Optimum currency area: an epistemological view

This paper aims to provide a critical analysis of the evolution of the optimum currency area theory. The motivation for this paper arises from the fact that there are many studies that make references to the OCA theory, providing various insights for it. In the first part of the paper I will address the foundation of this theory through the contributions of Mundell (1961), McKinnon (1963), Kenen (1969) and the subsequent development, which has not been a smooth one. The contributions brought to the OCA theory have been market by some paradoxes, but there has been a reconciliation among those which led to a renewed interest into the subject. The second part refers to the empirical phase in which we focus mostly on the European integration experience due to the various data and research that it provides. Thus, there is a need to distinguish between the OCA theory and the EMU, the latter referring to a question regarding timing and modalities of creating a currency union. The merit of the OCA theory is that has brought together a large amount of research on monetary integration.currency area, optimality, endogenous criteria

Legal and Regulatory Forbiddances in the Field of International Advertising

International advertising can be better described as a multicultural advertising, because it passed national borders for a long time. In a greater or smaller extent, the world became the market of most of the corporations, either they have their headquarters in USA, or in other states. The key of a successful advertising is the concept of placing the consumer on a central position. The firms operating from the perspective of managing businesses in advantageous way for the consumer will gain a lot. The firms involved in advertising are pemanently facing with the risky situation of being against the rules referring to advertising. Besides the laws and official regulations having advertising as object, firms consider public opinion should be also taken into account. The majority of big firms agrees that advertising should be honest and respect the law. Only thinking and acting in this manner, a firm can be successful on a long term, otherwise they can be profitable on the short run, but with negative effects on the image and reputation of a firm, on the long run, the effects being more disastrous in the case of a firm operating internationallyregulations, advertising, international, global, diversity

EVOLUTION OF THE MAIN RETAILERS ON THE ROMANIAN MARKET

The paper presents the retail market in Romania, the main retailers and their evolution in our country. The theme is better highlighted in the foreign professional literature, but also Romanian economists analyzed some features of this subject. The purpose of this paper was to examine and interpret how Romanian retailers evolved during the period 2002-2009. A qualitative method was chosen for this research, and the empirical data was gathered from the companies in the Romanian retail sector. Primary data was collected through annual information from their websites, annual reports and different articles. The research is useful for companies, in order to understand and anticipate the tendencies in the field.market, retail evolution, format

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING BEHAVIOR AND STRATEGIC ORIENTATIONS OF ROMANIAN RETAILERS DURING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS

The paper presents the results of an empirical research having as a goal the identification of Romanian retailers’ behavior during the crisis and the establishment of the strategic alternatives that could be followed in conditions of uncertainty regarding the future evolutions of this sector. The research has at its basis an investigation realized on a representative sample at a national level. Starting from a few hypotheses, we propose to find some correlations between phenomena, facts and indicators related to Romanian retail sector, the research leads to highlighting some strategic options regarding prices, costs, the assortment, financial sources, etc.strategic options, retail, retailers’ behavior, assortment

INSIGHTS IN INTERNATIONALIZATION OF TOURISM FIRMS

The international dimension of tourism industry is becoming increasingly important and complex in the world of economy. Despite this increasing prominence little is known about the internationalization of tourism firms. This paper attempts to examine the concepts underpinning the notion of internationalization in light of today’s changes and challenges. In addition, it is our purpose to reflect on how the tourism firms could internationalize in an already “born global” world, where the “instantly international” outlook is becoming, nowadays, increasingly prevalent. Even though space does not permit a full approach, we hope to provide the necessary outline.Internationalization; Tourism; Small and Medium Enterprises; Strategic management.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INTEGRATED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF A REGION AND THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF ROMANIA. A MORAL APPROACH

The current social and economic stage of development observed in Romania and, implicitly, that of the national tourism, requires a new type of approach vis-à-vis the “tourism development” concept. Until the 90s, tourism development was carried out in a centralized fashion and, in most cases, with little regard to the impact that strategy had on the environment and the local population. This strategy- which, in some cases, is still applied today-has had a significant impact on a national level, by creating huge discrepancies among the country’ s regions, with direct repercussions on local communities and the national labor market. Recent years have shown a distinct linkage between tourism and local communities, largely owed to the multiplying effect that tourism activities have, but also to the intricate network of correspondences between themselves. The purpose of this academic endeavor is to analyze the existing relationship between tourism development and the local community where it occurs, between the need for development and the need to preserve the local traditions, and to obser- ve if such equilibrium is feasible between these two terms. The ethics of tourist development should be the niche where the development policy should meet the expectations of the host local community.tourist, integrated, tourism development, local community, Romania, ethics, preserving traditions, eco-tourism

Analyzing Students’ Perceptions From Their Interests and Rights’ Protection Perspective Within Various International Contexts

The research originated from comprehending the way students, as consumers; perceive the involvement of bodies empowered to protect their rights and interests, including consumption-modernizing programmes. Among the cross-scientific research methods used by our research, the survey has been chosen and applied in three universities from various countries: Constantin Brancoveanu University of Pitesti – Management – Marketing in Economic Affairs Faculty, Romania, Fernando Pessoa - Business Science Faculty, Portugal and University Degli Studi di Milano – Political Sciences Faculty, Italy. For data processing, comprehensive methods of analysis and statistic-mathematical methods have been used, while for data analysis the method of comparing interviewed students’ opinions and the causal explanation have been used. The paper’s originality consists in drafting a direct, quantitative research, based on the scientific research of students’ opinions, future opinion originators, in three countries with various development levels. In addition, Romanian profile literature does not enlist many scientific papers approaching the analysed topics, while international research papers exist, but only to a small extent. The main results of research reveal the occurrence of dissimilarities and similarities relevant to students’ perceptions, regarding the approached subject.consumers` protection, consumers` rights, international research, students, analysis of perceptions, different national contexts

ECOROM – Indicators System Proposal of Quality Certification in Ecotourism

Open to trends in tourism development on European and world level, Romanian tourism improves under its impact, developing specific recognition criteria at global level, regarding the quality of services and cultural and natural attractions it owns. Developing a set of indicators based on performance which can be integrated into the ecotourism certification, provides an objective and scientific assessment of implementation and development of programs in tourism, taking into consideration their efficiency and, on this basis, embracing appropriate strategic decisions. Starting from the international experience in the field of certification, it was synthesized, in this paper, a set of core indicators that can be implemented in every local community, as a first step in the process of certification of the services offered to tourists. There were analyzed over 30 international certification systems, aiming both common points but also differentiation elements. Combining the international experience in this field with national specificities, a set of indicators is proposed, this paper, that may lead to a national certification system of ecotouristic services within a local community. The deployment of such a system in the tourism branch represents a first step for quality services, for the modernization of the Romanian tourism in accordance to some of the newest trends existing in the world: the requirements of sustainable tourism.certification, indicator system, ecotourism, sustainable development, sustainable tourism