Case Study Of Kosovo Research Articles

The power of women in the success of business family: A case study of Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia

The main objective of this research is to emphasize the significant role women hold in leading family businesses in transitional countries such as Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. It aims to demonstrate how women’s leadership can positively influence business performance, economic advancement and social development in these regions where traditional gender norms are shifting. Additionally, this study explores how empowering women in leadership roles can foster innovation, strengthen resilience, and ensure long-term sustainability for family-owned businesses ultimately contributing to the broader economic progress of these transitioning economies. This research aims to analyze family support, cultural factors and the influence of education on the advancement of women in leadership positions with a particular focus on family businesses. In this empirical research, 490 women from the countries above were included and the sample was randomly selected due to a lack of formal data. The results of the analyses were presented through descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and T-test. The results indicate that family support has already a significant impacted advancement. Similarly, cultural factors have a positive influence. These factors have changed and are no longer obstacles to women's advancement as in the past, although in some rural countries this is still seen as an obstacle. Another important factor is education where women prioritize before taking leadership positions and continue with various training even after taking positions to be fully prepared to achieve their business objectives.

Enlargement policy of the European Union in the Balkan region. The Kosovo case: Integration?

Since the 1990s, the European Union began to develop a process of expansion throughout the rest of Europe, which is still actively carried out today. In this sense, one of the focuses of the EU enlargement policy was, and still is, the Balkan region and, in particular, Kosovo, a territory of acute conflicts for ethno-religious reasons. Consequently, this paper aims to analyze the implementation of the European Union's enlargement policy in the Balkan region and, specifically, in Kosovo. Therefore, it will be approached from its origin to its deployment in Southeastern Europe, in order to then demonstrate the implementation of the different mechanisms that sustain this policy, based on the case study of Kosovo. The enlargement policy in the Balkan region is one of the most effective instruments of the European Union's political action. It responds to the strategic interests of the organization in terms of stability, security and conflict prevention.

Human Trafficking in Western Balkan: Case Study of Kosovo

Background: The object of this paper is the criminal offence of human trafficking in Kosovo, addressing the negative and illegal phenomenon of this activity. It aims to pay special attention to the detection and prosecution of the perpetrators and the imposition of sentences and other criminal sanctions against them, with the sole purpose of combating and preventing it in society. Also, in this paper, some basic legal-criminal and criminological features of the criminal offence of human trafficking are analysed and treated. Given that this criminal offence represents a serious type of criminality, this study explores how it manifests itself in its consequences on the individual and society. This research conducted on human trafficking in Kosovo is of crucial importance because by studying this negative phenomenon, we can slowly conclude whether the victims were innocent or contributors to the issues leading to their trafficking. Methods: In preparing this research-scientific paper, very significant content for our country is presented using the following methods: comparative, statistical, graphic, historical, analytical, survey and case studies from 1999 to now. Through these research methods and techniques, we have recognised and addressed multiple aspects of the crime of human trafficking. Contrary to the common belief that there are enough studies on the victims of human trafficking and other criminal acts, this is not true. In many cases, the states have quantified the victims of various crimes and other criminal acts solely through numerical measures. The extracted statistics form the basis of data identification and conclusion, as well as determining the recommendations contained in this paper. Results and Conclusions: Trafficking in human beings is one of the most significant crimes of our time and a violation of human rights in itself, and in our work, we have encountered difficulties in coming up with the most adequate and concrete data to prevent and combat this. Phenomenon. Human beings are trafficked for the purpose of forced labour, illegal employment, the entertainment industry, forced and fake marriage, forced prostitution, etc. and this, in our case in the Western Balkans countries, is generally encountered because of socio-economic problems and freedom of movement. Human trafficking is a form of profitable organised crime and is believed to be important because the risk is low and the payoff is high; after drug and weapons trafficking and the prostitution trade comes as a great benefit, in our case, Kosovo, we have come across data from 1999 on how war refugees are abused and how narcotic substances are trafficked and used. The most common form of human trafficking is the trade of human beings for sexual exploitation or the purposes of forced prostitution. This is a challenge in our country because we do not have an adequate law to legalise prostitution. In this case, we have a lot of good organised in the region and Kosovo that abuse, especially minors, for prostitution and the purpose of the work is to issue an adequate law regarding the decriminalisation of prostitution to manage, control, prevent and combat human trafficking. The most frequent victims of this form of trafficking are children and women, who belong to the most vulnerable social groups, according to the data presented in the paper.

