Search

The aim of the research paper is to find out if the republic of Georgia is likely to have emerging market. Paper analyzes different aspects of emerging market, included: historical background, political situation (international rankings, the role of the international society), economic conditions (FDI inflows, major economic indicators), legal framework. The paper argues that recent economic and political reform efforts have been successful, however, a key concern is the effective implementation of the legal and policy framework for investment environment, leading to measurable improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government One-Stop Shops are promoted as a strategy for improving intergovernmental collaboration, coordinating “Weberian” bureaucratic structure, and streamlining service delivery using technology. One-stop-shop models, which are seen as a significant accomplishment in recent e-government initiatives, aim to provide public service delivery mechanisms that are efficient, accessible, coordinated, and cost-effective. The purpose of this research paper is to assess citizens’ satisfaction with the quality of integrated public services provided by One-Stop Shop (OSS), with a particular emphasis on the relationship between citizen satisfaction with the quality of OSS services and determinant dimensions of trust, procedures, staff skills and qualifications, time and cost savings, and perceived citizen care/support. This paper employs a quantitative approach method through a survey as a research instrument. A structured questionnaire is distributed to 114 citizens receiving service in OSS in a municipality in south Albania, a western Balkan country. The study’s primary objective is to provide top-level managers of the OSS agencies and policymakers with an effective instrument for better evaluating and understanding the perceived quality of their integrated public services offered from the perspective of their citizens. This understanding aims to facilitate the formulation of more effective policies and strategies that foster the ongoing enhancement and incorporation of novel public management best practices. The findings of the multi-regression analysis reveal that the factors - Saving, Staff, Support, Procedures, and Trust had a positive and statistically significant impact on satisfaction, accounting for 85.8 per cent of the variation values of citizen satisfaction with the quality service provided by One-Stop Shop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the impact of regulatory policy on the development of sustainable flexible packaging in the food manufacturing industry. Although sustainable packaging is not new on the market, its development still poses various challenges for raw material producers, flexible packaging printers, food manufacturers, and other stakeholders. The study highlights the issues related to the development of sustainable flexible food packaging, the concept of sustainable packaging, and the regulatory policies of the European Union and Lithuania on sustainable flexible packaging. An empirical study was carried out to determine the impact of regulatory policy on the intention of food producers to develop and invest in sustainable flexible packaging. A qualitative research method - semi-structured interviews - was used. The results of the empirical study show that regulatory policy has an impact on the food industry's ambition to develop sustainable flexible packaging, although the effect can be twofold – it can either encourage compliance with the regulatory framework defined by the legislation or burden companies with excessive requirements. In this research, respondents also identified other components that affect the development of sustainable flexible packaging in the food manufacturing industry: consumers and other stakeholders, marketing. The level of environmental awareness was also highlighted as an important factor in the analysis of the empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era characterized by increasing demands for transparency and accountability, Open Government Data (OGD) initiatives have emerged as a critical tool for fostering public trust in government institutions. This paper examines the direct impact of the results of OGD on the satisfaction of citizens and the activities of state institutions. The main purpose of this paper is to study whether there is a link between the availability of OGD and institutional trust, and, if so, to establish whether this effect can guarantee the satisfaction of citizens. The study involved a large-scale survey conducted among residents of the Turkestan region. The survey encompassed questions related to trust in various government entities, the usage of OGD, satisfaction with government services, and socio-demographic factors. Data collected from 360 respondents were subjected to rigorous statistical analysis. A substantial positive correlation between OGD availability and usage and citizens’ trust in government institutions, particularly among frequent internet users, was found. Additionally, the study revealed that OGD positively influences citizens’ satisfaction, which, in turn, contributes to increased trust in government. OGD initiatives play a vital role in enhancing trust in government institutions, particularly in digitally connected populations. Recognizing the mediating role of satisfaction presents opportunities for policymakers to refine strategies aimed at delivering higher-quality public services and strengthening democratic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the EU member countries that obey the rule of law principle, the legislative work of the parliament supports the market economy by producing public capital. In many cases, legislation is connected to public investment projects, and sometimes also to socially important private projects. Both include public benefits and costs, but also public risks. Moreover, as the public commitment to major private undertakings may preclude both immaterial and material contributions, there is a noteworthy threat that an accidental actualization of the remainder risk caused by some unforeseen incident would fall heavily on the taxpayers. This paper constructs a club theoretic model for the analysis of representative democracy. In the model, the public commitment to a private project is decided by the simple majority voting rule in the parliament. The analysis shows that strict assessment of the remainder risk may halt the whole undertaking implying that the promised social benefits are also lost. As a solution, we propose a constitutional Investment Fund, which would launch short-maturity public bonds to citizens and pension funds, earmarked to the material part of the public commitment to private projects. The system could partly privatize the public remainder risk so that only the immaterial part remains to common taxpayers thus increasing the probability of a majority vote for the project. At the same time, the government would get equity finance for its investments, and the citizens and pension funds would hold securities with tangible net asset value. The system should increase precision in public debt and risk management and bring democracy, public governance, and the market economy closer to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the digitalization of the economy and the increasing demand for resources have created several challenges for developing countries, their regions, and urban agglomerations. Therefore, many governments have undertaken significant changes in the policies applied to developing regions and cities. These new concepts are aimed at gradually building sustainable and smart cities. This is the response of countries to new challenges such as the digital environment, combating climate change, and maintaining favorable living conditions due to