Case Of Albania Research Articles

ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS: A COMPARATIVE APPROACH BETWEEN RNM AND THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION

When it comes to the enforcement system, in one way or another, the debate opens regarding the dilemma of which practice or enforcement system is more effective. Unfortunately, the answer is a bit complicated. Firstly, we can say that the most applied forms are the private enforcement system, the judicial system, and the mixed one, leaving the administrative system as a less applied form. The choice of one enforcement system before another is not implicated by international entities. It's rather a matter of taste or a suggestion of national experts who deal with analysis within the idea of a ''more effective judicial system''. Almost all the states in the region, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, have made efforts and achieved a degree of privatization of their enforcement systems. The official positions of the states in the region are that they have accepted the privatization of enforcement and relieved the burden from the courts! However, we consider that in all states of the region, there are controversial dilemmas in terms of the role of the bailiff, the enforcement powers, the conditions for the election of the bailiff, and the significant role that the courts continue to have in the enforcement process. Among other things, this research deals with the advantages and disadvantages of each enforcement system and the specific institutes that have been included in the respective systems, such as preparation for the fulfillment of the debtor's obligation in two months (the case of Croatia), higher enforcement fees (the case of RNM), the criteria for the appointment of enforcement officers are much lower (the case of Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro), etc.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Livestock Industry for higher productivity and sustainability: The case of Albania

The livestock sector plays an important role in the economic development of the country. This sector is a source of income and employment for many Albanian families who live mainly in rural areas. A large part of the population in our country deals with livestock. But regardless of all the contributions that livestock makes to the food chain, financial sustainability, and the entire economy, this sector faces many challenges. Based on the literature review, a questionnaire to identify these challenges was constructed. The questionnaire contains questions with answers on the Likert scale, is addressed to livestock farmers in Albania, and serves to identify the main challenges affecting the livestock sector. The questionnaire divided the challenges of the livestock sector into five parts, including animal welfare and livestock production, sustainable practices and environmental sustainability, market challenges, information, communication technologies and livestock marketing challenges, and challenges of innovations in livestock production. Animal welfare affects the productivity of the livestock sector. The risk of the spread of epidemic diseases and the high costs of vaccination and medications are a concern for Albanian farmers, who often have difficulties ensuring sustainable profits. In recent years, the livestock sector has faced high input costs. Lack of infrastructure also hinders the efficiency of the livestock sector. The need for sustainable practices and environmental sustainability demands more attention. While farmers want to adopt sustainable livestock methods, they face difficulties in implementing them. Unpredictable livestock prices complicate financial planning for farmers. In addition, small farms face challenges competing with larger ones. Farmers face difficulties in becoming part of new markets due to a lack of effective marketing channels. The lack of a labor force is the biggest challenge that the livestock sector in Albania is facing. Innovation often serves to solve many problems in the livestock sector. Farmers use new technologies to increase livestock productivity. But the use of new technologies requires knowledge, which Albanian farmers often don’t have. They do not have the proper education to understand and apply these technologies. In conclusion, this paper aims to highlight the various problems faced by the livestock sector. Overcoming these problems by dealing directly with them can increase the productivity of the livestock sector, ensuring a better future for the industry.

Exploring the impact of tax divergence in financial reporting. A case of Albania (2022)

The interplay between tax divergence and financial reporting in Albania has assumed growing importance. This research, grounded in a post-positivist paradigm, seeks to elucidate the connection between these variables and discern which exerts the greater influence. The methodology is a qualitative dimension involved in the analysis of secondary data from businesses and the examination of tax laws and accounting standards. We elaborate the topic by taking on the one hand the main items of Accounting Standards and on the other hand the main items of the tax legislation in force. Furthermore, the research incorporates a quantitative component using a questionnaire to collect perceptions from professionals. This adds a descriptive or cross-sectional element to the research, but the primary emphasis remains on exploration and understanding, making it predominantly an exploratory research type, employing an ex-post-facto methodology. The study reveals that in the Albanian context, tax regulations wield a substantial impact on the practices of financial reporting. Variations in tax laws often prompt the application of creative accounting techniques, leading to information imbalances that can have ramifications for decision-making. Notable instances have illuminated how tax divergence can yield discrepancies in financial reporting, compelling the necessity for regulatory adaptations and elevated reporting standards. From this research, several pivotal recommendations have emerged. These emphasize the synchronization of legal and accounting frameworks through the reduction of permissible accounting and tax methods. This strategic alignment aims to enhance comparability while minimizing opportunities for divergence. Management is encouraged to acknowledge the significance of effective tax planning, institute a robustly supervised Code of Ethics, and actively endorse its observance. Tax authorities are urged to invest in expanded training, with an urgent imperative for streamlining tax legislation. This paper offers valuable insights for stakeholders such as investors, management, policymakers, regulators, to enhance financial transparency, benefit and compliance by addressing the impact of tax divergence on financial reporting in Albania.

