FAP - Economics, Business & Business Finance

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Capitalul social - demers strategic pentru o guvernanță locală viabilă?
(Revista Transilvană de Ştiinţe Administrative, 2011) Popescu, Luminița Gabriela
In this study the author explores the relationships between governmental public policies and social capital, with a focus on the case of Romania. The development of social capital as well as the development of links between social capital and civil society represents a strategic endeavor focused on overcoming the challenges local governance faces. From a theoretical standpoint, it can be argued that public institutions and public policies influence the formation of social capital, by means of developing mechanisms for stimulating the participation of the members of the sociaty in public affairs. From a pragmatic standpoint, it is very likely to have errors that will limit/stop the formation process of social capital. This study strives to prove that the viability of governance is ensured through: (1) a clear understanding of the role of the state, civil society, and the market; (2) a new institutional design and the existence of well established social capital; and (3) political will. The conclusion of the study, based on empirical data, is that for now social capital does not represent a support for governance. Even more, we believe that the current situation leads to the consolidation of authoritarianism and rigid bureaucratic structures.
Implementation of public policies. The compatibility of the model of public policy with the target space of the policy
(2020) Popescu, Luminița Gabriela
New realities bring to the fore a series of challenges referring to the implementation of public policies. One of the major challenges is caused by the lack of compatibility between the chosen model for the elaboration of policy, on the one hand, and the target public space, on the other. That could mean that either the technical solutions formulated by the researchers, to be applied to the target space are totally unrealistic, or in the target space there are zones of confusion, of instability, of unpredictability, where the model chosen by the policy-makers cannot be applied. The degree of difficulty is so much more difficult as the members of the community and society, in general, are preoccupied, predominantly, with the problems that appear in the target public space, while almost not at all interested in the technical problems faced by the policy-makers. Despite this lack of interest, anyway, the problems that the community/society faces cannot be solved but by the implementation of their initiatives and models proposed by the policy-makers. The success of a policy is, in our opinion, firstly, a matter of compatibility between the model of the public policy proposed and the target public space characterised by a high degree of inertia and tendencies manifest in maintaining the status quo. How could there be reached the compatibility between a public policy, whose vision is based on the behavioural change of the institutions(1), organisations and people, on the one hand, and the unreformed public space, aligned to the exigencies much exceeded by reality, on the other? Which are the approaches necessary to a compatibility between the models of the policies and the target space? What strategies must be chosen? How must the efforts and resources in the public space be graduated and oriented to become compatible with the model chosen by the policy makers? These are questions which we will try to answer in this article.
Conflict of Interest and Integrity in Public Administration in CEE Countries. Comparative Anaysis
(Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 2013) Popa, Florin Marius
Corruption is a threat to democracy, to the law’s supremacy, to social equity and justice, it erodes the principles of efficient administration, undermines the market economy and endanger the stability of state institutions. Research on corruption has particularly focused on the classification of its various forms in order to operationalize the concept of analytical judgment and practical reasoning. In this context, conflict of interest represent one of the main form of manifestation of corruption in public administration.
Assessment of Public Administration Integrity Level: Between Morality and the Law
(National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, 2017) Popa, Florin Marius
In recent years, the academic and research institutions, international organizations (among which the International Monetary Fund, World Bank) have an increased interest for estimating the integrity, public administration reform and to gauge the impact of this reform on the level of economic development. From a marginal part in international aid programs, the integrity has grown to occupy a privileged position in most development programs. Currently, it is considered a key factor in good governance of a country with vast implications and whose development must be prevented. The large number of managerial incidents led to a growing interest in ethical programs within organizations. ""Respect"" and ""integrity"" are two alternative management strategies that are formulated in order to avoid moral deviations from organizations. Compliance and integrity differ regarding how the moral behavior of members of an organization can and should be achieved. The strategy focuses on explaining under a set of rules. The main objective of this paper is to analyze how the integrity within public organizations became an organizational value and not only a legal value.