the strong environmental and socio-economic degradation. In this regard, the authors set as their main research objective to analyze and assess the sustainability of cities and the surrounding territory by implementing sustainable development policies at all levels. A major task and difficulty for the authors is to build upon and refine a model that can be used to assess sustainable and smart cities. In this paper, the authors propose an approach to studying sustainable cities, thus evaluating the effects of policies implemented in this field. The model includes the main groups of indicators that are used to analyze the sustainable and smart development of municipalities in the Northeast region of Bulgaria. Based on these indicators, data is collected, and processed, and comparative and statistical analysis is carried out to assess their sustainability and intelligence. The authors reach important conclusions such as an unsatisfactory level of sustainable and intelligent development, although the environment and conditions at the national level are favorable. In fact, in Bulgaria, based on the assessment of the studied municipalities in the Northeast region, it is clear that we cannot talk about sustainable cities because Bulgarian municipalities are still at the beginning of this development path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, education and teaching have been significantly impacted by information and communication technologies. New cohorts of students, COVID-19 pandemic and pressure in the labor market on the labor force to master the technology-related skills and competence serve as main drivers for universities to redesign the way of teaching. A radical transformation of education caused by technologies is related to several aspects, such as online teaching or using other technologies in both physical and online learning environments with the focus on student-centered learning. The existing literature suggests that educational innovation through technologies allows for the adoption of collaborative, inclusive and student-driven pedagogy. The paper aims at revealing educational innovation through information and communication technologies in one of the courses for master’s students, namely People Analytics. While disclosing the particular case of one course, the paper seeks to provide the argumentation (advantages and disadvantages) for choosing specific tools and how these tools are embedded. The use of tools such as Zoom, digital escape rooms, Centimeter, and Padlet, is presented. The paper concludes that technologies may offer many wide-ranging benefits in education; however, the further study is needed for revealing the students’ acceptance of technologies and the impact of technologies on learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The system of risk management in the state bodies of Kazakhstan and many other countries is becoming particularly relevant and scientifically problematic, since the implementation of tasks set in national projects and development plans is often carried out under conditions of uncertainty and a diversity of factors, which can make it difficult to accurately identify and quantify risks for management decision-making. Based on scientific approaches to risk management in the public sector, this paper attempts to investigate the state of readiness of civil servants in Kazakhstan to implement risk management and determine the range of basic competencies of employees and the level of organizational culture, as differences in the culture and structure of organizations can affect the successful implementation of risk management at the level of public administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today’s globalized world, social and labor disputes have become a significant concern for individuals and organizations. This paper aims to explore the prevention and resolution of such conflicts, focusing on both international practices and the specific experience of Kazakhstan. By examining the literature, research methodology, and analytical reports, we will gain insights into effective strategies and approaches to addressing social and labor conflicts. This article is optimized for SEO and provides valuable information for individuals, organizations, and policymakers seeking to navigate the complexities of social and labor disputes. International experience is a valuable source of knowledge and practice for improving government regulation and conflict-prevention mechanisms. The article examines strategic documents and economic indicators based on qualitative research by OECD countries on the prevention of the adverse consequences of social conflicts. The study examines a number strategic documents and programs for conflict prevention and resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization and new technologies are now firmly on the agendas of governments worldwide. New technological trends have not only become catalysts for economic development, but are also reshaping how the public sector works and implements its policies. Amid technological transformations, the countries of Central Asia are searching for new ways to adapt to these changes. This paper aims to assess these attempts by exploring the digitalization policies of the five Central Asian countries. By using qualitative methods and expert interviews, the article identifies key limitations and potential areas of development for the Central Asian states regarding digitalization and artificial intelligence. By providing valuable insights, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of the digitalization challenges faced by developing countries. Through the analysis of local expert opinions, the article seeks to contribute valuable insights to the distinct approaches adopted by these countries, thus enriching the understanding of the region’s trajectory in the digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide an overview based on the literatures regarding the development of the study of policy dynamics research in the field of public administration. The study aims to answer the research question, „What is the theoretical and conceptual framework of „policy dynamics“ in the contemporary discourse of current public administration?“. The method used is a bibliometric analysis and semi-systematic literature review in the form of a literature review of international publications published between 1990 and 2020, sourced from the Google Scholar database. The sixty articles that are most relevant in terms of Article title, Abstract, and Keywords (journal articles: 55 papers and Conferences proceedings: 5 papers) are chosen for analysis. As a result, policy dynamics can be grouped into three categories: policy dynamics as historical institutionalism, policy dynamics as policy change, and policy dynamics as policy evolution. This study concludes that policy dynamics is the evolution of policy changes, where these changes have implications for the policies of a regime/government on institutions, actors, and systems within a certain period. This concept manifests in the five new clusters in the definition of policy dynamics, which include regime/government change, institutional change/transformation, changes in issue, direction and content of policy, actor's role and existence, and policy object inputs and outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of this study is conditioned upon the fact that decentralisation of the public administration system cannot be assessed separately from the broader process of political reforms, including reforms of the judicial system, civil service, and strategic priorities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the results of the decentralisation reform, analyse their consequences, identify achievements and comprehend the possibilities of further transformation of the public administration