Students’ Challenges and Experiences with Digital Teaching and Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case of Albania

COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly forced universities to implement digital teaching and learning toward students from Spring 2020 onwards. Many of the higher education institutions were unprepared to foster such forms of teaching and learning thus exposing both teachers and students toward many challenges with digital education. The aim of this study was to examine students’ experiences and challenges with online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, this work also aimed at exploring gender differences on these challenges with digital teaching and learning among university students. Using a quantitative research design, an online questionnaire was distributed among 458 students (19.2% males, 80.8% females) studying in different universities in Albania. The results showed that students (N = 451) have experienced challenges at a moderate level not encountering many technical issues or distractors during their online learning. However, the majority of respondents, around 60%, reported that they did not have a very good experience with digital teaching and learning. They encountered above-average difficulties, particularly with course instructors not staying in regular contact with students (N = 226, 50.1%) and not providing adequate support (N = 202, 44.8%). The results also revealed significant gender differences in students' experiences with digital teaching and learning (p = .037), with female students experiencing more challenges than their male counterparts. In conclusion, this study indicates that students faced numerous challenges with online learning during the pandemic, which adversely affected their academic performance.

Domestic Violence and Its Impact on Mental Health, Challenges on Providing Multi Sectoral Support – Albania Case

Domestic violence is one of the main problems of Albanian society. Açording to the latest survey of INSTAT (2018), 1 out of 2 or 52.9% of women aged 18-74 ‘ever’ experienced one or more of the five different types of violence during their lifetime. The literature shows that survivors of violence are three times more at risk of developing mental illnesses. On the other hand, those who suffer from mental health problems are more likely to be abused or even attempt suicide.The aim of the paper is to identify the challenges of social services in addressing cases of domestic violence with mental health problems in Albania. The methodology is qualitative based on available secondary data and semi-structured interviews with service providers at local level.The main conclusions of the paper are related to the lack of clear procedures for the management of cases of violence with mental health problems, difficulties in diagnosing cases, lack of specialized services, lack of trained professionals, difficulties in the long-term reintegration of cases, etc.

Unveiling the Enigma: Empowering Citizen Engagement in Decision-Making Deciphering Albania's Case

This article aims to fill the gap and analyze citizen involvement in developing and transitional democracy, focusing specifically on Albania, a country in the Western Balkans. The objective of this article is to examine the models, trends, obstacles and opportunities offered by citizen participation, as well as to evaluate the determinant factors and their impact on the transformative processes of democratization and the fragile development of Albania. The article explores the participation of citizens in the decision-making process, and their role in policy-making and democratic decision-making and tries to understand how citizens can be more actively involved in the decision-making process and how this involvement can increase the legitimacy and effectiveness of policies. In this study, we use qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze existing practices of citizen involvement in the decision-making process at different levels of local and central government. We focus on the tools and mechanisms that can be used to encourage the involvement of citizens in the decision-making process. The results of this study aim to provide recommendations for policymakers and practitioners at different levels of government to improve the involvement of citizens in the process of decision-making. In conclusion, through these recommendations, we aim to help increase transparency, responsibility and legitimacy of decision-making processes and create an environment where citizens feel involved and heard in decision-making that affects life. Received: 8 March 2024 / Accepted: 13 June 2024 / Published: 02 July 2024

Inflation of Insurance Damages Through Damages Paid by Insurance Companies in Albania

The insurance sector as an industry plays a very important role in the economy and development of the non-financial market of developing countries, such as the case of Albania. In fact, such a development of the insurance market in relation to other non-banking financial markets has been noticed not only in Albania, but also in most other European countries due to the nature and dynamics that characterize this market. This market, which offers products and services to both individuals and businesses, includes only private companies as the only state-owned company was privatized in 2016. The development of the insurance market has been long, complex and delayed compared to other countries. This is also the reason that this sector in Albania occupies a relatively low weight in the Albanian financial system. The main role of the insurance company is to act as a risk transfer mechanism and to protect the insured for the risks provided in the insurance policy, which may be material or physical. Insurance compensates the insured for property claim, for permanent or temporary bodily injuries, and for this reason it is very important that the reserve for future claims is estimated as accurately as possible by taking into consideration the claim inflation, which in Albania is almost impossible to evaluate due to the lack of data and the application of different models for its evaluation.

