The world's transformation from linear to circular economies is a major issue today. The demand for goods and services also contributes to environmental damage. Through the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study demonstrates how human behavior influences the adoption of circular economy practices and sustainable business performance. This study examines the role of green intention and green innovation in mediating the relationship, as well as the moderating effect of barriers on this relationship. Data were collected through questionnaires completed by 447 respondents, who were employees in Indonesian accommodation companies. The Structural Equation Model was used to test the model using the Smart PLS 4 tool. The findings show a positive effect of the Theory of Planned Behavior on circular economy practices and sustainable business performance. The role of green intention and green innovation in mediating the relationship in the model also shows positive results. Barriers were found to both strengthen and weaken relationships within the model. The unexpected findings that circular economy practice fails to mediate the relationships in the model and barriers fail to moderate these relationships challenge further explanation. This study also offers theoretical and managerial implications to help accommodation providers address challenges and capitalize on opportunities in their sustainability efforts.
International competitiveness and sustainability have become central themes in tourism development, particularly in the context of economic and geopolitical instability. The circular economy represents an important framework for improving resource efficiency and long-term resilience in tourism enterprises. Accommodation services, especially micro and small enterprises operating in environmentally sensitive regions, play a significant role in this transition. The concept of digital passportization enables the systematic collection and monitoring of sustainability-related data in tourism enterprises, which may support strategic planning and the evaluation of circular economy practices within tourism destinations. This study examines the perceived importance and selected application of circular economy tools among accommodation providers in the Slovak-Polish High Tatras cross-border region. A quantitative survey was conducted among 186 enterprises between December 2024 and March 2025. The standardized questionnaire focused on waste, water, and energy management, as well as sustainable materials and infrastructure. Descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test were applied to analyse differences according to country of operation and enterprise size. The results indicate a generally positive perception of circular economy practices as strategic instruments for development planning, competitiveness, and marketing positioning. Statistical testing revealed significant differences between Slovak and Polish enterprises, as well as between micro and small firms, with strong effect sizes observed. These findings suggest that circular economy perception is shaped not only by firm-level characteristics but also by broader institutional contexts. From a broader methodological perspective, the findings also demonstrate how circular economy practices implemented at the enterprise level can provide a relevant empirical basis for emerging digital passportization systems designed to monitor sustainability performance in tourism destinations. The study provides context-specific empirical evidence from a peripheral alpine border region and offers insights relevant to regional tourism stakeholders and sustainability-oriented policy development.
Despite the expansion of regulatory frameworks and employment support programmes, inclusive employment of persons with disabilities remains limited. Existing research provides extensive evidence on individual and institutional barriers to employment; however, considerably less attention has been paid to the misalignment of expectations among key actors involved in the employment process. This study conceptualises the expectation gap between employers and persons with disabilities as an independent mechanism reproducing barriers to employment sustainability. The study adopts a qualitative research design and draws on in-depth interviews with persons with disabilities and employers engaged in inclusive hiring practices, including social enterprises. The findings reveal systematic differences in how employment barriers are interpreted: while persons with disabilities predominantly describe barriers through experiences of stigmatisation, unequal treatment and lack of trust, employers tend to frame the same processes in terms of organisational risks, productivity uncertainty and managerial costs. This divergence contributes to labour market segmentation and constrains transitions to sustainable employment. Based on the empirical findings, the article proposes and substantiates a supported employment methodology grounded in a dual logic of support. Unlike individual-centred approaches, the proposed methodology simultaneously addresses the needs of job seekers and employers' risk perceptions by standardising workplace adaptation procedures, structuring support mechanisms and clarifying the roles of actors across the employment process. The study contributes to the literature by advancing the concept of the expectation gap as an analytical framework for inclusive employment and by offering a practice-oriented, reproducible approach aimed at enhancing employment sustainability for persons with disabilities.
This study examines the effect of risk taking on firm value as well as the effect of risk taking on earnings management in Saudi Arabia. In addition, this study investigates the moderating effect of earnings management on the relationship between risk taking and firm value. We analyzed a sample of nonfinancial firms listed in the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul). The study sample consists of 1008 firm-years observations during the period from 2008 to 2019. The results showed that risk-taking activities are positively valued by market participants and correlated with higher earnings management. In addition, the results indicated that earnings management moderates the positive relationship between risk taking and firm value. These findings are important for business organizations which should be aware that more opaque financial information, higher information asymmetry and lower firm value are likely to be the outcomes when managers engage in risky investment decisions. Governments and regulators should not ignore the negative implications of risk taking that require strengthening firms' oversight and corporate governance mechanisms.