system in Ukraine and make recommendations on ensuring the most efficient operation of the public administration system in the new conditions. The study employs general theoretical and special research methods, namely the dialectical method of scientific cognition, which allowed tracing the current trends in the transformational development of the Ukrainian public administration system in the context of decentralisation, establishing the conformity of the reforms carried out with the European principles of public administration. This paper also involved the use of historical and logical methods, a systematic approach and comparative legal analysis. The study presents an analysis of the transformation of the public administration system of Ukraine in the context of decentralisation and the simultaneous implementation of numerous important reforms affecting key areas of public life. The analysis allowed identifying the gaps in legal support and shortcomings in the practical implementation of a substantial transformation of the public administration system in the context of decentralisation, which allowed formulating and justifying recommendations for politicians in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the way forward for social policy in America considering the conflicting religious and political ideologies that confront the polity. The paper applies Secularized Evangelical Discourse to analyze the position of the religious right, New Christian Right and mainstream evangelicals to seek answers on the way forward for the American welfare state. This paper argues that the debates between left-wing liberal Democrats and right-wing conservative Republicans have generated an ideological fulcrum that sometimes destabilizes, but often ensures stability for democratic checks and balances. The paper therefore suggests that the way forward for effective social policy implementation is to embrace a secularized notion of moral justice that admits equity, fair play and true statesmanship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on soldiers enrolled in permanent compulsory initial military service in Lithuania and analyses their service motivation and attitudes to threats to national security. The article identifies the motives for joining permanent compulsory initial military service and highlights the fact that young people’s choice of permanent compulsory initial military service is most often driven by individual motives. In order to compare the results, representative surveys were conducted in 2018 and 2023. The empirical data suggest that the perception of the main threat to national security identified by troops as an economic threat remained unchanged between 2018 and 2023. However, in 2023, soldiers grew somewhat more aware of the threat of military aggression. In 2018, volunteers differed significantly from conscript forces in their determination to engage in national defense. The expected determination to engage in national defense at a time of an increased military threat did not significantly increase in 2023 compared to 2018; moreover, the attitudes of volunteers and conscripts failed to converge. However, 2023 saw a significant increase in conscripts’ service motivation and an improvement in their assessment of the National Defence Volunteer Forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of environmental governance is increasing worldwide, and Georgia is no exception. This article uses wide-ranging sources to provide comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data to discuss the most important aspects of environmental policy directions in Georgia. The results of the study show that: (a) it is crucial to increase public awareness about the importance of climate change and environmental protection; (b) introducing environmental and climate-related goals and objectives and green budgeting principles in national priorities is as important as implementing them effectively into practice; and (c) the practice of regulatory impact assessment needs further development in Georgia, especially in the environment and climate-related areas. Finally, the paper concludes that the lack of historical data is the main limitation for the current research, and proposes that scientific and practical work continues in the future to further explore the relationships between the country’s environmental policies and aspects of sustainable development on both an individual and public level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the accelerating likelihood of environmental catastrophes which have negative impacts on levels of investment and economic development, particularly along coastal regions and in agricultural sectors, the cost of living is expected to significantly rise throughout the coming decades. In order to make appropriate decisions and implement sensible policy, it is necessary to evaluate the expenses associated with potential natural disasters. The evaluation process will employ national development programs and models for estimating financial losses associated with disasters that have previously been established within the Sendai Framework 2030. Environmental disasters have disproportionate effects on wellbeing and economic opportunities for the people of Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is necessary to implement preemptive protocols to mitigate the negative effects of future disasters. A multidimensional approach is needed when managing potential consequences, especially during the post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation period in the country. Therefore, in this paper, Azerbaijan’s risk profile, procedures for creating a national disaster risk reduction program, and the realization of adaptive actions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of project management is increasingly perceived as a response to the declining performance of governments and ineffective programs. The goal of this article is to identify barriers to the implementation of project management tools in a local government in Kazakhstan and develop solutions for their mitigation. In-depth interviews and document analysis were utilized as research methods. Overall, the adoption of project management was evaluated as poor. The analysis uncovered four major hindering factors. The first barrier was an ineffective change strategy when bringing about this reform. Secondly, it was revealed that real changes in the government’s management approaches were overshadowed by technical aspects of the project management adoption policy. Thirdly, project management methods were not tailored to the specifics of the government. The final obstacle was the ill-conceived distribution of responsibilities among government employees, which caused coordination and interaction issues. This paper contributes to the empirical enhancement of the existing body of knowledge on management reforms in the public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a methodology for comprehensively assessing the level of food security in the regions of Kazakhstan based on three components: physical accessibility, economic accessibility and food safety. A system of indicators and their threshold values are justified for a component-by-component assessment. As a result, a comprehensive assessment of the food security of the regions of Kazakhstan in 2021 is carried out. The paper uses the method of mathematical modeling to assess the food security of the region, which includes the method of logical analysis in the selection of statistical and legal data to ensure the completeness and consistency of their coverage of the studied area. The methods of systematization, comparison, ranking and visualization are used to interpret the results. The information base for the study was the data of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the concept