Search

Human activities are related to obtain economic, technical, social and environmental benefits. The road construction process participants and road users have direct or indirect benefits from elaboration of new infrastructure. The number of the benefits received by individual entities is publicly discussed by politicians, lobbyists, experts and other decision-makers without having quantitative estimates of benefits, i.e., often relying on intuition or considering theoretical reasoning. The paper suggests a system of 19 benefit entities (criteria) assigned the ranks given by experts. The study involved three categories of experts, including 35 road engineers, 36 transport engineers and 61 road users. The values of the concordance coefficients obtained as a result of the conducted research were found significantly higher than critical values and showed that the opinions of the experts in each category were consistent (not contradictory). This made it possible to consider the average of the opinions of the expert group as a reliable result of solving the problem. Rank averages were replaced by the normalized weights of criteria using Average Rank Transformation into Weight-Linear (ARTIW-L) and – Nonlinear (ARTIW-N) methods. The global averages of criterion weights were used employing the Inverse Hierarchy for Assessment Main Criteria Importance (IHAMCI) method thus calculating the normalized weights of the road-related classified entities (three main criteria). The findings prove that road users benefit the most (weight 0.3485), the road construction contractor (weight 0.3325) is in the next position and the road owner (investor) takes the weight equal to 0.3190. The generated research data can be used for justifying the rationality of road investment.

Recommender systems -RS- have experienced exponential growth in various fields, especially in the tourism sector, improving tourism activities’ accuracy, personalization, and experience, thus strengthening indicators such as promotion. However, some challenges and opportunities exist to overcome, such as the lack of data on emerging destinations wishing to adopt these solutions. This manuscript presents a literature review of the current trends in RS applied to the tourism industry, including categories associated with their use and emerging techniques. Likewise, it presents a pathway for implementing an RS when insufficient data are available for a destination. The SLR followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and used the WoS, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. The results show that the hybrid RS integrates deep learning algorithms, data analytics, and optimisation techniques with collaborative tourism features to provide innovative solutions in terms of performance, accuracy, and personalisation of recommendations, thus achieving the management of tourist destinations or tourism-oriented services. Emerging destinations that lack RS data in tourism should use various data sources generated by tourists on social media, tourism portals, and through their interaction with tour operators. New tourism recommender system solutions can emerge following trends integrating new technologies based on user experience, collaboration, and the integration of multiple data sources.

AbstractThe study investigates the factors influencing households’ intentions to adopt hybrid power systems in Ghana. Data was collected from 290 households in the Amasaman district using a quantitative survey design. Factors affecting households’ intentions included knowledge of the technology, perceived usefulness and benefits, perceived risks and costs, willingness to adopt, age, gender, educational level, religion, household size, type of residence, membership size and energy expenditure. Barriers to adoption included high upfront costs, limited availability of hybrid power systems and inadequate infrastructure. The model predicted that only 44% of households would be willing and intend to use hybrid power systems. The study highlights the role of socioeconomic factors, environmental consciousness and barriers in Ghana’s transition to a low-carbon economy. It suggests policymakers and stakeholders should ensure hybrid power systems’ financial and social acceptability. Limitations include focusing on intentions rather than adoption rates, potential response bias and measurement error. Recommendations include targeted policies, financial incentives, infrastructure development and awareness campaigns. The study contributes to Ghana’s sustainable development goals by promoting reliable, clean electricity, particularly in rural areas with limited grid connectivity, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The article investigates the impact of environmental factors on the business process reengineering of transportation companies. The focus is specifically on the activities and business processes of Ukrainian transportation enterprises. Following a review of scientific and practical sources, a scientific task was set: to determine the impact of factors on the reengineering process through a proposed methodological approach to economic-mathematical modelling. The article utilizes correlation regression analysis and analysis-synthesis methods to evaluate the dynamics of key financial indicators of transportation enterprises. It emphasizes that reengineering should be based on the influence of various factors, not necessarily related exclusively to either the external or internal environment. The approach proposed in the work involves using regression models to analyze the impact of factors on the reengineering process. The study notes that innovation is revealed through the proposed model, which considers a range of key factors and indicators of the activity of Ukrainian transportation enterprises. Meanwhile, the authors stress that using this approach allows for identifying key factors in developing an effective reengineering strategy for transportation companies to optimize their operations. The research examines how different analysis methods can be used to detect changes in the impact of various types of factors, both external and internal, on the decision-making process regarding reengineering. The scientific novelty lies in a comprehensive approach to regression modelling of factor impacts on a relevant variable to identify the most significant factors for decision-making regarding reengineering. Alongside this, the research has limitations due to the focus on the specifics of the activity of only Ukrainian transportation enterprises. The goal is set for further research to conduct a similar study for other types of enterprises, particularly the food industry, which requires changes under wartime conditions.

