Bucharest-Ilfov Region Research Articles

Spatial Analysis of Peri-Urban Areas of Bucharest in the Context of Big Data

Abstract The territorial expansion of the Bucharest-Ilfov region is a continuous process. This expansionist process is not always followed by an increase in the quality of life of the citizens, because in order to produce this effect, it is important that the territorial expansion is carried out in all branches (road infrastructure, residential buildings, access to medical services, access to education, access to shared public transport). As the specialized literature observes a chaotic development of this region, the research aims to analyze the peri-urban areas of the Municipality of Bucharest and the 6 sectors of the Municipality of Bucharest from the perspective of citizens' access from residential buildings to 3 basic services of society (transport, education and medicine), but also the identification of the spatial association relationship between the 6 sectors and peri-urban areas. In order to achieve these objectives, geospatial data of the big-data type were extracted, more precisely by extracting them with the help of artificial intelligence from satellites, and then processing these data. Also, the selected sample includes the 6 sectors of the Municipality of Bucharest, as well as the peri-urban areas. The main results indicate real development discrepancies both at the level of the 6 sectors of the Municipality of Bucharest, and at the level of the peri-urban areas, on all 3 dimensions analyzed. In addition, with the exception of two semi-significant local spatial autocorrelations, it cannot be stated that there is a spatial association relationship between the units in the sample, the development gaps being the result of the decision-making process at the local public administration level. Through the research results, development directions of the peri-urban areas and the 6 sectors can be identified to increase the quality of life of their citizens.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ON VALORIZATION THE ROMANIAN LIVESTOCK FROM THE MOUNTAIN REGIONS

The paper develops a descriptive analysis (ANOVA) and forecasting regarding cattle, sheep, goats and pigs in Romania. The data simulated in SPSS, taken from Eurostat, show that these numbers will continue to decrease considerably, both in the Bucharest-Ilfov region and in the Romanian mountain regions. The general situation of mountain agriculture shows similar trends to Romanian agriculture. At the national level, the arable surface has been reduced in stages in the last three decades, a decrease mainly due to the change of extensive agricultural methods (grazing, spontaneous flora) with intensive ones (stable, controlled flora). Following the national agricultural trend, mountain agriculture after 1990 changed its structure and dimensions (such as cattle, production and mountain producers, mountain entrepreneurship, etc.). Some aspects remained quantitatively unchanged, such as the large number of individual holdings and the high share of agricultural land use. In this context, public and private entities must act jointly for the valorization of mountain ecosystems by controlling the pollution caused by the numerous individual exploitations. The mountain ecosystems in the Romanian area influence the national agricultural productivity, valuing the mountain product at the highest levels. Whether it is alpine meadow ecosystems, including coniferous forests and interpenetration zones between high and mid-mountains, low-mountain ecosystems, or high- and mid-hill ecosystems, the ultimate goal of pollution reduction research and action must be the same, respectively protecting the mountain area.

Rural - urban income gap and labour market in Romania

Rural – urban income gap is an important social-economic development indicator for a society. A large rural - urban income gap within a society reveals a split of it into two distinct societies, one extremely poor compared to the other. In Romania, almost half of the resident population lives in rural areas (46.02% in 2019), while the urban-rural migration flow is higher than the traditional reverse flow since 1997. However, the country is characterized by regional economic disparities, Bucharest-Ilfov region being the most economically developed. Labour market in rural areas is underdeveloped, rural population being highly depended on subsistence agriculture. Furthermore, rural areas have a low level of income and living standards. In this paper, we analysis the rural-urban labour market dynamics and rural-urban income gap using a LMDI (logarithmic mean Divisia index) decomposition for 2005-2019 period. Factors such as income gap effect and structural rural income effect are considered. Results show that the total urban–rural income gap has decreased with 8.91%, while structural rural income effect contributed with an increase of only 0.63%, the income gap effect (of different employed population groups) being of -9.49%.