This study addresses the need to understand better stakeholder behaviour and communication processes in environmental and resource-based projects, where social acceptance and securing a social licence to operate are critical to project success. Traditional marketing approaches, although effective in coordinating organisational activities, often fail to capture the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that influence stakeholder decision-making under conditions of uncertainty and perceived risk. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework of holistic neuromarketing that integrates holistic marketing principles with insights from neuroscience. The study is based on a conceptual research design that uses a systematic literature review, theoretical abstraction, and conceptual modelling. The proposed framework captures the relationships between communication inputs, cognitive-emotional processing, perceived risk, trust formation, and stakeholder behavioural responses. The findings indicate that integrating neuromarketing into holistic marketing enhances the analytical capacity of traditional frameworks by incorporating subconscious and affective dimensions of behaviour. The framework provides a structured basis for improving communication effectiveness, reducing stakeholder resistance, and supporting stakeholder acceptance, while also highlighting ethical considerations. The study contributes to interdisciplinary research and offers a foundation for future empirical investigation.
The current work environment is characterized by the coexistence of several generations, from Baby Boomers to Generation Z, which differ in their values, work preferences, and expectations of employers. This generational diversity creates complex dynamics that can present both challenges and strategic opportunities for human resource management, particularly in the area of talent management. Effective integration of multigenerational potential into HR processes can significantly contribute to increasing an organization's innovation capacity, improving team performance, and strengthening employee engagement. The aim of this article is to propose the direction of talent programs in organizations based on the research conducted and to define key talent competencies for talent programs. The research was conducted in selected Czech organizations (n = 100). The results confirm that the organizations surveyed perceive talent management as a strategic tool for securing knowledge capital and innovation. By seeking out talent, organizations reflect the need to adapt to changing market conditions and demographic changes. By identifying key competencies for organizations, it is possible to more effectively develop and retain talented employees regardless of their age.
Higher education institutions are increasingly facing challenges in student recruitment and retention, necessitating the development of data-driven segmentation and profiling models. Traditional segmentation approaches rely heavily on historical data and often fail to capture shifts in applicant behaviour. In contrast, AI-based techniques enable real-time analysis of interactions, supporting more adaptive and personalised recruitment strategies. Across fields like marketing, finance, and e-commerce, researchers have shown that clustering, supervised learning, and hybrid ML models can meaningfully improve segmentation tasks. This article explores the application of such methodologies in the context of higher education. A systematic literature review (SLR) and a Weighted Sum Model (WSM) were applied to evaluate and rank the relevance and adaptability of segmentation techniques used in the analysed studies. Results indicate that K-Means and Random Forest are widely applied in student segmentation and performance prediction. At the same time, hybrid models, such as K-Means combined with decision trees, offer improved accuracy and interpretability. However, real-time behavioural analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) and natural language processing (NLP) methods remain underexplored. Overall, the findings suggest that AI-driven segmentation models can enhance student engagement, academic success prediction, and strategic enrolment management. Future work will focus on integrating real-time behavioural data, refining segmentation models, and improving predictive analytics for university admissions and retention strategies.
This article analyses defence as a pure public good within the context of the European Union, arguing that its provision transcends the capabilities of individual states due to the inherent properties of non-excludability and non-rivalry. Adopting a multidisciplinary framework, the study employs a content and qualitative analysis of scholarly literature and policy documents, alongside a conceptual synthesis of economic, security, and political science approaches. The findings highlight persistent collective action problems-notably the "free-riding" phenomenon-the fragmentation of the European defence industry, and significant asymmetries in Member States' capabilities and expenditure. The paper demonstrates that political and institutional constraints, including s ubsidiarity, national sovereignty, and divergent strategic cultures, continue to hinder the transformation of defence into a genuine European public good, despite the introduction of frameworks such as the Strategic Compass and Readiness 2030. Furthermore, the economic analysis indicates that increasing defence spending without supranational coordination and targeted investment in research, development, and innovation fails to yield long-term security or economic dividends. The author underscores the necessity of strengthening collective financing, institutional consolidation, and strategic autonomy as essential prerequisites for the effective and efficient provision of defence in a multipolar and competitive global environment.
