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        <title>Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business Feed</title>
        <link>https://sciendo.com/journal/ZIREB</link>
        <description>Sciendo RSS Feed for Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business</description>
        <lastBuildDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 13:19:04 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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            <title>Zagreb International Review of Economics and Business Feed</title>
            <url>https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/64739ef24e662f30ba544499/cover-image.jpg</url>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/journal/ZIREB</link>
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        <copyright>All rights reserved 2026, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics &amp; Business</copyright>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Unlocking Prosperity: How Inflation, Unemployment, Capital Formation, and Landlockedness Shape Economic Growth in Asia]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0014</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0014</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This study explores the impact of inflation, unemployment, gross capital formation, and landlockedness on economic growth in Asian countries. It is based on secondary data collected from World Bank reports of respective countries. The unbalanced panel dataset comprising 38 Asian nations from 1990 to 2023 is utilized. The analysis utilizes 1006 annual data points. Panel Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is used to examine the impact of inflation, unemployment, capital formation, and the landlocked position of a country on economic growth. The present economic growth is also affected by the previous year’s economic growth in Asian countries. Inflation, unemployment, and gross capital formation determine economic growth. Unemployment is also statistically significant to explain economic growth. GDP growth Statistically, it is found that one unit increase in previous years’ economic growth and inflation rate results in a 2.306 and 0.1086 unit increase in economic growth, but one unit increase in unemployment results in a 2,3869 unit decrease in economic growth. Likewise, every increase in gross capital formation results in 0.2819 unit increase in economic growth in Asian countries. To stimulate economic growth in Asian countries, policies should prioritize the reduction of unemployment and inflation while promoting surplus capital formation. Furthermore, targeted assistance for landlocked countries may offset their economic disadvantages.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Impact of Earnings Management on the Efficiency and Stability of Islamic and Conventional Banks: Evidence from Pakistan]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0017</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0017</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This study investigates the impact of earnings management (EM) on the efficiency and stability of Islamic and conventional banks in Pakistan. A dataset comprising 6 Islamic and 13 private commercial banks from 2002 to 2022 was analyzed. Efficiency was proxied by return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA), while stability was measured by Z-Scores. EM was represented by discretionary loan loss provisions. Regression models were employed, guided by Breusch-Pagan and Hausman tests. The findings reveal a significant disparity between the effects of EM on the efficiency and stability of Islamic and conventional banks. EM in Islamic banks does not significantly impact efficiency and stability, whereas EM in conventional banks has a negative effect. The study concludes that EM in Islamic banks is not detrimental to stakeholders in terms of efficiency and stability, warranting further research into the factors driving decreasing EM in conventional banks.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Nexus between Personality and Entrepreneurial Intention: A Research Framework Proposal]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0015</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0015</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This study explores the intricate relationship between personality traits and entrepreneurial intentions, integrating psychological and entrepreneurial theories. It presents a comprehensive framework emphasizing personality as a key factor in entrepreneurship. The framework categorizes traits into three groups. Narrow traits risk-taking propensity, need for achievement, and locus of control are directly linked to entrepreneurial behaviors and decision-making. Selfish traits narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism relate to self-centered and manipulative tendencies that may shape entrepreneurial actions. Big Five traits, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, offer a broader perspective on personality and behavior. The theoretical contribution lies in synthesizing these diverse traits into a cohesive framework, bridging gaps in existing literature. By integrating multiple personality dimensions, this study enhances the understanding of the psychological foundations of entrepreneurial intentions. This approach provides a structured platform for future research and a deeper insight into how personality influences entrepreneurship.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Testing the Efficiency of Classic Theories of Capital Structure in Bank-oriented Financial Systems]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0019</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0019</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This paper tests the empirical power of the trade-off and pecking order theories in explaining the financial behaviour of companies in bank-oriented financial systems. These theories, developed and tested mainly in market-oriented, highly developed countries, are evaluated for their relevance in different environments. In this study, panel data analysis was performed on 16,881 companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia over the period 2009–2016, using the Shyam-Sunder and Myers (1999) methodology. The findings suggest that the pecking order theory partly explains the financial policies of companies in EU countries (Croatia and Slovenia), while companies in non-EU countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia) exhibit target-adjustment behaviour. Subsample analysis reveals that unquoted and medium-sized firms tend to follow the pecking order in financing, whereas quoted and large firms focus on maintaining target leverage levels. However, the results show that neither the coefficients nor the R2 values align with theoretical predictions or comparable empirical studies, particularly those on U.S. companies. This raises doubts about the applicability of classical capital structure theories to firms in varying contexts, highlighting the need for further research into additional influencing factors.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Development of the Baltic Countries’ Export Network]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0026</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0026</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

