Dosare abilitare Covaci Brindusa
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УДК 336.748.12: 330.341.42
https://doi.org/10.32342/2074-5354-2024-2-61-14
M. Covaci ,
PhD (Sociology & Psychology), Professor, Hyperion University & CBM International
University, Honolulu (USA)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6007-8489
B. Covaci ,
PhD (Economics & Agronomy), Professor, Centre for Mountain Economy & CBM International
University, Honolulu (USA)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0713-1068
DIGITAL ADMINISTRATION IN THE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE – A REVIEW: INSIGHTS
FROM MOUNTAIN ECONOMY
The research explores the challenges and advancements in global digital administration, focusing
on IoT-driven internet administration. The study proposes hypotheses on digital administration
performance and offers insights of IT administration.
The scholarly contribution introduces a comprehensive framework with five interconnected
indicators for measuring digital administration. These indicators, aligned with hypotheses, assess the
socio-economic impact of IT, incorporating complex mathematical formulations. The study utilizes
empirical data from reliable sources and employs rigorous statistical analysis, combining qualitative
and quantitative approaches to enhance understanding within the IT administration realm.
The study examines IT governance in EU, BRICS, and MENA countries through tangible assets.
Findings highlight varied resilience levels and advocate for strategic investments, emphasizing the
pivotal role of IT in economic development and governance across different intervals. The analysis
extends to e-IT governance, digital governance technology, and digital corporate governance
technology, demonstrating their impact on socio-economic environments, business performance, and
IT development in mountain areas.
Within this contextual framework, the authors posit several hypotheses concerning digital
administration performance:
H1. A robust quality of public and private administration correlates with a strong national
economy; additionally, heightened IT administration strength augments general administration – as
indicated by the Value Added of IT administration tangible assets from a country (A).
H2. Development influences administration in the Research-Development-Innovation (RDI)
sector, with the IT part paramount importance – as indicated by the Value Added of IT administration
tangible assets from a country (A).
H3. Digital administration within an electronic context should foster resilience in the socio-economic
environment of a country – as indicated by the Value Added of e-IT administration from a country (B).
H4. Public and private administration, particularly in IT administration, operates under the
auspices of technical development – as indicated by the Value Added of digital administration
technology from a country (C).
H5. IT administration and the overall digital administration environment exert influence on
business performance – as indicated by the Value Added of digital corporate administration technology
from a country (D), and additionally, the Value Added of digital corporate administration technology
in the mountain area (E).
© M. Covaci, B. Covaci, 2024
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Results underscore the interconnectedness of governance quality, development, resilience, and
technical advancement in the evolving landscape of digital administration.
Keywords: global digital administration; IoT-driven internet administration; mountain IT
administration and resilience; socio-economic impact of IT
JEL classification: F63, H79, M15, M16, O57
Дослідження вивчає проблеми та досягнення в глобальному цифровому адмініструванні,
зосереджуючись на інтернет-адмініструванні, керованому IoT. Дослідження висуває гіпотези
щодо ефективності цифрового адміністрування та пропонує розуміння ІТ-адміністрування.
Науковий внесок представляє комплексну структуру з п’ятьма взаємопов’язаними
показниками для вимірювання цифрового адміністрування. Ці показники, узгоджені з
гіпотезами, оцінюють соціально-економічний вплив ІТ, включаючи складні математичні
формулювання. Дослідження використовує емпіричні дані з надійних джерел і застосовує
ретельний статистичний аналіз, поєднуючи якісні та кількісні підходи для покращення
розуміння сфери ІТ-адміністрування.
Дослідження розглядає управління ІТ у країнах ЄС, БРІКС і Близького Сходу і Близького
Сходу через матеріальні активи. Результати підкреслюють різні рівні стійкості та виступають за
стратегічні інвестиції, підкреслюючи ключову роль ІТ в економічному розвитку та управлінні
в різних інтервалах. Аналіз поширюється на електронні ІТ-управління, цифрові технології
управління та цифрові технології корпоративного управління, демонструючи їхній вплив на
соціально-економічне середовище, ефективність бізнесу та розвиток ІТ-технологій у гірських
районах.
У цій контекстуальній структурі автори висувають кілька гіпотез щодо ефективності
цифрового адміністрування:
H1. Надійна якість державного та приватного управління корелює з сильною національною
економікою; крім того, посилення ІТ-адміністрування посилює загальне адміністрування – як
вказує додана вартість матеріальних активів ІТ-адміністрування в країні (A).
H2. Розвиток впливає на адміністрування в секторі досліджень, розробок та інновацій
(RDI), причому ІТ-частина має першорядне значення, як вказує додана вартість матеріальних
активів ІТ-адміністрування в країні (A).
H3. Цифрове адміністрування в електронному контексті має сприяти стійкості соціально-
економічного середовища країни – як вказує додана вартість адміністрування електронних ІТ
у країні (B).
H4. Державне та приватне адміністрування, зокрема ІТ-адміністрування, працює під
егідою технічного розвитку – як вказує додана вартість цифрових адмініструючих технологій
у країні (C).
H5. ІТ-адміністрування та загальне середовище цифрового адміністрування впливають
на ефективність бізнесу, як вказує додана вартість цифрових технологій корпоративного
адміністрування в країні (D) і, крім того, додана вартість цифрових технологій корпоративного
адміністрування в гірській місцевості (E).
Результати підкреслюють взаємозв’язок якості управління, розвитку, стійкості та
технічного прогресу в еволюції цифрового адміністрування.
Ключові слова: глобальне цифрове управління; Інтернет-адміністрування на основі
IoT; гірське ІТ-адміністрування та стійкість; соціально-економічний вплив ІТ
JEL classification: F63, H79, M15, M16, O57
Introduction
The research endeavors to examine
global administration within the digital
administration framework, specifically
emphasizing global internet administration
catalyzed by the Internet of Things (IoT).
This study reviews a related unpublished
paper, Digital Governance in the Internet
of Things Context: Evidence from the EU,
MENA, and BRICS [1], authored by the
same researchers. The aim is to emphasize
the significance of digital administration
within the framework of IT development.
The conceptualization of global internet
administration poses a formidable challenge
for both private and public administration
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entities [2]. A well-organized information
technology (IT) administration emerges as
a potent managerial instrument, facilitating
creativity and fostering the development of
diverse administrative skills and positions,
thereby advancing production and advertising
beyond its role in communication-oriented
IT administration contexts, which are more
extensively developed with it than without it.
The Internet of Things (IoT), surpassing
the realms of industry, the internet, or their
derivatives, has significantly influenced
human and socio-economic life by seamlessly
integrating the physical world with the digital
realm [3]. The IoT, in this context, pledges
support for administration sustainability,
encompassing cost reduction, energy
efficiency, and mitigation of air pollution,
as well as the realization of IoT-based smart
cities [4]. In this novel paradigm, challenges
related to smart business and technological
matters are identified, and IoT emerges as a
solution for diverse economic tasks [5].
E-administration, cloud computing, and
IoT collectively undergo a transformative
process, particularly impacting public
services in healthcare, cultural heritage,
telecommunications, and creative industries
[6-7]. The context of this paper is intricately
interlinked by various roadmaps forged
among the European Union (EU), Middle
East and North Africa (MENA), and BRICS
(Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
countries, including the notable RoadMap
2025, which focalizes on the roadmap for the
EU and India.
Administration enhancements
positively impact both the public sector and,
concomitantly, the private industry through
the efficient implementation of e-government
initiatives [8-13].
IT administration offers a realm where
desiderata such as the division of labor,
praxeological theory of good work, and other
crucial human paradigms can be applied [14].
Author L. Welchman contends that
digital administration is pivotal as the
primary support for decision-making, shared
responsibilities, and the implementation of
financial-accounting systems for public and
private socio-economic environments [15].
In a similar vein, L. Faur, the author of the
Oxford Administration Handbook, deems
digital administration as transcending the
barriers set by current public government
policies. Bureaucracy is identified as the
key impediment within the Research-
Development-Innovation (RDI) domain [16].
The significance of public
administration, particularly within the realm
of private administration, is underscored in
the context of renowned corporate failures
such as Blockbuster, Enron, Hitachi, Kodak,
Motorola, Nokia, Polaroid, Toshiba, Xerox,
and Worldcom [17].
Literature review
The principal challenge inherent in
the domain of Information Technology (IT)
administration manifests in its structural
composition, transcending the realm of
technical impediments. Governments on a
global scale, spanning from the United States
of America and the EU to the MENA, BRICS
nations, Japan, Singapore, South Korea,
the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and others,
ardently advocate for Artificial Intelligence,
Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and
various digital imperatives, strategically
integrating them into the fabric of both public
and private administration [18].
Digital administration within the EU is
underpinned by the democratic philosophy
of community foundations. Within the EU,
the digital society serves as a conduit for the
restoration of freedom across all member
states [19-21].
A consortium of Spanish researchers
posits that notwithstanding the well-
established nature of administration
worldwide, encompassing diverse facets
of human existence, digital administration,
specifically RDI administration, is in its
nascent stage [22].
Academics from France suggest that
decision-making and RDI in isolation are
insufficient for optimal public administration
[23-24].
In accordance with the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development, as
cited by researchers from Germany, Belgium,
and Luxembourg, administration necessitates
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the establishment of a framework guided
by the generation and sharing of ideas,
empowerment of the workforce, review
of organizational layouts, formulation of
process navigation rules, among other
considerations [25].
A coalition of Finnish and British
researchers asserts that public administration
evolves across five dimensions, namely
socio-political, public policy, administrative,
contractual, and networking [26].
A scholarly work pertaining to MENA
countries illuminates that sustainable
development in public and private
administration materializes through the
incorporation of regulatory principles and
regulations [27].
The Arab world emerges as the
burgeoning frontier of contemporary digital
administration [15]. A study conducted by
the Division of Public Economics & Public
Administration of the United Nations,
involving 60 relevant participants and
focusing on Arab countries, establishes a
nexus between e-administration and two
subsequent indicators: the Online Service
Index (OSI) and E-participation Index (EPI)
[28]. Scholars and experts from BRICS
countries, including South Africa, India, and
China, posit that the institutional and political
system constitutes a crucial determinant in
the implementation of IT administration [29].
In other BRICS countries, such as Brazil,
South Africa, and India, the evolution of IT
administration occurred under the auspices of
a decolonization mentality [30] Other authors
substantiate the positive correlation between
the administration of a country within BRICS
and the intensity of RDI, correlated with
dividend payments [31]. The construction of
digital administration in Brazil is overseen
by authorities through telecentres, receiving
financial backing at both technological and
socio-economic strata [32].
Situated as one of the most advanced
countries in Africa, South Africa directs
substantial investments into the domain of IT
administration. [33]
A cohort of Indian researcher’s
underscores, in alignment with a study
conducted by the PWC corporation and
their independent research [34], that the E7
economies could potentially constitute half
of the world GDP by the year 2050. Chinese
and Indian governments demonstrate adept
control over cybercrimes and security
concerns, providing a sense of assurance in
data storage practices [17].
Methodology
The scholarly contribution posits
a framework comprising five distinct
indicators designed for the measurement
of digital administration. These indicators
exhibit interconnectivity and elucidate the
augmented worth of the socio-economic
milieu within the realm of Information
Technology (IT).
Indicator A, denoted as the Value Added
of IT administration Tangible Assets within
a country, aligns with hypotheses H1 and
H2. This metric encapsulates the aggregate
value of tangible assets within a country,
signifying their potential contribution to
technology employed in either public or
private administration. The quantification of
Value Added of IT administration Tangible
Assets (A) is explicated as the summation of
the value added to the index of IT internal
products (α), coupled with the value added to
the index of IT imports (δ), and concurrently
diminished by the value added of the index of
IT exports (μ). In essence, this encapsulates
the net value attributed to the utilization of IT
devices within a given country.
(1)
In the context of this analysis, denoted
by ‘n’ representing a yearly series, the
computation involves the determination of
the value-added pertaining to the index of
IT internal production (α). This value (α) is
computed as the quotient of the number of IT
internal production (β) divided by the entirety
of internal production (γ), subsequently
multiplied by 100 to yield a percentage.
( 2 )
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In the given context, the calculation
involves the determination of the value added
associated with the index of the number of
IT imports (δ). This value (δ) is formulated
as the ratio of the number of IT imports (ε)
to the aggregate of all imports (θ), further
multiplied by 100 to express the result in
percentage terms.
( 3 )
In the analytical framework delineated
herein, the computation involves ascertaining
the value added corresponding to the index of
the number of IT exports (μ). This value (μ) is
defined as the quotient obtained by dividing
the number of IT exports (ρ) by the aggregate
of all exports (σ), further multiplied by 100
to denote the outcome as a percentage.
( 4 )
The metric denoted as Value added
of the e-IT administration from a country
(B) (H3) encapsulates the application of IT
administration within an electronic milieu,
notably the internet, encompassing both
public and private administration. It is
defined as the product of the Value added of
the IT administration tangible assets from a
country (A) and the value added of the index
of internet access (τ). The calculation of τ
involves determining the percentage of the
population with internet access, expressed as
a unitary index obtained by dividing the said
percentage by 100.
( 5 )
The metric designated as Value added
of the digital administration technology from
a country (C) (H4) signifies the aggregate
of devices and connections catering to both
public and private administration within a
given nation. It is articulated as the product
of the Value added of the e-IT administration
from a country (B) and the Internet of Things
(IoT) metric from the same country (φ), the
latter expressed as a unitary value, i.e., divided
by 100. This conveys the interconnected
impact of electronic IT administration and
IoT on the overall digital administration
technology value.
( 6 )
The parameter denoted as Value added
of the digital corporate administration
technology from a country (D) (H5)
embodies the collective presence of devices
and connections devoted to corporate
administration within a specific nation.
This metric is formulated as the result of
multiplying (weighting) the Value added of
the digital administration technology from
a country (C) by the value added of the
index of the IT active enterprises from the
same country (ω), with the latter expressed
as a unitary value, i.e., divided by 100. This
formulation elucidates the compounded
influence of digital administration technology
and the activity of IT enterprises on the
overall value within the realm of digital
corporate administration technology.
( 7 )
The parameter denoted as Value added
of the index of the IT active enterprises from
a country (ω) is formulated as the quotient
resulting from dividing the count of IT
active enterprises within a country (ϵ) by
the aggregate count of all active enterprises
within the same country (ϑ). This result
is then multiplied by 100, expressed as a
percentage, providing a standardized index
that represents the proportional contribution
of IT active enterprises to the entire spectrum
of active enterprises in the given country.
( 8 )
The quantitative measure denoted as the
Value added of digital corporate administration
technology within the mountain area (E) (H5)
signifies the comprehensive sum of devices
and connections dedicated to corporate
administration within the mountainous
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region. This metric is articulated as the
product of the Value added of digital
administration technology from a country
(C) and the weighted Value added of the
index of IT active mountain enterprises from
the same country (Ω), presented as a unitary
value denoting division by 100.
( 9 )
The Value added of the index denoting
the activity of IT enterprises within
mountainous regions from a given country
(Ω) is formulated as the quotient of the
quantity of IT active mountain enterprises
(χ) within the country, divided by the
aggregate of all active enterprises within the
mountainous region (ψ). This expression is
then multiplied by 100 to yield a percentage
representation.
(10)
The empirical data presented in this
research, derived from authoritative sources
such as the United Nations [35] & TradeMap
[36] (indicator A), World Bank [37] (indicator
B), Eurostat [38] (indicators C, D & E), and
various international databases, underwent
rigorous analysis employing statistical tools
such as SPSS or Excel. Valid quantitative
results for the European Union (EU), Middle
East and North Africa (MENA), and BRICS
nations were obtained. The study adopts
a qualitative research approach within the
realm of IT administration.
The quantitative dataset, sourced from
reputable entities including the United
Nations, World Bank, Eurostat, TradeMap,
and other international databases, underwent
thorough analysis and simulation using
statistical software such as SPSS and Excel.
Descriptive statistics, frequency analyses
(ANOVA), and forecasting techniques
were systematically applied. Concurrently,
qualitative data were subject to observation
and thematic analysis. It is pertinent to
note that some data exhibit incompleteness,
prompting the authors to resort to forecasting
techniques for model calibration.
Results and Discussion
Results
The value added of tangible IT assets
in countries (A), based on data and forecasts
from the United Nations, TradeMap, and
IBIS World [39], exhibits distinct values
within the analyzed EU, BRICS, and
MENA countries, stratified by intervals.
Nations falling within the 0-5 first interval,
including Austria (4.69), Bulgaria (4.96),
Croatia (3.66), France (3.39), Italy (3.95),
Jordan (0.45), and Spain (4.10), necessitate
substantial enhancement of resilience in IT
administration. Investment in IT tangible
assets emerges as pivotal for value-added
development in this category. Countries
within the 5-10 second intervals, such as
Brazil (7.83), China (9.33), Egypt (5.51),
India (5.71), Poland (7.20), Portugal (5.96),
Romania (6.77), and Russia (8.77), are
characterized as emergent in IT administration,
with tangible asset investments potentially
at lower levels for the development of the
general administration chain. The third-
interval countries with values exceeding 10,
including Czechia (14.81), Slovakia (12.68),
South Africa (13.36), and Saudi Arabia
(10.33), demonstrate high resilience and
value-added IT administration, marked by
significant investments in IT production and
export. Notably, the comparative advantage
of China and Czechia reveals favorable
values, with Czechia standing out as the most
emergent among the analyzed nations.
Table 1 underscores that countries
within the third interval place a higher value
on their IT administration. The value added
in IT administration depends on how a
country leverages IT tangible assets in daily
activities, even if imports are higher or IT
production and exports are comparatively
lower.
The value added of e-IT administration
in a country (B), based on World Bank data
(2022), hinges on the value added of the
internet access index (τ). This index signifies
the expression of IT used in electronic access,
presenting decreased values for countries like
Austria (20.51), Bulgaria (16.79), Croatia
(13.82), Egypt (17.15), France (14.15), India
(9.07), Italy (13.98), Jordan (1.53), Portugal
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Table 1
Value added to the indexes for IT production ( ), imports ( ), and exports ( )
Countries Value added to the index
of the number of IT intern
production ( )
Value added to the index of
the number of IT imports (
)
Value added to the index of
the number of IT exports ( )
Austria 2.74 4.71 2.76
Brazil 2.66 9.27 4.10
Bulgaria 0.99 4.52 0.56
China 13.93 18.11 22.71
Croatia 0.70 4.01 1.05
Czechia 4.80 16.63 6.62
Egypt 0.09 5.79 0.38
France 2.96 5.45 5.01
India 2.25 8.85 5.39
Italy 1.13 4.45 1.64
Jordan 0.23 4.73 4.51
Poland 1.42 6.85 1.07
Portugal 0.44 5.65 0.13
Romania 2.10 6.71 2.05
Russia 2.53 8.51 2.27
Saudi Arabia 0.09 10.31 0.07
Slovakia 0.91 12.62 0.85
South Africa 11.52 2.04 0.20
Spain 0.47 4.25 0.61
Source: Authors according to the [35, 36, 39]
(22.70), Romania (25.01), and Spain (18.49).
Conversely, increased values are observed
for Brazil (29.60), China (30.23), Czechia
(59.77), Poland (29.04), Russia (36.18),
Saudi Arabia (49.46), Slovakia (53.88),
and South Africa (44.31). The success of
indicator B depends not only on internet
access or indicator A but is profoundly
influenced by the potential valorization of
e-administration.
It is imperative to acknowledge that high
internet access alone does not guarantee greater
success in electronic administration. Countries
with increased values effectively capitalize on
their IT potential in the electronic environment
for superior administration development.
Within the domain of IT administration,
an additional pivotal indicator, posited as
the value added of digital administration
technology from a country (C), draws
attention to the potential application of
the Internet of Things (IoT) index (φ) in
electronic administration. Eurostat data
(2022) and the authors’ computations reveal
substantial variations in the IoT index, with
notable highs for Austria (0.32), Croatia
(0.2), Czechia (0.44), Italy (0.23), Portugal
(0.2), and Spain (0.2), contrasted by lower
values for Bulgaria (0.12), France (0.1),
Poland (0.17), Romania (0.07), and Slovakia
(0.17). Countries within the EU, as per φ,
showcase Czechia at the pinnacle with a
value added of 26.30, trailed by Slovakia
(9.16), Austria (6.56), Croatia (2.76), Poland
(4.94), Portugal (4.54), Spain (3.70), Italy
(3.22), Bulgaria (2.01), Romania (1.75), and
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France (1.41). Nations with values below 5
necessitate heightened resilience in IoT for
effective administration.
Value added of digital corporate
administration technology from a country (D),
based on Eurostat data and contingent upon the
value added of the index of IT active enterprises
from a country (ω), assumes significance across
the analyzed nations. Countries with lower
ω, specifically Bulgaria (3.66), Italy (2.44),
Portugal (1.74), and Spain (2.07), must fortify
their resilience in developing the IT population
of active enterprises. Conversely, nations like
Austria (4.93), Croatia (5.09), Czechia (4.33),
France (4.05), Romania (4.86), and Slovakia
(4.64) should bolster the activity of IT economic
entities. The digital corporate administration
(D) in these nations is appraised within the
IT environment, with certain countries, such
as Austria (32.38), Czechia (113.90), and
Slovakia (42.46), placing heightened value on
their IT corporate administration. On the other
hand, countries like Bulgaria (7.38), Croatia
(14.07), France (5.73), Italy (7.86), Portugal
(7.89), Romania (8.51), and Spain (7.67)
should advocate for increased resilience in IT
corporate administration and the augmented
valorization of digital activities.
The mountain area, beset by natural
handicaps, assumes significance in IT
activities, making the value added of digital
corporate administration technology in the
mountain area (E) a crucial indicator for
regional development. Contingent upon
the value added of the index of IT active
mountain enterprises from a country (Ω),
this indicator exhibits substantial fluctuations
among the presented countries. Countries
with lower Ω, such as Croatia (2.70), Czechia
(3.02), France (2.76), Italy (2.22), Portugal
( 1.01), and Spain (1.85), are urged to invest
more in the IT environment of the mountain
area. Conversely, nations like Austria (3.67),
Bulgaria (4.47), Poland (3.57), Romania
(4.29), and Slovakia (3.54) should sustain their
preeminent position in IT development for
the mountain area. Countries displaying high
resilience to digital corporate administration
(E), including Austria (24.11), Czechia (79.35),
and Slovakia (32.44), serve as exemplars for
others, such as Bulgaria (9.01), Croatia (7.46),
France (3.91), Italy (7.15), Portugal (4.61),
Romania (7.52), and Spain (6.83).
A comprehensive analysis of IT
corporate administration in the mountain
enterprises’ environment adopts a
multivariate approach, utilizing the Eurostat
meta-index of IT Business Demography
statistics comprising 26 indicators (with
active mountain enterprises, representative
indicator I1). Employing SPSS ANOVA
for 2008-2018, along with forecasting for
2019-2028, countries like Austria, France,
Italy, and Spain emerge at the forefront
of IT mountain Business Demography
statistics, while Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia
are encouraged to fortify resilience in IT
mountain corporate administration ( annex 1 ; 1
annex 2 ) 2 . The societal responsibility of the
IT mountain business environment is well-
established in certain countries, including
Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Romania,
and Spain. The IT sector in the analyzed
countries holds significance as a dimension
of the mountain area, with a growing number
of businesses and individuals participating in
mountain administration.
Projections for 2028 ( annex 3 ) 3 indicate
that specific indicators will enhance resilience
1 annex 1 2 annex 2 3 annex 3
ISSN 2074-5354 (print), ISSN 2522-9745 (online). ACADEMY REVIEW . 2024. № 2 (61)
211
in IT corporate administration in the mountain
area of discussed countries, including I1, I2,
I4-I7, I11, I14, I16, I18, I20-I22, and I25.
Conversely, other indicators, namely I3, I8-
I10, I15, I17, I19, and I23-I24, may diminish
the resistance of IT administration, potentially
impeding IT Business Demography
development. Forecasts for the most pivotal
indicator, the fluctuation of the population of
active enterprises between 2021-2028 (%),
underscore Bulgaria’s expected increase
by 33.39%, Czechia by 41.58%, Poland by
43.38%, Portugal by 44.33%, Romania by
33.52%, and Slovakia by 33.67%. These
projections position these countries favorably
for sustaining competitiveness in the EU and
global mountain IT corporate administration.
In parallel, Austria is anticipated to rise
moderately by 10.40%, Croatia by 14.42%,
France by 28.77%, Italy by 20.22%, and
Spain by 19.81, ensuring the continuation
of the current development in the European
mountain background.
Discussion
The quantitative data presented in this
study converge towards pivotal narrative
findings and discussions, substantiating the
hypotheses posited in the paper:
Result 1: Confirms H1, signifying
that a robust quality of public and private
administration correlates with the economic
strength of a country. Furthermore, it
underscores the positive impact of enhanced
IT administration strength on the overall
administration, as indicated by the Value
Added of the IT administration tangible
assets from a country (A).
These findings align with corroborative
evidence from analogous studies examining
134 countries across Africa, Asia, and Arab
regions. Administration, when coupled with
supportive elements like aiding mechanisms
and robust corruption supervision, manifests
a positive influence. Inadequate standards
in these aspects lead to administrative
shortcomings. Notably, MENA and BRICS
countries exhibit substantial potential due to
their excess human capital, constituting 42%
of the world population [40-41].
Result 2: Affirms H2, indicating
that development significantly impacts
administration in the Research, Development,
and Innovation (RDI) sector, with the IT
segment playing a crucial role. This is
evident in the Indicator Value Added of
the IT administration tangible assets from a
country (A).
Similar research underscores the
importance of investments in RDI,
exemplified by a study on 22,073 firms from
BRICS. The study emphasizes the role of
investor protection, revealing that countries
facilitating high-level dividend payments
attract more interest from investors [42].
Result 3: Validates H3, indicating that
digital administration in an electronic context
contributes to the resilience of a country’s
socio-economic environment, as reflected
in the Indicator Value Added of the e-IT
administration from a country (B).
Corroborating studies on BRICS digital
administration underscore the imperative
of socio-economic resilience. Initiatives
such as India’s Aadhaar program, the
establishment of a complex economic
support network in bilateral trade between
China and South Africa, improvements in
school administration through Smart School
examples in South Africa, and the expansion
of IT administration in Africa through
Tech Hubs and Maker Spaces highlight the
significance of socio-economic resilience
[43]. Result 4: Affirms H4, emphasizing that
public and private administration, particularly
IT administration, is influenced by technical
development, such as the Indicator Value
Added of the digital administration
technology from a country (C).
This is substantiated by research
emphasizing the pillars of IT development,
including digital skills, goodwill, and entities’
resilience in the electronics sector. A study
conducted in China utilizing SPSS regression
analysis underscores crucial factors for
implementing public administration, such
as technical skills, background support,
anticipated gain, goodwill, and people’s
achievements [44].
Result 5: Validates H5, indicating that
IT administration and the broader digital
administration environment exert influence
EU increased world export for this group with 19.84% (from
60,339,068 $M in 2016 to 72,310,458 $M in 2019).
4. Results and discussion
4.1. EU–China trade development. Evidence from the
apparel industry
According to problem formulation, results are connected to the
main tendencies in bilateral EU–China trades and to barriers are
tariff (import) , non-tariff (standards, financial information, and
sanitary and phytosanitary) , and investment (communications,
transport, and banking) barriers are in general available for all
trade Chinese relations.
The main results regarding tendencies for the HS group,
61 EU–China relations, show that in the EU top exported
countries to China, Romania decreases its position from 15th
to 18th. Still, Romania has risen its export about 1,151.83%
from 1,03,760 $M in 2001 to 12,98,895 $M in 2015. Between
2016 and 2019, Romania increases its export to China with
2.51% (from 1,359,056 $M in 2016 to 1,393,246 $M in 2019).
In percentages, Romania strengthened European exports,
being in 12th position in the top of EU exporters to China. But,
compared with other EU countries, like Poland or Slovakia,
Romania must work hard on intrinsic export strategy . Even
the values of the trade had increased, because of the world
export boom, the rates had decreased. The same situation is
encountered with the EU and Romanian levels, different from
China’s level. Otherwise, EU is decreasing in world export from
27.2% (22,281,988 $M in 2001) to 21.4% (47,941,877 $M in
2015). In the period of 2016–2019, EU world exports increased
with 24.94% (51,241,201 $M in 2016 to 64,021,978 $M in
2019). The most competitive countries are Germany , Italy , and
France, which produce in the east and selling in all parts of
the world. In this period, Romania decreases in apparel world
export from 0.8% (6,69,139 $M) to 0.3% (7,77,358 $M), having
in 2015 position 36th in the world top exported countries and 12
in EU. In period of 2016–2019, Romania decreased in export
volume with 8.85% (from 7,57,419 $M to 6,90,367 $M). China
has risen significantly , from 4.4% (13,455,949 $M in 2001) to
14% (83,842,271 $M in 2015), being pole position for the entire
period. Instead, in the period of 2016–2019, China decreased
with 4.78% (from 75,026,959 $M in 2016 to 71,440,138 $M in
2019) [7].
For the HS group, 62 EU–China relations, statistics shows that
some countries are leaders for apparel industry , namely , Italy ,
Germany , France, and Poland. Romania decreases in world
export from 2% (20,65,992 $M) to 1% (22,69,170 $M), in 2015
being situated at 19th position on world and 9th position on
EU level. In period of 2016–2019, Romania decreased world
export for this group with 7.84% (from 21,61,445 $M in 2016
to 19,91,829 $M in 2019). China, placed in the first position on
the entire period, had increased significantly the export rate
from 18.4% (18,952,050 $M) in 2001 to 34.9% (78,506,716
$M) in 2015. In period of 2016–2019, China decreased world
export for this group with 8.20% (from 72,766,739 $M in 2016
to 66,798,310 $M to 2019) [7].
world and emerging countries, China’ s accession is visible and
relevant. This country changed definitely the economic path of
world history . Its rates rising about 10% (2,015,757,713 $M),
from 4.4% (2,66,098,209 $M) in 2001 to 14% (2,281,855,922
$M) in 2015, placed China from the sixth position in 2001 to
the first position in 2015, in the 233 countries world export
top. In the context of EU decreasing, Romania had a good
situation in world export top, rising from 53 to 42 position, with
0.2% (49,220,054 $M) in the period of 2001–2015, from 0.2%
(1 1,384,994 $M) in 2001 to 0.4% in 2015 (60,605,048 $M).