This study examines the key factors shaping employee learning and development in Slovak organizations, focusing on the strategic and systemic orientation of Human Resource Development (HRD). A quantitative CAWI survey was conducted among 153 Slovak organizations. Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation was used to identify core dimensions of employee development practices. Three main dimensions were identified: individual support through coaching and digital learning, formal talent management systems, and experiential career mobility. A dominant latent factor reflects an integrated, systematic, and flexible HRD approach. The choice of development tools is influenced by organizational size, sector, culture, and workforce demographics, including generational diversity and neurodiversity. Slovak organizations favor personalized and digitally supported development over isolated or short-term training. The study offers original empirical evidence from Slovakia and contributes to HRD research by linking integrated development systems with organizational change and global HRD trends. Managers are encouraged to implement long-term, integrated HRD frameworks that combine individualized learning, formal talent management, and experiential development while addressing workforce diversity and digitalization. The findings are limited by the sample size and national focus; future research should apply longitudinal and cross country approaches to assess HRD effectiveness and outcomes.
International projects increasingly rely on cross-cultural collaboration under conditions of uncertainty, time pressure, and incomplete information, making decision quality a critical but difficult-to-measure determinant of project performance. Despite its importance, comparable project-level indicators of decision quality are rarely available for cross-country analysis. This study addresses this gap by examining whether cross-national differences in hierarchy acceptance are systematically associated with decision-environment integrity, used as a proxy for comparable decision-quality conditions in international project contexts. Drawing on a conceptual framework that links power distance to decision quality through voice, information sharing, and challenge capacity, the study adopts a parsimonious, proxy-based cross-national design. Empirically, it uses a matched-country dataset of 69 countries combining Hofstede's Power Distance Index (PDI) and the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The analysis applies distributional testing, Pearson correlation, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and cluster analysis. The results reveal a strong negative association between PDI and CPI (r = -0.663, p < 0.001) and a statistically significant regression relationship (CPI = 88.850-0.601 & times; PDI; R-2 = 0.439), indicating that higher hierarchy acceptance co-occurs with weaker integrity conditions of the decision environment. Cluster analysis further identifies two stable decision-environment profiles combining hierarchy acceptance and integrity conditions. The findings do not imply cultural determinism but highlight a systematic vulnerability pattern: in higher-hierarchy contexts, decision quality becomes more dependent on compensatory governance mechanisms that preserve voice, escalation, documentation, and independent review. The study contributes by providing a transparent, reproducible macro-level test of a theoretically specified decision-quality mechanism and by translating cultural differences into governance-relevant insights for international projects.
This article examines the current geoeconomic turn and the evolution of the European Union's economic security concept within the context of an increasingly fragmenting global order. It proceeds from the premise that economic security has emerged as a pivotal dimension of the Union's broader security and geopolitical framework, reflecting the deepening nexus between economic interdependence and strategic competition. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of EU strategic documents and relevant scientific and academic literature, the paper explores how economic security is conceptualised in European political discourse and identifies how this approach diverges from those of other major global actors. Particular attention is devoted to the architecture and primary instruments of the European Economic Security Strategy-including foreign direct investment screening, export controls, technological security, and supply chain protection-while highlighting the inherent tensions between openness, competitiveness, and security. Ultimately, the article interprets the concept of 'open economic security' as a specific European response to systemic risks and power asymmetries in the global economy.
The article focuses on athletes' decision to leave organized football in Slovakia. It reveals the impact of this sport on society from a sports geography perspective, understood as the spatial distribution of football participation, accessibility of clubs and infrastructure, and regional disparities affecting athletes' retention, which is still underdeveloped in research. We aim to explore selected aspects to understand the current decrease in the young athletes' participation in the Slovak Football Association's (SFA) competitions. The quantitative methods applied to the data include logistic regression and correlation analysis, with the models being assessed by their accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. We used an exclusive data set provided directly by the SFA, as well as data extracted from the Sportnet API. This created a unique primary material for our research needs, complemented by official Sport in Figures reports (2015-2021) as secondary data sources. We identified variables significantly influencing the likelihood of athletes staying in organized football (including the age of starting with football, basic line-up, and yellow cards). Based on the results, we defined recommendations for effective athletes' retention strategies so that the sport's social impact, quantified by its geographical dispersion, can be maximized.