The paper combines the theories of gravity modelling and the economics of networks and empirically analyzes the development of the export network of the three Baltic countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union. We investigate which factors influenced the spread of the export networks of the Baltic countries and if the influence of any of these factors differed for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. We find that the network effects are important for the development of the extensive trade margin. The most important factors are the history of exporting, the distance, the ability to understand each other and the stock of migrants between the countries. Results suggest that there were no major differences between any of the countries analyzed.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[From Browsing to Buying: Analyzing Preferences of Females and Males in Non-Luxury Online Apparel Shopping in Croatia – An Exploratory Analysis]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0027</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0027</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

E-commerce influences every aspect of human life and affects consumer behavior across numerous product categories. However, contemporary research in the field is insufficient to explain how specific consumer groups utilize e-commerce to satisfy their needs, particularly in narrow product niches. This paper focuses on non-luxury apparel as an important product niche in fashion retail and aims to investigate differences between males and females in online purchasing. Qualitative research was conducted based on semi-structured one-on-one interviews. The paper covers three aspects of online non-luxury apparel shopping. Firstly, the paper firstly explores the characteristics in preferences of online apparel retailers. Secondly, it explains the different impacts of the elements of the UTAUT2 constructs on purchase intentions. Thirdly, it discusses the influence of sustainability concerns on purchasing behavior. Findings indicate that both females and males favor pure-play e-retailers over omnichannel retailers in this fashion niche. Key differences between males and females exist in UTAUT2 dimensions, such as hedonic motivation and price prioritization. While both females and males express certain concerns regarding sustainability issues, males emphasized specific problems related to gas emissions and packaging. Despite limitations in sample size and geographic scope, the paper offers deep insights and provides directions for future quantitative research in niche-oriented omnichannel retail.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Twin Deficit Hypothesis in Developed Nations: A Panel Analysis of Tourism and Non-Tourism Economies]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0022</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0022</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This paper examines the relationship between fiscal and current account imbalances, commonly referred to as the “twin deficits,” in tourism-dependent versus non-tourism developed economies. Using annual data from 2000 to 2020, the analysis employs Difference-in-Differences panel regression (DiD-PR), panel unit root tests, Panel Generalized Method of Moments (PGMM), and Granger causality tests (GCT). The findings indicate that fiscal and external balances align consistently with the Current Account Targeting Hypothesis (CATH) across the Total and Control Country datasets, suggesting fiscal adjustments to external imbalances. In tourism-dependent economies, initial PGMM estimates show marginal support for CATH, which strengthens with robustness checks and causality tests. DiD-PR results confirm that tourism exposure significantly mediates the fiscal–external balance nexus. These findings highlight the structural distinctiveness of tourism-driven economies and provide policy insights for tailoring fiscal strategies in tourism-reliant versus diversified developed countries.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Testing The Prebisch-Singer Hypothesis for the Turkish Economy: Evidence from Recent Time Series Techniques]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0020</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0020</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

The Prebisch-Singer hypothesis suggests that the terms of trade will change over time against primary goods and in favour of manufactured goods. In this context, terms of trade are generally considered to be in a downward trend for countries that produce and export primary goods. The aim of this study is to investigate the validity of the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis in the Turkish economy. Monthly data are used in the study and the data range covers the period between January 2002 and June 2024. RALS-LM unit root test, trend analysis and AARDL methods were used in the study. In the study, the analyses were applied in two sub-periods. According to the findings of the study, the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis is invalid for the period 2002-2012, but valid for the period 2013-2024. In other words, terms of trade in Turkey tends to deteriorate as of 2013-2024.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Public Funding of Entrepreneurship: a Case Study on Start-ups in Romania]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0016</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0016</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