The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of RMB exchange rate fluctuations on the strategic decisions of Chinese companies in the context of their export activity in the foreign market. The research methodology is based on integrated annual customs data for the period 2014-- 2021 and econometric analysis. The upward fluctuations in the level of the real effective exchange rate of the RMB encourage companies to withdraw from foreign markets and lead to a significant slowdown in companies' export market entry. At the same time, companies with foreign capital are able to cope with currency risks to a much greater extent than companies with state and private participation. The analysis of company characteristics based on the principle of differentiation shows that company performance, profit volume, business scale, and export experience of a company can lead to a delay in the favorable effect of RMB appreciation for companies leaving export markets. This article provides valuable guidance for companies on strategies to avoid currency risks and make effective management decisions in the context of exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the development and implementation of a financial model of exports in the context of strategic planning of foreign economic activity of enterprises. The model described in this paper aims to measure, analyse, evaluate and propose improvements to administrative processes by identifying various variables involved in strategic foreign trade planning. This paper is a survey that is being developed for export activities in Ukraine. Exports in Ukraine were analysed to test the methodology and to build an additive model. The model empirically shows the links that exist between the internal functions of a company and its ability to generate performance management indicators and business dynamics as a way to improve processes in strategic foreign trade planning. Some relevant findings from the first two stages of the empirical research conducted to date are presented. Validation has proven that the use of the methodology of strategic planning of foreign economic activity allows you to compensate for investments in new resources by increasing the number of operations carried out eliminating delays and attracting new customers as a result of improving the client's perception of the quality of service. During the audit, it was possible to determine that the delays created in the activities of support systems increase their negative impact on the process, consuming the slack of many actions of the central system and delaying their implementation, negatively affecting foreign economic activity. The model will be useful for enterprises engaged in foreign trade.

The purpose of the article is to formulate a methodological approach to building a model of e-commerce development in the context of ensuring the economic security of business. The object of the study is the business activity of socio-economic systems and their economic security. The scientific task is to model the stages and processes of e-commerce development in the framework of ensuring business economic security. The key problem is the lack of a clear methodological approach to modeling the development of e-commerce in the context of ensuring the economic security of business. A review of the literature showed that there is no single approach to solving this problem. The research methodology involves the use of functional modeling technology. This is achieved through a graphical modeling method. Based on the results of the study, the main model for the development of e-commerce in the framework of ensuring the economic security of business was presented. Each block has been modeled separately for better understanding. The scientific innovativeness of the presented research results consists in the presented methodological approach to determining the ways for the development of e-commerce in the framework of ensuring the economic security of a business.

The purpose of the article is to formulate a methodological approach to building a model of e-commerce development in the context of ensuring the economic security of business. The object of the study is the business activity of socio-economic systems and their economic security. The scientific task is to model the stages and processes of e-commerce development in the framework of ensuring business economic security. The key problem is the lack of a clear methodological approach to modeling the development of e-commerce in the context of ensuring the economic security of business. A review of the literature showed that there is no single approach to solving this problem. The research methodology involves the use of functional modeling technology. This is achieved through a graphical modeling method. Based on the results of the study, the main model for the development of e-commerce in the framework of ensuring the economic security of business was presented. Each block has been modeled separately for better understanding. The scientific innovativeness of the presented research results consists in the presented methodological approach to determining the ways for the development of e-commerce in the framework of ensuring the economic security of a business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question: The launch and the beginning of trade on the South East Electric Power Exchange (SEEPEX) in Belgrade, early in 2016, opened the issue of forecasting volatility and price movements in the market. Motivation: The issue is of vital importance for all market actors for the purpose of maximising profits, reducing risks, planning production and making investment decisions. Forecasting volatility and price movements in electric power markets is important for traders with profit maximisation and yield-to-risk ratio optimisation in mind and, equally, for producers, large industrial consumers, investors and portfolio managers. Idea: Exploring models and techniques to forecast volatility in electricity markets and subsequently testing statistical methods based on time series data, the ARMA-GARCH being the preferred model, with a view to identifying optimal methods for this market. The volatility of the power market and price movements have been tested during a given period. The results can be used to gauge market parameters and opportunities to extrapolate future volatility and movements in electricity prices. Data: For the purposes of this analysis, a time series involving price movements and trade volumes were used, covering a period between the SEEPEX trade launch and the end of 2019. Tools: In the empirical part of the paper, "Stata 13" statistical and econometric software was used to explore stylised facts and model the volatility of SEEPEX electricity price returns. Findings: The authors offer an overview of different methods used in the research, having selected different specifications of the ARMA-GARCH model as the most reliable in predicting volatility in the given market. The exponential GARCH model with student-t error distribution is believed to have provided the best overall performance in modelling the SEEPEX return volatility, as well as the best volatility forecast. Contribution: This is one of the first empirical studies of the Serbian power market that deals with risk modelling. Forecasting time-varying electricity exchange volatility is important for all market participants interested in variance forecasts to be used to calculate risk and hedging measures.

