Volume 32 / 2011

REMITTANCES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA: LOST OPPORTUNITIES

Alexandru STRATAN, Marcel CHISTRUGA

Abstract: The article covers the problem of the relationship between remittances and economic growth as well as the use of remittances for productive investment in order to contribute to long-run development. Also, there are given some stylized facts of remittances in the Republic of Moldova and their impact over the national economy. Because of its business and investment climate, of its financial system and macroeconomic policies that were implemented, Moldova has lost almost all opportunities to benefit from remittances.
Keywords: remittances; economic growth; investment; human capital; inflation; consumption; savings.
JEL Classification: F43; E15.


THE INSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF INEFFECTIVE MACROECONOMIC POLICY OF UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IN THE PERIOD OF CRISIS. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Dmitry CHISTILIN

Abstract: To sum it up we would note that Russia and Ukraine possess not only common cultural and ethnic territory but also mistakes (not corrected) and institutional problems in forming and implementing effective macroeconomic policy in the period of the crisis.
Keywords: Monetary policy; macroeconomic policy; concordance targets of monetary and budgetary politics.
JEL Classification: E02; E52; E58; E60; E40.


L'INNOVATION DE LA COMMUNICATION DANS LE DEVELOPPEMENT DURABLE DES RESSOURCES HUMAINES

Jean-Luc PENOT

Résumé: L'innovation de la communication dans le développement durable des ressources humaines développe une analyse des pratiques de la communication. Partant du constat que nous ne parlons pas forcément de la même chose quand nous parlons de communication il s'agit de présenter les concepts à partir d'un axe central: l'information n'est pas de la communication. Si la communication a un grand rôle dans l'évolution des organisations, elle ne peut pas tout. En rappelant les fondements de la communication nous montrons ce que peut être l'apport de la communication au développement des ressources humaines dans les organisations. La communication n'est pas un système unique, elle correspond bien à des besoins et à des règles. Elle ne peut s'appliquer d'une manière uniforme à tous les pays, toutes les organisations et toutes les personnes.
Keywords: Communication; innovation; information; logique desorganization.
Jel Classification: C81; C82; L16; M5; M14; P12.


EU STRUCTURAL FUNDS ABSORPTION IN ROMANIA: OBSTACLES AND ISSUES

Gheorghe ZAMAN, Anca CRISTEA

Abstract: Romania's absorption capacity of EU structural and cohesion funds is based on the degree of implementation of Sectoral Operational Programmes (SOP) 2007-2013 within SOP Environment plays a central role in view of its complex relationships (horizontal and vertical) with other SOPs. The present paper analyses the absorption capacity of SOPs in Romania, paying a special attention to SOP Environment, which can be considered an important tool for improving eco-efficiency standards and greening the economic growth. The research is focusing on causes and factors of weak absorption of Structural Funds in Romania under the current economic crisis circumstances as well as on some ways of improving the situation in the future.
Keywords: absorption capacity of EU financial instruments; causes and obstacles to absorption; net contributors.
JEL Classification: E22; F36; O19; O47.


STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND CONVERGENCE IN EU AND IN ADRIATIC-BALKANS REGION

Lucian‐Liviu ALBU

Abstract: Coming from standard economic growth theory and empirical evidences, we concentrated on the convergence process as a result of structural changes in economy. We investigate the differences among countries in EU in terms of the share in total economy of main sectors. Then, based on the spatial (empirical) distribution of such shares in EU we are proposing a model to estimate a typology of the convergence process in the European area. Taking into account the existing differences among sectors in matter of productivity, there are two versions of the model: considering the share of sectors in total employment and the share of sectors in GDP, respectively. Moreover, we developed several modelling schemes that could be useful to improve the strategies oriented to achieve a real convergence in EU and further in the Adriatic-Balkans Region. In this way, we can obtain simulations from a country or group of countries (European Union, for example) on long term and quantifying the impact of structural changes on the convergence process. Indeed, the actual global crisis seems to influence negatively the convergence process in the EU. As a rule, just newly adhered countries have been more affected by the actual crisis. Today all forecasts are suffering from uncertainty. Thus, further efforts must be allocated to evaluate the negative impact of actual crisis on the convergence process.
Keywords: structural changes; convergence; stages of economic development; spatial distribution.
JEL Classification: C13; C31; E27; O11; O47; O52.


YOUTHS ON LABOUR MARKET. FEATURES. PARTICULARITIES. PRO-MOBILITY FACTORS FOR GRADUATES. ELEMENTS OF A BALANCED POLICY FOR LABOUR MIGRATION

Valentina VASILE, Liviu VASILE

Abstract. The youths' labour market, and especially insertion employment has a series of particularities defined by aspects such as: flexibility, efficient employment, interest for career but also informal employment, external mobility, including brain drain, segmentation, employment precariousness, income disadvantages, etc. Therefore, also the labour market policy and particularly managing labour mobility especially through the economic and social effects that might be triggered on the local labour market in the origin country, presents a special importance under the conditions of the economic turnaround stage, by promoting new and sustainable jobs, based on knowledge and competences. In the present paper an analysis is made about the youths' labour market features, and the outcomes of an empirical analysis about graduates' migration propensity are presented. Suggestions are made for developing a balanced policy for youths' labour mobility to the benefit of the country of origin.
Keywords: youth employment; labour force mobility; labour migration/mobility management.
JEL Classification: J48; J61; J53.


PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION FUNCTION FOR CHINA - AN EMPIRICAL EXERCISE

Wang YANG

Abstract. An attempt is made in the present exercise to examine the empirical validity of the Keynesian consumption function for the Chinese economy for the period from 1978 to 2009 by fitting both linear and log linear per capita consumption functions underlying the assumption that there is one way causation between per capita consumption expenditure and per capita disposable income. The empirical results show that the Per capita Marginal propensity to consume is less than unity showing the pretence of marginal propensity to save. Further the results show that the Per capita elasticity of consumption expenditure with respect per capita disposable income is found to be unity both in linear and log linear per capita consumption functions in China.
Keywords: consumption function; incomes; Keynes.
JEL Classification: C10; E25; E12.


SOME ASPECTS OF THE TRANSLOG PRODUCTION FUNCTION ESTIMATION

Florin-Marius PAVELESCU

Abstract: In a translog production function, the number of parameters practically "explodes" as the number of considered production factors increases. Consequently, the shortcoming in the estimation of the respective production function is the occurrence of collinearity. Theoretically, the collinearity impact is minimum if a single production factor is taken into account. In this case, we can determine not only the output elasticity but also the elasticity of scale related to the respective production factor. In the present paper, we demonstrate that the relationship between the output elasticity and estimated average elasticity of scale depends on the dynamics trajectory of the production factor, underexponential and overexponential, respectively. At the end, a practical example is offered, dealing with the computation of the Gross Domestic Product elasticity and average elasticity of scale related to employed population in the United Kingdom and France during 1999-2009.
Keywords: estimation constraints; informational energy; translog multiplier; augmented output elasticity related to a production factor.
JEL Clasification: C13; C20; C51; C52.


ACTIVITY-BASED COSTING (ABC) AND ACTIVITY-BASED MANAGEMENT (ABM) IMPLEMENTATION - IS THIS THE SOLUTION FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO GAIN PROFITABILITY?

Ildikó Réka CARDOŞ, Ştefan PETE

Abstract: Adherents of ABC/ABM systems claimed traditional management accounting systems generated misleading costs in a contemporary, tumultuous, often changing business environment and implementing ABC/ABM would remedy this. That is why activity-based costing (ABC) and activity-based management (ABM) represents the symbol of improved competitiveness and efficiency in every organization.The purpose of this article - after analyzing the existing literature in the field - is to emphasize that new cost systems such as ABC and ABM could be a strong couple that assures competitiveness and efficiency for each company. Another objective is to present that, besides its disadvantages, firms implement the ABC/ABM system because it permits better tracing of costs to objects, superior allocation of overheads to cost objects, financial and non-financial analysis and measures useful to managers and management accountants in the decision-making process.
Keywords: ABC; ABM; implementation process; profitability.
JEL Classification: M41; M10; M49.


THE EUROPEAN UNION STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE - PRELIMINARIES, MECHANISMS, POSITIONS, PRIORITIES AND EFFECTS

Emilian M. DOBRESCU, Adriana GRIGORESCU

Abstract: The European Union Strategy for the Danube is an internal EU strategy where all river-side countries are invited to take part, complying with the three principles applied also in the case of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.The three pillars proposed by the European Commission and which the Strategy centers round are: connectivity (transport, energy, telecommunication), environmental protection and water management, as well as the socio-economic development (culture, education, tourism, rural development). The European Commission proposed to launch and organize a public debate in all river-side countries, conferences, seminars and round tables. The outcome of these debates will lie in the European Commission working out and bringing up, together with the river states, a paper on the theme of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, and also a Plan of Action. This will comprise the detailed analysis of the present state and will propose a list of strategic projects. The implementation of the Plan of Action will be monitored by the European Commission and will be periodically updated, according to the economic conditions and the social trends in the region.
Keywords: strategy; connectivity; environmental protection; water management; socio-economic development; sustainable development.
JEL Classification: N5; N7; Q4; R4.


APPROACH TO THE ORGANISATIONAL COMPLEXITY IN TERMS OF NETWORK AND INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL CONCEPTS

Vadim DUMITRAŞCU, Roxana Arabela DUMITRAŞCU

Abstract: The viability of the systems depends on the way of adaptation of the internal complexity to the environmental complexity. Under structural aspect, any complex system represents a network. Complexity may be estimated on the basis of density and of the non-redundant character of the network. The capacity of the networks to create and diffuse knowledge is essential. Comparing the change speed of the environment with the knowledge processing speed in the system, we can determine the maximum complexity that can be absorbed. A close image of the internal complexity is the level of the human and structural capital. The external complexity may be expressed by means of the relational capital.
Keywords: requisite variety; endogenous complexity; exogenous complexity; network; intellectual capital.
JEL Classification: C51; D21; D85; M21.


E-GOVERNMENT - ASSISTING REFORMED PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN ROMANIA

Andreea GATMAN

Abstract: The adoption of web-based technologies in order to deliver government services has become a global trend in public administration. e-Government also means that governments have to act as a private entity and compete for best delivered services towards citizens due to the societal challenges and shifting relations. But such transformation has significant implications, such as answering in a collaborative, intelligent manner to the needs and demands of the citizens, to the different categories of users including the elderly, women, men, youngsters, or disadvantaged groups. The construction and management of the virtual space becomes an essential element of modern public administration. The assumption is that Governments become more efficient in an electronic "version". In order to evaluate their e-Government projects governments' need to point towards the value added that technology is bringing in terms of impact. To conduct such an evaluation one needs to include also the effort put forth in such projects - in terms of financial, human resources, and policy. All three dimensions are equally important and complementary.
Keywords: citizen/employee-driven solutions; e-Government; interoperability; scalability; NPM.
JEL Classification: H10; H11; L86; O21; O33.