Value Added from the Perspective of Econophysics

The production, or value added, approach to GDP involves calculating an industry or sector’s output and subtracting its intermediate consumption (the goods and services used to produce the output) to derive its value added. The value added at the macro level depends on business efficiency. It reflects an increase in value that a business creates by undertaking the production process. We assumed that the market creates thousands of vibrating energies, coming from other enterprises, with different frequencies. The purpose of this article is to verify whether the econophysics approach could be successfully used to assess a business from the perspective of the interaction between economic forces. Thus, we propose that the term ‘value added’ be understood as a certain amount of accumulated energy of enterprises that comes from the interaction of basic economic forces and economic vibrating forces of accounting. Using regression models, we show the influence of basic forces, like debt and the stock market, and vibrating ones (i.e., accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory) on the economic value added by testing US, European, and emerging markets. We confirmed the relevance and appropriateness of the econophysics approach to estimating the economic value added.

Economic Development and Growth in Central and Eastern Europe

The study investigates the economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe in the last 25 years. The economy can be regarded as a substantial topic in any country, but it is even more interesting in developing countries. One of the basic ideas of the European Union is the convergence between member states, namely the reduction of development disparities, which can be achieved through faster economic growth in less‑developed countries. Growth theory is one of the main topics in economics. Its significant importance is because the desire for development is one of the main driving forces of mankind. The aim of the study is to reveal the crucial differences and common features between the growth paths of the eleven Central and Eastern European member states of the European Union. After presenting growth theories, the growth performance of the examined Central and Eastern European member states is pinpointed. During the research, GDP per capita, population, migration, activity rate, employment rate, unemployment rate, foreign direct investment and foreign trade openness are considered.

The Development and Transformation of the Bank Card Market as an Imperative for Digitalization: the Case of Central and Eastern European Countries

The purpose of this study is to determine the development trends of the major determinants of the bank card market in eight countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the period from 2010 to 2019. Continuing a study carried out in 2018, further comparative analysis of the “Bank Cards Market Index” proposed earlier and based on a system of interrelated indicators of bank payment cards, ATMs and POS‑terminals, was carried out. We provide an overview of the rankings of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia using international ranking systems such as “The Legatum Prosperity Index,” “Doing Business,” “The Index of Economic Freedom,” and the “Вank Cards Market Index.” Further studies of three international ranking systems, as well as the “Bank Cards Market Index,” again confirmed the similarity of the development models of the bank card market in Poland and Ukraine. To study the impact of the digitalization of economics and Covid–19 on the bank card market, a deeper analysis of two cases (Poland and Ukraine, as two similar bank card markets) was carried out using the “Digital Evolution Index.” In the course of the research, it was concluded that the “Вank Cards Market Index” can be successfully used for further research of the banking sector of different countries. Also, the growth trend of cashless payments in the bank card market and the possible transformation of the market under the influence of Covid–19, and the global digitalization of economics were noticed. Taking into account the above trend, further studies of the system of interrelated indicators of bank payment cards, ATMs, and POS terminals should be carried out using the “Digital Evolution Index” or other international indexes that characterize the level of digitalization of the economy in the researched countries.

The Economic Performance of Central Europe Metropolises. A Comparative Approach

Since the fall of communism, the big cities of Central Europe have been included in the international metropolitan network, and their economic performance has improved significantly. Based on that, it can be asserted that the whole region is undergoing a process of metropolisation, which may be manifested by a focus of development in the limited areas of metropolises. Therefore this paper aims to present the results of a closer examination of this process in Central Europe. It is based on a comparative analysis of the metropolises in relation to their countries in terms of economic performance. A taxonomic approach based on Hellwig’s development pattern is adopted. The available Eurostat data (NUTS 3 level) on a range of socio‑economic characteristics is used. The study results show that the economic performance of Central European metropolises is relatively closer to Western Europe’s cities than the countries’ non‑metropolitan parts. Highlighting development issues in Central Europe from the spatial‑metropolitan point of view is the paper’s added value.

Dynamic Linkages between Social Expenditures and Economic Growth: the Most Important Conclusions for Central European Countries

The role of the state within the neoliberal system is discussed in the approaches developed for social expenditures. Accordingly, the question of whether the state should stand back or provide the support needed by individuals has shaped the literaturę on social expenditures. It is thought that the increase in social expenditures affects public expenditures, and public expenditures may indirectly cause budget deficits. In addition, it is said that there is a decrease in social spending during periods of economic growth. All these dilemmas show that the idea that the country needs both producers and consumers while realizing economic growth has been pushed into the background. Here, the analyses of the relationship between social spending and economic growth are the arguments for the accuracy of this assumption. The aim of this study is to empirically analyze the long-term relationship between the economic growth and social expenditures of eight Central European countries and the causality relationship for 1999 and 2019. In the empirical findings, the cointegration relationship was determined between economic growth and social spending. Based on the findings of the causality analysis, it has been concluded that there is a bidirectional causality relationship between economic growth and social expenditures. Policy proposals are given in the conclusion section of the article.

Institutional Quality and its Impact on FDI Inflow: Evidence from the EU Member States

The aim of the article is to assess institutional quality in 28 EU Member States and to examine the relationship between the quality of institutions and FDI inward stock as % of GDP. This study is structured as follows. Firstly, we reviewed studies dedicated to the relationship between institutional quality and investment attractiveness. Then, we discussed FDI inflow into the EU countries and selected diagnostic variables that later served as the basis for our research in which we used categories of the Global Competitiveness Index. Based on rankings and using statistical methods, in the next stage, we divided the EU Member States into groups representing similar institutional quality. Then we investigated the relationships between groups of countries similar to one another when it comes to institutional quality and groups of countries ranked in ascending order by the value of foreign direct investment inflow measured as FDI inward stock as % of GDP. The study demonstrated that the EU Member States differ with respect to institutional quality. The results of the statistical analysis have provided grounds to positively verify the hypothesis about a positive relationship between the level of institutional quality and investment attractiveness.