of public value in the context of digital transformation in Kazakhstan’s public administration. It investigates the creation of public value and assesses the outcomes of government digitalization efforts. The study employs a qualitative research methodology, including citizen questionnaires and the analysis of relevant documents. The aim is to not only understand public value creation but also identify the specific dimensions of value in Kazakhstan’s case, filling a gap in the empirical research on public value in Central Asian countries’ digital transformation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed at studying the impact of economic globalization on the financial policy of Kazakhstan. The relevance of this study is conditioned by the problems of implementing financial policy for the modern economy of Kazakhstan, the underdevelopment of the financial and banking systems, and the low level of monetization (45%, with a threshold for food security at 75%). This study uses the methods of analysis, synthesis, and analogy, which allow for a comprehensive study of the models of financial market regulation. Using the comparative research method, the regulation of the research object in the national system of Kazakhstan, in other countries of the region, and at the international level is compared. This paper presents the main trends in the functioning of financial systems at the international, regional, and national levels. The integration of the banking sector is classified according to the degree of development of integration processes in the financial sphere. These processes include: offensive credit integration; protective financial integration; preparatory (pre-integration); and disintegration. This study reveals that Kazakhstan is making attempts to introduce the conceptual provisions of Asian neo-industrial countries both to modernize the national economy and the financial sphere and to actively engage in regional and world financial markets and flows. It is determined that a consolidated (integrated) model of financial market regulation functions in Kazakhstan, and its advantages and disadvantages are noted. The study of the features of the financial market regulation models in other countries under the influence of globalization trends makes it possible to determine measures to improve the financial market regulation of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the subject matter is conditioned by the fact that the innovative development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is based on the introduction of technological advances, the use of computer and resource-saving technologies, industrial and innovative achievements, is currently of great importance for the country’s economy. The paper aims to prepare recommendations for the development of public-private partnerships (PPP) in the conditions of innovative development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The leading methods of researching the issues of the paper include the analysis of theoretical sources, analysis of statistics, and comparison. The analysis of statistical indicators plays a crucial role in the study since data on the innovation level on the development of PPP can be directly obtained from statistical databases. The research results showed that for the development of projects that are carried out on an innovative basis, cooperation between the state and business is necessary. Certain risks and consequences are inherent in innovative projects. Therefore, such projects require private partners who agree to PPP even under unstable political, economic and social conditions and also have corresponding production and innovative potential. Given the improvement of the regulatory framework at the national and regional levels, increasing the attractiveness of such cooperation, and providing comprehensive support for such projects, a partnership between the state and business in the innovation sector will develop. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the fact that the method of analysis of statistical indicators was used for the first time to analyse the concept of PPP in the context of the innovative development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The observations of the paper have practical value for the development of PPP in the conditions of innovative development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates whether generalized trust in government varies among ethnic groups in a society. Theories on trust predominantly explain such institutional trust by the capabilities and intentions of the trusted actors, and research into trust is mainly done at the individual level measuring whether individual characteristics of the trustee and trusted one has explanatory power. Meanwhile, this paper analyzes the institutional trust at the macro (country) level. Based on a comparative study among 27 countries, this paper argues that there are significant differences between ethnic groups regarding their trust in the country‘s government and that significant effects are visible with the country‘s income inequality and one of Hofstede‘s dimensions of national culture, namely ‘power distance‘. This is an important finding as it calls for multi-level analyses when explaining institutional trust. Trust is not only dependent on the individual characteristics of the trusted one and the trustee but also on macro-level variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research paper is to examine the career prospects of female soldiers in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The article tackles the concept of career and legal regulation of careers in the military. The empirical part of the paper is based on an original survey of female noncommissioned officers’ opinion, which was conducted at the end of 2019 at the command of the Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf". The opinion of female non-commissioned officers showed that the legal basis of career making for all soldiers in the Lithuanian Armed Forces is the same for both women and men, but some of the participants in the study pointed out that this is not sufficiently relevant to pregnant women and women on maternity leave, as, for example, women on maternity leave are often transferred to the personnel reserve, and their positions are filled by other soldiers, etc. The respondents’ opinion on women’s opportunities to pursue a career in the Lithuanian Armed Forces compared to men was divided, as some of the respondents believed that women and men have equal opportunities in all areas of their professional activities, while others stated that opportunities are equal only in administration, service and similar areas. It was found that some female NCOs find it difficult to pursue a vertical military career on equal terms with men, that few female soldiers are in senior positions in the army, in other words, women often face the phenomenon of the ‘glass ceiling’ when pursuing vertical careers. In contrast, there are better opportunities for women soldiers to pursue horizontal careers in the army. Factors that encourage women’s careers in the military include their personal motivation and financial, material and non-material incentives, while those that hinder them include the stereotypes that still exist in the military, the personalities of commanders, the exclusion of women from decision-making processes, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to find out the rhetoric of Lithuanian presidential candidates during the 2009, 2014 and 2019 election campaigns with respect to Russia and its threat to Lithuania’s national security, as well as how candidates’ rhetoric changed when comparing these three election campaigns. The 2009, 2014 and 2019 elections as the research object were chosen because the 2009 and 2014 elections were held just a few