bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Energy Cooperatives and Communities to Foster Social Innovation in the EU – a Bulgarian Case Study – Prospects and Barriers
Authors: Gancheva Lyubomira 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The paper aims to identify how energy cooperatives and energy communities could affect the social innovation within the European Union as a whole and specifically in Bulgaria. It begins with an applicable legislation and energy policy analysis and provides a helicopter view of the regulatory framework connected with the energy communities and copperatives on both European and national level, as well as the opportunities for their future development. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the gaps, which consists of a bibliometric and a content analysis and outlines a growing interest in those relatively new energy formations that promote renewable energy sources, enhance energy security and empower local communities. It highlights the current research gap and endorses the need for the conduction of some additional deeper researches and empirical studies. The SWOT analysis provides an in-depth assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threads of those energy formations in Bulgaria, with an emphasis on their advantages and the challenges in front of them. The results provide a clear understanding of the factors that can help the growth and sustainability of those energy organizations and how they can endorse the energy transition in the country and in the European Union as a whole.
Organic Agriculture as a Future Strategy for Sustainable Farming
Authors: Popa Ramona Ovidia , Rodino Steliana , Butu Alina 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Organic agriculture, as a holistic system, aims to maximize the productivity of agricultural sector by integrating tradition, innovation and science, helping to improve the quality of agrifood products reaching the market. One of the most rapidly evolving sectors in the EU is the organic manufacturing industry. Due to the increased interest of consumers it has had a significant increase in the last decade. This paper offers a detailed perspective on organic agriculture in Romania in the context of current European development. We present essential information about the organic sector, current legislation and market data, at national and European level. Official data show that organic agriculture has registered an increase in plant and animal production in recent years in Romania. Although it represents a small part of the cultivated area and total production, organic agriculture is attracting attention due to the principles of sustainable development and the associated economic opportunities.
Sustainable Viticulture and Organic Farming in Romania: Challenges and Opportunities for Future Development
Authors: Tancelov Liane , Dobre Gudei Corina Simona 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Sustainable agriculture is a concept based on different pillars that include the need to nurture healthy ecosystems and support the sustainable management of land, water and natural resources while ensuring profitability and social and economic equity. In order to achieve agricultural productivity in a sustainable way it is important to meet the environmental and climate challenges regarding food security, quality and sustainability.
Nowadays, the global wine industry is facing profound changes that echo in the Romanian wine sector as well. In order to face these challenges, the Romanian wine sector must concentrate on its future to achieve sustainable development goals.
In addition, the Romanian Organic agriculture has great potential of development that serves both the domestic and foreign markets.
Starting from the new EU financial frameworks, Romania has the chance to develop the organic sector, based on the EU funding. Investing in organic farming is timely and strategic. The organic sector can prevent the loss of biodiversity; improve the ways of living of all actors in the food value chain, and help farmers move to more sustainable agro ecological practices. The ways of action for the sustainability of the sector should target the area of standards for competitive sustainability and the protection of human health in close connection with the one health concept.
The article focuses on the Romanian wine and organic agricultural sectors and the need to achieve a sustainable development in order to face future challenges.
Innovations of Rural Areas as a Necessity of Green Economy and Sustainable Development
Authors: Radosavljević Katica , Pătărlăgeanu Simona Roxana , Mihailović Branko , Mitrašević Mirela 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Increasing the competitiveness of agricultural products, sustainable management of rural resources, and demographic aspects of rural development are issues that unite both science and practice in thinking. The relevance of the topic is confirmed by data on the increase in population and demand for food, as well as changes in consumption habits of agricultural products. Research highlights the importance of applying the principles of the green economy using the example of plum production and marketing in the Republic of Serbia. Observing the average rate of fluctuation and the coefficient of variation of plum production around the calculated average value, we notice an uncertain market placement. The importance of the demographic picture of villages due to changes in rural population is depicted through the constant decrease in the agricultural population in the Republic of Serbia. The process of joining the European Union further emphasizes the importance of the green economy and sustainable development as priority areas for Serbia. Accession to the EU obliges the country to align with European standards, including those related to environmental protection and sustainable development. Thus, sustainable development represents a link between economic policy and environmental protection processes. The process of implementing the green economy in the agricultural sector in Serbia requires an active role of the state, regulatory framework, and support from international partners. Institutional support is the basis for successful implementation of efficient solutions. Additionally, it is important to promote innovation, short marketing channels, and knowledge exchange. Concrete measures involve organizing advisory services, training farmers through the modernization of agricultural holdings.
