The objective of this paper was to estimate the inflation-unemployment nexus and the opportunities for inflation-unemployment trade-off in Bulgaria. An ordinary least squares (OLS) regression of annual time series data for the period 2003-2022 was employed to test the Phillips curve hypothesis for Bulgaria. The results from the empirical analysis showed that: (i) a negative relationship (both linear and non-linear) exists between inflation and unemployment in Bulgaria; (ii) Bulgarian policy makers can decrease inflation by three percent at the cost of one percent increase in unemployment by implementing restrictive macroeconomic policies.
The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables, financial literacy levels and the sum of causes of insolvency (count of causes reported per respondent). The research adopted a quantitative approach, using a purpose-designed questionnaire based on the 3rd Financial Literacy Survey of the Portuguese Population, conducted by Banco de Portugal in 2020. The sample comprises 84 individuals declared insolvent, of whom 52.4% are women, 40.5% divorced or widowed, and nearly half (47.6%) aged between 40 and 54 years. Data were analysed using SPSS software. The results reveal that insolvency declarations are more likely among specific sociodemographic groups, such as women, divorced individuals, those with low educational attainment, and those on low incomes. The leading causes of insolvency were unemployment or loss of income (57.1%) and unexpected events (59.5%), followed by divorce (32.1%) and financial mismanagement (36.9%). The data indicate that respondents possess a relatively high level of financial knowledge and practice sound financial management, with over 80% reporting systematic control of expenses and timely bill payments, although only about half set long-term savings goals. Additionally, they are heavily influenced by bank counter staff (54.8%) and family members (63.1%) when selecting financial products. These findings underscore the need for measures to enhance financial literacy, particularly among young people and low-income individuals.
This study explores the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war through an existing comprehensive survey, delving into the challenges e-sellers face in North Macedonia. The research specifically investigates how demographic factors influence e-sellers challenges in maintaining prices and coping with decreased demand, attributed to factors like inflation and the Russian-Ukrainian war. The ANOVA test was employed to assess the impact of categorical independent variables, including sales channels, years of operation, number of employees, and online sales, on these challenges. Regression (linear and quantile) is performed to determine the relationship between the variables. The results indicate that e-sellers operating under the click-and-mortar model face more challenges in maintaining prices compared to those exclusively selling online. Notably, other demographic factors such as years of operation, number of employees, industry, and online sales do not show statistically significant mean differences, suggesting a universal challenge for e-sellers. E-sellers with fewer employees (1-9), limited operational experience, newly established businesses, and lower online sales face the challenge of decreased demand more prominent.
In the international legal system for the protection of human rights, a number of universal and regional international acts have been adopted, each of which contributes to achieving a higher level of protection of basic human rights and values. Undoubtedly, one of the most important acts in this system is the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The Convention is an international treaty by virtue of which the member states of the Council of Europe that have joined it have both obligations to observe the recognized rights and positive obligations. Subsequently, Additional Protocols to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms were adopted, which expanded the list of recognized fundamental rights and freedoms and introduced additional guarantees for their observance. The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms guarantees, in addition to the protection of a number of civil rights, also economic rights, such as the right to property. This fundamental economic right is protected in Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Important for the correct application of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is the jurisprudence of the Strasbourg Court ruling on various violations of its provisions, thanks to which, in recent decades the improvement of the national legislation of the countries parties to the international act and real effective protection of basic human rights has been achieved rights and freedoms at the national level. This report will present the positive impact of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on the protection of human rights and freedoms in Europe and its particular importance for guaranteeing the right to property through the lens of the jurisprudence of the Strasbourg Court.
In the long-term perspective, the increased societal sensitivity towards environmental protection requires the promotion of environmentally friendly modes of transport. This implies a shift in the distribution of passenger traffic in favor of rail transport. The development of passenger rail services is determined by the quality of the service offered. The most important indicator of this is the condition of the rolling stock. Investments in new rolling stock and, consequently, in transport infrastructure accelerate economic growth, create prosperity, facilitate mobility, and not least, improve geographical accessibility. A key strategic priority for BDZ Passenger Services is the implementation of an active technological policy to meet the needs of passengers for quality, fast, safe, and comfortable transport. The introduction of new rolling stock into operation will meet these requirements while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of overall transport services.
