Suchergebnisse

Key features of the current foreign trade of Serbia are high and growing foreign trade deficit, and a small number of export partners. The fact that Serbia places its almost entire export on the markets of Italy, Germany and three former Yugoslavian countries implies the need for export diversification. Finding new or revitalizing former markets is vital for overcoming various weaknesses of Serbia's foreign trade. Gravity model was used for establishing determinants of Serbia's export and potential export directions. Coefficients of Serbia's export, determined in a few earlier studies are based on the figures that were valid before the global economic crisis. As the export to the EU countries which are geographically closest to Serbia decreased during the crisis, it is assumed that the parameters have now changed and the factor of importance of geographical distance decreased. The obtained coefficients are then applied to the countries of the Caspian Basin. This is the region which, due to its numerous geographical and economic characteristics, is seen as an adequate export market, although its distance is relatively large. Research based on applying of gravity model has found that in some countries of the region, there is plenty of "space" for Serbia's exports.

Currency substitution is widespread in less developed countries. Since it increases financial vulnerability and limits the effectiveness of monetary policy, it is often in the focus of scientists and experts. In this paper, we analyze the importance of euroization determinants in Serbia and neighboring countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Romania and Croatia for the period 2003-2014. We examine the impact of domestic inflation, nominal exchange rate of the domestic currency against the euro, interest rate spread on domestic and foreign currency, foreign currency inflow in the form of foreign direct investments and exports, as well as the euroization of banks'financial resources on the degree of loan euroization. The results obtained by multiple regression panel methods confirm the statistical significance and assumed direction of the influence of all analyzed variables except inflation and current account balance.

Modern business conditions have led to the development of a large number of different models for strategic performance management, which view performance measurement through the prism of financial and non-financial indicators, from multiple perspectives. Strategic performance management models should enable efficient and effective management, i.e. an adequate response to continuous changes in the business environment. Theory and practice in this area suggest the development and implementation of various integrated frameworks (models) for performance management of companies, in order to achieve business excellence. In addition to the well-known integrated models, such as the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), Performance Pyramid, SAILS model (Strategy Aligned Integrated Linked Scoring System), GRASP model (Goals-Resources-Actions-Structure-People), and others, Kanji's Business Excellence Model (KBEM) and Kanji Business Scorecard (KBS) have been developed as well. Kanji's model was created with the objective of eliminating the weaknesses and shortcomings of previous models, particularly the Balanced Scorecard. The application of multidimensional performance measures should increase the informational power of management in making strategic business decisions. The goal set by this paper is to consider some of the basic features of modern performance measurement and management models of companies that are represented in theory and applied in practice, and, on the basis of comparative analysis, to draw conclusions about their advantages and disadvantages.

The results of numerous investigations carried out show that the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship (SMEEs) represent a significant driving force of economic development of each country and that it is a potential generator of entrepreneurial ideas and innovations. With the intensification of the process of transition after 2000, SMEEs has become a bearer of economic growth and employment and grown into the most dynamic and most efficient segment of the economy of the Republic of Serbia. However, these companies still face many problems in business which is only further underlined by the global financial and economic crisis. The low level of competitiveness of this sector in the Republic of Serbia represents an important limitation of its future development. The main competitive advantage of every modern company accented in its ability to innovate. The advantage of SMEEs, among many others, is reflected in innovation. In general, SMEEs due to their flexibility, as well as a homogeneous structure having a good and an important prerequisite to develop innovation and thus enhance market competitiveness. Regarding their flexibility, it is particularly evident in periods of slow or stagnant economic activity and crises. Therefore, the main direction of development of the SME sector is an innovative approach to real market needs. Providing that, the aim of this paper is to contribute to a clearer understanding of the role and importance of SMEEs for economic development of the Republic of Serbia, as well as to point out the importance of improving the competitiveness and innovativeness of this sector bodies for the future economic development of the national economy.

Many successful enterprises have identified a large significance of non-economic determinants of business and their influence on competitive success. Social responsible behaviour becomes an imperative of modern business environment. Corporate social responsibility emphasizes more effective environmental and social performance management so that its influence on financial performance becomes more and more obvious. In that sense, the aim of this paper is to point out the theoretical foundations of the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBS) concept, and to demonstrate an example of enterprise, which will show how to develop SBS in the aim of its successful application.

The global economic system and the world crisis are a reality, and hence the challenge for modern economic theory, which is to provide a valid response to its development and overcoming the crisis. The prevailing economic theory and methodology (neo-liberal paradigm) in this field demonstrates serious defects, so this paper attempts to show that the relative nature of economic theory is in expressing the social prejudices of its time. Demystification of the ideological and political foundations of what is today considered "objective knowledge" in the economy, is only possible with the affirmation of a new scientific methodology of economics, i.e. the new philosophy of economics. The aim of the paper is to stimulate thinking and different views on this subject.

High quality financial statements should truly and objectively reveal the financial position, business results and changes of a business entity. Satisfied users of financial statements according to which they make decisions represent the best confirmation of high quality financial reporting. The paper deals with the conceptual framework of financial reporting and with an attempt to create unified and revised conceptual framework as a joint project by FASB and IASB. Moreover, it considers novelties that the framework brings. Also, the paper points to the current state in terms of financial reporting quality in the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, the paper points to some shortcomings of accounting regulation at the national level as a prerequisite of high quality reporting. Finally, the authors propose certain measures and activities for enhancing financial reporting quality in the current economic and political conditions in the Republic of Serbia.