Ontološka bezbednost i kolektivni identitet kroz prizmu strateške kulture na primeru Kosova i Metohije

The paper theoretically investigates the phenomena of ontological security and collective identity through the prism of strategic culture, with an empirical elaboration of the case study of Kosovo and Metohija. The authors supplement the realistic understanding of security with a social-constructivist perspective, emphasizing the influence of values, ideas, perceptions and culture in general in the shaping of collective identity, which is closely related to the subjective sense of security. The main hypothesis is that the solidity of the collective identity survives regardless of external pressures and reshaping tendencies because its survival is perceived as an inseparable essence of ontological security. The authors conclude that the strength of collective identity in certain situations overcomes the problems of collapsed institutions and the absence of actors who advocate the basic values of that identity. Kosovo and Metohija is more than a material part of the territory, strongly building the foundations of collective identity. An individual who feels a sense of belonging to such a collective identity will almost instinctively reject any solution which affects that identity, so he will perceive an attack on those values, no matter how intense, as a feeling of personal insecurity.

A Novel Approach to Analysis of Road Accidents Using the Trend Analysis and IPTA Method: A Case Study of Kosovo

Road accidents in Kosovo cause more than 100 deaths each year and about EUR 40 million in property damage. The paper presents an accident prediction model that relates accident frequency to various contributory factors and is developed using trend analysis and the Innovative Polygon Trend Analysis method. In addition, the study investigates road traffic accidents using a novel methodology to compare the different modes and other parameters. The presented research also discusses the road safety in Kosovo, which is a Republic with relatively low economic growth based on GDP per capita, a young population, an increase in the number of vehicles per capita, and an increase in the number of road accidents, but a decline in the number of deaths from road accidents in recent years.

Ecotourism Value Defined through the Eco-Lodges Design – A Case Study of Kosovo

Kosovo has excellent potential for developing regular four-season nature-based tourism as a form of a more responsive and sustainable relaxation or recreation in a natural environment. However, it lacks a genuine offer of accommodation premises in almost all tourist hotspots, which affects the number of visitors compared to similar destinations in developed countries. A well-thought design approach and interventions are necessary to increase and strengthen tourism in these destinations. It is necessary to create a network of accommodation premises, respectively, the architectural design of eco-lodges prototypes for use by visitors, which in addition to the function would further enrich the landscape, and over time would become the reference and identifying elements of these areas. The research is based on identifying tourism potentials throughout Kosovo to create a viable offer of accommodation based entirely on ecotourism. The aim is to increase visitors' interest and awareness and strengthen ecotourism development. To realize this purpose of research and the theoretical study of the problem, methods and techniques of theoretical and empirical research were used. The analysis of this study revealed the potential of Kosovo's rich natural surroundings which are considered the positioning principle for ecotourism to progress. Ecotourism is about relationships between nature, the local community, and tourists, as the most critical value in planning, designing, and operating. All interventions will adapt to natural environments' preservations and sustainable development, creating higher awareness of visitors and the local community. As a result, this study aims to start the dialogue with something as trivial as the eco-lodge design, which could be seen as a tackling indication of a more significant initiative.

The Post-Communist State Era and Its Impact on Sovereignty: A Case Study of Kosovo

Many theoretical perspectives have touched on the concept of sovereignty, but the need for more sovereignty-based discussion in relation to the postcommunist era still exists. The question of sovereignty and its survival in the post-communist era touches on some general features such as the attributes, signs, properties, and conditions of the concept of sovereignty that have evolved. In the case of Kosovo, the issue of sovereignty can be linked to two distinct features, namely democracy and human rights. For Kosovo to be a sovereign state, it had a mandatory prerequisite to fulfil these two features. These features implied the fulfi lment of two criteria, in the forms of legality and legitimacy and, in reality, these two criteria stem from the will of the people. This refl ection shows that sovereignty in the post-communist era had to be in line with respect for human rights as a feature of the principles of democracy. However, the transition from the communist system to democracy was not an easy one. In this regard, Kosovo has come a long way in achieving sovereignty and managed to be declared a sovereign state in 2008. The conditioning of Kosovo’s sovereignty by the above criteria represents the influence of the post-communist era, and its earlier form differs from the prevailing form of absolute sovereignty as it existed, for example, in the former federations of Russia and Yugoslavia. Kosovo’s sovereignty is reflected in accordance with the will of the majority of over ninety-five percent of the country’s population. Moreover, in Kosovo, minorities have privileges, such as positive discrimination and the special right that constitutional changes on vital issues pertaining to those minorities cannot be made without their vote. However, in the post-communist era, it was not possible to democratise all sovereign states. Some states focused on the power and manner of expanding power in their respective territories and fought for the recognition of reconfigured sovereignty at the expense of justice and rights. Therefore, since the post-communist period, the defi nition, content, and character of sovereignty has been in debate, with a new dimension of respect for human rights as a major talking point and as an essential mark of the principle of democracy.

