This article examines the relationship between renewable energy consumption and human development indicators in Moldova. The analysis, spanning from 1995 to 2021, employs econometric techniques, including Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression, to investigate the impact of renewable energy on the Human Development Index (HDI). The findings reveal a positive correlation between renewable energy consumption and HDI, indicating that increased adoption of renewable energy is associated with improvements in human development. Specifically, the study finds that a one-percentage-point increase in renewable energy consumption leads to approximately a 1.6% increase in HDI. Moreover, the article discusses Moldova's energy policy landscape, highlighting initiatives and policies aimed at promoting renewable energy development and achieving sustainability goals. The conclusions drawn from this study emphasize the critical importance of prioritizing renewable energy solutions. Such prioritization is deemed essential for driving sustainable development, fostering economic growth, bolstering energy security, and mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. The study underscores that Moldova's experience and policy initiatives could serve as a valuable model for other nations aiming to enhance their human development through sustainable energy practices. This research argues for a continued and intensified focus on the integration of renewable energy, highlighting its fundamental importance within national and international strategies aimed at achieving ambitious human development and sustainability goals. This involves a reassessment and expansion of current commitments, considering not only the ecological benefits, but also the long-term economic and social impact, thereby strengthening a sustainable future for future generations.

The great metamorphosis of the main sociological factors challenges us to abandon the presumption of colonization and the paradigm of the clash of civilizations and invites us to become aware of the changing demographic, political, economic, and cultural reality, and commits us to adopt a new analytical paradigm to understand and manage the transformation. The article proposes a synthetic analysis of this change, starting with statistical data on the migration of populations from the poorest countries on Earth to the richest ones. The analysis focuses on what is happening in the vast area of the Mediterranean. The history of the Mediterranean, this is the hypothesis put forward in the article, could help us to reflect innovatively on the demographic and cultural dynamics that are taking place in a particularly significant way. The reason for which it is hypothesized that the Mediterranean could be the privileged social place where we can reflect on the metamorphosis we are experiencing lies in the long tradition of welcoming diversity and in the capacity for the coexistence of religions, cultures, and civilizations that, over the centuries, have been the force thanks to which the whole world has been dominated, despite the clashes that historiography has unquestionably shown us. The article shows the important commitment of the leaders of the different world religions in generating spaces for encounters and dialogue between cultural diversities that cannot be analyzed within the paradigm of confrontation but require to be understood within the paradigm of confrontation and responsible coexistence. The work done so far clearly shows the possibility of dialogue between diversities, as well as pointing the way forward to socialize all different cultures to be together, without clashing for dominance; in this task, the reflections of Pope Francis and Edgar Morin on the concepts of brotherhood and fraternity appear particularly useful.

This paper introduces the notion of an economy’s potential output, its output gap and its output gap rate, analyses the properties of the Hodrick-Prescott filter drawing from the studies in the literature, and proceeds to estimate and discuss Moldova’s potential output, its output gap and its output gap rate utilising a methodology which can be used in other economies. The data for our empirical work comprise annual data on: 1. Moldova’s nominal GDP and the annual rate of growth or real GDP over the period 2010-2022; and 2. The latest forecasts of these indicators for the period 2023-2026. Data earlier than 2010 are not comparable as they were compiled under a different methodology. We use this data set to generate a time series of the evolution of Moldova’s real GDP in average prices of 2010 over the period 2010-2026. We apply the Hodrick-Prescott filter with the two different values of the filter’s smoothing parameter suggested by the studies in the literature for the decomposition of annual data. As it is well-known that the estimates of the filter are sensitive to the value of the smoothing parameter, we use the average of the two estimates in order to calculate the Moldovan economy’s potential output, output gap and output gap rate through time. Our calculations suggest that, over the period analysed, Moldova’s potential output has grown at a modest rate which is not sufficient for the country to converge to the EU average and attain its EU aspirations. The paper concludes by discussing a number of recent economic developments in Moldova, the required policy response to attain Moldova’s EU aspirations and areas for further work.

