Browsing by Author "Balliu, Brian"

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Financial health of sustainable companies
(Tritonic, 2021) Balliu, Brian
Increasingly, companies are taking initiatives towards adopting sustainable practices to mitigate the negative social and environmental impacts that arise from their operations. To address the emerging needs of society, companies have started to change their business processes and have started releasing sustainability reports. Sustainable companies not only manufacture products that are sustainable and sourced ethically, but they also have established environmentally friendly production methods. Moreover, sustainable companies are important factors when considering the influence these companies have in fully changing the landscape of businesses' involvement and responsibility in the protection of the environment. For this study companies that were rated as the most sustainable companies for 2021 by SG Analytics and that also scored a high ESG score in the Refinitiv Eikon database. The companies were picked from different GICS industry codes to offer a better view of the financial health of companies that operate in different sectors and are subject to a different customer base. The financial reports of the selected companies were analyzed with a focus on their levels of liquidity and the financial structure to provide a clear image of how healthy these companies are from a financial perspective. Additionally, environmental considerations are provided for each company while analyzing the areas where the businesses conduct operations, with regards to challenges that might arise and impact the financial health of said companies in their future business endeavors. The study contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of corporate sustainability and corporate risk, utilizing a different methodology from the statistical studies in the field. The study employs accounting ratios and a risk management approach, analyzing the balance sheet, income statements, and cash flow statements for each company.
The Albanian Mutual Funds during the COVID pandemic
(University Goce Delchev Shtip, 2021-08-16) Balliu, Brian
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lockdown of a global scale and subsequent enforcement ofit had an impact in the capital markets, and the Albanian mutual fund industry would not remain an exception. Such crisis put the industry into an unprecedented stress test. This paper uses qualitative research method to identify the challenges that were faced by the mutual fund industry during the beginning of the pandemic. This includes the fund flow perspective, secondary debt markets, the shifts of regulations and the behavior of investors. The conclusions that will be drawn from this study are aimed to help capital market investors and researchers in drawing strategies in the Albanian market during crisis times.Albania is recognized as an emerging economy and during its ongoing stage of development, the COVID-19 pandemic caused turbulences in the economic stability of the country. With many measures put in motion in order to reduce the impact of the pandemic upon the population, all the sections of the economy have been facing disruption. The capital market, likewise, was met with a lot of challenges during this period. Although, history has shown that the Mutual Fund(MF)industry has always bounced back significantly after taking a hit. Considering the impact of the crisis, the regulator, Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), closely supervised the liquidity to ensure the mutual funds would be able to operate in stressful conditions and in the best interest of the investor. For this study, a Qualitative research method is applied by using Histographical research approach, regarding the past and present events that are associated with the Albanian Mutual Fund Industry. Furthermore, data from regulator websites, company websites, business newspapers in physical and digital forms are used in the study as well as research papers. Moreover, data from financial statements of the Mutual Funds(MFs)has been sourced from the websites of Asset Management Companies(AMCs).
The Attitudes of the Young Albanians and Romanians on Sustainable Tourism
(Universitatea "Stefan cel Mare" Suceava, 2022-06-20) Balliu, Brian; Zbuchea, Alexandra
Sustainability has become widely accepted in tourism as a means of mitigating the negative effects of mass tourism. However, constructing a credible scale in cross-cultural settings is crucial for assessing the outcomes of sustainable tourism. The Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale (SUS-TAS) in an Albanian and Romanian context is examined in this study, and the local population in both countries is used to collect data. The sample consists of younger people belonging to two age groups: 18-29 years old and 30-39 years old. These segments correspond broadly to Gen. Z and Millennials in the two countries. The sustainable tourism attitude scale (SUS-TAS) is designed to assess the attitudes of local populations toward sustainable tourism development. The study uses a seven-dimensional SUS-TAS model with 37 questions. The findings indicate that the SUS-TAS can be used to ascertain resident attitudes toward sustainable tourism in Albania and Romania. Results show that attitudes are quite similar in most aspects between the two countries.
Tracing the Discourse on Overtourism
(The Bucharest University of Economic Studies In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services, 2025) Balliu, Brian; Zbuchea, Alexandra
This study analyzes the discourse surrounding overtourism by synthesizing academic perspectives and media representations, highlighting the dynamics and diverse effects of this modern phenomenon. This study aims to critically analyze the evolution of overtourism as an interdisciplinary topic, examining its ecological, socio-cultural, and economic implications. The methodology comprises two analyses: a comparative computational media analysis using Media Cloud to investigate overtourism coverage in major global tourism destinations and a bibliometric analysis conducted with VOSviewer to assess scholarly outputs obtained from Scopus. The comparative media analysis from 2020 to 2024 reveals varying national perspectives on overtourism, highlighting ethical concerns in German and Swiss media in contrast to sensationalist and conflict-oriented representations in Spanish and French outlets. Japanese coverage prioritizes domestic issues, whereas British reports highlight international viewpoints. The bibliometric analysis from 2013 to 2024 reveals a rise in scholarly attention before the pandemic, followed by stabilization in the post-pandemic period. Key thematic clusters encompass strategic management, heritage conservation, environmental sustainability, urban transformation, social impacts, and post-pandemic tourism dynamics. The academic discourse emphasizes the impact of overtourism on ecological degradation, community tensions, cultural commodification, and economic disparities, underscoring the need for integrated governance and community involvement in effective tourism management. The findings indicate that overtourism has significant negative effects, including the exacerbation of socioeconomic inequalities, ecological stress, and cultural degradation. Additionally, tourismophobia is rising, leading to conflicts. Furthermore, they underscore the role of grassroots movements in promoting sustainable and equitable tourism practices. The study concludes by advocating for comprehensive governance frameworks, community-oriented solutions, and interdisciplinary research to promote sustainable and resilient tourism.