Problems and possible directions of the sustainable rural development of Republic of Serbia

Sustainable development of rural areas is very significant for the economic development of the Republic of Serbia. Reduction in the number of citizens in rural areas and neglect of agriculture in the previous years have led to numerous economic and social problems. The most important among them include the unfavorable demographic trends, undeveloped infrastructure, small agricultural farms that are not market oriented, a low productivity level of agriculture and a low income per farm, a large share of agriculture in rural economy, a low degree of diversification of rural economy, insufficient investment into rural areas, etc. Such condition is unsustainable because it causes more difficult life and work conditions in rural areas. Rural areas in the Republic of Serbia are the subject of this analysis. The aim of the paper is to examine possibilities of further development of rural areas in Serbia. The methods which will be used in the paper include the methods of synthesis, analysis and compilation.

Measurement and efficient management of environmental performances

Numerous environmental problems and stakeholder pressures have led companies to accept responsibility for the environmental consequences of doing business. Measuring the environmental performances of companies is gaining in importance and is becoming the subject of analysis in scientific papers and academic circles. Environmental performance indicators enable companies to systematically review and obtain information on the environmental aspect of a company business. If companies take care of the living and working environment, they can increase the motivation of employees and thus increase labor productivity. The aim of this paper is to point out the role and importance of environmental performances of companies, the way they are measured and managed.

Pension expenditure analysis: Empirical study of a Serbian local self-government

The problem of pension financing in the system of mandatory pension insurance in the Republic of Serbia became actual after the great economic crisis of the 1990s, although this problem had been present before. Accordingly, considerable attention has been paid to the analysis of determinants of pension expenditures. Considering the fact that in the Republic of Serbia the possibilities for reducing expenditures in the system of mandatory state pension and disability insurance have already been exhausted by reforms so far, it is necessary to consider other measures and possibilities for changing the design of the pension disability system. Therefore, the subject of this paper is the analysis of the relationship between pension beneficiaries, the type and amount of pensions. The aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of the pension beneficiary and the type of pension on the amount of the pension, based on the analysis of the collected data.

Trends and strategic approach to establishing work/life balance of managers and other employees

The purpose of the paper is presenting the most noticeable trends in establishing work/life balance of managers and other employees worldwide. Due to global changes, establishing work/life balance of employees is considered a strategic topic for human resource management (HRM). The research was conducted through a thorough analysis of various theoretical and empirical studies from the previous period, both domestically and abroad, with the aim of determining the extent to which companies have integrated employees' work/life balance programs into their HRM strategy and daily operations. Introducing training and the use of employees' work/life balance benefits leads to reduced stress and increased productivity, commitment and employee satisfaction. Consequently, this leads to improved company performance-reduced absenteeism and leaving of the company, lower recruiting and training costs, attracting and retaining top quality employees, as well as better company image. This way, employees' work/life balance programs provide benefits for both the employees and the company.

The importance of research and development for innovative activity: The overview of the top countries in Europe and worldwide

In the conditions of economic globalization and a dynamic business environment, companies need to continuously improve and innovate their business, in order to avoid complex and fierce competition and to achieve long-term and sustainable success. Due to the intensive effect of technical and technological progress, the survival and success of the company on the market depends on the introduction of innovative changes in the company and the undertaking of research and development activities. Research and development activities are a crucial factor in generating knowledge, creating patents and innovations, as well as in the increasing of profitability in the business of modern companies. Research and development (R&D) and innovations are considered to be a cornerstone of competitive advantage. The object of this paper is to point out the vital importance that R&D has for innovativeness, i.e. for performing innovative activities at the level of European countries and worldwide.

Barriers and measurement of work/life balance of managers and other employees

Due to major changes and challenges in the way of conducting business in recent decades, establishing work/life balance of employees and managers has become a very important topic. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the obstacles to successfully establishing this balance, the most important of which being the supportive organizational culture and superiors' communication. Another goal of this paper is to introduce the Standards of Excellence Index as a measure for determining the success of the companies' work/life balance programs for employees and managers within 7 components: leadership, strategy, infrastructure, accountability, relationship building, communication, and measurement. In this regard, this paper presents research results on this index in companies in America, where this index was created.

Measuring energy efficiency of an enterprise

Energy efficiency is gaining in importance as part of environmental efficiency within sustainable development. Many enterprises realize the need for the reduction of energy costs and improved control of energy consumption. This can be achieved by implementing the concept of energy efficiency. The subject of research in this paper is the analysis of the way in which energy efficiency can be measured within an enterprise. Therefore, the aim of the research is to define a set of indicators for measuring energy efficiency in an enterprise, as well as to point out cost advantages and competitiveness that are achieved by applying energy efficiency management.

The importance of wastewater treatment plants for sustainable development

The concept of sustainable development has gained in its importance with the attempt to align the goals of economic development with the goals of preserving the quality of living environment. This paper explains the concept of sustainable development and its dimensions, emphasizing its connection with the communal activity of purification and drainage of atmospheric and wastewater. The evidence from the Republic of Serbia regarding wastewater treatment plants and environmental protection costs raises concerns about sustainability issues. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to point out the importance of increasing wastewater treatment plants' capacity and improving their operability, as well as to emphasize the necessity for structural changes of public utility companies to address the identified problems.

Measuring the efficiency of human capital

Increased efficiency is a necessity for any company in the knowledge-based economy, rather than an option, in the circumstances of constant change and global competition. The efficiency of using resources, especially intellectual resources, is a crucial factor in assessing the financial strength of an enterprise. Since intellectual resources are immaterial and mainly invisible, measuring and managing them is difficult. Measuring human capital efficiency provides relevant information for management, as human capital significantly affects a company's performance. The aim of the paper is to explain the importance of measuring human capital efficiency through selected conventional and contemporary indicators. This paper will show what managerial information we could get thanks to the quantification of human capital efficiency in using the specific indicators in the labour productivity analysis.

Key determinants of sustainable intellectual capital of enterprises

Sustainable intellectual capital, in the new economy, is becoming a key determinant of sustainable growth and development of enterprises. This is an important precondition for gaining a sustainable competitive advantage of a modern enterprise. It is intellectual capital that includes knowledge aimed at solving environmental issues. Also, these intangible assets of enterprises include the so-called green innovations that contribute to the sustainability of enterprise business. Moreover, successful enterprises are expected to adopt corporate social responsibility strategies, and as a result, the concepts of sustainable intellectual capital and green intellectual capital are being developed. The aim of this paper is to present the basic characteristics of the modern approach to intellectual capital in the era of knowledge economy, i.e. to point out important elements of the concept of sustainable intellectual capital and the concept of green intellectual capital.