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Marajn Angeleski, Olivera Kostoska
DIGITAL LEARNING IN A POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY: EVIDENCE FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Abstract:
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has enabled countries to jump faster into the future of digital learning. However, the question arises as to what the lasting effects of the pandemic would be, in terms of what education will look like in the post-Covid era; will this way of learning become the ‘new normal’ or should the world immediately be returned to pre-pandemic mode of physical classroom.
Purpose: This article aims to address the above-mentioned challenge by examining trends, shifts, and changes in doing online courses or using online learning materials across European countries prior to the outbreak of the pandemic until the time when many countries removed the measures.
Methods: The analysis is based on Eurostat statistical data for 37 European countries regarding Internet use by individuals doing online courses and Internet use in general from 2019 to 2022. Aside from descriptive statistical analysis and distribution of data and trends, a cluster analysis is performed to examine how different groups of countries respond to pandemic-induced changes and how they can move forward in terms of digital learning practices. All statistical measurements are performed in the Python programming language using diverse set of libraries, including algorithm for conducting a cluster analysis.
Results/conclusions: The results suggest that during the temporary physical closures due to the pandemic, online courses were considered a safe backup system for learning and training, but the popularity of virtual courses declined as social restrictions began to ease. At the same time, the composition of clusters evolves over time, which points to changes in the dynamics of engagement in online courses among various groups of countries. Overall, the analysis made here represents a useful guide for formulating strategies to further promote and support digital inclusion and online education initiatives.
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Rakesh Ahlawat, Mandeep Ghai, Sanjeev Kumar Garg
FACTORS INFLUENCING RESTAURANT SELECTION IN THE COVID-19 ERA: A STUDY
OF CONSUMER PREFERENCES IN INDIA
Abstract:
COVID-19 struck the humanity at the end of 2019 and since then it has been ravaging the mankind. Since then the economies have been badly affected; businesses have shut down and the restaurant businesses are no exception to it. Now, when the vaccination programs are being carried out by the governments all around the world, including India, and restrictions are going away, the customers will be coming out to the restaurants. This paper intends to study what are the factors which will make the Indian customers choose a restaurant and to find out if there have been effects of the pandemic on the criteria of restaurant selection. To find the answers to these, a questionnaire with ten various factors was designed and circulated by using Google Form. The data thus collected was analyzed by applying one sample t-test and Gap analysis. The hypothesis was tested and it was found that the pandemic had an impact on the restaurant selection criterion. ‘Personal hygiene of the staff’, ‘quality of food ingredients’ and ‘taste of food’ are the most important factors for customers in deciding to choose a restaurant and ‘location’ with no impact on restaurant selection.
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Roza Muratova, Dana Baigojaeva, Mariana Mateeva Petrova
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS AND RISKS
OF URBANIZATION IN KAZAKHSTAN
Abstract:
The article presents theoretical and practical issues of urbanization. The paper explores the theoretical concepts of regional development and their specific practical implementation.
The statistical data on the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2019 and 2020 are analyzed. An analysis of the factors of urbanization in the regions of the country is made. The relationship between the processes of urbanization and population migration is shown. Regional differences in the level of urbanization of the cities of the republic are given.
The paper notes that urbanization should not be an end in itself, but it is only a consequence of the effective distribution of productive forces. An example of the rational management of the urban environment should be a rational system of urban construction, public utilities, all infrastructure and the creation of a comfortable cultural environment.
The paper proposes the development of rural entrepreneurship as an alternative. Correlation dependences of interrelation of urbanization with factors of migration, industrialization and economic growth are given. A model of the dependence of urbanization and these factors is proposed. The article also notes that urbanization for Kazakhstan may pose some threat due to the relatively low population density and the decrease in the population of remote settlements and uncontrolled migration of the population. It is necessary to continue researching the processes of urbanization of Kazakhstan in the direction of developing the theory in relation to the characteristics of a country with a low population density. In terms of practical recommendations, our research should provide some incentive to further control migration processes and increase the level of industrialization of the regions of Kazakhstan.
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Olena Stryzhak
THE ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A DIGITALIZED WORLD
Abstract:
The article is aimed at studying the features of the relationship between economic development, human capital and information and communication technologies. The panel sample includes data for 87 countries for 2019. The study uses the World Bank approach to classify countries to groups by income levels. The relationships between the analysed indicators are determined by groups based on the calculation of correlation coefficients. In addition, the paper presents a detailed spatial and graphical analysis of the indicators distribution by groups. The research shows that there are differences between the groups, both in the strength of the relationship and in the distribution of human capital development, digital technologies and GDP per capita. The article also analyses the relationship between GDP and the components of human capital and digital development. The study confirms the heterogeneity of economic development across countries and regions, highlighting differences across groups of countries depending on income levels.
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Trayan Yosifov
THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT POSITION OF BULGARIAN ECONOMY
IN THE PERIOD FROM 2010 TO 2019
Abstract:
The period from 2010 to 2019 may be defined as a post-crisis stage in the historic development of the global economy. This refers to Bulgarian economy as well, which went through a recession to then reach a situation of full employment. The recovery of global markets is obviously a major factor which raises the interest of both local and foreign investors. The dynamics and the structure of the capital funds invested in the local economy and those invested abroad are indicative of the confidence in the domestic market. They give an accurate idea about the economic environment in the country and the mid-term prospects for its development. The main objective of this research is to analyse the characteristics of and the trends in the changes of capital funds invested in Bulgaria and those invested in foreign economies and markets.
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Galina Georgieva
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRADE, REPAIR
OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES SECTOR IN BULGARIA
Abstract:
The paper analyzes the development of key financial measures in the Trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles industry in Bulgaria. The study refers to data for the 2009-2019 period, retrieved from an official source – the NSI. The analysis of one of the key economic sectors in Bulgaria – Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and the measures studied from a financial and economic point of view, in particular, leads to the conclusion that it is highly dependent on everything that happens in the country in economic and social terms. In structural terms, the study consists of two main parts, covering the characteristics and trends in the Trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles” industry in Bulgaria for the 2009-2019 period. The positive and negative factors affecting the sector are drawn as a result.