An Assessment of Regional Disparities Evolution in Romania

This paper studies the level and evolution of regional disparities in Romania over the period 2007-2017. In this respect, we employ two methodologies highly relevant and wellestablished in the literature: (i) the relative distance method and (ii) the cluster analysis. The results of the empirical analysis indicate a major discrepancy between the Bucharest-Ilfov region and all the other seven development regions. During the analysis period, there are no significant changes in the positioning of the regions. Regional disparities were not reduced over the period considered, although there are European and national programs for this matter. Therefore, we conclude that an efficient public sector should consolidate the regional disparities with the EU Cohesion Policy.

An Assessment of Regional Innovation Capacity as a Factor of Economic Growth of Romanian Regions

Abstract According to Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2016, Romania’s regions, including the Bucharest-Ilfov region, are classified as modest innovators. This paper’s objective is to identify certain potential ways of economic growth of the Romanian regions through its innovation absorptive capacity and innovation development capacity, according to the AC/DC model of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), UK. Using the 2016 pillar scores of the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) - Innovation sub-index, we analyze their compatibility with the NESTA model and assess the potential of Romanian regions to absorb external innovation. The paper proposes a qualitative and quantitative approach based on empirical evidence. The poor performances of the Romanian regions regarding innovation, as they were analyzed in this paper, draw attention to Romania’s need to exploit innovation brought in from abroad. The main conclusion of our analysis is that Romania has failed to reach the absorption threshold of innovation that would allow it to accelerate the value-creating processes. The ability to innovate completes the ability to absorb. A detailed analysis of the causes of the reduced absorption capacity could also provide solutions for accelerating economic growth. We also formulate policy recommendations to increase Romania’s regional competitiveness through the development of innovation capacity.

The 2017\u20132018 influenza season in Bucharest, Romania: epidemiology and characteristics of hospital admissions for influenza-like illness

BackgroundSeasonal influenza causes a considerable burden to healthcare services every year. To better measure the impact of severe influenza cases in Romania, we analyzed active surveillance data collected during the 2017–2018 season from patients admitted for influenza-like illness (ILI) at a tertiary care hospital in Bucharest.MethodsPatients admitted for acute ILI were included if they were resident in the Bucharest-Ilfov region, had been hospitalized for at least 24 h, and had onset of symptoms within 7 days before admission. Patient demographics, healthcare use, vaccination status, and outcome data were collected by questionnaire or by searching clinical records. Respiratory swabs were also obtained from each patient to confirm influenza A (A/H1 and A/H3 subtypes) or influenza B (Yamagata and Victoria lineages) infection by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay.ResultsThe study included 502 patients, many (45.2%) of whom were aged < 5 years. Overall, 108 patients (21.5%) had one or more comorbidities. Seventeen adults aged 18–64 years (3.4%) had been vaccinated against influenza. Patients were hospitalized for a median of 5 days and most (90.4%) were prescribed antiviral treatment. More than one-half of the patients (n = 259, 51.6%) were positive for influenza. Most influenza cases were caused by B viruses (172/259, 66.4%), which were mostly of the B/Yamagata lineage (85 of 94 characterized, 90.4%). Most of the subtyped A viruses were A/H1 (59/74, 79.7%). A/H1 viruses were frequently detected in influenza-positive admissions throughout the 2017–2018 season, whereas the predominant B/Yamagata viruses were detected around the middle of the season, with a peak in cases at week 7 of 2018. Eleven patients were admitted to an intensive care unit; of these, one patient with confirmed B/Yamagata infection died.ConclusionsThese results show that seasonal influenza results in considerable hospitalization in Bucharest-Ilfov, Romania and suggest vaccine coverage should be extended, especially to the youngest age groups. The data from this study should help inform and optimize national influenza healthcare policies.