The main purpose of the article is to form a conceptual model of organizational and economic support and to assess the sustainable development of transport enterprises. It is scientifically substantiated and proven that the formation of the sustainable development of the enterprise depends on the identification and systematization of factors that affect it, the development of a dynamic model and its evaluation. A system of organizational and economic support for the sustainable development of the enterprise is proposed, which is presented taking into account the main components, such as: economic, socio-legal, ecological and innovative, which contribute to the efficiency of the enterprise's functioning, increasing its profitability, thereby ensuring a dynamic balance on the market. The research used methods of analysis, expert evaluations, methods of deduction and induction, methods of systematization, and abstract methods. Updated directions and practical recommendations for managing the sustainable development of a transport enterprise. The proposed model for assessing the sustainable development of a transport enterprise, allows you to optimize its activities, identify existing opportunities for development, as well as ways to increase the level of development in the future, which, unlike others, allows for a comprehensive and comprehensive assessment of the current level of sustainable development. The model for assessing the sustainable development of a transport enterprise consists in the definition and assessment of sustainable development indices, it was established that the most significant component forming sustainable development is economic (with a weighting factor 0,38), the second place is occupied by social and legal (with a weighting factor 0,24), and the third is environmental (with a weighting factor 0,21). At the same time, the innovative component exerts a formative influence on both the three above-mentioned components and acts as an independent variable in the formation of the integral indicator of sustainable development (with a weighting factor of ). The use of the proposed model for determining the level of sustainable development of transport enterprises allows to focus the attention of enterprise managers on developing measures to increase the efficiency of operations and minimize the impact of the external environment when conducting business activities.

This research concentrates on using neural networks in the modelling and prediction of macroeconomic variables in specific. Macroeconomic predictors are particularly interested in neural networks because of their capacity to predict any linear or non-linear connection with a decent degree of precision. Two macroeconomic variables have been used for projecting: gross domestic product (volume, NGDPD) and total investment (NID NGDP) over the time period of 2013–2023. Moving averages, exponential smoothing, Brown’s single-parameter linear, exponential smoothing, Brown’s second-order exponential smoothing, Holt’s two-parameter linear exponential smoothing, and decomposition techniques are used as analytical tools. The research focuses on the usefulness of the artificial neural network model for predicting economic determinants in the long run and compares the ANN’s findings with the Conventional Time - Series data sets (Smoothing & Decomposition Techniques). To emphasise the point, a scientific illustration is used to forecast Pakistan’s two crucial macroeconomic indicators. Based on the empirical results, ANN can play a vital role in forecasting the macroeconomic fundamentals of Pakistan if compare to Exponential smoothing techniques.

The main purpose of the article is to identify and organize the main threats to the effective management of personnel potential in the public administration system. The object of the study is the personnel potential management system. The main scientific task will be to identify and organize the main threats to the effective management of personnel potential in the public administration system for a better understanding of which measures should be prioritized and which should not. The research methodology involves the application of modern econometric methods to achieve the set goal in the form of identifying and organizing the main threats to the management of personnel potential in the public administration system. The importance of the study of the theoretical and methodological principles of personnel management in the system of public administration has been proven. The key aspects that reveal the essence of human resource management in the public administration system are characterized. The importance of the human resources management system for public administration is proven. The key aspects of the influence of personnel potential management elements on the public administration system are determined. As a result, the main threats to the effective management of personnel potential in the public administration system were identified. As a result of the study, the main threats to the effective management of personnel potential in the public administration system were sorted out. Thus, it has been established which threats require an operational response, which are tactical, and which are strategic. The study has limitations and is manifested in the failure to take into account all possible threats to the management of personnel potential in the system of public administration. In our study, only a number of internal threats to the management of personnel potential to the system of public administration were taken into account. Further research should be devoted to countermeasures and external threats to the effective management of personnel potential in the public administration system.