Governments attempt to stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation in various ways and with different results. In 2015 the Romanian government began to subsidize the creation of start-ups, following a general policy of the European Union. We evaluate the effects of the Romania Start-up Program, which offered subsidies for hundreds of entrepreneurs in a large variety of economic sectors. We statistically compare subsidized and unsubsidized start-ups, by calculating the Kaplan-Meier estimators of survival rates in both groups over a 5-year period. We show that subsidized start-ups have a significantly lower survival rate than non-subsidized start-ups after 4 to 5 years. Moreover, the level of employment in subsidized start-ups decreased drastically compared to their non-subsidized counterparts. Examining the survival rates of subsidized start-ups created with/without additional private investment, we find that start-ups with “skin in the game” have a higher survival rate, although we cannot draw statistically significant conclusions.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Regulatory Capital Adequacy Ratio is an Elixir For Efficiency in Islamic Banks]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0013</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0013</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This study assesses the impact of regulatory capital on the efficiency of Islamic and commercial banks with Islamic windows listed on the Pakistan stock exchange for the period from 2010 to 2019. More specifically, the influence of the Basel accord capital adequacy requirement has been assessed on the earnings of the bank by using the proxy of net interest margin along with control variables, including bank policy rate, credit growth, the fee charged by the banks, and non-performing loans. Data has been retrieved from the State Bank of Pakistan reports. Panel regression has been deployed, and based on the Hausman test, the fixed effect model was selected, and its results have been retained. Results reveal that the overall implementation of the Basel accord capital regulatory requirement in the shape of the capital adequacy ratio is an elixir that increases efficiency in the form of interest margin in Pakistani Islamic banks. Moreover, it reveals that well-capitalized Islamic banks are efficient. This study offers practical insights for regulators in tailoring capital adequacy regulations to the unique framework of Islamic banking. It also lays the groundwork for future research into additional efficiency drivers, such as governance mechanisms, digital transformation, and market dynamics.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Assessment of Green Logistics Market Performance of Selected Countries: A Comprehensive and Novel Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0024</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0024</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This study assesses the green logistics market performance of the top twenty emerging markets identified in the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index (AEMLI) report. The primary emerging markets—China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, Qatar, Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, Türkiye, Brazil, Oman, Russia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Uruguay, and South Africa—serve as benchmarks for evaluating logistics efficiency and environmental performance. The decision model for this study encompasses seven criteria: Domestic Logistics Opportunity, International Logistics Opportunity, Business Fundamentals, Digital Readiness, Ecosystem Vitality, Environmental Health, and Climate Change. These criteria were derived from a thorough literature review. Data were obtained from the AEMLI and Environmental Performance Index (EPI) reports published by Agility &amp; Transport Intelligence and the Yale Center for Environmental Law &amp; Policy. Criterion weights were established using the Symmetry Point of Criterion (SPC). The ranking of alternatives employed several MCDM methods: Ranking of Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (RAWEC), Ranking the Solutions based on the Mean Value of Criteria (RSMVC), Stable Preference Ordering Towards Ideal Solution (SPOTIS), and the Extended Alternative Ranking Order Method with two-step normalization (AROMAN). The results were aggregated using the Borda Count Method. Findings from the SPC reveal that the international logistics opportunity is the most significant criterion, whereas business fundamentals rank as the least important. The Borda Count analysis indicates that China, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil consistently rank as top performers across various methods. Conversely, Türkiye, Indonesia, Kuwait, Bahrain, South Africa, and Vietnam generally show lower rankings across most methods. Additionally, sensitivity and comparative analyses were conducted to enhance the robustness of the findings. The results of this study are anticipated to provide valuable insights into the green logistics market performance of selecting emerging markets.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Impact of Female Representation in Management and Supervisory Boards on Companies’ Performance]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0021</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0021</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This paper examines the impact of female representation on management and supervisory boards on company performance. The sample includes 187 Croatian companies from the Lidermedia Journal ranking for 2017–2021. Using panel data analysis and secondary data, the study finds that a higher percentage of women on management boards is associated with better financial performance, measured by return on assets (ROA) and return on sales (ROS). However, the results did not indicate a significant impact of female representation in supervisory boards on these indicators. Uneven results for the management and supervisory boards can be attributed to the different roles each board plays within the company from a corporate governance perspective. Moreover, the impact they have on the company’s performance could have various significances. Including supervisory boards in such analyses remains essential to address gaps in gender composition research.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Bridging the Negative Effects of an Aging Workforce on Productivity]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0025</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0025</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