Impact Of the Quality of Hospitality Services on Customer Satisfaction – Kosovo Case Study

Impact Of the Quality of Hospitality Services on Customer Satisfaction – Kosovo Case Study

Creative accounting and its influence on corporate performance and financial reporting: A case study of Kosovo

As it is known, Kosovo is a newly established and developing country. Naturally, creative accounting practices in Kosovo are becoming more frequent due to gaps and weaknesses in management and audit quality. This study aims to examine the relationship between creative accounting and corporate performance and management, as well as the impact of managers’ ethics including audit period on financial reporting and creative accounting limitation. The study adopted a survey-based approach. The questionnaires were distributed among 159 managers, auditors, and head accountants. Linear regression was used to analyze the hypotheses. The research results confirmed the rejection of the first hypothesis, as the mean is less than 3 (the average on a five-point Likert scale). The results confirmed that creative accounting has a significant impact on corporate performance. The results also confirmed the second hypothesis as the mean is greater than 3.5 (the average on a five-point Likert scale). Thus, managers’ ethics have a significant effect on the reliability of financial statements. In addition, the research results confirmed the acceptance of the third hypothesis, as the mean is greater than 3 (the average on a five-point Likert scale), thus there is a positive influence of the audit period on creative accounting limitation. The study found a negative impact of creative accounting on corporate performance. Furthermore, a significant effect of managers’ ethics on financial statements’ reliability was concluded; and finally, the findings concluded that audit period and quality could significantly contribute to the creative accounting limitation.

Role of microfinance institutions for developing women entrepreneurship – the case study of Kosovo

Role of microfinance institutions for developing women entrepreneurship – the case study of Kosovo

Funding Challenges of Small and Medium Enterprises in Transition Countries: Kosovo Case Study

SMEs play a very important role in the development of economies of different countries and they are now considered as a key factor of economic development. They affect unemployment, promote social welfare and can be treated as a promoter of economic growth. The paper addresses the role and importance of financing SMEs in transition countries including Kosovo. The study examines the key factors affecting the increase of SME financing from external sources, namely bank lending since other external sources of financing in Kosovo are scarce and almost non-existent. For the purposes of this paper, data from 215 SMEs surveyed in Kosovo were used, randomly distributed across manufacturing, services and commerce sectors. Data collection was done in the period January-April 2016, and their processing was carried out with SPSS (Social Package for Social Science). In order to have more consistent information during data processing, certain models were used in the paper: Paried-Samples T Test, which was used to investigate the difference between two sets of averages, which indicates that the business plan for the enterprise is relevant to bank loan access. The One Way Anova model was used to test the differences between two or more averages, and through this model is proved that high-profit enterprises have achieved easier access to bank loans. Also following the One Way Anova and Post Hoc LSD test, there were found differences between groups of enterprise by their types, activity and age. The research shows that enterprises with older ages have been able to obtain more easily bank loans. The One Way Anova and Welch-Brown-Forthyse test was used to deal with the level of education of business owners, whereby it was found that owners with a high level of education had easier access to bank loans. Through the Indepedent Samples T Test technique it was found that there is a significant difference between the age groups of the owners based on the mean and standard deviation.

Dynamics of the particular and the common: Monuments and patriotic tourism in socialist Yugoslavia – a case study of Kosovo