Green Procurement in Romanian Construction Projects. A Cluster Analysis of the Barriers and Enablers to Green Procurement in Construction Projects from the Bucharest-Ilfov Region of Romania

The research presented in this paper aimed at identifying the most significant green procurement barriers and enablers for construction projects in the Bucharest-Ilfov region and grouping them into clusters. For this purpose, 14 barriers and 14 enablers were selected on the basis of the literature review and a questionnaire-based survey was carried out with members of the construction projects’ teams from the analyzed region. The cluster analysis resulted in eight clusters for barriers and seven clusters for enablers. In the case of barriers, the most significant cluster was the one that included the barrier regarding technical and technological difficulties related to the use of green building materials. Another significant barrier was the increase of project execution costs. Enablers from the most significant cluster had higher energy efficiency and use of green building materials as a competitive advantage. Another significant enabler identified was regarding the pressure to implement environmental protection policies/legislation. To explain and detail the results of the cluster analysis, semi-structured interviews were carried out with experts involved in projects. They indicated, in most cases, the same barriers and enablers as those obtained from the cluster analysis.

Analysis of Regional Disparities in Romania from an Entrepreneurial Perspective

This article proposes a synthetic analysis of the development level of regions in Romania with the concentration/diversification model, using Gini coefficients and Lorenz curve, based on the current statistical indicators. Knowing the degree of concentration and also the influence factors is useful in making decisions and setting regional policy measures. The analysis of regional disparities based on a series of data and indicators provided by The Romanian National Institute of Statistics for 2007–2016. The main findings highlight a deepening of the regional disparities in Romania in 2016 compared with 2007 explained mainly by the fact that the Bucharest–Ilfov region registered an economic development much above the other regions.

The Effects of the Cohesion Policy on the Sustainable Development of the Development Regions in Romania

The objective of this study was to characterize the development regions in Romania and to measure spatial imbalances, starting from the national and the European Union aspiration to promote more economic and social policies adapted to the different regional particularities. For this purpose, we conducted a multifactorial analysis of the sustainability of the development regions in Romania at NUTS II level by constructing a synthetic index of socio-economic development for the regions that appreciate sustainability and have accepted structural and cohesion funds. The multi-criteria synthetic index was obtained by aggregating several sub-indices (economy, health, education, public utilities, and living standards). We used cluster analysis to identify patterns of regional development in Romania over time. For 1998 and 2006, the same cluster structure was obtained. However, due to economic and social changes that occurred after 2006 (negative impact of the global financial crisis as well as the positive impact of EU funds), in 2016, we recorded another structure of clusters, except in the Bucharest-Ilfov region which continues to present a number of unique features. In addition, we show that the polarized regional development model is increasingly strengthening and the network of urban agglomerations needs to be territorially balanced to boost their ability to “export” wealth.

Competitiveness of Romanian Regions in the Spatial Structure of the EU

In the last years, in order to enhance the competitiveness of the regions, researchers and decision makers alike attribute a special role to supporting entrepreneurial activity, strengthening the SME sector, attracting foreign working capital into the local economy, but also to the territorial concentration of R&D centres. Within the present study, I have considered all relevant economic factors, which might influence competitiveness, having at the same time an impact on the position of the Romanian regions within in the economic structure of the European Union. In the study have managed to prove that Romania is in a rather disadvantaged situation in the case of the three main elements, with a significant impact on the competitiveness of regions: the GDP per capita, the employment rate and labour productivity. Only the Bucharest-Ilfov region is in a more favourable position, but its development level remains far behind the central regions of the EU.

The Labor Market in Romania and Interregional Disparities

The decrease of regional disparities represents one of the fundamental objectives of the regional development policy promoted by the EU; furthermore, the waves of enlargement of the EU deepened these differences even more. As a member state of the EU, Romania is actively involved in reducing the economic gaps by applying some regional development strategies and policies. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the labor market analysis from the perspective of the regional gaps, carried out based on some of its specific indicators. The sinuous evolution of the standard deviation for the analyzed indicators (except for the net average salary the standard deviation of which was permanently growing) revealed increase or decrease of the regional disparities for the entire period. However, in comparison to 1998, the regional gaps increased in 2013. The regional poles on the labor market have been as following: Bucharest-Ilfov region for the best values of the studied indicators, and Northeast region and Southwest Oltenia region for the lowest values.