The age distribution of Europe’s workforce has shifted towards older workers over the past few decades, a process expected to accelerate in the years ahead. This demographic trend presents significant challenges to productivity and economic growth, particularly in the EU-27, where workforce aging is projected to reduce growth in total factor productivity. This paper studies the effect of workforce aging on productivity, identifies the main transmission channels, and examines policies that could mitigate its effects. The main research question is whether the utilization of artificial intelligence is offsetting the negative impact of workforce ageing on total factor productivity. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative analysis of Eurostat labor market data and qualitative insights derived from interviews with managers. The results of the empirical analysis suggest that AI adoption positively affects productivity, even in the context of a demographic shift associated with ageing workforce. Findings also indicate that AI can partially offset the productivity decline by automating repetitive tasks, enabling older workers to focus on higher-value activities, and facilitating continuous learning through advanced training systems. Additionally, policies aimed at reskilling older workers, promoting intergenerational knowledge transfer, and investing in AI infrastructure could further ameliorate the effects of workforce aging. To sum up, the implications of the study are that artificial intelligence utilization contributes to productivity enhancements, therefore there is a need for introducing policies that promote its adoption, as well as reskilling and upskilling of workforce to be able to follow the trends.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Radical Innovations and Economic Development: Comparative Role of Social and Human Capital in Developing Countries]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0023</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0023</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

The last two decades witnessed a surge of radical innovations in developing economies. This surge has expedited the research on understanding the factors that foster innovations and transmit the benefits of innovation to economic development. In this study, we have examined the role of enabling factors, social and human capital, for radical innovations and how these impacts are catalyzed to economic development. Using the data of 59 developing countries for 1980-2022, the results of GMM showed that though both social and human capital foster innovations, the impact of human capital is substantive. However, social capital provides a better linkage between innovations and development. The improvement in institutional quality is recognized as essential for radical innovations, while trade openness and FDI are not aligned with the innovative process of developing economies. To sustain this growth in radical innovations, developing economies should focus on enabling factors along with realigning external sector policies with the structure of innovativeness.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[How Green Creativity Acts as a Mediator between the Intention of Female Entrepreneurship and Career Sustainability: A Research Conducted within the Context of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Pakistan]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0018</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0018</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This research investigates how entrepreneurial intention affects career sustainability. It also examines green creativity’s intervening role. The data was gathered from 150 women business owners from active small and medium enterprises, operating in Pakistan’s three major cities. Via a closed-ended questionnaire. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling with partial least squares. Resultantly, entrepreneurial intention is directly associated with career sustainability and green creativity. Additionally, green creativity meaningfully mediates for entrepreneurial intention-green creativity relationship. The study’s findings provide individual female managers to introduce green innovation in businesses and further study delivers insightful knowledge that the Ministry of Commerce and company owners can utilize to encourage entrepreneurship in Pakistan. The study is limited to a single nation, and limited cities further exploration is highly to flourish the field of female entrepreneurship.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Quantifying Export Diversification in Kosovo: Methods, Indices, and Sectoral Insights]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0012</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0012</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

Due to its narrow export base and susceptibility to external economic shocks, enhancing export diversity has become a policy priority for Kosovo. This study investigates diversifications of Kosovo exports, analyzing both the intensive margin in existing products, and the extensive margin with new products and into new markets to gain insights into the structure and evolution of its export sector. Methodologically, the study applies the Theil entropy index, supported by Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, and Gini coefficient to measure export concentration and diversification dynamics. A key feature of the analysis is the decomposition of the Theil index, which separates within-group and between-group components, capturing shifts in export value distribution and the emergence of new product lines. Using finely disaggregated data at the 6-digit level of the Harmonized System (HS) between 2005-2023 the results provide a detailed view of Kosovo’s export patterns. The results reveal that, while Kosovo’s exports remain concentrated in sectors such as metals, mineral products, and food products, gradual diversification has occurred, especially within the metals sector. Our analysis uncovers a hump-shaped diversification trend, where initial diversification eventually leads to reconcentration as GDP per capita grows. The analysis indicates that there is a change in patterns of diversification with the EU after 20216. This corresponds with the signing of SAA which entered into force in the same year. The study concludes by recommending a dual policy approach for Kosovo: encouraging the development of new export lines to expand the export base while achieving a more balanced distribution within existing exports.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Inter and Intra-Regional Income Inequalities Attributable to Spatial Concentration in Pakistan]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0005</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0005</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

