municipal property management. In the beginning a comprehensive international literature review and a structured conceptual clarification are provided, referring to papers like those by Jolicoeur and Barret (2004) and Musil (2006) as having had an important contribution to this topic. Then, specific classification criteria in the case of Romania are pointed out, followed by a discussion on features of assessment extracted from the evaluation practice. The results may contribute to the identification of reliable variables that can be used as a starting point for the strategic management of municipal properties

Indicators System for Poverty Measurement

Poverty represents a life aspect which is focusing the attention of both the macroeconomic analysis and the international comparisons. In order to measure the level being recorded by this phenomenon, there is a system of indicators which are used in order to underline, in a correlated manner, a number of aspects which are characterizing, quality and quantity wise, the evolution of the poverty in a specific country or, to a larger extent, through comparative surveys, at international level. Despite the fact that they are not the only instrument being used within the process of comparison of the stages of social and economic development at the international level, however the poverty indicators are providing a clear significance to the worked out surveys. In fact, the very purpose of the economic activity consists of increasing welfare and, as much as possible, at least reducing, if not eradicating, the poverty. The present work is broadly presenting the methodology as well as, both theoretical and practical, the way of computing the poverty, making a synthesis of the specific used indicators