Sector In Bulgaria Research Articles

Implementing Innovations That Provide Sustainable Solutions in the Tourism Sector

Objective: The purpose of this development is to present the relationship between the implementation of innovations in the tourism business and its sustainable development. Theoretical Framework: In this topic, presents the main concepts and theories for the scope of innovation activity in the tourism sector. The main types of economic and non-economic innovations related to the sustainable management of the tourism business are highlighted. Method: Qualitative methods, including interviews and observations, were used in this study. Owners and managers of tourist organizations who are familiar with the innovative activities of the represented enterprises and can indicate the effect of their implementation were surveyed. Results and Discussion: The findings of the study highlight the importance of synergy between innovation and sustainable management of the tourism business. The study of the experience of the Bulgarian tourist enterprises proves that the implementation of innovations provides competitive advantages to the tourist enterprises and contributes to their sustainable development. Research Implications: A practical study is carried out, which presents the spread of innovations in the tourism sector in Bulgaria and proves that they lead to both economic and non-economic effects related to the sustainable development of the enterprise's activities. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by presenting the scope of innovation activity in the tourism enterprise and outlines the relationship between economic and non-economic innovations. The relevance and value of this research is demonstrated by addressing the specific topic of innovation in the tourism industry, which is an important area of inquiry given the dynamic nature of the sector and its significance for economic development.

Development of the Recycling Industry Sector in Bulgaria in the Context of the Circular Economy Concept

The article examines the structure and results of the activities of enterprises from the raw materials and materials recycling sector in Bulgaria by subsectors from the National Classifier of Economic Activities (NCEA 2008). The article examines the structure of the recycling industry sector of the national economy with enterprises and resp. the results achieved by them in each of the directions – waste collection, waste recycling and waste disposal. The research interest and choice of this sector of the national economy is not accidental. It is provoked by its importance for building a circular economy, the fight against climate change and the concept of secondary utilization of the exhaustible resources of our planet. The purpose of the article is to make a comparison and outline the directions of development of the enterprises from the recycling industry in Bulgaria in comparison with the general economic development of the country in recent years. Statistical data for the enterprises from the recycling industry were used in relation to selected economic indicators – turnover, value of long-term tangible assets, value of short-term tangible assets, employed personnel, investments made, etc. At the national macro level, and as a basis for comparison, the main macroeconomic indicators are observed – gross domestic product, gross domestic product per capita and foreign direct investments. By using the methods of comparison, retrospective analysis, technical analysis, etc. principles and regularities in the economic development of the sector and its importance for the general economic development of the country have been identified.

Traditions and Perspectives for the Development of the Vineyarding Sector in Bulgaria

The present study is devoted to the dynamics of development of viticulture in Bulgaria during the 2014-2022 period. An international comparison which includes the leading countries worldwide has been made as well. The aim is to establish the state and development of viticulture and its prospects through the prism of the available prerequisites and the formed competition in global markets. Favorable natural, scientific and personnel conditions have been established, as well as rich traditions. The relative share of the harvested areas is strikingly low, which hides opportunities to increase the amount of harvested grapes without significantly increasing the area of the vineyards. There is a developed regulatory framework, the implementation of which would contribute to the prosperity of the sector and ensure the sustainable development of the semi-mountainous regions that are suitable for growing vineyards.

