FAP - Environmental Sciences/Studies & Sustenability

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/123456789/34

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 29

Assessing the Potential of Civic Crowdfunding as an Alternative Mechanism for Financing Social Innovation in Romania
(The Bucharest University of Economic Studies in partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services, 2025) Jaliu, Dumitru Dragoș; Farcasanu-Ravar, Anamaria
The paper investigates the potential of civic crowdfunding to become an alternative financing mechanism for Romanian social innovation initiatives. At the time being, traditional funding sources for social innovation - public grants, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility – face growing constraints due to increasing competition (from both for-profit as well as not-for-profit entities) and increasingly restrictive eligibility conditions and evaluation criteria. In many cases, applicants develop projects to address funding criteria rather than satisfying existing social needs. Moreover, challenges remain in demonstrating social impact, particularly for early-stage ventures. The disruptive potential of crowdfunding - as an alternative to traditional funding sources – has been well-documented; thus, it is generally accepted that crowdfunding offers increased accessibility, transparency and flexibility. The current research focuses on civic crowdfunding, a participatory approach engaging citizens and public authorities in funding and delivering public goods and services, often through matchfunding. The study builds on an extensive literature review, as well as a mapping of promising practices in civic crowdfunding and matchfunding mechanisms implemented in various European cities. The paper also analyses qualitative data collected from a focus-groups with social innovators and semi-structured interviews with representatives of Romanian municipalities and supporting organisations. Research questions explored local authorities’ knowledge and perception of civic crowdfunding, as well as the degree to which social innovators are interested in civic crowdfunding programmes. Last but not least, the analysis dwelled into potential implementation obstacles, as perceived by both municipalities (as initiators and administrators of civic crowdfunding programmes) and social innovators (as beneficiaries). Findings reveal limited awareness of civic crowdfunding among both categories of stakeholders. Local municipalities perceive civic crowdfunding as challenging due to the lack of clear legal frameworks, limited administrative capacity, and insufficient expertise among municipal staff. Still, social innovators and civil society organisations show significant interest in civic crowdfunding and are looking forward to alternative financing options being implemented. Overall, the results of the research confirms the potential of civic crowdfunding as an alternative funding mechanism, while pointing out the need for capacity-building and addressing administrative challenges. Although the study is exploratory, the findings may be used to promote a more participatory approach to funding social innovation in Romanian municipalities.
Quality of Life Determinants in Spain's Smart Rural Areas During the Pandemic: A Better Alternative to Urban Living
(MDPI, 2025) López-Ruiz, Victor-Raul; Alfaro-Navarro, Jose-Luis; Nevado-Peña, Domingo; Huete-Alcocer, Nuria; Grigorescu, Adriana
In the context of widespread rural depopulation, recent global developments have sparked shifts in lifestyle preferences, underscoring the often-overlooked benefits of rural living. These changes have prompted many people to consider relocating to rural areas for improved quality of life and more tranquility. This study explores the differences in quality of life between rural and urban environments, analyzing key factors that impact individuals' perceived well-being within a broader societal context. Focusing on Spain, our research aims to identify the diverse elements influencing social happiness. Using data from a national survey on quality of life for 908 participants, we compared the perspectives of rural and urban residents during the pandemic, revealing a clear attraction effect toward rural areas. Our findings reveal a significant trend toward relocating to rural areas, but only those with good connectivity (smart rural areas). To effectively address rural depopulation and promote these regions, it is crucial to invest in comprehensive connectivity enhancements, including technological advancements, improved infrastructure, and wider availability of services. Methodologically, a comparative analysis approach was applied, using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify differences and regression techniques to determine the influence of various factors on habitat happiness, understood as quality of life in social terms.
