THE EFFECT OF AGGREGATE INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY ON FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM NARDL

The vital role of foreign direct investment has been widely studied and documented in the economic literature; however, the argument remains largely on identifying the main determinants of FDI to developing countries. It is on this note, the quantitative research method was adopted to investigates the asymmetric relationship between aggregate institutional quality and foreign direct investment in Nigeria using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributive Lag (NARDL) model on quarterly time-series data from 1999 Q1 – 2019 Q4. The bounds test obtains revealed that long-run co-integrating relationship exist among the variables. The NARDL result shows that both in the short-run and long-run aggregate institutional quality have asymmetric and a statistically significant effect on foreign direct investment. The study recommends that the government should establish or strengthen the quality of institutional indicators and legal framework to assure confidence in the system to motivate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow.

IMPORTANCE OF THE MARKETING ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS IN THE PROCESS OF STRATEGIC MARKETING DECISION MAKING

The analytical activity aims to increase company’s competitiveness and establish its strategic position in the business. Timely diagnosis of threats, identification of key success factors and competitive advantages enables company management to constantly review its marketing goals and strategies by taking proper and timely strategic marketing decisions. In this regard, the main objective of the article is to examine the characteristics and main directions of marketing analysis, emphasizing their importance in the process of strategic marketing decision making. A survey was used as a main method for collecting primary data. The evaluation of the studied indicators is performed on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The obtained results show the underestimated role of the environment analysis in the companies’ marketing activity and its necessity in decision making for a long-term development and prosperity. The conclusion includes a summary concerning the overcoming of these problems.

EGYPTIAN FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS DRIVING FACTORS IN THE DIGITAL ERA, A HOPE OR A CHALLENGE

This paper attempts to critically analyse the driving factors that affects Egyptian female employability in the digital sector. On the other hand, investigates the challenges that female face in the business world, in the light of the entrance of Egypt in the digital era and governments efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals. Currently, Egyptian females have a better chance than ever in becoming entrepreneurs. The aim of the paper is to analyse some of the factors that affect female as employers and draws a clearer image to what factors could help increasing female employability in Egypt during the period from 1991 to 2019. This study used Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test to check stationarity of variables. On the basis of results of ADF test, ARDL approach of cointegration was applied. Results show that internet ratio has positively affected female employability, while laws have not affected it significant. Finally, conclusion and policy recommendation are proposed. Based on the study findings that show that female opportunities on Egyption labour market need to be accompanied with schools and universities education development in order to equip them with digital knowledge and skills necessary in the digital era. Also, government policies and laws are still needed to consider female as an engine to growth.

THE LIABILITY OF THE STATE FOR DAMAGE CLAIMS RESULT OF VIOLATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION LAW

The article deals with the questions connected with different court procedures on damage claims grounded in State and Municipalities Liability for Damages Act (1989) result of illegal acts of Bulgarian administrative bodies. The article designates the specific issues of the state liability including the issues connected with the new regulation of the court liability for violation of the European Union law.

FORECASTING OF SOME KEY INDICATORS OF THE RFI AND RFP PROCESSES OF THE BULGARIAN MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATORS

The present paper regards the opportunities of forecasting of some key indicators in the “Request for Information” (RFI) and “Request for Proposal” (RFP) processes in the supply chain at the Bulgarian mobile telecommunication operators. The presented hereby forecasting is based on the use of the Holt-Winters method for exponential smoothing in the presence of additive and multiplicative seasonality and is made or indicators: “number of contracts”, “number of contracts with savings” and “number of the issued purchase orders”. The lowest “Stationary R square”, “R square” and MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage of Error) values are used as measurement of accuracy and for selection of the best fit models that are applied. It is also important to point out that the measurement is being done for the so-called “bottle necks” or “narrow places” in the RFI and RFP processes. The purpose of this bottle-neck forecasting is to provide timely point for “Go/Not Go” decisions point for these very same process and thus to result in an improved risk management in the form of risk aversion and risk minimization.

THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THOMAS COOK FAILURE. IS IT BREXIT?

The aim of this research paper is to discuss market failure of Thomas Cook and analyse the reasons behind the market failure of Thomas Cook Group and how outdated technology, having high debts, and did Brexit lead to its collapse. Further on analysis of the reasons for failure supported by literature review across different economic schools has been elaborated. The paper provides clarification to the characteristics of the airlines and their entry barriers taking into consideration the tour operator. Further, it is described how Thomas Cook collapse affected Africa and Europe. Lastly, the conclusion is about the losses occurred in Thomas Cook Company, how other firms can avoid failure and the direct negative impact of the BREXIT on the company.

THE IMPACT OF OTA – TRANSFORMING CONTEMPORARY TOURISTS’ INTENTIONS

Modern hotel bookers claim to switch moods to the digital distribution model of hospitality services. A survey conducted in Bulgaria among frequent travellers reveal their attitudes when making a hotel room reservation. Taking into account the implementation of contemporary digital technologies in everyday life this article is observing the main distribution channels that are used in hotel industry. Compared are the preferences of the different age groups using a questionnaire distributed among them. Online Travel Agencies (OTA) platforms and hotels both compete and collaborate to attract customers in the worldwide web. The results of the survey reveal an ongoing process of digitalization even in sectors highly dependent on human capital. The need for remodelling market strategies of travel companies and adjusting their business performance while taking into account the trends and expectations of consumers is visible. Digitalization of the hotel reservation process in Bulgaria and the domination of Booking.com as a leading OTA confirms the fact that the domestic hotel sector follows modern world tendencies.

METHODS FOR TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS IN THE BULGARIAN PRIVATE SECTOR

The research examines the issues related to the chosen methods for termination of employment contracts in “Perfumery Douglas Bulgaria” OOD. Based on the analysis of the normative regulation as well as the results of the conducted research, summaries, conclusions and recommendations for improvement in the company and in the Labour Code of the Republic of Bulgaria are made. Debatable questions are also raised for discussion on the basis of which a proposal is derived for a change in the National Revenue Agency (NRA) Register of Employment Contracts.

THE „HAWALA SYSTEM“ - BETWEEN CUSTOMARY LAW AND ORGANIZED CRIME

The article aims to reveal the nature and specifics of the alternative method of modern banking ‘Hawala’, which makes it on the one hand, extremely convenient for use by organized criminal groups, and on the other, difficult to be investigated and proven. The authors trace Hawala’s historical roots, referring to the ancient customary law, and point out the strict rules on which it operates. It highlights that, with the development of information technologies, the Hawala systems’ principles have found a new application, from which organized criminal groups benefit. The article clarifies how the Bulgarian legislation incriminates money laundering and the possible use of the ‘Hawala’ system for this and other criminal activities. Attention is paid to the Bulgarian experience in the investigation of a network of persons involved in the use of the Hawala method for concealing, particularly serious crimes. The conclusion is made that the Hawala phenomenon poses a serious threat to the rule of law in any country, and the Bulgarian legislation needs to be adapted in order to provide effective mechanisms to counter such non-conventional type of crime.

SOME ISSUES OF THE PROCEEDINGS UNDER ARTICLE 66 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE CODE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ACTIVITY CARRIED OUT BY THE FARMERS

The process of creating and approving the final dedicated layer of “Allowable Areas” is a complex factual set of administrative and procedural actions by the administration that assists farmers to declare their plots with which they want to participate in the relevant support campaign. In view of the fact that the final order of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is, by its legal nature, an individual administrative act which affects the rights and legitimate interests of individual farmers in the course of their activities to one degree or the other, it is also subject to of judicial review of its legality.