Trust plays an important role in social media communication. For companies, trust is an important determinant of successful online communication. Thus, there is a pressing need to understand consumers’ trust in the socially mediated environment This paper presents a research study focused on modelling trust dimensions on social media. The main objective of this research is to identify which dimensions of trust play the most significant role in building trust in communication on social media. The second objective is focused on the development and validation of the five-factor trust measurement scale. A questionnaire survey (n=1000) was used as a tool to gather data. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis and modelling. The research findings provide a deeper understanding of the factors that influence trust in the context of social media communication and expand existing knowledge. The conducted research uncovers the main trust dimensions that can be used to influence consumers’ attitudes toward companies operating online. Our model can help companies shape their communication to the right tone by highlighting the crucial factors that have a direct influence on trust.

The article aims to resolve the methodological problems in the sphere of scenario planning of the reproduction of institutional sectors’ investment potential in regions. These problems are due to the complexity of accounting for multilateral financial relationships between sectors in the processes of the reproduction of their investment potential and the labour intensive assessment of the factors affecting their investment activities. Methodologically the study relies on the theoretical provisions of the scenario approach and the formation of balance models using the System of National Accounts. At the first stage, the presented methodological approach to scenario planning of the reproduction of institutional sectors’ investment potential suggests creating a matrix of financial flows moving between the sectors and examining the regularities of their investment potential reproduction. At the next stage, the approach offers a regression model of the cross-sectional relationships emerging in the course of the reproduction of the institutional sectors’ investment potential by various financial instruments taking into account the influence of internal and external factors. At the last stage, the approach develops a system of the most probable scenarios for the transformation of the reproduction processes of institutional sectors’ investment potential. It also entails a search for the most favourable scenario that increases the financial sustainability of the sectors and provides the regions with resources necessary for the implementation of the crucial infrastructure projects and strategic programs of the socio-economic development. The methodological tools and scenarios for the reproduction of institutional sectors’ investment potential in Sverdlovsk oblast developed in the study can be of interest to public authorities when framing the concept of the regional investment policy.

Background: Besides visiting the main tourist attractions in Slovenia, many tourists want to spend their free time in the countryside as well, but the number of farming establishments in Slovenia diminished distinctly in the last years.

This paper analyzes the regional innovation system of the department of Antioquia in Colombia, from a complex systems perspective and using an agent-based simulation model. Among the results is a model with significant variables and indicators for generating new knowledge and innovation on a regional scale. This provides evidence that more favorable conditions exist, insofar as a significant number of explorers encourages greater reciprocal actions with other agents in the regional structure. The number of patents and publications being generated will increase significantly and better network clustering becomes evident as a result. Finally, the model explores the dynamics, structures and relationships among agents in the system, paying special attention to the conditions within which innovation processes unfold at a regional level

Purpose: The subject of the article is the relationship between customer satisfaction, loyalty and personality characteristics. It aims to analyse factors that influence customer satisfaction and loyalty, including their mutual relationships. For this purpose, a comprehensive model of customer satisfaction was created. Methodology/Approach: The research was carried out using a questionnaire survey on a sample of 1,530 customers of food producers (and 103 food business products that were non-durable) corresponding to the Czech population in terms of gender, age and region. The questionnaires were statistically evaluated using Structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings: The results show that a strong link between standard customer satisfaction factors (perceived quality, perceived value, customer expectation) overshadows the influence of weaker factors (personality). However, this effect is fully demonstrated when these strong factors are filtered out. Research Limitation/Implication: The paper focuses on foods that are sold through retail intermediaries, which also affect customer satisfaction. It may be different for other types of products and services and for products sold otherwise. It can also be limited to CR, resp. transition economics, ie. that in developed countries it could be different. Originality/Value of paper: The contribution of the paper is the finding that customer satisfaction is influenced by a personality factors, whose effect is at first glance weaker. It also shows that the factor image can be constructed taking into account the competitive ability of the company as a hybrid and the functionality of the customer loyalty factor influences the way of its construction.

