Iva Glišić and Slavica Manić
The economic literature is rich in papers analyzing the effects of FDI inflows or the impact of institutional quality on economic activity. The same is not true for analyzing the impact of institutional quality on FDI attraction and/or the joint impact of these two factors on economic growth, especially concerning the Western Balkans region. Our analysis covers five countries in this region over the period from 2007 to 2022 and aims to contribute to the relevant literature in that segment. The panel data were modelled using the GLS method. The result of the final model (out of the three evaluated) indicates an (un)expected positive effect of a lower institutional quality on economic activity through the FDI channel. One possible explanation for this finding is the hypothesis that “weaker” legislation (especially in the environmental field) in the Western Balkan countries attracts precisely the FDI that generates negative externalities in addition to economic growth. Nevertheless, it also suggests the necessity for considering the long-term risks associated with economic growth, relying predominantly on this type of FDI.
Đorđe Kotarac1 and Zoran Popović2
Theoretical and empirical findings confirm the thesis that the accumulation of physical capital partly explains the movement of countries’ economic growth rates. Researchers in the field of development economics, as well as creators of economic policies, are shifting their focus from physical (PC) to human capital (HC) as a determinant of countries’ economic development. The subject matter of this paper is the analysis of the impact of HC on achieving higher per capita income growth rates. According to the “Lisbon Strategy” and the “Europe 2020 Strategy”, HC is placed on a pedestal of importance, all with the aim of making the EU-27 the most competitive market in the world. The empirical part was conducted using a panel regression model. The research results indicate a significant impact of HC on the per capita income of the CEE-10 countries. This research study contributes by reducing a gap in the scientific literature by examining the impact of HC on the per capita income of the European countries. The concluding implications point to the importance of HC development as an effective instrument for ensuring countries’ greater economic growth.
Andrija Popović1, Andreja Todorović1 and Vladan Vučić2
This research explores the relationship between economic growth and competitiveness and innovation in the circular economy across the 27 EU countries from 2011 to 2020. Using descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), panel data regression, and cluster analysis, the research investigates how the key economic indicators, such as GDP, GDP per capita, and gross fixed capital formation, affect the performance of the circular economy. The results obtained indicate a positive correlation between overall economic growth and circular competitiveness, though wealthier nations do not consistently lead in circular transitions. The analysis underscores the need for tailored, country-specific policies to promote sustainable practices in the circular economy, especially in less developed economies. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to balance economic growth with sustainability.
Ljiljana Ž. Tanasić1, Srđan M. Lalić1, Željana Jovičić2 and Teodor M. Petrović1
This paper investigates transfer pricing as a strategic tool for optimizing business performance and reducing the tax burden of related entities in the Republic of Srpska. The goal of the research is to quantitatively assess the impact of transfer pricing on the achievement of the key business goals, including the improvement of financial performance, the minimization of tax burden and the strategic allocation of resources. The empirical data for the research were collected from the Register of Financial Statements for the year 2023. A simple linear regression model was used to determine the relationship between the application of transfer prices and the financial and tax position of related entities. Research findings show a significant and positive impact of transfer pricing on improving the financial and tax position of related entities, especially those operating in multiple tax jurisdictions. The results emphasize the importance of transfer prices as a strategic instrument for financial planning and the optimization of resources and recommend that the national regulatory framework should be harmonized with international guidelines.
Svetlana Sokolov Mladenović, Suzana Đukić and Jelena Stanković
Modern customer loyalty programs are increasingly based on new technologies and forms of rewards, in which sense customer loyalty programs are increasingly implying the use of mobile applications not only as a means of collecting and realizing points, but also as a means ensuring ease of purchase, the personalization of the offer and entertainment through various types of prize games. Based on these facts, the paper explores the influence exerted by mobile applications on customer trust and loyalty in omnichannel retail. The research draws on Self-Determination Theory to explain the influence of autonomy, competence and relatedness as the key needs of people as customers on their trust and loyalty. The empirical research conducted using the survey method and carrying out SEM analysis showed that mobile applications significantly affected customer loyalty, with the moderators such as age and membership duration in the loyalty program playing a significant role in the process. The research results suggest that customers value the mobile applications that provide them with a sense of autonomy, i.e. control over the purchasing process, strengthen their existing competences and enable them to acquire new ones, making possible connectedness and friendship with other members of the program, thus generating their confidence in the quality and reliability of the mobile application and strengthening customer loyalty to the seller.
Selim Gungor1 and Muge Saglam Bezgin2
This study aims to analyze the effect energy-related uncertainty has on the volatility of the stock markets of 18 developed and developing countries ranking among the wealthiest according to their GDP. The study focuses on understanding how EUI influences market dynamics and volatility patterns across different economies. Using the GARCH-MIDAS approach, this research examines stock market indices from January 2003 to October 2022. The analysis reveals that all stock market indices are influenced by EUI. Notably, the S&P-TSX index exhibits the lowest MIDAS weight, indicating that Canada’s market volatility is the least affected by EUI. Conversely, the highest MIDAS component weights are observed in the markets of China and the United Kingdom. The EUI shows the greatest influence on the volatility of the Indian and Chinese markets, whereas its influence is minimal on the Brazilian and Canadian markets.
Obukohwo Oba Efayena1, Jonathan Ojarikre Oniore2 and Ngozi Patricia Buzugbe1
This study x-rays the moderating influence of institutional quality on the relationship between the financial structure (FS) and economic growth in 33 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) economies from 2006 to 2022, based on income classification. Aptly utilizing the two-step fixed-effects generalized method of moments, the investigation found that, among the low-income countries, those bank- and market-oriented were associated with the lower and higher levels of economic growth, respectively, whereas among the middle-income countries, those bank- and market-oriented financial structures were associated with the higher and lower levels of economic growth, respectively. Notably, the study establishes that institutional quality does not substantially spur the financial structure to positively contribute to economic growth. The disaggregated outcomes show that prevailing institutional quality mitigates the growth effects of the financial structures of the middle-income economies, whereas it does significantly exacerbate decelerating economic growth among the low-income ones. The study recommends the adoption of policies to strengthen institutional quality, as well as the enhancement of the synergy between the banking sector and the capital market.
The paper investigates the export performance of the CEFTA 2006 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina – BiH, Montenegro, Kosovo* (UNMIK, according to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244), Moldova, North Macedonia and Serbia)), using the ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) model. By applying the F-Bound ARDL test for the period from 2000 to 2022, the existence of a long-term equilibrium relationship between the real exports of the CEFTA 2006 members and the selected variables was determined, the results indicating differences in the significance of certain variables in the long run. Export performance mainly depends on the degree of trade openness (for most members), then the real effective exchange rate (BiH, Kosovo*, Serbia), while the net inflow of FDI (except Serbia) and the domestic bank loans granted to the private sector are less important (with the exception of Kosovo*).
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.