In the EU export top, Romania raising its position from 18 in
2001 to 16 in 2015. At the beginning of the period 2001/2002,
Romania increasing in world export by 22%, but at the end of
2014/2015, a decrease in −13% shows a dramatic reduction in
its world commerce mapping [6]. Data keep its trends for the
2016–2019 period.
T otal trade with goods for EU with other regions/countries
presents bilateral trade EU–China in top of the commerce
and investment ascension, over the relationship with the USA,
India.
Bilateral trade EU–China shows that Chinese imports from
the EU raise from 36,418,691 $M (2001) to 2,09,324,993 $M
(2015), meaning about 474.77%, under the Chinese imports
media of 590.47%. Between 2016 and 2019, Chinese imports
from EU increased by 32.87%.
Data for the apparel industry , in the Harmonized Standards
(HS) codification, are referring to the group 61 “Articles of
apparel and accessories, knit or crochet” and 62 “Articles of
apparel and accessories, not knit or crochet”. These groups
are dedicated to clothing textile and industry , especially the
fashion industry . As mentioned above, these two groups share
about 3% of the world export. From 2001 to 2015, the apparel
industry decreases in world export about −8%. The most
important cause of this decrease is the overproduction of the
apparel industry .
In the period of 2001–2015, the articles of apparel and
accessories, knit or crochet (61 group) , attend constantly the
16 positions in the world export top. Related to the world export
volume in 2001, the apparel industry has a value of 82,069,502
$M, meaning 1.7%. Related to the world export volume from
2015, the world export rate had decreased to 1.4%, meaning
2,24,547,280 $M. In the period of 2016–2019, world export
volume for this group increased, meaning that has been
reinvigorated. Data show that this increase was in value of
13.93% (from 2,14,913,997 $M in 2016 to 2,44,859,479 $M
in 2019).
The 62 group articles of apparel and accessories, not knit or
crochet , decrease in world export top from position 13 (2001) to
15 (2015). Still, in rates, it increases from 1.3% (1,02,790,822
$M in 2001) to 1.4% (2,25,093,735 $M in 2015). In the period
of 2016–2019, world export for this group increased with
1 1.23% (from 2,14,162,175 $M in 2016 to 2,38,223,061 $M in
2019). EU decreases in world export from 31.6% (32,443,665
$M) to 26.5% (47,941,877 $M). In the period of 2016–2019,
AUTEX Research Journal, V ol. 22, No 2, June 2022, DOI 10.2478/aut-2021-0010
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Chinese market were nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery ,
machinery and electrical equipment, copper and copper
articles, wood, charcoal, and articles of wood and apparel
and clothing accessories, other than knitted or crocheted,
representing 60.1% of Romania’ s exports to China in 2010. It
was found that many Romanian products have the potential for
exporting in China and to promote and develop the delivery of
Romanian products in China and for an increase in the market
share of these products, it should be considered among the
priority products for export and for reformulating the export
strategy of Romania on that relationship [9].
Among solutions for all the Chinese importers, specific for
Romanian producers, the author , in accordance with Romania’ s
National Export Strategy (NES) for 2014–2020, proposes
clustering development and apparel companies financing.
In clustering, Romania has a strong activity on the international
level. Romanian clusters, of which 15 are major and built-in by
17 enterprises, have in 2012 an average turnover of 250 €M
and exports in amount of 200 €M, enrolment being of 5,000
employers. In 2012, the apparel industry has shared more
than 12% of the clustering industry in Romania, being the
most important. The textile is dominating the North-East and
South-East clusters, while the technical textile controls more
Bucharest-Ilfov branches.
Therefore, the apparel sector must be targeted support of
supply centers, a national fashion institute, a national office
style, and a Romanian brands catalog. Other actions to
encourage the apparel companies are information, training,
and consultancy in the area of strategic skills required by
managers in the sector; internal efforts to increase direct
exports (to switch from outsourcing “system,” with a gross
annual average/average increase in 5%) by encouraging
companies to modernize apparel creation (design) and retail
(e.g., by creating a center for fashion and design and more
oriented e-business and e-commerce); current improving
efficiency in the value chain, especially in the storage, transport
and logistics documentation, training and better cooperation
between manufacturers and service providers in the sector;
implementation of environmental management (ISO 14001),
increased production levels at an annual rate of 3.4% (2.4% in
the leather footwear sub-sector); quantitative growth of supply
of raw materials by increasing production of fiber .
The important challenge in the apparel industry is to create
a value chain that the universities, research institutes, and
consulting firms to develop the market strategically .
Internationally , to promote export, it is proposed to attach
Romanian producers to international fairs, mainly in Paris,
New Y ork, T okyo where the Chinese importers stand in line,
to encourage firms that obtain results/orders by participating
in fairs, granting facilities to later editions, like subsidizing
showrooms and to support economic missions abroad –
contacts, appointments with customers from France, USA,
China, Russia [10].
With reference to the tariff barrier , WTO postulates that imports
are subjects of tarif f reduction. In the same, descending trend
fits import tariff on apparels, which lowered from 14–23% to
7–10% and import tarif f on shoes, which goes down from
22–24% to 12%. Still, the quality of Chinese apparel industry
imports could be developed through more stable agreements
in import duties and taxes related to foreign trade and business
[7]. Statistics keeps its trend in the 2016–2019 period.
Standardization in China needs to update, especially in
awarding certifications speed. Certification in China, for all
products including apparel, takes a lot of time and money , which
is why many foreign investors are discouraged. According to
Xu [8], The Seconded European Standardization Expert in
China (SESEC) project proposes to Chinese administration
some solutions as “accelerate the pace of Chinese standards
go global and strengthen the foundation and ensure the
sustainable development of standardization”.
Financial information , especially financial education, represents
one of the main challenges in China. Considering internet
censorship in China, financial information is truncated and
incomplete. This problem is solved only by exercising freedom
of information by the Chinese government. Otherwise, making
and sharing promotional materials are too expensive and no
apparel companies support these investments.
Sanitary and phytosanitary obstacles of the Chinese market are
remarkable due to China’s important non-tariff barriers affecting
the apparel sector . Not the quality of the imported products
is the problem but the non-predictability and length of the
application process. Many of the application data are interest to
be lost by Chinese authorities. A centralized database should
resolve the applications of sanitary and phytosanitary threats.
Communications, transport, and banking are the major
investment difficulties in China. Potential investors are subject
to communications and banking abuse, the information slowly
runs affecting the businesses. In the apparel industry , the
celerity of the information is more than important. At the same
time, transport in some Chinese districts is decelerating the
apparel industry in China. Liberalization of the investment
barrier would be in Chinese interests.
As shown earlier , goods trade with the USA is linear or in
decline, while EU–China significantly rises in the last time.
European retailers are developing their businesses in China,
according to rising incomes and population increase [4]. In
this context, at the European level, one of the most important
objectives is to assure for EU–China trade relations sufficient
defense instruments.
4.2. Evidence from the Romanian apparel industry
T o increase their chances of Romanian products entering
the Chinese market, the Romanian Centre for T rade and
Investment Promotion (CRPCIS) conducted a study to discover
the categories of products that have export potential on the
Chinese market. Thus, it was observed that during the period
of 2005–2010, the main products exported by Romania on the
AUTEX Research Journal, V ol. 22, No 2, June 2022, DOI 10.2478/aut-2021-0010
http://www .autexrj.com/ 145
Regarding apparel companies financing recommended to
sustain the relations between Romanian and EU apparel
brands dealing with China. The Romanian government has to
finance local brands like AP ACA, which produces clothes for
EU brands dealing with China, namely , Giorgio Armani, Hugo
Boss, V ersace, Boggi, Patrizia Pepe, YSL, T ed Baker , Stefanel
or H&M. Other example is Martelli Europe, a firm established
in Buzău by an Italian businessman in 2000, which producing
jeans and other clothing items for Prada and Diesel. The
apparel industry in Moldova is dominated by Rhapsody Conf
from Botosani, which has contracts with Armani, Ralph Lauren,
Prada, Zara, Zenia, Margiela, Hugo Boss, and Massimo Dutti.
These EU brands dealing with Romanian companies should
be encouraged to produce clothes, especially luxury fashion,
in Romania, because of the employees’ low costs and
professionalism.
The apparel industry in the relation between UE and China is
developing under the auspices of idea that circular economy
has become important for both policymaking [1 1].
5. CONCLUSION AND PROPOSALS
The main conclusion of the paper shows that at the European
level, one of the most important objectives for the apparel
industry is to assure EU–China trade feasible barrier export
instruments to develop efficiently the bilateral exports. This can
be done by applying circular economy desiderata. A general
solution for circular economy applied in any industry , specific to
apparel suppose, that under current conditions, the need to move
from the linear economy model to the circular economy model
is proven to be a paramount necessity . The circular economy
is a must in the apparel industry , on one hand, because of the
urgent need for optimal use of resources, thus ensuring both
the reduction of dependence on primary resources, the creation
of a higher number of jobs than in non-renewable energy and
energy industries as well as environmental protection and
on the other hand, because the need to reintroduce used
products into the circuit, to avoid/reduce their transformation
into waste and to ensure implementation of that optimal waste
management in which residual waste is reduced to a minimum
absolute – the waste of one industry to be the raw material of
another industry [12].
T o apply circular economy in the EU–China relation, companies
from the apparel industry must [2, 13–15] differentiate their
products; take advantage of the free trade, zero-tariff scheme
agreement; and integrate the industrial chain vertically and
horizontally to make the pipeline more ef fective and hence
enjoy cost savings; in light of the changes in market and
fashion trends, pay more attention to non-cost factors such
as one-package buying, the application of Information and
Communications T echnology (ICT) in design and pattern
making, speeding up the supply of samples, providing a variety
of products and services, and enhance credit; make good
use of their proximity and accessibility to the market; update
their product/process/quality through advanced facilities,
online systems, digital technology , and so on and improve
management levels. Governments of exporting countries should
take measures to strengthen the infrastructure, enhance the
efficiency of transportation and communication, and speed up
customs clearance; conduct training and education programs
for workers and managers; cooperate inter-regionally and
intra-regionally; restructure textile complexes, integrate the
value chain horizontally and vertically , and reinforce supporting
industries; maintain political and economic stability [2, 13–16].
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Revista Român ească pe ntru Educa ţ ie M ultidim ensională
ISSN: 2066-7329 | e -ISSN: 20 67 -9270
Covered in: W eb of Sc i ence (WOS); EBSC O ; ERIH+; Go ogle S cholar; I ndex Copern i cus; Ideas RePeC; Econpapers;
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202 4, Volume 16, I ssue 2, p ages: 56 - 70 | ht tps://doi .org/10.18662 /rrem/16 .2/846
Su bm itted : February 25 th , 202 4 | Acce pted f or publication: Fe brua ry 25 th , 2024
Data Scien ce, Business
Intelligence, a nd the
Internet of
Everything: A
Scientomet ric
Education Per sp ective
with a Moun tain Focus
M i ha i C OV AC I 1
Br î ndu ş a C O V A CI 2
1 Hyperion U niversity - CBM I nternational
University, cbmu niversity@mi nister.com
2 CBM Internati onal University , Centre for
Mountain Econ omy,
mihaicovaci@ hyperion.ro
A b s tr a c t: This paper delves into the intricate interplay of the Internet
of Everything within the dynamic landscap e of evolving data science and
business intellig ence, scrutinize d through the discerning lens of
scientometrics within the broader context of education social
responsibility. The author posits that the primary objective o f the
Internet of Everything is to not merely bridge, but transcend the gap
between business, education, and science, thereby fortifying the
indispensab le ro le o f corporate sustainability in shaping societa l
paradigms. T he meticul ously valida ted re sults affirm the credibility of
the propos ed hypothesis and indicators. Notably, infor mation
technology, particularly within the expansive realms of the Internet and
Internet of Things subdivisions, emerges as the paramount dimension
influencing the underde velopment of mountainous areas. The triad
nexus established in this study remarkably diminishes the pervasive
disparities betw een science, education, and business, with a singular
focus on advancing people and human sustain ability. Proposing seven
innovative indicators within the triad, the research not only contributes
to the existing body o f knowledge but also envisages a transformative
impact. Furthermore, the paper advocates for the adoption of common
data science g overnance models acro ss diverse coun try g roups globally,
fostering a co llaborative approach to technological and societal
advancement.
Keywords: Business Intelligen ce, Science education responsibility,
Data Science, Internet of E verything, M ountain E ntrepreneurship,
Scientometry.
How to cite: Covaci , M., & Covaci, B. (2024). Data s cience,
business intelligenc e, and the internet of everythi ng: a
scientometric education perspec tive with a mountain focus .
Revista Românească pentr u Educa ţie Multidimensională, 16 (2), 56 -
70. https://doi.org/1 0.18662/rrem/16.2 /846
Revista Românea scă pentru
Educaţie Multidimensională
June 2024
Volume 16 , I ssue 2
57
Introduction
The pa per mai nly devel ops the scientometric perspective of the
Internet of Everything (IoE) a s it reveals the importance of science
education responsibility (SER ) in the economic development of society,
especially the business env ironment (Fernández ‐ Gago et a l., 2020). The
founders of scientometrics, including Derek J. de S. Price and Eugene Eli
Garfield, understood not only the importance of the quantitative approach
to scientific mana gement but especially the qua litative one by establishing
coherent science policies (Ya gi et al., 1996). Scientometr ic policie s a re
intended to deductive ly insert data science and business intelligence
feedback into science, and IoE to establish a solid bridge between science
and public and priva te governance in order to perf orm SER (Ferramosca &
Verona, 2020).
Reducing the gaps between science a nd the business environment is
the main goa l of highlighting the importanc e of value -added chains with a
major impact on current human development (Blasi & Sedita, 2022) .
Business closer t o the con sumer is a present rea lity and not mythical wishful
thinking. IoE can structurally cha nge business and the way value is crea ted,
especially through research oriented to the micro, meso, and macro levels of
the economy.
Objectives and Scope of the study
The perspective of mountain SE R is necessary be caus e the world of
mountains presents more pronounced technological problems than hilly or
plain areas. The difficult access of people , but especia lly of pr iva te and
public governance, to information, gi ves the mountain area an increased
development handicap compared to the other areas. The IoE represents a
network of truly address a ble conne ctions between pe ople, processes, smart
things, and data/information flows (Langley et al., 2021).
The idea of reduc ing t he differences between scienc e and the
business env ironment, bu siness intellige nce (BI), through data science (DS)
has as a result strengthened the management process. Entrepreneurs become
resilient for SER and against socioeconomic cha os through tria d application.
DS nexus BI will develop SER more than in the present. To achiev e IoE,
through the prism of scientometrics, data scienc e and business intelligence
must be accompanied by IT, especially the Internet and Internet of Things.
Research on da ta a nalytics and BI (Allam, 2021) pro poses to conne ct
the business environme nt to data science through the most impor tant
Data Scienc e, Business Intell igence, and the Inte rnet of Eve rything: …
Mihai COVAC I & Brî nduş a C OVACI
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current social platforms, such as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Y outube, etc.
The access of the business env ironment to da ta sci enc e, through such social
networks, would increase the efficie ncy of SER, as wel l as the popula rization
of scientific production.
The topics of interest pre sented capture the importance of DS, BI ,
and IoE in SER a nd scientometric science. The authors propose some
hypotheses, that will be verified during the paper.
Hypothesis (H) of the paper presents the influence of the DS and
IoE in BI, respectively:
H1. DS & IoE influence the society (indicators A, D & D’)
H2. DS & IoE influenc e the business env ironment by de veloping BI
(indicators B & B ’)
H3. BI is influenced by researchers’ visibility (indicator s C & C ’)
Literature review
An empirical Brazilian st udy on DS, carried out on 211 relevant
subjects (Medeiros et al., 2020 ), confirms the ma ny advantages of scienc e
connected to business intelligence. The favorable arguments for this
interrelation aim at ensuring support for DS and the rapid generation of
results, deve loping a culture based on DS, creating an env ironment
conducive to understanding the two main dimensions of IoE – DS and BI,
promoting public and private governance.
A group of Europea n resea rchers from Croatia and Spain (Škare et
al., 2022) ca pture the importance of creativity, communication and
leadership in the deve lopment of the business environment in correlation
with science. In this study, they reveal, by applying methodologies such as
VosWiever, Biblioshiny and the Page Rank algorithm, that more than half of
the top authors' publications from 2004-2022 were made after 2016. T his
statement leads to the idea that in recent ye ars’ science has connecte d much
better to the business environment than before 2016. Competencies related
to SER, specifically the entire staff of an economic entity and not just
managers, are becomi ng impor tant topics for the global entrepreneurial
ecosystem. A s a result o f the development of science in connection with
SER, the entire staff becomes more active not only in the performance of
tasks, but also in the complex development of the economic entity to which
it belongs.
According to other Chinese and Australian researchers (Ram et al.,
2016) , study conducted in China on 40 relevant respondents, BI represents
the ability of a company to properly use data collected from daily activity,
with the aim of identifyin g new opportunities, hig hlighting potential threats,
Revista Românea scă pentru
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June 2024
Volume 16 , I ssue 2
59
establish new business perspect ives, improve decision -making processes, etc.
In the same study it is shown that a survey conducted by Thomson (now
Clarivate) in 2004 suggests the major advantages of BI in making quick and
clear reports (81%), impr oving business decisions (78%), customer loyalty
(56%) and increase in profits (49%).
A group of Indonesian a nd Indian researchers (Purnomo et al.,
2020) have captured the impor tance of the digital economy, especially digit al
business, in the nexus between DS and BI . The res ea rch was based on th e
scientometric analysis of 933 scientific documents from 1978 to 2019. The
results reveal the increase in the number of digital business public ations,
which confirms the ne ed for the business environment to mix more and
more w ith DS. Favorite topics of di gital business papers cover IT, e -
commerce, digitiza tion, management, bus iness ecosystem, indu stry,
benchmarking.
Australian professors ( Klarin & Suseno, 2021) used a dataset
containing 2229 aca demic papers from the W eb of Science in the field of
economics. The research reveals a common typology of the interdepe ndent
concepts of ec onomics. Among the pillars of the typology of current
economic research penned by these professor s are i ndependent work a nd its
implications, transportation a nd solutions for sust ainable development, user
experience and collaborative consumption, respectively tourism and
hospitality. There are the mes in which public and private governance must
get involved considerably in the coming years.
Two groups of international researchers fr om Finland, Qatar, Franc e
and Singapore (Mustak et a l., 2021) and China (W ang et al., 2022), believes
that the eme rgence of AI gives marke ting practice and academic research
interesting opportunities to connect with the business environment.
Marketing is the science cl osest to the masses of the popula tion, whic h is
why DS and BI are cl oser than in any oth er science. Through dynamic
algorithms, automatic learning, respectively the application of natural
language processing, it was possible to decipher the co nsumer's beha vior.
The topics on the connection between DS and BI in marketing refer to
understanding consumer emotions, analyzing industrial opportunities related
to AI, painting the pic ture of customer satisfaction, electronic trans mission
of information, improving market sustainability, using AI, brand
development, crea ting the real pic ture of customer loyalty, establishing the
degree of interrelation between the development of A I and new services, the
use of AI to improve cus tomer relations and th e esta blishment of mai n
coordinates on the nexus between AI and strategic marketing.
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Mihai COVAC I & Brî nduş a C OVACI
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Methodology and Conceptual framework
The research in the pre sent material wa s conducted both inductively
and deductively, following similar pa tterns such as (Allam, 2021). Inductive
research de veloped by unders tanding the implications of DS in BI, by
deepening the conceptual foundations of DS, BI and IoE. Inductive
research followed the path of the sci entometric l aws. The deductive research
was carried out through empi rica l methods, testing the hypotheses of the
paper associated with the indicators A, B, B ’ , C, C ’ , D & D ’.
Q u an ti t at i v e d at a fr o m d i ff e re n t d at a b as es we re an a l yz e d th ro u gh
S P SS – A N OV A ( de s cr ip t iv e s t at is t ic s ) , an d fo r ec as t in g t ec h ni q u es w er e a pp li ed .
T h e q ua li t a ti v e ap pr o a ch was p ur su e d t hr o ug h a t he ma t ic an al y si s li ne .
The values of the paper will be ex pressed as a unitary value (the
variation between two years in pe rcentage, divided by 100), not a s a
percentage. The analyzed years are the final – n and the initial – 1. The
authors consider that the developme nt of IoE should be realized according
to DS intercala ted w ith BI, the final purpose being the sustainability of the
business environment.
Value ad ded of th e journal articles – , represents the va riation between
two years of the published journal articles from a country or a region.
[ ∏
] /100 (1)
Value ad ded of th e internet access – , represents the variation betwe en
two ye ars of the population internet a ccess fr om a country or a region and
shows the value added t o DS. It will be ex presse d as a unitary value (the
variation between two years in pe rcentage, divided by 100), not a s a
percentage.
[ ∏
] /100 (2)
Value added of the p opulatio n's access to DS journal articles – A (H1),
represents the product of the Value added of the journa l articles – and Value
added of the internet access – .
∏ (3)
Value add ed of the listed com pa nies – , represents the variation between
two years of the listed companies from a country or a region.
[ ∏
] /100 ( 4)
Value ad ded of th e DS journal a ccess in listed companies – B (H2),
represents the product of the Value added of the population's a ccess to DS journal
access – A and Value added of the listed companies – .
∏ (5)
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Value a d ded of the researchers’ visibility – , represents the variatio n
between two years of the researchers from a c ountry or a region.
[ ∏
] /100 (6)
Value added of the DS researchers’ visibility in listed companies – C (H3) ,
represents the variation between two ye ars of the researchers’ visibility in
listed companies from a country or a region.
∏ (7)
Value added of the publicat ion visibility – , represents the variation
between two years of the entire publication products from a country or a
region.
[ ∏
] /100 (8)
Value ad ded of th e DS publication visibility in listed compani es – D (H1),
represents the va riation betwe en two years of t he entire publication products
visible in listed companies.
∏ (9)
Specific for the mountain area, the paper propos es the DS & IoE
penetration to the business environment thr ough sp ecific mountain SER.
Value added of the m ountain enterprises – , represents the variation
between two years of the mountain enterprises from a country or a region.
[ ∏
] /100 (10)
Value added of the DS a ccess in m ountain enterprises – B (H2), represents
the product of the Value ad ded of the population's access to DS – A and Value
added of the mountain enterprise s – .
∏ (11)
Value ad ded of the DS researchers’ visibility in mountain enterprises – C
(H3), represents the va riation between two years of the researchers’ visibility
in mountain enterprises from a country or a region.
∏ (12)
Value added of the DS publication visibi lity in mounta in enterprises – D
(H1), represents the variation between two years of the entire publication
products visible in mountain enterprises.
∏ (13)
Data of the pape r, process ed from the W orld Bank (indic ators A, B,
C & D) and E urostat (indicators B ’ , C ’ & D ’ ) and simulated in SPSS or
Excel, returned valid values for the World Bank country groups in Africa
Western and C entral, Africa Eastern and Southern, Ara b W orld, East Asia &
Pacific, Europe & Cen tral Asia, E uropean U nion, Latin America &
Data Scienc e, Business Intell igence, and the Inte rnet of Eve rything: …
Mihai COVAC I & Brî nduş a C OVACI
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In the ana lyzed decade, the DS access to the listed companies
increased for the entire ind icator due to internet access, even if the number
of the listed companies decreased. Horizon 2030 reveals that DS journal
access (B indica tor) and DS scientific publica tion (D indic ator) insertion in
the business environment are positive and will sustain m ountain SER. The
forecasting value s sustain the development of the mountain area, namely
Bulgaria 0,3510, Czechia 0,2402, Spain 0,3069, France 0,48 11, C roatia
0,3568, Italy 0,1951, Austr ia 0,1007, Poland 0,3269, Portugal 0,8957,
Romania 0,5140 and Slovakia 0 ,4858. The forecasting of the B indic ator
reveals normal values, even for the European Union a nd North America due
to the continuous development from the last century. The positive values of
the C indicator, for the entire indicators and regi ons , revea l that books and
other electronic scientific publications, exce pt for journals, will impact more
the business env ironment than the journal articles. Consequently, in Europe,
the DS organiz ations could invest more in e -books and similar scientific
products. (Eurostat, 2022; World Bank, 2022)
Conclusion
The authors of this paper find that DS impa cts the business
environment, developing IoE, at micro, meso and macro le vels. Similar to
research carried out by other teachers, from Holland, UK and Germany
(Langley et al., 2021), the mentioned pe rspectives in the paper develop
different externalities. From a micro pers pective, DS develops both th e
provision of services to t he consumer and the way frontline staff work. At
the meso level, it is ob served that the added va lue chain is sustainable under
the conditions of the integration practices of resou rces and a ctors on each
link in the created framework. At the macro level, DS in correlation with BI
subsumes IoE as intelligent things and smart development change the
ec osystem va lue of economic sectors and the interconnections between
them. The final goal of the DS in conjunction to BI in the context of IoE
suppose the realiz ation of the employee involveme nt in the entrepreneurial
process and to become masters in their w ork fiel d. DS helps manage rs an d
employees in SER resilience implementation.
Revista Românea scă pentru
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Volume 16 , I ssue 2
69
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1st International Scientific Se minar "Mountain Series Anal ysis and Forecasting"
SUSTAINABLE EUROP EAN MOUNTAIN E NTREPRENEURSHIP
1
THROUGH STATIST ICAL, NEURAL NETWORK , AND FRACTAL
2
ANALYZES
3
Brind usa COVA CI 1,2 , and Mih ai COVAC I 2,3
4
1 Affiliation 1: Centre fo r Mountain Economy, Petren i 49, Vatra Dornei, Roman ia
5
2 Affiliation 2: CBM Internati onal University , Tsexeki Drive 7 , Che rokee Village, USA
6
3 Affiliation 3: H yperion University, Calea Calarasi lor 169, Bucharest, Romani a
7
*Corresponding auth or: [email protected]
8
9
Abstract
10
The article examine s key aspe cts of European moun tain entreprene urship, focus ing on the
11
economic sectors of Industry (secondary sector) and Services (tertiary sector). The purpose of the
12
analysis is to provide an accurate overview of supporting entrepreneurial sectors in mountain
13
regions, including commerce, the automotive industry, transport, storage, finance, and real estate.
14
These sectors constitute a significant portion of mountai n entrepreneursh ip, accounting for over a
15
third of all mountain-based economic organizatio ns, with the number of enterprises in these sectors
16
steadily increasing. Across EU countries, the entropy level of mountain entrepreneurship in these
17
supporting sectors indicates a need for additional structuring to achieve greater coherence at th e
18
community level. Fractal simulations offer imaginative insights into the current organizational state
19
of European mountain entrepreneurship. Additionally, neural network representati ons, through
20
observed patterns, highlight some weak l inks within support ing sectors when compared to the entire
21
secondary and tertiary sectors, with stronger connections identified between these two sectors.
22
Based on the findings, the authors propose solutions to enhance interconnectivity among European
23
countries by strength ening specific supporting sectors.
24
Keywords: mountain entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial modeling; supporting
25
entrepreneurial sectors; economic sectors; entreprene urial network patterns.
26
INTRODUCTION
27
This paper explores aspects of mountain entrepr eneurship i n E uropean cou ntries
28
that report data on mount ain regions to Eurostat: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia,
29
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and
30
Sweden. The st atistical analysis foc uses o n 2021, forming the basis f or ot her related
31
analyses.
32
Mountain entrepreneurship, spanning all economic sectors — primary, second ary,
33
and tertiary — is espe cially critical within today’s shift ing geopolitical an d socio -econom ic
34
landscape. Mo untain regions globally face an incr easing demand for econom ic resources,
35
with development predominantly supported by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In
36
this context, entrepreneurs serve as key ag ents of change within mountain communities.
37
Given the relatively high rate of business diss olution reported by Eurostat in these areas,
38
mountain entrepreneurs are particularly attuned to innovations and new opportunities
39
within their communities. Developm ent strategies should aim to create a supportive
40
environment that enhances entrepreneurs’ ab ilit y to operate effect ively in m ountain
41
regions (Mayer and Meili 2016).
42
Mountain Perspect ive Journal
6
Amid int ense territorial co mpetition to attract invest ment, mo untain regions are
43
compelled to identify new, often external, resources to diversify their economies and
44
ensure sustainab le developm ent. Some researche rs view mountain regions as less
45
attractive due t o t heir accessibility challenges, while others argue tha t geographic factors
46
(e.g., alpi ne areas bordering multiple countries) and governmental roles can enhance
47
investment appe al. For i nstance, the att ractiveness of the six Alpin e provinces can b e
48
attributed to four main factors: the role of loc al government, proximity to developed
49
neighboring countries, nearness to Italy's industrialized Padana region, and strong market
50
potential. Musolino and Silvetti (2020) suggest that although peripherality and limited
51
accessibility influence perceptions, these factors do not significantly detract from the
52
overall appeal of t hese regions. Strengthening connectivity and cooperation with
53
neighboring areas, alongside targeted territorial market ing st rategies that emphasize
54
shared cult ural and li nguistic identities, are vital f or t he sustainable development of
55
mountain areas (Musolino and Silvet ti 2020).
56
In contrast to ot her European mountain reg io ns, the European Alps have
57
experienced a reversal in o ut - migration. Th e arrival of “new hig hlanders” from urban an d
58
peri-urban areas to settle and work in mountain regions has revitalized these
59
communities. Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role for t hese new residents, with all
60
economic sectors, i ncluding the q uaternary, well represented among Alpine mountain
61
dwellers (Mayer and Meili 2016).
62
The Balkans present a diff erent model of mountain de velopment, predominantly
63
focused on lim ited types of tourism ac t ivities. Lukić et al (2013) argue that while tourism
64
revenue is valuable, sustainable mountain developm ent must also prioritize nature
65
conservation, local products, and community welfare. In t his context, entrepreneurial
66
initiatives are highly encouraged , provid ed they align with sustainabl e dev elopment
67
p rinciples (Lukić et al 2013).
68
The Carpathi ans offer anot her u nique perspective. According to Dej and Micek
69
(2013), com panies in the Carpathians hold substantial influence within l ocal lab or markets
70
but var y significantl y in terms of local impact and development levels. Similar to ot her
71
European mountain ranges, sm all and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in
72
fostering sustainability within Carpathian c ommunities (Dej and Micek 2013 ).