This paper presents a research on market concentration of audit services in the Republic of Serbia during the 2008-2011 period. Market concentration was measured by Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI) and concentration ratio CR4, based on four independent variables: operating revenue, net earnings, number of employees and number of audit clients. The research of market concentration based on operating revenue as the most referential variable indicated that the market for audit services in the Republic of Serbia has a moderate concentration and that it has the characteristics of an oligopoly of four largest audit firms known as "Big Four". However, research of market concentration, when other variables are taken in consideration, does not reveal dominance of "Big Four" in terms of net earnings, number of employees and number of clients. The differences in conclusions when different variables are concerned can be explained by relatively high audit fees of "Big Four" and a lack of correlation between operating revenue and net earnings.

Small and medium sized-enterprises (SMEs) are often seen as a sector important for job creation. About 2/3 of the overall employment is provided by this sector, both in the EU and in the Republic of Serbia. There is evidence that SMEs are responsible for the most part of the net employment growth. The SMEs sector in Serbia is identified as sector which can absorb a part of the unemployment generated by the large scale enterprises' (LSEs) restructuring and privatization. Today, the unemployment rate in Serbia is high above the average unemployment rate in the EU. The question is whether the SMEs sector can absorb that unemployment, or is this sector more influenced by the crisis, relative to the LSEs. The aim of this paper is to examine the employment contribution of the SMEs in the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, the paper will deal with the impact of the crisis on the SMEs' employment, efficiency and their investment activities. The problems that are identified by SMEs, and that lead to rising unemployment in this sector over the past few years will be considered and analyzed.

The global economic crisis has affected the whole world, including Serbia. Countries with different degrees of development reacted with different measures of economic policy, both monetary as well as fiscal. Economic authorities in Serbia have encountered certain limiting factors in the selection of measures, first of all taking into account the unfinished transition process. This paper will examine whether the applied monetary and fiscal policy in Serbia is adequate according to the position which Serbia occupies by the Mundell-Fleming model, as well as to identify the starting position for future economic policy measures.

The basic goal of this work is the cognition of fundamental entrepreneurial motives (necessity and opportunity) depending on general social and entrepreneurial opportunities according to the stages of entrepreneurial process. The work presents the results of the analysis of selected variables previously cited appearances based on data from the GEM project in 2009 for 48 countries classified into three groups according to the stages of economic development. To compare groups and establish differences, one-factor analysis of variance was used, while relationships and connections between selected features of development degrees, entrepreneurial activities and motives of entrepreneurial projects were analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient. The analysis of available data and selected features confirmed a great dependence of motives of entrepreneurial projects and conditions of the environment of different development degrees that determine differences to all observed features directly or indirectly connected with entrepreneurial decisions.

Consumption taxes have an important place in the tax systems of modern states. They provide a large amount of revenue for the state budget. However, they are generous, but they are very regressive. It is a bad characteristic. The regressivity problem of the tax burden implies that the consumption tax is burdensome for the population with lower income. They pay similar tax rate as people with high income. The aim of this paper is to point to the existence of the problem of regressivity in underdeveloped and developed countries. This paper analyses the possibilities of reducing this problem in order to satisfy the principle of fairness in taxation.

The authors present the issues and challenges related to the changes in status of a company and its impact on competitiveness. Status changes of companies, mostly mergers and acquisitions of companies, are one of the ways in which capital owners and management direct economic activities with the aim of maximizing profits. In order to make the right and justified decision, in terms of achieving the economic interests of the company, it is essential to know the laws and regulations in this area. This paper should provide answers on various questions which will be presented to decision makers in every company, considering status changes. Bearing in mind that the question of status changes often associated with an international element, the authors will pay special attention on the EU legislation and current legal framework in the Republic of Serbia.

The organic food market in Serbia is in its initial phase of development and can be considered a developing market. A deeper understanding of consumer motivation is possible through an adequate marketing approach which will provide increased organic food purchasing per capita and the quicker development of the national market. This paper presents a selection of the most important findings, which the author obtained from a quantitative study carried out in Serbia. We studied and analyzed the main reasons why people purchase organic food and the obstacles to buying these products, as well as the willingness of consumers to pay a higher price for organic products in comparison to the alternative products obtained from conventional food production systems. The presented results support the theoretical conclusions acquired from numerous previous studies carried out in various countries. Starting from the obtained research results, the conclusion offers a recommendation for the implementation of successful strategies of the marketing mix instruments.

Investors have become the most important users of financial statements in modern business conditions, and mixed base of financial reporting has been established in order to meet their information needs and it includes elements of the concept of historical cost and the fair value concept, with an increasing shift towards the fair value concept. The primary task of fair value accounting becomes the expression of the fair value of the net assets at the reporting date, while the financial results represent the change in fair value of net assets between the two reporting periods. In our country the application of the "full IFRS" is mandatory for large enterprises and the application of IFRS for SMEs is mandatory for small and medium-sized entities, thus fair value accounting becomes an integral part of the financial statements of domestic companies. However, fair value accounting is not a suitable concept for our country characterized by shallow and underdeveloped financial market, companies whose owners are the company managers at the same time, and low level of economic and technological development. A financial statement audit in terms of the use of the fair value concept becomes much more demanding and complex than the audit of the financial statements based on historical cost accounting.