The Impact of Cloud Computing on Mass and Energy Flows: Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the IT and Communications Sectors at the European Level (2014-2021)
(MDPI, 2025) Grigorescu, Adriana; Lincaru, Cristina; Pirciog, Camelia Speranta
In the context of accelerated digitization and the transition to sustainability, this study explores the relationship between the use of cloud computing services and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the IT and communications sectors at the European level using panel data provided by Eurostat for the period 2014–2021. The initial set included 14 countries, but due to incomplete data, the final analysis was performed on a consistent and complete dataset comprising 8 countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and Romania. The applied methodology includes VAR and VECM econometric models, the Granger causality test, impulse response functions, and variance decomposition. The results show a long-term cointegrating relationship between the variables, highlighting the existence of mass and energy transfer to centralized infrastructures such as data centers. The IT subsectors (J62_J63) demonstrate superior efficiency in reducing GHG emissions compared to the general communications sector (J), highlighting the positive impact of a high level of digitization. Although the research provides valuable insights into the relationship between digitization and sustainability, a major limitation is that not all EU countries are represented. This study provides actionable policy recommendations to minimize the ecological impact of digital technologies and enhance resource efficiency in the green transition era.
Energy imports in turbulent eras: Evidence from China
(Elsevier, 2024) Su, Chi-Wei; Yang, Shengyao; Peculea, Adelina Dumitrescu; Biţoiu, Teodora Ioana; Qin, Meng
The turbulent world situation is an urgent crisis in energy trade and may exacerbate regional energy tensions. This paper measures the links between geopolitical risks (GPR), economic policy uncertainties (EPU) and energy import (EI) from 2005:M3 to 2023:M3. We use the Wavelet-Based quantile-on-quantile (QQ) approach based on China's import statistics for the first time. The results show that both GPR and EPU are important factors affecting EI. We confirm the negative impact of GPR and EPU on EI in the short term, while EI tends to recover in the long run. The result is consistent with the theoretical mechanism that reflects the interrelationship between external uncertainties and EI. As a result, the government should advance diversified energy access options, timely adjustment of energy policies to respond to crises, increase energy reserves and actively undertake energy innovation to reduce external energy dependence.
Green Initiative and Mineral Governance: The Interplay of EU Policies and Romania’s Regulatory Framework
(MDPI, 2025) Alexandru, Dana-Georgeta; Bălan, Emil; Berceanu, Ionuț Bogdan; Iftene, Cristi; Varia, Gabriela
The global shift toward green technologies presents a dual challenge: surging demand for clean technology products and an increasing reliance on critical raw materials (CRMs). While the existing literature has largely concentrated on economic, geopolitical, or general governance perspectives, scant attention has been devoted to the legal, institutional, and justice dimensions of mineral resource governance. This article addresses this gap by examining the European Union’s evolving policy framework—particularly the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act—and its implications for Romania’s national regulatory landscape. Employing a mixed-method approach that combines a systematic literature review and a SWOT analysis, this study assesses Romania’s capacity to align its mineral governance with the EU’s objectives for supply security, environmental sustainability, and strategic autonomy. Its findings underscore the urgent need for Romania to streamline its regulatory frameworks, enhance institutional coherence, clarify property rights, and reform licensing and fiscal regimes to attract investment and ensure legal predictability. Advancing green mining technologies, recycling initiatives, and sustainability-focused innovations is also vital for aligning national practices with the EU’s environmental and economic goals. By foregrounding issues of transparency, good governance, and procedural justice, this article offers new insights into how national and supranational governance structures intersect in the context of the green transition. This study provides valuable recommendations for policymakers, industry actors, and scholars seeking to strengthen Romania’s position within the EU’s broader resource security and sustainable development strategies.
