index studia

STUDIA
Universitatis Babes Bolyai
OECONOMICA

Editorial Board

Volumes

Journal Code: 10615 Cover Date (month and year): August 2019 No. 64, 2019, Issue 2
CONTENTS

Title:	THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPLIER EVALUATION IN SHORT SUPPLY CHAINS
Author(s):	G.S.B. PATO, F. KISS
Affiliation(s):	University of Pannonia, Hungary, University of Pannonia, Hungary
Abstract:	The consideration of supply chains can foster the viability and maintainability of local producers. The formation and retention of the market may be complicated for local producers; therefore it is advisable to take the creationof supply chains into consideration. Constant feedback and evaluation is highly important to maintain successfully operating short supply chains and supplier evaluation forms could act as the starting point of these chains. These forms reflect the strengths and weaknesses of suppliers, based on which the correction of mistakes can be done and the performance of suppliers may be enhanced. The aim of this study is to examine the role of supplier evaluation form and relationships between customers and suppliers in short supply chains, from a local producer's point of view through a case study. The scientific relevance of this study is to draw particular attention to short supply chains which are and will be of high importance considering local economies. As the case study reveals, it is recommended for the members of short supply chains to use supplier evaluation forms..
Pages:	1-11 FULL PAPER (PDF)
JEL Classification	Q31

Title:	INSTITUTIONAL EFFICIENCY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE PREMISES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Author(s):	A. IGNATOV
Affiliation(s):	University of Basel, Switzerland
Abstract:	The development gap between the "Old" and "New" member countries of the European Union is an important problem challenging the efficiency and strength of the European single market. In this regard, a subsequent question arises: which actions in the policy making must be undertaken, by both national and supranational authorities, to stimulate cohesion in the EU and which directions should be followed? The present paper tries to answer this question considering the perspective of the Eastern European nations and their economic development premises analysing the aspects of governmental participation in the economy and the influence of entrepreneurship upon long run competitiveness. The research results explicitly underline that entrepreneurship in the Eastern European nationsis a determinative driver of long-term economic competitiveness due to its favourable impact upon the formation of human capital, enhancement of innovation potential and overall intellectual resources of nations. The effects of governmental participation in the economy upon the economic growth premises are heterogeneous including on the formation of physical and intellectual capital. Consequently, it was reached the conclusion that the Eastern European Nations should prioritise entrepreneurship since it is capable of boosting human capital creation and, at the same time, they should improve the institutional quality to minimise the factors undermining the business including corruption and red-tape, etc. In such a way, the Eastern European countries can overcome, in the long run, the development gap with the Western EU states and raise their economic potential.
Pages:	12-32 FULL PAPER (PDF)
JEL Classification	F15; O11; O25; O38; L26

Title:	WHAT DO MANAGERS THINK ABOUT THE SUCCESS POTENTIAL OF CRM CAMPAIGNS?
Author(s):	B. MONTEIRO CASTANHEIRA, S. COSTA E SILVA, C. CARVALHO MARTINS
Affiliation(s):	Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal. Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal
Abstract:	This research analyzes cause-related marketing (CrM) from the perspective of companies. The study aims to achieve a better understanding about what managers think about CrM by analyzing the level of acceptance and usage of this marketing tool, based on the UTAUT model. Using in-depth interviews as research method, we conclude that managers see the benefit of company partaken in initiatives as such, but not necessarily CrM. The reasons why managers choose to participate in Cause-related Marketing initiatives originate from the mix obtained through improving the firm by doing something considered socially positive. CrM was well evaluated by the participants and considered well positioned in terms of acceptance and usage, based on four factors: performance and effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Interviewees expressed excitement towards CrM and believe in it as a powerful tool to improve thefirms' image and consumers feeling towards it. While the literature uses severalconcepts (Corporate Social Responsibility or Social Marketing), the interviewees emphasize genuine caring and showing interest, time andfunds to support consumers social concerns.
Pages:	33-52 FULL PAPER (PDF)
JEL Classification	M31

Title:	IDENTIFYING KEY FRAUD INDICATORS IN THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE INDUSTRY USING SQL SERVER ANALYSIS SERVICES
Author(s):	B. BENEDEK, E. LASZLO
Affiliation(s):	Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, România. Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, România
Abstract:	Customer segmentation represents a true challenge in the automobile insurance industry, as datasets are large, multidimensional, unbalanced and it also requires a unique price determination based on the risk profile of the customer. Furthermore, the price determination of an insurance policy or the validity of the compensation claim, in most cases must be an instant decision. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify an easily usable data mining tool that is capable to identify key automobile insurance fraud indicators, facilitating the segmentation. In addition, the methods used by the tool, should be based primarily on numerical and categorical variables, as there is no well-functioning text mining tool for Central Eastern European languages. Hence, we decided on the SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) tool and to compare the performance of the decision tree, neural network and Naïve Bayes methods. The results suggest that decision tree and neural network are more suitable than Naïve Bayes, however the best conclusion can be drawn if we use the decision tree and neural network together.
Pages:	53-71 FULL PAPER (PDF)
JEL Classification	C49, C88, G22, K42

Title:	INDUSTRIAL SECTOR GROWTH, MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE, AND CORRUPTION IN THE SUB SAHARA AFRICA
Author(s):	O.A. ATANDA
Affiliation(s):	University of Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract:	The study investigates the impacts of macroeconomic performance and corruption on the industrial growth of the SSA. The industrial sector is seen as the engine of the economic development of any country and hence policies that will promote the growth of the sector cannot be over emphasized. The study investigated effects of macroeconomic variables such as exchange rate, economic growth, inflation rate and unemployment rate as measures of economic performance in the SSA on the industrial sector growth. Also quality of institutions effects on industrial sector is investigated using control of corruption as proxy. The preliminary diagnostic results show that Panel Auto-Regressive Distributed Lags P-ARDL is appropriate for the estimation and the results show that both macroeconomic performance and corruption have significant impacts of the industrial sector growth in SSA. However, an exchange rate that will encourage domestic production, minimum inflation, and unemployment rates, will guarantee sustainable growth in the industrial sector, while tightening grip on control of corruption.
Pages:	72-83 FULL PAPER (PDF)
JEL Classification	E02, H11, L16

Title:	THE INFLATION-GROWTH RELATIONSHIP IN SSA INFLATION-TARGETING COUNTRIES
Author(s):	N. MAVIKELA, S. MHAKA, A. PHIRI
Affiliation(s):	Nelson Mandela University, South Africa; Nelson Mandela University, South Africa; Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
Abstract:	This paper investigates the relationship between inflation and economic growth for South Africa and Ghana using quarterly empirical data collected from 2001 to 2016 applied to the quantile regression method. For our full sample estimates we find that inflation is positively related with growth in Ghana at high inflation levels whilst inflation in South Africa exerts its least adverse effects at high inflation levels. However, when particularly focusing on the post-crisis period, we find inflation exerts negative effects at all levels of inflation for both countries with inflation having its least adverse effects at high levels for Ghana and atmoderate levels for South Arica. Based on these findings bear important implications for inflation targeting frameworks adopted by Central Banks in both countries.
Pages:	84-102 FULL PAPER (PDF)
JEL Classification	C32, C51, E31, E52, O40