The State of the Art of Methodological Research on the Role of the Brand in Local Products

The products of the territory play an important role in the economic life of a country. They provide the right framework for economic and social development at the local and national levels. In the Albanian literature, there are no in-depth studies regarding the methodology used to increase the value of the local brand, and as a result of not researching this factor, this study helps the brand with local indicators. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the methodology in general and the method used in the research on the role of the brand with indicators of origin in local products in Albania. Methodologies are suggested, which consist of the examination of all methodological approaches for the role of the brand with local indicators and the identification of the method for researching the case study. For the importance of branding agricultural and livestock products with local indicators and preserving their originality and development, the concept of the methodology and method that must be followed in order to give accurate results and the values that the local brand carries in itself in development is important of it and the area that is applied to increasing the economic performance of agro-processing industries. The literature shows that the impact of increasing the value of the territorial brand in our country is based on the case study method and the cross-case research methodology. Meanwhile, in order to prove the importance of the local brand in increasing the consumption of products and increasing the income of the industries in this sector, the STATA program was used to process the data collected from consumers, and the "R" program was used to process the data of the collected industries. From the results of the research, it has been established that the local brand affects the increase in consumption and income in the agricultural and livestock agro-processing industries. This paper serves as a methodology for studies in this field that are necessary for the case of Albania.

Ensuring the right to adequate housing through interference on property rights: The case of Albania

Ensuring the right to adequate housing through interference on property rights: The case of Albania

Balkanlarda Avrupa Birliği’nin Demokrasi Teşviki Politikalarının Sınırlılıkları: Yakınsama ve Yol Ayrımı Arasında Arnavutluk

Avrupa Birliği'nin (AB) demokrasi yardımı politikalarına rağmen, Balkanlar'da demokratikleşmeye ilişkin yaygın beklentilerin tersine bir gelişme yaşanmasının nedeni nedir? Mevcut literatürde AB’nin genişleme politikasının Balkanlar’daki demokratikleşme sürecini desteklediği, ancak AB’nin demokrasi yardımı politikalarının sonucunun, bölgede ülkelerinin iç özellikleri tarafından belirlendiği görüşü öne çıkmaktadır. Bununla beraber son araştırmalar AB’nin demokrasi yardımı politikalarının sınırlılıklarına dikkat çekmişlerdir. Bu makale, Arnavutluk gibi literatürde ihmal edilmiş bir örneğe odaklanarak bu eleştirel literatüre katkıda bulunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Makale, eleştirel ekonomi politik bir bakışla AB'nin demokrasiye yardım politikalarının Arnavutluk örneğinde demokratikleşme sürecini nasıl etkilediğini incelemektedir. Makalenin temel savı, AB’nin Balkanlar’daki demokrasi yardım politikalarının, bölgede teşvik ettiği neoliberal model tarafından kısıtlandığıdır. Makale, AB’nin desteklediği neoliberal birikim stratejisinin demokratikleşme sürecini kısıtladığı varsayımdan hareketle, Arnavutluk’taki devlet-toplum-piyasa ilişkisinin, uluslararası kurum ve aktörlerin neoliberal öncelikleri kapsamında nasıl şekillendirildiğini göstermektedir. Makale, AB’nin genişleme politikaları çerçevesinde yaptığı demokrasi yardımının neoliberal modelin uygulanmasıyla sınırlı olduğu ve Avrupalılaşma ideolojisinin neoliberal birikim stratejisinin doğallaştırılmasına hizmet ettiği sonucuna ulaşmaktadır.

