Suchergebnisse

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the existing social and economic issues. Calls for government actions are increasing on a global scale. This paper examines one of the proposed solutions – the universal basic income – and whether it has the potential to be the missing tool to end in-work poverty.

This paper presents the results of the first large-scale study on forms, factors, and efficiency of eco-management in Bulgarian agricultural farms of different juridical type, size, specialization, and location. First, a brief characterization of surveyed "eco-active" farms is made, analyzing the various forms and scope of eco-management in agricultural farms. Next, different factors of eco- management in farms are specified along with the costs, effects, efficiency and perspectives of eco-management in agricultural farms. Finally, conclusions from the study are summarized.

The pandemic, which began in 2020, has affected all areas of human activity. Education was also one of them, and its rapid adaptation to the new reality was a condition for guaranteeing the level of its quality. In order to comply with the recommendations for action during a pandemic, the educational process was moved entirely online. This process took place literally over the span of a single day, wherein the physical classrooms became virtual, and the teachers and students were faced with the challenge of changing their previous approaches in order to respond and deal with the situation. In this regard, for the purposes of the present paper, the understanding of online learning in higher education is reduced to the level of a marketing product, as a part of the marketing mix. The different levels of the product in the context of online learning are examined, as well as the factors that lead to the success of the products. The advantages, disadvantages and opportunities for improving online learning in higher education are studied based on own empirical research conducted among 230 students at different universities.

Restaurant food waste represents a significant societal challenge in transitional economies where frequency of dining out is rising. The problem of restaurant food waste in this context is however under-researched which hampers understanding of its causes and effects. This paper contributes to knowledge with a case study of food waste management in restaurants of Plovdiv in Bulgaria, a transitional economy in South-Eastern Europe. Through the lens of qualitative research, it establishes the causes of restaurant food waste and explores managerial approaches to mitigation. The study highlights the crucial role of targeted governmental support in more effective management of restaurant food waste. The government should train restaurateurs on how to quantify and characterise major food waste streams. It should further provide reliable services of municipal waste collection to facilitate on-site food separation and recycling. Lastly, public awareness campaigns should be developed to better engage customers in restaurant food waste minimisation.

Assesses the writings of Yanko Yanev, placing them in the cultural context of the 1920s-1930s, to view the Bulgarian interwar culture. The metaphor of 'Crisis' is used to confront conflict, decay, & dissolution, despite Yanev's desire for reconciliation & spiritual unity. His early writings explore the concept of 'life' as a beautiful unity of "the rational & the sensual, the ideal & the real, the objective & the subjective." Transformation is found in the "metaphysical negativism," which can give meaning to tragedy, can turn "reality into a miracle," & is the motivation of endless revolt. The doctrines of nihilism are present in his work, & Yanev saw himself as a prophet with apocalyptic visions. Therefore the metaphors of "Cain," the first tragic human, "metaphysical revolt," "evil," & the "overcoming of God" are recurrent in his writings. The extremism in Yanev's later writing reflects the last decade of his life, 1935-1944, which he spent in Germany. He foresees, but does not embrace, the coming violence, which may bring the "joyous anticipation of liberation.". L. A. Hoffman

The report is a result of the Ageing, Health Status and Determinants of Health Expenditure (AHEAD) project within the EC 6th Framework programme. The objective of the research was to present the model of future health care system revenues and expenditures in selected Central and Eastern European countries (CEE) which are now the New EU Member States, and to discuss projection assumptions and results. Selected countries include Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The projections are based on methodology adopted in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Social Budget model. The projection examines impact of demographic changes and changes in health status on future (up to 2050) health expenditures. Next to it, future changes in the labour market participation and their imact on the health care system revenues are examined. Results indicate that due to demographic pressures health expenditures will increase in the next 40 years and health care systems in the NMS will face deficit. Moreover, health revenues, expenditures and deficit/surplus are slightly sensitive to possible labour market changes. Health care system reforms are required in order to balance the disequilibrium of revenues and expenditures caused by external factors (demographic and economic), and decrease the premium needed to cover expenditures. Such reforms should lead, on the one hand, to the rationing of medical services covered by public resources, and on the other, to more effective governance and management of the sector and within the sector.

BACKGROUND: Despite the attention the situation of the Roma in Central and Eastern Europe has received in the context of European Union enlargement, research on their access to health services is very limited, in particular with regard to child health services. METHODS: 50 qualitative in-depth interviews with users, providers and policy-makers concerned with child health services in Bulgaria, conducted in two villages, one town of 70,000 inhabitants, and the capital Sofia. RESULTS: Our findings provide important empirical evidence on the range of barriers Roma children face when accessing health services. Among the most important barriers are poverty, administrative and geographical obstacles, low levels of parental education, and lack of ways to accommodate the cultural, linguistic and religious specifics of this population group. CONCLUSION: Our research illustrates the complexity of the problems the Roma face. Access to health care cannot be discussed in isolation from other problems this population group experiences, such as poverty, restricted access to education, and social exclusion.

This article was invited from the author in response to the June 2022 Bruegel.com blog post by Zsolt Darvas – and see the separate article in this issue – about the decision to let Croatia into the euro area while keeping Bulgaria out; and intended to elicit a view from Bulgaria. The author believes that Darvas is essentially right in his approach; and that, furthermore, the applications of Croatia and Bulgaria for entry to the euro area are a perfect example of why the whole framework needs a thorough re-consideration. The founding fathers of the euro area constructed it on the basis of fundamental principles of macroeconomic stability and the equal treatment of applicants. Consequently, most of the criteria for adopting the euro, the so-called Maastricht criteria, have numerical expressions: clear and transparent criteria do not open any room for interpretations and compromises with macroeconomic stability. In the last decade, however, the author argues that the flexible interpretation of these criteria has led to changes making the accession process more discretionary and euro area membership less attractive.