R&D expenditure and economic growth: EU28 evidence for the period 2002–2012

In this paper, we investigate the influence of R&D expenditure on economic growth in the EU28 during the period of 2002–2012. For this purpose, we constructed a multiple regression model, which showed that, ceteris paribus, an increase in R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP by 1% would cause an increase of real GDP growth rate by 2.2%. This model takes into consideration actual financial crises and emphasises the negative influence of fertility rate in the EU28 on economic growth. We believe that the achieved research results can be beneficial to the economic policy makers in the innovation and demographic areas

AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: THE EU 27 RECORD FROM 2002 TO 2021

The aim of this paper is to analyze the contribution of the agricultural sector to the European Union member states’ economic growth in the period from 2002 to 2021. This paper makes an attempt to answer the question of whether the agricultural sector contributes to the economic growth of the European Union countries, in terms of incentives that their governments give to the agricultural sector. For this purpose, a multiple regression model is developed with one dependent and several independent variables, and the obtained research results show a positive influence of the agricultural sector, expressed through agricultural production, on economic growth rate of EU 27 countries in the analyzed period

Distributive trade and economic growth: EU28 evidence for the period 2008-2015

The purpose of this paper is to appoint the causality between economic activity in the sector of distributive trade and the economic growth of 28 European Union nations. Specifically, it examines the impact of changes in turnover per employee in the distributive trade sector in EU member states on the tangible economic growth rate. The determination to adopt this approach stems from the fact that existing studies mainly explore indirect relationship between economic activities in distributive trade and economic development, with less focus on the direct impact of distributive trade on economic growth. The paper utilizes information for the period from 2008 to 2015. The research relies on multiple regression model, with the Hausman test its robustness. The results indicate that a hike in turnover per employee in the distributive trade sector by 10 euros per year in one EU member state increases its real economic growth rate by 0.15% in that same year. The significance of the made results is reflected in the fact that the survey takes into account the last economic crisis, and highlights negative effects of final consumption expenditure of general government % GDP on the tangible economic growth rate in EU member states

UTJECAJ SOCIOKULTURNIH ČIMBENIKA NA USPJEŠNOST INTERNACIONALIZACIJE TRGOVINE

Trading companies that expand their operations beyond the national borders need to know the determinants or factors affecting the success of the internationalization strategy. Theoretical and practical research of the past twenty years has seen these factors as a set of economic, political, social, and cultural factors, which, ultimately, determine the choice of the specific market to operate on in the next period. In addition, research results in this field consider internationalization factors on two grounds, in terms of the national market, as “push”, and in terms of the new, foreign market, as “pull” factors. The aim of this paper is to examine socio-cultural factors of trade internationalization. These factors will be analysed in terms of their impact on trade internationalization, as well as the impact of internationalization on them. The basic hypothesis to be tested is that socio-cultural factors affect various activities of international trade chains. In order to test the hypothesis, empirical research on socio-cultural factors of trade internationalization on the Serbian market will be conducted.Za trgovačka društva koja šire svoje poslovanje izvan granica nacionalnog tržišta, vrlo je važno da poznaju odrednice ili čimbenike koji će ovisiti o uspjehu strategije internacionalizacije. U proteklih dvadeset godina teorijska i praktična istraživanja uočila su te čimbenike kao kompleks ekonomskih, političkih, socioloških i kulturnih čimbenika, od kojih u konačnici ovisi izbor specifičnog tržišta na kojem će djelovati u sljedećem razdoblju. Osim toga, rezultati istraživanja u ovom području razmatraju faktore internacionalizacije iz dva ugla, tj. iz ugla nacionalnog tržišta, kao potisne čimbenike (eng. push factors), te iz ugla novog, stranog tržišta, kao privlačne čimbenike (eng. pull factors). Cilj ovog rada je ispitati sociokulturne čimbenike internacionalizacije trgovine. Ti će se čimbenici analizirati u smislu njihovog utjecaja na internacionalizaciju trgovine, kao i utjecaja internacionalizacije na njih. Osnovna hipoteza koju treba testirati je da sociokulturni čimbenici utječu na različite aktivnosti međunarodnih trgovinskih lanaca. Kako bi se testirala hipoteza, provest će se empirijska istraživanja o sociokulturnim čimbenicima internacionalizacije trgovine na srpskom tržištu