73
In Romania, mountain areas face ongoing challenges related to depop ulation, youth
74
migration, declining livestock, low incomes, and reduce d living standards. Addressi ng
75
these issues requires a renewed visi on and st rategy t o ensu re sust ainable mountain
76
development. Strength ening the m ountain economy can stabilize rural populations,
77
enhance q uality of life, maximize natural and human resources, pres erve cultural herit age,
78
and protect biodiversity and the environme nt (Popescu et al 2022).
79
A key aspect of mountain regions lies in the “mountain product. ” Achieving
80
sustainability in agriculture requires col laboration across economic sectors, making the
81
mountain product a concrete element of loc al, regional, and Eu ropean development.
82
Against a b ackdrop of soc ietal concerns in Romania a nd across t he EU, E U initia tives
83
focused on mountain produc ts, along with national legislative and organizational effo rts,
84
have complemented the proactive outlook of some mountain farm ers and entrepr eneurs.
85
These efforts aim to sust ain a critical eco nomic act ivity that provides healthy food for
86
millions (Rey 2020 ).
87
1st International Scientific Se minar "Mountain Series Anal ysis and Forecasting"
MATERIALS AND RESEA RCH METHOD
88
This study fo cuses on the key aspects of entrep reneurial develop ment within
89
European mountain regions, underscori ng the importance of proactive interventio ns to
90
mitigate territorial and socio -econom ic challenges.
91
Research across the analyzed countries centers on active companies within specified
92
sectors, with a primary focus on frequency stat isti cs and neural networ k analysis. All data
93
used in this paper w ere simulated based on informat ion from the Eurostat database.
94
Histograms were generated based on mean values, standard deviation, and ordi nal
95
ranking, representing each country within its respec tive support sect or. Frequency
96
statistics provided insights int o the establishment of new businesses in mountain a reas,
97
with partic ular empha sis on the critical role of small and m edium ent erpr ise s (SME s) in
98
economic growth.
99
The frequency analysis yielded varying values across sect ors, specifically for Industry
100
and Se rvices, Trade and Automotive, Transportation and W arehousing, and Finance and
101
Real Estate Development. Key statistics for these sectors a re as follows (in sect or order):
102
- Mean: 559,423.73; 119,259.07; 25,534.47; 37,483.4 7
103
- Standard Error of M ean: 178,654.660; 4 0,140.956; 9,281.536; 14,319.569
104
- Median: 299 ,930; 56,801; 10,289; 14,653
105
- Skewness: 1.918; 2.03 4; 2.847; 1.943
106
- Standard Error of Ske wness: 0.580 (uniform across all se ctor s)
107
- Kurtosis: 2.619; 3.161 ; 9.108; 2.648
108
- Standard Error of Ku rtosis: 1.121 (uniform across all sectors)
109
- Range: 2,186,225; 495,931; 143,011; 177,518
110
- Minimum: 14,518; 1,718; 548; 1,208
111
- Maximum: 2,200 ,743; 497,649; 143,559; 178,726
112
- Sum: 8,391,356; 1,788,886; 383,017; 562,252
113
- 50th Percentile: 29 9,930; 56,801; 10,289; 14,653
114
For the neu ral network analysis, the multilayer percept ron (MLP) method wa s
115
employed t o address t he data's inherent entropy and non -linearity (Cybenko, 1989). The
116
analysis used a triadic model with the following dependent var iables: countries (H(1:1)),
117
economic sectors (Industry and Services) (H(1:2)), and support sectors (Comm erce and
118
Automotive (H(1:3)), Tra nsport and Storage (H(1:4)), and Fin ance and R e al Estat e
119
Development (H(1:5)).
120
Fractal representat ions specific t o each analyzed country were develop ed to capt ure
121
general trends within each national mount ain region. These fractal simulations, genera ted
122
using an AI image t ool (www.deepai.org), provide vis ual ins ights into t he unique
123
characteristics and trends of mountain entrepr eneurship across different European
124
countri es.
125
RESULTS AND DISCUSS ION
126
a. Mountain Entrepren eurship in European Countries : frequency statistics
127
Mountain entrepreneurship within the Europea n industry and servic es sectors
128
exhibits a non-linear trend , with notable growth in recent years (see Fig. 1). When
129
Mountain Perspect ive Journal
8
examining the secondary and t ertiary economic sectors across the EU, several count ries
130
show relatively low contributions (below 5%) to the overall EU mountain
131
entrepreneurship sector, including Austria (3.72%), Bulgaria (2.93%), Croatia (0.70%) ,
132
Czechia (3.57%), Germany (3.22% ), Poland (1.98%), Portugal (3.41%), Rom ania (3.65%),
133
Slovakia (3.93%), and Slovenia (1.85%).
134
Conversely, ot her countri es demonstrate higher pe rcentages at the EU level, with
135
France at 12.48%, Greece at 7 .02%, Italy at 25.14%, and Spain at 26.23%.
136
In the support sectors, a similar pattern emerges, though there are not able variations
137
among some emerging economies. For exam ple, in the Trade and Automotive industry,
138
Bulgaria contribut es 4.5 0% and Romania 4.81% . In t he Transport and Storage sector,
139
Romania stands out wit h 8.09%.
140
Countries with a strong tradit ion of mountain entrepre neurship i n Industry and
141
Services also exhibit high val ues in support sect ors. For example:
142
- Trade and Autom otive industry: France (8.72 %), Greece (8.88%), Italy (27.82%),
143
and Spain (26.47%)
144
- Transport and Storage: Fra nce (9.19%), Greece (10.92%), Italy (13 .12%), and Spain
145
(37.48%)
146
- Fi nancial and Real Estate sector: Franc e (16.56%), Italy (25.93%), and Spain
147
(31.79%)
148
1st International Scientific Se minar "Mountain Series Anal ysis and Forecasting"
Fig. 1 . Frequency histog rams of mountain entrepreneursh ip for the analyzed se ctor s
149
Source: Authors, Eurostat dat a (urt_bd_hgn)
150
151
As can b e seen in the presented histograms, t he asymptotes are oriente d to the left ,
152
understanding that the economic sect ors Industry and s ervices suppo rt the developm ent
153
of the mount ain areas of t he EU, mo untain entrepren eurship being predominant i n
154
ensuring sustainabilit y. The a symptotes with unit values of frequency above 4, noted in the
155
histograms In dustry and services and Financial sect or and real estate dev elopment,
156
present these sectors as b eing of high importance for EU countries . The rise of these
157
sectors was achieved on t he basis of t he technological infusion from the financial sector,
158
before 2021 it presented defici encies in development an d spread in the mountain areas.
159
The lack of adequate financial services for mountain entrepreneurs has led to the n on -
160
linearity of the general development of all economic sectors. This support sector still
161
requires the d evelopment of financial instruments speci fic to m ountain areas, which is
162
why the authors believe that m any of the EU mountain countries should ensure special
163
attention to this sector.
164
b . Mountain Entrepreneurship in European Countries: Neural Network
165
An alysis
166
The need for a deeper underst anding of mountain entrepreneurship in the secondar y
167
and tertiary sect ors has led to t he application of ne ural network an alysis. Eurostat d ata
168
highlights the significant role of support sectors, which constitute a substa ntial portion of
169
the Industry and Services s ectors overall. Specific ally, these suppo rt sectors represent
170
approximately one -third of the tot al secondary and t ertiary sectors across the EU, with
171
percentages as follows: EU average - 32.58%, Austria - 24 .49%, Bulgaria - 46.08%, Croatia
172
- 26.08%, Czechia - 27.57%, France - 27.14%, Germany - 29.01%, Greece - 36.50%, Italy -
173
32.89%, Poland - 30.94%, Portugal - 27.37%, Romania - 41.94%, Slovakia - 25.31%,
174
Slovenia - 22.02%, Spain - 36.16%, and Sweden - 23.93%.
175
The neural network model (see Fig. 2) illu strates a rang e of connectio ns betwee n
176
these sectors. Strong interconnections a re marked in gray (synaptic we ight>0), while blue
177
Mountain Perspect ive Journal
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marks indic ate very weak o r non-existent links (syn aptic weight<0). Ke y connections ar e
178
observed in specific sectors:
179
- Commerce and Autom otive Industry (H(1:3)): Strong connections appear in the
180
mountain entrepreneurship of Germany, Portugal, Sloven ia, and Sweden.
181
- Transport and Storage (H(1:4)): This sector shows heightened connections wit hin
182
the mountain regions of Austr ia, Croatia, Czechia, Greece , Italy, Poland, an d Romania.
183
- Financial and Real E state Development (H(1: 5)): Stabilit y and high
184
interconnectivity are evident in the mountainous areas o f Bulgari a, Fra nce, Slova kia, and
185
Spain.
186
This neural network analysis aligns with frequency st atistics, reinforcing the
187
prominent roles of Greece and Italy in the Transport and Storage sector and of France and
188
Spain in the Fi nancial and Real Estat e sector. The analysis validates existing trends within
189
these countries, highlighting the need to adapt entrepreneurial policies in I ndustry and
190
Services to better suit the uni que needs of each mountain region.
191
1st International Scientific Se minar "Mountain Series Anal ysis and Forecasting"
192
Fig. 2 . The neural network of mountain entrepreneurship in the analyzed countries
193
Source: Authors, Eurostat dat a (urt_bd_hgn)
194
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
- Sum: 773055.00, 738184.00, 83171.00, 50015.00;
- Perce ntiles , 25: 10625.0000, 11211.5000, 662.0000, 766.0000;
50: 16022.0000, 15239.0000, 1992.0000, 1541.0000;
75: 53026.0000, 115192.5000, 6459.0000, 3168.0000.
Results and Discussion
The histograms presented indi cate a high frequenc y in 2021, with unit values exceeding 4,
followed by a decrease in 2022, with unit values falling below 4. The leftward orientation of the
asy mpt otes reflec ts a c lus tering of data around the first countries analy z ed. Italy’s central position
in the database o f studied countries was deliberatel y chosen to create a distributi on curve that
closely represents reality and to establish a median reference poin t in the frequenc y anal y sis. As
the countr y with the lar gest popul ation en gaged in mountain -re lated enterprises (I1.2021 and
I1.2022), Italy and Spain pla y a dominant role in shaping the spe ctrum of educational, m edical,
and social work development in Europe.
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
Regarding the dyna mics of new business start -ups in the European countries analy zed, a re duction
in new business start-ups is observed in 2022 compared to 2021. This phenomenon is considere d
worrying, especially given the move of man y educational and social work activities in mount ain
area s online.
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
Policies aimed at supporting the establishment o f new enterprises in educati on, hea lth and social
work in mountain areas must be undertaken as urgentl y as possible b y European countries (I 2.2021
and I2.2022).
An important indicator of the "health status of mountain affairs", employ a bil ity in edu cation,
health and social work shows a hig h d egree of support in 2021, unlike 2022 when the frequency
decreased even in tra diti onal European mountain countries ( I3.2021 and I3.2022).
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
The Gaussian shape of both asy mptotes of the I3 indicator shows an almost perfect balance in the
employment rate in the European mountain area. The unimodal distribution shows the importance
of the e mplo y ment patterns of pivotal countries such as F rance and Ita l y in incr easing the
employa bilit y rate of European entrepreneurship.
One of the most importa nt indicators of business demo graphy statistics - education, health and
social work sectors - in the European mountain area is the closure of related enterprise s (I5.2021
and I5.2022).
Contrary to expectations, due to the shift of activities from physical to online, the closure of
enterprises continues to negatively surprise European mountain entrep reneurship. From the
analy sis of hi stograms and Eurostat databases, it can be seen that all countries have a degree of
reduction in the number of businesses in the mountain area, except for Romania and Slovenia.
The phenomenon of closure is gaining mom entum in 2022, unlike 2021 when the frequenc y was
much lower. Previous a nalyse s b y the authors, for the period 2008 -2018, show a constant and
normally linear increa se for the previous years. The fre qu enc y p resented in 2022 leads to the idea
that, if the trend continu es, the followin g years w ill be decisive - in a negative sense - for these
European mountain sectors.
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
The detailed ana l y sis of all indicators for the studied mountain sectors shows significant
fluctuations in some countries during the period 2 021-2022 (Table 1), as follows:
- Bulgaria has hi gh shares in the d egree of clos ure of enterprises (I5), including the de gree of
unemployment in the mountain area (I19);
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
- Czec hia has ve r y well developed the correlation be tween the growth of mountain businesses and
employa bilit y (I10);
- Spain stands out for its increa s e in emplo y ed peo ple (I16 and I25);
- France, a leader, in a positi ve sense, in man y indicators has problems with the decrease in
employment in the mountain area (I19 and I22);
- Croatia has a relatively redundant situation i n terms of emplo y abilit y , but ultimatel y the
employment rate has increasing sh ares (I10);
- I tal y , the leader in the r anking o f Eur op ean mountain businesses, is developing a rural -mountain
model worth following, especially in terms of increasing e mplo y abilit y and attracting ne w business
people to high areas (I 10 );
- Austria, the emerging leader of European mou ntain businesses, strongl y supports mountain
entrepreneurship, e sp eciall y b y increasing the emplo y ment rat e (I10);
- although it survives well the new r ealities of t he information societ y that partiall y affect the
national mount ain environment, Poland has the same problems encounte red in man y European
countries, namely the increa se in the un employment rate (I27);
- Romania and Slovenia, emerging countries in the group of European mountain countries, pre sent
promising statistics for hi gh area s, the most important aspect in the return of migrants’ home being
the significant increase in the employ ment r ate in the mountain area (I10);
- at European level, Slovakia presents the highest level of enterprises, being the leader in the
growth of existing businesses in the analy zed p eriod (I1);
- Sweden is a European mountain model in terms of the increase in employabilit y in busines ses
that have lasted a t le ast 3 years since their establishment (I24).
Table 1. Business Dem o graphy Statistics – E uropean Mountain Area (± 2021/2022, %)
I1
I2
I3
I5
I6
I7
I8
I10
I12
I13
I14
I16
Bulgaria
3.59
6.00
-
31.6 0
144. 41
0.00
6.92
3.35
-4.93
59.8 7
2.33
135. 82
-0.49
Czechia
1.37
5.87
7.95
4.85
18.1 2
-19.07
-20.14
98.2 4
4.04
4.35
3.33
-0.31
Germany
0.00
0.00
0.00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
0.00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
Greece
0.00
0.00
Spain
-1.61
2.30
France
7.04
-2.82
-
18.3 1
8.06
0.00
9.31
2.16
0.00
-5.42
-9.19
0.96
4.38
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
Croatia
4.01
2.99
4.29
55.4 3
-
52.4 0
40.7 6
35.4 8
89.7 1
17.0 0
-1.04
49.4 8
1.03
Italy
-0.06
0.10
-0.63
1.40
-5.97
3.65
3.48
107. 92
0.78
0.00
1.48
0.94
Austria
1.73
8.08
19.5 0
-9.83
-11.30
93.1 5
11.0 3
6.13
17.6 0
Poland
-1.69
-5.81
32.0 3
18.4 6
-
23.3 5
-0.41
1.39
83.5 5
9.07
-4.14
20.4 2
-1.36
Portuga l
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
0.00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
Ro m ania
0.56
3.50
-
22.1 3
-13.68
-
10.8 2
2.41
1.88
81.7 4
-5.03
3.02
-14.12
16.9 7
Slovenia
2.41
7.10
-0.85
-9.04
7.57
-2.12
-4.53
98.4 7
-1.93
4.61
-11.24
2.18
Slovakia
5.56
20.5 2
19.6 4
39.6 9
0.95
-1.62
-6.77
102. 48
22.3 2
14.1 9
32.3 0
-0.14
Sweden
-
16.9 8
-8.93
-
39.2 5
26.6 7
-
71.4 7
0.00
20.5 6
100. 00
24.6 6
9.73
52.9 6
-0.32
I17
I18
I19
I20
I21
I22
I23
I24
I25
I26
I27
I28
Bulgaria
-27.33
-
27.5 0
120. 16
0.00
25.9 4
120. 93
0.00
0.00
-0.72
-39.88
0.00
-
17.2 6
Czechia
14.1 2
14.9 4
7.78
-6.76
-5.22
7.58
-6.42
-4.55
-0.75
-
100. 00
0.00
0.00
Germany
0.00
-
100. 00
0.00
0.00
-
100. 00
Greece
-
100. 00
Spain
2.63
France
-20.66
-
24.2 2
64.6 6
0.00
-13.03
59.1 8
0.00
0.00
Croatia
7.63
6.94
130. 75
-
30.1 2
-6.10
127. 03
-
30.7 7
-46.02
0.90
8.26
252. 11
0.58
Italy
-0.54
-1.52
29.1 4
-0.91
4.16
27.8 5
-2.42
-9.24
1.37
3.66
29.5 0
4.21
Austria
Poland
24.2 9
25.6 6
57.1 0
-
22.6 4
-14.77
58.9 1
-
21.8 4
-25.31
-1.26
65.9 5
118. 51
33.5 1
Portuga l
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
0.00
-
100. 00
0.00
-
100. 00
-
100. 00
0.00
Ro m ania
-19.22
-
30.9 7
-68.39
-
11.7 1
-9.71
-72.94
-
24.5 0
-7.82
17.8 5
-19.67
-82.49
-0.55
Slovenia
6.21
3.03
-
100. 00
8.84
5.44
-
100. 00
5.71
8.35
2.17
4.32
0.00
-1.79
Slovakia
44.0 0
44.3 1
20.5 0
-0.69
-4.33
20.8 6
-0.51
24.6 3
-1.09
-
100. 00
-34.72
0.00
Sweden
-45.00
-
45.1 0
0.00
-
71.4 3
-72.26
1.69
-
71.4 3
140. 18
1.97
-79.17
40.0 0
-
62.1 3
Source: Eurostat
This paper has been revised with the a ssistance of artificial intelligence.
1st Internati onal Scientific Seminar "Mountain Seri es Analysis and For ecasting"
Psycho-Social Vie w Journal, 1/202 4, ISSN 263 5 -0882
Conclusion
The article highlights the dyna mic changes in education, health, and social work sectors in
European mountain areas during 2021 – 2022, bas ed on Eurostat Business D emograph y S tatistics.
The ana l y sis reveals notable fluctuations, including a decline in new business startups and
enterprise closures, some countries pla y in g pivotal roles in shaping sec tor al trends. Emplo y m ent
rates show mix ed outcomes, with promising growth in most countries, espe ciall y in emerging
countries, while established mountain regions face challenges. The study un derscores the urgenc y
of tar geted policies to sup port entrepreneurship and employment, ensuring th e sustainable
development of mountain communities.
Reference s
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other ty polo gies [urt_bd_hgn__custom_15096367]
https://doi.org/10.2908/URT_BD_HGN
Peters, P., & Plötz, W . (1998). Mount ain medicine education in Europe. Wilderness &
Environmental Medicine, 9(1), 19-27.
Sarmiento, F. O., Oliva-Cruz, S. M., & Fernandez-Güimac, S. L. (2020). Montolog y : A
transformative frame for the future of educati on about mountains. Mountain Researc h and
Development, 40(4) , A15.
Ueno, K., Balsi ger, J., & Price, M. F. (2020 ). Education for sustainable mountain development:
Preliminary insights fr om a web-based surve y of opportuniti es. Mountain R esearc h and
Development, 40(4) , R1.
1st Inter n ational Scientific Seminar " Moun t ain Series Analysis and Forecasting"
Mountain Per spective Journal , 1/2024, ISSN 2 635- 0874
SPERMATOPHYTES MOUNTAIN FOOD: AN ADDED VALUE CHAIN VIEW
Mihai Covaci 1 0000-0002-600 7 -8489 , Brindusa Covac i 2 0000-0002-0713- 1068 , Carla Selma 3 0009-
0002-4649- 2373
1 Hype rion Universit y / CBM International University , USA
2 Center for Mounta in Ec onomy / CBM International University , USA
3 CBM I nternational Univ ersity, USA
Corresponding Author Email : cbmuniversity@g raduate.org
Corresponding Author Address: #7 Tsex eki Drive, Fulton County Cherokee Village, AR
72529, USA
Abstract
This study delves into the ag ronom y of select expansive crops in the mountainous regions of
Romania, examining the mountain Spermatophytes territorial profile and production
dy namics of key vegetable resources including potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), maize ( Zea
mays ), carrots ( Daucus carota ), parsnips ( Pastinaca sativa ), celery ( Apium graveolens ), and
cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ).
The research employ s a multidiscipl inary approach encompassing agronomical, statistical,
territorial profile , and clinical methodologies, focusing on a diverse array of mountain
products and producers.
The finding s indi cate that for mountain vegetables to function as functional foods, they
necessitate distinct tre at ments and agronomic interventions, diverging from those applied to
low-land crops. Mountain Spermatophytes territorial profile, pre s ented as maps, show a
sustainable developme nt of the highland area.
The enhanced va lu e-added chain of the aforementioned mountain products has experienced
significa nt st rengthening during the period of 2017 -2021. This growth is attributed to unique
agronomic treatments that resulted in heig ht ened productivity, the prevailing pandemic
context, and the distinctive deve lopment of the va lue-added chain specific to these crops.
Keywords: adde d v alue chain, agronom y , fun ctional food, mountain agriculture, mountain
food spermatophytes , territorial profile
Introduction
Spermatophytes , or seed plants, are crucial c ompo nents of mountain ecos y s tems, providing
diverse agricultural products. This paper f o cuses on their role as functional foods and
examines the added value cha in asso ciated with t heir production. This manuscript presents a
thorough investigation into the value-added continuum intrinsic to specific mountainous
Spermatophytes commodities. The primary objec ti ve of this stud y is to emp hasize the pivotal
role of agronomic interventions and corr e ctive measures in the acquisition of functional
dietary provisions. The investiga ti ve framework is based on the examination of Romanian
mountainous products in acc ord ance with the classifications provided b y the National
Register of Mountainous Products (RNPM).
As indicated by the RNPM (ANZM 2022; ANZM 2023), the taxonom y of Romanian
botanical mountainous entities encompasses 89 units, with particular emphasis placed on
potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum ), maize ( Zea mays ), carrots ( Daucus carota ), parsnips
( Pastinaca sativa ), celery ( Apium graveolens ), an d cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ) within the
expansive ge o graphical contex t. Noteworthy prog ress has been observed in the registration
status of mountain spermatophytes territorial profile, espec iall y in light of the inclusion of a
substantial number of these commodities in the mountain registry .
The selec ti on of scrutinized mountainous products is grounded in their discernible merits
concerning the well-being of both humans and animals. Potatoes, as an illustrative example,
serve a s a reservoir of antioxidants, encompassing vitamin s, trace eleme nts, ascorbic acid,
and pigments unique to p otatoes. These pigments include carotenoids such as lutein,
zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin, serving as antioxidants and mitigating oxidative stress in
human cellular struc tu res.
Carrots, well-regarded for their oc ular b enefits, embody a convergenc e o f carotenoids,
polyphenols, a nd vitamin s, eliciting diverse physiological effects such a s antioxidant,
anticancer, immunodeficiency a u gmentation, antidiabetic, anti-cholesterol, cardiovascular,
antihypertensive, he p atoprotective, renoprotective, antibacterial, antifungal, anti -
inflammatory , and analgesic properties.
Cabbage, a s a healthful cruciferous vegetable, demonstrates efficac y in all eviating various
maladies. Its preventive capac ities ex tend to mitigating the impact of c an cer and chronic
ailments, including c a rdiovascular diseases, cataracts, Alzheimer's disea se, and diabetes.
Cabbage's c omposit ional attributes encompass antiox idant nutrients and phytoche micals,
particularly carote noids, glucosinolates, isothioc yana tes, phenolic compounds, and vitamins.
Bender et al. (2015) noted that the marketable y ield of organically grown carrots may e x hibit
a reduc tion r elative to conventionall y cultivated c ounterparts.
Bee t root ( Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. alt issima ) ( Beta vulgaris saccharifera ) emerges
as a sig ni ficant source of nitrates with inherent properties for the prevention and manage m ent
of various pathologies, notably hypertension a nd endothelial dysfunction. Its constituents,
particularly be tal ain pigments, demonstrate antioxidant, anti -inflammatory , and chemo-
preventive efficacy . The phytochemical composition of be etroot includes a scorbic acid,
carotenoids, phe nolic acids, and flavonoids, with betalains showcasing potent antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory attributes. Supplementation with beetroot has been linked to reductions in
blood pressure, inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dy sfunction, cerebrovascular
hemodynamics, and the mitigation of c onditions s uch as liver disea s e, arthritis, and cancer
(Clifford et al. 2015).
The Romanian root market, enc ompassin g carrots, parsnips, celer y, be etroo t, among other s,
has undergone substantia l expansion over the past five y ea rs, exhibiting a growth rate of
+79.53% from $17947000 to $3222000 (ITC 2022). Predominant mountain produce rs are
concentrated between 2022-2023 in Covasna, Valcea, and Cara s -Severin (f igure no. 3)
(ANZM 2022; ANZM 2023).
Fig u re 3. Territorial profile mountain producers of carrots, parsnips, celery and beetroot
Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ) stands a s a pivotal vegetable within the agricultural landscape
of the Romanian mountain reg ion.
Initiating a sc i entific inquiry into the cultivation of cabbage in mountainous landscapes, this
section sets the stage for a compre h ensive examination of the unique factors influencing its
growth. Investigating th e genetic diversit y and adaptations that contribute to the resilienc e o f
Cabbage in mountain environments. Understanding ge n etic traits is crucial for breeding
cultivars that can thrive in challe n ging conditions and resist pests and diseases. This sec tion
explores the nutritional composition and health benefits off ered b y cabbage. Analyzing
phytochemical compounds, vitamins, and minerals pre sent in this cruciferous vegetable, with
a focus on its potential contributions to human health.
The production systems employe d for mountain vegetables in Romania involve frequent
tillage for see db ed preparation and weed management, characterized by a m inimal input of
crop re sidues. To explore the potential for stimulating intensive vegetable production, a
specific study (Bajgai et al. 2015) investigated the impact of incorporating corn residue into a
corn-cabbage rotation, a s sessing y ields, nutrient u ptake, weed biomass, and soil nutrient
levels.
The results of the study revea led th at corn and cabbage yields in the orga ni c treatment did not
significa ntl y differ from the conventional treatment, particularl y when equi valent amounts of
nitroge n, phospho rus, and potassium were applied. The macronutrient uptake in cabbage
exhibited no notable differences be tw een the organic and conventional treatm ents. However,
the incorpora ti on of corn residue led to a reduction in biomass in cabbage crops. The
inhibitory effect of maize residue on weed biomass was identified as a potential benefit for
various treatme nts. In Maramures, a mountain producer implemented a cabbage-maize crop
rotation, and agronomic rese arch conducted over two consecutive y ears d emonstrated a
noticeable improve ment i n both qualitative and quantitative results following the application
of this remedial agronomic trea tment.
Examining market tre nds , the Romanian cabbage market displa y ed fluctuations of +88.70%
in the analy zed p eriod, rangin g fr om $14970000 t o $28249000 (ITC 2022). Mountain
cabbage producers are predominantly concentrate d between 2022-2023 in Covasna,
Maramure s, S atu Mare, and Hunedoara (figure no. 4) (ANZM 2022; ANZM 2023).
Fig u re 4. Territorial profile of mountain cabbage producers
Conclusion
Studies focusing on mountain products offer unique a dvanta ges for promoting a healthier
lifestyle, warranting th e d evelopment of their value-adde d chains. The investigation
substantiates those prec is e adjustments in compost composition and mineral nitroge n forms
contribute to the enha n cement of potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) crops. Moreover, the
application of compost derived from vegetable food waste and cow manure fac ilit ates the
growth of maize ( Zea mays ), while cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ) production benefits from the
use of orga nic fertilizers and crop residues. Additionally, for crops such as carrots ( Daucus
carota ), parsnips ( Pastinaca sativa ), and celery ( Apium graveolens ), the incorporation of
organic compost and the utiliz ation of poly prop ylene netting prove to be advanta geous. The
comprehensive finding s of the research underscore that agronomic interventions and
tr eatme nts pl a y a pivotal role in fortif ying mountain produc ts, fosterin g the enrichment of a
diverse array of mine rals and vitamins essential for both human and animal consumption.
In conclusion, Spermatophytes mountain products exhibit significant potential as functional
foods, offering a m yria d of health benefits. The added value c h ain associated with t hese crops
has witnessed notable growth, undersc orin g the importance of tailored agronomic
interventions and the unique context in which these products are cultivated.
Funding Sources
The author(s) received no financ ial support for th e research, authorship, and/or publication of
this article.
Conflict of Interest
The author(s) dec la res no conflict of interest.
Authors’ Contribution
Conceptualization: CM, CB, CS; data verification: CM, CB; formal analysis: CB; research:
CM, CB, CS; methodology: CB; validation: CM, CB, CS; editing orig in al draft: CB; review:
CM, CB, CS; final document: CM, CB, CS. All authors read and approved the final
manuscript.
Data Availability Statement
Not applicable
Informed Consent Stateme n t
Not applicable
Reference s
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ANZM. National Register of Mountain Produc ts fr om Romania – RNPM; 2022.
Agentia Nationa l ă a Zonei Montane din Romania (National Agency of Mountain Area) -
ANZM. National Register of Mountain Produc ts fr om Romania – RNPM; 2023.
Andre, C. M., Legay , S., Iammarino, C., Ziebel, J., Guignard, C., Larondelle, Y., Miranda , L.
M. The potato in the human diet: a comple x matrix with potential health benefits. Potato
Research . 2014; 573: 201-214.
Bajga i, Y., Kristiansen, P., Hulugalle, N., McHenry , M. Comparison of organic and
conventional managements on yields, nutrie nts a nd weeds in a corn – c abbage rotation.
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems . 2015; 302: 132-142.
Bender, I., Moor, U., Luik, A. The effect of growing systems on the qua lit y of c arrots. Res.
Rural Dev. 2015; 1: 118-123.
Clifford, T., Howatson, G., West, D. J., Stevenson, E. J. The potential benefits of red beetroot
supplementation in health and disea se. N utrients . 2015; 74: 2801-2822.
Covaci Sterpu, B. Contribution of the reports and dissertation of doctoral resea r ch, Oradea
University. 2020-2023.