Abstract.The purposeof the recent study is to substantiate the directions and develop a methodological approach to modelling the security of business processes by their main types, considering the interests of stakeholders who receive value from interaction with the business.Business as an economic system is based on the significant number of transactions that can lead to different financial, material, informational losses, as well as reputational risks due to the lack of stakeholders’ trust. To prevent these losses when creating and transferring values for stakeholders we suggested the approach to modelling the security of business processes which takes into account their main types (main, auxiliary, managerial business processes and business development processes), the results (value created) that key stakeholders get at the output of these processes, and the indicators that reflect the criteria for modelling the security of business processes — efficiency, effectiveness, and quality (customer satisfaction with the result of the process — the recipient of value). Using the fuzzy set method, a map of identification of the security status of basic, auxiliary, managerial business processes and business development processes was developed, which allows to use a wide range of characteristics of business processes and linguistic variables to describe them (from «catastrophic» state to «very good») and allows you to model options for changing the strategy of the enterprise in order to avoid the risk of imbalance of economic, social and environmental interests of its stakeholders. The proposed approach was applied to retail chains in Ukraine and provided decision-makers with useful information for a better contribution of internal control systems to creating stakeholders’ value. Keywords: business process, modelling, security of business processes, security criteria, stakeholders, interests, values. JEL Classification D46, G32, L81 Formulas: 3; fig.: 2; tabl.: 5; bibl.: 20.

Certain risks associated with particular human activities cannot be eliminated, with commercial risks representing factors of business success or failure. In the current turbulent environment, proper risk assessment and management is of utmost importance in maintaining competitiveness. The aim of this paper is to present the output of our research which focused on the assessment of commercial risk faced by exporters to China, specifically, determining the probabilities for commercial risk model management. Along with this, the cultural context of the Chinese market influencing risk size are explored, particularly the concepts of tan-wej, kuan-si, li-ťie and mien-c’, the effect of which was confirmed by our exporter survey. The research focused on Czech companies exporting goods and technologies to China. The study involves manufacturing enterprises (section C, CZ-NACE Rev. 2) as well as, more specifically, medium and large scale engineering, along with chemical and electrical power companies. Firms exporting common consumer goods, raw materials and recyclables were excluded from the study. The data were obtained from controlled interviews with company representatives (with 58 percent of the exporters participating in a 2013 research) and from Justice.cz (2016) which published economic results of all exporters registered in 2015. The study outcomes were further reviewed in 2016–2017 using follow-up interviews and literature reviews. In collecting the primary data and verifying research outcomes, semi-structured and structured interviews were conducted, following which methods of descriptive statistics and statistical dependence analysis were applied. The findings allow for the construction of a commercial risk assessment model for export to China, involving relative risk costs.

The article deals with modelling a competitive field of an enterprise and performs its empirical assessment. The methodological base includes the theory of industrial organization, the theory of organizational fields and the theory of competitive field. The author proves that an industrial market can be viewed as a competitive field defined by a firm (or imposed on it), where strategic interaction is realized within the framework of the status hierarchies of the participating firms. Such an approach allows looking at the market structure and behaviour of firm in more detail. To characterize a competitive field, the author uses indicators of the market structure, monopoly power and power asymmetry and substantiates the choice of the indicators for their evaluation. The modified Herfindahl-Hirschman index is applied for assessing the market structure; the Bain index is utilized to evaluate monopoly power; and its deviation is used to assess power asymmetry. Based on the combination of the selected indicators, we distinguish between four types of competitive fields and construct a matrix for determining them. The research presents the empirical testing of the proposed approach using the case study of eight industries. The findings of the empirical part unveil only three (out of four) competitive fields within the industries under study. A dynamic analysis shows that all the industries are sustainable oligopolies with a low level of competition. Competitive fields formed in the industrial markets are some sort of a trap, since they do not encourage industrial enterprises to develop technological and management innovations. The author’s approach is versatile and can be used to determine a competitive field in other industrial markets.