Конкурентоспособност на българския зеленчуков сектор на световния пазар

Depending on the scope of the concept of competitiveness, it is used in a variety of contexts in economic research, although there is a lack of a precise and generally accepted definition of what exactly it entails. In this study, competitiveness is considered from the point of view of market performance, using the developed theoretical framework for measuring the performance of an individual country or sector of the national economy, based on the definition of the Canadian Competitiveness Group: “The ability to sustainably win and maintain market share”. Two concepts are laid down in it – about the dynamics of market share and profit formation in order to achieve sustainable development over time. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the competitiveness of the Bulgarian vegetable production sector on the world market, to clearly note its change in a dynamic aspect. The research specifically adopted the methodology developed by B. Ivanov for calculating a composite index of competitiveness, containing two main components - production and value. The analysis shows the place of Bulgarian vegetable production in the national agriculture and in the world vegetable market, the dynamics and changes that reflect in the competitiveness of the sector during the years of EU membership – 2007 – 2021. The comprehensive assessment of the competitiveness of the vegetable crop sector in Bulgaria on world markets defines it as relatively low. The results obtained from the research confirm and complement the assessment of the competitiveness of the “Vegetable production” sector in Bulgaria, made by other Bulgarian researchers. Despite the favorable climate and natural features in our country, as well as our traditions in the production of vegetables, the sector is deteriorating its market position and the dynamics of competitiveness are rather negative. The research clearly shows that Bulgaria is losing positions in the production of vegetables, while at the same time its dependence on imports and foreign prices is increasing. The sector of vegetable production is among the vulnerable sectors of the Bulgarian agriculture, as the permanent negative trends of reduction of areas and production are projected in the inability to meet consumer needs in our country from high-quality domestic production. The future development of the sector and the increase of its competitiveness will depend on many factors, some of the most important of which are the extent to which vegetable producers will be able to be flexible and adapt to achieve the new environmental policy objectives; to what extent they will be able to respond to modern trends in agricultural production – digitalization, ecological/biological agriculture, new technological solutions.

Status and future prospects of nuclear industry development in Bulgaria

This paper presents a study of nuclear energy development in Bulgaria and its contribution to the country's energy sector. Current status and future prospects of the nuclear power industry have been discussed.Currently, two 1000 MW nuclear power units – Units 5 and 6 with WWER-1000 reactors are in operation at Kozloduy NPP site. Nuclear energy is one of the main pillars of the electricity producing sector with 32, 6 % of current national energy mix.Energy strategy and vision for the development of the power sector in Bulgaria envisage nuclear energy to be supported institutionally as a promising resource for generation of emission-free electricity and to ensure a sustainable energy mix. Extending the operational lifetime of the available capacities, as well as, the construction of new nuclear capacities have been considered to be of strategic importance for preserving energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing dependence on imports of energy resources in a cost-effective and competitive manner.In addition, this investigation is focused on the efforts that have been invested toward current nuclear reactors lifetime extension, thermal power uprate and diversification of fresh nuclear fuel supplies, as well as, construction of new nuclear capacities to ensure the future development of the nuclear industry in Bulgaria.Some key drivers and challenges in nuclear power sector for future development were analysed.Large size nuclear reactors and SMRs in Bulgarian context were considered and the outcomes indicatesthat SMRs and large reactors generation III/III+ should not be opposed but SMRs could be considered as a complementarity technology to the existing large-scale reactors.Many of the currently developed SMRs conceptual designs meet the expectations for Generation IV reactors safety level but in-depth knowledge of the specific technology is required to assess and ensure safety in accordance with the Bulgarian regulatory framework which is oriented towards light water reactors.

Characteristics and analysis of the Culture and Arts sector, specifically the Performing dance sector in Bulgaria

The culture and arts sector is often described as a "motor sector" in academic literature. Dance schools, within this sector, offer a unique blend of educational and artistic experiences to their clients, encompassing both instructional classes and the creation of original dance performances. However, cultural and arts organizations are not solely business-oriented but also play a significant role in shaping cultural identity and providing educational opportunities. In Bulgaria, there is a lack of a standardized system for accounting for the number of dance schools and cultural organizations. These entities range from private micro-organizations, such as sole proprietorships, limited liability companies, foundations, and associations, to state and municipal organizations, with the latter forming a small percentage of the sector. Statistical data about cultural organizations and their activities are fragmented and can be found in the annual reports of the National Culture Fund (NCF), registers of the Ministry of Culture, and data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). This study highlights the complex dynamics within the Culture and Arts sector in Bulgaria, especially in the context of dance schools, and underscores the need for targeted efforts to rekindle public interest and engagement in dance arts.