months after the beginning of the Russo-Georgian War in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the war in Donbas in 2014, while the 2019 Lithuanian presidential election took place amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In order to answer the research question, an analysis of candidates’ election programs and speeches during televised debates broadcasted by the Lithuanian National Broadcaster before all three elections, was performed. Comparative analysis of the election campaigns has shown that there was a significant shift in candidates’ rhetoric regarding Russia, Lithuania’s bilateral relations with Russia, and the assessment of the threat posed by Russia to Lithuania’s national security when comparing the 2009, 2014 and 2019 presidential elections. In 2014 and 2019, unlike in 2009, the majority of candidates began to refer to Russia as an aggressor country that posed a security threat to Lithuania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing a rational tax policy is of great importance for stable and effective public governance. This article discusses the impact of changes in tax revenues on economic growth, using the example of Georgia. In the years after independence, significant changes in Georgian tax policy were made several times, which affected the economy of the country and made the issue of tax policy research relevant. Taxation is an important source of state revenues in Georgia. The amount of tax revenues in Georgia has continuously increased over the years, and reached 22.2% of gross domestic product in 2020. In addition, the ratio of revenues collected by direct and indirect taxes in tax revenues and the changes in dynamics are noteworthy. The impact of taxation on economic growth in Georgia is analyzed in this paper using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The results of the econometric analysis suggest the positive and significant impact of indirect taxes as well as the negative impact of direct taxes on economic growth. Thus, tax policy changes are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to manage emotions and to apply them purposefully in leadership, process management, or communication is important both for interpersonal relationships and for individual satisfaction in dealing with others. Emotional intelligence plays an important role in shaping relationships between individuals, both at the individual level and within teams. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between emotional intelligence and communication in a Lithuanian Armed Forces military unit. The research method used was a quantitative survey. According to the results of the study, emotional intelligence and satisfaction with communication in the public sector are related, and respondents with higher emotional intelligence scores are more satisfied with communication. The results show that emotional intelligence skills and communication are positively and significantly related. However, despite the positive aspects of the emotional intelligence-communication link identified in the study, the areas for improvement in the communication-emotional intelligence link in the unit analysed relate to strengthening the expression of empathy, improving the communication of the organisation’s policies and objectives, and ensuring satisfaction with the quality of feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus crisis (COVID-19) crisis highlighted a disadvantage of globalization: risks are more systemic. That is, crises are no longer local, but quickly spread to other countries in a region and around the world. In this context, the use of information and communication technologies was an automatic response of society. The financial technology (Fintech) sector is considered a safe option to preserve health at the time of making a transaction. This paper aims to analyze the effects that the coronavirus crisis had on the use of Fintech services in Latin America. To this end, the concept of Fintech is clarified. Next, the types of Fintech services used in Latin America are characterized. The data on the number of companies and the use of Fintech products before and during the COVID-19 crisis are then analyzed. Finally, policy options for driving financial inclusion and increasing the benefits of using Fintech services in the region are presented. The results allow us to conclude that the progress of the Fintech sector in Latin America was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The political changes after the 1990s were accompanied by major economic changes, transforming a centralized economy to decentralized. During the past two decades, the public sector in Albania has been through a dramatic change, mostly from a structural perspective. The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate the most significant indicators of public sector performance in the case of Albania. Thus, indicators such as utility services, legal and institutional framework, modernization of public administration, and economic issues are examined considering the public perception and furthermore, their expectations. The survey took place in Albania, wherein 200 questionnaires were delivered and fulfilled. Evaluation of variables in this study are rated using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with 1 being strongly disagree to 5 being strongly agree. Each variable is measured through items, which are estimated through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) as the most used technique in social sciences studies; Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is implemented. Results indicate that all the 12 observed variables, are positively evaluated by the interviewed citizens. Two most positively evaluated indicators are the judicial system, and being employed in the public sector; while two less evaluated indicators are those of e-services and telecommunication. Referring to the citizens’ expectations, this paper will contribute to enhance the performance of the activities of public organizations and government institutions. In addition, the results of this study, aim to help policy-making structures improve the performance of public administration in providing public services to citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to examine the theoretical assumptions of socially responsible organisational governance in the public sector. In public authorities, corporate social responsibility is a relatively new phenomenon. Therefore, the paper focuses on the interaction between social responsibility and the New Public Governance. The article puts forward the assumption that the principles of governance of public goods and public services provided by the public sector are very close in content to the concept of social responsibility. The goal of the public governance process is efficiency and effectiveness not only in public administration institutions but also in building a welfare society. In this context, New public governance is in line with the principles of social responsibility. The similarities between the new public governance and social responsibility can be recognised in an understanding the values, processes and elements the primary standards of which are accountability, openness, efficiency, responsibility, compliance with procedural norms, division of power (involvement of stakeholders). The article also discusses the concept and characteristics of corporate social responsibility and provides criticism on the CSR phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the necessity of research on mechanisms for the establishment of cooperation between the authorities, the private sector, and the public in the field of solid domestic waste management (hereinafter - SWM) in the conditions of presentday Ukraine. A brief excursus was made on both global and Ukrainian practices of forming partnerships. In order to reinforce the theoretical material, the paper presents the results of an expert survey on determining the prospects for improving the state of SWM through the use of mechanisms for establishing cooperation between the authorities, the private sector, and the public. The findings provided information that is useful for identifying the major barriers that prevent the authorities, the private sector, and the public from collaborating in SWM, as well as for setting the criteria for estimating the efficiency of cooperation between these entities. Furthermore, in the course of the study, a hypothesis was formulated: that the crisis determinants of SWM stem from conflicts of interest between the authorities, the private sector, and the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the understanding of the modern mechanism for the implementation of local self-government in Russia. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the problematic conceptual aspects of the modern mechanism of local government in the Russian Federation. The content and controversial aspects of two subsystems of the modern system of Russian local self-government are considered: self-government of the municipality population; and self-government of municipal officers. The existing directions for the development of the system of self-government of municipal officers are determined. A set of legal measures aimed at strengthening the role of the population in the implementation of Russian local government is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study covers topical issues of the modern state formation in Ukraine. The study was aimed at investigating the interrelations between individuals and subjects of public administration in the context of modernisation of Ukrainian society and the state. The purpose of this study was to identify the possibilities of introducing civilised aspects of relations between subjects of state power and civil society into management activities, which has been successfully implemented in management practice in countries bordering Ukraine: Poland, Romania, Hungary, the Baltic states, etc. The paper employed the following methods: analytical substantiation of the problems under study; focus group; expert survey; research-to-practice developments in the problems of relations between public councils and subjects of public administration, etc. Having studied the theoretical and practical components, the authors concluded that the public council as a temporary consultative and advisory body, formed under the executive authority to promote public participation in the development and implementation of national policy, is an integral component of a democratic society, which would help in bridging the gap formed over a long time between the government and the population, the state and civil society, restore confidence in the authorities, form transparency and efficiency. The practical aspect of this problem can serve as a certain example for other countries, especially for the former republics of the USSR: Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the transport and logistics sector of any country is a powerful tool for economic and social development in the hands of the state. In the context of expanding international cooperation, the transport and logistics sector requires further development and expansion of the capacity of the infrastructure, and there is also a need to revise the state regulation of existing objects of the transport and logistics system. This paper presents the data and results of a study of the logistics activities of some countries, according to the international rating compiled according to the World Bank reports on the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), and also identifies individual indicators of the state of the logistics infrastructure and transport condition. Algorithms for calculating the international and local index of logistics efficiency, the main criteria for the efficiency of the transport and logistics sector are considered. The analysis of the criteria for the logistics efficiency of Kazakhstan was carried out, the main gaps in the management of the country’s logistics sector were identified, and certain proposals were made to improve the state of the transport and logistics sector of the Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, trends in the development of Ukraine’s education sector in the context of the country’s European integration are revealed. This is accomplished through research into the dynamics of changes in the basic indicators of the development level of the sector in the 1990–2019 period on the basis of state statistical reporting. The purpose of this article is to establish the dynamics and directions of changes in the main indicators of pre-school, general secondary, vocational, and higher education. Further, this article seeks to provide an objective and sound assessment of the public authorities regarding the implementation of the state policy of reforming the Ukrainian education sector in accordance with the European integration concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional public governance is based on rationality, clear causal links, and the assumption of stability of social systems. However, contemporary public governance systems have different levels of operation, they adapt, can organise themselves, have different levels of sensitivity, evolve and change unpredictably according to their internal logic of operation or under the influence of other external systems. Thus, traditional models of public governance become insufficient to explain and address the challenges that arise in this context. The provisions of complexity theory and methodology become especially important for understanding the contexts and processes of modern society, applying governance methodologies and increasing their efficiency, implementing systemic changes, and forming prediction models. While it may not be possible to provide concrete technical solutions that are useful in the short term, this theory can offer certain models and principles to better meet the challenges ahead. This article aims to define the essential features of complexity theory and to discuss the possibilities of its application in the context of public governance. The methods of scientific literature analysis, synthesis, historic analysis, and document analysis are used in this paper. The possibilities of applying complexity theory differ depending on the stage of development of public governance and its methodological assumptions. In the context of complexity theory, when shaping public governance change strategies for effective solutions, it becomes important to understand the limitations of idealised future perspectives and to assess the current functioning of systems and forces acting on them, identifying natural system development trends due to the influence of self-organisation forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern world, the availability of transparent and reliable information about the performance of public sector entities is becoming increasingly important. Besides the accounting systems that provide this information, the role of Supreme Audit Institutions is growing. As previous research in Europe has focused on EU or Nordic countries, the intention of our paper was to analyze the development of performance audits in selected south-east European countries. The results show that performance audits are still less of a priority for auditors and parliaments, and the impacts of performance audits are realized through follow-up processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the role and importance of public administration in the higher education system in the Republic of Kazakhstan as the main factor in socio-economic progress necessary to support