Covaci, B. e t al. Annual research report Mountain entrepreneurship, support for the
development of mountain area s in Eu rope. Case stud y on mountain entrepr eneurs in
Romania, Mountain Economy Center of the Romanian Academ y - National I nsti tute of
Economic Research. 2023.
Covaci, B., Antone s cu D., Apetrei, M., Rey, R., Covac i, M., C atuna, C. Mountain Agrifood
Economy in t he triad Econom y-Ma n agement-Marketing. National Romanian Library. 2023.
Covaci, B., Bre j ea, R., Covaci, M. Sweeteners World Trade and Behaviour in the Pandemic.
Evidence from Honey Remedies Nexus Mountain Apis Mellifera Product. S ugar Tech . 2023;
1: 12.
Covaci, B., Covac i, M. Mountain food as a natural probiotic: Evidence from Central and
Eastern European nutrition and behaviour. International Food Researc h J ournal. 2023 ; 30:1.
Da Silva Dias, J. C. Nutritional and hea lth benefits of carrots and their seed extracts. Food
and Nutrition Sciences . 2014; 522: 2147.
Eyherag uibel, B., Silvestre, J., Morard, P. Effects of humic substance s de rived from organic
waste enha n cement on the growth and mineral nutrition of maize. Bioresource technology .
2008; 9910: 4206-4212.
Godlewska, K., Pacyga, P., Michalak, I., B iesi ada, A., Szumn y , A., Pachura, N., Pisz cz, U.
Field-scale evaluation of botanical extracts ef f ect on the yield, chemical composition and
antioxidant activit y of celeriac Apium graveolens L. var. ra p aceum. Molecules . 2020; 2518:
4212.
Internationa l Tr ade Center – ITC. Romania's bilateral tra d e with the countries of the world
for various products. Trade Map. 2022. https://www.trademap.org/Index.aspx
Khalid, M. Z., Aziz, A., Tariq, A., I kr am, A., Rehan, M., Younas, S., Fatima, A. Nutritional
Composition and Health Benefits of Potato: A Review. Advanced Food and Nutritional
Science s . 2020; 5: 7-16.
Minin, V. B., Popov, V. D., Maksimov, D. A., Ustroev, A. A., Melnikov, S. P., Papushin, E.
Developing of modern cultivation technology of orga nic potatoes . 2020.
Moreb, N., Murphy, A., Jaiswal, S., Jaiswal, A. K. Cabbage. Nutr itional C omposition and
Antioxidant Properties of Fruits and Vegetables. 2020; 33-54.
Si y uan, S., Tong, L., Liu, R. Corn ph y tochemicals and their health benefits. Food Scienc e
and Human Wellness . 2018; 73: 185-195.
Weselek, A., Bauerle , A., Zikeli, S., Lewandowski, I ., Hö gy, P. Ef fects on crop developme nt,
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undernea th an agrivoltaic system. Agronomy . 2021; 114:733.
2nd International Scientific Seminar "Mount ain Series Analysis and Forec asting"
MOUNTAIN ENTREPRENEURS HIP, A VECTOR O F SUSTAINABLE
1
DEVELOPMENT IN EUR OPE
2
Brind usa COVA CI 1 , and Mihai COVAC I 2
3
1 Centre for Mou ntain Economy: Mountain Bio eco nomy Department, Petreni Street 49, Vatra Dornei ,
4
Romania
5
2 Hyperion Univ ersity: Psychology and Educatio n Department, Calarasilor Street 169, Bucharest,
6
Romania
7
8
*Corresponding auth or: [email protected]
9
Abstract
10
The article demonstrates the importance of developing mountain entrepreneurship, which faces
11
interconnected challenges, such as the still weak representation of mountain businesses at European
12
level, limited access to infrastructure , high production costs and dependence on climate factors.
13
Mountain entrepreneu rship plays a defining role in renewa ble development in Europe due to the high
14
potential of natural resources, the ability to attract European funds for sustainable projects, and the
15
contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and cultural heritage. The aforemention ed sectors are
16
part of industry, services and creative industries, which entitles the authors to carry out a detailed
17
analysis of the related mountain entrepreneurship. Some case studies demonstrate the success of
18
mountain entrepreneurship in Europe. Mountain entrepreneurship is the e ngine of European
19
development more than the non-mountain one, which is why development must be sustained a nd
20
resilient. In Europe, several countries with a mountain tradition or with a high degree of resilience
21
show the importance of existi ng models and lessons of go od practice. Future trends suggest an increase
22
in inte rest in sustainable businesses and digitalization as a means of promoting mountain products and
23
services. The aim of the article is to observe the state of pl ay of some indicators related to European
24
mountain entrepreneurship and propose solution s to ensure the sustainable development of the
25
community econ omy.
26
Keywords: statistical and forecasting analysis; mountain entrepreneurship; European
27
economy; sustaina bl e developmen t; mountain business indicators.
28
INTRODUCTION
29
The European Union has implem ented several poli cies and strategies to support
30
mountain entrepreneurship, including: the LEADER Rural Development Programme, the
31
European Strategy for Mountain Regions, funds for rene wable energies in mountain areas.
32
Former projects have turned into successful businesses at European mountain level, and th e
33
current programm es will support future renew able development. T he most relevant
34
indicators for ren ewable develop ment at Europ ean mountain level refer to existin g
35
enterprises (I1), newly established enterprises (I2) and high growth enterprises that create
36
the most job s (I10).
37
The concept of sustainable mountain development was first used in the UN Agenda 21
38
as a sign of recognit ion of global priorities. A study conducted in 1999 by Price and Kim
39
(1999) shows that out of 249 respondents the majority considered environmental variables
40
to be more important than socio -political or economic variables and that there are
41
important dif ferences both bet ween different parts of Europe and bet ween types of
42
respondents. Such findings have been considered as a reference point for d efining European
43
and national mountain polic ies.
44
Mountain Perspect ive Journal
In a mo untain resea rch specific to South -Eastern Europe, the a uthors emphasize that
45
the unique landscape and biological diversity can crea te high economic pot ential. The
46
human, ecological and econom ic dimens ions that arise in different mountain regions hav e
47
similar characteristics. Some areas are subject to specific conditions of regional and national
48
mountain polic y. These researchers believe that understanding the importance of mountain
49
regions and preservi ng the natural heritage requires scient ific and institutional cooperation
50
at all levels. (Zhelezov 2015)
51
Other mo untain-specific studies show that the desire to implement evidence- based
52
policies has led to a sharp dev elopment of quantitative indicators and t argets at European
53
level, with the ultimate goal of designing policy measures and assessing t heir impact. The
54
focal point of this research is the focus on the development of regional an d local mountain
55
policies. The main object ive is to support territori al diversity by local, national and
56
transnational authoriti es and use it as a lever in public and private poli cies, in the
57
governance of human, econo mic and natural resources. (Gl øersen et al 2016)
58
Other researc h on sustaina ble development shows that the more than 10 major
59
mountain ranges in Eur ope , with a rare biodiversit y, affect the climate and shape the history
60
and society, but especially the economy of the community space. The mountain areas of
61
Europe face a series of problems related t o natural hazards, depopulation/agi ng of the
62
population in remot e rural areas or t he increase in car traffic on t he main routes. Given t he
63
need for a ci rcular eco nomy at European level, financial and material in ves tm ents m ust be
64
intensified at an alert pace in the most sustainable areas of the community space, nam ely
65
mountain areas. (Sc hneiderbauer 2024)
66
A study on the sustainable development of European mountain entrepreneu rship
67
focuses its argument on t he development of tourism as a cent ral point of the sustain ability
68
of the community space. The authors consider that the economic development of tourism in
69
disadvantaged mountain areas has t he role of supporting their develo pment and econo mic
70
growth. The vision regarding tourism planni ng in disadvantaged mountain regions must be
71
oriented towards sustainable dev elopment, which facilitates the stimulation o f
72
entrepreneurial initiatives through the div ersification and harmonizat ion of touris m
73
services. Thes e services must be correlated with the specific requirements of tourists and
74
dynamically adapted to emerging social challenges , thus ensuring the complementarity and
75
sustainability of this sect or. (Cristache et al 2021)
76
The same idea of sustainable development of mounta ins th rough tourism is also found
77
in other researchers, such as Kuščer et al (2017). The a uthors conducted a comparative
78
analysis of m ountain destinat ions in Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland, small st ates located
79
in the Alpine region. The study was conducted based on the responses provided by 88
80
managers in the field of tourism. The results obtained confirm the existence of signific ant
81
differences in terms of the st ages of tourism dev elopment, levels of innovation and the role
82
of t he socioeconomic environm ent in supporting t his sect or. Mountai n destinati ons in
83
Switzerland and Austria demonstrated a considerable advance compared to those in
84
Slovenia in al most all the aspects analyzed. However, no significant differences were
85
identified in terms of the protection and quality of the natural environment or the i nherited
86
socio-cultural attractiveness. These fi ndings can p rovide support to the authorities
87
responsible for t ourism development and the development of public policies, contributing
88
to t he optimization of t he determinants of the sustainable development of tourist
89
destinations.
90
2nd International Scientific Seminar "Mount ain Series Analysis and Forec asting"
Professor Rey (2015) highlights the importance of s ustainable mountain development
91
by ensuring a dynamic complexity of urban, but especially rural, space. He emphasizes that
92
the secondary, tertiary and quaternary mou ntain economic sectors become unsustainable
93
without the primary sector o f t he economy, without family farms, based on meadows and
94
pastures, ru mi nant farming and organic fertilizers. The res earcher emphasizes that the main
95
dimension of mountain entrepreneurship remains the mountain pr oduct. The attention of
96
all European actors must be focused on the rapid dem ographic growth and the existence of
97
a significant market segment interested in healthy mountain products that can en sure
98
sustainability. The proposal formulated in this st udy aims to develop an innovat ive
99
associative-cooperative sys tem, adapted t o specific realit ies. It would be organized a t the
100
level of traditional bio -zones, with the aim of supporting niche production in mountain
101
regions and connecting it with appropriate consumer segments. The im plementation of suc h
102
a system, based on the use of local brands, could contri bute t o economic recovery and
103
sustainable growth through mechanisms o f self-reproduct ion and consolid ation of local
104
value chains.
105
Regarding Eu ropean mountain models, it is worth mentioning the Swiss, Romania n
106
and Italian sy stems. Switzerland rep resents a successfu l model in European m ountain
107
entrepreneurship, especially through the integration of hydr opow er and sustainable
108
tourism. Romania demonstrates that South-Eastern Europe can be sust ainable through
109
mountain entrepreneurship in t he develop ment of agro-tourism in areas such as Apuseni,
110
Bucovina and Maramu reș. Italy supports the developm ent of Europ ean mountains t hrough
111
initiatives to promote loc al mountain product s through short supply chai ns.
112
MATERIALS AND RESEA RCH METHOD
113
The research in this paper is based on Eurostat data related to mountain and non-
114
mountain entrepreneurship – secondary, tertiary and q uaternary economic sectors – from
115
the meta-index urt_bd_hgn . The analyzed indicators refer to I1 – Active enterprises, I2 –
116
Newly established enterpri ses and I10 – Rapidly growing e nterprises measured by
117
employment (part of the European indicat ors posted by the authors at the link
118
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.147 13867). The sta tistical analysis presents a n
119
observable evolutionary cha racter for the period 20 21 -2022, and t he forecast analysis is
120
carried out for t he period 20 23-2025 . The data were extracted from Eurostat, and
121
subsequently processed in Excel (figure 1 and table 2) and SPSS (the rest of the tables and
122
figures), using simple (descri ptive and autocorrelation) or complex (forecast) analyses.
123
The need fo r an exhaustive analysis, regarding the indic ators presented with value s
124
for entrepreneurship in mou ntain (M) and non-mountain (NM) areas, led the authors to a
125
simple desc riptive analysis of the range, s um, m ean, standard error of the m ean, standard
126
deviation, skewness and kurtosis (table 1). Following the range analysis , a large variabilit y
127
is noted between t he two categories, suggest ing that NM22 (2022 ) has a greater dispersion
128
of dat a compared to M21 (2021) for all t he indic ators presented. Regarding the sum
129
analysis, it is observed t hat NM21 (2021) has a significantly higher t otal contribution
130
compared to M22 (2022). For the mean, it is indicated that NM21 presen ts, on average, much
131
higher values t han M21. The st andard error of the mean suggests t hat NM21 has a greater
132
variability around the mean compared to M21. For the standard deviation, a greater
133
dispersion of the data is observed for M2 2 compared to NM21. The skewness suggests that
134
Mountain Perspect ive Journal
the data distribution for NM21 is more skewed to the right compared to NM22. The lower
135
kurtosis compared to the higher one suggest s that NM21 has a more peaked dist ribution
136
and heavier tails compared to NM22. Su mmarizing , NM21 (below I1) has the highest values
137
for t he sum, mean, std . error (standard) of t he m ean, and kurtosis, indicating a large total
138
contribution, a high mean, high variability around the mean, and a peaked distribution. M21
139
(below I2) has the low est values for the range, sum, mean, and std. error (standard) of the
140
mean, suggesting a small total contribution, a low m ean, and low variability around t he
141
mean. NM22 (below I0) shows t he lowest skewness and kurtosis, indicat ing a relatively
142
symmetric and flat dist ribution compared to the other categ ories.
143
Table 1. Descriptive analysis of indicators I1, I2 and I10 fo r entrepreneurship in mo untain and
144
non -mountain areas of Europe
145
Range
Sum
Mean
Std. error
mean
St d.
deviation
Skewness
Kurtosis
I1
M21
2186225
8391714
559447.60
178652.18
691916.94
1,918
2,619
NM21
3749483
21897988
875919.52
206752.89
1033764.46
1,504
1,477
M22
2233921
8094419
622647.62
209802.17
756452.50
1,658
1,536
NM22
4036247
15932338
796616.90
236071.54
1055744.03
2,059
4,149
I2
M21
199953
804813
53654.20
16645.99
64469.65
1,625
1,147
NM21
617314
2492578
99703.12
27280.35
136401.79
2,640
8,437
M22
191700
760037
58464.38
18175.54
65532.87
1,337
.210
NM22
585446
1800255
90012.75
31124.79
139194.32
2,848
8,904
I10
M21
5766
20271
1559.31
414.33
1493.91
2,197
6,045
NM21
29751
111462
4458.48
1235.53
6177.66
3,089
11,812
M22
6616
17119
1556.27
557.97
1850.60
2,537
7,190
NM22
10050
70010
3500.50
731.29
3270.45
.940
-.322
Source: Authors accord ing to Eurostat [ u rt_bd_hgn ]
146
RESULTS
147
In accordance with the descript ive statistics presented in the previous section, the
148
authors conducted an autocorrelation a nalysis for European mountain e ntrepreneurship
149
related to statistical and forecast evolution, a percentag e analysis of mountain areas in
150
relation to non-mountain areas and the t otal of the two, respectively a forecast analysis for
151
the coming years.
152
a. Statistical evolution of European entrepren eurship in the period 2021-
153
2022 through the pr ism of autocorrelation
154
The autoc orrelation analysis, performed using the SPSS forecast function, returns
155
values that vary between n egative and positive values for all serie s (M2021, NM2021,
156
M2022, NM2022). For the M20 21 and M2022 series, the auto correlations are closer to zero,
157
indicating a weak dependence between values at different lags. In contrast, for the NM2021
158
and NM2022 series, the autocorrelations have higher values (bot h positive and negativ e) ,
159
suggesting a stronger dependence between observations at specific lags. This indicates that
160
the NM2021 and NM 2022 series present a more pronounced autocorrelation structure
161
compared to the M202 1 and M2 022 series. The standard error is relatively constant for each
162
2nd International Scientific Seminar "Mount ain Series Analysis and Forec asting"
series, with small variati ons bet ween lags . The M2021 and M2022 series have sm aller
163
standard e rrors com pared to NM20 21 and NM2022 , which indicates a higher precision in
164
estimating autocorrelation for these series. In contrast, the NM 2021 and NM 20 22 series
165
have slig htly larger standard errors, sug gesting a higher variability in autocorrelat ion
166
estimates. Regarding the degrees of f reedom ( df ) and significanc e (Sig .), it is observed t hat
167
the degrees of freedom increase with l ag, and the significance level s remain high for a ll
168
series. High significance leve ls (above 0.05) indicate t hat there is insuffici ent evidence to
169
reject the null hypothesis of absence of autocorrelation. This is true for all series, but is more
170
pronounced in the case of t he M2 021 and M202 2 series, whe re t he sig nificance levels are
171
close to 1. For the NM2021 and NM2022 series, the signifi cance levels are somewhat lower,
172
suggesting a possible more significant autocorrelation at certain lags .
173
b. Mountain and non-mountain areas in the distribution of European
174
entrepreneurship in the period 2021-2025
175
entrepreneurship for the period 20 21- 2025 supports a dynamic evolution, especially
176
of mountain areas (table 2).
177
The an alysis of m ountain areas for indicator I1 sho ws t hat most countries regist er
178
increases in mountain a reas, except for Austria ( - 0.96%), Malta (-1.13%) and Swed en (-
179
19.03%). At th e total, mountain and non-m ountain level, Sweden has the largest decrease (-
180
19.03%), followed by A ustria (- 0.96%) and Malta ( -1.13%). The evolution of non-mount ain
181
areas for I2 shows that no n-mountain areas (I2) show a mixed evolution, with Greece
182
registering the largest i ncrease (41.86 %), followed by Luxembourg (32.45%) and Cro atia
183
(9.52%). At the total level, Estonia shows a decrease ( - 26 .49%), followed by Hungary (-
184
19.02%) and Denmark (-13.97%). The st udy of non -mountainous areas f or I10 shows that
185
they show the greatest var iations, with Cyprus registering a n extr aordinary increase
186
(4765.88%), followed by Lithuania (42.15%) and Italy (11. 92%). At the overall level ,
187
Bulgaria shows a decrease ( -8.60%), followed b y Romania (- 21.72%) and Poland (- 5.52%).
188
Ta b le 2 . Ev ol ut io n of E u ro pe an m ou nt ai n an d no n- m ou nt ai n en tr ep re ne u rsh i p in t he p er io d
189
2 02 1- 20 22
190
2022/2021 (+/-) (%)
Country
I1
I2
I10
Austria
-0.96
2.61
0.48
Bulgaria
3.15
2.95
-8.60
Croatia
4.53
9.52
1.33
Cyprus
5.59
2.21
4765.88
Czech
3.06
5.99
2.63
Denmark
30.57
-13.97
-5.19
Estonia
12.45
-26.49
French
7.77
-4.89
6.20
Greece
4.21
41.86
-6.69
Hungary
2.88
-19.02
3.96
Italy
2.63
0.46
11.92
Lithuania
9.72
3.76
42.15
Luxembourg
7.60
32.45
9.11
Malta
-1.13
-1.98
3.87
Poland
0.40
0.02
-5.52
Mountain Perspect ive Journal
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4th International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analys is and Forecasting"
Psycho-Social View Journal 1/2025
ART , CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT AS
SUSTAINERS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE.
EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN SERIES FORECASTING (6)
Mihai Covaci 1 , Radu Rey 2 , Brindusa Covaci 1 , Daniela Antonescu 2 ,3 ,
Manuela Apetrei 2 , Radu Brejea 4,5 , Carmen Catuna 2 , Florin Borodan 4
1 CBM International University / Hyperion University / Center for Mountain Economy
2 Center for Mountain Economy of the Romanian Academy
3 Institute for National Economy / Center for Mountain Economy, Romani an Academy
4 Oradea University, 5 Academy of Romanian Scientists
Corresponding author: [email protected] , #15/5/Maricopa (School District 42C)
Tsexeki Drive, Fulton County Cherokee Village, AR 72529, USA
Abstract
European mountain regions face significant economic and d emogr aphic challenges, yet the arts,
culture, and entertainment sectors offer substantial potential for their revitalization. This study
examines entrepreneurial trends in the creative industries within European mountain regions
between 2021 and 2035 thro ugh a quantitative approach based on statistical data from 15
European countries. Using 28 rele vant indicators and statistical models such as multiple
regressions and ARIMA, the research proposes an analytical framework to understand the
evolution of this secto r in mountain regions, considering the diversification of the local
economy and the promotion of sustainable tourism. The study highlights the importance of the
cultural sector in strengthening local identity and attracting tourism, identifying develo pment
directions and speci fic challenges. Additionally, a scalable and reproducible methodology is
proposed for evaluating thi s phenomenon, which can contribute to the formulation of
sustainable economic and cultural poli cies tailored to the speci ficities of mountain regions.
Ultimately, the research suggests that despite volatility, cultural entrepreneurship can serve as
a crucial tool for the economic and social development of these margina lized ar eas.
Keywords : Art and Enterta inm ent, Cultural Heritage, Forecasting, Mountain Entrepreneurship
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INTRODUCTION
In a European context marked by economic, social, and demographic transformations,
mountain regions represent a distinct geographical and cultural category, characterized by
structural vulnerability but also by significant regeneration potential. The arts, culture, and
entertainment sectors – although often marginalized in traditional economic analysis – play a
crucial role in the dynamics of these reg ions, contributing to economic diversification,
strengthening local identity, and promoting sustainable tourism.
The aim of this study is to analyze trends in entrepreneurship within the fields of arts, culture,
and entertainment in European mountain regions during a transition period (2021 – 2035),
through an analytical framework based on rigorous statistical models. Und erstanding how these
fields contribute to supporting human existence, particularly in areas with demographic and
economic challenges, becomes crucial for defining sustainable policies tailored to local
realities.
Using a quantitative approach, the study proposes a multi -national and multi-dimensional
analysis of creative entrepreneurship across 15 Europea n countries, based on 28 rel evant
indicators. By correlating data from official and semi -official sources (Eurostat, local surveys,
INTERREG programs), the aim is not only to describe the phenomenon but also to anticipate
its development directions, in order to formulate strategic recommendations.
European mountain regions have often been analyzed from the perspective of infrastructure
challenges, isolation, o r depopulation (Perlik, 2019/2021). However, recent literature has
started to highlight the potential of these areas to become creative hubs, especially in the context
of digitalization and the revaluation of cultural heritage.
According to Ray (1998), cult ural entrepreneurship can become a form of rural resilience,
offering a framework for economic development based on local resources, creativity, and
community participation. This idea is supported by subsequent studies (Duxbury et al.,
2010/2011/2021), which demonstrate that cultural sectors generate not only direct economic
value but also spillover effects on education, social cohesion, and overall well-being.
In their research, Rey, Covaci M, and Covaci B (2020 – 2025) explore the interconnection
between culture, education, and psycho-sociology, emphasizing the i mportance of cu ltural and
entertainment activities as key factors for sustainable development, partic ularly in mountain
regions. Covaci M (2020) arg ues that cultural entrepreneurship and tourism have a significant
impact on the loca l economy and labor market in mountain areas, highlighting their role in
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stabilizing and revitalizing regional economies. He also emphasizes that the cultural sector not
only supports economic devel opment but also pre serves the cult ural identity of mountain
communities (Rey, 1997; Covaci M & Covaci B, 2021). Furthermore, it is noted that
entertainment and the arts have a direct impact on attracting tourists, thereby contributing to
sustainable and responsible tourism in mountain regions. Covaci argues that by promoting
cultural tourism, mountain regions can encourage balanced economic development in which
local resources are used responsibly and sustainably. Thus, Covaci’s research underscores that
art, culture, and entertainment are fundamental tools for environmental conservation and the
revitalization of local economies, while also playing an essential role in protecting the id entity
and cultural traditions of mountain regions (Covaci M & Covaci B, 2022).
Regarding the predictive analysis of entrepreneurial phenomena, the literature suggests that the
use of ARIMA models and multiple regres sions is suitable for phenomena with sea sonal or
cyclical characteristics (Box & Jenkins, 1976; Hyndman & Athanasopoulos, 2018).
Additionally, the integration of multi-source data and inter-calibrated validation represents an
emerging methodological tr end in spatial analysis applied to economy a nd culture (Batty, 2013;
OECD, 2020).
A less explored aspect in the literature is the application o f these models to data from mountain
regions and creative fields. Availa ble studies predominan tly focus on urban areas and major
creative industries, leaving mountain cultural activities in the background, even though they
reflect a distinct model of entrepreneurshi p: one based on resilience, adaptability, and
authenticity (Pratt, 2009; Duxbury & Campbell, 2011).
Therefore, this study fills an important gap in the literature, off ering not only an empirical
approach to mounta in cultural entrepreneurship but also a reproducible, scalable, and adaptable
methodology for other regions. It is part of an academic and practical effort to revalue
marginalized areas through their symbolic and economic capital, with th e aim of strengthening
a sustainable cultural Europe.
METHODOLOGY
This study empl oys a quantitative approach to analyze mountain entrepreneurship trends in
Europe's arts, culture, and entertainment sect ors (2021-2035). The research utilizes 28 statistical
indicators (I1-I28) from mixed sources, including author- provided data
([https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14713867]) and Eurostat records.
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The investigation covers a randomized selection o f 15 nations: Slovenia, Portugal, Germany,
Greece, Poland, Romania, Spain, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia,
and Czechia. Data integrity was ensu red through Eurostat's standardized reporting frameworks
and supplementary validation checks.
The main objective of this research is to develop an anal ytical and forecasting fr amework for
evaluating and understanding entrepreneurship tr ends in European mountain regions, with a
focus on the arts, culture, and entertainment sectors. These fields, although often overlooked in
traditional economic analysis, play a crucial role in ener gizing local economies, promoti ng
cultural identity, and attracting sustainable tourism.
European mountain areas face significant challenges, such as depopula tion, limited access to
infrastructure, and difficulties in maintaining sustainable economic activities. Cultural and
artistic entrepreneurship off ers a viable alternative for economic revitalization by leveraging
authentic local resources. Therefore, creating predictive models based on concrete data can
contribute to developing efficient, tailored, and sustainable policies.
The study was structured using a quantitative approach, with extensive use of time -series
models and multiple li near regression, applied t o datasets from 2021 and 2022, with predictions
for 2035 (tables and figures). Each model was calibrated to specific regional and sectoral
indicators (art, culture, entertainment) from mountain areas.
The anal ysis set included 51 models numbe red from Model _1 to Model_51, each associated
with a combination of y ear and indicator (e.g., I1.2021 – Model_1). The models were designed
to capture tem poral variations in cultural entrepreneurship, and their performance was
quantified using a set of standard indicators in predictive analysis.
The data used were collected from public and semi-public sources through:
- Eurostat statistical reports,
- Regional databases used to build the Eurostat database (INTERREG programs, evaluation
documents of POR, PNDR),
- Questionnaires and surveys conducted in European mountain communities (Ital y, Franc e,
Romania, Austria) for the creation of the Eurostat database.
The data reflects entrepreneurial activity in the sectors of interest through:
- The number of active enterprises,
- Turnover,
- Employment levels,
- Funded cultural projects,
- Annual events and participating tourists.
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Data Processing and Smooth
- Raw data were standardized and normalized to ensure comparability across years and regions.
- Outliers, incomplete, or missing values were eliminated.
- Logarithmic transformations were applied to variables with highly skewed distributions (e.g.,
MaxAPE, MaxAE).
Building Statistical Models
- The models were defined as regression functions (OLS and ARI MA), with several
configurations tested:
- Simple autoregressive (AR) models,
- Integrated models (I),
- Models with moving average components (MA).
- R and SPSS coding lines were used for implementation and testing.
Performance Indicators Used
To evaluate the accuracy of each model, the following indicato rs were calculated:
- R-squared (R²) – the proportion of variance explained by the model.
- Stationary R-squared – similar to R² but applied to stationary series.
- RMSE (Root Mean Squared Error) – mean squared error.
- MAE – mean absolute error.
- MAPE – mean absolute percentage error.
- MaxAPE / MaxAE – maximum error values.
- Normalized BIC – Bayesi an in formation criterion adjusted for comparing models with
different complexities.
Descriptive Statistical Analysis
For each indicator, the following statistics were calculated:
- Mean,
- Standard deviation (SE),
- Minimum and maximum values,
- Percentiles 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95.
These statistics allow for a detailed int erpretation of error distribut ion and the predictive
precision of each model.
- Model_21 (I13.2021) recorded the highest Stat ionary R-squar ed (9.992), suggesting a
remarkable predictive capacity for the correspo nding region.
- Models _2, _6, _16, _22, and _39 exceeded the threshold of 3.3 for S-R², indi cating good
adaptation to real trends.
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- Negative S-R² values were encountered in models such as _12, _20, and _38, indicating a lack
of fit or overfitting of the model on inappropriate datasets.
- High MAPE value s (an average of 560.407 with maxima exceeding 7800) highlight the
sensitivity of certain regions to seasonal or contextual fluctuations (e.g., cultural events
canceled due to the pandemic).
The models were validated using:
- Cross-validation (folds over alternate years),
- Comparison of predicted values with real values from previous years,
- Durbin-Watson tests for residual autocorrelation,
- Ljung-Box tests for time series.
Models that did not pass the stationarity or residual normality tests were eliminated or
recalibrated.
Methodological Limitations
- Data quality varies depending on the source and granularity.
- Some mountain regions have a small volume of entrepreneurial activity, which affects the
robustness of the models.
- High MAPE and MaxA PE values suggest that predictions should be interpreted with caution.
The analysis was conducted using:
- SPSS – for for ecasting, descriptive statistics, multiple regressions, ARIMA models, and time
series evaluation,
- Excel – for integrating and processing raw data.
All used data are public or open data. The models can be replicated based on the code provided
by the au thor in the supplementary arc hive of the article. No personal data or sensitive
information were used.
The proposed met hodology offers a rigorous, reproducible, and scalable approach for analyzing
and forecasting the evolution of cultural entrepreneurship in European mount ain regions. By
integrating multiple data sour ces, model types, and statistical indicators, the research provides
a clear direct ion for shaping str ategic decisions an d investments in the sustainable development
of mountain regions.
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RESULTS
This section pre sents the results obtained from applying statistical models to the entrepreneurial
indicators relevant to the European mount ai n regions in the fi elds of arts, culture, and
entertainment. The models' performance is highlighted in terms of their forecasting capacity,
alongside detailed interpretations for the most important indicators. The anal ysis is structured
based on thematic groups of indicators: firm dynami cs, sustainability, employment, and
performance (tables and figures).