The methodical approaches to estimation of influence of factors on the structural changes in economy of region are formed. The influence of internal and external indicators-factors on the structural dynamics of economy of regions of Ukraine is estimated. The degree of correlation between the selected indicators-factors and the resulting indicator of economic development of regions is determined. Using the methods of correlation-regression analysis, a multifactorial model of change of the gross regional product (GRP) under the influence of internal and external factors of economic development is built. The model of polynomial regression of influence of the change of structure of employment by kinds of economic activity in terms of regions of Ukraine as to GRP is built. The system approach to the estimation of structural-dynamic transformations in the regional economic system on the basis of calculations of efficiency of the structural adjustment is suggested. The model of estimation of quality of the structure of economy on the basis of proportionality coefficient is built. Proposals on directions of changes in the economic structure and on methods of influence to overcome the structural instability in the region’s economy are presented.

Spanish GDP indicator figures recover while the risk of poverty has not stopped increasing since 2007 given the continuous austerity policies adopted by Governments, while labour and welfare conditions have worsened. A new phenomenon is emerging: the flattening of the Spanish middle class. This study proposes a model to quantify the number of individuals according to their level of precariousness in Spain. The model allows us to predict the behaviour of society in Spain given the mimetic nature of humans by constructing a discrete finite epidemiological model that classifies and quantifies the population in Spain according to its risk of precariousness. Our results show a rise in the precariat of 3% (representing 39% of the total population at the end of the study). The relevance of this study lies in providing measures to governments that can mitigate the negative effects of this problem and stop its growth. Indeed tax measures to help firms to distribute their profits among employees and measures engaging a labour reform to establish limits to the rate of temporary jobs and working overtime should be considered.

The article explores approaches to modelling the system of ensuring the investment security. Necessity of observance of investment security of Ukraine has been substantiated. The author’s own vision of the modelling essentials has been provided. The eligibility for consideration of the system of ensuring the investment security of Ukraine in the functional, structural, process, formative, and factor aspects has been proved. The target setting and tasks of a functional model of the system of ensuring the investment security have been defined. The functions, subjects, organizational-economic mechanisms of the system of ensuring the investment security of Ukraine have been characterized. A structural model of the system of ensuring the investment security has been presented. Special attention has been given to the definition of objects of direct and indirect influence, control and controlled subsystems, aggregate of indicators, safe levels, principles of formation of the investment security system. The process and formative models of the system of ensuring the investment security, as well as the algorithm of the complex assessment of the level of investment security, were analyzed in detail. Measures to ensure the investment security of Ukraine have been defined.

Business cycles show the ups and downs of the national production and can have a great impact on macroeconomic variables. That is why predicting business cycles in macroeconomic is of great importance. Since the main goal of economists is to provide the ground for economic stabilization and to prevent economic fluctuations and instabilities, knowing that the economy has entered a period of economic expansion or recession can be efficient in determining effective economic policies. In this research, using statistical data during 1974-2014 and decision making tree, we tried to forecast the next recessions in Iran. The results show that, among the indicators used, momentum imports, revenue from oil exports, unexpected momentum inflation, real total import, and inflation are more effective in recession forecast. Also, the results indicate that BRT can be a useful technique for analyzing economic policy.

Background and Purpose: The complexity of the tourism system, as well as modelling in a frame of system dynamics, will be discussed in this paper. The phaenomenon of tourism, which possesses the typical properties of global and local organisations, will be presented as an open complex system with all its elements, and an optimal methodology to explain the relations among them. The approach we want to present is due to its transparency an excellent tool for searching systems solutions and serves also as a strategic decision-making assessment. We will present systems complexity and develop three models of a complex tourism system: the first one will present tourism as an open complex system with its elements, which operate inside of a tourism market area. The elements of this system present subsystems, which relations and interdependencies will be explained with two models: causal-loop diagram and a simulation model in frame of systems dynamics.

Modern economic development is highly dependent on sustainable community development. In Ukraine, the tourism sector is one of the driving forces of economic development. The main aim of the paper is to study health recovery tourism in Ukraine, on the case of creating social enterprises in a health resort network. The paper is oriented on the managerial and value creation issues. The aim is to describe the business idea of a health resort (Lviv region of Ukraine) as an innovative economic agent with social goals and value added to the local community in general and on the example of three existing spas. Taking into consideration the amount of tourists in Lviv region and the key indicators of small businesses in the sector, the social enterprise is an alternative to the for-profit entities. The study findings suggest that starting the social enterprise in health resort services may become a good practice for the local development strategies. The health resort social enterprise may add value to the Lviv region by supporting the employment of local population and social value provision to groups of the society. The main contribution of the paper is in applying the social entrepreneurship model in the sector of health resort services. As the current political and social issues and problems in Ukraine are concerned, the non-profit entity project has potential for implementation.