This study analyses the impact of female leadership on sustainable development indicators and environmental efficiency across 28 European countries (EU-27 and T & uuml;rkiye) over the period 2015-2023. Utilising panel data and fixed-effects econometric models, the relationship between female representation in legislative bodies, government, and corporate governance (boards and executive positions) is investigated in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDG Index) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The results confirm a statistically significant positive correlation between the proportion of women in national parliaments and the achievement of systemic sustainability goals, thereby supporting theoretical premises regarding the more pronounced social and ethical orientation of female leaders. With regard to the environmental footprint, the role of corporate gender diversity in mitigating emissions is identified, although this effect remains strongly mediated by macroeconomic factors and the national energy profile. The observed glass cliff phenomenon-whereby women are appointed to senior leadership roles during periods of crisis or downturn-among female executives underscores the necessity for a more in-depth analysis of the institutional context in which leadership is exercised. The scientific novelty lies in the integrated examination of political and corporate power as determinants of sustainability amidst systemic crises. These findings have direct applicability to the formulation of public policies and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies, demonstrating that gender diversity is a critical instrument for accelerating the green transition and achieving socio-economic stability in Europe.
Startups have become a central element of economic development strategies in small open economies, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. Existing research predominantly conceptualizes startups as instruments of innovation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. However, this economocentric perspective tends to overlook the social functions of startups and their role in shaping institutional and relational environments. This article addresses this gap by conceptualizing startups as social actors embedded in networks of social, institutional, and communicative relations. The study aims to analyze how startups perform social roles in small open economies, using the Baltic States - Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia - as an empirical case. Methodologically, the article combines a qualitative comparative approach with document analysis of policy frameworks, ecosystem reports, and secondary empirical studies. The analytical framework draws on insights from economic sociology, institutional theory, and the literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems. The findings demonstrate that startups in the Baltic States function not only as economic entities but also as intermediaries between the state, the market, and elements of civil society. They contribute to the formation of entrepreneurial communities, the accumulation of social capital, and the reproduction of hybrid institutional arrangements characteristic of small open economies. At the same time, the study identifies ambivalent effects of startup development, including risks of social and regional concentration. The article contributes to comparative economic research by integrating social and institutional dimensions into the analysis of startups and offers policy-relevant insights for the design of more inclusive startup support strategies in small open economies.
The study examined the role of financial inclusion in building a savings culture among daily low-income earners in Enugu State, Nigeria. The survey period is from April 20 to May 25, 2025. The study population consisted of 510 registered tri-cycle operators. 241 tricycle operators were randomly selected from three suburban settlements in Enugu State, Nigeria: Emene, Ninth Mile, and Orba. The questionnaire was the primary instrument for data collection. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics-mean percentages, frequency counts and charts. Postulated hypotheses were tested using the chi-square test statistic at the 0.05% level of significance. Variables of interest were: bank account ownership, awareness created by financial institutions, proximity of banks, availability of credits, as they relate to the building of a savings culture among daily income earners. Results show that having a bank account was not sufficient to build a savings culture (P <= 0.05). Secondly, the awareness created by banks aimed at financial inclusion did not positively influence the savings culture (P <= 0.05). It was also found that the proximity of banks' branches did not enhance savings habits of daily income earners (P <= 0.05). Most low-income earners, instead of using banks, used ubiquitous Point of Sale (POS) operators and other non-bank locations. Finally, credit advancements were not common among the daily income earners. Against this background, it is concluded that efforts toward financial inclusion by Nigeria's Apex bank and the commercial banks are not deep or all-encompassing, as the available banking opportunities do not enthuse low-income earners. It is thus recommended that the financial inclusion net be directed towards promoting a savings culture in general, including daily income earners in particular.
This research investigates the role of ideological self-placement in explaining Europe's sustainable consumption orientations based on two high-quality secondary datasets, namely, World Values Survey (WVS) Wave 7 and Special Eurobarometer 513/Eurobarometer 95.1. This analysis builds on confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel modeling to distinguish between moral willingness to bear private environmental costs and reported climate-relevant consumer practices. Within the WVS, we formulate a latent orientation founded on the environment-growth trade-off, as well as readiness to incur higher taxes or sacrifice income for pollution abatement; within Eurobarometer, we summarise climate-relevant household and purchase behaviours through a Green Consumer Action Index. The results show a steady ideological gradient: respondents placing further to the right report declining willingness to incur private economic costs to help the environment. The relationship remains significant after controlling for socioeconomic status and religiosity, and is partially attenuated with the control for environmental concern. Evidence from Eurobarometer corroborates this pattern by illustrating substantial uptake of cheap, low-effort actions such as recycling and reducing disposables, but much weaker uptake of expensive actions like solar panels, low-energy homes and electric cars. Cross-dataset triangulation thus indicates that ideology influences moral preference whereas institutions, infrastructure, and affordability constrain behavioral feasibility. The results highlight the importance of fair, cost-reducing climate policies that can transform willingness to act in favour of the environment into durable consumer behaviours.