Adjusting the 5C pentagon for better health policymaking: observing the leading behavioural risks factors (diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption)
(General Association of the Economists in Romania (AGER), 2023) Bițoiu, Teodora; Nicolescu, Cristina Elena
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary risks pertain to the goods that can destabilisethe market should their production trigger too many negative externalities and not enough researchto counterbalance them. Moreover, all three are among the factors that, connected to ever-presentrisky behaviours, drive the most death and disability combined (the other two risk factors being themetabolic ones and the environmental/occupational risks). Therefore, they are to be considered as relevant to both the perceived health of the population and analysed in relation to the data onsmokers, alcohol consumers, and poor diet impact.However, the design of these health policies must be adapted to the pattern of national culture of Romania, increasing the degree of their acceptance by the population. This is particularly true whenless-damage alternatives are present in the market. Policymakers should incentivize their use overmore-damaging products. In fact, the existence of better alternatives deepens the market failure thata sub-optimal allocation of resources produces when consumers opt for more damaging productsover better goods. Clearly, the objective of policymakers ought to be to differentiate based on therisk profile of the products present on the market.
The Healthcare Public System – Does Standardization Withhold the Bucket from Leaking?
(Sciendo, 2017-12) Bițoiu, Teodora; Nicolescu, Cristina Elena; Rădulescu, Crina
The public healthcare system is heavily influenced by the 3C trilemma - cost - coverage - choice. The paper's argument tackles the fact that should the public decision on improving capacity be leaning towards universal coverage in would result in efficiency losses and, in an attempt to control the costs it would limit patients' choice. Should priority be given to performance or value? The present paper deals with the compromise between the equity and efficiency, a leaky bucket that becomes more visible in the struggle to build capacity and intervene in the market by setting standards. Setting healthcare standards is a global concern, the 3rd Sustainable Development Goal is a clear proof of that the aim to emphasise and better analyse two of the most influential variables: efficiency and equity. All in all, what we argue is that the current leaky bucket is a trade-off between choice, coverage, and cost. For a complex public service like healthcare, targeting a full coverage and multiple choice would incur huge costs and, cutting costs considerably restricts both the choice and coverage. The cost is influenced by the production capacity use when the activity has large fixed costs.
Neuromanagement decision-making and cognitive algorithmic processes in the technological adoption of mobile commerce apps
(Instytut Badań Gospodarczych /Institute of Economic Research, 2021-12) Andronie, Mihai; Lăzăroiu, George; Ștefănescu, Roxana; Ionescu, Luminița; Cocoșatu, Mădălina
"Research background: With growing evidence of consumer adoption of mobile shopping apps,there is a pivotal need for comprehending Internet-enabled consumer devices in mobile shopping behavior. Mobile shopping platform features and user technological readiness configure consumers'expectations and demands as regards mobile retailing adoption, leading to acceptance of mobile shopping apps and payment services.Purpose of the article: In this research, prior findings have been cumulated indicating that mobile social apps extend throughout consumer attitudes and behaviors by the widespread adoption of smartphones. We contribute to the literature by showing that cutting-edge technological developments associated with customer behavior in relation to mobile commerce apps have resulted in the rise of data-driven systems. Consumer behavioral intention and adoption intention in relation to mobile shopping apps/websites are developed on perceived risk and trust consequences. Methods: Throughout February and March 2021, a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases was carried out, with search terms comprising ""mobile shopping app"", ""mobile commerce platform"", ""mobile payment service"", ""Internet-enabled consumer device"", "" consumer technological adoption"", and ""mobile shopping behavior"". As research published between 2018 and 2021 was analyzed, only 330 sources met the suitability criteria. By removing questionable or indeterminate findings (insubstantial/inconsequent data), results unconfirmed by replication, too imprecise content, or having quite similar titles, 66, chiefly empirical,sources were selected. A systematic review of recently published literature was carried out on technological adoption of mobile commerce apps by employing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The Systematic Review Data Repository was used, a software program for the gathering, handling, and analysis of data for the systematic review. The quality of the academic articles was determined by harnessing the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Findings & value added: The consumer purchase decision-making process in mobile app-based marketing involves consumer engagement and willingness to adopt mobile commerce apps.Further advancements should clarify how technological-based consumer adoption of mobile shopping throughout social commerce can improve the payment for products and services."