The banking sector of Azerbaijan plays an important role in the stimulation of the economic development with a special accent to the sphere of the trade and logistics. This study touches on how the area augments economic growth largely through the adoption of the smart governmental interventions with the integration of digital advancements. Applying the mixed-method approach, which entails both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, and taking data ranging from 2010 to 2022 from State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan, World Bank and other financial reports and documents, the study set out to reveal main financial flows in sectors of overall economy of Azerbaijan. It tests the banking sector's finiding through the calculation of amount loaned to GDP, prudential lending with the ability to identify risks and thus contribute to the stability of the financial system and the subsidization of some financial services, especially in the rural areas. The evaluation follows this up with an assessment of the performance of the private sector financing in this context, and how once substantial credit programs can be used in the betterment of the transport and logistics sector, among other things. The research which merges macroeconomic factors with sector-specific details puts the emphasis on more favourable financing mechanisms to catalyse the exceptional growth in this township and suggests that we look constantly for pathways through complexities of economic development, logistics, and complexities.

NEET is an umbrella term for those who struggle with their school-to-work transition. It is a consensus today that NEET is an acutely heterogeneous group, and there are varying ways to classify its members. Some of them deliberately reject or postpone the school-to-work transition, for example, because they choose to fulfill their traditional gender role. In these cases, NEET is a conscious choice. In this article, the NEET classification was based on the individuals' well-being. Moldova gives a good opportunity to study NEET as this Eastern European country suffers from simultaneous socio-economic crises, including high emigration and poverty rates. The data were taken from the Gender and Generation Survey (GGS) conducted in 2020. Based on the previous research, the 15 - 29 age group was chosen (326 observations comply with the NEET conditions and are complete). The author chose the questions related to the following aspects of well-being: happiness, life satisfaction, and depression sentiments. The variables are categorical, and they were analyzed with a Latent Class Model. There are substantial correspondences between the NEET well-being classes and the causes of NEET. The results supplement the current knowledge on NEET heterogeneity from the side of self-assigned well-being rather than socio-economic inequalities.

Understanding the specificities and patterns of transition to adulthood and timing of young adults' milestones is essential for developing targeted and effective social integration policies that address the needs and vulnerabilities of youth subcategories. The aim of the paper is to develop a typology of transition models within the specific context of Moldova by classifying different pathways that young people follow during the transition into adulthood. This study uses the data from Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) conducted in Moldova in 2020. Pathways are derived from key life events that mark the transition to adulthood, retrospectively observed for young people 25-35 years old (N = 2540). To explore the different patterns of transitions Two-Step Cluster analysis was used. This exploratory model is relevant for creating typologies and processing both continuous and categorical variables. The analysis identifies four main clusters of transition to adulthood, showing variations between them. The “complex transition” cluster describes young people who experience a smoother transition to adulthood, characterized by a higher level of education followed by stable employment opportunities, while demographic events such as marriage and parenthood occur later in this group. The “uncertain transition” cluster reflects a degree of instability and uncertainty in terms of employment, many young people, especially men, are employed temporarily or informally, while women in this cluster are often on maternity or childcare leave without being employed. The “precarious transition” cluster represents inactive young people in the labor market, most of them having a low level of education, contributing to their precarious situation on the labor market. The “early transition” cluster suggests a pattern of early transitions into adulthood, often accompanied by limited educational attainment and early family formation.

This study examines the financial inclusion policies during pandemics, particularly focusing on their efficacy within emerging economies and areas dominated by informal sectors. The urgency and relevance of the topic are underscored by the heightened economic vulnerabilities these regions face during global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which starkly amplify the necessity for robust financial inclusion to uphold economic resilience. The primary objectives of this paper are twofold: firstly, to critically assess the array of financial inclusion policies deployed during pandemics, and secondly, to pinpoint potential policy enhancements informed by contemporary research alongside successful international implementations. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research synthesizes quantitative data on policy outcomes with qualitative insights from policy analyses and stakeholder interviews. This methodology allows for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted impacts of financial inclusion initiatives and their adaptability to crisis conditions. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of digital financial services, effective public-private collaborations, and the establishment of adaptive social support mechanisms in promoting financial inclusivity amidst pandemic-induced economic disruptions. These strategies emerge as crucial levers for advancing financial inclusion, providing valuable lessons for crafting policies that are resilient, targeted, and capable of fostering sustainable economic growth and stability in the face of ongoing and future global challenges. The study's insights offer critical guidance for policymakers and financial institutions seeking to enhance financial inclusion frameworks, thereby contributing to the development of more inclusive, equitable, and resilient financial ecosystems worldwide.