SOCIAL NETWORKS – A TOOL FOR COOPERATION OF BULGARIAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS

Bulgarian agriculture has gone through many transformations in the last two decades. The concentration of production and the difficult access of smaller farms to forms of public support led to their unequal competitive position. Some owners of such small farms began to seek support and advice from other producers, exchange experiences and organize joint actions. Social networks are also used for these new forms of cooperation, as a popular tool for building groups and communication between their members. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the models for the application of social networks as a tool for the cooperation of agricultural producers in Bulgaria. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to assess the need for producers to cooperate; to analyze the implemented traditional forms of cooperation in the country, revealing their deficiencies; to consider specific examples of the application of social networks, as a tool for cooperation of producers from the agriculture sector in Bulgaria. Social networks, or social media platforms have been a focus of analysis since their launch and in later years some meta studies and literature reviews have attempted to organize and structure most of the previously done research on the topic (Ali, et al. 2023; Ibrahim, 2022). In these studies, the five main topics of discussion have been: social media, social collaboration, social marketing, social media and crowdfunding, and social media and crowdsourcing. Social media as a tool for crowdsourcing can be used by different stakeholders to share crucial information (Clark, et al., 2023) and in those cases a cooperation among social actors can be built. The negative effects of social media on traditional network-building have also been explored by some authors, that put forward concerns about the differentiation of goals between social media platforms and their userbase, that can lead to degradation of social cohesion (González‐Bailón, et al., 2023). Although being critical, those researchers can’t deny that social media platforms are granting opportunities that would be absent without them. Furthermore, if academics have access to social media analytics tools a more in-depth analysis of information sharing and social impact can be developed (Horng, et al., 2023). The lack of access to such tools for the current research has led to the selection of included observation for the analysis of the application of social networks as a tool for the cooperation of agricultural producers in Bulgaria. Social media interactions remain an understudied topic in the country and its relevance as a cooperation building tool remains to be proven. Key words: agriculture, competitiveness, cooperatives, Internet JEL: J54, D71, D91

Regulations in the Banking Sector in Bulgaria: Evolution and Upgrading

Regulations in the Banking Sector in Bulgaria: Evolution and Upgrading

Challenges in Introducing Innovations in the Veterinary Sector in Bulgaria

Abstract The digital transformation enters all spheres of public currently. At the same time, it does not take place at the same pace and scale everywhere. Bulgaria delays behind the most European countries in terms of the levels of the Digital Technology Penetration Index (DESI). In the presented research, the reasons for the delaying of digitization are sought, especially in the veterinary sector. In this regard, the subject of the present work is the introduction of special digital technologies to help the veterinary doctors. The aim is to reveal the reasons for the delay and to identify recommendations for a more successful introduction of modern software products and platforms in the veterinary sector. An online survey was conducted among 211 veterinarians of different professional categories and veterinary students, which revealed the main problems before the introduction of innovation and digitalization, taking into account that one of them is the aging of the veterinarians employed in it. The recommendations are made to increase their computer skills and digital competence through training, to emphasize the possibilities of digital innovation in the education of veterinary students, to develop special software products to assist veterinary professionals and the benefits for the veterinary sector are outlined from the introduction of digital innovations.

Non-Wood Forest Products: History and State in Circular-Bioeconomy of Bulgaria

This work examine the inclusion of NWFR and their role in the country's economy.
 Data from the annual reports of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) and the Forestry Executive Agency (FEA), from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), statistics from the UN (Comtrade), from Eurostat and other sources of information (scientific studies, FAO publications, etc.) are used.
 In Bulgaria, the organized collection and use of NWFP has been a livelihood for many people for more than a century. Тhe paper analyzed utilization of the most important NWFP harvested from the forests in the period 2001-2022 and their participation in the national and international trades.
 The brief review of the state and trends in the use of NWFP shows that Bulgaria there is a tendency of a permanent decrease in the use and income from NWFP in forestry during the period 2001 - 2022.
 At the same time there are significant reserves of unused NWFR, which indicates that there is a great opportunity to expand the use of NWFR and to increase the income of the forestry enterprises.
 Considering the potential and problems of the forest sector in Bulgaria, it is clear that the domestic demand and international markets of some NWFP (medicinal plants, wild mushrooms, some kinds of forest fruits, etc.) represent a significant opportunity for the forest bioeconomy and offer a chance for improving the supply of NWFP and supporting income generation in rural areas.
 The production of advanced products and materials on a biological basis with high value and the utilization of the hidden potential of NWFP represent key opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy in Bulgaria.