Artificial Internet of Things, Sensor-Based Digital Twin Urban Computing Vision Algorithms, and Blockchain Cloud Networks in Sustainable Smart City Administration
(MDPI, 2024-08-07) Matei, Ani; Cocoșatu, Mădălina
The aim of this paper is to synthesize and analyze existing evidence on interconnected sensor networks and digital urban governance in data-driven smart sustainable cities. The research topic of this systematic review is whether and to what extent smart city governance can effectively integrate the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), intelligent decision algorithms based on big data technologies, and cloud computing. This is relevant since smart cities place special emphasis on the involvement of citizens in decision-making processes and sustainable urban development. To investigate the work to date, search outcome management and systematic review screening procedures were handled by PRISMA and Shiny app flow design. A quantitative literature review was carried out in June 2024 for published original and review research between 2018 and 2024. For qualitative and quantitative data management and analysis in the research review process, data extraction tools, study screening, reference management software, evidence map visualization, machine learning classifiers, and reference management software were harnessed. Dimensions and VOSviewer were deployed to explore and visualize the bibliometric data.
Converting Municipal Waste to Energy through the Biomass Chain, a Key Technology for Environmental Issues in (Smart) Cities
(MDPI, 2021-05) Vrabie, Cătălin
Cities around the world should prioritize the management of municipal solid waste (MSW). For this to be effective, there is a strong need to buildup a complex system that involves social, economic, and environmental processes, leading to a supply chain (SC). The actors involved in dealing with MSW-from suppliers, collectors, distributors, industries, and managers-should be engaged in strategic planning. This paper focuses on alternative energy solutions and uses existing SC models of managing MSW, as well as the existing literature, to identify successful stories in cities like Bergen and Tonsberg in Norway, London in UK and Barcelona in Spain and draw a conceptual framework for city officials in Romanian municipalities (but not only) to innovate-and convert MSW in biogas to be used in delivering public services, i.e., public transportation. The article shows that when the innovation is accepted and well implemented by all actors, the benefits for the citizens and the municipality are considerably higher than by using conventional methods of collecting and depositing MSW. The proposed approach is also relevant for implementing the EU environment policy, where delays are usually observed (as the case for Romania).
Electric Vehicles Optimism versus the Energy Market Reality
(MDPI, 2022-05) Vrabie, Cătălin
The promotion of new electric and hybrid vehicles is a worldwide strategy to reduce carbon emissions for a clean future environment in many countries. In Europe, development of the electric vehicle (EV) industry is a strategic direction of multiple car-producing companies, institutes, and governments, but how sustainable it is to shift fully to electric has yet to be seen. By making use of the statistic reports from the European Union, scientific literature, and mathematical calculation, the author wants to examine if what politicians see will be a matter of reality in the near future. It will be proved that, if all private transport become electric, energy consumption will increase to such a level that is impossible to be satisfied by the actual energy producing companies. While the EV industry is seen as an important step towards achieving environmental goals, and despite some positive assumptions made by few European Governments (e.g., Norway) according to which electrical cars will replace the fossil fuel ones in private transportation, the actual energy market trends are not able to support the demand for the next several decades. The author will focus on one European country, Romania, to provide it as a case study (Romania is a self-sustainable country with regard to energy production, producing roughly 124% of its needs.).
Education - A Key Concept for E-Administration
(Elsevier, 2015) Vrabie, Cătălin
The paper aims to investigate the link between the actual level of e-administration at the county level in Romania and the educational system at the same level (I refer here especially to the education in the field of IT&C) in order to verify if there is a connection between those data. I will start from a previous research in which I radiographed the Romanian e-administration (January 2014), based on the Mark Holzer study a1qbout Digital Governance in Municipalities Worldwide. I will correlate it with data collected from all the Romanian ECDL centers (European Computer Driving Licence) knowing the fact that ECDL is an engine for what is called "intelligent citizen" (Stoica 2009). For having an accurate image on this topic I will look onto every county in Romania (41 in number) analyzing the official Web sites of municipalities as well as those from ECDL centers. The results I count on are a strong connection between education (on the field of IT&C) and a good e-administration, suggesting by this some new investments in the field of education. It is understood that the existence of Web platforms very well maintained doesn't imply that they're also used by the citizens or the business society. The new methods of administration don't need only innovative solutions but also "intelligent citizens". The value of this paper is the comparison itself. There are a lot of studies in Romania about the education, about the local administration but rare those studies are connected. More and more researchers stated that "education should come first", so I suggest that before investing in IT platforms and so on, to invest firstly in education. It is not only the personnel of public administration that need to benefit from IT&C education, but also those to whom these platforms address (the citizens).