Low-Low (LL) high human capital clusters in public administration employment - predictor for digital infrastructure public investment priority - Romania case study
(Enterpreneurship & Sustainability Center, 2018-12-30) Lincaru, Cristina; Pîrciog, Speranța; Grigorescu, Adriana; Tudose, Gabriela
Disruptive innovations generated by digital technologies push the public services to digital transformation in order to become not only a problems solver for community, but a real social, economic and environmental development engine. With all significant progress, the use of e-Government services in Romania remains the lowest in the EU; high quality services are not available in a significant part of rural areas. The paper highlighted the spatial heterogeneities of the broadband infrastructure at level of NUTS - 5 expansion correlated to Low-Low (LL) high human capital clusters in public administration and marginalized rural areas. Using data from World Bank studies, provided in the ArcGis Cloud, from Romanian broadband investment prioritization and micro data provided by INS census, we developed a spatial cluster analysis by the means of ESDA method. In public administration the high human capital is clustered in a few innovative hubs which in the absence of a functional and interconnected national administration IT system makes difficult the public administration modernization, especially in the context of regional decentralization. At the county level is visible the pattern of center periphery, where the center is usually the county residence and the LL clusters are the frontier of the counties. Usually, at this frontier are located marginalized rural areas where are provided poor public services. As a recommendation, the future e-government development must be spatial harmonized with the high human capital in order to assure a valuable public service, everywhere, whether it is the smallest village or a big city, to reconnect the public to the state and the state to the public in an inclusive and intelligent manner.
Innovation and product management - The direction of the 21st century luxury market
(Sciendo, 2020-07) Grigorescu, Adriana; Ion, Amalia Elena
Today, most of the so-called luxury streets are covered with advertisements and stores of the mass fashion brands. On Champs Elysees, next to Louis Vuitton and Cartier are brands like Zara and Naf-Naf. The implication of such a picture triggers much needed changes in the general strategy of the luxury brands in product management and innovation management. Constructing their whole core marketing and branding strategy on appealing to human emotions and psychology, the luxury market focuses on symbolism, rarity, extraordinariness, and, of course, aesthetics. Nevertheless, trying to opt out for the same textbook management is not an option for these businesses. Stepping up the pace in the innovation sector, starting with technology, and going all the way to the rapidly evolving consumer profile, the 21st century luxury market can truly support a long history by giving back to the community, with strong brand equity and long-term strategic and financial business innovation and product management. The paper represents a theoretical research aiming at identifying the main strategic direction of the luxury market in terms scientifically proved innovation and product management, with the scope of understanding the new trends in management, and the impact of the latter on bettering the market results of the businesses involved under the form of a model. The results of the research are consistent for both the practical and theoretical sphere of the subject, as they underline the extent to which the influence of consumer psychology and brand management affects the innovation process within the luxury goods market. The limitations of the paper are consistent with the lack of primary data, although the results were condensed in a model that could represent the basis for further research on the topic.
Emerging trends and drivers for knowledge-intensive economy
(Sciendo, 2020-06) Grigorescu, Adriana; Zamfir, Ana Maria; Mocanu, Cristina
Innovation and knowledge-intensive economy are considered crucial for addressing challenges and opportunities currently faced by Europe. The present paper aims to provide inputs for building a long-term vision aiming to promote innovation and knowledge economy for fostering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We analyze microdata from the 2016 Innobarometer "EU Business Innovation Trends" (Flash Eurobarometer 433), covering 14,112 companies from 30 countries in order to shed light on main drivers and results of business investments in innovation. We focus our analysis on high-tech industries and knowledge-intensive services. Additionally, expected positive impacts of innovation in knowledge-intensive sectors are explored in terms of job creation, digital economy, environment protection, health, transport, food quantity and quality, development of smart cities, etc. Our results are useful for designing an improved support for the emergence and impact of knowledge-intensive economy.