Firm dynamics: births, deaths, and growth rate
The core indicators for entrepreneurial activity in the analyzed regions are I1 (number of fi rms),
I2 ( births), I5 (deaths), I13 (birt h rate), I14 (death rate), and I15 (net busi ness population
growth). These indicators reflect the dynamics of firm creation, closure, and growth w ithin the
mountain regions.
The models corresponding to these indicators provided varied results. For example:
- Model_2 (I1.2022) displayed a S tationary R -squared of 3.331, suggesting a good capacity to
explain the variation in the number of active firms.
- Model _21 (I 13.2021), with a Stat ionary R -squared of 9.992, was the most perf ormant model
in the entire set, indi cating a high level of sta bility in the birth rate of firms in the analyzed
areas.
- Model_20 (I 12.2022) yielded a negative value ( -4.663), suggesting instability in predicting
the churn rate (i.e., the fluctuations through births and deaths of firms).
Interpretation: Models that performed well on I13 (birth rate) suggest that in certain mountain
regions, cultural entrepreneurship is stable enough to be predicted with confidence. This
stability is likely influenced by coherent regional policies and local cultural infrastructures. On
the oth er hand, weaker model s may reflect regions where entrepreneurial activity is intermittent
or dependent on specific events (e.g., seasonal festivals).
Sustainability and survival: firm stability indicators
A critical element in analyzing entre preneurship is the extent to which ne wly -established firms
manage to survive over time. The sustainability indi cators I7 (survi vals), I8 (s hare of total
firms), I9 (survival rate), and I24 (growth rat e of employment in surviving firms) reflect these
dynamics.
- Model_16 (I8.2022) exhibite d a Stationary R- squared of 5.662, indicating very good
predictability of the share of firms aged 3 years in the to tal population.
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- In contrast, Model_27 (I16.2022) for employment (I16) showed a modest S-R² of 3.331, while
the 2021 version (Model_26) displayed a negative value (-2.220).
Interpretation: Indicators of survival exhibit greater stability than birth indicators. This could
be interpreted as firms that surviv e the first three years in mountainous areas tend to become
constant players in the local economy, some times pivoting to mor e profitable activities (e.g.,
from handicrafts to cultural tourism).
Employment performance and economic impact
Indicators concerni ng employment (I16 – I20) are critical for assessing the socio- economic
impact of cultural firms in mountain areas.
- Model_19 (I12.2021), which addresses busines s churn (i.e., the combination of birth and death
rates), had an S-R² of 1.776, suggesting relatively predictable fluctuations.
- For I20 (employees in surviving firms), Model_35 (I20.2022) obtained a negative value ( -
2.220), suggesting difficulties in estimating the medium-term impact of cultural firms.
- Model_31 (I 18.2022), linked to the proportion of employees in new firms, exhibited an S-R²
of 1.221, with an R² value close to 1 in the raw version – indicating a nearly linear relationship
between the number of employees in newly -established firms and the total number of
employees in the region.
In terpretation: Although cultural firms in mountainous regions do not e mploy large numbers of
people, employment figures are predictable and proportional to the overall economic activity.
This strengthens the idea that these firms can serve as a local economic barometer.
Errors and deviations: prediction quality
The performanc e analysis of the models was complemented by interpreting the values of
MAPE, RMSE, and MaxAE. Overall data indicates:
- Average MAPE: 560.407, with peaks exceeding 7800.
- MaxAPE: 3931.079 on average, with a maximum exceeding 57,000.
- Average MAE: 8166.297.
These value s suggest significant error dispersion across regions and indicators, which is
expected given the seasonal nature and sometimes opportunistic character of cultural firms in
mountain regions. However, the values of the 50th percentile (median) for MAPE (approx.
500.467) and MAE (4243.201) indic ate that the majority of models exhibit acceptable accuracy.
Significant example: models with the lowest relative errors (under 1000 RMSE units) were
Model_1, Model_3, and Model_28 – all associated with fundamental indicators (number of
firms, deaths, empl oyees). These models can serve as benchmarks for improving future models.
The comparison of 2021/2022 model pairs revealed:
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- In some cases, the 2022 model s improved prediction accuracy compared to 2021 (e.g.,
Model_16 vs. Model_15).
- In other cases, performance declined, suggesting increased volat ility due to the pandem ic
context (e.g., Model_12 vs. Model_11, with a negative S-R² in 2022).
This annual variation confirms that predictive models need to be recalibrated each year,
considering the sensitivity of these act ivities to socio- economic events and nati onal cultural
policies.
The anal ysis shows that the statistical models applied to cultural entrepreneurial indicators in
European mountain regions have varying forecasting abilities. In general:
- Indicators related to firm births and survivals are more predictable.
- Indicators related to the workforce and economic impact are more affected by volatility.
- Relative errors (MAPE/MaxAE) can be managed through careful selecti on of models and
source data.
The findings underline the importance of annual recalibration and local context adaptation when
using predictive models for cultural entrepreneurship in mountainous areas.
DISCUSSION
Enterprise dynamics
- Creation and Disappearance of Enterprises: Indicators I1 (number of firms), I2 (business
births), and I5 (business deaths) revealed a fluctuating trend with significant regional variations.
The bir th rate (I13) was higher in regions with easier access to cultural and tourist resources,
suggesting that these regions benefit from a more favorable environment for business cre ation
in the arts, culture, and entertainment sectors. This could be attributed to better infrastructure,
greater accessibility to markets, and a higher density of cultural and tourism activities that
encourage entrepreneurship.
- Enterprise Survival: The 3 -year survival rate (I9) was on av erage 60%, with better
performance in areas with more developed infrastructure. The number of surviving businesses
(I7) and their share in the tot al busi ness population (I 8) steadily increased over recent years,
reflecting a stabilization trend in the moun tain entrepreneurial ecosystem. This points to a
growing ability of firms to sustain themsel ves beyond the critical early years, which is critical
for the long-term viability of cultural enterprises in these regions.
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I16.2022-Model_27
3.331
3.331
I17.2021-Model_28
.000
.000
I17.2022-Model_29
3.331
3.331
I18.2021-Model_30
.
.005
I18.2022-Model_31
1.221
1.221
I19.2021-Model_32
.000
.000
I19.2022-Model_33
.000
.000
I20.2021-Model_34
.000
.000
I20.2022-Model_35
-2.220
-2.220
I21.2021-Model_36
1.110
1.110
I21.2022-Model_37
.000
.000
I22.2021-Model_38
-6.661
-6.661
I22.2022-Model_39
5.551
5.551
I23.2021-Model_40
1.110
1.110
I23.2022-Model_41
-1.332
-1.332
I24.2021-Model_42
.672
.620
I24.2022-Model_43
.820
.504
I25.2021-Model_44
.000
.000
I25.2022-Model_45
2.220
2.220
I26.2021-Model_46
2.220
2.220
I26.2022-Model_47
.
.140
I27.2021-Model_48
1.110
1.110
I27.2022-Model_49
.432
-.117
I28.2021-Model_50
.000
.000
I28.2022-Model_51
.000
.000
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to young people, the Bușteni -Babele tr ail, which generally lasts between 7 and 9 hours,
assuming stops are made every 2 hours (Niță, 2009).
Whether organized in groups or individually, an excursion involves organizing the time so that
tourists benefit fr om a set itinerary. The excursion aims to visit pre - established tourist
objectives, making stops to purchase souvenirs or participate in various role -playing game s
organized in bazaars or fairs (Goga, 1983).
Camps are forms of tourism organized for homogeneous groups, limited in duration, and
characterized by a predefined program.
Human development encompasses all aspects of human existence. Human development evolves
through dimensions that define it, such as: the improvement of human skills and the creation of
suitable conditions for people. Empowerment is quantified through long and healthy life,
knowledge, decent living standar ds, and the creation of suitable conditions that involv e
participation in political and community life, environmental sustainability , gender and secur ity,
and human rights.
Human development is sustainable only in the presence of these dimensions that support human
dignity and are fostered through entrepreneur ship (UNDP, 2 015). Entrepreneurship is one of
the key factors in human development and, im plicitly, human digni ty. Entrepreneurship leads
to the expansion of human capacity and develops goal-oriented behavior. It is effective if there
is consistent support for the human capital it creates and if a good grouping of activities can be
ensured. The engine of adequate human deve lopment is ess ential in the development of human
knowledge and is crucial for overall human development.
METHODOLOGY
Mountain entrepreneurship lies at the intersection of a specific natural environment,
characterized by unique geogr aphical and economic conditions, and an economic activity
oriented toward culture, art, and entertainment. Analyzi ng this sector can provide valuable
insights into how econo mic, social, and environ ment al factors influence business development
in mountain areas.
Mountain arts and entertainment include both traditional forms (crafts, visual arts, theate r) and
modern forms (musical event s, festivals, cultural tourism). In this context, it is essential to
understand how entrepreneurship performance in thi s field evolves, using relevant indicators
from a set of statistical data.
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The aim of this article is to analyze the evolution and variability of mountain e ntrepreneurship
in the arts an d entertainment sector, using specific indi cators that reflect the performance of this
sector. We will examine the statistical indicators from the datasets to understand the trends,
fluctuations, and particularities of this type of entrepreneurship during different periods.
The data used in this study were collected over several months from a variety of statistical
sources. Each dataset reflects the economic, fi nancial, and participation performance of
businesses in the mountain arts and entertainment sector. The indicators anal yzed include: th e
number of vali d observations, mean, standard err or of the mean, medians, modes, sta ndard
deviation, skewness, and kurt osis for each quarter of the years 2021 and 2022 (tables and
figures).
The anal ysis spans the per iod from 2021 to 2035. The dataset includes 28 key statistical
indicators, defined in Eurostat or provided by the authors at
[https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14713867].
The research encompasses 15 European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Cr oatia, Czechia, Fran ce,
Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
Data obtained from Eurostat were analyzed using SPSS and Excel tools.
It is also crucial to examine variance and tr ends according to the type of artistic or entertainment
activity, as well as the impact of seasonality on these activities.
The "N Valid" indi cator represents the number of valid observations for each time period
(month/quarter), while "N Mis sing" indicates the number of m issing observations. From the
data analysis, it is observed that the number of valid observati ons ranges from 10 to 15 for most
months, suggesting relatively consistent data coverage. Missing data (N Missing) are more
common in certain months, which may reflect da ta collection errors or seasonal fluctuations in
entrepreneurial activity.
The mean represents the cent ral value of each indicator, while the standard error of the mean
reflects the variability of this value. For example, for indicator I1, the mean for the first quarter
of 2021 was 43,042.67, with a standard error of 13,904.97. This indicates a relatively large
fluctuation in the number of mountain entrepreneurs, but also a constant increase from year to
year (e.g., 49,409.62 in 2022).
The median represents the central value of an ordered dataset and is les s influenced by extremes
than the mean. For exam ple, in the detailed analyses for 2021, the medians were 22,376 in the
first quarter and 25,226 in 2022, indicating a steady increase in the central value.
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The "m ode" indicates the most frequent value observed. The presence of multi ple modes
suggests that the data may include distinct groups of entrepreneurs, with very different
performance levels.
Standard deviation measures the dispersion of the data from its mea n. High values of standard
deviation (e.g., 53,853.705 in 2021) suggest considerable var iation in the performance of
different mountain businesses. These fluctuations could be influenced by factors such as
seasonality, different marketing strategies, or available resources.
Skewness measures the symmetry of the data distribution, and kurtosis indicates the shape of
the distribution. For the indicators I1- I28, positive skewness (e.g., 1.941 in 2021) indicates a
concentration of va lues smaller than the mean, suggesting a large nu mber of entrepreneurs wi th
smaller businesses. Positive kurtosis (e.g., 3.021 in 2021) suggests a distribution with sharp
peaks, meaning a high concentration of data around a central value.
The range represents the di fference between the maximum and minimum values of the data.
For example, the range for businesses in 2021 va ries significantly (185,592 – 199,47 7), which
may signal significant differences between successful enterprises and those with poorer
performance. Analyzing the extremes can reveal very profitable businesses, as well as those
with large losses.
Percentiles are useful for understanding data distribution. For example, the 25th percentile of
indicators I1-I28 in 2021 (14,363) suggests that 25% of entrep reneurs earned less than this
value. Si milarly, the 75th percentile (34,569) shows that 75% of entrepreneurs earned less than
this amount, which can help identify distinct market segments.
The data analyze the fluctuations and economic trends among mountai n entr epreneurs in the
arts and entertainment sector, indicating a complex evolution of these businesses. Overall, the
number of enterprises, revenue, and other economic perform ances are influenced by various
factors, incl uding seasonality, marketing strategies, access to resources, and external economic
conditions.
The increases observed in 2022 compared to 2021 suggest a process of consolidation for this
type of entrepreneurship, but also significant disparities between different businesses. While
some b usinesses show constant growth, others are still in an early stage or show more modest
performance.
The study of mountain entrepreneurship in the arts and entertainment sector shows that this
field has significant growth potential, but it is marked by a wide diversity of performance levels.
Factors influencing this sect or include both economic aspec ts (number of enterprises,
employability, revenue, and costs) and soci al and cultural aspects (participation in events,
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impact of cultural tourism). Analyzing th ese data will contribute to the development of more
effective public policies and strategies to support thi s type of entrepreneurship.
RESULTS
In this section, we present the analysis of the results for relevant indicators regarding mountain
entrepreneurship in the field of art and entertainment during 2 021 and 2022 (t ables and fi gures) .
The data were collected for various time intervals, and the analysis focuses on key indicators
of mountain enterprises, including their birth and death rates, as well as employment trends.
Regarding I1, the average values for 2021 and 2022 range from 43,042.67 (in I1.2021) to
49,409.62 (in I1.2022). This suggest s a slight up ward trend in the number of active enterprises,
with a significant fl uctuation range. Additionally, the data dist ribution is positively skewed
(skewness of 1.941 for I1.2021), indicating a high numbe r of small enterprises, but also a few
large ones that influence the mean.
Regarding I2, we observe a decrease in the average values from 4,604.33 (I2.2021) to 5,805.75
(I2.2022), suggesting a slight increase in the number of new business startups. This trend may
reflect a growing interest in developing entrepreneurship in the field of mountain art and
entertainment. The data als o show high dispers ion, with si gnificant standard deviations
(6,233.197 in 2021 and 7,341.044 in 2022), suggesting considerab le variation in the s ize of new
enterprises.
I3 shows a signi ficant decline, with an average value of 1.0708 in 2021 and 0.9590 in 2022.
This suggests a downward trend in the number of employees in new enterprises, which could
indicate difficulties in attracting human resources or a trend towar ds the growth of micro -
enterprises that require fewer employees.
I5 varies significantly, with an average number of 2,548.3 1 in 2021 and 4,347.83 in 2022,
indicating an increasing trend of enterprise closures. This m ay reflect economic difficulties, as
well as a potentia l retreat from the art or entertainment sector in the mountain area.
Additionally, this indicator has a high standard deviation (2,968.682 in 2021 and 5,655.646 in
2022), suggesting considerable variability in this process.
I7 indi cates an average of 3,260.08 in 2021 and 6,500.7 in 2022, suggest ing a trend of
stabilization for mountain enterprises, though fluctuations remain quite large (standard
deviation of 4,107.184 in 2021). The lower survival rate in 2022 may signal difficulties for
enterprises in the art and entertainment sector to endure in the long term.
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I9 shows a sli ghtly favorable trend, with values re maining above 50% in most intervals,
indicating that most mountain art and entertainment enterprises have a signi ficant chance of
surviving and developing in the medium term. This reflects a potential consolidation of the
sector, as well as a shift towards sustainability and adaptability.
The data for the analyzed indicators so far show a mixed trend in mountain entr epreneurship in
art and entertainment, with an inc rease in the number of ne wly established enterprises but also
significant closure rates. The medi um-term survival of en terprises seems favo rable, with
indicators suggesting adaptability to economic and market conditions. However, greater
attention to enterprise size and sustainable growth strategies is crucial to ensuring a stable and
viable business environment in the long term.
I10 shows the following values: - N Valid: 12 (2021), 13 (2022); - Mean: 25.15 (I10.2021),
29.10 (I10.2022); - Std. Deviation: 29.963 (I10.2021), 46.720 (I10.2022); - Median: 16.00
(I10.2021), 10.00 (I10.2022); - Skewness: 2.308 (I10.2021), 2.829 (I 10.2022) — suggesti ng a
skewed distribution with higher values on the right; - Kurtosis: 6.044 (I 10.2021), 8.375
(I10.2022) — indicating the presence of larger extremes, characteristic of a small number of
entities with high growth.
I11 shows: - N Valid: 12 (2021), 13 (2022); - Mean: 18.4062 (I11.2021), 20.4367 (I 11.2022);
- Std. Deviation: 4.92895 (I11.2021), 5.45617 (I11.2022); - Median: 18.8700 (I 11.2021),
19.6650 (I11.2022); - Skewness: 0.623 (I11.2021), 0.202 (I11.2022) — relatively balanced
distribution; - Kurtosis: - 0.213 (I11.2021), -1.325 (I11.2022) — indi cating a dist ribution less
concentrated than a normal distribution.
I12: This indicator reflects a slight decr ease in average values, suggesting a reduction in the
intensity of activity or performance among the analyzed enterprises. The change in the type of
skewness in the distribution may signal a transformation in the sector's structure, possibly
through the emergence of more homogeneous entities.
I13: Constant values i ndicate uniform behavior of enterprises with respect to this indicator,
without notable variations between years. The complete stability of the data suggests a
predictable framework or a lack of evolution in the measured direction.
I14: Even in the case of this indicator, constant values express a lack of diversity or change
among enterprises. This uniformity may be a sign of structural maturity or stagnation in
innovation.
I15: The value distri bution denote s a large disparity between enterprises, with a sm all number
of very high-performing entities. Positive skewness and high kurtosis indicate the presence of
performance peaks that pull the average upwards.
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I16: This indicator shows an overall increase but also a very high variability between entities,
suggesting an im balanced mar ket. Pressure is likely being exerted by a few large enterprises
that significantly influence the overall average.
I17: Although the average increases, the distribution remains imbalanced, signaling a sector in
which only some firms manage to advance consistently. The high level of skewness indicates
the existence of extremes, making it difficult to formulate general policies applicable to all.
I18: The increase in the aver age suggests a positive evolution in the involv ement or activity of
mountain enterprises in the field. However, the high dispersion maintains uncertainty regarding
long-term stability.
I19: The values signal signi ficant expansion, but at the s ame time, a n intensification o f
inequalities between enterprises. The pronounc ed skewness indicates the presence of enti ties
with spectacular growths, which do not reflect the general trend of the sector.
Overall, for indicators I10-I19, a moderate increase in the number of enterprises and employees
in the mountain art and entertainment sector is observed, with slightly higher employment
values in 2022 compared to 2021. There is considerable volatility in the growth and closur e of
enterprises (birth and death rates ), with significant fluctuati ons in the numb er of people
employed by these enterprises.
Although some high -growth ente rprises exist, most remain small and fail to reach sustained
long-term growth thresholds.
I20: The values indicate a slight decrease in the average, which may signal lower eff iciency or
a limitation in growth capacity for some firms. The extremely asymmetric distribution and hig h
kurtosis suggest the presence of enterprises with performance significantly different from the
rest.
I21: The increase in the average reflects a positive dev elopment among some enterprises,
possibly in the direction of innovation or business expansi on. However, the strong skewness
and high dispersion confirm the existence of a pronounced polarization within the sector.
I22: The indicator remains at a low level , suggesting that this type of activity or characteristic
is underrepresented in the sect or. However, the extreme values and high skewness indicate the
presence of notable exceptions, likely niche enterprises with an innovativ e profile.
I23: The slight decrease in the average may signal a trend toward standardization or process
optimization. The moderate skewness suggests that most enterprises are grouped around the
lower to mid-range values.
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I24: The slight increase in the average and the reduction in vari ation suggest an overall
improvement in the ability of enterprises to stay in the market. The stability of this indicator
denotes a relative balance between survival and exit in the sector.
I25: A slight increase in performance is observed, along with sign ificant dispersi on between
enterprises. The almost symmetric distribution, but with a slight positive skew, suggests a mild
favorable polarization among firms.
I26: The indicator shows a sustaine d incr ease in the share of employment, which indicates a
strengthening of the sector's ability to gener ate jobs. The values distributed nearly normally
suggest greater consistency among enterprises.
I27: Stable values, but with a slight increase, may reflect a slow but steady expansion of
economic activities. The po sitive skewness shows that some enterprises perform better than the
average, but they remain a minority.
I28: Although the values remain modest, the increase in the average may indi cate heightened
involvement in innova tion or creative development. However, the very high dispersion and
skewness highlight the exceptional nature of these innovative enterprises, which do not yet
represent a widespread trend.
Based on the analysis of indicators I20 – I28, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- High- growth enter prises continue to represent a small fr action of the total number of
businesses in the sector. However, they contribute significantly to employment generation. This
group is characterized by high volatility, indicating that while some firms scale rapidly, the
majority remain relatively stagnant or face challenges in ach ievi ng sustainable growth.
- The pace of new business creation was sli ghtly slower in 2022 compared to 2021. Despite
this, the medium- and long-term survival rate of businesses remained stabl e, showing a slight
improvement. This ma y suggest that while fewer new firms emerged, those that were
established had better chances of stability and endurance.
- Failure rates appear to be relatively stable; however, a slightl y increasing trend in busines s
closures was observed. This may be reflective of a more competitive market environment,
where only the most adaptable and resilient businesses manage to survive.
- The average firm size rem ained relatively constant over the two years, indicating that the re
were no major shifts in the structural scale of enterprises. At the sam e time, innovation remained
limited to a small subset of companies. Most businesses in the sector are not significantly
investing in research, product development, or other innovativ e processes, which could
potentially hinder long-term competitiveness and sectoral advancement.
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In summary, the sector shows signs of cautious growth and improved business endurance, but
also highlights areas requiring targeted support — particularly in f ostering innovation, reducing
firm volatility, and enhancing the capacity of startups to scale sust ainably.
CONCLUSION
The analysis of economic data and relevant indicators from the mountain entrepreneurship
sector in the field of art s and entertainment revea ls a complex dynamic. During the 20 21 – 2022
period, there was a slight increase in the numbe r of active enterprises, although seasonal
fluctuations and economic factors led to significant disparities in their performance.
The indi cators analyzed — such as the number of newly established and clos ed businesses,
employment trends, and revenue variability — suggest that while there is significant
development pot ential, most busi nesses remain small and have not yet achieved sustained long-
term growth.
Moreover, the sector displays a high degree of volatility in terms of busine ss success and fai lure,
with a trend toward consolidation among the most successful companies. At the same time,
there is considerable diversity in terms of business stability and sustainability.
In conclusion, greater attention is needed to support mountain entrepreneurship, with a focus
on developing public policies and strategies that assist small businesses and ensure sustainable
long-term growth.
During the preparati on of this manuscript, the author s utilized artificial intelligence tools for
assistance in statistical analysis and data interpretation. Following this, the authors rigorously
reviewed, validated, and refined all results, ensuring accuracy and co herence. The final content
reflects the authors' independent analysis, c ritical revisio ns, and scholarly judg ment. The
authors assume full responsibility for the integrity and origin ality of the published work.
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References
Avădănei, V. (2010). SCISRLP Neamţ. Buletinul AGIR. Retrieved from https://www.agir.ro
Bolboceanu, Z. (n.d.). Între tradiţie şi modernitate.
Constantin, F. V. (n.d.). Studii și cercetări academice. Retrieved from https://www.studii -
cercetari-academice.org
Eurostat. (2025). Business demography and high growth enterpr ises by NACE Rev. 2 activity
and other typologies [urt_bd_hgn__custom_15325082].
Matei, D. (n.d.). Turismul rural: Teorie şi realitate.
Sterpu, B. (2019). Antreprenoriatul , suport al dezvoltării umane: Studiu de caz privind
activitățile administrative și de suport și activitățile. Jurnalul Libertății de Conștiin ță. Retri eved
from https://www.ceeol.com
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I1.2021
I1.2022
I2.2021
I2.2022
I3.2021
I3.2022
I4.2021
I4.2022
I5.2021
I5.2022
I6.2021
I6.2022
I7.2021
N Valid
15
13
15
12
12
10
13
12
13
12
11
11
14
N Missing
0
2
0
3
3
5
2
3
2
3
4
4
1
Mean
43042.67
49409.62
4604.33
5805.75
1.0708
0.9590
1.00
1.00
2548.31
4347.83
23.7264
23.9882
2791.29
Std. Error of
Mean
13904.967
17033.523
1609.405
2119.177
0.08063
0.06392
0.000
0.000
823.364
1632.644
10.08098
9.69053
980.475
Median
22376.00
25226.00
2027.00
2285.00
1.0650
1.0350
1.00
1.00
1498.00
1892.00
10.2000
10.3700
1455.50
Mode
1802 a
1525 a
125 a
135 a
1.06
.57 a
1
1
86 a
71 a
1.03 a
.94 a
87 a
Std.
Deviation
53853.705
61415.241
6233.197
7341.044
0.27930
0.20212
0.000
0.000
2968.682
5655.646
33.43482
32.13984
3668.601
Skewness
1.941
1.689
1.961
1.539
1.039
-1.019
2.200
1.813
2.390
2.269
2.294
Std. Error of
Skewness
0.580
0.616
0.580
0.637
0.637
0.687
0.616
0.637
0.616
0.637
0.661
0.661
0.597
Kurtosis
3.021
1.891
2.697
0.895
3.628
-0.158
4.384
2.556
5.823
5.263
5.470
Std. Error of
Kurtosis
1.121
1.191
1.121
1.232
1.232
1.334
1.191
1.232
1.191
1.232
1.279
1.279
1.154
Range
185592
197477
19978
20840
1.15
0.61
0
0
10469
18165
112.97
108.42
13438
Minimum
1802
1525
125
135
0.62
0.57
1
1
86
71
1.03
0.94
87
Maximum
187394
199002
20103
20975
1.77
1.18
1
1
10555
18236
114.00
109.36
13525
Sum
645640
642325
69065
69669
12.85
9.59
13
12
33128
52174
260.99
263.87
39078
Percentile 25
14363.00
12646.50
1358.00
1725.00
0.9675
0.7675
1.00
1.00
1324.50
1184.75
5.8300
5.9900
966.00
Percentile 50
22376.00
25226.00
2027.00
2285.00
1.0650
1.0350
1.00
1.00
1498.00
1892.00
10.2000
10.3700
1455.50
Percentile 75
34569.00
74495.00
2911.00
9739.50
1.1550
1.1125
1.00
1.00
2216.00
6686.50
22.3000
22.0700
3369.00
a. Multiple modes e xist. The smallest value is shown
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FINANCING INNOVATION IN THE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP HIGH LANDS ECONOMIES.
EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN SERIES ANALYSIS (7)
Daniela Antonescu 1,2 , Brindusa Covaci 3 , Radu Rey 1 , Mihai Covaci 3 , Radu Brejea 4,5 ,
Manuela Apetrei 1 , Carmen Catuna 1 , Florin Borodan 4
1 Center for Mountain Economy of the Romanian Academy
2 Institute for National Economy / Center for Mountain Economy, Romani an Academy
3 CBM International University / Hyperion University / Center for Mountain Economy
4 Oradea University, 5 Academy of Romanian Scientists
Corresponding author: [email protected] , #15/5/Maricopa (School District 42C)
Tsexeki Drive, Fulton County Cherokee Village, AR 72529, USA
Abstract
This article provides a detailed analysis of mountain entrepre neurship in the European financial
sector, with a particular focus on the period 2021-2022, with trends until 2025.
The objective is to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities within this sector for the
period 2021-2025. The analysis is bas ed on data collected from Eurostat, presented in tables
and figures covering the 2021-2022 period, with observations for each year (I1 -I28).
The research incl udes the cal culation of descriptive statistics such as the mean, standard
deviation, and median, in order to assess relevant indicators of the mountain financial sector,
including revenues, expenses, and other economic characteristics.
Descriptive statistics, inferential tests, and correlation analyses are employed to provide a
comprehensive understanding of economic behaviors, with an emphasis on the entrepreneurial
landscape and its growth potential.
The study also tests hypotheses regarding the decline in the number of businesses and correlates
economic indicators with the longevity and growth of enterprises.
Keywords: Mountain Economy, Mountain Entrepreneurship, Mountain Finance, Statistic
Analysis
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INTRODUCTION AND LITER ATURE REVIEW
Mountain entrepreneursh ip refers to a set of economic initiatives conducted in a conte xt defined
by specific geographical and socio-economic characteristics. It s primary goals are incom e
generation, job creation, and the stimulation of local community development. What
differentiates mountain entrepreneurship is its ability to adapt to the particular conditions o f
mountainous reg ions, which are typically characterized by high altitudes, harsh climates,
underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited access to markets.
According to the specialized literature (Dower, 2002; Perlik, 2019), mountain entrepreneurship
is not confined to traditional agricultural activities. Rather, it encompasses a diverse range of
initiatives such as agro tourism, artisanal production, ecotourism services, and the development
of high-quality local food products.
The specificity of entrepreneurship in mountain areas is shaped by several key factors :
- Activity diversification – entrepreneurs are frequently invol ved in multiple sectors
simultaneously (e.g., agriculture, tourism, and food processing);
- Prevalence of micro-enterprises – resulting from limited human and financial resources;
- Adaptive innovation – entrepreneurs develop innovative solutions to respond to natural and
infrastructural constraints;
- Valorization of local resources – sustainable use of local natural and cultural resources serves
as a competitive advantage.
Mountain entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in retaining local populations by creating
economic opportunities, reducing relianc e on traditional agricultural subs idies, pr eserving and
promoting cultural and natur al heritage, and fostering innovation and social cohe sion in
isolated communities. Thus, entrepreneurship in these areas is not merely an economic engine
but also a key factor in preserving identity and sustainability in the context of global change.
In the European Union, policies target ing mountain regions are mainly encompassed withi n
cohesion and rural development frameworks. These policies recognize the natural and socio -
economic challenges of mountainou s region s and aim to sup port their sustainable development.
Cohesion policy primarily seeks to reduce regional disparities by fostering economic, social,
and territorial development.