State Owned Companies in the European Gaming Market: Comparative Perspectives
Authors: Andrei Ionuț-Valeriu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This paper looks at different case studies of European lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit. It takes the case studies of four national lotteries as most similar systems design comparative methodology to investigate the extent to which market structure and managerial strategy play a role in the profitability of the companies. The empirical data collected through process tracing, public statements and public records shows that while being bound to interact with each other, the market context does not dictate managerial strategies, and innovations in the latter offer very diverging results in terms of the bottom line of the different European lotteries operating games of chance. This paper contributes thus to the existing literature on market conditions for companies operating games of chance (e.g. Huttenen 2020, Grote & Matheson 2023, Clotfelter & Cook 1991) by developing a much-needed link to the academic literature on corporate governance in state-owned enterprises (e.g. Cao & Vittas 2017, Szarzec & Nowara 2017, Megginson & Netter 2019).
Improving the Performance of Corporate Employees through the Use of Artificial Intelligence: The Case of Copilot Application
Authors: Vasilescu Cristina , Gheorghe Militaru 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
In today's dynamic business landscape, the use of artificial intelligence becomes an important factor for companies to succeed. This research aims to see how Copilot application can help employees in their work environment. Microsoft Copilot application being an artificial intelligent tool which aims to be a teammate for each employee. There is a lot of research on how artificial intelligence can help users succeed in their work environment but there was still more to learn about how Copilot could help more specifically. Therefore, in order to find out more, we have used a survey and an interview in this scope. The survey was spread to 30 IT professionals and the interview was held with a support engineer to see how well Copilot worked for him. In the survey we looked at how Copilot could help people work faster, make better decisions, be more productive, and be happier at work. Whereas in the interview we looked at how useful Microsoft Copilot was in day to day activities in the workplace. For those interested to learn more about how Microsoft Copilot is changing the way we work, and how the Microsoft Copilot tool could help companies be more efficient, then the insights from this research provide an excellent foundation.
Enhancing Business Operations Through Microlearning, BPM and RPA
Authors: Bejinaru Ruxandra , Toma Marian-Vladuț 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the impact of emerging technologies such as microlearning, Business Process Modelling (BPM) and Robotic Process Automation on business operations. In the first part, we did a literature review and defined the key concepts underlying these technologies. Microlearning caters to the modern learner by offering short, effective learning bursts that align well with the fast pace of today's work environments. BPM accelerates the process of delivering learning content specific to microlearning modules by optimizing specific workflow. RPA contributes by automating routine tasks using bots, improving the learning experience by providing instant materials, support and feedback. In the second part, we conducted a bibliometric research with the help of VOSViewer, focusing on an analysis of the co-occurrence of keywords specific to the 3 technologies, highlighting research trends and patterns, the impact of research in terms of citation analysis, but also research gaps on a topic. A future perspective was outlined for the implementation of these technologies in business environments, analyzing their impact and presented a section with case studies, highlighting common challenges and offering possible solutions. Summarizing all this, it can be said that the synergy between these 3 technologies has obvious advantages such as increasing productivity, optimizing administrative processes, reducing costs, and improving learning experiences, but it can also pose implementation problems specific to adopting new technologies in a constantly changing environment.
How Artificial Intelligence Can Influence Elections: Analyzing the Large Language Models (LLMs) Political Bias
Authors: Rotaru George-Cristinel , Anagnoste Sorin , Oancea Vasile-Marian 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The rise of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Gemini has raised concerns about their potential political biases and the implications for information dissemination and user influence. This study aims to measure the degree of political bias inherent in major LLMs by analyzing their responses to a standardized set of questions rating the quality and bias of popular news websites. Employing a systematic methodology, we queried both free and paid versions of ChatGPT and Gemini to rate news outlets on criteria such as authority, credibility, and objectivity. Results revealed that while all LLMs displayed a tendency to score left-leaning news sources higher, there was a notable difference between free and premium models in their assessment of subjectivity and bias. Furthermore, a comparison between the models indicated that premium versions offered more nuanced responses, suggesting a greater awareness of bias. The findings suggest that LLMs, despite their objective façade, are influenced by biases that can shape public opinion, underlining the necessity for efforts to mitigate these biases. This research highlights the importance of transparency and the potential impact of LLMs on the political landscape.
