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Venelin Terziev
COVID-19 AND THE NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT PLAN IN BULGARIA - ANALYSIS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR CHANGE
Summary:
This paper is the second part of an extensive study which analyzes and examines the processes on the Bulgarian market that unfold in the emergency situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemics. The focus is on the state of the labour market before the pandemic crisis and the subsequent changes in the current national employment plan in view of the challenges of the situation caused by COVID-19. It proposes measures and supports actions for restructuring the financial resource for adaptation of the plan to the new challenge to the labour market in Bulgaria.
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Lyudmil Naydenov, Dimitar Tsenov
COVID-19 EFFECTS ON TAX GAPS
Summary:
The paper examines the issues related to the impact of COVID-19 on tax gaps in Bulgaria. The authors define the various tax gaps in terms of their theoretical, practical and technical grounds as well as unique characteristics. The authors have analysed the dynamics of the gap between the tax and social insurance revenues in the Consolidated Fiscal Program (CFP) as they “should be” collected and as they “are” collected and prove that it was affected directly by the global COVID-19 pandemic. They justify the need for an innovative approach that would take into account the changed realities and the important role of CFP components for improving the public welfare and the sustainability of our economy. The research subject are tax gaps and its object is the impact of COVID-19 on the difference between the volume of collected and planned revenues from direct taxes, indirect taxes, social security and health insurance contributions in Bulgaria. The general conclusion is that the pandemic, which has lasted for already over a year, has slowed down the economy and hence has a negative affect on tax gaps in our country.
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Margarita Mihaylova
THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL TRENDS AND COVID-19 ON INTERNATIONAL NEW VENTURES
Summary:
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated existing trends in the global business environment thus changing the conditions for performing international entrepreneurial activity. Four such trends of a key role in international business are the digitalization and active use of communication technologies, the restructuring of global supply chains, the erosion of trust in international organizations, and finally yet importantly, the integrity of international business networks and knowledge transfer. The paper explores the impact of the acceleration of these trends on the creation and the success of international new ventures.
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Atanas Damyanov
ECLECTIC VIEWS ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF COVID-19
Summary:
This research, with which we aim to penetrate through the Covid-19 fog, consists of four chapters.
In chapter one, very concisely, we identify the consequences of the 2008 crisis.
In chapter two, we have searched for biblical proof and philosophical explanations of the pandemic, upgraded with a paradox of the capitalist economic system. We have provided a graphical representation of the impact of the pandemic, different from the “V”, “U”, “L” and “I”- shaped interpretations.
Chapter three adopts a thesis by Renaud Girard, but we have also made an independent overview of the weaknesses of three ideologies. Furthermore, we have added to the G-20 recommendation for the restoration of transborder commerce.
Chapter four offers a second, author’s variant for graphical representation of overcoming the consequences of the pandemic. It is emphasized that it is not a one-season phenomenon. We have synthesized the damage caused to each sector and profession in the world. We claim that the structure of product range depends on the structure of consumer demand and the changes in the new environment. Therefore, the key word is “Transformation”.
These are followed by thoughts and conclusions divided into three major characteristics of the pandemic and four models of human behavior. We propose new organizational and structural changes for the firms, enterprises, and corporations. We argue that management now tends to be based on algorithms, protocols, and economic platforms.
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Velichka Nikolova
EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SOVEREIGN DEBT MANAGEMENT IN HEAVILY INDEBTED COUNTRIES
Summary:
This article presents an analysis of the sovereign debt in some heavily indebted countries worldwide, including Venezuela, Sudan, Japan and Greece. Its main objective is to track and compare the initial effects of the global financial and economic crisis (2008) and the COVID-19 pandemic on sovereign debt levels in those countries. This is why it starts with a classification of the theoretical concepts addressing the relationship between economic crises and changes in the levels of sovereign debt. It then defines the main drivers for the sharp increase of the sovereign debt in these countries and describes the dynamics of the revenues, expenditures and balances of their budgets.
