Ratio analysis and Piotroski scoring system in the automobile industry in Croatia

To gain insight into operational efficiency, sustainable profitability, the ability to fulfil commitments, use of funds borrowed or investment risk or operational self-sufficiency, it is necessary to conduct analyses of financial statements usually known as ratio analysis. The paper provides analyses of five Croatian general distributors of the automobile industry. Ratios used in the analyses are those used in the Piotroski f-scoring analyses, which are famous for assessing financial capacities of enterprises on the stock exchange market. Based on ratios used in Piotroski scoring systems the assessment of five enterprises, as well as the sector as a whole was carried out. The analysis covers the period 2007-2012. That is the period of the rise, falling and recovery of the automotive industry throughout the world as well as the rise, falling and recession of the whole economy including the automobile market. In general, the sector itself is financially unstable and consequently risk exposed. Results are used for preliminary analyses and prediction of the future financial strength of the auto industry in Croatia

Direct Determination of Oxygen in Organic Compounds

The method for direct oxygen analysis as described by Schutze, Zimmerman and Unterzaucher has been modified. The Korbl catalyst was employed to remove some interfering gases and to oxidize carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The described method has been successful for the determination of oxygen in compounds which, in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen contain nitrogen, halogens or sulphur. With various types of organic samples the determinations showed a standard deviation of 0.130/o. The time required for the analysis is thirty minutes if a series of analyses is being made in succession. The oxidation tube needs repacking after 150-200 analyses

Emigration from the island of Susak to the United States of America

Due to the unfavourable economic and political conditions in Croatia in the Habsburg period of and the unstable times in later periods, and due to the frequent inability to feed their families, many residents of Susak (Suščani) emigrated, for the most part, to the USA, more precisely to New Jersey. A significant reason for emigration was the high tax on wine, the main product of Susak. The subject of this research is the population of the island of Susak, the consequences of emigration, and the assimilation and acculturation of the Suščani in the new homeland. The article examines selected demographic processes on the island of Susak based on the census of the competent diocese and data from the population censuses. The period of the research encompasses the beginning of emigration from the island until the present day

New wave of emigration from the Republic of Croatia

The paper deals with the recent emigration of the population from the Republic of Croatia. The entry of the Republic of Croatia into the European Union, on 1 July 2013, increased emigration to many countries of the European Union with simplified procedures of emigration. Attractive and repressive factors stimulate and trigger new emigrant waves outside Croatia towards European Union. Most of the emigrates are young people, whole families, people of fertile age, working active population, highly educated and people with professional qualifications, i.e. anyone who can find employment outside Croatia. Permanent emigration already leads to imbalances and shortages of workers in some sectors of activity such as hospitality, transportation, medical profession etc. Although employment growth has been registered in January 2018, unemployment remains high. Employment growth does not mean a simultaneous drop in unemployment. It is to be assumed that high unemployment remains one of the consequences of emigration that takes on worrying proportions. The media discourse emphasises that people emigrate for personal reasons, in cases when they either have no job or cannot progress in their jobs, along with other known factors of emigration that are a key problem for the Croatian society. The loss to Croatian society resulting from the permanent emigration of the population can best be described as inadmissible in the broadest social context. The ‘brain drain’ has always been present. The most educated, most ambitious will always look for opportunities for advancement and training in their profession. Experience has shown that highly educated and qualified specialists are a type of modern nomad because they move to improved working conditions and use the opportunities for advancement. The consequences of emigration are long-term for the Croatian society and predictions for the future are not optimistic if something is not changed as soon as possible. The facts related to and consequences of this last wave of emigration for Croatian society are just some of the issues and reflections that will be considered in this paper

Polarographic Determination of Ruthenium in Citrates and Tartrates Solutions

Polarographic methods are proposed for the determination of small amounts of ruthenium in two new supporting electrolytes: a. citric acid (0.3 M) and sodium hydroxide (0.15 M); b. tartaric acid (0.2 M), sodium hydroxide (0.1 M) and thymol (0.009 %). Determination of ruthenium is applicable in the concentration range from 4 to 120 micrograms of ruthenium per milliliter with a relative standard errors from 15 to 0.8 % in both electrolytes. Hydrochloric, sulfuric and perchloirc acids (up to 0.5 N) do not interfer, but in the presence of nitric acid (any traces of nitrites) polarographic determinations are impossible