E-Government 3.0: An AI Model to Use for Enhanced Local Democracies
(MDPI, 2023-06) Vrabie, Cătălin
While e-government (referring here to the first generation of e-government) was just the simple manner of delivering public services via electronic means, e-gov 2.0 refers to the use of social media and Web 2.0 technologies in government operations and public service delivery. However, the use of the term 'e-government 2.0' is becoming less common as the focus shifts towards broader digital transformation initiatives that may include AI technologies, among others, such as blockchain, virtual reality, and augmented reality. In this study, we present the relatively new concept of e-government 3.0, which is built upon the principles of e-government 2.0 but refers to the use of emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence) to transform the delivery of public services and improve governance. The study objective is to explore the potential of e-government 3.0 to enhance citizen participation, improve public service delivery, and increase responsiveness and compliance of administrative systems in relation to citizens by integrating emerging technologies into government operations using as a background the evolution of e-government over time. The paper analyzes the challenges faced by municipalities in responding to citizen petitions, which are a core application of local democracies. The author starts by presenting an example of an e-petition system (as in use today) and analyses anonymized data of a text corpus of petitions directed to one of the Romania municipalities. He will propose an AI model able to deal faster and more accurately with the increased number of inputs, trying to promote it to municipalities who, for some reason, are still reluctant to implement AI in their operations. The conclusions will suggest that it may be more effective to focus on improving new algorithms rather than solely on 'old' technologies.
Logical Pillars of the Public Decision. From the Logic of Cooperation to the Political Market
(Elsevier, 2013) Matei, Ani; Leoveanu, Andy Constantin
The logic of cooperation substantiates the strategic powers of the public agents and their coalitions, thus bringing contribution to understanding the political mechanisms which determine the public decision. The public bodies, derived from a process of political choice turn into account the logic of cooperation in view to establish own managerial structures. In most situations, the political cooperation will represent a consequence of negotiation, based on political programmes, their compatibility as well as the voting power of the actors/political agents. The political market will represent the support of political cooperation and public decision, thus contributing to understanding of social phenomena such as the political or electoral ones. The current paper aims to emphasise the logical mechanisms of public decision in the context of the necessity to create post electoral coalitions, aimed at maximization of the impact of political options of the electorate. The empirical examples will refer to the recent local elections in Bucharest Municipality. The main tool consists in the "voting power" of the political agents and the results will substantiate a theoretical framework aimed to highlight the logical and systemic connections of public decision with the political market. The research methods will take into consideration both documentation and theoretical analysis, empirical research, modelling and statistic interpretation.
Harnessing Big Data Analytics to Accelerate Innovation: An Empirical Study on Sport-Based Entrepreneurs
(MDPI, 2023-07) Binsaeed, Rima H.; Grigorescu, Adriana; Yousaf, Zahid; Radu, Florin; Nassani, Abdelmohsen A.; Tăbîrcă, Alina Iuliana
The emergence of advanced technologies brings various opportunities for all kinds of business organizations. This topic was selected for research and discussion to figure out the possible impacts of using the ever-increasing development of digitalization, big data analytic capabilities (BDACs) and innovation in the field of sport-based entrepreneurship, which is the main pillar for the economic wellbeing, development and growth of sport activities. This study highlights the function of the BDAC of entrepreneurs in the acceleration of their readiness and innovation activities. Beyond the direct association of BDAC with an entrepreneur's readiness and innovation performance (IP), we also tested the mediation of entrepreneurial readiness between the BDAC and IP of sport-based entrepreneurs. Moreover, the moderation of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) was also considered for the readiness and IP link. In this study, data were collected from 562 sport-based entrepreneurs. Online questionnaires were used for data collection, and various statistical techniques, including correlation, regression and structural equation modeling (AMOS 7.0), were applied for the analyses of the collected data. The outcomes of this study disclosed that BDAC and entrepreneur readiness positively predicted the IP. The results revealed that entrepreneurial readiness mediated between BDAC and IP. The findings suggested that sport-based entrepreneurs should enhance their BDAC for the execution of sport-related innovative activities. In spite of its valuable findings and suggestions, the current study is subject to some limitations. Firstly, this study is limited to sport-based entrepreneurs only. Secondly, AIT theory was used here, so for future considerations, other pillars of the economy such as the manufacturing sector should also be considered and the many other theories available should be employed.