a competitive research base on a global scale and to disseminate knowledge for the benefit of society. Education and science play an increasingly important role in the development of modern Kazakhstan. The number of years people spend on education is growing steadily, and this phenomenon is associated with the development of a knowledge-based economy. This article discusses development indicators and satisfaction with the public administration system of higher education based on sociological diagnostics. In many aspects, a paradoxical situation has developed regarding the attitudes of Kazakhstani society towards the state of the education system, which is reflected in the desire to provide children (or grandchildren) with a high level of education combined with the very low level of assessment of this education. In this paper, the measurement of indicators of the development of science and education is conducted based on the level of satisfaction, which is considered as an indicator of social quality based on sociological diagnostics. As a result of sociological diagnostics, problematic issues of the development of the higher education system in Kazakhstan are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the contradictions of state policy in the sphere of public ownership. It is noted that in the Ukraine there is a movement towards liberalization of all areas of public life which, on the one hand, justifies itself in the context of deregulation of certain spheres of the economy but, on the other, assumes a threatening character with regards to the unwarranted privatization of public property, etc. The inconsistency of the dominant scientific point of view on minimizing the participation of the state as the owner (entrepreneur) is emphasized. It is proposed that a system of innovative enterprises be created that would be able to accelerate the renovation of production in Ukraine. A new approach to the creation of state-owned enterprises has been developed. The expected results of the activity of the newly created state-owned enterprises and the directions of their further transformation are determined. The proposals presented in the paper will ensure the growth of the production potential of the domestic economy, which will be key to the accelerated socio-economic development of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a conceptual framework for the importance of ethical workplaces in the sphere of public administration. The main aim of this paper is to identify the attributes of ethical workplaces, which are included in codes of ethics adopted by the selected group of local self-government units in the Slovak Republic. The integral part of the article is devoted to the analysis of ethical norms for public officials in the Slovakian cities. The main finding of this paper is that attributes of ethical workplaces are: mutual rights and duties, reporting of misconduct, ethical virtues and ethical leadership. However, the key benefit of the identified attributes of ethical workplaces might be a comprehensive view, which from the conceptual and inspirational point of view deals with current situations in local self-government in the Slovakia. Various limits and perspectives of the indentified attributes are discussed in the final part of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the case of Latvia, formal requirements of involvement of citizens in decisionmaking processes at national, regional and local are defined in different legal acts. During the preparation of planning documents, some municipalities and public institutions develop individual approaches to insure productive dialogue with stakeholders. Taking into account ongoing administrative-territorial reform in Latvia, there is a need for more inclusive models of citizens' participation in the decision-making process at the regional level. The paper aims to analyse the approaches of involvement of stakeholders in decision-making processes in the context of regional development. In order to achieve the aim, the following research methods have been used: scientific literature studies, statistical data analysis, expert survey. Main results and conclusions of the paper: the research showed that in the case of Latvia, existing approaches of public institutions could be defined rather as formal or engagement partnership towards fulfilment of requirements of legal acts. In order to proceed towards to co-responsible cooperation model, public organisations should use ICT opportunities, develop a permanent cooperation model, cultivate targeted strategic communication and include the principles of participatory budgeting in the budget planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the conceptual provisions for the management of transformational projects. The purpose of the paper is to substantiate the need to develop a methodology for managing transformational projects in complex socio-economic systems. The methodology of the management of transformation projects are considered in this paper, on the one hand, as a doctrine on the scientific method of cognition of phenomena and processes related to systemic, radical transformations in socio-economic systems, and on the other hand, as a set of methods that can be applied to the theory and practice of managing transformational projects, having their own objective prerequisites. According to the results of the research, the conceptual provisions for the management of transformational projects should be based on the scientific vision and definition of the essence of the basic concept (the basic concept) - the transformation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of this research for our country is based on the need for the building of entrepreneurial potential because many social-economic parameters depend on the development of entrepreneurship, particularly at the level of competitiveness, innovation, performance, pricing, inflation, and the employment and income of the population. The objective of this paper is to develop recommendations for growing entrepreneurial potential in Perm Krai, one of the largest regions of the Volga Federal District. The leading methods for the investigation include analysis of theoretic sources, analysis of statistical data from open sources, and comparison of this data. The achievement of effective results in building entrepreneurial potential of Perm Krai depends on applying collective joint efforts of federal, regional, and local authorities as well as public organizations and by creating infrastructure for the support of businesses A t the same time it is important to ensure consulting, assistance and training for businesses, as well as to inform the business community about business opportunities in other regions of Russia and to develop international connections. This paper can be of practical significance for the improvement of the institutional arrangements of realization of entrepreneurial potential realization in Perm Krai as well as in other regions of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate emotional responses to radical introduction of new tenurebased pay system in Lithuania. The research is focused on the period of time from change initiative introduction to very fist attempts to implement it in organizations. Through qualitative inquiry, this research identified the course and dynamics of emotional states experienced by teachers. The paper is based on proposition that emotional responses should follow the pater outline in Kubler-Ross (Cameron & Green, 2009) model. However, the empirical results showed that teacher's resistance to and rejection of change even increased, due to such factors as high publicity, lack of internal communication, and due to very short implementation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to disclose youth assessment of Lithuanian housing policy. The