This study analyses the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU-27 during 2021-2025 and examines whether this diffusion leads to convergence or persistent disparities across countries. Using harmonised Eurostat indicators on enterprises employing at least one AI technology by size class (10-49 and 50-249 employees), the study combines descriptive analysis with sigma-convergence (coefficient of variation) and beta-convergence regressions linking average log growth to initial adoption levels. Club convergence analysis is additionally applied to identify heterogeneous dynamics across groups of countries. The results show rapid growth in SME AI adoption: the share of small enterprises using AI increased from 6.1% to 17.0%, while among medium-sized enterprises it rose from 12.6% to 30.4%. Relative dispersion declined (CV: 0.69 -> 0.52 for small firms; 0.62 -> 0.45 for medium-sized firms), indicating sigma-convergence, while beta-convergence is statistically significant in both segments (beta = -0.0815, p < 0.01; beta = -0.0872, p < 0.001). However, club convergence analysis shows that convergence is concentrated among high-adoption economies, whereas low-adoption countries display increasing internal divergence. These findings suggest that accelerated AI diffusion alone does not ensure balanced digital transformation, highlighting the importance of targeted SME capability-building in lagging ecosystems.
The study examines the socio-demographic and experience-related determinants of tax evasion behaviour, distinguishing between self-reported past engagement in tax evasion and hypothetical willingness to engage in tax evasion. Adopting a behaviour perspective, the analysis integrates experience-related factors with socio-demographic characteristics to better understand individual-level tax evasion behaviour beyond purely legal or institutional explanations. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in Slovakia. After data cleaning, responses from 423 respondents were retained for the analysis using a series of binary logistic regression models. The results show that self-reported tax evasion is significantly associated with gender, income level, entrepreneurial experience, and prior exposure to tax audits. In contrast, hypothetical willingness to evade taxes is only weakly related to these factors. When past tax evasion behaviour is included in the scenario-based model, it emerges as a strong predictor of future willingness to engage in tax evasion. This indicates notable differences between the determinants of actual and hypothetical tax evasion behaviour. By distinguishing between past behaviour and scenario-based responses, this study provides evidence that experience-related factors play a role in shaping tax evasion behaviour at the individual level. The findings contribute to the literature on tax compliance by highlighting the importance of behavioural history and by demonstrating that hypothetical measures may not fully reflect real-world tax evasion behaviour.
In today's globalised business environment, effective team management competencies are fundamental. These competences represent a multidimensional framework that integrates knowledge, skills, abilities, and behavioural attributes necessary for guiding and coordinating collective efforts toward organisational goals. As organisations confront growing complexity, cultivating team management competencies has become a central priority in business education, especially in international and multicultural settings. This study examines the application of a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project in fostering international team management competencies among undergraduate business students. The research was conducted through an online collaboration among higher education institutions in Lithuania, Ukraine, Kosovo, the Czech Republic, and Finland, in which students engaged in cross-cultural teamwork, structured discussions, and joint academic assignments. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through semistructured student interviews to explore participants' experiences and perceptions of international collaboration. The findings reveal that students significantly enhanced their international team management skills, intercultural awareness, and ability to function effectively in multicultural business environments. Moreover, participants broadened their understanding of foreign markets, international trade practices, and business strategies through sustained interaction with peers from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds. The results demonstrate that COIL represents an effective learning approach for strengthening intercultural competence, promoting collaborative problem-solving, and preparing students for professional careers in a globally interconnected economy. Integrating virtual international collaboration into business studies can therefore improve students' employability, cultural sensitivity, and adaptability to diverse professional environments, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Security and stability constitute fundamental prerequisites for the long-term sustainable development of societies. The return of high-intensity interstate warfare to Europe following Russia's aggression against Ukraine has profoundly altered the European security environment and challenged long-established assumptions underpinning European integration and development. This article analyses the transformation of European security, the defence industry and the institutional role of the European Union in the context of efforts to strengthen strategic autonomy and long-term resilience. Drawing on a qualitative analytical approach based on the analysis of strategic documents, policy initiatives and academic literature, the article identifies structural weaknesses of the European defence technological and industrial base, assesses the growing involvement of the Union in defence industrial policy and defence financing, and highlights the broader implications of these processes for Europe's sustainable development. The findings indicate that security, the defence industry and institutional adaptation are increasingly interconnected, and that the ability to ensure security and defence, reduce strategic dependencies and strengthen industrial resilience represents a key condition for Europe's sustainable development in an increasingly unstable global environment.
