An analysis of the economic performances of the retail companies in Romania

Based on the finding of the economic studies on the analysis of the performances of the companies from retails sector, this paper aims of analyzing the economic factors which are the basis of economic performances of the new companies from the retails sector of Romania. Starting with an econometric model based on current assets, fixed assets and number of employees, three research hypotheses were tested and validated through a multilinear regression model analyzed with the OLS method with the use of statistical software SPSS 23. The conclusions of the paper are in line with the other researches in the area and underline that the economic performances of the selected companies are determined by the current and fixed assets, as well as the number of employees

The mediating role of students' ability to adapt to online activities on the relationship between perceived university culture and academic performance

Research background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected higher education globally and disrupted its usual activities, according to differing perspectives. The ability to adapt to online activities was an important factor for many researchers during the pandemic period. Purpose of the article: In this article, the authors are studying the ability of the students to adapt to online activities, and also the direct and indirect effect on their academic performances. Methods: The data was collected with a questionnaire and the respondents are students from Romanian Universities. The analysis was made with an econometric model by using the PLS-SEM methodology. The goal of the paper was to find and analyse the factors used to perform academic online activities during the pandemic period. Findings & value added: The results of the paper validate the research hypotheses formulated in the introductory part and confirm that the students' academic performances are a direct result of many factors, such as: system parameters, personal demand, personal commitment, and regulatory environment. The identification of the exogenous variables with significant impact on the students' performances through online activities could help the management of the universities to implement the positive aspects and to reward them for their efforts while preventing from resilience to change. The higher education system has to acknowledge that flexible online learning opportunities are needed by students to fit their coursework around their employment and family responsibilities

An analysis of the economic performances of the retail companies in Romania

Based on the finding of the economic studies on the analysis of the performances of the companies from retails sector, this paper aims of analyzing the economic factors which are the basis of economic performances of the new companies from the retails sector of Romania. Starting with an econometric model based on current assets, fixed assets and number of employees, three research hypotheses were tested and validated through a multilinear regression model analyzed with the OLS method with the use of statistical software SPSS 23. The conclusions of the paper are in line with the other researches in the area and underline that the economic performances of the selected companies are determined by the current and fixed assets, as well as the number of employees

Perspectives and reviews in the use of narrative strategies for communicating fake news in the tourism industry

In this article we review research from the past decade that explores how elements of communication from social media and press articles influence the decision making for choosing a travel destination. ‘Fake news’ has the potential to impact opinions, expectations and behaviour of tourism consumers. Perceived as an important threat to modern democratic societies, the course of intentional false data dissemination is able to disrupt perception and throughout the normal functioning of state institutions and private companies. Hence, manipulation of information shapes differently the image of tourism destinations, accommodation units, cruise ships and even tourist attractions mostly in order to produce higher economic benefits. Unfortunately, sometimes ‘fake news’ spreading could be detrimental to tourist destinations and operators. In order to pursue, cope, absorb and adjust threats related to ‘fake news’, we will use and approach in a later work the aspects regarding a ‘societal resilience

Decision-Making Process Regarding the Use of Mobile Phones in Romania Taking into Consideration Sustainability and Circular Economy

Nowadays, the use of smartphones has become essential for daily activities that have either a personal or professional purpose. A large number of resources is necessary for both the production and the use of these devices, which means that solutions in terms of sustainability are needed. The purpose of this research is to highlight the concept of sustainability when talking about smartphones, as well to underline the possibilities that exist for the consumers. This study examines the habits of young consumers in Romania, the reasons behind a mobile phone replacement, and the factors that influence the purchase decision. The methodology section follows quantitative and qualitative market research. An analysis was performed in order to have a deep understanding of trends in terms of mobile phone ownership and preferred brands. This study also provides a general view on the neglectfulness of the young population of Romania regarding the dangers to which the environment is exposed because of the purchasing habits that go against sustainability. For accomplishing this purpose, important results have been discovered through the analysis of the data obtained from self-administered questionnaires and interviews. The results show that people are usually using only one mobile phone at a time and they change it once every two years for sustainability and financial reasons. The same applies when it comes to choosing a certain brand. The reasons behind the purchase of a new phone and the decisions regarding an old one are based on healthy principles of the circular economy and sustainability. The preferences in terms of technology and design, and the decision process are correlated with incomes

Production networks and resilience: How dense production networks shield economies in financial crisis.

The research delves into the underexplored area of how production network structures influence the severity of economic downturns, particularly during the last financial crisis. Utilizing the RSTAN database from the OECD, we meticulously derived critical measures from the input-output matrices for 61 economies. Our methodology entailed a panel analysis spanning from 2008 to 2010, which is a period marked by significant recessionary pressures. This analysis aimed to correlate economic performance with various production network metrics, taking into account control factors such as interest rates and the prevalence of service sectors. The findings reveal a noteworthy positive correlation between the density of production networks and economic resilience during the crisis, which remained consistent across multiple model specifications. Conversely, as anticipated, higher interest rates were linked to poorer economic performance, highlighting the critical interplay between monetary policy and economic outcomes during periods of financial instability. Given these insights, we propose a policy recommendation emphasizing the strategic enhancement of production network density as a potential buffer against economic downturns. This approach suggests that policymakers should consider the structural aspects of production networks in designing economic stability and growth strategies, thus potentially mitigating the impacts of future financial crises

Analysing EU Countries Digital Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals

The article analyses the level of digitalization in the European Union (EU) and correlates the results with the Sustainable Development Goals formulated by the United Nations. The paper provides figures on the number of enterprises receiving orders online, the share of enterprises' turnover on e-commerce, the number of employed ICT specialists by sex (female), and the number of individuals using the Internet for interacting with public authorities in order to determine the differences between the member states. The next step carried out in the current article was to conduct a three-year forecast of the indicators listed previously. The methods used to make predictions are Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Double Exponential Smoothing. The results highlight a projected increase in individuals using the Internet for interacting with public authorities, the rise in e-commerce turnover, the expansion of high-speed Internet coverage, and the growth in the percentage of female-employed ICT specialists. Furthermore, the originality of this research lies in providing valuable insights into the correlation between digitalization and sustainable development in the European Union. The forecasted trends indicate positive advancements toward multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These findings demonstrate the EU's commitment to achieving SDG targets related to effective institutions, public access to information, economic productivity, technology access, quality education, and gender equality. The study emphasises the crucial role of digitalization in driving sustainable development and underscores the progress made by the EU in aligning its efforts with the SDGs

The list of countries (in their order in the OECD RSTAN database).

The list of countries (in their order in the OECD RSTAN database).</p

Visual flowchart of the paper.

The research delves into the underexplored area of how production network structures influence the severity of economic downturns, particularly during the last financial crisis. Utilizing the RSTAN database from the OECD, we meticulously derived critical measures from the input-output matrices for 61 economies. Our methodology entailed a panel analysis spanning from 2008 to 2010, which is a period marked by significant recessionary pressures. This analysis aimed to correlate economic performance with various production network metrics, taking into account control factors such as interest rates and the prevalence of service sectors. The findings reveal a noteworthy positive correlation between the density of production networks and economic resilience during the crisis, which remained consistent across multiple model specifications. Conversely, as anticipated, higher interest rates were linked to poorer economic performance, highlighting the critical interplay between monetary policy and economic outcomes during periods of financial instability. Given these insights, we propose a policy recommendation emphasizing the strategic enhancement of production network density as a potential buffer against economic downturns. This approach suggests that policymakers should consider the structural aspects of production networks in designing economic stability and growth strategies, thus potentially mitigating the impacts of future financial crises.</div