A fuzzy AHP study of barriers for circularity in the wine sector in Bulgaria

PurposeIdentifying the barriers that hinder the circularity in the wine industry in Bulgaria and proposing a preliminary circular economy (CE) index for ranking in order of importance the barriers for providing a suitable and replicable model through the contextualization of the study applied at the territorial level.Design/methodology/approachThe article adopts a Fuzzy AHP methodology based on 6 main barriers and 19 sub-barriers to find the weights of the barriers and rank them. The study was conducted in Bulgaria, and it consists of a questionnaire with pairwise comparisons to ask for expert opinions of members of the Executive Board of the National Association of Bulgarian Vinegrowers and additional members of the regional vine and winegrowing chambers.FindingsThe study identifies training and education and environmental barriers as the most important among the main barriers whereas, economic barriers are assessed as low impact. Considering the sub-barriers, lack of consumer awareness and interest, unclear taxation for CE, lack of knowledge about environmental emissions (carbon, water etc.) within the supply chains, and lack of digital trends are determined as the most significant sub-barriers.Research limitations/implicationsThe preliminary CE index can be practically used and tested, when necessary, by each winemaker according to their understanding and opinion of CE barriers and sub-barriers. The ranking within the CE index can lead winemakers also to decisions related to the company's social policy.Originality/valueThe study uses the Fuzzy AHP methodology with expert opinions to analyze and weigh the main barriers to achieving CE at the micro-level.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SALARY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN BULGARIA

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between salary and economic development in the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. The following statistics, concerning the agricultural sector, were used: average annual wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract; employed persons; Gross Value Added; expenditure on acquisition of tangible fixed assets and other subsidies on production. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the primary data and for the first, second and third differences. A regression model was developed and it showed that the average annual salaries in agriculture could be explained to some degree by its value in the previous period. The increases in the subsidies and in the investments significantly push salaries up, and vice versa

Opportunities for development of the tourism sector in Bulgaria

The main research goal is to present the opportunities for the development of the tourism sector in Bulgaria in the conditions of a dynamically changing environment. Emphasis is placed on innovations in the context of the circular economy, considering its essence and the possibilities of its application in the tourism sector as well. It should be borne in mind that the reorientation from a linear to a circular economic model in the tourism sector is a gradual process that requires time. Scientific methods such as the method of analysis and synthesis, content analysis, situational analysis, deduction, induction, comparative method and others are used. The results give an idea of the possibilities for progress of the tourism sector in Bulgaria in the context of the circular economy. There are good practices, the number of which is constantly increasing. In this way, the role and importance of circular tourism is growing. The conclusions present the achieved results in a synthesis and outline the prospects for the development of the tourism sector in Bulgaria, some recommendations are also made.

Digital transformation as a prerequisite for region`s convergence

The aim of this publication is to present key results of an empirical study conducted, affecting the processes of digital transformation of the municipal administration as part of the public sector in Bulgaria. The research section is by planning areas, using methods of analysis such as expert assessment, GAP analysis, induction and deduction. The main results of the study outline challenges to the transformation of the public sector such as the need to change the organizational culture of those employed in the administrations, as well as to increase bilateral interaction with citizens in order to reach a level of personalization of public services.

EFFICIENT FARMING AND TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN BULGARIA

Nowadays, the development of technology in agriculture, as in all other spheres, is extremely dynamic, innovative and progressive, but also incredibly necessary. Modern technologies and technical solutions occupy an increasingly important place and role in agriculture in Bulgaria, which is part of the world economy, which in turn is developing in a continuous process. The PURPOSE of the research is to analyze these technological solutions and innovations in the agrarian economy and bring them to lower costs, which in turn will increase profit and efficiency. A research METHOD is an analysis of the introduction of technologies through various innovative solutions such as digitization, automation, robotization, software solutions and others to help farmers renew and modernize their farms. This modernization is necessary to achieve an efficient farm and make the right technological decisions as a RESULT of the study of agro-businesses. This is necessary, as well as to deal with various problems in the agricultural sector in Bulgaria. A CONCLUSION from the implementation of innovations in the economy is that it is a good strategy for survival in the national and especially in the international market, as well as for dealing with costs and the possibility of profit. Innovation is needed to adapt to the ever-changing external environment and reduce uncertainty at all levels: international, national and regional.