Determinants of Economic Growth in Cities Acting as Growth Poles in Regions from Romania

In the present study we analyze the human capital determinants of growth poles in Romania: number of university students, unemployment, investment in research and development, population and migration. Using panel models, we explore the dynamics of economic growth for seven cities, namely Brasov, Cluj, Constanta, Craiova, Iasi, Ploiesti and Timisoara, for the period 1996-2010. The selection of the growth poles has been made taking into consideration the Romanian Government decision from 2008 to declare these seven cities as growth poles, one per region (except for the Bucharest Ilfov region), as these cities are considered to have the capacity to induce rapid economic growth outside the country capital, create jobs, stimulate increase of productivity, influence the development of medium and small-sized towns and rural areas from neighboring areas, and thus contribute to the overall development of the regions. We found that R&D expenditures have a positive effect, and that unemployment diminishes economic development. Migration tends to be associated with higher growth, while population increases do not translate in higher growth. The unexpected insignificant influence of higher education enrollment numbers on economic growth deserves future research.

Regional Development Trends in the North-East Region of Romania

The EU regional policy has been an ongoing concern of both the Member States and the candidate countries for accession. Its economic, social and territorial cohesion principles have been developed to sustain the stability and development of European integration. The Romania has established in 1998 its own regions of development, opening the gate to the implementation of regional development policies. Six regions of Romania, exactly the whole country, excepting the Bucharest Ilfov Region and West Region of development, are ranked among the 20 poorest EU regions, located in four countries of Central and Eastern Europe Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Hungary, which joined the EU in the last two enlargements. For Romania, reducing territorial disparities and achieving a balance between economic and social development levels of its regions is therefore a matter of utmost importance. This aspect has to be considered related with the new European Union’s multi-faceted approach, which seems to replace its traditional mechanisms based on regional redistribution policies and programs. This paper analyses the existing situation at the regional level in Romania, with particular reference to one of its poorest regions, which require the highest socio-economic development support: the North East Region.

Demographic Analysis of Bucharest-Ilfov Region

This paper aims to achieve a study was to research, analyze and interpret statistical data, in conjunction with theoretical aspects that allowed assessment of regional information on population structure in the Bucharest-Ilfov.Bucharest-Ilfov region's population (2,264,865 inhabitants in 2012) is distributed inversely proportional to the size of two administrative entities (Bucharest - the capital of Romania - Ilfov county). Bucharest is the largest urban agglomeration in Romania, its population being 1,924,299 inhabitants, representing about 85% population of the region, more than 16.4% of the urban population of the country, or around 9% of the total population of Romania and having a density of approximately 8090 people/km2.

Feasibility assessment of investments in waste incineration facilities: Case study of Bucharest-Ilfov region

The regulators of the waste management sector should pay close attention to the investments made in the field. In addition to environmental impacts, economic analysis can provide policy makers with valuable information for proper decision. Taking into account this requirement, the aim of the present paper is to evaluate the economic efficiency of an incinerator with energy recovery investment, located in Bucharest-Ilfov region, Romania. A detailed investment feasibility evaluation is made using the main economic efficiency indicators in order to reveal the large benefits of this kind of facilities. Key words: Waste incineration, economic efficiency, waste electrical and electronic equipment, (WEEE), municipal waste, energy recovery.

Responses to global trends affecting East‐European regions: The case of the Bucharest–Ilfov region in Romania

AbstractThis paper aims to discuss the responses to global trends which affect East‐European regions, offering a case study in Romania, namely that of the Bucharest–Ilfov region. This region is considered a relevant example of relative winner in the regional competition at global scale, as one of the most attractive cities for foreign investors in Central and Eastern Europe. With this aim in view the paper focuses on the economy of the region, the global trends which affect it, the specific responses to global trends, including policy aspects and emphasizes the factors supporting the benefits of globalization as well as those impeding these benefits. The analysis is based on both statistical data and qualitative issues brought into discussion by international and Romanian inquiries.Resumen. El objetivo de este artículo es discutir las respuestas a las tendencias globales que afectan a las regiones de Europa del Este, a través de un estudio de caso en Rumanía, en particular el de la región de Bucarest‐Ilfov. Esta región está considerada como un ejemplo de un triunfo relativo en la competencia regional a escala global, siendo una de las ciudades más atractivas para la inversión extranjera en Europa Central y del Este. Con este propósito, el artículo se centra en la economía de la región, las tendencias globales que la afectan, las respuestas específicas a dichas tendencia globales que incluyen aspectos de políticas y en poner énfasis tanto en los factores que apoyan las ventajas de la globalización como en aquellos que las dificultan. El análisis está basado tanto en datos estadísticos como en temas cualitativos suscitados por la investigación internacional y nacional de Rumanía.