Do Investors Overreact to COVID-19 Outbreak? An Experimental Study Using Sequential Disclosures
(University of Finance and Management in Warsaw, Faculty of Management and Finance, Warsaw, 2023-03-31) Sulistiawan, Dedhy; Feliana, Yie Ke; Rudiawarni, Felizia Arni; Grigorescu, Adriana
This paper aims to investigate market participants' reactions to sequential information, presenting firm-specific news and market-wide information. Experimental study takes place in the COVID-19 pandemic era, as market-wide information representation. We also provide firm-specific information in the form of company fundamental information. The results show that participants, as representatives of retail investors, do not overreact to COVID-19. The recency effect dominates their decision-making. Neither firm-specific information nor market-wide information can eliminate the recency effect in decision making. Investors still provide valuations based on the latest information they receive. Another interesting finding in this study is that positive framing of information cannot mitigate the effects of bad news contained therein. Our findings contribute to the study of behavioral finance and corporate disclosure strategies. From the market participants' point of view, our results describe that investors' decisions are often not based on the information content but the latest information they received. From the company perspective, this research also contributes to the corporate disclosure strategy valued by investors based on how they disclose information to the public.
Key drivers and skills need for innovative companies focused on sustainability
(Sciendo, 2019-05) Grigorescu, Adriana; Maer Matei, Monica Mihaela; Mocanu, Cristina; Zamfir, Ana Maria
Innovation is essential for European competitiveness and provides key inputs for developing business models that are conducive for a more sustainable economy. Recent evidences show that businesses have increased the management attention and investments they're dedicating to sustainability. This paper aims to identify the most important drivers supporting companies to develop innovation activities oriented towards making the business models more sustainable. We explore microdata from the 2016 Innobarometer "EU Business Innovation Trends" (Flash Eurobarometer 433), covering 14,112 companies from 30 countries. Using statistical classification methods, we identify the most important factors that are related to innovation activities that have potential to shape the efficiency of raw materials usage and the environmental protection. Special focus is given to companies' investments in training, software development, research and development, company branding, design of products and services, organization or business process improvements and acquisition of machines, equipment, software or licenses. Also, our analysis highlights the skills that are needed the most by companies in order to support their innovation activities targeting sustainability. Our results are useful for better understanding the attention that is given to sustainability by innovative companies and which are the main factors that boost innovation dedicated to sustainability.
Exploratory study of the companies' economic performance using a social customer relationship management
(Elsevier, 2016) Nițu, Valentin Claudiu; Nițu, Oana; Grigorescu, Adriana; Codrea, Elena
He epistemological positioning of scientific approach involves the diversity of the viewpoints of academics and specialists, exclusiveness not being considered. This paper aims to reflect own contributions to the development of management theory and management practice in Romania. First of all, the proposed scientific approach is a positivist approach, because it envisages the interposition of own reflections, an observation of what is happening in the market, an authentic presentation as it is. The main objective of this scientific research is to highlight the importance of social media as a mean of business development by creating new opportunities through promotion and a better brand visibility in the market. In the literature we have outlined a number of methods to assess the way in which companies approach the CRM: call method, the interview, the questionnaire, etc. Quantitative investigation of this paper was conducted based on assessment questionnaire, addressed to the employees of some Romanian companies. The qualitative investigation was conducted at the end of the research, based on analysis and structuring the information obtained. In this paper there were analyzed three elements: management position with the implementation of a CRM system; CRM to SCRM transition and the use of the new SM technologies in the implementation of a CRM system; applying of a SCRM system using social media platforms. As a result of the conducted study it was found that the media is one of the main trainers of public opinion, if not the main, controlling the public sphere. It conveys information, but also it controls and steers the public opinion. Thus, SM can form quickly enough media crisis to lower the public favorability for certain companies or politicians. In this way, by resorting to specific Social Media tools, the companies can obtain crucial information for evaluating the consumer satisfaction, information that would be more difficult to obtain traditionally.