European Deposit Insurance Scheme(s) – Consequences for the EU’s Financial Stability

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the potential consequences that the shortcomings in harmonising the national deposit guarantee schemes may have on the financial stability of the European Union. The relevance of this subject is underlined both by the European Commission’s intention to revive the European Deposit Insurance Scheme project in 2021 and the recent signals from Germany that they are willing to support the initiative. The paper presents a review of the discussions on establishing a European Deposit Insurance Scheme, the reasons for the project’s failure and the consensus solution that took the form of the Deposit Guarantee Scheme Directive (DGSD). The limited scope of deposit guarantee scheme harmonisation under this directive is discussed in the context of the related EBA opinions pointing to different areas of potential improvements. Differences in national implementation are also reviewed in terms of their potential impact on financial stability. Apart from a careful literature review, statistical analysis of the available financial information characterizing the largest national deposit schemes of the euro is performed to quantify their progress towards the target level of the available financial means. The results prove that most national schemes are still far from reaching the 0.8% target level of readily available funds and that potentially desirable amendments to the DGSD may drag them even further away from reaching that target by 2024. The author concludes that from the perspective of financial stability, the EU should focus on establishing a single scheme at an international level that would complete the project of establishing a banking union. The results contribute to the ongoing discussion on the need to further integrate the national deposit guarantee schemes inside the EU.

Diversification Perspectives of a Single Equity Market: Analysis on the Example of Selected CEE Countries

The study addresses the benefits of a unified stock market in terms of diversification risk for the eight CEE stock markets. For this purpose, each stock market was treated as a separate portfolio based on the companies listed during 2018–2019. Portfolio diversification techniques were used to identify risk linked with the eight Central Eastern European stock markets. The results show that the stock market with the lowest diversification risk was the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, followed by the Prague Stock Exchange, the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, and at the end stands the Zagreb Stock Exchange. The portfolio constructed from the Zagreb Stock Exchange carries the highest portfolio risk, but it also offers the highest weekly weighted average returns. Stock markets that benefit in terms of portfolio risk from unification are the Bratislava Stock Exchange, the Budapest Stock Exchange, the Bucharest Stock Exchange, the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and the Zagreb Stock Exchange. The indexes where the portfolio risk increases at the time of unification are the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, and the Prague Stock Exchange. From a managerial perspective, financial investors get a novel outlook on the diversification possibilities offered within a hypothetical unified CEE stock market.

Accountability on Sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe: An Empirical Assessment of Sustainability-Related Assurance

The paper explores how companies from Central and Eastern Europe adopt assurance practices to provide accountability for sustainability. Drawing on modified coding rules from prior research, a conventional content analysis of 36 assurance statements companies from nine countries was conducted. The results imply differences in the content of reports, processes, and implementation of the standards. Exclusively large and multinational enterprises from the energy sectors domiciled in Poland and Hungary are a typical portrait of a company from the study’s sample, striving to issue and assure sustainability reporting. Of the nine countries represented in the study, sustainability assurance statements of companies from Poland, Hungary, and Romania tend to excel in terms of quality. The vast majority of assurance providers belong to the Big Four, who use ISAE3000 as opposed to AA1100AS. Yet, irrespective of the assurance provider type, stakeholders are neglected. It is argued that just transferring the experience of financial auditing to the field of sustainability, which, by and large, has taken place, is not an option. Authors state that following this route, we are heading in the wrong direction, and in technical terms, the wider proliferation of AA1100AS and its principles, with greater emphasis on reasonable assurance as opposed to the limited and enhanced role of stakeholders, are vital to get back on track. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on accountability standards and stresses the need to enhance sustainability-related assurance.

Ways to Overcome Poverty and Income Inequality in the Context of New Global Challenges: the Most Important Conclusions for Ukraine

The article examines the risks of deepening poverty and income inequality that arise from global challenges of population aging, job losses due to shrinking sales markets, trade wars, long-term quarantine and compliance with the safe distancing of people as part of restrictive measures against the spread of COVID–19, the nature of employment (remote work, temporary reduction of labor migration), and other norms in the fight against the dangerous contagious disease. Given the facts that the prevention of spreading and localization of dangerous diseases, their treatment, and the rehabilitation of patients affect all segments of the population, have negative effects on all areas of people’s lives and also add to the increase of socio-economic risks, including poverty and inequality, the study of this issue is extremely relevant. The financial implications of these challenges for many households lead to falling real incomes, and an increase in costs and debts, and their non-repayment, which generally cause sudden poverty and increasing inequality of income and property. Purpose of the article: To investigate the risks of poverty, including sudden poverty, the inequality of household incomes amid the fight against the COVID–19 pandemic, and it identifies ways to overcome them. Methods: A review of the scientific literature, a presentation of statistical data, and statistical research. Findings & Value added: As a result of research, a list of new risks of poverty and income inequality is outlined, and preliminary assessments of the consequences of the COVID–19 for households are summarized; signs of short-term loss are generalized; the solvency of households as a possible precondition for sudden poverty is evaluated; cross‑country comparisons of poverty risk are made; the scheme of state aid to improve living standards of people during the outbreak of new dangerous diseases in the EU and Ukraine is generalized; ways to overcome poverty and income inequality are substantiated to restore the resilience of financially vulnerable households and ensuring the development of human capital.