Linking FDI and Sustainable Environment in EU Countries

The aim of this study is to emphasize the link between the foreign direct investments (FDIs) and the sustainable environment in EU countries. We also focus on investigating the influence of other factors related to business environment on FDIs, considering the investors’ sustainable choice for the host countries, grouped according to FTSE Russell criteria. Using panel methodology and applying Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method of data analysis, the authors reached the conclusion that a better-rated business environment, with concern for sustainability, has more of a chance to attract larger sums of FDIs, mostly in the case of developed economies. This fact proves that the main advantage considered by a foreign investor in developed EU countries is represented by CO2 emissions (sustainable environment) and a good ease of doing business environment. The study highlights the factors that influence the decision of investing in developed countries, rather than in emerging and frontier ones. This paper contributes to the existing literature by identifying the group of countries which need a more sustainable approach to attract a large amount of FDIs, given that the inflow of FDIs is a crucial factor of economic growth, a possible source of innovation and technology, and a way to reduce poverty.

Institutional Convergence of Bulgaria to the Eurozone Countries

Institutions are one of the main factors for the economic growth and development of any economy. And insofar as development is defined as a set of economic and institutional factors, the reduction of differences in the development of individual countries and regions naturally leads us to the institutional convergence, which is the object of study. When researching the convergence of Bulgaria to the EU countries and more closely to the Eurozone, many questions arise about whether there is institutional convergence and how it can be revealed. This is the subject of analysis presented in the study. The thesis presented here is that it is possible to consider institutional convergence for Bulgaria with the countries of the Euro zone, represented by qualitative and quantitative indicators, which, however, is unstable. The methodology is based on the understanding of institutional convergence as the converging of economic and political institutions, and given the fact that they are different for each of the economies; a comparative analysis is used to study the convergence as a whole. For this purpose, the analysis of institutional quality and comparative analysis uses the main indicators of the World Bank – Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and Ease of Doing Business Indicator. The results of the pre-selected criteria give grounds to find those of the observed indicators, which reveal improvement and respectively converging in the direction of institutional convergence of Bulgaria with the countries from the EU area.

Multinational Firm Growth and Sustainability Responses to Dynamics of Business Regulations in Host Market

Dynamics in business regulations measured by ease of doing business is a new approach that indicates countries’ business climate reforms toward suitability for investment growth. The present study took three variables from the ease of doing business data and evaluated them toward predictive power of FDI flow to 19 Sub-Saharan African countries by using fixed-effect model. Based on the analysis, the official time, procedures, costs, and minimum capitals in starting a business stage, enterprise registrations and official permissions of the firm establishment had a material effect on investment growth. Even though, on one side trade openness and the growing market size was seen as an opportunity, the deep-rooted corruption and landlocked was the trap for the smooth growth of firms in the region.

Inovasi Investasi Keuangan Haji Pada Sektor UMKM Sebagai Strategi Peningkatan Kemudahan Berusaha dan Daya Saing Ekonomi Indonesia pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19

Penelitan ini menganalisis kemungkinan inovasi investasi dana haji dalam bidang UMKM berbasis produk unggulan sebagai salah satu strategi optimalisasi peningkatan kemudahan berusaha (Ease of Doing Business) dan daya saing ekonomi Indonesia secara lebih komprehensif. Sekaligus akan coba ditelaah seberapa besar kemungkinan kebermanfaatan investasi dana haji bidang UMKM tersebut bagi masyarakat dan pemulihan ekonomi pasca Covid-19. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif. Metode deskriptif digunakan untuk memberikan gambaran atau penjelasan secara terperinci terhadap suatu masalah. Pengumpulan data pada penelitian ini menggunakan metode literasi informasi (information literacy), model literasi informasi yang digunakan ialah The Seven Pillars of Information Literacy. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa berinvestasi pada sektor UMKM memiliki beberapa keunggulan yang dapat dioptimalkan dengan ketersediaan regulasi yang mendukung dan pilihan produk dan strategi penerapan UMKM yang memang potensial untuk dikembangkan. Sektor UMKM memiliki potensi keuntungan dengan resiko yang terbagi, seperti perumpamaan, “jangan menempatkan telur dalam satu keranjang”. Maka dapat dikatakan inovasi ketika resiko investasi dana haji dapat diminimalisir dengan strategi penyebaran. Hasil lainnya investasi keuangan haji pada sektor UMKM juga sangat kompatibel untuk diterapkan dengan syariah yang kafah (menyeluruh).