Retail service quality as a base in purchasing decision

Retail is a service activity, and services are something that makes the retail companies differ from production companies. Retailers are trying to differentiate the 'package' offer, build customer loyalty and make their position through the provision of high service quality. In addition, the services provided can be varied, such as exterior and interior design of retail stores, preparation of goods for sale, appearance and behavior of sales personnel, culture of communication with customers, and services provided after the sales process. Consumers require the service quality when making purchasing decision. For retail companies and retail stores it is important to continuously monitor the level of service quality. In order to measure the service quality, the method that found its application in the theory and practice is SERVQUAL. This model was created as a combination of theoretical and practical research and it looks at the quality of service as the content of the following dimensions: tangibles, reliability, sensitivity, security and empathy. As such, it is a function of the difference between perceptions and expectations (Q = P-E) and is widely accepted to measure the service quality in traditional retail stores, public sector, higher education, real estate, hospitals, courts and so on. In addition, this model is widely used to measure service quality in e-retailing, e-banking, e-selling of travel packages and other services provided by electronic means. The main assumption is that services are a key factor in making purchasing decision. The aim of this paper is to, through theoretical and practical research with special emphasis on SERVQUAL method, test the initial hypothesis and recognize the level of service quality in retail chains in Southeast Serbia

INOVACIJE KAO POKRETAČI SAVREMENE MALOPRODAJE

The main objective of the paper is to point to the importance of innovation for modern retail. It relies on the fact that retail, as well as total trade, is an innovation-intensive economic sector, and that innovation is a critical factor in creating and maintaining a long-term competitive advantage. Using the desk research method, the paper takes a conceptually wide approach to understanding the meaning and proliferation of innovation in retail. Special emphasis is on the development and application of technological innovation. The hypothesis on the importance of innovation for modern retail development is tested using the example of 250 largest retail chains, with a focus on Walmart, as the leading retail chain. Based on this, the main features of the application and importance of leading innovation in retail are particularly highlighted.Osnovni cilj rada jeste da ukaže na značaj inovacija za savremenu maloprodaju. Polazi se od činjenice da je maloprodaja, kao i ukupna trgovina, inovaciono-intenzivan sektor privrede i da su inovacije kritičan faktor kreiranja i održavanja dugoročne konkurentske prednosti. Metodom kabinetskog istraživanja, u radu se koristi konceptualno širok pristup razumevanju značenja i proliferacije inovacija u maloprodaji. Poseban akcenat stavljen je na razvoj i primenu tehnoloških inovacija. Hipoteza o značaju inovacija za razvoj savremene maloprodaje testira se na primeru 250 najvećih maloprodajnih lanaca, s fokusom na Walmart, vodeći maloprodajni lanac. Na bazi ovoga, posebno su istaknuta glavna obeležja primene i značaja vodećih inovacija u maloprodaji

INTERNACIONALIZACIJA MALOPRODAJE – KOMPARATIVNA ANALIZA HRVATSKE I SRBIJE

Globalization and integration of the world market leads to internationalization of retail and overall trade. At the turn of the century, internationalization has become a widespread retail phenomenon. Thus, it has become a permanent and inevitable process. Internationalization of trade, especially retail, covers a large number of countries, but with varying intensity. The subject of this work is the achieved level of internationalization of trade, especially retail, on the markets of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia. Arguments for the selection of these countries are numerous. One of them is the fact that both countries originated from the former Yugoslav federation. At the same time, Croatia is the newest member of the European Union (as of 1 July 2013), and Serbia signed the Stabilization and Association Process, and is on the way of opening membership negotiations. For these reasons, Croatian experience can serve Serbia as a landmark in the implementation of activities in the segment of trade and its internationalization. The paper aims at mapping Serbian activities in the process of further internationalization of retail.Globalizacija i integracija svetskog tržišta za svoju posledicu ima internacionalizaciju maloprodaje i ukupne trgovine. Krajem 20. i početkom 21. veka internacionalizacija postaje sveprisutna pojava odnosno fenomen u maloprodaji. Tako postaje permanentan i neminovan proces. Internacionalizacija trgovine, posebno maloprodaje, zahvata mnoge zemlje, s tim što se odvija različitim intenzitetom. Predmet istraživanja ovog rada jeste dostignuti nivo internacionalizacije trgovine, posebno maloprodaje, na tržištu Republike Hrvatske i Republike Srbije. Razlozi odabira upravo ovih zemalja su brojni. Jedan od njih jeste i činjenica da obe država potiču od bivše jugoslovenske federacije. S druge strane, Hrvatska je najnovija članica Evropske unije (od 1. jula 2013. godine), a Srbija je potpisala Sporazum o stabilizaciji i pridruživanju i nalazi se na putu otvaranja pregovora o članstvu. Iz ovih razloga, iskustvo Hrvatske može da posluži Srbiji kao orijentir u realizaciji aktivnosti iz segmenta trgovine i njene internacionalizacije. Cilj rada jeste mapiranje aktivnosti Srbije u procesu dalje internacionalizacije maloprodaje