Dynamics of the particular and the common: Monuments and patriotic tourism in socialist Yugoslavia – a case study of KosovoThis paper reflects on two case studies of monuments in Socialist Yugoslavia in Kosovo, commemorating World War II partisans in Mitrovica (1973) and Landovica (1963) and their performative functions as a part of the phenomena of patriotic tourism. Both examples refer to inter-ethnic (Serbian and Albanian) relations bound by the slogan brotherhood and unity. Boro and Ramiz, two figures present in Yugoslav collective memory and represented through monuments and orality, have become a symbol of unity in Socialist Yugoslavia. War memorials and monuments have been raised all over the territory of socialist Yugoslavia and created an invisible network of remembrance and identity. The most important sites, as those analyzed in this paper, have become destinations of patriotic tourism: they were visited by millions every year and were associated with huge print runs of tourist propaganda production such as maps, guide-books and postcards (apart from commercial tourist attractions, almost every postcard produced in socialist Yugoslavia presented a nearby monument or memorial). Dynamika indywidualizmu i wspólnoty. Pomniki i turystyka patriotyczna w socjalistycznej Jugoslawii – przypadek KosowaNiniejszy artykuł prezentuje dwa studia przypadku dotyczące pomników socjalistycznej Jugosławii na terenie Kosowa, upamiętniających partyzantów z czasów II wojny światowej w Mitrowicy (1973) i Landovicy (1963) oraz ich funkcji performatywnych w ramach zjawiska turystyki patriotycznej. Oba przykłady odnoszą się do relacji międzyetnicznych (serbskich i albańskich) połączonych hasłem: braterstwo i jedność. Dwaj partyzanci obecni w zbiorowej pamięci dzięki pomnikom i historii mówionej – Boro i Ramiz – stali się symbolem jedności w socjalistycznej Jugosławii. Pomniki i miejsca pamięci upamiętniające walkę usłały całe terytorium socjalistycznej Jugosławii i stworzyły niewidzialną sieć pamięci i tożsamości. Najważniejsze miejsca, jak te analizowane w artykule, stały się celami turystyki patriotycznej i są odwiedzane przez miliony turystów każdego roku. Były one związane z prowadzoną na dużą skalę propagandą turystyczną: publikowanymi w dużych nakładach mapami, przewodnikami i pocztówkami, które oprócz komercyjnych atrakcji turystycznych prezentowały pobliskie miejsca pamięci i pomniki.

Personal Income Tax Progression in Kosovo

The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of personal income tax progression. The measurement of personal income tax progression over a period of time that is  characterized with changes of tax rates, indicates how is distributed the tax burden with respect to taxpayers' income, and how this burden is displaced by changing tax rates, from one to another group of taxpayers. To measure the degree of personal income tax progression, the paper use a method that provides a stable indicator of progressivity, and evidently shows the impact of non-taxable personal income (tax allowances) in the degree of progression across all income levels. Also, this method is consistent with general definition of progressivity, and fulfils criterions for evolving alternative measure of tax progression. The paper also presents a linear equation model of after-tax personal income as well as tax liability, in the case study of Kosovo.

Challenges of Female Entrepreneurs in Transition Countries: Case Study of Kosovo

Opportunely in the time of globalization, female entrepreneurs, including those doing business in countries in transition, are moving towards the booming of their businesses. Apart from the advantages they have in the period their countries are transitioning, female entrepreneurs also are faced with many challenges. These challenges are faced by female entrepreneurs who are doing business in Kosovo, which is in a transition period. The challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in the state of Kosovo, apart from economic factors, are also cultural factors. Given the role of small businesses in the country's economic development, a number of these businesses are run by women, ventures also known as small businesses.
 Through this research paper, we will try to highlight the main challenges of female entrepreneurs are facing in countries in transition, and especially in the state of Kosovo, where through the recommendations collected by this research paper, we believe that we will contribute to female entrepreneurs of this country.
 Key words: Challenges, Women, Female, Transition, Entrepreneurship, Factors.

Bank Loans as a Source of Financing Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises in Western Balkans.The Kosovo Case Study.

It is accepted worldwide that a healthy banking system play a crucial role in the economic development of a country. Also, the role and importance of the banking system in developed and developing countries (including Kosovo) is unquestionable. This is evident especially in financing business needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which generate income and employment. However, financing SMEs’ needs by banks, often is accompanied with problems and various challenges.The aim of this paper is to highlight the role and importance of banks on financing business needs of SMEs, identify problems which arise, by giving recommendations on solving the aforementioned, which would be beneficial for both parties. Hence, this paper offers important implications for banks, SMEs, as well as for policymakers.

Bank Loans as a Source of Financing Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises in Western Balkans.The Kosovo Case Study.

It is accepted worldwide that a healthy banking system play a crucial role in the economic development of a country. Also, the role and importance of the banking system in developed and developing countries (including Kosovo) is unquestionable. This is evident especially in financing business needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which generate income and employment. However, financing SMEs’ needs by banks, often is accompanied with problems and various challenges.The aim of this paper is to highlight the role and importance of banks on financing business needs of SMEs, identify problems which arise, by giving recommendations on solving the aforementioned, which would be beneficial for both parties. Hence, this paper offers important implications for banks, SMEs, as well as for policymakers.