The Role of Smes in the Economies of the Western Balkans: The Case of Albania

The purpose of this paper is to provide a clear picture of SMEs in the economies of the Western Balkans, the case of Albania, the new challenges and opportunities they face in each period. Administrative bureaucracies that hinder or delay procedures from the opening and development of SMEs and changes in policy-making to always come to the aid of new entrepreneurs. What has been the progress of the private sector in the region and Albania. The areas in which the latter encounter more problems and what policies should be drawn up to help the superiors. The contribution made by SMEs in the economy of our country and the comparison with the countries of the region. Received: 25 December 2023 / Accepted: 25 February 2024 / Published: 23 April 2024

The Role of Experts in Governance: The Case of Albania in the Context of European Integration

The role of experts in governance might strengthen democratic principles as it might risk them as well. However, in the complexity of the nowadays world, taking the right decisions has become complicated. Therefore, there is the need for experts to take decisions in different fields of decision-making. In the context of governance in the public sphere, apart from the experts’ decision-making, it is imperative to uphold democratic principles that ensure a fair representation of the minorities, to safeguard against any adverse impact resulting from experts’ advice or decisions on certain issues. The most developed countries or other supranational entities like the European Union undertake evaluations on the impact that policies have on certain contexts, while developing countries might encounter difficulties despite the achievements in this context. While Albania has made legislative advancements in recent years, further enhancements are expected in the future to improve instruments and mechanisms which will contribute to a soother implementation of these legislative initiatives. In contrast, the European Union has shown a notable reliance on experts in public sector governance and decision-making processes. Although experts in Albania contribute to governance, ongoing debates persist on certain issues. Hence, this article seeks to analyze the role of experts in the Albanian governance, particularly considering the country’s aspirations toward the European Union integration. By examining the implications for democratic principles and effective decision-making processes in the context of experts’ involvement, this study seeks to provide insights for enhancing governance practices in the country’s context of policy making process. Received: 25 December 2023 / Accepted: 25 February 2024 / Published: 23 April 2024

Non-State Actors' Impact on Albania's European Integration: Contributions, Opportunities, and Challenges

This paper examines the significant role of non-state actors in the European integration process, focusing specifically on the case of Albania. The purpose is to analyze how various non-state actors in Albania, such as civil society organizations, think tanks, businesses, and grassroots movements, have contributed to the country's journey towards European integration. The paper aims to highlight the opportunities and challenges these actors bring, and how their involvement can shape Albania's path towards EU accession. Received: 25 December 2023 / Accepted: 25 February 2024 / Published: 23 April 2024

Fiscal Enforcement and Elections in the Context of High Corruption

The effect of electoral competition on corruption, rent-seeking and informality remains poorly understood, especially in the context of post-communist economies. In a context where there is little moral value attached to law abidance, businesses or households that engage in informal activities might perceive a tolerant government as “magnanimous” and might be persuaded to support it in upcoming elections. In this paper, we investigate the case of Albania, a post-communist transition economy, characterized by high levels of corruption. The objective of this paper is to obtain insight into fiscal enforcement during elections, hence to further our understanding of the relationship between corruption, clientelism, informality and elections in the context of a transition/post-communist country. To this end, we report complementary quantitative and qualitative analysis suggesting that the incumbent deliberately lowers monitoring of enforcement vigilance before elections (e.g., through lower/fewer fines) and yielding insights into how such behaviour effects come about.

An assessment of the integration of ICTs into teaching processes by science teachers: The case of Albania

Many studies have recently focused on the importance of the effective integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in science education and the need for science teachers to receive adequate training and support to use them effectively. This paper aims to explore the Albanian science teachers’ perceptions and use of ICTs in teaching processes. The study provides an interpretative analysis of the opinions of science teachers teaching in the middle and high schools of several Albanian regions expressed in an online survey. Overall, the results suggest that the use of ICT by science teachers in Albania is limited by a lack of proper infrastructure, limited access to technology, and training of teachers on integrating technology. However, there are indications that the adoption of ICT in science education may increase in the future, particularly after the boost from the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

Examination of the Importance and Level of Application of Digitization in the Rural Sector, the Case of Albania

Agriculture continues to be one of the fundamental sectors for sustainable development in Albania, referring to its contribution to the gross domestic product and employment level. Nevertheless, it confronts ongoing structural issues concerning sustainable development. Farm size, productivity and competitiveness, intensification of production, the efficiency of resource use, access to finance, modernization of the value chain (VC), implementation of technology and information, quality and food security, are considered some of the main challenges of this sector for our country. The digitalization of agriculture emerges as a crucial instrument in dealing with these challenges, through the use of technology and information systems as an important instrument for increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of the rural sector. In this context, this paper aims to examine the importance and level of application of digital technology along the value chain in the agricultural sector. In function of the purpose of the study, the questionnaire was designed to provide and collect information on the importance of the application of the digitalization of agriculture, through the use of technology and information systems by agricultural farms and farmers in our country. Based on the data on the dominant activities and the typology of the farms according to the regions, the study areas have been determined, respectively for the districts of Kukës, Gjirokastër, Fier, Berat, and Korçë. In total, 938 questionnaires were completed for the five respective districts, following the activities and typology of the respective farms. The variables were evaluated using the Likert scale (1-5), and data analysis was carried out through the SPSS program.

