ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic caused several short- and mid-term disruptions, to which businesses must adapt. The main goal of this research is to investigate the impact of e-traders response to Covid-19 challenges on online growth. Using existing survey data results linear multiply regression was performed and statistically significant results confirmed that online growth during the Covid-19 emergency was higher in the companies that undertake marketing and delivery adaptation. Further, it was confirmed that e-traders that were selling traditionally and online made higher online growth. Companies with fewer employees were more adaptable to reach higher online growth. Online growth obviously was affected by online sales, and online visits do not statistically significantly influence online growth. The e-traders that believe in the potential for e-commerce in North Macedonia have achieved higher online growth. The timing of the start of the online business does not affect the online growth of e-traders.
ABSTRACT
У кризним ситуаци)ама, као што je текуки сукоб у Укра]ит, питате учинковитости инпута у полопривредно] производти поста]е врло знача]но. У том контексту, главни цил овограда jeутвр'ивате нивоа ефикасности примене 'убрива у землама Западног Балкана. Истовремено, фокус овог рада je здравле землишта у региону, као и зависност региона од увоза "убрива.. Резултати су показали да je ефикасност 'убрива века у региону него у ЕУ. Ме'утим, с обзиром на високу зависност од увоза и наjвjeроватниje продужете кризе, дати су одре'ени предлози за поболшате ситуацsе. Заклучци овог рада могу бити од користи креаторима полопривредне политике као и полопривредним произво'ачима.Alternate :In the case of the crisis, such as the current conflict in the Ukraine, the question of input effectiveness in agricultural production has become very important. In that context, the main objective of this paper is to find the level of fertiliser efficiency in the Western Balkan countries. The paper also aims to discuss health of the soil in the region and its dependence on fertilisers imports. Results showed that fertilizer use efficiency is higher in the region than in the EU. However, considering the high dependence on imports and the most likely prolongation of the crisis, certain suggestions for improving the situation were given. This conclusion can be useful for the creators of the agricultural policy as well as for agricultural producers.
ABSTRACT
The main rationale for wage subsidies is giving job opportunities to workers who would otherwise remain unemployed or take jobs that do not exploit their potential productivity. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the wage subsidy programme in North Macedonia for the period 2018-2019 in order to provide a sound basis for its redesign in the times of Covid-19 crisis. The Propensity score matching is used as a principal estimation method. Moreover, we further explore the impact of the wage subsidies on the outcome variables for particular disadvantaged segments by disaggregation of the average treatment effect on treated individuals. The evaluation reveals improvement of the wage subsidy program in 2019 relative to 2018. However, having in mind the impact of the Covid-19 pandemics, there is a room for redesign of this measure by improving its targeting and conditions for retaining the subsidised jobs in the long run.
ABSTRACT
The production of wheat, as one of the elementary and strategic nutrition crops, in North Macedonia is insufficient and cannot meet the national demands, which results with negative trade balance with import of 74,937 tons of wheat valued at 17.9 million EUR. The main goal of this paper is to analyse the influence of international markets on wheat prices in the Republic of North Macedonia. Data on the purchase price of wheat have been analysed using statistical methods and models from December 2009 to December 2021. A total of 145 monthly time series with data on the purchase price of wheat for Macedonia, the EU, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia have been analysed and compared. The Pearson correlation coefficient shows a relatively high relationship and mutual dependence of purchase prices in Macedonia, compared to prices in the EU, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia (over 65%). The purchase prices of wheat in Macedonia have the highest relationship and mutual dependence with the price movement in Serbia (0.78), and the lowest with the price movement in the EU (0.66). The estimated lag length of the autoregressive process (AIC, BIC, FPE and HQIC tests), on average shows 2 lags (months) later time reaction of the wheat prices in Macedonia with the comparison countries countries. The forecasting model (Granger causality test) shows that time series of wheat prices can be convenient for forecasting wheat prices in Macedonia. As of October 2021, the model clearly shows the impact of food economic crisis and unexpected, immediate rise of wheat prices as result of the post Covid-19 and Ukraine war crisis. This research and analysis model can provide significant information for the wheat price trends, forecasting and markets shock, as management and decision-making tools for producers, traders and processors, but also for the policy makers.
