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The Blue Economy in the Digital Age: How Information Technologies Are Transforming the Blue Economy
No full textThe Blue Economy represents a sustainable and integrated approach to the utilization of ocean
and marine resources, aiming to foster economic growth, enhance human livelihoods, and
preserve the health of marine ecosystems. As oceans play a critical role in global food security,
transportation, energy production, and climate regulation, ensuring their sustainable
management has become a global priority. In recent years, rapid advances in Information
Technology (IT) have played a transformative role in reshaping how marine resources are
monitored, managed, and utilized. Technologies such as big data analytics, artificial
intelligence, satellite systems, and the Internet of Things enable real-time data collection,
predictive modeling, and informed decision-making across marine sectors. This article explores
the intersection between the Blue Economy and Information Technology by highlighting key
digital tools, real-world applications, as well as the benefits and challenges associated with
digital transformation. It argues that embracing digital innovation is essential for achieving a
sustainable, resilient, and inclusive Blue Economy capable of addressing environmental
pressures while supporting long-term economic development
Better Merger Outcomes Due to Increased Scrutiny by Ireland’s NCA? the Q-Park/Tazbell Transaction
No full textIreland’s national competition authority has recently increased scrutiny of mergers using Assessments (aka Statement of Objections). Despite using this approach, the authority’s 2023 determination of the proposed acquisition by Q-Park of Tazbell is fatally flawed. The authority had competition concerns in three local markets for the supply of off-street car parking spaces to the public. The transaction was cleared with remedies. The paper argues that there was no substantial lessening of competition. The remedies were inadequate. Why? Contributing factors include lack of coherence reflecting confirmation bias. Merger control can be improved by, inter alia: increasing the number of CCPC executive board members to reduce governance overload; and encouraging diverse internal views and peer review through the appointment of a chief economist. The paper forms part of a broader critical narrative of merger control in Ireland
Investment in emerging and developing economies
No full textThe world faces a pressing challenge to meet key development objectives amid slowing growth and rising macroeconomic and geopolitical risks. With the number of job seekers rising rapidly, infrastructure shortfalls continuing to be large, and climate costs mounting, the case for a significant investment push has never been stronger. Yet the capacity to respond in many emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) has eroded. Since the global financial crisis, investment growth has slowed to about half its pace in the 2000s, with both public and private investment weakening. Foreign direct investment inflows—a critical source of capital, technology, and managerial know-how—have also fallen sharply and become increasingly concentrated, leaving low-income countries (LICs) with only a marginal share. The risks of further retrenchment are significant, as trade tensions, policy uncertainty, and elevated debt levels continue to weigh on investment. Reigniting momentum will require ambitious domestic reforms to strengthen institutions, rebuild macro-fiscal stability, and deepen trade and investment integration—the foundations of a supportive business climate. At the same time, international cooperation is indispensable. A renewed commitment to a predictable system of cross-border trade and investment flows, combined with scaled-up financial support and sustained technical assistance, is essential to help EMDEs—especially LICs and economies in fragile and conflict situations—bridge financing gaps and implement the domestic reforms needed to restore investment as an engine of growth, jobs, and development
Agrarian governance - the case of Bulgaria
No full textThe term governance is widely used in a number of scientific disciplines, as well as by international, state, business, non-governmental, etc. organizations. The interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics has contributed greatly to the modern understanding of the nature and factors of governance in general, and of governance in individual areas of social activity and levels of analysis – from the governance of individual transactions to the governance of global affairs. Almost ninety years after the “discovery” of transaction costs by Coase (1937) and the “reasons” for the existence of economic organizations of different types, today this “new” methodology is an integral part of the general (mainstream) economic theory and analysis. Of course, Williamson (1985) - in operationalizing this concept, and North (1991) - in revealing the role of institutions in economic development, significantly contributed to the development of the New Institutional Economics. Many other economists have also made a great contribution to the development of this new "branch" of economic science, which has been well summarized by Furubotn and Richter (2005) and Ménard and Shirley (2022).