REGIONAL DIMENSION OF CHANGES IN BULGARIAN AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE

Agriculture is an important sector in Bulgaria, especially in the rural areas where it is considered an important source of income and employment. Bulgarian agriculture has changed substantially over the past ten years, which has led to a transformation in production, farm, organizational and sectorial structures. The aim of the paper is to observe the regional differences in Bulgarian farm structure and outline main prospects for the next programming period, 2023-2027. The survey reveals a significant decline in the number of holdings in parallel with the decreased role of small farms. By contrast, the importance of large holdings is increasing. There are different patterns of agricultural transformation in the regions of Bulgaria. While large extensive producers dominate North Bulgaria, there is more balanced agricultural development in the South part of the country. The new CAP 2023-2027 is directed to more ambitious objectives related to climate, innovations and convergence. The subsidiarity principles could help Bulgaria to overcome some of these challenges if the agricultural policy is better targeted and oriented towards intensive sectors and more balanced and sustainable rural development.

Environmental Indicators for Assessment Sustainability of the Agricultural Sector in Bulgaria for the Period 1990 (Political Changes)-2007 (Acceptance in EU)

Environmental Indicators for Assessment Sustainability of the Agricultural Sector in Bulgaria for the Period 1990 (Political Changes)-2007 (Acceptance in EU)

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN BULGARIA

The concept of sustainable agriculture is widely used to develop international and national policies for the sector. The European Green Deal, which promotes stable food supply, guarantees revenues for farmers and green living environment. Overcoming rural deprivation is usually the central topic of its implementation. The path to sustainable agriculture requires a holistic approach, considering the complexity of social, economic, cultural, technical, and environmental aspects. In this paper we explore the main preconditions to sustainable development of the agricultural sector in Bulgaria based on select indicators, structured in three main groups: economic, social and environmental. We prioritize certain critical challenges, matching them with appropriate interventions with a great potential for impact.

Covid-19 impact upon the digitalization of the transport sector in Bulgaria

Digitalization is gradually spreading through the transport and logistics industry, and the new technologies are profoundly reshaping the market, producing radical changes in every single stage of the supply chain to help reduce expenses and improve efficiency. Transport, in many respects, is an industry that is highly open to automation and implementation of IoT (Internet of Things) solutions. The successful integration of IoT technologies is likely to bring considerable benefits for transportation companies, such as diminished transportation delays, sporadic operator errors, preventive measures for poor cargo tracking and monitoring, IT failures and identity theft, in addition to the effective utilization of big data for the provision of automated real-time business analytics solutions. The present paper attempts to critically examine the impact of COVID-19 on the digitalization of the transport sector in Bulgaria, and offers, thereupon, a systematization of the major problems the enterprises face.

ON THE INNOVATIVE GOVERNANCE OF PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS IN A CONDITION OF A GLOBAL CRISIS AND BULGARIA

The accelerated pace of change in the global economy leads to many events unfolding in crisis - global, national, sectoral, structural, economic crises. Because innovation is risky and expensive, many companies focus more on survival and less on finding new opportunities during a crisis. Given the vastness of the issues under consideration, this article focuses on the possibilities for innovative management of public sector organizations in times of crisis. The aim of the article is to study the experience in Europe and the world for innovative public governance and views on a model of innovation management. To achieve this goal are the following tasks: 1) Overview of theoretical concepts of innovation and innovation in the public sector and types of innovation. 2) What is needed for innovation in crises? 3) Overview of the state and aspects of innovative management of the public sector in Bulgaria. Subject of research the possibilities for innovative management of the organizations in crisis conditions. Research methods: For the purposes of the present research, combined methods for analysis and synthesis of information have been used. The article applies a systematic analysis of a database of publications in specialized journals and websites on the possibilities for innovative management of organizations in times of crisis. Scope of the study: The experience in Europe and the world of innovative public governance and views on a model of innovation management are studied. Results: Good practice shows that transparency, cooperation, innovation and learning are the key factors that should guide the actions of organizations and at the same time put people at the center of public governance