ABSTRACT
Apple production has the greatest significance among all types of fruit crops in Macedonia, sharing 56% of the total fruit production. Due to the economic crisis caused by Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, the prices of agricultural inputs have increased greatly. To that end, the main goal of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the global economic crisis on the apple production price. The production costs calculation is based on calculation of variable and fixed costs of apple production for 2020 and 2021 as reference years and 2022 as the year when the production price change is considered. Data for the normative calculation and production price for 2020 and 2021 are obtained based on the expert knowledge and confirmed with the semi-structured interview with 3 farmers and 2 apple producing companies. Based on this normative calculation and market prices for inputs in 2020, 2021 and 2022 collected from the 10 input suppliers, AMIS and SSO, the apple production price is calculated. The results show that the economic crisis has a large negative economic impact on apple production, as the estimated full production price of apples in 2022 ha increased by 37% compared with that of 2020 & 2021.
ABSTRACT
Virtual mobility was a fairly unexplored possibility to connect with overseas partners prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The years 2020 and 2021 compelled the stakeholders in higher education to explore new vistas in virtual collaboration. This paper presents results of a virtual collaboration that connected Europe, Asia and Africa on cultural exchange, bringing 41 multidisciplinary students and 11 staff members together. The concept was developed as a part of the virtual Alumni Academy of University of Siegen, Germany Digitalisation 20+ on Blended Education by participants from universities in China, Egypt, North Macedonia and Sri Lanka. At the concluding stage of the first phase of the Academy, the participants were assigned to develop projects in different groups on concepts of digital teaching and learning. The students involved in the project selected different cultural themes at the launch and met virtually to prepare one presentation per group to be presented to a live audience six weeks later. Feedback from the students and the staff was gathered at different stages of the project to analyse their perspectives. The experience gathered during the project brought to light that such virtual collaboration is significant in promoting intercultural communication, understanding across borders and enhancing digital prowess. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
In late 2019 a novel coronavirus was recognized as a cause of pneumonia in patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. It rapidly spread through the world, resulting in global pandemic, with more than 420 million registered cases and nearly 6 million deaths so far. The aim of this retrospective, single center study is to analyze epidemiological data from the national pediatric COVID-19 center during the period when Delta and Omicron variants were most prevalent. Total of 4,846 patients suspected for COVID-19 were referred to our hospital from 09/2021 to 01/2022. We have divided them in several groups according to the PCR test result, symptoms, gender and age group. All patients had fever as a leading symptom. Two hundred and fifty COVID-19 positive patients (5.1%) needed hospitalization, with male to female ratio 1:1, of them, neonates 0-1 month were 4 (1.6%), infants 1m-1 year, 17 (14.8%), preschool 1-6 years, 89 (35.6%), school 7-10 years, 30 (12%), adolescent 11-19 years, 90 patients (36%). The highest number of outpatients has been recorded in September (28%). It is interesting to note that despite the reduced number of outpatients in January, there has been increase in the hospitalizations rate, especially in infants (6.8% as compared to 3.2% in September) and preschool children (10% compared to 7.1%). Although COVID-19 is less severe disease in children, and there are more than 50 % asymptomatic cases, in some cases hospitalization is needed and children up to 1 year of age and obese older children are at higher risk of hospitalization. In pediatric patients with severe disease, multisystem inflammatory syndrome should be considered.
