Spatial and sectoral analysis of productivity-wage dissimilarities in Romania

Labour productivity and wages are two major determinants of the economic activity and their connection is a constant concern for the economists, as well as for employers and policy-makers. This paper is aiming to measure to which extent is the variation of productivity consistent with the distribution of wages, employing two patterns of comparison: by region and by economic branch. For this purpose, we developed a revised form of the coefficient of structural changes, in order to determine the regional/ sectoral dissimilarities between productivity and wage.labour productivity, wage, disparities, Romania

ENERGY EFFICIENCY. TRENDS AND INFLUENCE FACTORS

Energy efficiency is correlated with many factors of influence: Gross National Income per capita, energy imports (% of energy use), renewable combustible and waste (% of total), energy use per capita, services as % of GDP and others. In this paper we are testing a model of piecewise linear regression with breakpoint in order to measure the influence of these factors on the variation of GDP per unit of energy use in Europe in the year 2003.energy efficiency, GNI per capita, energy imports

R&D and Regional Regeneration. The Case of Alba Subregion in Romania

Innovation and competitiveness are important factors for promoting economic growth not only nationally, but regionally as well. In Romania, research, development and innovation could be among the factors that are accountable for the increasing regional disparities, as the territorial distribution of R&D resources is very unbalanced. Romania is currently trying to define a regional strategy for R&D, as well as appropriate policies and priorities for innovation at regional level. In this context we address the issue of the regional intensity of R&D as one of the main determinants of economic growth in Alba county (subregion NUTS 3) in Romania. The Alba subregion can be considered an obvious example of a successful economic transformation since its GDP per capita increased more than 2 times in 10 years, based on a high rate of economic growth. We have analysed the regional intensity of R&D, measured as the share of total research and development expenditures in regional GDP, and have developed an economic growth model that aimed to capture the influence of R&D intensity alongside labour productivity, employment rate, human capital, the share of manufacturing in total economic activity, the extent of private entrepreneurship, and a dummy variable for economic crisis. The results point to a highly significant impact of research and development intensity on the long-run economic development of Alba county, as measured by GDP per capita. This positive effect of R&D on the economic performance in Alba county can be largely attributed to the creation and modernization of the business support infrastructure aimed at developing industrial parks, business incubators, industrial and scientific clusters, technological and logistic platforms, centers for research and transfer of technology, etc. These structures are designed to support business development in areas affected by industrial restructuring, but also economic activities in other areas with development potential in the county, providing favorable conditions for productive SME development, which can further contribute to economic development and job creation in both the underdeveloped and the rising areas in this subregion

Regional Inequalities and Sigma Divergence in Romania

AbstractStarting from the need to understand the economic context that fuels increased regional inequality, this paper addresses the question of long-term regional divergence in Romania focusing on the effects of the recent economic crisis. The study uses a standard regional investigation tool, measuring variation in inequalities from the perspective of sigma convergence. It also addresses the impact of economic growth and crises on inequality. The results indicate territorial divergence in Romania on the long-run and narrowing regional inequality in the last few years, in the context of the economic and financial crisis. The main explanation for this new trend is higher resilience to the crisis of less developed counties/regions, due to the specific sectorial structure of their economies

Does religion matter? Exploring economic performance differences among Romanian emigrants

Although migration and religion have traditionally developed as two separate research topics, in the current context of globalization and trans-nationalism attention begins to focus on the way they interconnect. Religion received little attention in Romanian studies on migration undertaken so far. Using the results of our survey among Romanian international migrants of different religious faiths, this paper aims to raise interest in migration-religion relationship and, at the same time, to improve the understanding of the economic performance factors in a migration context by focusing on the distinctive characteristics of Romanian religious minorities. We address both the theoretical and the empirical dimension of this topic, making use of various statistical methods. Our main findings are consistent with the assumption that religious belief is reflecting upon the behavior and economic performance of Romanian migrants.religious minorities, international migration, economic performance, remittances, Romania

Technical Change as Exogenous or Endogenous Factor in the Production Function Models. Empirical Evidence from Romania

As technical change is nowadays largely accepted to be an engine of economic growth, researchers have tried to include it explicitly in the economic growth models, either as an exogenous or endogenous factor of influence. Using the framework of the aggregate Cobb-Douglas production function in its classical form, as well as in several refined variants, we estimated the elasticities of production factors for Romania over the 1990-2007 period, finding that technical progress has had a small contribution to the economic growth.technical change, R&D, exogenous and endogenous factors, growth models, Cobb-Douglas production function

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF ROMANIAN EMIGRANTS. AN EMPIRICAL APPROACH

Although migration and religion studies have traditionally developed as separate research topics, in the current context of globalization and transnationalism attention begins to focus on the way they may interconnect. Consequently, recent studies of migration raise the importance and role of religion in the international migration flows, distinguish between the socio-economic and religious inclusion of the immigrants in the host country or discuss the role that migration plays in the reconfiguration of religions in the contemporary world. Religion often inspires migration, as religious minority groups facing persecutions in the homeland may decide to move to more religious tolerant places. Conversely, migration almost always affects religion as the religion tradition and practice is usually modified following the resettlement and immigrants’ daily life routines irremediably alter. In Romania religion also received some attention in recent theoretical and empirical analyses of migration, but there are only a few studies undertaken so far. Using the results of our online survey conducted during August-December 2010 among Romanian international migrants of different religious faiths, this paper aims to raise interest in migration-religion relationship and, at the same time, to improve the understanding of the factors of economic performance in a migration context by focusing on the distinctive characteristics of Romanian religious minorities. We address both the theoretical and the empirical dimension of this topic, making use of various statistical methods. Our main findings are consistent with the assumption that religious belief is reflecting upon the behavior and economic performance of Romanian migrants.

Romania's Development towards the Knowledge Economy: the ICT Dimension

This paper attempts to contribute to the existing research by providing new data and information about Romania's advance towards the knowledge economy. In particular, two research questions will be envisaged. First, the role of information and communications technologies in economic development will be discussed in connection with its relevance for assessing the progress in knowledge economy. Second, Romania's position both in ITC and knowledge economy will be examined in a European and international context. With this aim in view a series of literature insights will be combined with a methodological framework and relevant statistical data analysis.Knowledge Economy Index, ICT Index, Romania's basic scorecard

A DISCUSSION ON THE VULNERABILITY TO CRISIS OF THE ROMANIAN COUNTIES

This paper provides an overall image on the degree of vulnerability to crisis of the Romanian counties using a series of statistical measures such as location quotients, Herfindhal specialization index, composite territorial development index, the regional distribution of FDI in relation to the development level, etc.economic and financial crisis, vulnerability, Romanian counties