paper discusses housing policy and the youth housing challenges. The empirical part of the paper is based on the Lithuanian youth original empirical research results "Housing Provision for the Youth in Lithuania: Opportunities and Problems" carried out in 2017-2018. This research was carried out in the framework of the project" Housing Provision for the Youth: Processes, Problems and Solutions in Lithuania (JABS)" (GER 007/17) funded by the Lithuanian Science Council National Research Program "Welfare Society". The results of the survey research revealed that Lithuanian housing policy young people assess rather unfavourably. According to the respondents there is a lack of more active State role and regulation of housing policy, housing policy regulation, more effective action against "shadow" housing rental. Analysis of the research results according to the social demographics characteristics indicated that women are tend to stress more State support for the first housing provision, cash benefits and compensations for housing maintenance. Moreover, 30-35 years old persons indicated more State support for the first housing provision than representatives of the other youth age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of sustainable development has become a key concept according to which the European Union and other developed countries have been formulating the long term agricultural policy over the past few decades. Applying this theory into practice, the challenges which derive from the integrity of the objectives of sustainable development are being faced. The different achievements of various countries indicate that the effectiveness of sustainable development policy depends not only on how the various levels of institutions manage to reconcile environmental, social and economic objectives but also on whether the system of sustainability assessment immediately signalizes about the lack of implementation of the measures and creates the prerequisites for a timely policy review. This paper, by applying the different models of sustainable development, presents the principles for developing a system of sustainability assessment of agriculture with a focus on the identification of sustainability constraints arising in relation to insufficient reproduction of environmental, human and manmade capital. The system of sustainability assessment of agriculture in this paper is based on the interdependence of environmental, social and economic factors and aims to determine the causes of unsustainable development and allows to define the contribution and need for an intervention of the various levels of institutions in the implementation of sustainable agricultural development policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The system of decentralized public administration creates a vital environment for better interaction between the state, its sub units and citizens. Despite all benefits, the growing nature of bureaucratic procedures and power distribution seem to attract more attention, mainly from the reasons of unprecedented mechanisms of control. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the potential of Public Prosecution Service in Slovakia to control the decentralized public administration being provided with a statutory power to monitor the field of public administration as a whole. The paper is conceived as a case study of methods of prosecutorial supervision and their practical application in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the results of the survey conducted among the teachers and principals of comprehensive secondary schools of Kharkiv as to their awareness of how to abide by, draw up and defend intellectual property rights. The paper suggests implementing a system of actions to further the qualifications of educators in this area by introducing relevant special courses, delivering lectures and workshops, or obtaining a second higher education degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the hybrid nature of the Ukrainian political and administrative process. It argues that the deeply rooted inconsistency of social order in Ukraine was produced by the rapid redefinition of the basic principles of economic and social life in the last two decades, after the fall of the Soviet Union. The lack of legitimacy is the core reason for this hybridity and is a problem of cultural and social values. A legitimacy deficit brings plebiscitary trends to politics and develops instability in legislation and administration. This research applies the potential of Max Weber’s theory to explain previous internal political crises and to accentuate the consequences for public administration in Ukraine. A comparative juxtaposition of Weberian concepts and meanings can be used to develop a more refined description of the Ukrainian situation. The results of sociological monitoring validate these research conclusions. Hybridity and plebiscitarianism threaten the values of Ukrainian democracy and impede democratic governance. Only comprehensive political and administrative efforts can ensure the integrity of this order and decrease the risk of far-reaching instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a brief analysis of the current state of the scientific and technological spheres in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Lithuania. Based on the analysis of the conceptual apparatus and the study of scientific literature, approaches to the analysis of the scientific and technological spheres are presented. The article considers and analyzes the size of intramural R&D expenditures in Kazakhstan and Lithuania in 2016–2020, as well as their relation to gross domestic product. It is noted that the accounting of intramural R&D expenditures in Kazakhstan and Lithuania is carried out in full compliance with internationally recognized OECD standards – first of all, following the FRASCATI Manual, the main provisions of which are reflected in the legislation of the OECD countries regulating the implementation and development of scientific and technological policy. Information is provided on indirect tax incentives used in practice in Kazakhstan and Lithuania, the purpose of which is to increase the motivation of the business environment to implement and carry out R&D projects. The calculation of the growth of the level of intramural R&D expenditure in relation to GDP is carried out in this paper. Its performance will ensure the size of the indicator under consideration at the strategic levels in Kazakhstan and Lithuania. The authors’ proposals, the implementation of which will ensure the effective development of scientific and technological policy in Kazakhstan and Lithuania, are also formulated and supplemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the application of the professional knowledge and competencies of Kazakhstanis who have graduated from foreign universities. Based on the results of a survey of 1,111 Kazakhstanis who completed their studies abroad and in-depth interviews with 44 graduates of foreign universities, the authors consider how effectively Kazakhstani graduates of foreign universities apply their knowledge and competencies in Kazakhstan and abroad. At the same time, this research analyses the main motives of Kazakhstanis for studying abroad, the factors preventing the use of intellectual potential in Kazakhstan, as well as the reasons that prompted them to stay abroad or return to Kazakhstan. According to the results of the study, the use of the intellectual potential of graduates is influenced by: the high degree of bureaucracy in the country (34.5%); low wages (28.3%); and the absence of the conditions necessary for effective work (26.8%). Only 21.3% of the survey participants fully apply their acquired knowledge and skills at work. This research was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]