The aim of the article is to construct a model for the development of the market of passenger cars taking into account global impact, macroeconomics and marketing factors that enables automotive companies planning sales volumes, identifying potential markets for operational and efficient investments. The global processes as well as limitation in accessing to natural resources and their value increase, society digitalization, enforcement of competition and governmental regulations, all of them are key factors of car industry developments which have to be taken into account in the process of cars’ producers marketing activity. Another important impact factor is innovations as a basic pillar of enterprises’ competitiveness, which is functioning on the market. Therefore, the need in traditional approaches changes to marketing management under conditions of global changes in economy is very important for enterprises’ on car market, which are creating higher value for clients and moreover in long-term prospective such enterprises will have strong market positions. The results of research define main significant factors influencing sales on the global automotive market. Quantative model that has been developed, will allow to effectively plan the marketing activity of enterprises both on the global market and on their regional clusters. Furtemore, the research helps automotive manufactores with the entry market and efficient investments desisisions. The methodology of the quantative forecast measurament of cars’ sales both on global and its regional clusters is based on retrospective sales analysis and main quantitive impact factors. The quantative model has been checked by real sales data under retrospective figures that confirms its real practical ability.

The development of foreign trade policy, adequate to market principles of functioning of the Russian economy and its consecutive integration to the world economy poses a major challenge for the researchers: the potential identifying for the increasing of mutual trade flows and their further integration. To assess the dynamics of foreign economic relations, we used the indicators of economic openness and the importance of mutual trade. In order of modelling the trade and economic integration of Far Eastern Federal District and the countries of Asia-Pacific region, we used gravity models in this study. Consequently, there have been built six gravity models that characterize the dependence of Russian Far Eastern export and import on countries of Asia-Pacific region for each period of the study. Design and the analysis of gravity models have revealed patterns of Far Eastern Federal District with Asia-Pacific countries as well as with the individual partner countries of the district. The dynamics of gravitational interactions defining the factors’ relations is determined.

The theory of evolution has found numerous analogies and applications in other scientific disciplines apart from biology. In that sense, today the so-called 'memetic-evolution' has been widely accepted. Memes represent a complex adaptable system, where one 'meme' represents an evolutional cultural element, i.e. the smallest unit of information which can be identified and used in order to explain the evolution process. Among others, the field of innovations has proved itself to be a suitable area where the theory of evolution can also be successfully applied. In this work the authors have started from the assumption that it is also possible to apply the theory of evolution in the modelling of the process of innovation diffusion. Based on the conducted theoretical research, the authors conclude that the process of innovation diffusion in the interpretation of a 'meme' is actually the process of imitation of the 'meme' of innovation. Since during the process of their replication certain 'memes' show a bigger success compared to others, that eventually leads to their natural selection. For the survival of innovation 'memes', their manifestations are of key importance in the sense of their longevity, fruitfulness and faithful replicating. The results of the conducted research have categorically confirmed the assumption of the possibility of application of the evolution theory with the innovation diffusion with the help of innovation 'memes', which opens up the perspectives for some new researches on the subject.

Wealth in all economies is being created at the microeconomic level through the activities of economic entities. Due to the disappearance of many barriers in international trade, i.e. reducing costs in transportation and communications, all countries and their economic subjects are now competing in the global market. In today's global economy, characterized by openness and integration, competitiveness plays a key role both in developed countries, as well as in developing ones. Competitiveness presents sustainable productivity growth driven by the quality of the strategy and operations of the company, affected by macroeconomic and microeconomic environment altogether. The level of competitiveness is determined by productivity - ability to produce goods and services using existing human, financial, natural and other resources. Productivity determines the standard of living of the country or a region, capital income, preservation of national wealth. Productivity also depends on the value of goods and services (e.g. of their uniqueness, quality) and the efficiency of their production. In order to identify as many indicators (variables) that are essential to the concept of competition, and get more reliable results when measuring the international competitiveness of countries, most commonly used and most accurate ones are three models: IMD model, the World Economic Forum model and the World Bank model. Those models have been successfully used by the CEER magazine, in order to conduct an analysis of competitiveness between Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, as well as of all developing countries (Serbia being among them).