Regional Resilience in Romania - Between Realism and Aspirations
(Elsevier, 2015) Iordan, Marioara; Chilian, Mihaela Nona; Grigorescu, Adriana
The resilience of regions/locations as a possible response to the uncertainty and various rapid and volatile changes in the social and economic environment began to capture the attention of both researchers and policy makers. Based on the concept of regional resilience and selected indicators, the paper analyzes the development of the Romanian regions and their counties over a longer temporal interval, characterized by both growth and crisis and recession. The results indicate different development and adjustment patterns among the regions and among the counties within a region, but also some common trends of economic fragility, continuous restructuring and attempts at adapting to the ever changing socio-economic environment.
Educational barriers for disadvantaged groups in entrepreneurship
(Elsevier, 2016) Grigorescu, Adriana
Entrepreneurship on the small and medium size is considered to be the 'economy engine', at the same time it represents a reservoir of jobs. Self employment through an entrepreneurial initiative for micro business could be a way of subsistence income generation. There are plenty of educational programs focused on entrepreneurial skills, but they are mainly focused on the educated segment of potential entrepreneurs to teach them how to start a business. Specific ones are addressed to youth to access programs that are financing start-ups for bachelor degree graduates. There are also disadvantaged groups, as women, Romany, migrating, refugees, persons over 50, unemployed in rural areas, persons with disabilities that are interested in finding a source of income by starting their own business, but they are facing with limited knowledge, less self-confidence, lack of fund and not supportive attitude of the environment. The ELIEMENTAL Braking Down Barriers for Enterprise Project aims to high light the barriers of the disadvantages groups from 4 countries (Greece, Poland, Romania, UK) in staring a micro business and designing a training program. Knowing the barriers, that are considered by the studied group to be most important issue that are keeping them away, give us the opportunity to act on and to design tools for overcoming. After analyzing the results of a survey on the barriers and need of the targeted groups, it was designed a training program with two components: a training course and a mentoring to be tested on the target groups. The results of the testing process were partially unexpected from the evaluation point of view of the skills improvement. It was offered a different approach angle and new issues of concern on the training process design. The paper is presenting the results of the training and the discussions about the mentoring process.
Financial-Economic Indicators - Vectors of Budgetary Performance. Case Study Romania
(Elsevier, 2016) Dumitrescu-Peculea, Adelina; Sopu (Mișa), Monica Roxana
The actions taken in order to make public administration more efficient within the last few years have been concentrated on optimizing the internal processes within public institutions. In doing so, an emphasis was placed upon the method in which public financial resources are utilized. The accumulated experience in theory as well as in practice has shown however, that optimizing the processes of planning financial resources is just as important. As a result, the emphasis can be placed on the efficiency of budgetary processes. To evaluate the budgetary performance a series of financial-economic indicators can be used in order to quantify the method in which financial resources are used, as well as producing a plan for their application. The use of statistical analysis and the evaluation of official data which is offered by public institutions, on the basis of which financial-economic indicators are calculated manages to distinguish this paper from others. The conclusions of this study focuses on the expressivity and usefulness of these indicators.