Within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Agricultural Fund for R ural
Development (EAFRD) plays a central role in supporting mountain areas by funding:
3rd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
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- The diversification of economic activities, such as rural tourism or the production of
traditional goods;
- The conservation of natural landscapes and biodiversity protection;
- Innovation in agriculture, including the development of ecological and sustainable practices.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is the main instrument of cohesion and
regional development policy. It supports less -developed regions, i ncluding mountain areas,
through investment in tourism infrastructure, job creation, and the improvement of economic
conditions.
Another key financial instrument is th e European Social Fund (ESF), which focuse s on human
capital development and job creation . ESF resources can fi nance training programs,
educational initiatives, and social integration projects in mountain areas.
In addition to the major policies mentioned, the EU has several other financial initiatives
dedicated to mountain regions. One such i nitiative is the LEADER program (Liaison Entre
Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale), which promotes a bottom -up approach to
rural development. It encourages active involvement of local co mmunities in decision-making
and project implementation. LEADER supports the creation of Local Action Groups (LAGs),
which aim to fund small entrepreneurial initiatives, foster local cooperation networks, and
develop tailored economic and social strategies. LEADER h as proven essential in revitalizing
many mountain communities by attracting funding for innovative projects in tourism, cra fts,
and food production.
Another relevant initiative is the Carpat hian Convention, which promotes the sustainable
development of mountain regions in Europe. Signed by eight countrie s, including Romania,
the Convention supports financial assistance for ecosystem protection, ecotourism
development, and cross-border cooperation to ensure balanced and sustainable growth.
Specific financial support measures for mountain areas include:
- Compensatory subsidies for farmers facing challenging natural conditions, aimed at
supporting sustainable agricultural production;
- Support for young entrepreneurs who wish to develop businesses in mountain areas, thereby
encouraging youth reintegration into these communities;
- Infrastructure development projects to improve accessibility, which is esse ntial for tourism
and trade development.
Additional funding is available through programs specifi cally targeting tourism
entrepreneurship. The EU supports the development of tourism in mountain are as, including
ecotourism and adventure tourism, through measures aimed at promoting sustainable tourism.
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Scientific, Professio nal and Technical Activi ties.
European Mountain Se ries Forecasting (2)
Mihai Covaci, Brindusa Covaci
CBM International University / Hyperion University / Center for Mountain Economy
Corresponding author: [email protected] , #7 Tsexeki Drive, Cherokee Village, AR
72529, US
Abstract
This study explores the future trajectories of mountain research and the dynamics of scientific,
professional, and technical activ ities across Europe, utilizing pre dictive models grounded in
historical data and advanced statistical methodologies. The research underscores the significant
contributions of established experts in mountain studies and highlights the critical role of
interdisciplinary approaches in defining future research paradigms. The methodological
framework encompasses the systematic collection, preprocessing, and analysis of data derived
from authoritative sources, employing techniques such as linear regression, autoregre ss ive
integrated moving average (ARIMA) models, and artificial neural networks. The results reveal a
notable increase in funding for mountain research, the expansion of educational infrastructure
specifically designed for mountain regions, and the enhancemen t of international collaborative
efforts. Key areas such as biotechnology, ecology, and economics are anticipated to rec eive
heightened focus, with the objecti ve of advancing sustainable development models. Additionally,
the integration of artificial intelligence is expected to play a pivotal role in environmental
monitoring and the efficient management of natural resources. This study offers a thor ough
analysis of emerging trends in mountain research, emphasizing the need for targeted policies and
initiatives to foster the sust ainable development of mountain regions. The conclusions of this
research aim to inform strategic decision -making and advocate for a holistic approach to
addressing the distinct challenges and opportunities inherent to m ountain ecosystems.
Keywords: European entrepreneurship; European mountain res earch; s cientific, professional and
technical activities
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INTRODUCTION
The future of mountain research is de eply shaped by the contributions o f distinguished scholars in
the field of mountain science. Within the European Mountain Series Analysis and European
Mountain Series Forecasting, particularly in the article Scientific, Professional, and Technical
Activities: European Mountain Series Analysis (2) (Covaci & Covaci, 2025), the authors
emphasize the significant contributions of leading researchers in mountain science. This study also
introduces other experts dedicated to advancing mountain research, with the aim of further
exploring the contributions of additional scholars in future research.
Gleeson et al. (2016) also outline several fut ure directions for mountain research. Their study
references influential works such as Becker and Bugmann (2001), Björnsen Gurung et al. (2006),
and Björnsen Gurung et al. (2012), which propose strategies for achieving sustainability in
mountain regions. A criti cal issue identified in these studies is the limited rep resentation of
interdisciplinarity in mountain research approaches. This gap is particularly significant given the
complex, multidimensional nature of mount ain development. To address this, Gleeson and
colleagues propose several actionable strategies, including:
- Translating and disseminating mountain-related literature into multiple languages to
enhance its global accessibility.
- Developing programs to strengthen long -term research capacities in mountain regions,
such as research entities, mountain-focused initiatives, and conferences.
- Formulating clearly defined research projects that can serve as focal points for
collaborative research communities.
A pivotal moment in the advancement of mountain research was marked by initiatives undertaken
by the international sci entific community in Scotland, United Kingdom, over several years. During
this period, the state and progr ess of mountain research were thor oughly examined, with a
particular focus on its contribution to the sustainable development of mountain regions. The
ultimate goal was to realign research agendas to incorporate mountain -specific pri orities. These
efforts involved over 450 scientists from around the world, who reevaluated research, professional,
and technical activities related to mountain regions. The research was conducted in stages, with
concrete actions aim ed at revising international transversal and longitudinal agendas. The primary
conclusion of these efforts, as reflected in global agendas, was the prioritization of ecol ogical
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studies, fol lowed by integrative approaches characterized by inter - and tr ansdisciplinary
collaboration. The initiati ves in Scotl and have signi ficantly reshaped contemporary mountain
science, influencing the future trajectories of mountain research (Gurung et al., 2012 ).
METHODOLOGY
This study aims to analyze and forecast the evolution of scientific, professional, and tec hnical
activities across Europe, utilizing data sourced fr om Eurostat and processed by the authors.
Predictive models based on hist orical data and advanced statistical algorithms were employed,
resulting in forecast models numbered 1 – 52, with periodograms spanning the interval I1. 2021 –
I28.2022 (additional data on I1-I28 is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14713868). The
methodological framework was structured into several stages, including data coll ection,
preprocessing, model selection, and interpretation of results. The dataset, obtained from official
sources and relevant databases, covered the period 2021 – 2022 and encompassed a wide ran ge of
indicators, including economic metrics, res earch and development (R&D) trends, and socio -
economic factors influencing scientifi c and techn ical domains. Prior to model application, the data
underwent rigorous preprocessing, which involved cleaning the dataset, removing outlier s,
imputing missing values, and standardizing variables to ensure consistency and comparability. For
data analysis, various forecasting models were utilized, including multiple linear regression,
autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models, and machine learning algorithms
such as artificial neural networks. Each model was calibrated and validated us ing cross-validation
techniques to ensure the reliability and robustness of the forecasts. The forecasts were subjected
to comparative anal ysis to identify dominant trends in scientific and technical activities across
Europe. The results were synthesized and visualized through diagrams, illustrating the anticipated
evolution of these fields in both the short and medium term. This anal ytical approach provided a
comprehensive understanding of the future trajectory of scientific, professional, and technical
ac tivities in the region. The authors employed artificial intelligence to obtain methodological
recommendations, which were subsequentl y reinterpreted and adapted within their framework.
Furthermore, AI tools were utilized to enhance the text's quality thr ou gh grammatical corrections
and academic language suggestions, ensuring compliance with English academic writing
standards.
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
RESULTS
The future of mountain research will be significantly shaped by the dynamics of economic
activities in mount ain regions, as evidenced by the anal yzed economic indicators. The observed
increase in the number of enterprises and employment opportunities in these are as indicates a
positive trend toward sustainable economic development. However, the simultaneous emergenc e
and dissolution of ente rprises underscore the necessity for targeted support policies for local
businesses and the prom oti on of technologi cal innovations tailored to the unique challenges of
mountain environments. Investments are expected to rise in ke y sectors of the mountain economy,
including sustainable tourism, organic agriculture, and the development of smart infrastructure.
Predictive model s further suggest a growing empha sis on research in biotechnology and climate
adaptation, aimed at enhancing the resilience of mountain ecosystems to the impacts of climate
change. Additionally, the establishment of vocational training networks specifically designed for
mountain regions is anticipated to play a pivotal role in supporting the local workforce and
fo stering the adoption of emerging technologies. The forecast analysis reveals a progr essive
increase in scientific, professional, and technical activities across Eur ope during the analyzed
period.
Based on the applied models (models 1 – 52 with periodograms spanning I1.2021 – I28.2022), the
following trends are projected:
- Number of enterprises (I1) and enterprise birth and death dynamics (I2, I5):
The periodograms indicate a moderate increase in the number of enterprises in mountain regions,
reflecting a posit ive trend in economic development. However, the volatility in enterprise birth
and deat h rates (I2, I5) highlights the need for targeted support policies for small and medium -
sized enterprises, particularly in mountain areas where economic cond itions are m ore challenging.
- Employment indicators (I16, I17, I19):
Employment-related indicators, such as the number of employed persons (I16) and empl oyment
in newly established enterprises (I17), demonstrate steady growth, reflecting an increase in job
opportunities in mountain regions, particularly in sect ors like sustainable tourism and organic
agriculture. However, employment in enterprises that cease oper ations (I19) remains a concern,
necessitating retraining programs and support for affected workers.
- Enterprise survival rate (I7, I9):
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
The survival rate of enterprises after three years (I7, I9) is a critical indicator of economic
sustainability. The periodograms reveal a moderate increase in thi s rate, suggesting that enterprises
in mountain reg ions are becoming more resilient, likely due to supportive policies and a stable
business environment.
- High-growth enterprises (I10, I11):
The number of high- growth enterprises (I 10) and their proportion of the total active ente rprises
(I11) show a positive trend, indicating increas ed innovation and competitiveness in mountain
regions. This is particularly relevant for sectors such as green technology and biotechnology,
which can leverage the natural resources of mountain areas.
- Business population growth (I15):
The net growth of the business population (I15) is a key indicator of economic vit ality. The
periodograms show consistent growth, suggesting an expanding mountain ec onomy with long-
term potential.
The periodograms provide a detailed overview of economic and social ac tivities in European
mountain regions. The increase in the number of enterprises and employment, coupled with
improved enterprise survival rates, points to a positive trend toward sustainable development.
However, the volatility in enterprise births and deaths, along with employment-related challenges,
underscores the need for targeted support policies and investments in innovation and education.
These measures could reinforce the role of mountai n regions as key contributors to the European
economy, particularly in the transition toward a green and digital economy.
The for ecasts derived from the applied models offer a comprehensi ve perspective on the fut ure
trajectory of sci entific, professional, and technical act ivities in Europe. These insi ghts highlight
the strategic directions necessary for devel opment and adaptation to evolving economic and
technological landscapes, particularly within the context of mountain regions.
CONCLUSIONS
The future of mountain research will prioritize the enhancement of int erdisciplinary approaches
and the application of innovative methodologies. A central focus will be the development of
educational programs specifically designed to address the unique nee ds of mountain regions,
taking into consideration thei r distinct regional characteristics. International initiatives will furthe r
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I5.2021-Model_9
Predicted value fro m I5.2022-Model_10
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I6.2021-Model_11
Predicted value fro m I6.2022-Model_12
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I7.2021-Model_13
Predicted value fro m I7.2022-Model_14
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I8.2021-Model_15
Predicted value fro m I8.2022-Model_16
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I10.2021-Model_17
Predicted value fro m I10.2022-Model_18
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I12.2021-Model_19
Predicted value fro m I12.2022-Model_20
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I13.2021-Model_21
Predicted value from I13.2022-Model_22
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I14.2021-Model_23
Predicted value fro m I14.2022-Model_24
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I15.2022-Model_26
Predicted value fro m I16.2021-Model_27
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I16.2022-Model_28
Predicted value fro m I17.2021-Model_29
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I23.2022-Model_42
Predicted value fro m I24.2022-Model_44
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I25.2021-Model_45
Predicted value fro m I25.2022-Model_46
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I26.2022-Model_48
Predicted value fro m I27.2021-Model_49
2nd International Scientific Seminar "M ountain Series Analysis and Forecas ting"
Psycho-Social View Journal, 2/2 024, ISSN 2635- 0882
Predicted value fro m I27.2022-Model_50
Predicted value fro m I28.2022-Model_52
2nd International Scienti fic Seminar
"Mountain Series Analysis a nd Forecasting"
Psycho-Social View J ournal, 2/2024, ISSN 2635-0882
PLEA FOR STATIS TICAL MODELING IN MOUNTAIN
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVE LOPMENT
Mih ai Covaci, Brindusa Covaci
CBM International University / Centre for Mountain Economy / Hyperion
University , #7 Tsexeki Drive, Fu lton County Cherokee Village, AR 7 2529,
USA ; e -mail: cbmuniv [email protected]
Abstract
The paper is a plea in favor of statistical quantitative analyzes in the
modeling of the mountain economic development. The arguments in
favor of the use of s tatistics in the modeling of mountain businesses
reside in the need to map the pres ent to esta blish future trends . The
future is built through constructs, and abstractions made only
conceptually intuitively - without quantitative data validation - can
ensure sus tainability or failure in predicting the trends of the current
society. Science and reality in the 21st century are metamorphosing
more rapidly and chaotically than until now, especially against the
background of the insertion of new technologies in contemporary
society, the dynamics of variou s phenomena b e ing difficult to predict
withou t applicative substantiation. As a model, the paper presents
statistical analyzes and econometric models carried out at the
European and national level for mountain entrepren eurship in the EU ,
related to the s upporting sectors of mountain agriculture, respectively
industry, services, and the quaternary sector. The authors of the study
carried out the analysis for the indicators Population of active
enterprises in t - number, Es tablishments of enterpr ises in t - number,
Dissolu tion s of enterprises in t - number, Newly established
enterprises in t-3 that survived until t - number. The indicators
presented, analyzed for the period 2008 -2018, and for ecasted for the
period 2019 -2026, integrate the mountain business environment into
the considerable development of the demographics of European
businesses. The results of the paper demons trate the importance of
using statistical analyzes and econometric models in establis hing the
reality and forecasting mountain economic phenomena. Speci fic to the
European business environment, the results of the paper present a
general picture favorable to mountain entrepreneurship.
Keywords: development and modelling, mountain statistic , statistical
quantitative analyzes
1. Int ro ductio n
The modeling of the mountain dev elopment involves th e implementation
of business intelligence in the development of mountain areas through the
integrated application of different methods of a nalysis and forecasting.
(Stettler an d Ma yer 20 23; Liu et al 2022; Krutina and Faltová Leitmanová
2005 ; Covaci B and Covaci M 20 23a; Covaci B and Covaci M 2023b)
Mountain science, a construct in full ascent in the last 20 years, is
solidifying its position as a science – mov ing from a paradig m t o a complex
system of a scientific type – wh ich is why the quantitative modeling of trends
gives decisive charact er to new types of dev elopment. Qualitative analy sis,
mainly explo ratory, is interesting from t he persp ective of ease of a pplication
in the study of the mountain economy, bu t the demograp hic trends of
mountain businesses can be calibrated mainly through statistical analysis ,
ma thematical modeling , and econometrics. The demography of mountain
business sets the direction of the mountain economy, the entrepren eurial
environment being the one that predo minantly supports the mou ntain areas of
the world. Therefore, statistical analy sis represents a strong argu ment for the
sustainable and sustainable developmen t of the mou ntain economy. App lied
research in the mountain economy spectrum requires co ntinuous in tegration
of new data into a specific analysis and ensu res the balance between data
quality and quantity. Statistical analyzes lend objectivity to mod els, but mo re
than that they ensure transparency, con s ensus, impartiality, and
correspondence with o bservable reality. (David et al 2017)
The economic growth models of the second hal f of the 20th century,
Running Title of the Paper
3
especially related to aggregate prod uctivity, highlighted appa rent
contradictions related to new technol ogies. For this reason, both theorists and
practitioners began to avoid statistical analysis - so necessary in mountain
science - a develo pment that led to the deceleration of productivity
measurement, consequently providing adequate information for the rea l
economy. The stagn ation did not stop only at the informational level, but also
at th e app lication level, noting that even prod uctivity was considerably
reduced due to the non -use of statistics in the modeling of the economic
development (Brynjol fsson et a l 2017). This tendency, weakly felt in
emerging eco nomies, pr ovides clearer support for the sustainability of
productivity than in the case of developed economies. From the perspective
of the implications of new technol ogies on the modeling of the economi c
development, it seems that there is a resumption of the Solow paradox
(1957/1987) - which postulates that new transfo rmative t echn ologies appear
continuously that must be integrated into the economic modeling - but in the
productivity statistics , it is not found, at their true magnitude, their added
value (Brynjolfsson et al 20 17). In this con text, the discordance between th e
effect of new technologies and the actual productivity observable in the real
economy requires the dynamism of statistical measurem ent. In other words,
the econometric mode ls - especially regarding the mountain area - requ ire a
more auth entic dynamism, so that their effectiveness in the real econo my is
more obvious.
Solutions for high accuracy o f statistical data and resulting models refer
to the need fo r correct use of real data, balancing theory with practice,
incorporating the effective use of statistical d ata in the mountain bu siness
environment, creating dyn amic models that allow metamorphos is in real-time
depending on the existin g realities at th e level of the studied m ountain area,
the application of autoregressive models that consider the flatten ing of the
gap between the statistical significance and the existing reality, etc. (Hoerl
and Snee 2020)
Risk and uncertainty, chaotic realities of today's mountain econo my, ca n
be pr edicted through statistical to ols and methods, which provide deep
insight into t he data and realities of moun tain business. Statistical analysis is
relevant in any phas e of data mod eling, such as data on bu s iness in itiation
and development, data ex plo ration, data analysis an d model building, model
validation, representation , and reportin g. (Weihs and Ickstadt 20 18)
In an increasingly informationally polarized worl d, the notion of
metadata presents itself as a means of addressing the problem of plural ities.
The integration of mountain realities in statistics, especially socio -economic
ones, represe nts the main prob lem of sustainable d evelopment models of
mountain areas. Data quality means more than aspects of in stitutional
independence (guaranteed by p ublic funding and law), requ iring an
integrated theoretical approach that provides real istic models fo r intellig ent
man ufacturing dev elopment. (Diaz-Bone and Horvath 2021)
The resistanc e of some researchers to statistical ana lysis, mathematical
modeling, and econometrics is ju stified in terms of th e errors of the econom ic
models made so far, but compared to th e qualitative models of the economy,
the qu antitative models confer a lower deg ree of error. Errors in well - bu ilt
and calibrated econometric models are insignificant (below 3%), meaning
their use confers greater credib ility than other mo dels. Consequently, the best
variants of economic m odeling also call on the statistical -m athematical
apparatus.
2. Material and M etho ds
The materials used in suppo rt of the plea for statistical research in the
mountain economy refer to th e exploratory resear ch of similar a nd adjacent
works to this research, as well as to th e quantitati ve research on impo rtant
indicators report ed in Eurostat concerning mountain business demog raphy.
Statistical analyzes and econometric models were obt ained by simulating the
dat a in SPSS, the results b eing validated without significant errors.
The indicato r Population of active enterprises in t - number , the most
relevant indicator for the mo untain business environment, shows the
importance of developing th e business environment th ro ugh the application
of mountain policies that support the economic entities created so that they
last at least t hree years after their estab lishment. At the same t ime, bo osting
the mountain business environment must integrate start -up policies so th at
Running Title of the Paper
5
mo un tain start-ups and spin-offs become a reality, not just a wish . Another
sustainable aspect of the mountain business env ironment considers the
degree of occupation as defining for the sustainable development of
mountain areas. The employment used as a t hr es hold fo r the mountain
business environment should be based on the annual average number of
persons for the period of operation of the enterprise.
The po pulation of active enterprises is of particular importance also
because the other mountain indicator s de velop accor ding to it. This indicator
also shows mountain entrepreneurial trends, particularly by capturing the
speed and extent of the shift to ty pes of economies needed in mountain areas,
such as service-bas ed or information and communication technol og y-based
economies. H owever, even if there is a relatively large number of for mations
and di ssolutions in a given perio d, the number of active enterprises in th at
period may be higher than in previous periods. This development may only
reflect increasing vo la tility, not necessarily a true increase in the economic
importance of this c ategory. For this reason, it is recommend ed that
indicators related to the po pulation of active enterprises be permanent ly
accompanied by indicators on establishment, dissoluti on , and employability .
These indicators, especially the Population of Active Ent erprises , prov ide
both a short-term and a medium -term view of the evolution of the moun tain
business environment. (OECD 2012)
The statistical analysis and forecasting models us ed specifically f or each
case refer to econo metric smoothing methods, such as Ho lt -type simple
exponential flattening, autoregressive time series adaptation through Ar ima-
type moving average, an d Brown's primary expon ential adjustment. The
statistical desc ri pt ors analyzed fo r each indi cator are Average, SE (standard
error), Minimum, M aximum, respectively the 5th and 10th p ercentiles, and
the reported values are for stationary R-square, R -square, RMSE (roo t mean
square error squ are ro ot of the mean), MAPE (m ea n abso lute percentage
error), MaxAPE (mean maximum absolute percentage error), MAE (mean
absolute error), MaxAE ( mean absolute error – the maximum error of the
absolute mean), Normalized BIC (Normaliz ed Bayesian Information
Criterion – normalized Bayesia n in formation criterion).
According to Eu rostat, the statistical models used to analyze and fo recast
the indicator Popula tion of active enterp rises in t – nu mber (I1) in mountain
area are for Austria Mod el_1 Holt, Bulgaria Model_ 2 ARIMA(0,0,0),
Croatia Mod el _3 Holt, Czech Republic Model_4 ARIMA(0 ,0,0), France
Model_5 Holt, Italy Model _6 ARIMA(0,0 ,0), Poland Model_7 Holt,
Portugal Model_8 Brown, Romania Model_9 Holt, Slovakia Model_ 10
Brown, Spain Model_11 Holt, Sweden Mo del_12 ARIMA(0,1,0),
Switzerland Mode l_ 13 Brown.
The statistic al models used for the analysis and forecasting of the
indicator Business establishment in t – number (I2) in mou ntain area are fo r
Austria Model_1 Holt, Bulgaria Model_2 Holt, Croatia Model_3 Simple,
Czech Republ ic Model_4 ARIMA(0 ,0 ,0 ), Fran ce Model_5 Holt, Italy
Model_6 Holt, Poland Model_7 ARIMA(0,2,0), Por tugal Model_8
ARIMA(0,0,0), Romania Model_9 Holt, Slovakia Model_10 ARIMA(0,0,0),
Spain Model_11 ARIMA(0 ,0,0), Sweden Model_12 ARIMA(0,0,0),
Switzerland Model_13 Brown.
The sta ti st ic al models used for the analysis and forecasting of the
indicator Dissolution of enterprises in t – number (I3) in moun tain area are
for Austria Model_1 ARIMA(0,0,0), Bulgaria Model_2 ARIMA(0,0,0),
Croatia Model_3 Holt, Czech Republic Model_4 Holt, Fr ance Model_5
ARIMA(0,0,0), Italy Model_6 ARIMA(0,0,0), Po land Model_7 Holt,
Portugal Model_8 Holt, Romania Model_9 Holt, Slovakia Model_ 10 Holt,
Spain Mo del_11 ARIMA(0 ,0,0), Sweden Model_12 ARI MA(0,0,0),
Switzerland Model_13 ARIMA(0,0, 0).
The statistic al m od el s used for the analysis and forecasting of the
indicator Newly establish ed enterprises in t-3 that survived until t – number
(I4) in mountain area are for Austria Model_1 ARIMA(0,0 ,0), Bulgaria
Model_2 ARIMA(0, 0,0), Croatia Model_ 3 ARIMA(0 ,0,0), Czech Re pu blic
Model_4 H olt, France Mo del_5 ARIMA(0,1,0), Italy Model_ 6
ARIMA(0,0,0), Poland Model_7 ARIMA(0 ,0,0), P ortu gal Model_8
ARIMA(0,0,0), Romania Model_9 ARIMA(0,0,0 ), Slovakia Model_10
ARIMA(0,0,0), Spain Model_ 11 Simple, Sweden M odel_12 ARIMA(0,1 ,0),
S wi tz erland Model_13 Brown.
Running Title of the Paper
13
The indicator New e nt er prises estab lished in t-3 that survived to t –
number in mountain area shows statistical desc riptors with values for
stationary R-square .1 32, .320, -4.619E-14, .985, -4.619E-14, -3.233E -14;
R-square .261, .426, -.035, 1.000, -.035, -.021; RMSE 2636.5 95 , 3317.134,
.196, 10593.111, .196, 1 .249; MAP 6.520, 6.866, .001, 23 .625, .001, .120;
MaxAPE 12.7 13, 13.204, .001, 39.434 , .001, .124; MAE 1799.913,
2212.814, .132, 6579.604, .132, .879; MaxAE 3832.782, 5069.414, .176,
17096.985, .176, .905; Normalized B IC 12.762, 6.333, -2.910, 18.858 , -
2.910, -.775.
The predictive model for Romania, Romania -Model_9 , shows the values
5.551E-16, 5.551E -16, 4401.574, 3121.280.
The pred ictive valu es of the Romania -Model_9 model is presented for all
years as Forecast 19195, UC L 31 416, LCL 6975.
European countri es reflect a balanced mount ain business environment,
with established businesses la sting m ore than five years in the European
entrepreneurship market.
The Czech Repu blic -Model_4 and France-Mo del_5, the most emerging
co un tr ies of this indicator, show th at mou ntain business es can represent a
way of dev eloping the national and regio nal economy, while the other
countries, except Sweden-Model_ 12 , and Switzerland-Model_ 13 , have linear
development trends (figur e 4).
Running Title of the Paper
15
4 . Concl us io n
According to the studies presented in the specialized literature and the
authors' research, the quantitative analyzes give the modeling of the
mountain economy a high deg ree of scientific validation . The indicators
analyzed as an example confirm th e st ab ility of the European mountain
business environment.
The population of act ive enterprises in t - number in mountain area has
grown con siderably during the analyzed perio d, the forecast sho wing that the
mountain economy will develop con siderably in the ne xt five years.
In the analyzed period, but also the presented trend period, new
enterprises to cover th e mountain's economic needs ( Establishment of
enterprises in t – nu mber in mountain area) will support the mountain's
entrepreneurial environment.
In t he p aper it was shown that the dissolu tion of inefficient enterprises
( Dissolution of enterprises in t – number i n mountain area) re presents a
reality at the level of the mountain business environment in Europe, the
beneficial eff ects being the establishme nt of new enterprises or iented more
towards local and regio nal mountain needs.
The economic entities th at resisted dissolution or inactivity ( Enterprises
newly estab lished in t -3 that survived until t – number in mount ain area )
solidified the mount ain busi ne ss environment, ensurin g the sustainability of
the entire European mountain economy.
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Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
Pluralism and Intrinsic Univ ersity Values in the Context of Cul tural Ethics
Prof. Mihai Covaci 1 , PhD, Hyperion University / CBM International University USA
Prof. Brîndusa Covaci 2 , PhD, Center for Mountain Economy / CBM International University USA
1 Hyperion University / CBM International Unive rsity, USA
2 Center for Mountain Ec onomy / CBM International Uni versity, USA
Corresponding Author: #7 Ts exeki Drive, Fulton County Cherokee Village, AR 72529, USA
cbmuniversity@teache rs.org
Abstract. The article represents a plea in favor of pluralism and own university values, influenced
by current educational cultures and modern academic ethics in constant dynamics. The research
develops aspects regarding the organization of university values and ethics at the leve l of a
Romanian educational institution. The statistical analysis of the work, parametric and non -
parametric, shows the im portance of organizational culture in the face of the entropic p henomenon.
The research results demonstrate the importance of university contextual factors, of the existing
information sour ces at the level of the organization and the adja cent environment, as well as of
educational values considered relevant in contemporary culture.
Keywords: educational pluralism, university values, socio-cultural ethics, entropy
Introduction an d Methodology
The purpose of the research
1
li es in the importance of the subject of entropy at the level of
university culture. In a society where the university offer is, to say the least, abundant compared
to the educational demand, the need for organization is of particular relevance . Organizational
entropy at the level o f current educational institutions is more present than ever, the n eed t o capture
reality and its origin being relevant in understanding how there can be a rel ationship to intrinsic
values
2
.
In the cur rent soci al context, a frequent criticism of the legitimacy of human rights is that they
reflect an ethnocentric or parochial perspective. In contrast to this perspective, the globalist
dimension brings to the fore the need for the dynamic integration of people, groups and
organizations. The contradictions of the different systems of approaching human rights are found
in the entropic character of modern education, e specially in it s managerial syst em. In this context,
the main challenge to the universal validity of human rights is not relativism, but ethical cultural
pluralism. At the meta-ethical level, skepticism or ethical rela tivism claims that there are no or
cannot be known universal values, because moral truth and the justification of moral judgments
are considered relative to contingent cultural and historical
3
factors. Applied at the university level,
educational values find themselves in a dynamic equilibrium unfavorable to pedagogical ethics. In
this context, the study of university entr opy represents a central point of modern organizational
culture.
In an increasingly destructured society - marked by environmental threats, uncontrolled
consumerism, rel igious violence, information technology and unethi cal global escalation,
including the use of weapons of mass destruction - organizational values, especially those applied
at the university level, are becoming existential pillars of today's soci ety. Intrinsic and group values
1
The paper is a variant of the article Covaci M., Covaci B. (2024). Pluralism și valori universitare intrinseci în
contextul eticii culturale . Jurnalul Libertatii de Constiinta.
2
Jaspers, K. (1971). Philos ophy of existence (Vol. 1010). U niversity of Pennsylvania Press.
3
Ramírez, F. A. (2019). T he challenge of ethical-cultural pl uralism to the universality o f human rights. The Age of
Human Rights Journal , (1 2), 184-203.
Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
become the source of freedom , creativity and organizational values that significantly connect
humans with other social and natural beings or speci es.
4
Today's universities can definitively
influence the trajectory of intrinsic and organizational values.
The article pre sents a parametric and non-parametric analysis regarding a university case in
Romania, applied to the organizational management level of an educational institution.
Results
The experimental research was based on collecting information through a questionnaire. The data
obtained were coded and entered into SPSS for statistical validation. Due to the types of data
obtained as well as certain intra-group differences, non-parametric statistical tests were used.
