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Is There a Trade-off Between Sustainability and Competition Goals in Public Procurement? Evidence from Slovenia
Get PDFOver the past decade, public procurement goals have expanded from obtaining free competition and lowest prices to achieving objectives of “horizontal” policies that take into account ecological and social aspects. However, the Tinbergen Rule states that one instrument should be matched with one goal, while using one instrument for achieving multiple goals would undermine its effectiveness. In this paper, we will examine whether implementation of “horizontal” public procurement policies related to green public procurement, socially responsible public procurement and the promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises’ participation affect achievement of the “primary” public procurement goal of free competition. Our study is based on empirical data on more than 65,000 public procurements carried out in Slovenia during the period 2016-2019
STROSNOVA KONCEPCIJA MORALNE ODGOVORNOSTI I MORALNA ZAJEDNICA STRAWSON'S CONCEPTION OF MORAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE MORAL COMMUNITY
No full textPredmet ove disertacije jeste koncepcija moralne odgovornosti koju je razvio Piter Strosn u svom eseju Sloboda i ogorčenost. Strosn moralnu odgovornost shvata kao podložnost reaktivnim stavovima koji predstavljaju reakcije na nečiji postupak. Reaktivni stavovi prirodno proizilaze iz našeg članstva u moralnoj zajednici – skupu pojedinaca koji prepoznaju jedni druge kao moralne delatnike. Cilj disertacije jeste istražiti Strosnovu koncepciju moralne odgovornosti. Prvi cilj jeste utvrditi da li je moralna odgovornost, interpretirana na način na koji je Strosn shvata, suštinski intersubjektivnog karaktera. Takođe ispitujem na koji način je pojam moralne odgovornosti povezan sa pojmom moralne zajednice i odgovaram na kritike upućene Strosnovom stanovištu. Drugi cilj jeste ispitati da li se, u okviru Strosnove koncepcije, može govoriti o moralnoj odgovornosti prema životinjama, biljkama i sistemima veštačke inteligencije. Zaključci su sledeći. Prema Strosnovoj koncepciji moralne odgovornosti, moralna odgovornost jeste intersubjektivne prirode i nužno je povezana sa moralnom zajednicom. To znači da se pojam moralne odgovornosti ne može sasvim razumeti bez pozivanja na moralnu zajednicu. Stoga se slogan, stav koji glasi: bez moralne zajednice ne može postojati moralna odgovornost, može pripisati Strosnu. Kada je reč o sistemima veštačke inteligencije (AI) i njihovom članstvu u moralnoj zajednici situacija je složena. S obzirom na distinkciju između tri tipa sistema veštačke inteligencije – slabe AI, jake AI, i veštačke opšte inteligencije, zaključak glasi: sistemi veštačke inteligencije u ovoj fazi razvoja – slaba AI ne može činiti moralnu zajednicu. Veštačka opšta inteligencija bi se najverovatnije mogla smatrati još jednim primerom izuzetka iz moralne zajednice
Employment, Gender Equality and Family Policies: A Comparative Analysis of Post-Yugoslav Countries and the European Union
No full textThe gender perspective of economic activity implies the observation
and explanation of differences between women and men. According
to feminist literature, gender economic differences are a result of
cultural norms that shape the asymmetrical division of gender roles in
the private sphere. On the one hand, part-time employment is a form
that has contributed to economic activity and women’s employment,
but on the other hand, it is more common among women and therefore
contributes to the gender pay gap. Besides, the gender-specific
nature of temporary contract employment shows that employment
uncertainty is more prevalent among women. We explore the employment
of young and middle-aged women in some post-Yugoslav
countries, using LFS indicators from the Eurostat database, in a comparative
perspective. Over the last ten years, Slovenia has consistently
ranked among the countries with a high rate of economic activity
for women aged 25–54. In 2022, the rate is the highest in Europe,
reaching 90.5%. Additionally, the employment of women aged 20–49
who had children under the age of six is one of the highest in Europe.
