University of National and World Economy

Research evaluation (RE) strongly affects actors in higher education nowadays. Accordingly, this article unveils the effects of RE on Balkan post-socialist countries (BPSCs). Stakeholder theory, systematic literature review, K-means cluster analysis, a sample of 25 papers, expert evaluations and synthesis/analysis underpin it. Main results: 1. Data was found for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Slovenia. 2. The negative RE effects outnumbered the positive (30 vs. 22). They were also more frequently cited (65 vs. 53). 3. The most cited negative effects were unfair evaluation in some disciplines and the rise of authors per publication, while enhanced collaboration was the most cited positive. 4. Specifics of RE effects on BPSCs were elucidated. 5. BPSCs 3-cluster maps were created for the positive, negative, and all RE effects. The maps of negative and all RE effects were the same, covering BIH and Romania in cluster 1 (titled ‘least positive, mid negative’), Bulgaria and Serbia in cluster 2 (‘mid positive, least negative’), Slovenia and Croatia in cluster 3 (‘most positive, most negative’). The positive map differed only for Serbia, assigned to the ‘least positive’ cluster. The primary role of this article is as a landmark for BPSCs research evaluation effectiveness.

This paper aims to explore the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on the twenty-seven European Union (EU) member states, known as the EU-27. A vector autoregression (VAR) of quarterly data for the period 2020-2022 was employed to study the impact of the coronavirus and the Russian invasion of Ukraine on growth, unemployment and inflation in the EU-27. The results from the empirical analysis indicated that the war in Ukraine lowered growth and raised inflation and unemployment, while the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect growth, increased unemployment and decreased inflation in the EU-27. It may be concluded that the war in Ukraine shifted the EU aggregate supply curve to the left, whereas the coronavirus pandemic resulted in inflation-unemployment trade-off in the EU.

Background: Periodontitis is a complex disease, and bacterial factors play a crucial role in its initiation. The contributions of genetic and epigenetic factors to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease are increasingly recognized. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in various molecules, including cytokines, are of particular interest due to their established involvement in numerous diseases. This study investigates the influence of SNPs in the IL-10 gene at positions -592 (rs1800872) C>A and -1082 (rs1800896) T>C (also referred to as 1082A>G) on the severity of periodontitis in a cohort of Bulgarian patients. Methods: In the recent study, both clinical and paraclinical methodologies were employed to comprehensively assess the periodontal status of the participants. The genotypic characterization of IL-10 polymorphisms was performed by PCR RFLP analysis. Statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), were executed utilizing IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21. Results: We have established a statistically significant association between the presence of at least one A-allele in the patients' genotype and the incidence of severe periodontitis (p = 0.047). Conclusions: IL-10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be effectively considered as biomarkers for the severity of periodontitis.

The construction of the 5G network is a new stage in the development of the digital society, digital economy, and sustainable Bulgarian regional development. Using 5G technology, public and private organizations' management at all levels is improved. The author's major objective is to analyze the role and opportunities for strengthening regional development using 5G technology. The authors arrive at important results related to the level of 5G connectivity in Bulgaria, and the progress in the construction of the new network.

Artificial intelligence has become a defining technology for the last decade and possibly the next few. Every day, new and new applications are created based on large language models (LLM), a little hastily called artificial intelligence (AI). This reveals new and new opportunities for their use in various spheres of public life. Public administration, despite its inherent conservatism, is also one such area where AI can be used to enhance its administrative capacity and citizens’ satisfaction with administrative services. The aim of this article is to address the possibilities of using AI in public sector organizations and to reveal the limitations that hinder it. In this sense, the object of the research is the Bulgarian state institutions, and the subject - the application of AI in their work. A study was conducted that shows that the employees in the Bulgarian state administration still do not know the possibilities of AI and how to use it in their work. Abstention is due to both ignorance and lack of regulation about what apps can be used where, as well as fear of possible risks. The report presents the possibilities of using some AI-based applications in the implementation of basic work processes in administrations and justifies the need to introduce strict regulations for this. The author’s hypothesis will defend the claim that the Bulgarian administration does not know well the possibilities of digital transformation and AI, through which their work and efficiency can be improved.

In the manuscript is considered the integration between green energy production, charging infrastructure availability and development and the consumer behavior for e-mobility charging. The optimization of time for charging of electric vehicles is important for the balance of demand and energy availability, with regard the on-peak periods of solar power generation or with the balance of energy storage capacities. This can assure the energy system stability and reduction of external and nonecological energy sources.