ABSTRACT
The emanation of the Covid-19 global pandemic has managed to influence specific legal, political and socio-economic aspects. Public health, public institutions, as well as concepts such as: the rule of law, restriction of certain human rights and socio-economic wellbeing became characteristics of the global pandemic and as such triggered a state of emergency. The pandemic cannot be a justified pretext for an unlimited suspension of democracy. Indeed, restrictions on civil rights and liberties ought to be interim, proportional and transparent. Although the emergency measures taken by governments against the Covid-19 should be provisional, timebound and in congruence with democracy as any contemporary political regime or state governed by the rule of law. This situation once again revealed to us the importance of a constitutional state of emergency guided by public law in its forms and examples of comparative constitutional law regarding events which in 2020 demanded the emergence and function of public institutions in an effort to protect society. The state of emergency is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia of 1991 in general which gives the government expansive power, such as bypassing the parliament's power through issuing acts by force of law. It is worth mentioning that in North Macedonia there is no lex specialis or special legislative act that regulates a state of emergency.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Coronavirus disease has had a catastrophic effect on the world's demographics, resulting in more than 5.8 million deaths worldwide and more than 422 million confirmed cases reported globally. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple, widely available, and inexpensive laboratory examination, as a reliable inflammatory biomarker for COVID-19 patients. By comparing the NLR with the D-dimer plasma level, we also want to analyze gender differences between hematological and hemostatic parameters in patients with COVID-19. Method(s): This study was carried in 2021 in Public Health Organization Clinical Hospital "Dr. Trifun Panovski" in Bitola in 2021. Our study describes the laboratory characteristics of 40 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Department of Infective Diseases. Result(s): The overall mean count of white blood cells count was 9 +/- 0.28 x 109. The overall mean of NLR was 9.3 +/- 5.6. The overall mean of CRP and D-dimer was 58.7 +/- 41.22 mg/l and 5624 +/- 1944 FEU ng/ml, respectively. NLR, CRP and D-dimer in the male and female groups in patients with COVID-19 did not show statistically significant differences. We confirmed a significant correlation between NLR and D-dimer levels in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion(s): NLR was found to correlate well with the established inflammatory marker CRP and coagulation marker D-Dimer, which is capable of predicting severe COVID-19. Therefore, NLR that is easily calculated at the emergency department using routine laboratory tests, even in a remote area, may serve as a practical and cost-effective marker for guiding the physician in awareness regarding the need for intensive care.Copyright © 2022, Central Medical Library Medical University - Sofia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
This study analyzes the level of tourism persistence in the North Macedonia through predictors of foreign arrivals and overnight stays for the time period of annual data from 1956 to 2020 and for monthly data from January 2010 to October 2021 by applying fractional integration techniques. The results show that for the annual data shocks are temporary by applying autocorrelation model. However, at the monthly data the shocks are expected to have permanent effects. The government should react further in trying to bring back the tourism figures as before the pandemic COVID-19. Copyright © 2022 The Authors.
ABSTRACT
This study analyzes the level of tourism persistence in the North Macedonia through predictors of foreign arrivals and overnight stays for the time period of annual data from 1956 to 2020 and for monthly data from January 2010 to October 2021 by applying fractional integration techniques. The results show that for the annual data shocks are temporary by applying autocorrelation model. However, at the monthly data the shocks are expected to have permanent effects. The government should react further in trying to bring back the tourism figures as before the pandemic COVID-19. Copyright (c) 2022 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
ABSTRACT
Since spring 2020 when pandemic suddenly threatened the world in unexpected way, a dramatic shift in how people live, work, and learn/study is evident. Global pandemic restriction strategies like stay-at-home orders, social distancing and long periods of lockdowns have disrupted the traditional campus-based model of education i.e. the traditional in-classroom teaching, and have forced fast adoption of online learning systems as remote/distance learning. For most counties/universities worldwide, online learning was one of the efforts to minimize the spread of Covid-19 and convenient opportunity of continuing the educational process in those circumstances. This was the case in the country as well. In this sense, the goal of this paper is to analyze the adoption of online learning among university students in the country. The basis for the research model is the original Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This fundamental model examines the crucial predictors/factors of technology adoption including the following constructs: perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude towards using, behavioral intention and actual use. In order to get insightsregarding the online learning adoption among university students in the country, a survey was conducted among more than 150 undergraduates during April and May 2022, while online learning was still undergoing. The results of this study capture valuable insights regarding the adoption of online learning and can be used as solid base for higher education institutions in the country to shape their online education offerings in order to remain competitive in a post-pandemic future. This research provides relevant practical implications by elaborating that the analyzed factors are critical towards online learning attitude in our country. [ FROM AUTHOR]
ABSTRACT
The object of interpretation of this text is several social aspects of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic which have equivocal and contradictory meanings: state of emergency/crisis, emergency measures, civil and human rights/restrictions to human rights, freedom/limitation of freedom. The basic interpretative and conceptual tools used are the terms ‘panopticon' and ‘panopticism', whose archetypal patterns point to systematic and systemic damage to the uni-versal human rights to freedom and privacy. This damage occurs by legalizing the surveillance and control of citizens, thus becoming more akin to radical surveillance. The pandemic is seen as an excuse to renew the panoptic vision of the world. The contemporary pandemic surveillance of citizens dissolves the boundaries between the real and the virtual and creates new boundaries of freedom on several levels: movement, speech, work, communication, existence. Some of these limitations of human rights and freedoms relate to the elderly population. This analysis shows the danger of prolonging and legalizing emergency measures in circumstances when, realistically, there is no state of emergency. This poses a question: can a state of emergency become a regular state? The New Normal has the power to create alienated individuals and an alienated society. © 2022, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Slavic Studies. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced food preparation and consumption habits, as well as food wastage. The pandemic also affected the lives of university students worldwide; their learning and living environments changed, influencing their eating habits. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' food-related activities in four countries in the Western Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. METHODS: The research draws upon an online survey gathered through the SurveyMonkey platform in four Balkan countries-viz. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro-and used a structured questionnaire. The information was collected during the second wave of COVID-19 in October-November 2020. A total of 1658 valid responses were received. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to analyze the survey findings. RESULTS: The research results suggest that the pandemic influenced students' food purchase habits, diets, and food-related behaviors and practices such as food preparation, cooking, and food waste management at the household level. In particular, students have been eating healthier and shopping less frequently during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the pandemic improved their attitude toward food wastage. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to examine how students in the Balkan region perceive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their eating habits, laying the groundwork for future studies into the disease's consequences. This and other studies will assist in preparing students and education institutions for future calamities and pandemics. The findings will also help develop evidence-based postpandemic recovery options targeting youth and students in the Western Balkans.