In 2021, the rate was 82.7%, which is 12 percentage points lower than
men, marking one of the lowest gender gaps in the EU. In Croatia and
Serbia, the rates are lower, and gender disparities are greater compared
to Slovenia. However, these disadvantages are particularly pronounced
in Serbia, where economic activity is over 10 pp lower and
employment is almost 20 pp lower than in Slovenia. Although parttime
employment is more common in Slovenia than in the other two
post-Yugoslav countries, the percentages are significantly lower than
the EU(27) average. In Slovenia, part-time employment was present in
11.5% of employed women aged 20–49 who had one child under the
age of six, in 19.7% who had two, and in 25.7% who had three children
of this age. In Croatia and Serbia, the percentages were almost
5 to 7% for women who had one or two children and between 11 to
12% for those who had three children under the age of six. Regarding
temporary contracts, the percentage of employed women aged 25–
54 years is lower in Slovenia (in 2021 – 9.1%) than in EU(27) (11.6%).
book of abstracts
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Temporary contract employment is more prevalent in Serbia (19.0%)
compared to Croatia (13.0%). This topic is important due to the issues
of gender equality and family policies aimed at optimal conditions for
decisions regarding parenthood and childbirth. The high employment
rate of women in Slovenia and the relatively less prevalent part-time
employment suggest the need for work-family reconciliation policies
that support the full-time employment of both parents. In the other
two post-Yugoslav countries, there is a need to boost the economic
activity and employment of young and middle-aged women, as well
as decrease temporary employment. Less favourable indicators are
more pronounced in Serbia than in Croatia. The achievement of gender
equality implies not only equality in employment but also the
absence of gender-specific forms of employment that contribute to
gender economic inequality
International student migration in a Serbian context: Socio-cultural integration experiences
Get PDFIn the last decades, the number of international students has greatly increased worldwide
linked with the internationalization of higher education. The highest number of residences
permits ever were issued for international tertiary-level students across OECD European
countries in 2022 (OECD,2023). International students are a valuable human resource to the
host country, which is particularly important for the ones with fertility rates below the
replacement level (Hawthorne, 2010). Therefore, there is a growing interest in research on
international student migration patterns, motives, experiences, challenges, and
opportunities within different disciplines, including human geography. However, this is an
underexplored topic within scientific research carried out in Serbia, which is traditionally an
emigration country but with a long tradition of educating scholarship holders abroad as well
as educating international students at domestic universities. According to the UNESCO
Institute for Statistics (2016) definition of international students, this paper considers an
international student to be a person who received their prior education in another country
and is not a resident of the current country of study. The paper presents the first findings
from an ongoing research project on international student migration and identity nexus in a
Serbian context. These findings are focused on research on their socio-cultural integration
experiences in the country of study. The results are based on analyzing additionally
processed 2022 Census data in Serbia on international student population, and original data
collected by focus group research among three groups of students (students from Serbia
who have been studying abroad for at least one year, young highly educated professionals
under 30 who returned to Serbia after studying abroad, and international students who
have been studying in Serbia for at least one year) enrolled in tertiary education and by
following a mixed-methods approach
Census data corrections and intercensal estimates in Serbia for the period 2002–2022
No full textCensuses in Serbia often introduce new methodological solutions, making it increasingly challenging to analyse population changes. Methodological differences in the results of the last three censuses (2002, 2011, and 2022) hinder accurate data comparisons and lead to significantly varied interpretations of census data. Assessing net migration in the inter-census period and generating annual postcensal estimates of the total population, which form the basis for calculating demographic indicators, rely on census-derived data. Annual population estimates can deviate significantly from actual values, particularly when the base year (census year) is distant. As a result, estimates for 2021 and 2022 differ by over 180 thousand due to being based on different censuses. Intercensal estimates have not been conducted in Serbia to date, but they can substantially impact the correction of demographic indicators, especially at lower territorial-administrative levels. Intercensal estimates refer to population estimates between two censuses and are deemed more precise than postcensal estimates as they approximate data between two specific points in time. Leveraging census results (2002, 2011, and 2022), vital events in the inter-census period, and internal migration data, annual population figures at the municipal level and the extent of external migration will be computed. These calculations will enable the estimation of population figures and total net migration for all higher territorial-administrative units, starting from the municipal level. Consequently, the fundamental demographic indicators for 2002–2022 will be reevaluated based on the acquired data. The outcomes are expected to reveal the extent to which population estimates were overstated in official reports due to the exclusion of external migration in their computation. This imprecision led to inaccuracies in basic demographic indicators. By rectifying the data, it is anticipated that death rates and fertility levels will slightly surpass the officially published values during the inter-census period. The data obtained from intercensal estimates should demonstrate how the migration component influences population fluctuations at the municipal leve
Key forecasts and prospects for green transition in the region of Central Asia beyond 2022
Get PDFBackground The transition to energy-sustainable systems is a globally accepted concept, but it is implemented
with various degrees of success around the world. The aim of this paper is to determine the status of green transition
in five Central Asian countries (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and the Kyrgyz Republic) that are
among the highest energy consumers globally and the most vulnerable to climate change. Despite a notable
improvement in living conditions across all countries over the past two decades, the region remains underdeveloped.