Financial burden of ventilator associated pneumonia among patients in intensive care unit: Kosovo case study

Background and objective: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a predominant type of healthcareassociated infection (HAI) in intensive care units (ICU), associated with increased length of stay(LOS), mortality rates, and costs. We aimed to assess the financial burden of VAP in terms of direct medical costs incurred by the patients treated in ICU. Methods: A local surveillance dataset was used to perform the assessment of direct medical costs incurred by the patients while being treated for VAP in the ICU at University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK). Results: Overall, incidence rate of HAIs in the ICU at UCCK was 62.1% with VAP dominating the infection account (73.2%). The LOS in ICU ranged from 2–44 days with a median time of six days, while the distribution between VAP affected and unaffected patients ranged between 13.5 and 5.4 days, respectively. The mean cost to patients with VAP is estimated as €647±487, which is significantly higher than in patients without VAP (€227±174). Conclusion: An immediate action is required to introduce better VAP prevention and control measures in the ICU. Evidence-based practices confirm that compliance to hand-hygiene practices, ICU staff education, introduction of regular surveillance, and adequate antibiotic therapy can significantly decrease VAP incidence, save lives, decrease LOS, and reduce costs.

The Universities and Elite Formation and Transformation in Kosovo

Abstract This research aims to explore the relationship between the universities and political elite formation based on the case study of Kosovo. The key questions raised throughout the research are; how do the universities influence the formation of the political elites and how were the elites changed throughout time? Analysing these relationships in different periods, each with a different impact on the elite building processes, namely from the establishment of the University of Prishtina until recently. Central assumption here is that higher education institutions were the catalyst in the transformation of the political elites. Being a vital source of power, a control over it represents also a struggle for power between the rival forces with different political outcomes. Theoretical framework consists of John Higley approach on the elite formation, based in the context of post-conflict and divided society, such as Kosovo case.

Irregular Receipts Leading to Budget Deficits in Kosovo

Abstract The aim of the paper is to analyse the irregular budget receipts, their behaviour and impact on budget deficits in Kosovo. Since its independence, Kosovo has been engaging in large infrastructure projects based mainly on initially high cash balances and overestimation of revenue capacity, in particular of irregular receipts. This led to the creation of future liabilities and budget deficits, which had to be financed by public debt. Further, the politically motivated increase of wage and salary bill and social transfers increased the burden on budget deficit already caused by infrastructure projects. Thus, budget deficits became the lasting feature of Kosovo economy. All this was supported by a lack of legal infrastructure or fiscal rules for several years. There is extensive literature on the causes of budget deficit, its definition and measurement. The literature review method is adopted in the present study, and research is refined by including selected papers that contain empirical and theoretical studies on budget deficit. Therefore, special-purpose deficit, the so-called “regular” budget deficit, which considers only regular receipts and outlays, has been defined and measured in the present study. This analysis leads to the conclusion that irregular receipts used by the government to engage in large infrastructure projects and/or the politically motivated increase of wage and salary bill and social transfers lead to a budget deficit that has to be financed through public debt. This is a case study of Kosovo and research has been carried out using primary data drawn from Kosovo budget annual financial reports. The implications of the paper may be of high importance for policymakers as well as for academic issues. This is a unique approach to the issues of Kosovo budget deficit and irregular receipts.

Sustainability of Waste Materials in Affinity with Ecologically Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Kosovo

Abstract Using our natural resources, we produce much waste that can be recycled as a useful resource, which further contributes to climate change. Kosovo, generally produces a huge amount of waste, particularly Prishtina as the capital its capital city. The study presented in this paper investigated the high-rise buildings in Ulpiana neighbourhood of the city of Prishtina and waste disposals in Kosovo, focusing on the challenges of urban waste management, particularly on the recycling of high-rise urban generated waste. The research methods consist of empirical observation through urban spatial zone. Researched model of high-rise buildings, surveyed the land use, and recycling process of a total generated waste of 778.8 kg daily/per one structure. According to the conceptual and calculated findings strengthened with awareness for sustainable consumption, and proper urban strategy for implementing the recycling waste materials, it is indicated that the waste amount can be decreased and recycled for about 25 % from the total waste generated daily.