ABSTRACT
A vinda da pandemia global do COVID-19 conseguiu influenciar aspectos jurídicos, políticos e socioeconómicos. Saúde pública, instituiçöes públicas, bem como conceitos como: Estado de direito, restriçao de certos direitos humanos e bem-estar socioeconómico tornaram-se características da pandemia global e, como tal, desencadearam um estado de emergencia. A pandemia nao pode ser um pretexto justo para uma suspensao ilimitada da democracia. De fato, as restriçöes aos direitos e liberdades civis devem ser provisorias, proporcionais e transparentes. Essa situaçao nos revelou mais uma vez a importancia de um estado de exceçao constitucional pautado no direito público em suas formas e exemplos de direito constitucional comparado em relaçao a eventos que em 2020 exigiram o surgimento e funcionamento de instituiçöes públicas no esforço de proteçao da sociedade. O estado de emergencia é regulamentado pela Constituiçao da República da Macedónia do Norte de 1991, a qual, em geral, confere ao governo poder expansivo, como contornar o poder do parlamento, por meio da ediçao de atos com força de lei. Vale ressaltar que na Macedónia do Norte nao existe lex specialis ou ato legislativo especial que regule o estado de emergencia.Alternate :El advenimiento de la pandemia mundial del COVID-19 logró influir en aspectos jurídicos, políticos y socioeconómicos. La salud pública, las instituciones públicas, así como conceptos como: estado de derecho, restricción de ciertos derechos humanos y bienestar socioeconómico se han convertido en características de la pandemia mundial y, como tal, han desencadenado un estado de emergencia. La pandemia no puede ser una excusa justa para una suspensión ilimitada de la democracia. De hecho, las restricciones a los derechos y libertades civiles deben ser provisionales, proporcional y transparentes. Esta situación nos reveló una vez más la importancia de un estado constitucional de excepción basado en el derecho público en sus formas y ejemplos de derecho constitucional comparado en relación a hechos que en el 2020 requerían el surgimiento y funcionamiento de las instituciones públicas en el esfuerzo de proteger a la sociedad. El estado de emergencia está regulado por la Constitución de la República de Macedonia del Norte de 1991, que, en general, otorga al gobierno poderes expansivos, como eludir el poder del parlamento, mediante la promulgación de actos con fuerza de ley. Vale la pena mencionar que en Macedonia del Norte no existe una lex specialis o acto legislativo especial que regule el estado de emergencia.Alternate :The emanation of the COVID-19 global pandemic has managed to influence specific legal, political and socio-economic aspects. Public health, public institutions, as well as concepts such as: the rule of law, restriction of certain human rights and socio-economic wellbeing became characteristics of the global pandemic and as such triggered a state of emergency. The pandemic cannot be a justified pretext for an unlimited suspension of democracy. Indeed, restrictions on civil rights and liberties ought to be interim, proportional and transparent. Although the emergency measures taken by governments against COVID-19 should be provisional, time-bound and in congruence with democracy as any contemporary political regime or state governed by the rule of law. This situation once again revealed to us the importance of a constitutional state of emergency guided by public law in its forms and examples of comparative constitutional law regarding events which in 2020 demanded the emergence and function of public institutions in an effort to protect society. The state of emergency is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia of 1991 in general which gives the government expansive power, such as bypassing the parliament's power, through issuing acts by force of law. It is worth mentioning that in North Macedonia there is no lex specialis or special legislative act that regulates a state of emergency.