The Challenges of the Administrative Process in a Financial Crisis and their Effectiveness
(Elsevier , 2016) Dumitrescu-Peculea, Adelina; Dogaru, Tatiana Camelia
When we think back to the financial crisis which has been over for a few years now, we can only see the negative aspects. However, the positive aspects are incontestable. One of these aspects is represented by the efforts of making the public administrative processes more efficient. Managers of public institutions were obligated, due to lack of funds, to concentrate on creating and/or developing various mechanisms in order to optimize the internal processes with the intention of assuring the development of their activities and obtaining their overall objective. By doing this, they gained the importance of organizational functions such as internal public audits, internal managerial control and governess. The intent of this paper is to present the efficient process which took place in public administration sector of Romania during the financial crisis and immediately after. In order to better understand this procedure, a comparative analysis between the process implemented in Romania and the ones applied by the European Union will be discussed. The conclusions which will be formulated due to this study can be applied both theoretically as well as practically. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
Mapping post crises the European job growth in travel agencies and tour operator reservation services
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis , 2021-01-01) Grigorescu, Adriana; Lincaru, Cristina; Pîrciog, Speranța; Chițescu, Răzvan Ion
World Tourism Organisation, declares the Tour Operators as tourism engine of strategically importance to support jobs and inclusive growth in all regions. Tour operators emerges following the 2008 crises, as a global job engine. Its atypical profile of highest human capital concentrator in tourism, attract and retain talents, works digital with a high-intensity information use. Is a rapid adopter of technological innovation, generate high value added in highly competitive global markets. We look in this paper to understand why employment is growing or declining in a regional tourism tour operator sector during 2008-2018, in some EU28 regions? We use Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis to map the indicator 'tour operator's employment growth' components decomposed by the Shift Share Analysis Method. Analysed Eurostat data for 266 regions (281 regions) indicates that for the average regional tour operators employment growth heterogeneity is driven almost at half by region-specific factors. The main contributions are: identifying this indicator as appropriate to be a core one in OECD (2013) tourism competitiveness framework & redefine tour operator sector as a core sector of tourism in the Global model of tourism of Harrison.
Regional Digital Resilience and the 4Helix Model-The Higher Education Institutions' Case in Romania
(MDPI, 2023-06) Grigorescu, Adriana; Lincaru, Cristina; Sigurjonsson, Throstur Olaf; Pîrciog, Speranța
Against the background of multiple and simultaneous global socio-economic shocks, coupled with digital transformation and the green transition, regional resilience triggers new structural transformations. The more complex processes that need to be addressed now require the usage of complex integrated tools. The novelty of the integrated approach is the combination of the models and the synthetic spatial-temporal picture offered. The quadruple helix, or 4Helix, model puts Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) at the nexus of generating regional digital resilience. We posit a new mindset and behavior of human capital to reinforce innovation and knowledge production and transfer. We explore, using the Romanian national case, to what degree the spatial 4Helix model generates regional digital resilience as a positive externality of adoption of the 'new normal' digital education. We analyze this process in three steps. (1) We determine the spatial distribution of HEIs at the Romanian county level (NUTS3). (2) We calculate the regional static and dynamic resilience indexes (at NUTS2) as the outcome of the method for multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) by each region's digital economy as well as individual and regional wealth, social digital use and social digital connectivity dimensions. (3) Lastly, we provide the result of overlaid maps and radar charts (using HEIs number and spatial coverage and each region's static and dynamic digital resilience). These three classes of digital resilience models of 4Helix by region indicate a generalized failure in adopting digital education in Romania. The study contributes by adding a powerful tool to explore the complex processes or phenomena and generating an integrated perspective using a pre-existing framework. In doing so, it enables researchers to better understand and address society's needs, co-create knowledge and solutions together with the end-users, maximize the impact of these solutions, optimize resources usage, and increase the transparency and accountability of the decision-making processes.
Competitiveness and sustainable development in public services
(Sciendo, 2019-03) Grigorescu, Adriana; Lincaru, Cristina; Pîrciog, Speranța; Chițescu, Răzvan Ion
The last years were of profound transformation in public services that knows more or less the challenge from the private sector. A second dimension of competitiveness for the public services staring from 2007 was the free access of the citizens to at least education and health services in European Union. The paper aims to show the evolution of the cohabitation of the public and private sectors on the services of public interest, their development and evolution in different regions. Identifying and highlighting the key issues in competitiveness and quality of the services provided, will give us the main lines for the further development and public policies that should be considered. Considering the cohesion policy of European Union, an analysis of the public and private sectors in public services in Romanian counties could drive us to a conclusion about the affordability and the quality of the services. Using the statistics it can be show the regional distribution of the service providers especially for education, health, water supply and other services. The integrated analysis we offer a global picture of the regional potential and development. Based on the findings the public decision makers could better set up the sectorial public policies and the public spending. Never the less, the European support could be also directed to increase the quality and efficiency of the public services.

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