The Impact of Economic and Policy Reforms of the European Union in a Geopolitical Crisis of the Neighboring Countries: the Case of Albania. Economic and Policy Reforms of the European Union in Albania

In the current era, where technology is developing rapidly, and people's lifestyles are changing along with the times, organizations are required to be able to survive and develop to innovate. Innovation in organizations is implemented after the organization has conducted comprehensive research covering the internal and external conditions of the organization. By conducting research, organizations are able to find out what advantages and disadvantages they have so that innovation can be implemented optimally. Innovation means adjusting and enhancing the current services, goods, and procedures of the organization. Despite the importance of research on organizational innovation, there are few articles and scientific research that discuss this. This research strives to show the importance of innovation in organizations. It shows the development of research on organizational innovation by using a systematic approach to a literature review and science mapping analysis. Data was obtained online from the Scopus data database, and VosViewer was used to evaluate outcomes and identify patterns in relations and development. It is feasible to see the relationships between topics like people, organizational innovation, and organizations by employing this network visualization. The field of organizational innovation research has been in decline, according to this study. This research has contributed to the growth of organizational innovation research across multidisciplinary study areas.

The impact of the minimum wage on employment. The case of Albania

The impact of the minimum wage on employment. The case of Albania

An Innovative Inclusive Approach to Enhancing Agricultural Sustainable Development in Albania: The Case of Nucleus Albania

Agriculture has been essential for humanity's survival, progress, and well-being throughout history, and yet it remains an essential and challenging sector of the global economy. While under a continuous transformational process, advancement towards inclusive and sustainable development of agricultural practice remains a challenge for the sector. In Albania, the agricultural sector is vital to the economy (particularly in the rural areas), accounting for a large share of gross value added, employment, and exporting activity in the country. Rooted in the early 90s land reform law and decollectivisation policy, multiple structural and non-structural challenges hinder the agricultural sector's full potential exploitation. This paper aims to assess the impact of Nucleus Albania's (NA) innovative nuclei approach in strengthening the MSME market position and, in turn, the agricultural sector and sustainable development in Albania. The impact assessment was conducted using a mixed methods approach, including secondary and primary data analysis (collected through a structured questionnaire and direct interviews). Combined findings suggest a positive impact of the NA-tailored support package on MSME business activity, including improved product quality and diversification, expansion of production capacities and customer base, increased employment and annual turnover, and investments in technology. In addition, the collaborative platform established through NA plays an important role in promoting innovation in agriculture and facilitating knowledge exchange among participants, making a substantial contribution to the overall development of the agricultural sector in Albania. Our findings support the NA approach's effectiveness and its role in modernizing and transforming the agricultural sector, contributing to long-term sustainable development in Albania and beyond.

Democracy and Cultural Factors: The Case of Albania

In the context of democracy, the world is divided between nations who are thought to be democratic par excellence, while others embark on a challenging path to democracy. Albanians have sought for democracy since the fall of dictatorial regime in 1990. The pursuit of this ideal has been impaired by substantial governmental challenges in key areas of the country. Nowadays, concerns have arisen even in the most democratic countries, because of the discontent that exists among their citizens. In regions like the Balkans, a new term has emerged: “stabilitocracy”. This concept seeks to examine the complex reasons behind countries that appear to be democratic but struggle to fully embrace democratic principles. In these nations, the three fundamental pillars of democracy as the rule of law, human rights, free and fair elections, and fair representation by state authorities, remain vulnerable. However, in the Albanian context, these elements have remained unstable since the aftermath of the dictatorial regime. Scholars analyze the fact that democracy in a country is influenced by their culture and economic development. When either of those components fails to align with the democratic ideal, democracy will be at risk, or it will lead the ground for the creation of an alternative political regime. This study searches into Albania’s path towards democracy, with a focused exploration of the factors shaping this unique form of “democracy” that is emerging in the current context.
 
 Received: 23 September 2023 / Accepted: 30 October 2023 / Published: 23 November 2023