ABSTRACT
The paper discusses the prospects of the Open Balkan initiative for the tourism development of North Macedonia. It presents an overview of this political initiative established to improve regional economic collaboration in the Western Balkans. In 2022, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania signed a Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of tourism in the Western Balkans to expand the tourism potential of a common tourism market. This study investigates the level of seasonality in terms of overnights of tourists from Serbia, and Albania between 2011-2019. Data for 2020 and 2021 are omitted due to COVID-19 pandemic break. By calculating standard indicators, the research revealed low seasonality and favorable precondition for creating sustainable regional tourism product based on cultural heritage, tradition, gastronomy, and other cultural similarities. The study further outlines the importance of establishing a single tourism market that will contribute to creating a new concept of integrated regional tourism.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic caused several short-and mid-term disruptions, to which businesses must adapt. The main goal of this research is to investigate the impact of e-traders response to Covid-19 challenges on online growth. Using existing survey data results linear multiply regression was performed and statistically significant results confirmed that online growth during the Covid-19 emergency was higher in the companies that undertake marketing and delivery adaptation. Further, it was confirmed that e-traders that were selling traditionally and online made higher online growth. Companies with fewer employees were more adaptable to reach higher online growth. Online growth obviously was affected by online sales, and online visits do not statistically significantly influence online growth. The e-traders that believe in the potential for e-commerce in North Macedonia have achieved higher online growth. The timing of the start of the online business does not affect the online growth of e-traders.
ABSTRACT
The paper analyses SDG7 indicators of sustainable development in Balkan Countries. Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina are selected for case study aiming to define the progress towards SDG7 goal- Affordable and clean energy by applying the main indicators set for analysis of situation in terms of affordable and clean energy for all in selected neighbouring countries of former Yugoslavia. The paper also provides policy recommendations based on analysis performed and allows to share good practices in energy policies among neighbouring countries which as different economic development level and Slovenia is EU Member State since 2004 and Croatia since 2013. Other Balkan states are just planning to join EU in the future.
ABSTRACT
Many south-east European states made the transition from socialist to market economies. All described here had to reform their pension systems to match the new context in which these operated. The experiences of 10 countries are reviewed – seven of which were once part of Yugoslavia. Some countries’ reforms were more radical than others. Five of them merely adapted the Bismarckian systems they had inherited;four others adopted the “three pillar” model that the World Bank had been propagating. One went further than that. The four who followed World Bank model were often forced to backtrack. Whatever the longer-term benefits, they generated their own shorter-term fiscal problems. Nonetheless, the most radical reformer gives some indications of possible ways forward. The south-eastern European states do not have financial markets that can support capitalised/funded pension systems. Nor do they have the resources to pay proportional pensions that, at the same time, keep retired people out of poverty. The article suggests that their governments should concentrate upon improving economic performance to satisfy longer term aspirations and on ensuring that pensioners are able to live properly if not luxuriously by using tax-financed transfer measures. Provision above this level can be secured through savings plans, but it must be accepted that the investments to secure those savings will have to be made abroad.
ABSTRACT
For many decades, the Region of Western Macedonia has been Greece’s energy hub, contributing significantly to electricity supply and national growth with the exploitation of lignite deposits for power generation. Lignite, though, has been banned from EU energy source policies towards achieving CO2 emissions reduction, with profound implications on the economy of the region. Despite the importance of this energy transition, a combinatorial analysis for the area in the coal phase-out regime is missing. Therefore, a combined analysis is performed here, and more specifically, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis in all the affected sectors, in combination with the examination of the degree of satisfaction with the EU’s energy priorities. The results of the study show that the Region of Western Macedonia has profound strengths and offers many new opportunities during its transition to a new production model. On the other hand, it has high unemployment rates and low rates of competitiveness and innovation. The main threat is the Region’s desertification due to the inability to find sufficient jobs. Considering the Energy Union’s priorities, the Region of Western Macedonia satisfactorily follows the priorities of Europe in its transition to the new production model, with plenty of room for improvement. The analysis performed allows for a just transition strategic planning to minimize social, economic and energy challenges while maximizing sustainable power generation and has implications for all relevant stakeholders, contributing to the implementation of Energy Union governance and climate actions.