Mapping European high-digital intensive sectors-regional growth accelerator for the circular economy
(Frontiers , 2023-01-06) Pîrciog, Speranța; Grigorescu, Adriana; Lincaru, Cristina; Popa, Florin Marius; Carlson, Ewa Lazarczyk; Sigurdarson, Hallur Thor
Globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 act as shocks on regional labor markets and regional economies. The presence of a digital economy has high spillover effects on regional development, job creation, economic resilience, and sustainability; furthermore, it valuates eco-innovation and the clean economy. We believe that the process of digital transformation has a robust impact on the green and clean aspects of the entire economy. The consistency of high digital-intensive (HDI) sectors can be evaluated through high digital-intensive employment, human resources, and technological infrastructure, as these are the main pillars of digital transformation. The shift-share analysis method (SSM) is used in this study on employment growth during 2008-2018 for the EU27, the United Kingdom, and Norway, combined with a second stage of exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA). The findings on national growth, industrial mix, and competitiveness are presented in GIS mapping system considering the Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) technique at the NUTS2 level. This approach allows us to determine the clustering level of high digital-intensive employment and sectors, resilience based on connectivity and eco-innovation, and the regional potential of digital transformation. Policymakers and political or governmental decision-makers could consider the results of the present study as the starting point for developing and implementing their policies for a sustainable green regional economy and determine the emerging area patches that need to be stimulated.
Customer Engagement and Customer Relationship Management Capabilities' Effects on Innovation Performance and Customer Distrust's Moderating Role
(MDPI, 2023-06) Binsaeed, Rima H.; Yousaf, Zahid; Grigorescu, Adriana; Chițescu, Răzvan Ion; Nassani, Abdelmohsen A.; Samoilă, Alina
This research aims to investigate how customer relationship management capabilities (CRMCs) improve customer engagement and innovation performance. Customer engagement is also tested as a mediator between CRM capabilities and innovation performance. Furthermore, the distrust moderating role was studied towards the relationship between CRMCs and customer engagement. Data were collected from 491 owner/managers of SMEs working in Saudi Arabia. The findings revealed that CRMCs positively predict customer engagement and innovation performance. Customer engagement directly affects innovation performance and acts as a mediator as well. In addition, the findings proved that distrust moderates on the link between CRMCs and customer engagement. This research adds to the marketing management theory and practices and highlighted the role of CRMCs in achieving innovation performance. It explored, considering the data base collected from SME owners and managers, the mechanism of innovation performance achievement through CRMCs and customer engagement. CRMC improvements allow businesses to have sustainable development and a better integration in the market.