Artificial Intelligence in Central Banking
Authors: Grigorescu Aura Elena 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The paper uses qualitative research to investigate the potential uses of artificial intelligence in the field of central banking. The analysis shows that monetary policy, prudential supervision and the oversight of payments are the areas where the use artificial intelligence is most likely to bring benefits. Monetary policy calibration involves working with long time series of data for various parameters and making the necessary analysis and forecasts, an activity in which artificial neural networks may prove useful. Bank supervision can benefit from the use natural language processing algorithms that can read documents and extract the relevant information. Such algorithms can read all of the required documents (not just those that the supervisor selected) and return all of the sentences that contain a certain predefined expression. In the field of the oversight of payments, the capabilities of machine learning to identify new patterns or anomalies in the data that could indicate fraud or money laundering will boost the efforts to combat them. In terms of challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence in central banking, perhaps the two biggest challenges are that some of the models do not allow for a reasonable level of explainability of the algorithm(s) through which they arrive at the result (especially relevant for bank supervision) and data availability. With respect to the latter, although the issue of quantity of data can be dismissed as a shortcoming given the huge amounts of data available, the issue of data quality seems to be more pronounced, as deficiencies such as data measured incompletely or incorrectly, scarcity and regulatory barriers that impede data sharing may be difficult to surpass.
Postcolonialism in South Africa: Unraveling Historical Legacies and Contemporary Impacts
Authors: Jebeli-Bakht-Ara Hesam 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Critically observing and analyzing South Africa calls for the mentions of colonialism and postcolonialism. The African country was highly influenced throughout its history by western powers, those times having an important impact in today’s day and age. Frantz Fanon and Edward Said will be the main inspiration points of the study, their viewpoints helping us to understand the implications of colonialism and postcolonialism. Narrative building, stereotyping and power games will be added to the problematics of racial subjugation, psychological traumatization and the need for self-realization in order to frame the image of South Africa. These ideas will be complemented by the addition of critical theory, which will complement the paper by looking into the economic dimension of the colonial and postcolonial periods. This mash-up of ideas will try to serve as a framework that will better explain the situation in South Africa and how the discovered problems could or should be settled.
The Characteristics and Institutional Factors of Sustainable Business Models
Authors: Hao NingShan , Dragomir Voicu D. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The need for sustainable business models (SBMs) has grown significantly in response to contemporary environmental and social challenges such as climate change. This article offers a literature review of the characteristics and institutional factors in the landscape of SBMs. We define SBMs as transformative models that yield positive impacts on the environment and society. It emphasizes the fundamental reconfiguration of how organizations create, deliver, and capture value. The literature review describes the characteristics of SBMs which attempt to balance profitability with the management of environmental and social impacts. We underline the relevance of stakeholder theory in the creation of SBMs in the context of the triple bottom line. Challenges in SBM adoption, such as organizational inertia, are also discussed. The circular economy model is a promising approach within SBMs, emphasizing product and material reuse in contrast to the linear take-make-use-dispose model. The alignment of SBMs with broader sustainability goals, corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement, and proactive consideration of future regulatory changes would enhance the companies’ strategic advantage. The paper concludes by advocating the adoption of SBMs not just as a responsible choice but as a strategic imperative for long-term success, resilience, and positive social impact.