COMPARATIVE IMPACT OF LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE INDEX, EASE OF DOING BUSINESS AND LOGISTICS COST ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A FUZZY QCA ANALYSIS

This research papers aims to evaluate the impact of two major institutional indexes logistics performance index (LPI) and ease of doing business (EODB) along with logistics cost (LC) on the economic development (Gross domestic product – GDP per capita). The variables selected for the research study provides the comprehensive impact and forms the core of the economy for any country. Top seven economies of the world (China, France, Germany, India, Japan, United Kingdom and USA) along with Czech Republic, Singapore and Slovenia have been selected for this analysis. Mid-sized Economies of Czech Republic, Singapore, Slovenia have been selected for the regional balance of Asia and Europe and for cooperative results. A preliminary analysis of Pearson correlation analysis and detailed fuzzy qualitative comparative analysis have been opted for the study. The results illustrate that LPI is the core component for displaying the positive results on economic development. LC and EODB have displayed mixed results and will be studied in future research for identifying their impact on economic development. Future research will incorporate indexes such as global competitive index, innovation index for the evaluation of the combined impact on economic development.

The nigerian public sector training and recruitment process: a literature review

Lack of objectivity in the recruitment process can undermine the durability, trust and ease of doing business with the Nigerian public sector. This article reviews the literature and training related to the recruitment process and performance, especially in the public sector. While empirical studies have shown that the proper training process can lead to the employment of skilled employees and increase the performance of employees and the organization. We see that there are few empirical studies on this subject in the Nigerian public sector. The authors recommend that politicians, business leaders, religious elites and other elites should allow departments and organizations to carry out recruitment responsibilities without internal or external interference, with an emphasis on training leaders.

Direct and Indirect Effects of ICT Infrastructure, Skills, and Use on Entrepreneurship

The information and communication technology (ICT) enabling infrastructure, requisite skills, and subsequent usage in the country could facilitate ease of doing business (EDB) and support the heterogeneous distribution of resources for new businesses to flourish and remain competitive. However, from a policy perspective, the pathways through which ICT impacts entrepreneurial activities in a country are not clearly understood. In this study, we empirically investigate the direct and indirect (via EDB) effect of ICT infrastructure, skills, and use (at business, government, and individual level) in influencing entrepreneurial activity in a country. The results show that the citizens' ICT skills and ICT use, directly and indirectly, impact entrepreneurial initiatives in a country. In contrast, ICT infrastructure and use by the government only have an indirect impact on them. The study's findings should help guide national initiatives for promoting the creation of new businesses in a country.

Direct and Indirect Effects of ICT Infrastructure, Skills, and Use on Entrepreneurship

The information and communication technology (ICT) enabling infrastructure, requisite skills, and subsequent usage in the country could facilitate ease of doing business (EDB) and support the heterogeneous distribution of resources for new businesses to flourish and remain competitive. However, from a policy perspective, the pathways through which ICT impacts entrepreneurial activities in a country are not clearly understood. In this study, we empirically investigate the direct and indirect (via EDB) effect of ICT infrastructure, skills, and use (at business, government, and individual level) in influencing entrepreneurial activity in a country. The results show that the citizens' ICT skills and ICT use, directly and indirectly, impact entrepreneurial initiatives in a country. In contrast, ICT infrastructure and use by the government only have an indirect impact on them. The study's findings should help guide national initiatives for promoting the creation of new businesses in a country.