Zero Waste Management: Investigation of Green Technology, the Green Supply Chain, and the Moderating Role of CSR Intentions
(MDPI, 2023-03) Nassani, Abdelmohsen A.; Hussain, Hadi; Condrea, Elena; Grigorescu, Adriana; Yousaf, Zahid; Haffar, Mohamed
The conservation of natural resources, reduction in waste, and minimization of energy consumption are now the primary focuses of zero waste management. Thus, this study examined the direct impact of green technology on zero waste management. We also explored the significant mediation role of the green supply chain (GSC) in links between green technology and zero waste management. Moreover, we investigated how corporate social responsibility (CSR) intentions moderate the relationship between green technology and zero waste management. For the data collection, a quantitative method and random sampling technique were used. The data were collected from 450 questionnaires conducted in the energy sector. The results demonstrate that green technology has a valuable role in the accomplishment of zero waste management in enterprises. Our findings also show that the green supply chain mediates, and the CSR intentions moderate, the links between green technology and zero waste management. The current research contributes to the development of a deeper understanding of management by demonstrating that green technology and the green supply chain play considerable roles in the achievement of zero waste management.
Synergy Analysis of Knowledge Transfer for the Energy Sector within the Framework of Sustainable Development of the European Countries
(MDPI, 2022-01) Grigorescu, Adriana; Ion, Amalia Elena; Lincaru, Cristina; Pîrciog, Speranța
The target for 2030 of reaching a 32% share of renewable energy in the gross final energy consumption can be achieved by speeding up the transformation pending the implementation of knowledge transfer (KT) policies that foster regional cooperation for the cost-effective development of renewables. The research purpose is the analysis of important factors in the development of the renewable energy sector through knowledge sharing and collaboration across the Member States in a comparable manner. The hypotheses are as follows: Hypothesis 1 (H1) there are synergies between knowledge transfer and economic impact through income and jobs for the renewable energy sector and Hypothesis 2 (H2) the EU countries have different profiles of synergy. The research proposition was established through the employment of a quantitative synergy and trade-offs analysis based on the knowledge transfer indicators and the sustainable development framework. The research method, namely the advanced sustainability analysis (ASA), uses the quantitative assessment tool for the understanding of synergies between two or three dimensions of sustainable development, presuming that the combined effect of the factors is greater than the sum of their individual effects. The current research comprises an evaluation of the renewable energy sector knowledge transfer policy models at the national level for 24 EU countries and four other European states, focusing on the capabilities to create synergies. The results of the study represent a valuable input for the policy makers, allowing for a coherent and sustainable planning and programming of the new electricity market, adopted through the Clean Energy Package, and following a highly dynamic and radically disruptive background, exploiting the 'successful' profiles.
Specialization Patterns for the Development of Renewable Energy Generation Technologies across Countries
(MDPI, 2023-10) Grigorescu, Adriana; Lopez Ruiz, Victor Paul; Lincaru, Cristina; Condrea, Elena
Renewable energy is a global priority, as it addresses the goals of carbon neutrality and plays an important role in reshaping energy mixes. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources (solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, hydropower, wind, and biomass) must be performed without negatively affecting economic growth or our quality of life. Renewable energy-generating technologies (patents) and their implementation (commercialization and usage) play essential roles, as they are the main steps in the process of the transition from conventional to emerging technologies. The decreased usage of fossil fuels, the objectives of the European Green Deal, and other constraints have pushed countries to seek innovative solutions. Depending on the available resources, these solutions involve a wide variety of approaches and may involve the emergence of specific patterns. This study addresses the identification of the cross-country features of specialization patterns in developing renewable energy generation technologies. The methods used are the analysis of the evolution of patent numbers with country fractional value, the application of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index to renewable energy generation, and the use of the multivariate clustering spatial statistics tool combined with spatial representation. The findings show the differences between countries at the global level and, more specifically, at the EU level, by clustering the countries based on their specialization pattern of renewable energy generation technologies. EU countries belong to the same cluster at the international level, and the deep clustering model shows four patterns. Moreover, the findings highlighted the country profile to be used as a competitive advantage and the group of countries with the same or similar pattern that could be used as partners in implementing new technologies or as models for future actions. The geographical distribution of the specialization offers a picture of potential market development for patents and renewable energy technologies. The countries specialization is a hotspot for decision makers for further developments and policy design support.