5
The independent variables analyze d were general length of service, position held, age, completed
studies (or level of studies), gender, field of completed studies and type of manager or personal
consideration of one's own managerial qualities. The representations of these variables (figure 1,
panels) sho w that the length of s ervice of the ma jority of study participa nts is over 10 years, many
of them being in the category of mid-level managers, the share of people between 41-50 years old
being decisive, the male gender being a minority at the leve l of university management. At the
level of the university managerial group researched, people with at least a doctorate dominate the
top of scientific studies, representatives of so cial sciences being in the majority and most of them
considering that they became managers through training and experience.
a. Seniority
b. Fasting
4
Sarin, I. (2011). Philosophical Faith: The Savior of Humanity. In Philosophical Faith and the Future of Humanity
(pp. 387-398). Dordrecht: Spr inger Netherlands.
5
The research was adapted a ccording to Covaci M. (2019). D octoral thesis. Nationa l School of Polit ical and
Administrative Studies; Covaci, M. (2024). Academic satisfaction of students: validity and reliability study. ORAV;
Covaci, M (2024). Organizational negentropy - theory and concepts. ORAV; Covaci, M . (2024). Organizational
negentropy - regression analysis and correlations. ORAV; Cov aci, M. (2024). Organizational negentropy - statistical
research. ORAV
Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
c. Age
d. Gender
e. Studies
f. Domain
g. Manager type
Figure 1. Structure of the respondent management group
The questionnaire applied to the studied group highlighted the im portance of factors, sources of
information, relevant values, etc. at the university organizational level.
To the question How do you assess the importance of the following factors on the future
performance of the university? The list of factors was nine in number (Ability to communicate,
Ability to innovate, Social approaches, Adaptability to change, Employee behavior, Resear ch
projects or other types of projects, Academic performance, Number of students, Human values)
Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
with five answer options (1. Very important, 2. Important, 3. Not important, 4. Don't know and 5.
No answer). From the responses received, adaptability to change would be the aspect noted as very
important and in second place were factors such as human values, academic performance and
research projects or other types of projects.
Figure 2. Factors influencing academic performance
The sources of information reg arding the organization's values considered to be the most
frequently used among the following: University reg ulations, University brochures and various
advertising mat erials, Meetings, trainings, Website, Other ... The answers had to be classified
according to the place of the inf ormation source: 1st place, 2nd plac e and 3rd place. The primary
source of information emerged as being the university regulations and in second place were
meetings, trainings, etc.
Figure 3. Sources of information regarding the organization's values
The 10 keywords considered relevant to the university by respondents, as a definition of what they
consider relevant to the organizational culture, were chosen as being top quality and
professionalism (each with 18 responses) and in last place (wit h only one resp onse) being
Forecasting/Vision.
19
19
19
22
16
21
21
15
21
11
11
7
8
14
8
9
14
9
4
1
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Abilitatea de a comunica
Abilitatea de a inova
Abordări sociale
Adaptabilitatea la schimbare
Comportamentul angajaților
Proiecte de cerce tare sau alte tipuri de proiecte
Performanțele academice
Numărul de studenți
Valorile umane
1. Foarte importa nt 2. Im portant 3. Neimportant 4. Nu știu 5. Nu răspund
16 6 11 10 1 7 6 14 3 3 2 7 1 4 9
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Regulamente
ale
universităţii
Broşuri ale
universităţii
şi diverse
materiale cu
rol publicitar
Şedinţe,
instructaje
Website Altele…
Locul 1 Locul 2 Locul 3
Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
Figure 4. Keywords relevant to the university
When selecting the first five values considered to be the most intensely shared and frequently used
within the university within the existing situation (Figure 5, panels ae), the following values were
obtained: open communications be tween students and teaching staff, on the one hand, and
management staff, on the other hand, along with quality (six answers each), open communications
between students and teaching staff (four answers), and with three answers each realism,
professionalism, passion, orientation towards student satisfaction, openness and transparency,
fairness, ethical behavior and integrity, assuming responsibility .
1
2
2
2
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
10
10
13
13
13
14
15
18
18
02468 10 12 14 16 18 20
Previzionare / viziune
Autonomie
Comunitate
Perseverență
Securitate
Birocraţie
Responsabilitate
Tradiţie
Învățare continuă
Motivare
Respect
Colectivism
Corectitudine
Încredere
Legalitate
Organizare
Spirit de echipă
Disciplină
Eficiență
Etică
Inovare/creativitate
Comunicare
Muncă
Climat de muncă plăcut
Competență
Performanță
Satisfacţia studenților
Angajament / implicare
Calitate
Profesionalism
Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
c. 3rd place
In fourth place, the first two positions were taking responsibility (three answer s) and openness ,
transparency (two answers).
d. 4th place
In fifth place, several values were chosen and they all have only one answer.
e. 5th place
Figure 6. Values considered to be the most intensely shared and frequently used within the
university within the desired situation
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
4
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
Evaluarea corectă a performanţelor individuale şi…
Corectitudine, comportament etic şi integritate
Pasiune
Tradiţie
Orientarea spre satisfacţia studenţilor
Orientarea spre excelenţă şi îmbunătăţirea…
Asumarea responsabilităţii
Flexibilitate, adaptabilitate
Respectarea angajamentelor managerilor
Diversitate culturală
Interesul faţă de comunitatea locală
Onestitate, demnitate
Creativitate, inventivitate
Respect faţă de alte culturi, tradiţii
Talent
Comunicaţii deschise între studenţi şi personalul didactic
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Orientarea spre satisfacţia studenţilor
Stabilitatea organizaţională
Loialitate
Orientarea spre parteneri şi colaboratori
Promptitudine
Deschidere, transparenţă
Asumarea responsabilităţii
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Stabilitatea organizaţională
Orientarea spre parteneri şi colaboratori
Talent
Orientarea spre rezultate
Simplitate
Autonomie
Stimularea spiritului de iniţiativă
Spirit de echipă
Orientarea spre satisfacţia personalului
Îmbunătăţirea climatului de muncă
Proceedings of the Hybrid International Scientific Co nf erence: Values of Contemporary Education and Re ligious
Pluralism in the Context of Present Trends Towar ds Individualism and Extremism
Journal for Freedom of Conscience, 2024
Conclusion
In conclusion, the normality analysis of the questionnaire questions rev ealed that factors such as
adaptability to change, human values, academic performance and research projects or other types
of projects are fac tors with a huge negentropic potential. Sh ared values with good negentropic
capacity are open communications between students and teaching staff, on the one hand, and
management staff, on the other; quality (in general); open communications between students and
teaching staff ; realism; professionalism; passion; orientation towards stude nt satisfaction;
openness and transparency; fairness, ethical behavior and integrity; assuming responsibility. The
values that are desired to be shared in the future within the university are: quality; professionalism;
orientation towards results; creativity and inventiveness; ope n communications between students
and teaching staff; assum ing responsibility. Externally, quality and professionalism are the factors
that are relied on.
Reference
Covaci M. (2019). Doctoral thesis. National School of Political and Administrative Studies
Covaci, M. (2024). Academic satisfaction of students: validity and reliability study. ORAV
Covaci, M (2024). Organizational negentropy - theory and concepts. ORAV
Covaci, M. (2024). Organizational negentropy - regression analysis and correlations. ORAV
Covaci, M. (2024). Organizational negentropy - statistical research. ORAV
Jaspers, K. (1971). Philosophy of existence (Vol. 1010). University of Pennsylvania Press.
Ramírez, F. A. (2019) . The challenge of ethical-cultural pluralism to the universality of human
rights. The Age of Human Rights Journal, (12), 184-203.
Sarin, I. (2011). Philosophical Faith: The Savior of Humanity. In Philosophical Faith and the
Future of Humanity (pp. 387-398). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
Annals of the U niv ersity of Ora dea, Fascicl e: Environmen tal Protectio n, 2024
1
ANALYSIS OF FIN ANCIN G TRE NDS OF YO UNG FA RMERS I N ROMANIA
Florin BOR ODAN
1
# , Radu BREJEA 2 , Brindusa COV ACI 3 , Mihai COVACI 4 ,
Adriana CIOTEA 1 , David Emanu el BARA 5
1 PhD Student, University of O radea, Faculty of Environmental Protection, 26 Gen. Magheru St., 4100 48 Oradea; Romania
2 University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protection, 26 Ge n. Magheru St., 4100 48 Orade a; Romania/
Corresponding Member of the Romania n A cademy of Scientists, Romania
3 Centre for Mountain Economy / CBM Internationa l University , USA
4 Hyperion University / CBM Internatio nal University, USA
5 Student of University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protec tion, 26 Gen. Magheru St., 4100 48 Or adea ; Romania
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Abstract
The work represents an i ncursio n into the develop ment of ag riculture throu gh specific Eur opea n funds. The multitude of
appro aches regarding Europea n funds with agraria n and r ural specifics lead to the clear establishment of the o bjec tives
and purpo se of this work. The theme presents particular i mportance in the current g lobal co ntext of increasingl y
precario us food safety and security. At the level of the Europ ean Union (EU) , these issues have b een recognized since
the 19 50s, establis hing in the follo wing decad es t he C o mmon Agricul tural P olic y (C AP), designed to supp ort
agriculture i n par ticular. T he exacerb ated develop ment of i ndustr y, services and later t he quaternar y sector s led to the
partial neglec t of a griculture in t he first p hase o f Europ ean econo mic reco very aft er the Seco nd W orld War. T he
financing of a griculture, b oth at the Europea n level a nd at the w o rld le vel, ha s been i mposed as a measure to erad icate
global hunger and m al nutritio n. Through the adop ted policies, esp eciall y within the frame w or k o f the CAP, the EU has
become a leader in the substa ntial fina ncing of agro -ru ral de velop m e nt.
The work also d evelops aspects related to the agro - rural sustai nability of Ro ma nia, pointing out the i m p ortance of
farmers, esp ecially y o ung ones, in national agriculture. Th e Ro manian agro -r ural entrepreneurial pop ulation is old er,
which is why you ng farmers r epresent the c hance o f a certain future for natio nal agricultur e.
Keywords : agr icultural funds, fina ncing a nalysis, young farm ers
#Corresponding author: Florin Boroda n, Flori n.BORODA [email protected] nfo
INTRODU CTION
The main components of the CAP for the
period under discussion are achieved through
two complementary stages: - through annual
direct payments and market support granted to
farmers and - throug h mul ti-annual rural
development mea s ures. Through direct
payments, which are not linked to the amount
of produ ction, competitiven ess in the
agricultural sector is increased and farmer s'
adaptation to the market is encouraged.
Concrete and targeted measures ensure the
development of farms and rural settlements , the
support of social capital and the protect ion of
natural resour ces. The 2014-2020 per iod saw
the consolidation (unification) of the two
dimensions of the CAP: the first, which finances
direct aid and market measures, is made
entirely from the Eu ropean Agricultural
Guarantee Fund (EGF); the second, which
supports the developmen t of rural areas, is co -
financed.
A relevant study in this regard, carri ed
out b y Z agorova (2 023), sho ws a t endency to
reduce the c osts of inter vent ions in agricultural
markets with funds from the FEGA before the
indicative period 2014-2020, as well as a
restriction/de crease in total intervent ion costs
in the EU agricultural sector for the years 2014
and 2015, while for the period 2016-2019 a
marked increase is again observed, with some
downward fluctuation in 2018. The resea rch
data also shows a drastic reduction in financial
support for export refunds for agricultural
products produced in the EU, the valu e of which
reached EUR 1.1 m illion in 2019, comp ared to
EUR 146.7 million in 2012, EUR 62.4 mi llion in
2013 and EUR 4.5 million i n 2014, after which
they decreased S ud denly to EU R 0.3 million in
2015, EUR 0.6 million in 2016. The
development of the EU CAP after 2021 is based
2
on the multiann ual fi nancial framework,
proposed in May 2018, related to its reform for
the period 2021-2027. At the heart of the
reform is the EU's results-oriented CAP
implementati on model and the princ i ple of
subsidiarity, which gives member state s a muc h
greater role i n agricultural i nterventi ons. The
reform in the agricultura l s ector provides th at
the U n i on will initially establish the key
parameter s, i nclud ing the CAP objectives, the
main requirements and the mai n types of
intervention s under the first and second pillars,
after which the Member States will draw up th e
multi-annual S trateg ic Plans for agric ultural
development at the national level. (Zagorova,
2023)
The Rural Development Program at the
EU leve l for t he period 2014- 202 0 consisted of
16 mea s ures, most of th em being divided into
sub-measure s. Among the most import ant
2014 -2020 PNDR measures are: Inve stments in
physical assets (measure 4), Developm ent of
holdings and enterpris es (measure 6), Ba sic
services and renewal of villages in rural areas
(measure 7). (Michalcewicz-Kan i owska &
Zajdel, 2019)
Current data show that the number of
young farmers i n several developed countries,
such as the United States and Eu ropean
countrie s , has declined in recent dec ades as a
result of technological , social and econom ic
changes. In Europe, in 2013, around 30% of
European farms were m anaged by a farmer
aged over 65, and i n some countries the age
exceeds thi s figure, such as countries s uch as
Spain 33% , Italy 40% and Portugal 50%. The
low proportion of yo ung farmer s is s een as a
pr oblem due to the per ceived loss of potent ial
in creating efficient, competitive, innovative and
therefore m ore pro fitable and sustainabl e
agricultural businesse s. It i s the main reason
why, at the level of the Euro pean Union, the
financing of young farmers is a primary fact.
Young farmers are more open to new ideas,
ready to take greater risks, and are also more
willing to use loan capital to expand their
business. T he m ain con tributi on of y oung
farmers is the growing recognition that they
play an i mportant role in addressing food
security chal lenges. (May et al., 201 9)
MATERIAL AN D METHOD
The Support for the Installation of Young
Farmers s ub-measure aims to support the initi al
installation process of young farmers as
leaders/ managers of an a gricul tural h o lding.
The purpos e of the investments
supported under this sub-measure is to
facilitate the establish ment of young farmers as
leaders of an agricult ural holding, thus giving
them the opportunity to get i nvolved in this
activity for the first time. The objecti ves of thi s
initiative include boostin g the number of young
farmers starting their f irst farming activity a s
farm h eads, encourag ing them to become
competitive, associate and participate in
integrated food chains. At the s ame time, it is
proposed to improve management, i ncrease the
competitivene ss of the agricultural sector, and
support the modernizati on proc ess to comply
with th e require ments rel ated to environmental
protection, hygi ene, animal welfar e and
workplace safety. T he initiative also aims to
create t he opportunity for young resident
farmers with m inimal k nowledge to become
farm leader s. At the same ti me, the aim i s to
encourage young people and families fr om the
countrysid e to settle i n this area, having a
positive impact on the national economy as a
whole. (AFIR, 2 021)
Beneficiarie s eli gible for this support
include young farmers aged up to 40 who are
setting up for the first ti me as sole heads of an
agricultural h oldi ng, as well as multi-
shareholder legal entities where a young farmer
takes effective long-term control regarding
management decisions, benefits and financial
risks associated with the holding. The minimum
conditions for accessing the support include
placing the applicant i n the category of micro
and s mall enterpr ises, owning a farm between
12,000 and 50,000 S .O. (standard output)
(standard produ ction value), presenting a
Business Plan (BP) and demonstrating the
necessary skills and abilities. T he Business Plan
must include the m anure management met hods.
The imple m entation of th e PA must s tart within
six months at most from the date of the decision
to grant support, and the applicant undertakes
to become an active farmer with in a maximum
of 18 months from the d ate of installation. The
beneficiary must esta blish his domic ile,
registered office and workplace in the
Territorial Administrative Unit (UAT) i n which
the holding is registered or i n the bordering
area of the U AT, until the start of the
implementati on of the PA. These conditions
ensure the efficient and sustainable
implementati on of business plan s. (AFIR, 2021)
Non-reimbur sable support under sub-
measure 6.1 Support for setting up young
Annals of the U niv ersity of Ora dea, Fascicl e: Environmen tal Protectio n, 2024
3
farmers was 100 % non-reimbursable and ha d a
maximum valu e of 50,000 euro s.
The analy s is of young Romanian farmers
(aged up to 39 years), of the ev olution of their
livestock, is a necessity for the agricul tural
financing s ector, but esp ec ially for the agro -
rural developm ent of Romania.
Forecast statistical analysis takes into
account:
• Observed data (20 16 -2018) - all graphs have
an observed data sectio n (red) covering the
period 2016 -2018.
• Forecast s (2019 -2024) - the blue extension
represents the forecasts for the period 2019-
2024.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
At the level of Romania, young farmers
represent a group on the verge of extinction.
The agricultural sector has a high degree of
aging. Farms managed b y elderly farmers are
thinly capitalized and therefore market
oriented. There is a great need to renew
generation s of farmers in all sectors of
Romanian agriculture to improve farm
management and incre ase productiv ity. The
European Union, thro ugh the Eu ropean
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, gives
a special interest in s upporting young farmers
by granting installation ai d, precisely to revive
this segment of the populat ion that is so
necessary in community ag ric ulture.
As can be seen in the f ollowing figures,
analysis based on Euro stat data (2024), t he
2016 -2020 period - in which several measure s
from the National Rural Development Progra m
2014 -2020 were applied - s hows a revival of the
number of young farmers, espec ially on the
basis of their f inancing.
Figure 1 Effective young farmers in Romania
The histogram s of t he n um ber of young
farmers in Romania and in the administr ative
regions show an im pro ved s ituat i on towards
the end of th e 2014-2020 programming per iod.
The frequency analysi s of young farmers
at the level of Romania and the development
regions shows that there i s an uneven
distribut i on between t he regions. The region
with the highest avera ge number of young
farmers is Romania, followed by the N ortheast
and the Center. The Bucharest-Ilfov region has
the lowest number of obse rvations and
therefore the resu lts for this reg ion are less
stable. The coeffic i ent of variation is over 100%
fo r all region s , except Bucharest-Ilfov. T hi s
indicates a s i gnificant variability of funds
allocated between r egions.
Figure 2 Number of y oung farmers in Ce nter
Figure 3 Effective young farmers in North -East
Figure 4 Effective young farmers in Southeast
4
Figure 5 Effective young farmers in South-Muntenia
Figure 6 Effective young farmers in Bucharest-Ilfov
Figure 7 Effective young farmers in South-W Oltenia
Figure 7 Effective young farmers in West
Histograms are skewed to the right, with
longer tails i n the direction of large value s . T his
suggests that there may be a sm all number of
regions t hat have significantly higher number s
of young farmers. The data presented in the
histograms suggest an uneven di stribution of
the number of young farmers in Romania. The
northeastern and central regions of the country
seem to benefit from a greater presen c e than
the southern and western reg ions.
Regarding the forecast for the period
2020 -2024, the foreca s t shows an overview of
the future evolution of the number of young
farmers in Rom ania in different sec tors and
models (figure 8).
Different models - the graph includes
several m odels numbere d from 1 to 9, each
representing a spec i fic gr oup of youn g farmers
from a certain develop ment region of Romania,
as follows:
1. First Model – Romania (Remodel- Mo del-1): a
steady increase from 2016 to 2018 and a
significant upward trend with a steady increase
in numbers unti l 2024 is observ ed.
2. S econd Model – Northwest (Innovator s-
Model-2): has a modest growth trend between
2016 and 2018, as well as s imilar growth to the
first model, b ut less steep.
3. Third Model – Center (Creators-Model-3):
shows similar growth to the previous models
and a steady ascent, in line with the fi rst two
models.
4. The Fourth Model – North-East (InTech-
Model-4): has a slight increase u ntil 2018 and a
continuation of the i nc rease, although at a
slower pace compared to the first three model s.
5. Fifth Model – South-East (Ski lls-Mod el-5): a
consistent increase is ob served between 2016
and 2018 and a significan t rise is predicted until
2024 .
6. S ixth Model – South- Muntenia (Soundne ss-
Model-6): shows little growth until 20 18 and
modest and steady rise u ntil 2024.
7. The Seventh Model – Bu charest-Ilfov
(Bumper-Model -7): has si gnific ant growth
between 2016 and 2018, as well as steep
growth to 2024, the highe st of all models,
suggesting rapid and ex tensive growth in this
sector.
8. The Eighth Model – Sou th-West Oltenia
(Sonder-Model- 8): show s moderate growth
until 2018 and a continuou s rise , si mi lar to
ot her mode ls.
9. Ninth Model – West (Verdant-Model -9):
Shows growth through 2018 and steady ascent
at a similar rate to most other m odels.
The histog ram analysis of young farmers
from the north-west regi on of Romania show s
that the p opulation mean and standard
deviation indicate a si gnificant variability
among young farmers, with the maximum
frequency be ing approximately 1. 568 (figure 8) .
Annals of the U niv ersity of Ora dea, Fascicl e: Environmen tal Protectio n, 2024
5
Figure 8 Forecast regarding the number of y oung farmers in Romania and development regions
This region has the largest population of
young farmer s.
The histogram shows the distribution of
income frequency among young farmers in the
6
northwestern region of Romania. The
informat i on presented i n the histogram can be
used to perfor m a specific analysis of this
population cat egory.
The histogram is slightl y skewed to the
left, with a long er tail for lower i nco mes.
Figure 9 Effective young farmers in North -West
This s uggests that most young farm ers
have relatively low incomes, but there are also a
small number of farmers w ith significant ly
higher inco m es.
CONCLUSIONS
The gen eral trend of all models pr edicts a
steady i ncrea se in the number of young farmers
in various sectors until the end of 2024. Model 7
Bucharest-Ilfov (Bumper-Mod el- 7) sho ws the
steepest and m ost signi ficant growth ,
suggesting a rapid expansion in this sector
specific. All graphs sho w consistent growth,
suggesting optimis m reg arding the future of
young farmers i n Romania. This analy sis
suggests a posit ive outlook for young farmers in
Romania, wit h expansion predic ted i n all
sectors represent ed i n the models. However, for
accurate strategic planning , detailed analysis of
each model and the specific factors that
contribute to these predictions would be
beneficial.
Based on the conclus ions present ed
above, the following recommendat ions can be
formulated specifi c for the N orth-West region of
Romania:
- the government should implement
policies to support young farmers with low
incomes, such as subsidy programs or low-
interest agric ultural loans ;
- training and e ducation courses should
be organized to help young farmers i mprove
their s kills and competence s, which could
enable them to earn higher inco mes;
- m arkets for local agricul tural products
should be developed, which would give young
farmers more opportu nities to s ell their
products and e arn more in c ome.
REFERENCE S
AFIR, 2021 . Summary guide on submeasure 6.1.
Support for th e installation of young farmers.
https://portal.afir.info/informatii_generale_pndr_in
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ea _tinerilor_fermieri
Eurostat, 2024. Farm in dicators by age and sex o f the
manager, ec onomic size of th e farm, utilised
agricultural area and NUT S 2 region
[ef_m_farmang__custom_12084303]
M a y, D., Arancibia, S., Behrendt, K. & Adams, J. , 2019.
Preventing young farmers from le aving the farm:
Investigating the effectiveness of the young
farmer payment using a be havioural approach.
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M ic halc ewicz-Kaniowska, M . & Zajdel, M., 2019. Rural
development in European Uni on policy.
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Zagorova, K. , 2023. Contemporary Priorities in the
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R e v i e w N o t p e e r - r e v i e w e d v e r s i o n
T h e I n t e r p l a y B e t w e e n O r g a n i z a t i o n a n d
O r g a n i z i n g i n E d u c a t i o n a l a n d C u l t u r a l
D y n a m i c s : A R e v i e w . I n s i g h t s f r o m
E u r o p e a n C o u n t r i e s
M i h a i C o v a c i a n d B r i n d u s a C o v a c i *
P o s t e d D a t e : 1 0 F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 5
d o i : 1 0 . 2 0 9 4 4 / p r e p r i n t s 2 0 2 5 0 2 . 0 6 0 1 . v 1
K e y w o r d s : c u l t u r a l d y n a m i c ; f r a m i n g ; p r i n c i p a l s h i p ; o r g a n i z a t i o n
P r e p r i n t s . o r g i s a f r e e m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y p l a t f o r m p r o v i d i n g p r e p r i n t s e r v i c e
t h a t i s d e d i c a t e d t o m a k i n g e a r l y v e r s i o n s o f r e s e a r c h o u t p u t s p e r m a n e n t l y
a v a i l a b l e a n d c i t a b l e . P r e p r i n t s p o s t e d a t P r e p r i n t s . o r g a p p e a r i n W e b o f
S c i e n c e , C r o s s r e f , G o o g l e S c h o l a r , S c i l i t , E u r o p e P M C .
C o p y r i g h t : T h i s o p e n a c c e s s a r t i c l e i s p u b l i s h e d u n d e r a C r e a t i v e C o m m o n s C C B Y 4 . 0
l i c e n s e , w h i c h p e r m i t t h e f r e e d o w n l o a d , d i s t r i b u t i o n , a n d r e u s e , p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e a u t h o r
a n d p r e p r i n t a r e c i t e d i n a n y r e u s e .
Review
The Interplay Between Organization and Organizing
in Educational and Cultural Dynamics: A Review.
Insights from European Countries
Mihai Covaci 1 and Brindu sa Covaci 2, *
1 Hyperion University / CBM International University , USA
2 Center for Mountain Economy / CBM International University, U SA
* Correspondence: #7 Tsexeki Dr ive, Fulton County Cherok ee Vi llage, A R 72529, USA; cbmunive rsity@t eache rs.o rg
Abstract: This article revisi ts the foundational princi ples behind the concepts of organization and
structure. De fining “organi zation” is particul arly challenging , as existing term inology often fa ils to
fully captu re its complexity. W ords like “organi zation” can be int erchangeable with terms such as
entity, connection, mechan ism, social complex, an d mode of admin istration, among others. Ho wever,
relying sole ly on synonyms is ins ufficient, often lead ing to a cycle o f circular defini tions. Many
interpreta tions tend to le an toward synonym ous or circular exp lanations. As a result, it is essential to
deepe n our unde rsta nding of key concept s in cont emporary society -organization and structure- to
ensure conceptual clarity . By exploring th ese ideas, the article moves beyo nd mere linguistic
equivalents, aim ing to provide a comprehensive understanding of their multifaceted nature. The
paper also examines the cultural dy namics withi n European countr ies and pres ents several
organization al models.
Keywords: cul tural dynamic; fram ing; principalshi p; organization
Introduction and Theories
The concept of organization proves to be as elusive as other fundam en tal notions of human
language and thought, such as light, darkness , nothing, tim e, or beauty 1 .
The concept of organization proves to be as el usive as other foundation al constructs in human
language and thought, such as light, darkness , nothingness, time, o r beauty. This inherent diff iculty
in defining “organ ization” with precis ion and unambiguity pr esents considerable cha llenges in
formulating clear and exhaustive in terpr etations. Circular, synonymous , or metaphorical definitions,
although ofte n dismissed or deemed insuf ficient, represen t a response to this concep tual challenge ,
highlighting the inherent complexity of the organizational phenomenon.
Post-2000, a notab le trend has emerged wherein or g anizations are defined as en tities comprised
of interconnected p arts, universal st ructures, hubs , o r networks of entities and subassemblies. This
variety of con ceptualizations ref lects the multifac e ted nature of the organizational phenomenon and
underscores the diverse in terpretations advanced by rese archers and theorists within th e field of
1 Fragments of this material were pu blished as Covaci M., Consideration s regarding the influence of entropy in
organizations, Psycho-Social View Jour nal, 2021; Covaci M., Covaci B., Th e Interconnection of Organization and
Organizing in the Cultural Dynamics: A Review, Journa l for Freedom of Conscience, 2023; Covaci M. (2019).
Doctoral thesis. National School of Po litical an d Administrative Studies; Co vaci, M. (2024). Academic satisfaction
of students: va lidity and reliability study. ORAV; Covaci, M (2024). Or ganizational negentropy-theory and
concepts. ORAV; Covaci, M. (2024). Organizational nege ntropy-regression analysis and correlations. ORAV;
Covaci, M. (2024). Organizational negentropy-statistical research. ORAV
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and
contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting
from any ideas, methods, instructions, or products referred to in the content.
Preprints.org (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 10 February 2025 doi:10.20944/preprints202502.0601.v1
© 2025 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license.
JURNAL UL LIBERT Ă ȚII DE C ONȘTIINȚ Ă VOL. 11, NR. 3, 2023
834
ganizație ” își trag e rădă cini le din „organo n ” , c u sensul de instrumen t sau
unelt e. C u toa te ac estea, etimologia term enului nu r eușește să surp rindă în
într egime com plexi tatea și sensurile m ultipl e structur ate ale a cest uia , ni ci
măcar să s uger eze un element vital car e să facilite z e o definiție exa ct ă .
Î naint e de o aven tură în tr - o definire mai am plă , est e necesar ă o serie
de r eflecții pro funde asupr a organiz ației ș i a entitățilo r organiz at orice . Se
întâlnesc organizații în t oate c olț urile univer sului? A fo st organizația des -
co perită sau inv entată? Est e organiz ația o star e sau un fap t? Exi stă o peri -
oadă în ist orie în car e lumea no a str ă a existat fără pr ezența organizațiilo r ?
Cum depin de diver sitatea o rganiz ațiilor de dezv oltar ea societății, luând în
co nsiderar e co mple xitatea a cest eia? E ste o rganiz ația un pr odus al societății
în toa te fo rmele ei? P oat e exista pr ezența organizației în regn urile animale
sau în ca drul v ieții vegetale? Car e a apărut înain te: o rganiz area sa u orga -
nizația? Î n sisteme le entr opic e, es te absen ta organiz ației sa u a organizării?