This paper presents the capabilities of specialized simulation software to develop a visual model that represents a cyber intelligence scenario. The architecture development method is applied to create an operational view for the tactics to conduct an intelligence attack by a team in the Computer Security Incident Response Centre in the structures related to crisis management and response. For this purpose, a prognostic scenario for reconnaissance attack tactics was developed using the toolkit of the simulation software, in which the Gather information about the victim’s network techniques are applied.

This paper has as its reference point the issue of corruption in Ukraine, which has recently once again become the subject of attention due to reports that it may be an important factor when it comes to the recalcitrance of some of Ukraine’s Western partners and allies with regard to offering military support for the country’s war effort against Russia. The main objective is to demonstrate how the West’s tendency to overstress this problem, for which the paper offers proof, that could manifest itself in it applying undue pressure on the Ukrainian authorities, entails risks and may have a number of undesirable repercussions due to 1) providing fuel to Russian disinformation campaigns and negatively affecting the perceptions of Ukraine among Western citizens, 2) hampering the Ukrainian military campaign and its appraisal abroad, 3) indirectly contributing to changing the nature of Ukrainian nationalism by making it more exclusionary.

Developing academic ESP courses in a hybrid mode has come to the forefront of the educational agenda due to social and economic reasons: technological advance followed by the emergence of new communication, business and education technologies; new generations of learners who grow up in virtual reality rather than in real life; commercialisation of education; changes in workplaces and business organisations; a pandemic that resulted in increased use of the electronic and hybrid modes of interacting and working. In light of these circumstances, the research on the key actors in the educational process – learners and teachers – has gained importance and has become the reason to initiate a study of these actors’ attitudes and perceptions with regard to the academic ESP courses in a hybrid mode. The article presents and discusses the results from a survey conducted within this study and related to the preparation of reference criteria for course design in terms of parameters. Data analysis has implications for the educational sector in terms of language and subject course development, as well as of the introduction of relevant policies in higher education.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to identify prerequisites for business development in the conditions of polycrisis in the EU member states of South-Eastern Europe. In the context of digital transformation and the low-carbon transition, this can have an impact on changing their economic policy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The object of research are selected macroeconomic performance indicators of selected EU member states from Southeast Europe (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia), which are key their business development. The subject is the determination for the business development in conditions of polycrisis and digital transformation. Methodology is mainly based on descriptive analysis and statistical analysis. The main hypothesis proves the statement that in the conditions of polycrisis in the studied period between 2018 and 2022, the three SEE countries (Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia), underestimate the significance of business development in the field of investments and innovations, reforms and institutional environment, and fiscal policy efficiency. Findings: Identifying key determinants that respond to exogenous shocks in specific regions of the EU may be useful for changing its fiscal policy and also help countries take measures to create the conditions for business development. Also, it can lead to optimization of corporate management and investment processes.

The present research paper is focused the widely debated topic related to de-dollarization. It examines the trend of de-dollarization to check if the statements that the dollar is losing its weight and is about to lose its leading position in international trade payments are substantiated. Firstly, the theoretical framework behind the dollarization is explored. Secondly, the factors believed to be the basis of the de-dollarization process have been identified and analyzed, which are related to: geopolitical processes, changes in international payments policy in some BRICS countries, changes in international trade, etc. A performed analysis of the currency turnover in international trade, based on data from official sources, was made through forecast regression, which predicts the development of the share of the dollar in international payments. A correlation matrix was also calculated, showing the correlation links between the dollar and the other leadng currencies. The hypothesis, which is confirmed by the practical research, is that the de-dollarization process is proceeding slowly and uncertainly, and will continue to develop at a low pace leading to insignificant changes in the structure of the currency composition of international payments in the short and medium term. Further research could further explore each of the factors that could lead to a real dedollarisation trend in international payments.

This study highlights the significance of youth entrepreneurship, as well as entrepreneurship education in Bulgaria and Indonesia. The paper synthesizes the main scientific discoveries in the fields of entrepreneurial intentions and motivations, focusing on those of young people. The insights from this study are obtained from an empirical survey conducted among bachelor students specializing in entrepreneurship in Bulgaria and Indonesia. The results reveal the strong positive attitude of the respondents towards the entrepreneurial initiative and concrete intentions to undertake one in the future. Their major motives are connected not only with pursuing personal goals such as work satisfaction, self-realization, higher income, flexibility, and freedom, but also with the opportunity to do something useful for the society. The importance of this study lies in its contribution to understanding whether and why young people aspire to establish new enterprises. Such understanding could help create a good environment for new businesses, which is important for the economy and solve social problems in both countries.