BETWEEN THE IMPERFECTIONS OF SOCIAL POLICIES AND THE WEAKNESSES OF CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND OF SOCIAL RESPONSABILITY – ASPECTS REGARDING SOCIAL MARGINALIZATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract: Nowadays, as we are living in the 21st century, far from the ‘primitive’ epochs, most of us consider we are much better than our predecessors and, of course, much more civilized than they had ever been. Are we really better and more civilized in comparison with those who lived before us? Is the difference in technology to equal the superiority we claim to have as our prominent difference between our more ‘modest’ ancestors? What about our consciousness, our respect for ourselves and for the others. What about the impressive number of ‘marginals’, of poor and ignorant , illiterate, non-fortunate human beings who officially, according to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are all our equal fellows, In spite of the many state institutions or private ones, there are many, still too many, human beings living at the ‘margin’ of our society, without a home, without food, without medical care or education or even a word of comfort. As long as we tolerate social injustice and inequality we cannot call ourselves ‘civilized’, ‘modern’ or even real human beings

HOW BRAND PERSONALITY INFLUENCES CONSUMER'S BRAND PREFERENCE

Abstract: The purpose of the present paper is to identify if the congruence of the consumers personality with the perceived brand personality increases their brand preferences. To achieve this purpose, the paper was structured in two parts; the first part contains a general literature review of the consumer behaviour theory and its influence factors and a more specific one regarding the consumer's and brand personality concepts. The second part describes the used research methodology for achieving the paper's purpose. The results of the underlying exploratory research confirmed the hypothesis that an overlapping of the consumers' personality and the brand personality they perceive is positively correlated with their brand preferences

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OF COMPANIES WITH CORE ACTIVITY IN THE ENERGY SECTOR AND RELATED INDUSTRIES, TRADED ON BUCHAREST STOCK EXCHANGE, AND THE BET-NG INDEX

Abstract: The results we obtained are invalidating the research hypothesis: there is a strong and direct link between the evolution of BET-NG index and the financial performance ratios of the component companies. The analysis performed on the correlations between the evolution of BET-NG index and financial performance ratios indicates that in the majority of the cases the links are inverse and in 25% of the cases they are strong. In what concerns the intensity of the correlations between the major financial performance ratios (ROA; ROE; EPS; Net Margin) and average values of BET-NG index, there is no strong link to justify the identification of a regression model. Consequently, we can affirm that the evolution of BET-NG index is determined by other factors, different than the financial performance of the component companies. This situation outlines new research developments that need extending the timeframe and the financial ratios used

THE INFLUENCE OF ORDOLIBERALISM IN EUROPE

Abstract: From the “sick man” of Europe, as it was called after the Second World War, Germany managed to become the greatest power on the continent. This was due to hard austerity policies that perfectly suited a hard working and rigorous population. In this article I want to analyze if ordoliberalism, the German form of social liberalism that led to the country’s economic miracle in the 1950s, can be the saving solution for a continent in crisis. For a more complete analysis, I studied the subject from an economical, historical, political and social perspective. Following an extensive review of existing literature I have highlighted the doctrinal confrontation between ordoliberalism and keynesianism, brought back in the spotlight by the European sovereign debt crisis. The German economic elite embrace ordoliberal values, characterized by responsibility and strict monetary rules. In response to the Eurozone crisis, they tried to spread the ordoliberal ideology across Europe. Focused on the supply side of the economy, the followers of ordoliberalism strongly opposed the expansionary fiscal and monetary policy. The power held in Europe allowed Germany to impose its own vision, centered on austerity and price stability. If ordoliberalism worked very well in Germany after the Second World War, not the same happened in the case of the Eurozone’s economy. The rigor and lack of flexibility of German ordoliberalism have only further deepened the crisis and the economic problems of vulnerable countries

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND REMITTANCES IN RBMU'S COUNTRIES

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the state of development of financial system from 3 of those countries that European Union has established relation through Partnership Program, added Romania also. The research is based on the empirical evidence about the structure and performance of financial systems from RBMU's countries (Romania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova). The results are correlated with the influence of remittances inflows in fostering the development of financial systems, especially banking systems, analyzed from the reverse casualty approach

GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF LAFFER'S THEORY FOR BENELUX COUNTRIES DURING 1995-2012

Abstract: archers all the time. Law scarcity of public financial resources in relation to public expenditure determines the continuous monitoring of the evolution of binominal concepts: fiscal pressure versus tax revenues. The most simple and practical approach is given by the well-known Laffer's curve. This paper aims to determine in graphical representation of the curve for Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. The research is based on data provided by the European Commission for18 years. Conclusions for Benelux countries refer to the fact that the optimum value of tax burden is very closed to the maximum tax burden applied by them (the differences are below 1 percent), even equal for Belgium. Moreover, Luxembourg and Belgium are positioned in the admissible area of this theory, while the Netherlands have a fluctuant position

NEXT GENERATIONS OF CONSUMERS – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRANDS

Abstract: t without reaching a level of depth, always connected and always running, hungry for goods, but lacking money. The young are also the most desirable audience for brands, in terms of long-term loyalty but also the most difficult to deal with and to be convinced. Thus, the present study aims to define the characteristics of the generation Z that includes people born between the mid-1990s and 2010, in comparison with its previous generations: Baby Boomers, X, Y and some proposals on how brands might make themselves useful for this audience

IMPLEMENTATION OF BASEL III IN THE EUROPEAN BANKING SECTOR

Abstract: In this work, which is part of a larger research project aimed at the expected impact of Basel III on commercial banks in Romania, I decided to analyse the implementation and transposition of the new international prudential requirements into European regulations, which are of particular interest for the Romanian banking sector. I started this analysis by highlighting the peculiarities of the European banking sector at aggregate level, but also as a cross-country survey, to later highlight the views of European regulations on prudential supervision and differences to international regulations

FINANCIAL GLOBALIZATION – GLOBAL IMBALANCES – GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

Abstract: In the context of globalization, global financial crisis reflected the evolution of the relation global finance – global economy. The paper focuses on two issues. First, we review a part of the literature regarding the costs and benefits of financial globalization and the links between financial globalization, global imbalances and crises. Second, we discuss whether the financial globalization associated with global imbalances contributed to the 2008 global financial crisis. We conclude that global imbalances (GDP, current account, capital flows and international reserves) played a key role in determining the incidence and propagation of the global financial crisis both in advanced and developing economies. But they are still not resolved and so the risk to power a new global crisis remains high. Therefore economic and financial globalization has to redefine the links between international finance and global economy nowadays

Brief Overview of Corporate Governance Structures Within Premium Listed Companies іn Romania

Abstract: Proper corporate governance structures and principles guide companies towards financial health and lay down the blocks for a sustainable development of the private sector. Moreover, there is a widesp read recognition and growing empirical evidence that strong fundamentals of governance are a condition for business benefits largely described by better management, effective boards, improved decision-making process, reduced risk, increased operational efficiency and valuations. Given that trust is a basic condition of functioning capital markets and corporate governance guarantees transparency, accountability and operational integrity, the aim of this present paper is to assess the conformity of the premium traded companies at the Bucharest Stock Exchange with its corporate governance code. The results of our empirical study reveal the ongoing concerns, focus and level of importance given to corporate governance structures and principles by the most trusted and profitable traded Romanian companies