Remittances and know-how transfer play a significant role in economic development in countries with high out-migration, and Moldova, in this regard, has been abundantly studied. In our research, we tried to assess the influence of remittances and knowledge transfer on local development from the point of view of migrants’ families, local entrepreneurs, and stakeholders. We used the empirical data obtained from a nationwide survey of about 600 rural households whose members experienced international migration and from the interviews with stakeholders and focus groups with farmers’ attendees. The results revealed that remittances often support the household's budget, covering the salary gap, and contribution on initiation of the local businesses. To encourage the investment of remittances in local infrastructure and entrepreneurship, the government launched several programs that aim to subsidize migrants’ business incentives. However, the results show that migrants prefer to invest in improving living conditions and are more reluctant to invest in their own businesses, either because of the lack of a market or because of institutional mistrust. The local authorities acknowledge the importance of remittances on local development, but at the same time, they are concerned about the demographic resilience of the localities and emphasize the lack of labor force caused by migration. In the context of labor shortage, entrepreneurs in the agricultural field admit that they have to improve the technology of production processes but also adapt their field of activity to one that requires less intensive manual work. The obtained results contribute to a better understanding of the influence of remittances on migrants’ households and local development.

Premature mortality is a highly intricate concept, and despite its extensive exploration in specialized literature, a universally agreed-upon definition remains elusive. This study seeks to compare two distinct models of premature mortality analysis in order to determine the more appropriate approach within the national context. The relevance of this study is underscored by the observed mortality rates in Moldova, particularly the concern surrounding adult male mortality. To achieve this objective, a comparison was conducted involving the following indicators: the proportion of deaths before a specific age threshold, Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL), disparity in lifespans, and age thresholds derived from lifespan disparity. The analysis primarily adopts a comparative approach, and as such, data from Czechia and Sweden were employed for this purpose. In the context of Moldova, identifying a universally accepted set of indicators to effectively monitor premature mortality proves to be a complex task. Conventional indicators are susceptible to variations caused by age and population structure. The application of standardization methods can mitigate the impact of these factors. Alternatively, the "dynamic" approach indicators are less influenced by age and population structure, yet their methodology is more intricate, posing challenges for interpretation. Nonetheless, the establishment and promotion of such an indicator set are undeniably imperative. It is noteworthy that the selection of indicators for monitoring premature mortality is influenced by prevailing scientific or actuarial interests, as well as the specific goals outlined for the analysis.

The demographic dividend presents the conceptual framework through which changes in the population's age structure positively affect economic development. However, the demographic dividend is a complex concept, and, more than two decades after its inception, approaches remain diverse. This paper presents a literature analysis on the demographic dividend to understand the concept of the demographic dividend and its relationship to its interrelated term ̶ the demographic window of opportunity. The literature analysis was undertaken following an evolutionary approach, including an examination of definitions of the demographic dividend and methodologies for its assessment. Two different approaches to view the demographic dividend, the demographic and the economic, were discussed, as well as the two indicators – the demographic support rate and the economic support rate. The results of the analysis confirmed the presumption of the demographic dividend and the demographic window of opportunity as being two distinct concepts – mutually interrelated but not substitutable. Also, for the analysis of the demographic dividend, the demographic support ratio indicator is as necessary as the economic support ratio, influencing the policy – making process at the national level in achieving the demographic dividend. The study underlines the importance of distinguishing between the concept of the window of opportunity that is created by demographic change and the demographic dividend – the positive economic outcome of these changes. Employing the concept of a window of opportunity, directly linked to the demographic dividend, would create the integrative framework needed to identify the pathways of positive demographic influence on economic development.