The author of this study was among the first to adapt the achievements of the New Institutional Economics in the analysis of agrarian governance and institutional modernization in Bulgaria (Bachev, 1996) and elsewhere (Bachev, 1995). Over the past three decades, Bulgarian economists have made numerous publications with analyses of the forms, factors, effectiveness and evolution of the governance of the main types of agrarian transactions, farmer organizations, and levels of governance during the period of transformation, pre-accession and full membership of the country in the European Union (https://agro-governance.alle.bg/#). Here we would like to underline our close cooperation with the leading scholars in the institutional analysis of agrarian contracts and organizations from the University of Missouri in the USA, which began in 1992 and has been deepening to the present day. We are especially grateful to Michael Cook and Michael Sykuta for their training, inspiration, continuous support and long-term cooperation.
The paper presents the results of current research in the field of agrarian governance in Bulgaria. Without claiming to be comprehensive, it provides an idea of the Bulgarian experience in agrarian governance, and of the modest Bulgarian contribution to the implementation of the institutional analysis of the modes and mechanisms of agrarian governance.
First, a holistic approach to understanding and analysing agrarian governance is presented. Then, the economic role of agrarian contracts is revealed, their types are classified, and an approach to assessing their effectiveness is presented. This is followed by an assessment of the quality of the system of agrarian governance in Bulgaria at the present stage of development. Then, an analysis of the governance and contractual structures of major functional areas of Bulgarian farms is made. Then, the forms, factors and effectiveness of land and labour supplies in Bulgarian farms are identified. The identification of modes, factors and efficiency of the provision of ecosystem services by the Bulgarian farms follows. After that, the levels and evolution of governance efficiency of Bulgarian farms are evaluated. Then, a holistic assessment of the comparative and absolute competitiveness of Bulgarian farms is made. Finally, the state, evolution, efficiency and factors of governance of agricultural inclusion in sustainable wastewater management in Bulgaria are presented
Systemic Digitalization of Economic Mechanisms: The Impact of Information Technologies and Artificial Intelligence
No full textMost existing studies of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and information technologies (IT) impact on the economy, focused on the automation of work processes with implications for employment, wages, and productivity. This article broadens the analytical perspective by examining how IT/AI influence the economy through the transformation of economic mechanisms—regulatory structures that ensure coordination and management of joint activities. Drawing on the Institutional Analysis and Development framework, the paper proposes a methodology for describing the universal functions of economic mechanisms and their associated information processes. The information processes are conceptualized as the targets of digitalization, aimed at reducing transaction costs, enhancing productivity, and improving the adaptability of the economy to external changes. The study presents an approach for selecting IT/AI solutions capable of increasing the efficiency of economic mechanisms and introduces the concept of systemic digitalization as a tool for sustainable economic growth. Finally, the paper outlines a “social order” directed at the IT/AI industry—a set of solutions whose implementation may yield substantial positive macroeconomic effects
Impact of corporate social responsibility on tax avoidance: evidence from Tunisian context
No full textThis paper aims to explore the relationship between corporate social responsibility and tax avoidance among publicly listed banks, based on their annual reports and websites within a developing market, specifically Tunisia. The necessary data were collected from the annual reports of a sample of nine Tunisian banks listed on the Tunis Stock Exchange (BVMT) for the period from 2012 to 2018. According to the estimated results, it can be concluded that the less involved banks are in economic and environmental activities, the more likely they are to engage in fraudulent tax-related behaviors. The findings indicate that a bank’s tax avoidance is influenced by the nature of its social responsibility activities. In particular, banks that participate in social initiatives are less prone to evade taxes
Corporate Tax Strategy, Risk, and Long-Term Value Creation: Insights from Technology, Pharmaceutical, and Manufacturing Sectors