Economic growth is based on the export of natural resources and remittance inflows, but the structure of the economy
is monolithic.
Main findings Upon analysing transition indicators for the period 2000–2020, no evidence of significant changes
towards a sustainable energy transition is found. All countries in the region (except Uzbekistan) have recorded
an increase in carbon emissions, while the carbon intensity of the energy mix is almost the same. While there
has been visible progress in reducing energy intensity, the countries in the region remain among the most energyintensive
economies. Despite the region’s substantial potential for renewable energy production, it remains
underutilized.
Conclusions A multitude of varied problems accompanies the green transition in Central Asian countries. The
energy market that has not yet been liberalised, along with significant subsidies and low energy tariffs, discourages
investments in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency initiatives. A high level of corruption, rigid legislative
and institutional infrastructure, and insufficient capital are additional factors that determine the speed, scope,
and effectiveness of the green transition. Thus far, the primary focus in these countries has been on ensuring energy
security. However, there has been a discernible surge in investments (particularly from China) in renewable energy
projects. Although energy efficiency and climate change issues are formally defined, the energy transition goals are
often declarative without an action plan that provides concrete steps in transition process. Strategic planing of economic
development that includes all related sectors (not only the energy sector) and paying attention to socio-economic
and environmental indicators of sustainable development are prerequisites for successfully implementating
the energy transition in these countries
Vrednosne orijentacije u postsocijalističkoj Srbiji–zakasnela modernizacija?
No full textU ovom radu analizirane su vrednosne orijentacije u postsocijalističkoj Srbiji. Oslanjajući
se na teorije vrednosti Inglharta i Švarca, ispitivane su prvo dominantne
vrednosne orijentacije među stanovništvom Srbije, zatim trendovi vrednosti u
periodu postsocijalističkih promena i konačno, zastupljenost vrednosti u Srbiji u odnosu
na druge evropske zemlje. Oba teorijska okvira omogućavaju analizu dometa
modernizacijskih procesa društva u svetlu promena dominantnih vrednosnih orijentacija,
na osnovu prisustva (post)materijalističkih vrednosti, odnosno vrednosti
otvorenih za promene. U analizi su korišćene kvantitativne i kvalitativne metode.
Rezultati kvantitativnih (European Values Study, World Values Survey i European
Social Survey) i kvalitativnih metoda (dubinski intervjui sa političarima, preduzetnicima,
profesorima, novinarima i akterima iz nevladinog sektora iz Srbije) ukazali
su na relativno odsustvo postmaterijalističkih vrednosti i vrednosti otvorenosti ka
promeni, kao i na veoma blag rast, blizak stagnaciji, postmaterijalističkih vrednosti
u Srbiji tokom postsocijalističkih promena. Nalazi upućuju na zakasneli proces
modernizacije savremenog srpskog društva koji utiče na tip kulturnih promen
The Green Transition and Energy Security in the Western Balkans Countries
No full textThe global energy markets are destabilized as the result of the
crisis in ukraine and sanctions against russia. Such adversely
developments has additionally undermined the energy security of the
Western Balkans countries that are faced with consequences of the global
surge in energy prices. due to the range of the current economic and
security challenges in the context of the ongoing energy crisis, the burning
question that arises is how to coordinate the goals of environmental
protection with energy security.
The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans as a regional strategy for the
sustainable energy transition was launched in october 2020 by signing the
Sofia declaration, which relies on five crucial pillars: decarbonisation and
climate resilience, depollution, circular economy, sustainable food system
and rural areas, biodiversity. This declaration foresees the commitment of
these countries to the target of making the continent carbon-neural by 2050
by phasing out coal subsidies, introducing carbon pricing instrument and
renewables support schemes.The problem for Western Balkan countries
relies in the fact that their energy mix is dominated by coal, while only
Albania mainly relies on hydropower to meet its energy needs. The coalfired
power plants are denoted as the main cause of environmental
degradation in this region, hence these countries committed themselves to
decarbonize the energy sector. However, due to the possible deterioration
of energy crisis, the plans to phase out coal-fired power plants has been
postponed over the next few years.
using a comparative analysis method, we will explore the structural
developments of electricity generation and the possible capacities for use
of renewables. We will also highlight the challenges for given countries to
meet energy security goals