Reducing inequality is essential to sustainable growth in regions. Due to varying geographic locations and locally formed development strategies, agglomeration disparities fluctuate among urban areas. This study is uniquely designed to measure the extent to which spatial agglomeration impairs inter and intra inequalities using two distinct techniques, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM). The results obtained from both analyses are in line with the theoretical framework established in the study. The results show that income growth is significantly impacted by the geographical concentration of industries. After matching, agglomerated regions have 22.5% higher average income than less agglomerated areas, which upsurges inter-regional disparities. Additionally, as income growth is unevenly distributed among inhabitants of the same region, inequalities in a treated regions are estimated to increase by approximately 2.5% more in comparison to the untreated regions that are relatively less concentrated, exacerbating intra-regional inequality.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Pandemic and Financialization for Tourism Firms in Asian Emerging Markets]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0003</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0003</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

This study examines the intersection of financialization and the pandemic’s impact on the tourism sector. When financialization extends beyond unproductive or service-based transactions, it can serve as a strategic response to crisis conditions. This research specifically investigates financialization as a shock absorber for tourism firms in Asia-Pacific emerging markets during the pandemic. Employing a time-varying difference-in-differences approach, the analysis utilizes a panel dataset of 80 tourism firms from five Asian countries within the pandemic period. The findings indicate that financialization provides a mechanism for safer returns amid volatility, transforming geographical spaces into profit-oriented strategies for tourism firms in Asian emerging markets. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the time-varying effects of financialization on tourism firms in Asia-Pacific countries during the pandemic.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Fair Trade Coffee in Romania]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0002</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0002</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

The article reports the findings of a study on the knowledge, awareness and potential for adoption of fair trade (FT) coffee in Romania. Based on a random sample it was found that although Romanians are daily consumers and shop in hyper and supermarkets where they unintentionally encounter FT coffee, they are not aware of the logo and the eponymous concept. This makes Romania’s situation similar to those in the Visegrad Gup and Southern Europe. The data prove that lack of knowledge and awareness does not automatically imply low commitment to the potential for adoption or lack of altruism, as domestic consumers are willing to help poverty-stricken people in producing countries by buying FT coffee. As such, the domestic market is permeable and, with the exception of a small conservative group of consumers, there is plenty of scope for influence to increase awareness and adoption in domestic consumption of FT coffee.
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Fostering Sustainable Rural Development: the Role of Women’s Empowerment in Economic Decoupling in Kosovo]]></title>
            <link>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0011</link>
            <guid>https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/zireb-2025-0011</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[

As economies pursue sustainable development, reducing dependence on external financial support is especially critical in rural contexts where structural vulnerabilities persist. In Kosovo, rural households often rely on remittances, masking deeper limitations in local economic capacity. This study examines whether women’s empowerment can strengthen household economic resilience and reduce remittance dependency, therefore contributing to more self-sustaining rural development. Using a modified version of the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), adapted for data constraints, the analysis captures empowerment across all rural households, regardless of their primary economic activity. The analysis relies on a reduced-form Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model to estimate the relationship between women’s empowerment and household economic performance, measured as household income excluding remittances, aggregated, and per household member. We utilize data from the 2018 MCC Kosovo Labor Force and Time Use Survey to explore this relationship in Kosovo. This dataset provides insights into household income, asset ownership, labor participation, household decision-making, and time allocation across various demographic groups. Analyzing income without remittances provides a view of household financial resilience, demonstrating empowerment’s role in enhancing local economic capacity while contextualizing the current reliance on external income sources. Results show that households with an empowered principal woman have significantly higher local income, particularly income excluding remittances, compared to households with less empowered women. These findings highlight the potential of empowerment to foster rural economic resilience by improving internal income-generating capacity. While the findings offer valuable insights, future research would benefit from longitudinal data and advanced causal techniques to further deepen our understanding of the dynamic relationship between empowerment and household income. This research underlines the need for policies that strengthen women’s decision-making power, access to resources, and economic inclusion within rural areas. Policymakers are encouraged to adopt gender-focused strategies that elevate women’s roles in rural economies, positioning empowerment as a catalyst for sustainable development across Kosovo.
]]></description>
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