Month: December 2025

THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN BUCHAREST-ILFOV REGION IN ROMANIA: THE PATH TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

Corina-Cristiana NASTACĂ

PhD, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Department of Administration and Public Management, Bucharest, Romania

corina.nastaca@amp.ase.ro

(Corresponding Author)

Claudiu-Emanuel SIMION

Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Management Doctoral School, Bucharest, Romania

simionclaudiuemanuel@gmail.com

Abstract

The study analyses the transport system in Bucharest-Ilfov, the most developed region in Romania in order to identify the challenges in managing its development and solutions for improving urban mobility and promote a more sustainable transport system infrastructure in the area. The objectives of the research are: (1) To investigate citizens’ opinions in Bucharest-Ilfov region regarding the transport infrastructure in the area; (2) To analyse citizens’ degree of satisfaction regarding public transport in Bucharest-Ilfov region; (3) To investigate the main problems and challenges of the public transport system and transport infrastructure in the region and propose solutions for improving urban mobility in a sustainable manner. The methodology of the study consists of an opinion survey conducted by the authors within the citizens of Bucharest-Ilfov region in Romania, in order to find out their opinions regarding the transport infrastructure and the local transport system in the region. The research emphasizes the need for the strategic implementation of sustainable transport solutions that promote environmentally friendly mobility, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ease traffic congestion. Furthermore, in the context of the accelerated urbanization of the Bucharest-Ilfov region, the development of a sustainable transport system is becoming a key factor in ensuring balanced, resilient and environmentally friendly urban growth.

Keywords: urban mobility, sustainability, Bucharest-Ilfov region, local public transport system

JEL classification: R0, R1, R4

pp. 53-70

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REGIONAL BUSINESS CYCLES SYNCHRONIZATION AND REGIONAL INEQUALITIES IN THE EU

Dimitris KALLIORAS

Professor, University of Thessaly

dkallior@uth.gr

ORCID: 0000-0003-3060-3745

Spyros NIAVIS

Assistant Professor, University of Thessaly

spniavis@uth.gr

ORCID: 0000-0001-9210-9190 

George PETRAKOS

Professor, University of Thessaly

petrakos@uth.gr

 ORCID: 0000-0001-6542-6799

Maria TSIAPA

Assistant Professor, University of Thessaly

mtsiapa@uth.gr 

ORCID: 0000-0001-5852-8156

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of the synchronization of regional business cycles on the evolution of regional inequalities in the EU. The topic is crucially important given that the relation between the synchronization of regional business cycles and the evolution of regional inequalities reveals whether (and to what extent) sectoral shocks are distributed evenly or unevenly within the integrated economic space. The analysis of the paper refers to 242 EU NUTS II regions and covers the period 1990-2020. Using sound and rigorous methods of empirical analysis, the paper presents clear-cut empirical evidence that shed light on academic theory and provide valuable insight to policy making.

Keywords: EU regions, business cycles synchronization, inequalities

JEL classification: E32, R11, R15

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding from the EU Horizon Program, project number 101061104 – ESSPIN “ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND SPATIAL INEQUALITIES IN EUROPE IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL MEGA-TRENDS”. The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the EU.

pp. 37-51

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SAVINGS AND ECONOMIC DISASTERS: GLOBAL EVIDENCE

Vladimir ŠIMIĆ

Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism Split, University of Split; Croatia, Full professor

vsimic@efst.hr

Bruno ĆORIĆ

Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism Split, University of Split; Croatia, Full professor

bcoric@efst.hr

Abstract

In recent literature, economic disasters have shown promising potential to fill some important gaps in empirical research. The term economic disaster is used in the literature to identify particularly large economic crises, and Barro and Ursúa (2008, 2012) define it as a cumulative decline in output or consumption over one or more years of at least 10 percent. The contribution of economic disasters has been recognized in a number of phenomena ranging from those of finance to those of traditional macroeconomic analysis related to investment and output. Using the recently updated and expanded Ćorić (2021) database on economic disasters, this paper re-examines the impact of economic disasters on saving. Early studies suggest that theoretically negative effects are to be expected. However, more recent empirical research by Aizenman and Noy (2015) shows that economic disasters increase the savings rate. This result implies that the predominant effect of uncertainty related to economic disasters is to increase precautionary saving, which is in contrast to previous findings in the literature. The present study therefore aims to investigate this discrepancy in the results by providing new empirical evidence based on the new database on economic disasters. This database covers a much larger number of countries and thus provides new insights into the relationship between economic disasters and saving from a global perspective. Using a sample of 169 countries, both developed and less developed, since 1980, this study finds that economic disasters have a positive effect on saving and that the effect is statistically significant.

Keywords: Saving, Economic disasters, Global evidence

JEL classification: C5, E2, O4

Acknowledgment: This article was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation under the project IP-2020-02-9710.

pp. 25-35

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