ESG Risks and Financial Performance. Analysis of Romanian-Listed Companies
Authors: Vezeteu Cosmin-Dănuț , Stănciulescu Raluca-Ioana 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The term “sustainability” is often used interchangeably with the acronym ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance). This happens as investors trust ESG scores to provide an accurate measurement of a company's sustainability performance. The traditional approach for evaluating sustainability performance involves analysing the scores for a given company, for each of the 3 ESG pillars: Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance. Moreover, most studies show that these scores are positively correlated with financial performance. While this approach is rather straightforward, usually it is not exhaustive and fails to capture the risks behind a company's exposure to material ESG issues and its management. Therefore, this study proposes an approach based on material ESG risk, exposure and management scores. Particularly, this paper focuses on the sector-wide analysis of ESG risk scores and their correlation with financial performance, for Romanian-listed companies, using the most recent data from one of the largest ESG rating provider. The methods employed are data analysis & visualization and correlation analysis. The results reveal, on average, a year-on-year decrease of the ESG Risk Score for the selected companies, along with increased exposure to material ESG risks, yet better management of these risks. Interestingly, the results do not show a significant correlation between the selected ESG variables and financial performance, measured by ROE, ROA and Tobin's Q, though a significant positive correlation between the Exposure and Management scores and firm size, measured by Market Cap, is found. Although there are limitations to this paper, for example, related to sample size or timeframe, it provides valuable insights on both the sustainability performance of Romanian-listed companies and, more broadly, its relationship with financial performance from a regional perspective.
The Mediating Role of the Financial Recommender System Advising Acceptance in the Relationship between Investments Trust and Decision-Making Behavior
Authors: Cuc Lavinia Denisia , Rad Dana , Hațegan Camelia Daniela , Trifan Vanina Adoriana , Ardeleanu Titus 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The issue discussed in this paper is how the financial recommendation system intertwines the individuals’ distrust in the act of investing and the outcome of the incurred damages. This study involving a total of 150 participants was conducted. The purpose of the current research is elucidated by identifying the affected variables and using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The survey shows that weakening confidence in investments correlates positively with formulation of a demand for the recommendation service of a financial advisor on the one hand, and with caution and rational thinking on the other, which steer the path to careful and rational investment decisions. An attempt to study mediation was performed using PROCESS Model 4 and it should be noted that financial recommender system advising acceptance mediated the relationship between distrust of quality of investment and cautious decision-making. Significant standardized coefficients gave direct evidence of a cause-effect relationship between a lowered trust in decision-making and the preceding caution, with financial advisement adding up to guidance as a mediator illustrating the significance of its role in decision-making. The trust transfer theory that claims the transfer of trust by individuals is just one of the previous experiences, is possibly a good explanation of the outcomes. Losses due to investments may render investors skeptical, and they eventually transfer trust in these financial market to other sources, such as financial recommender systems. The existing paper gets us to the more complex connection between financial information systems, trust, and the choice in the asset industry which, in turn leads to better understanding of the psychological processes that a person uses while making an investment decision. Furthermore, this article highlights the present practicality that is usually directly tied to the process of adoption and integration of financial technology. The results of this study indicate that it may be possible to reduce drastically the negative effect of drops in the confidence of investments in this case or maybe even eliminate the problem. It is clear that the universality of the financial recommendation system is a good helper in this direction.
Perceived Quality and Satisfaction Regarding Private Labels in Romanian Retail
Authors: Dragomir Helmut , Rosca Vlad I. , Pop Stefana 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This article addresses the perception of various customers regarding the private labels of retail companies. Therefore, the scope of this paper is to illustrate and determine whether specific factors such as the opinion, satisfaction and enjoyment of such labels, influence each other and also the perception of the customer, regardless if the customer is aware or not about it. Since these factors also influence the purchasing decision of potential customers, it is interesting to find out the current state of those, and identify any potential for improvement. This paper uses a statistic linear model, that is based on the inference statistic as well as the descriptive statistics. Therefore, tests like the Lagrange multiplier test, known also as the White test, the Durbin Watson test and the Jarque Bera test, were conducted to check the quality and the validity of the model. The results are interesting due to the fact that every time 2 factors were analysed, one test was failed. This does not necessarily mean that the model is unfounded or not valid. This signifies that there might be a better model that suits the behavior of the analysed factors and can possibly predict better their outcome.
The Preferences of Generation Z for the Digitalisation of the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Marin-Pantelescu Andreea , Ștefan-Hint Mihaela 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This article presents a quantitative questionnaire-based research that aims to identify Generation Z's preferences for the digitisation of the hospitality industry. Firstly, the key characteristics of Generation Z are presented, followed by a description of the research methodology used. The third part reports the results, and the last part presents the conclusions. Generation Z refers to the cohort of young individuals born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s. The hospitality sector is highly receptive towards technological advancements and offers customers diverse opportunities to engage with robots to facilitate their holidays or business meetings.