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Ouhinou Amine, Elhachimi Zineb, Kartobi Eddine
STUDY OF THE BEHAVIOURAL DETERMINANTS OF INVESTMENT IN THE ERA OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTORS IN MOROCCO
Summary:
Behavioral economics shows the important role of behavio¬ral and psychological determinants in explaining investment decisions and market anomalies. This study aims to examine the behavior of socially res¬ponsible individual investors in Morocco in the era of the COVID-19 crisis. This paper contributes to the existing literature on behavioral economics in the Moroccan context. To this end, we conducted a survey of socially responsible investors in Morocco after the initial phase of this pandemic between August and October 2022. The data was gathered through the use of a questionnaire. They were analysed to identify the psychological aspects that may influence socially responsible investors’ investment decisions. The SPSS 21 software package was used to perform Cronbach Alpha, factor analysis, descriptive analysis, and multiple regression procedures. This article aims to investigate the psychological features of behaviour in reaction to fear, risk propensity, risk perception, market volatility anxiety, herd behaviour and the impact of vaccination updates. The results found showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, behavior responses to fear, market volatility anxiety, risk propen¬sity, and herd behavior influenced the decision-making of socially responsible investors in Morocco.
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Vladislav Lyubenov
THE EUROZONE YIELD CURVE SHAPE DURING COVID19: A PROJECTION OF INVESTMENT AND MACROECONOMIC EXPECTATIONS
Summary:
The aim of this article is to provide a substantiated explanation of the shape of the yield curve in relation to the current theoretical reasoning and empirical data regarding the macroeconomic situation and the bond market. The object of research is the yield curve of government securities compounded from the average yields of AAA-rated government securities issued by euro area member states. The first part of the article presents the underlying literature and the theoretical foundations of the research hypotheses as well as the research methodology used. The second part addresses the spot and the forward yield curves in March 2021. The third part presents various empirical data and analyses the development of the bond market during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Stoyan Prodanov, Stefan Stanimirov
DEVELOPMENT OF THE BULGARIAN INSURANCE MARKET - CRISIS CHALLENGES OF THE DECADE
Summary:
The present study focuses on the development of the Bulgarian insurance market in the second decade of the XX century. It examines the issues of the relationship between the global financial sector, insurance and the phases of economic cycles; the debate on the importance of the financial sector and insurance for the economic development; the establishment of correlations and dependencies between the dynamics of GDP and the dynamics of the Gross Premium Income (GPI) in the general insurance sector in Bulgaria for the period 2007-2019, presenting prospective reflections and assessment of the impact of the global pandemic COVID-19 on the Bulgarian insurance market. The linear model in a realistic scenario forecasts a decline in GPI of 18.2%, in a GDP decline of 9.0%. An additional assessment and forecast made using the model is that a decrease between 12.4% and 25% of GPI from the compulsory motor third party liability insurance (at the indicated level of GDP decline) will have a destructive effect on the Bulgarian model of general insurance, due to the impossibility to perform the social functions of this insurance such as the protection of victims of road accidents.
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Veniamin Todorov
STABILIZATION ROLE OF THE MACROECONOMIC POLICY DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS
Summary:
The article presents an analysis of the role of macroeconomic stabilization policy during the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis covers both monetary and fiscal policy using data on macroeconomic activity, inflation, the severity of restrictive measures, the level of uncertainty, the degree of financial stress on the financial system, etc. It tests two hypotheses formulated as follows: Hypothesis one is that considering the specific characteristics of the COVID-19 exogenous shock, there was a need for a quick and decisive response by means of a macroeconomic stabilization policy. The second hypothesis asserts that expansionary macroeconomic policies played a key role for the recovery of the economies from the COVID-19 recession and their subsequent growth. Both hypotheses are confirmed.
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Nikola Vujanović, Miloš Pavlović
SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES MANAGEMENT
AND BUSINESS IN CRISIS CONDITIONS
Summary:
Background: This study examines the management of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in crisis conditions, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to identify strategies and best practices for enhancing SME resilience and sustainability.
Methods: The research adopts a comprehensive literature review approach, analyzing previous studies and reports on SME management during crises. It also incorporates case studies and empirical data to provide practical insights.
Results: The analysis reveals that SMEs face unique challenges during crises, such as disrupted supply chains, reduced consumer demand, and financial constraints. However, innovative solutions, collaboration among stake-holders, and supportive government policies have played a crucial role in enabling SMEs to adapt and recover.
Conclusions: Based on the findings, it is evident that effective manage-ment practices, including adaptation, digital transformation, financial manage-ment, and crisis planning, are vital for SME survival and growth in crisis conditions. Collaboration and networking among SMEs, along with supportive government policies, contribute to collective recovery and sustainability. The study underscores the importance of ongoing research and development in SME crisis management, with a focus on resilience-building strategies, sustainable business models, and addressing the psychological well-being of SME stakeholders.