No full textThis study quantifies the impact of corporate tax policies on shareholder equity with a particular focus on the role of effective tax planning, potential violations, and the overall value of firm operations. A descriptive–correlational research design was adopted, drawing on the theoretical foundations of agency theory, stakeholder theory, and legitimacy theory. The analysis was conducted on 150 multinational corporations operating in the technology, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing sectors over the period 2018 to 2023. Panel data regression results demonstrate a significant negative association between the effective tax rate and firm value. This finding explains that tax-minimizing strategies contribute positively to firm valuation. However, the study further reveals that the benefits of stratified effective tax rate strategies can only be sustained in the long run under conditions of strong governance structures. Firms with well-developed governance systems, including independent boards of directors and robust audit and control mechanisms, were able to mitigate the reputational and regulatory risks typically associated with aggressive tax minimization. An industry-level analysis highlights that the technology sector, which relies heavily on intangible assets, faces stricter regulatory scrutiny and correspondingly higher risk exposure. The evidence indicates that while tax relocations and planning strategies may enhance short-term shareholder value, unethical practices or deviations from regulatory standards compromise long-term sustainability. The study concludes that there is a pressing need for transparent, stakeholder-oriented, and well-regulated taxation practices. By embedding such practices into corporate governance frameworks, firms can achieve a balance between maximizing shareholder value and ensuring compliance with ethical and legal expectations. That would present a sustainable value creation that is suitable for the managers and policymakers
Tax Burden, Incentives, and Informality: Determinants of SME Growth and Formalisation in Emerging Markets
No full textThis study investigates how tax policies affect small and medium enterprises in developing countries between 2005 and 2023. Panel data regression analysis is employed to examine how performance indicators such as revenue growth, employment generation, and formalisation processes are linked to tax rates, costs associated with complying with value-added tax, the structure of value-added tax, incentive mechanisms, levels of informality, and the quality of public services. The results show that higher rates of tax compliance and effective tax rates negatively influence the performance of small and medium enterprises, supporting the resource-based view theory, which holds that such enterprises are more adversely impacted by tax burdens due to their limited resources. In contrast, tax incentives have a strong positive effect, while informality has a significant negative impact. Through this study, fiscal exchange theory is validated in the context of developing countries, indicating that small and medium enterprises are more likely to comply with tax regulations when they perceive public services to be of high quality. The analysis integrates data from multiple countries and draws on classical economic theory and institutional theory. The key policy implications explain that developing countries should simplify tax systems, design targeted incentives, and adopt digital mechanisms to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises while addressing informality. The study addresses gaps in the literature related to taxation in developing economies and guides policymakers seeking to strengthen the role of small and medium enterprises in promoting economic growth and employment
Административно право и процес. Задачи, казуси, тестове
No full textThe textbook is intended for bachelor's degree students at the University of Economics – Varna, studying the specialty "Judicial Administration." It is consistent with the curriculum for the discipline "Administrative Law and Procedure" (2024/2028 academic plan)
«От каждого – по способности, всем – поровну» в основе теории международной торговли: Попугаи Вашингтонского консенсуса «на страже» экономики страны.
No full textThe main models of international economics categorically assert that free trade benefits all countries, including underdeveloped ones. However, these models are based on assumptions that are completely inadequate for the technological era: the equivalence of highly skilled labor, which also utilizes the most advanced technologies, and unskilled labor, which uses primitive tools and produces Stone Age products. This paper once again examines the most fundamental of all models of international trade: Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage. An extremely instructive example of "proof" of the benefits of free trade for all participants is analyzed, based on complete disregard for the difference in highly skilled and low-skilled labor. It is shown that the universal equivalence of unit of labor is a necessary condition for the mutual benefit of free trade in Ricardo's model. If the value of a unit of labor is differentiated by the qualifications of the workforce, then trade liberalization leads to a decrease in the well-being of the country specializing in primitive types of economic activity