Place SMEs in the Romanian Economy

In Romania, according to new Law no. 346/2004, SMEs are: to nine employees: micro, between 10 and 49 employees leave and enter: small, between 50 and 249 employees: medium enterprise (Carta Alb?, 2009). Dynamic number of SMEs in the period 2001-2007 at national level was 52.1%. Significant increase in the number of SMEs registered in the regions: Western (66.5%), Bucharest (76.8%) and Central (56%). National media companies per 1,000 inhabitants in 2001 was 18.03% having values ranging from 68.6% in North-east and 196.4% in Bucharest-Ilfov Region; in 2007, the gap has grown: North-East region is 63.1 % while the national average 238.9% Bucharest-Ilfov (Buletin Informativ, 2008).

METHODOLOGIC ELEMENTS NECESSARY IN MAKING FORECASTS FOR REGIONAL

Regional picture appear two Romanians: a richer, which includes the Bucharest-Ilfov, West and Center and a poor, other regions. Among the most competitive districts are Ilfov (8. 553 euro per capita), Timiş (7. 931 euro per capita), Braşov (7. 108 euro per capita), Arad (6. 675 euro per capita), Cluj (6. 561 euro per capita), Constanta (6. 368 euro per capita), and among the poorest - Botosani (2. 745 euro per capita) and Vaslui (2. 930 euro per capita). According to a report by the National Prognosis Commission (CNP), while Bucharest-Ilfov region will have a GDP per capita of 11. 694 euros next year, the Northeast will remain poverty pole, 3. 826 euro per capita. Economists argue that, if not reduce disparities, mainly through public investment, we could assist in disruption of important social and economic environment. Lowering differences would include the maintenance of close growth rates of GDP / capita, and these important gaps. Economic analysts draw attention to the dangers which may arise due to different levels of development. Develop forecasts in territorial - at regional or county-is a necessary and useful approach in the perspective of Romania in the European Union. From this point of the assessment of regional economic disparities and the potential development of each area provides an important support kinesiology orientation and use with maximum efficiency of the structural funds and cohesion funds that Romania will benefit by integrating. Regional forecasts provide information on possible future development, with employment in the global data of the national economy as a whole.

The Extended Metropolitan Area in a New EU Member State: Implications for a Rural Development Approach

I examine the role of rural development strategies in a new member state (Romania) of the European Union and, in particular, analyse the case of the metropolitan area of the Bucharest-Ilfov region. The analysis concerns the selected strategies for rural development in the programming period 2007–2013. It must be noted that Romania is divided into nonadministrative development regions and that the process of land privatisation is not yet concluded. These factors could have a negative influence on the implementation of the interventions. The analysed region is situated in the Southern part of the country and in the central part of the Romanian Plan. The total surface is about 1.8 square kilometres, of which 12.5% are occupied by the town of Bucharest and 87.5% by Ilfov County; however, approximately 88% of the population is concentrated in the urban center and only 12% in Ilfov County. The case study is characterised on the one hand by a high growth rate of the gross domestic product, a relatively low unemployment rate, and increasing consumer good sales (mainly food and beverages); on the other, by some marked disparities in macroeconomic indicators among regions and between rural and urban areas and an enormous lack of infrastructures. The case study thus calls for a local approach in order to identify the strategies required to improve the quality of life of the regional inhabitants (both in rural and urban areas) and to prevent pressure from the urban centre from compromising the rich rural heritage