This study applies the Theory of Planned Behavior to investigate the impact of personal attitudes towards entrepreneurship, social norms, and perceived behavioral control on students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Conducted on a sample of 184 students in Croatia, the research study applies the practical adaptation of the TPB model so as to reflect the realistic context in which students develop their entrepreneurial intentions. The multiple regression analysis conducted in the study reveals that all the components of the theory positively and significantly affect entrepreneurial intentions. The most influential factor is perceived behavioral control, only to be followed by personal attitude and social norms. These findings enhance the understanding of the critical elements shaping students’ entrepreneurial aspirations. Additionally, the study offers useful information for higher education institutions, helping them understand students’ entrepreneurial behavior and guiding the development of targeted programs and internal policies. Ultimately, this research serves as a valuable resource for a broader academic community to help them design the strategies that promote students’ entrepreneurial ambitions.
Investors are faced with the challenge of identifying the most promising companies for their potential investment in the stock market. This research study aims to propose a systematic approach to the selection of top-listed companies for investment, focusing on the two levels of analysis – the ratio analysis based on liquidity and profitability, and the multi-criteria ranking using the PROMETHEE method. The observed companies are divided into two groups: group A, which includes companies with a PE ratio above 50, and group B, which includes companies with a PE ratio below 5. The findings of the study highlight the fact that companies with higher PE ratios tend to exhibit better overall business performance as observed on an individual basis and based on the ratio analysis. Although there are noticeable differences in the ratio indicators between the companies, these differences are not significant when the overall review is considered. The combination of ratio analysis and the PROMETHEE method provides an effective method for evaluating their business performance, giving guidance to investors and decision-makers in selecting the most promising investment opportunities. The results of the multi-criteria ranking show that the companies that belong to group B have a better rank than the others, and that investors should invest in the companies Vale S.A. and Tesla, Inc. as well.
Considering the significance of the Internet and communication with consumers in the online environment primarily through social media, as well as the growing importance of sustainability in modern business, this paper aims to analyze consumer behavior regarding green products in the context of social media. Specifically, social media marketing activities of local and global companies in the Republic of Serbia were analyzed, incorporating the five aspects: entertainment, interaction, trendiness, customization, and electronic word-of-mouth. Empirical research was conducted using the survey method and the SEM analysis was applied so as to determine that the mentioned aspects of social media differently affected the attitudes towards the green products of local and global companies. A positive moderating influence of the global identity on the relationships in the models was found. The main contribution of the paper relates to the analysis of the relationship between social media marketing activities and consumer behavior towards green products, with a comparative analysis of local and global companies.
Emilija Janković
A large number of papers indicate stylized facts related to the business cycles of different countries. However, the business cycle is a very complex phenomenon, which is not easy to measure and interpret. Therefore, in addition to the gross domestic product (GDP) as a standard measure of the business cycle, it is useful to analyze the cyclical behavior of the GDP components, the labor market variables, as well as nominal variables. This paper attempts to identify patterns in their movements during the period from the first quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of 2023. The goal is to provide a general overview of business cycles in contemporary developments within the European Union as a whole, Germany being the most developed EU country, with reference to the Republic of Serbia. Detailed statistical time series analysis was used to examine stylized facts, as well as the volatility of these variables, their correlation with the GDP, and their persistence. The general conclusion implies that the business cycle of Serbia does not lag behind more developed countries. Some observations were also made of the common tendencies that could be valid in most cases.
Mohammed Shuaibu and Usman Gana
Nigeria’s poor non-oil export performance has been the focal point of the growth policy discourse since the 1970s, but the role of emerging driving factors has remained significantly less understood. Thus, this study explores the determinants of Nigeria’s non-oil exports by explicitly considering trade credit and digital payment systems. The study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model and the monthly data from 2010 to 2023 so as to achieve its objective. The results show that increased trade credit and better e-payment systems significantly improve the non-oil export sector’s performance. The one implication of this finding is that increasing trade credit and improving e-payment systems may serve as another alternative to unlocking and boosting Nigeria’s non-oil export sector’s potential. Therefore, the paper concludes that, with the promotion of trade credit and an increased use of e-payments, Nigeria can improve its non-oil export performance in order to foster sustainable economic growth.
This paper investigates the effects of RCEP trade creation and trade diversion on China and its sectors, as well as the impact of imports and exports on provinces. The World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS-SMART) tool with the 2020 data, alongside the OECD Inter-Country Input-Output (ICIO) tables and the Chinese Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) tables based on the 2017 data under two scenarios. The results of the study indicate that trade growth with Japan and South Korea is significant, on the one hand, whereas the trade effects with the ASEAN nations and regions such as Australia and New Zealand are relatively low, on the other. The research emphasizes the disparities between various regions in China, demonstrating that the Eastern coastal provinces obtain more trade benefits than the Central and Western areas. The study highlights the importance of implementing the policies encouraging collaboration in high-growth sectors and developing tailored strategies for regional advancement.