Human Capital in Digital Economy: An Empirical Analysis of Central and Eastern European Countries from the European Union
(MDPI, 2021-02) Grigorescu, Adriana; Pelinescu, Elena; Ion, Amalia Elena; Dutcas, Monica Florica
The hypercompetitive global economy of the 21st century is a hub of innovation, technology, talent, skills, speed, efficiency, productivity, and satisfaction. Within this context, the organizations are looking intensely for people with skills and talents that can differentiate themselves in all that noise. The human capital became slowly but surely a mean of efficiency and growth, especially through the premises of digitization, and a key issue of sustainability. The current research is meant to identify and highlight any correlations that might appear between the population's welfare of 11 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) which are members of the European Union (EU), and the components of the digitization trend, including the new human cloud industry, ICT, and the connectivity to the Internet of Things. In order to achieve the needed insights, the multiple regression analysis was employed, and the latter tested the panel models with fixed effects, both from a temporal and country perspective. The results showcased a positive connection between the dependent and independent variables, confirming that the digitization of the economy and the developed human capital will ultimately lead to the increase of population's welfare. Moreover, the findings are consistent with specific insights for each of the 11 CEECs, showing that digitization and the influence of human capital is differentiated across the latter in terms of their overall effect and amplitude. The research is limited by the timeframe and countries included in the study, and it can be furthered by determining the impact of digitization on the economies of the EU28 countries grouped by level of development, and by using other significant indicators for analysis.
Convergent Insights for Sustainable Development and Ethical Cohesion: An Empirical Study on Corporate Governance in Romanian Public Entities
(MDPI, 2020-04) Munteanu, Ionela; Grigorescu, Adriana; Condrea, Elena; Pelinescu, Elena
The global financial crisis was decisive in reanalyzing the role of corporate governance based on the accountability and ethics of governance practices and its impact on sustainable development. The study aims to analyze the relevance of and the interdependencies between financial governance assessment indicators and income efficiency with synergetic effects on sustainable development and social cohesion, offering a distinct contemplation on errors in governance and financial reporting. Deviations concerning the accuracy of financial statements, flaws in the process of budget creation and budgetary execution, poor implementation of internal control systems, non-compliance with procedures of public procurement contracts, and ineffectiveness in sound financial management represent barometers for assessing managerial accountability in the public sector. This study is based on data reported by the Romanian Court of Accounts processed with the principal component analysis and proposes a global efficiency index as a benchmark indicator barometer in order to analyze the influence of managerial accountability and sustainable reporting compliance on revenue reported by public institutions in Romania. The results of the study are of empirical importance and explore the constant need to evaluate managerial accountability and ethics, with an emphasis on error, in order to improve public governance and enhance corporate accountability.
Corporate Social Responsibility in the Telecommunication Industry-Driver of Entrepreneurship
(MDPI, 2022-09) Raimi, Lukman; Panait, Mirela; Grigorescu, Adriana; Vasile, Valentina
Beyond the conventional understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a voluntary obligation for promoting triple-bottom-line CSR, development-oriented CSR is emerging and requires empirical investigation. This organisation-level research fills this gap by exploring development-oriented CSR as a driver of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Arising from the review of the literature, human capital theory and stakeholder theory provided theoretical groundings for the study. The empirical study provides an enhanced understanding of development-oriented CSR that incorporates entrepreneurship into the extant literature. The target comprised multiple stakeholders in the Nigerian telecommunication industry, from which a sample of 369 responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The five tested hypotheses showed mixed results. The stakeholder management and economic dimensions of development-oriented CSR were found to have significant positive effects on entrepreneurship. However, the environmental, national, and social dimensions do not have significant positive effects on entrepreneurship. Overall, it was found that development-oriented CSR is a potential driver of entrepreneurship in the Nigerian telecommunication industry, but the predictability is weak (15%). The study concludes with practical implications and recommendations for further research in this multidisciplinary field.

Browse

Recent Submissions