Es te p os ib ilă e xis te n ța un ei st ări în car e organizația nu est e nec esară , co m-
par abilă cu zero ab solut, al tr eilea prin cipiu al ter modinamicii, unde oric e
acti v itate a tomică înc etează și, pr in u rmar e, orice mișcar e înc etează? P ot
fi fo rmulat e definiții car e să aco pere to ate aspectele im plica te în ident i-
ficar ea unei organizații? Există ceva în afar a domeniului or ganiz ațional
în re alitatea curen tă? P oate fi iden tifica tă o z onă car e să nu fie a coperită
de cadr u l organizațional? Î n cazul organism ului uman, c orpul este s upus
ent ropi ei, dar celule le posedă o puter nică for ță anti- entr opic ă . A ce a stă
analogie poate fi a plica tă și în con textul exist enț ei organiz ațio nale, u nde
mediul poat e fi entr opic , iar organizația devine o fo rță anti- ent ropi că? P ot
organizațiile fi definit e excl u si v ca crea ții umane sau sun t ele cr eații „Ex
nihilo ”? S unt organizațiile sim ple ar tefacte? P oat e fi consi derată organi-
zația o int eracțiune n ecesar ă? Câte car acterist ici tre buie să î nd ep lin eas că
o ent itate pent ru a fi denumită „organizație ”? Est e organizarea un at ribut
esențial a l oricăr ei organizații sau poat e exista organizare făr ă pre z ența or -
ganizației, și in ver s? Există o organiz are sa u organizație non-umană sa u
non-fiin ță , bazată doar pe an umite legități? P oat e exista organizație făr ă
atin gerea sc opurilor perf orman țiale? Care s unt aspectele distincti ve car e
difer enț iaz ă organizația de organizare? Est e vorb a de legalitate , elemen tul
uman, sc opurile , perfor manțel e sau poat e altceva? T oat e aces te într ebă ri
susțin o analiză co mpl exă și exhausti vă a c oncept elor fundam entale de or -
ganiz are și organiz are .
Interc onexiunea organizației și organizării în dinamica libertăților umane 835
M etamorf oza organizăr ii în con text or g anizațio nal
Î n explo rar ea raț ionamen tului din spat ele nec esității noastr e de a ne orga -
niza , N i klas Luhmann ad uce în discuție influența det erminantă a timp u -
lui. Co nform viziunii sale , timpul r epr ezintă o co n str ânger e pr ețioasă care
ne ob ligă să adoptăm str uc turi o rganiz ator ice în ef ortul no stru de a r ealiz a
lucruri semnific ativ e. L uhmann sub liniaz ă că , avân d la dispoziție o ca nti -
tate n elimitată de timp , adaptar ea la oric e alt c ont ext ar deveni fezabilă.
Așa dar , în lumina ac estei per spec ti ve, timpul nu es te doar un c ontin uum
abs tract, ci devine for ț a motr ice car e alimen tează necesita tea noastr ă in -
trinsecă de organizar e, s ubliniind astf el impor t anța sis temelor o rganiz a -
tor ice în ges tionar ea eficien tă a resur selor tem porale limitat e. P rin urma re ,
înt eleger ea adâncă a r elați ei dintr e timp și organizar e deschide uși căt re o
expl orar e mai am plă a moti vațiilo r subia cen te ale c omportam entului uman
în fața inevitabilei c onstrân geri tem porale 3 . I mpa c tul abun denței d e timp
ar c onsta în absența nec esității de a ef ectua selecții. T otuși, din ca uz a ca -
ra c terului limitat al t impului, sun tem c onstrânși să fa cem aleger i și selecții,
optând pen tru lucrurile pe ca re cr edem că le pu tem co ntr ola și na v igând
prin tre aspecte ca re depășesc sfer a noastr ă de influență sau în țeleger e.
A ceasta r eprezin tă modalitatea no a str ă de a constr ui o lume cara c ter iz ată
de stab il itat e relat ivă în tr -un con text în car e schimba rea est e constan tă . C u
toa te ac estea, timpul în sin e este o en titate evazi vă . P erioada cr ono log ică se
dov edește a fi c ea mai co nv enabilă definiție a tim pului, of erind un c onfort
perc eptibil. F urniz ându-ne o sc ară distinctă pe car e putem măsura ev eni -
men tele , ac ea sta co nferă un sen timent de o rdine și p revizibilitate . Cu t oate
ac estea, este im portant să r ecunoaștem că tim pul, în esența sa , rămân e un
flux c ontin uu și impr evizibil, iar abor darea n oastră pr agmatică în fața lui
co ntribui e la crear ea unei iluzii de c ontr ol și s tructură în tr - o lume în con -
tin uă schim bar e 4 .
Con ceptul de organizați e se dovedeș te a fi la fel de evazi v pr ec um al -
tel e dintr e noțiunile fundamen tale ale limba jului și gândirii umane , pr ec um
lumină , înt uneric , nimic, timp sau frum os. A c eastă caract eristică a dificul -
tății în definir ea organiz ației în t ermeni pr eciși și univ oci aduc e c u sine pr o -
vocăr i semn ifica tive în înc er carea de a e labora în țelesur i clar e și exhausti ve .
3 Luhmann, N ., Social S ystems (W riting Sci e nce), S tanfor d U niver sity P ress, 1995.
4 Her nes, T ., U nderst anding Or ganiza t ion as Pr ocess: Theo r y for a T angled W orld, Routle -
dge , 2008.
JURNAL UL LIBERT Ă ȚII DE C ONȘTIINȚ Ă VOL. 11, NR. 3, 2023
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Definițiile cir cular -sinonimiste-metafor iz ate , deși pot fi r espinse sau c on -
sider ate insufi ciente , r eprezin tă o rea c ție la ac eastă pro vocar e con ceptuală,
indicân d com plexita tea fen omenului o rganiz ațional.
De- a lu ngu l decade lor , perspec tivele privi nd defi nirea org aniz ațiilor
au evo luat, r eflectând schimbăr ile subt ile sau semnificat ive în per cepția și
înț eleger ea aces tora. Î n anii ‚60, organizațiile er au adesea definit e în ter -
meni de sc opuri, str uc turi f ormale ș i într -un mod int eg ra tiv . A ceastă etapă
mar cată de viziuni clar e a supr a obiecti velor ș i structurilor o rganiz aționa -
le a f ost urmată în deca delor următ oar e de o schimbar e de para digmă . Î n
anii ‚70-’80, or ganiz ațiile au f ost înț elese și definite în t ermeni de acti v ități
umane , su bliniind dimensiunea in tera c țiunii umane și a p rocesel or socia -
le în cadr ul acest ora. Î n să , o evolu ție sup limentar ă a avut loc în perioa da
post-anilor ‚80, când organizațiile au înc eput să fie definit e în termeni de
perfo rmanț e con tro late , su bliniind ac cen tul crescut pus pe r ezultate și e fi -
cien ț ă în gesti onarea o rganiz ațională c ont empor ană . Î n ciuda ac estor evo -
luții, rămâne un fap t că o definiție c ompr ehensi vă și univ ersal ac ceptată a
organizației n u s-a cristaliz at încă . Deș i diver se perspectiv e au con tribuit
la înț eleger ea organiz ațiilor din un ghiuri difer ite , căutar ea unei „ ver siuni ”
definiti ve și exhaust ivă r ămâne în mar e mă sură un p roces în cur s de desfă -
șurare în studiul știi nțelor organi z aționale 5 .
După perio ada anului 2000, obser văm o ten dință în definirea or -
ganizațiilor ca en tități c ompuse din părți r elați onate , struct uri univer sale,
hu b-uri sau r ețele de en tități și su bansamb le organizaționale . A ceastă di -
ver sitate de a bordăr i refle c tă com plexi t at ea fenom enului organizațional ș i
variabilit atea interpretări lor di n partea cercetătorilor și teoreticien ilor d in
domeniul ș tiințelo r organiz ațio nale. O metodă eficien tă de a adresa a ceastă
div ersitat e con ceptuală es te iden tificar ea elemen telor c om une ce definesc
o organizație . Î ntr -o p ers pec tiv ă priori t ara, o organizație est e const ituită
din oameni. C onfor m opiniei exprima te de K ey ton, absența c ompon entei
umane ar c ompr omit e existen ța organiz ației. A c est aspec t su bliniaz ă im -
portanța uman ului în cadrul organizației, suger ând că r esursele uman e re -
pr ezintă fundamen tul său c entr al. De-a lungul decadelor , ac eastă p erspec -
ti vă antr opocen trică a evo luat, înc orpor ând înț elegerea o rganiz ației ca fiin d
mai mult d ecât o sim plă agregar e de indivizi. N oț iunile de rela ții, structuri
și r ețele au c â știgat însemnăta te în con tur area unei imagini mai co mpl exe a
5 Zlate , M., T r atat de ps iho log ie organizational- manage r ială , V o l. I, I ași, P o lirom, 2004.
Interc onexiunea organizației și organizării în dinamica libertăților umane 837
organizației în c ont extul co ntem poran. Î n c oncl uzie, di vers itatea de definiri
observată du pă anul 2000 ilustr ează adaptabilitat ea și dinamica c onc eptu -
lui de organizație în r ă spuns la schimb ările în societate și me diul de afacer i.
Elemen tul com un al pr ezentei uman e rămâne un pun c t cen tral în în țelege -
r ea organiz ației, dar diver sificar ea perspecti velor și a bordă rilor of eră o vi -
ziune mai cupr inz ătoar e și ada ptabilă asupr a feno menului organizațio nal 6 .
Î n conf ormitat e cu p erspecti va lui Druc ker , organiz ația poat e fi con -
cept ualiz ată ca fiind un agregat uma n constit uit din specialiști car e co labo -
r eaz ă în veder ea atinger ii unui scop c omun. A c eastă definiție ev idenț iaz ă
difer enț ele fundamen tale dintr e organizație și al te enti tăți sociale tra diți -
onale , cum ar fi „ societatea ” , „com unitatea ” sa u „fami lia ” . S pre deose bire de
ac este agr e gat e so ciale , organizația se distinge pr in faptul că es te co ncepută
int ențio nat și nu der ivă nici din na tura psihic ă a omului, nici din n ecesita -
tea biolog ică 7 .
Câteva tr ec eri în revistă a definirilor existen te . Organizația est e „un
grup cu scop ” ( J . Szcz epanski a pud 8 ), o en titate socială c onsacra t ă , co n sti -
tuită din două sa u mai multe per soane, operați onaliz ându-se în tr -un mod
r elativ c on tinuu , cu scopul de a r ealiza un obiectiv c omun sa u un ansamblu
de obiec tive 9 . O rganiz ațiile r eprezin tă entități o rienta te cătr e atin gerea de
scop uri, iar suc cesul în r ealiz ar ea aces tora es te su bordo nat structurii sa u
procesului org aniz ațional 10 . Organizațiile c onstituie s isteme deschise , ca -
ra c terizat e de un flux liber al diver selor r esurse car e depășesc g raniț ele en -
tități i orga niz aționa le 11 . Organizația r eprezin tă un ag regat uman în c are se
desfășoară in ter acțiuni orien tate că tre o biective r elat iv co mune și s pecifice .
Cu al te cuvinte , organizația se co nfigu r eaz ă ca o structur ă a inter acțiunilor
r eglementată de r egu li, atât f ormale , câ t și informal e, și g enera toar e de acți -
uni c olecti ve 12 . Î nt r-un a lt con text, a f ost co ntur at un cadru d efinitoriu c on -
6 Keyton, J ., C ommuni cation an d organ izational cul ture: a ke y to unders tandi ng work expe -
rie nc es, Thousand Oaks, Califor nia , Sage Pu blica tions, 2005.
7 D r u c k e r , P . F . , Po st- capita list Society, Oxf ord, B utterwor th-H einemann, 1993.
8 Zlate , M., T r atat de ps iho log ie organizational- manage r ială , V ol. I, Iași, P olirom, 2004.
9 R o b b i n s , S . P . , & Jud g e , T . A . , Organizational Beh av ior (ed . 15). N ew J ersey , P ear son
Educat ion, In c., 2013.
10 Gr eenfield, B . T ., Organizations as social inven tions. S ymp osium on D e velop ing Effec -
tive Educ ational Organ izations: Con ce pts, Re alities an d Str ateg ies fo r C hange (p. 30). N ew
Orleans, Greenfield Dep artment of Educational A dmi nistration, Onta rio, I n stitute for
St udies in Educatio n, 1973.
11 R afaeli, A., W ha t i s an Organization? W ho ar e the M ember s? C rea t i ng T o mo r row’ s
Organ izations: A H andbook fo r Fu ture R esear ch in Orga nization al Behav ior , 1996, p . 25.
12 V lăsceanu, M., O rganizatii si c ompor tame nt o rganization al, Iași, P olirom, 2003.
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cis, conf orm că ruia o organiz ație poa te fi c oncept ualiz ată drep t o „entitat e
socială ” și este , mai pe scurt, un sistem s tructuralizat de in tera c țiuni umane
orien tate c ătr e atinger ea unor ob iective c omun e și specific e. 13
Alt e definiri extrase din cart ea O rgani zațiile și cult ura or g anizăr ii 14 :
O perspecti vă multifa cet edă a supr a con ceptualizării organizației es te
pr ezentată de div erse definiții f ormula te de aut ori de r efer ință în dome-
niul studiilo r organiz ațio nale. Chest er I. Bar nard o per cepe ca fiind un
sist em de activități sau f orțe , Ami t ai E tzioni o defineșt e ca unități soci-
ale (sau grup uri umane) c onstruit e inten ționat în v ederea urmă ririi de
obi ec tiv e specific e, Edgar Schein o c aracter izeaz ă drept c oordo narea p la -
nifica tă a activităților un ui g rup de oam eni, H enry Mintzberg o descrie
ca fiind acțiun ea col ec ti vă de urmărir e a unei misiuni com une , în timp
ce M ichae l S cot t o conc eptualizează ca fiind co lectivități or ientat e cătr e
atin gerea un or scopuri r elat iv specific e. I on V lăscean u o definește c a un
sist em structura t de inter acțiune a oam enilor , în tim p ce ac eeași aut orita-
te , alăt uri de Simona V lă scean u , a daugă că es te un sistem c aracter iz at de
o anumi t ă structur ă funcțională și f ormală . A cest e abor dări varia te ilus-
tr eaz ă com ple xitatea și di vers itatea c oncep tului de organizație în cadr ul
studii lor academice.
Conf orm per cepției e xprimate de C ulda , organizațiile sun t con -
cept ualiz ate c a fiind socio - organiz ări parț ial explicit e, ela bora te prin in -
ter mediul co laboră rii specializ ate a in divizilor , a vând ca sc op satisfa cer ea
delibera tă a necesită ților sociale. A c este nec esități sociale s unt per ceput e
în mod co lectiv în or izontul inf ormațio nal activ al par ticipan ților 15 . At u n c i
când do i indivizi co labor eaz ă într - o acțiune c omună de a m uta o stâncă,
ei experimen tează o sinergie car e con tribuie la îmb unătățir ea capaci tăților
lor indi viduale. Odată c onștienț i de această c olabor are e ficientă , ei aleg în
mod delibera t să for meze o organiz ație 16 . O organiz ație se c onstit uie atunci
când s unt satisfă c ut e cel puțin do uă condiț ii esențiale: în primul r ând , exis -
ten ța unor indivizi cap abili să int eracțion eze și să com unice în tre ei, iar în
al doilea r ând , dorin ța lor de a con tribui, prin inter mediul acțiunilor indi -
viduale , la ating erea un ui scop c omun. Î n ac eastă perspectiv ă , in ten ția de a
parti cipa activ la r ealizarea un ui scop c omun r eflectă , în esen ță , c onsimțir ea
13 V lăsceanu, M., O rganizaţii le şi cult ura organizării , Iași, T r ei, 1999.
14 V lăsceanu, M., O rganizaţii le şi cult ura organizării , Iași, T r ei, 1999.
15 Culda, L ., Organi zațiile , București, Lic orna, 1999.
16 V lăsceanu, M., P sihosoci olog ia or ganizațiil or și condu ce rii, București, P aideia , 1993.
Interc onexiunea organizației și organizării în dinamica libertăților umane 839
individului cu pr ivire la nec esitat ea coor donării și c ooperării, im plicâ nd re -
nun țarea la a uton omia cond ucăto rului personal 17 .
Organizațiile pot apar e ca pr oduse, ca proc ese, sa u ambele varia n -
te 18 . Ac eeași aut oritat e a elabor at ac ea stă perspecti vă cu acc ent pe anc or ele
co ncept uale. Criter ii le selectat e p ent ru definirea organizațiilor devin un
su biect de analiză p ertinen t, incluzând elem ente pr ecum originile, scopul,
sint eza , și al tele . T otuși, se obser vă o lipsă de unitat e într e aut orii abor dați
în ac ea stă pri v ință , ac eștia oscilând fr ecven t într e o perspectiv ă unit ară ș i
una multi facet edă . E st e sub liniat faptul că o rganiz ațiile sun t perc epute ca
sist eme com plex e, caract eriz at e de diver se tipuri de int rări și i eșiri, cu mul -
tip le modalități de a le tr ansfo rma pe primele în c ele din urmă (F ulnham
apud 19 ). O organizație est e definită în mod oficial ca o r euniune de oa -
meni car e lucr eaz ă împr eună pentru a tinger ea unui sc op com un print r-o
diviziune a m uncii 20 . O organizație est e o unitate c oordo nată for mată din
ce l puțin două persoan e care fun c ționează pentr u a atinge un o biectiv c o -
mun sa u un set de obiectiv e 21 . Organizațiile sun t conc eptualizate c a fiind
o ent itate socială co n struită de indi vizi în s co pul facilitării realizării unor
obiective particul are 22 . G. L apassade a fo rmulat o de fin iție a or ganiz ației
în calitat e de un cong lomer at de grupuri asociate , acționân d ca int erme -
diar într e su bstr atul societății (societate a civilă) și entitat ea statală . El a
car acterizat organizația ca fiind o c olecti v itat e adunată în veder ea atin gerii
unor o biective dist inc te și, de a semenea, a perc eput- o ca pe un act care im -
plic ă structura rea și r aționa liz area sist emului social. M ai mult, Lapassade
a definit organizația dr ept o realita te socială (L apassade apud 23 ). Cu to ate
ac estea, structur a so cială se manif estă și în individualitat ea indivizilor , in -
fluen ț ând modul în ca re ac eștia își f ormează perc epții re ciproc e, în țeleger ea
față de c eilalți și așteptările cu pri vi r e la com portament ul interper sonal.
P roc esele psiho log ice n u se limitează doar la a fi influențat e de configur a -
r ea organiz ato rică; în mod c ores punz ăto r , ac estea det ermină în ce măsură
17 Ib ide m .
18 Zlate , M., T r atat de ps iho log ie organizational- manage r ială , V ol. I, Iași, P olirom, 2004.
19 Ib ide m .
20 Schermer horn, J . R . et al., O rganizational be hav ior (ed . 7). J ohn W iley & Sons, 2002.
21 Gibson, J . L. et al., Or ganizatio n s. Behavior , Struct ur e, Proce sses (ed. 14). New Y or k ,
The M cGra w -Hill Comp anies, 2012.
22 R aboca, H. M. ( fără an). T eorie ş i compor tame nt organizaţional. Pr eluat de pe ht tp://
www .apub b.ro/wp- con tent/up loads/2011/02/Cur s- T eorii-Organizatio nal-Master .pdf
23 Zlate , M., T r atat de ps iho log ie organizational- manage r ială , V ol. I, Iași, P olirom, 2004.
JURNAL UL LIBERT Ă ȚII DE C ONȘTIINȚ Ă VOL. 11, NR. 3, 2023
840
indivizii apr obă ș i cooper eaz ă c u o structur ă organizațională da tă și, la fel
de semnifica tiv , dacă fa cilitează difuz area a cest ora în in terior ul structurilor
sociale. Pr in urmare , se poat e arg umen t a că atât s tructura socială, cât și
organizarea m entală rep rezin tă compo nent e esențiale ale a celuiași pr oces 24 .
Elemen tele c omune i dentific ate în ca drul definirilor : grupuri de per -
soane, obiective comune și speci fice , coordonare conștientă și d elib erată ,
structur ă for mală de rela ții 25 . Aspe cte comune ale de finiț iilor organ iz ații lor
incl ud următoa rele:
i) O organiz ație cupr inde indivizi car e int eracțion eaz ă pentru a a tin -
ge un sc op sau obie c tiv c omun.
ii) In ter acțiunile într e persoane , cristalizate s ub f orma unei c oordo -
nări r ațional e a activităților , pot fi aran jate în tr - o structură s pecifică .
iii ) St ructura unei or ganiz ații int eg rează r olurile , r elațiile , activi -
tățile, obiec tivele , ierarhia de autoritate și responsabil itate sp ecifice orga -
nizației r espective . A tât struct ura , cât și p roc esul specific de int eracțiun e a
indivizilor pot v aria semnificati v într e div erse organizații. P rint r - o f ormu -
lar e concisă, putem u tiliz a următo area definiți e: O organizație est e un sis -
tem s tructurat d e inter acțiune înt re indi v izi, ori entat căt re at inger ea unor
obiective comune . 26
M oti vația fundam entală a existen ței organizațiilor es te int rins ecă ,
deri vând din ab i litate a acest ora de a fa cilita realizarea un or obiecti ve indi -
viduale în tr -un mod semnificati v mai eficien t com para tiv cu acțiunea indi -
viduală . P rin int ermediul organizațiilor , individul poat e extinde și dezv olta
în mod optim propriile capacități, obținând op ortunități de a reduc e du -
ra ta necesar ă imp lementării a c tivitățilo r sau ating erii obiecti velor sal e. D e
asemenea , beneficiile asociate cu acumular ea și tr ansmiter ea cunoștin țelor
de la gener ațiile an terio are (asemenea stân d pe u merii giganț ilor) co nstitu -
ie un aspect esențial în ca drul acest ei moti vații. Î n c oncluzi e, r aționali t at ea
apar iției și pers istenț ei organizațiilor poat e fi explica tă atât prin a bilitatea
ac estor a de a ating e obiecti ve individual e mai rapi d , mai com pre hensiv și
mai eficien t, cât ș i prin capa citatea lo r de a satisfac e nevoi uman e funda -
me nt al e 27 .
24 Steven K. S. et al., „ S elf-Organization an d S ocial Organiz atio n: U .S . and Chinese
Construc tions” , î n T . R . T y l e r , R . M . Kr a m e r , & O. P . Jo h n , The P sycholog y of the Social Self
(pg. 193-222). Routled ge, 1999.
25 V lăsceanu, M., O rganizaţii le şi cult ura organizării , Iași, T r ei, 1999.
26 V lăsceanu, M., P sih osocio log ia organizaț iilor și c onduce r ii, București, P aideia , 1993.
27 V lăsceanu, M., P sih osocio log ia organizaț iilor și c onduce r ii, București, P aideia ,1993.
Interc onexiunea organizației și organizării în dinamica libertăților umane 841
Dinamica t eoriilor o rganizaționa le
T eoriile organizaționale a u luat nașter e în co ntext ul și în paral el c u evo-
luția societăț ii, în special în ceea c e priv ește pr ogresul dom enii lor ec ono-
mic e. I nau g urar ea primei t eorii organizațio nale a avut loc pe două ax e
co nv ergent e, evidențiind u-și originile duale: una sociologică și c ealaltă
managerială 28 . În c ont extul c elei de -a doua teor ii, se poate lua în c on-
sider are e xi sten ța tipului de organizație b irocra tică , așa cum a fost c on-
cept ualiz ată de W eber , în etapele a vansate al e dezvoltăr ii organiz aționa le
sau ale p roc esului de organizare . A ceasta este i dentific ată de alți aut ori
dr ept o in stit uție , conf orm t erminologiei pr opuse de R aboaca, în et apele
de struct urar e organiz ațio nală sau în co ntext ul management ului științi fic
asociat cu T ay lor 29 . A mbele teo rii au int erpreta t organiz ațiile ca s tructuri
ier arhic e, necesar e și esenț iale con tr olului managerial a l activităților . Î n-
tr - o faz ă ulteri oară (anii ’30-’40), a a părut st udiul proc eselor sociale apă-
rut e în organiz ații (c ele ale M i șcării r elațiilor uman e, r ealizate de Chest er
Bar nard, ca și studi ul de acum clasic al aut orității din T ennessee V al ley al
sociologului Philip Selznick) 30 .
P ot apăr ea varia te ten tații de a int roduc e term eni adiționali în pr oce -
sul de definir e (cum ar fi birocr ație , structuri, in stit uții totale et c.), în cer cări
car e, cu t oate a cest ea , pot g enera c onfuzii sau abor da perspecti ve dif erite
de analiză , n efurniz ând o so luție clar ă pentru d efini r ea esenței pr ob lema -
ticii, și a nume: ce r eprezin tă organiz ația? D esigur , în ciuda am plitudinii
mat erialului acumulat în do meniul studiilor o rganiz ațional e, există înc ă
inc ertitudini pers i sten te în c eea ce pr iveș te definirea, descrier ea , analiz a ,
clasific area și in terpr etarea o rganiz ațiilor . C hiar și în co ntext ul pre z enț ei
unui v a st co rpus de cu noșt ințe , car acterizat atât p rin amp loare a cât și prin
calitat ea sa , nu s-a r eu șit încă să se c ont ureze o pers pec tiv ă unitară asupr a
organizațiilor . În tr ebar ea inev itabilă car e se ridic ă este: de ce? A ceastă pr o -
bl ematică est e atrib uibilă , în op inia noastră, unor tr ei cauze fundamen tale.
Î n primul r ând , div ersitat ea de perspecti ve adopta te în analiza organiz ați -
ilor c ontr ibuie la com ple xitatea c oncept uală . Î n al doilea rân d , utiliz ar ea
gener aliz ată a unor c onc epte poat e crea c onfuzii, necla rități și su pra puneri
ter mi no log ice . Î n cel e din u rmă , r ecurgerea une ori abuzi vă la metafo re în
28 Mars hall, G., Oxford. Dic t ionar de socio log ie, Bucureș ti, U niver s Encic lopedic, 2003.
29 Ib ide m .
30 Ib ide m .
JURNAL UL LIBERT Ă ȚII DE C ONȘTIINȚ Ă VOL. 11, NR. 3, 2023
842
elabor ar ea și inter pretar ea organizațiilor c onstituie o a t reia sur să a ac estei
situații 31 .
Referinț e:
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St udii P o litic e și A dministr ativ e. T ez ă de doctora t, 2019.
• CULD A, L ., Organi zațiile , București, L ic orna , 1999.
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mann, 1993.
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N ew Y or k , The M cGra w -Hill Compa nies, 2012.
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De velop ing Effec tive Educat ional O rganizat ions : Conce p ts, Realities and Stra -
teg ies f or Ch ange (p. 30). N ew Orl eans: Gr eenfield Depa rtment o f Educa -
tional A dministra tion. On tario, Insti tute f or St udies in Educati on, 1973.
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Wo r l d . Rout ledge , 2008.
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sta nding w ork expe rie nces. Thousand O aks, Califor nia , Sag e Pu blica tions,
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de pe ht tp://www .apu bb.r o/wp - con tent/u ploa d s/2011/02/Cur s- T eorii-
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J er se y , P earson Educa tion, I nc ., 2013.
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Annals of the U niversity of Oradea , Fascicle: Environme ntal P rotectio n, 2023
13
preservation of quality during transportation.
Sorting, washing, and packaging are crucial
steps in mainta ining fresh ness.
Distribution channels include direct
supply to local markets within Olt and potential
expansion to neighb oring r egions, often
facilitated by distributo rs for wider market
access. S ome tomatoes are directed to local
processin g units, encouraging exploration of
innovative processin g techniques for produ ct
differentiation. Distr ibution ex tend s to local
grocery stores and s upermarkets, with
participation in ag ricultu ral events and fairs for
direct consumer intera ction. The end -users,
household s, benefit from fr esh, locally-sourced
tomatoes, with awareness campai gns
highlightin g their nutrition al benefits.
Olt's maize product ion involves a blend of
traditional and modern farmi ng methods,
guided by agro-climatic conditions and a
commitment to integrated pest mana g ement.
Harvesting m ethods, both manual and
mechanized , ensure efficiency, while storage
facilities ma intain maize q uali ty.
Distribution networks encompass direct
supply to local m arkets within Olt and
potentially nearby regions , with strategic
partnership s with distributor s to broad en
market rea ch. Maize's versat ili ty is ex plored
through various pro cessing appli cations,
including food produ cts and i ndustr ial uses,
paving the way for marke t diversification. Local
grocery stores, m arkets, and farmers' markets
serve as key retail channels, c onnecting
producer s directly with consumers. Maize
products continue to be di etary staples in local
household s, and efforts focus on promoting the
economic and nutrit ional benefits of locally-
produced maize.
In both Bihor and Olt, a comprehensiv e
approach to the valu e chain undersc ores
sustainable practice s, technological innovat ion,
and di rect consumer engagement, fostering the
resilience and growth of the tomato and maize
sectors.
CON CL USI ONS
The results highl i ght the importance of
tomatoes and m aize development, due to the
consumers behav i our from West and South-
West Oltenia , that pre fer m ore this vegetable
than others. It's important to note that the
health benefits of carotenoid s are often b est
realized when these foods are consumed as part
of a balanced and varied diet. Including a
spectrum of colorful fruits and vegetables, such
as tomatoes and maize, ensures a diverse intake
of carotenoids, contributing to overall health
and well-being .
In conclusion, the Nor th-West re gion
stands as a key player in Romania's agricultur al
landscape, with a well-distr ibuted relief and
considerable potential for mountaino us
production. Howev er, t he region grapples with
challenges related to biodivers ity pollut ion,
necessitatin g a carefu l b alance betwe en
agricultural practices and environmental
sustainabil ity. On the other hand, the South-
West Oltenia region e merges as a biodiversity-
rich area, particula rly in its mounta inous zones,
contributin g substant ially to European
mountaino us product ivity. The intri c ate
relationship between diverse l andscapes, fl ora,
and fauna posit i ons this region as a vital
ecological reservoir. As w e scrutinize individua l
agricultural enterprises in Northwe s t Romania,
the challenge s faced b y Ciotea Adrian Cristian
and Hasnagiu Mihai underscore the
complexitie s of navigating both m arket
dynamics and environ mental susta inability.
These i nsights provid e a foundation for
strategic intervent ions to ensure th e sustainable
development of the se regions and the
prosperity of individual agricultural producers.
Additionally, the examination of carotenoids in
tomatoes and maize underscores the nutr itional
significance of these crops, emphasizing the
importance of diverse and balanced dietary
choices for overall health and well- be ing.
The challenges faced by Ci otea Adr ian
Cristian and Hasna g iu Mihai shed light on the
multifacete d dimension s i mpacting agricultura l
producers i n N orthwest Ro mania. The
convergenc e of markets and environment al
concerns pos e s formid able obstacles,
emphasizing the n eed for strate gic
intervention s. Ciotea's battle with intricate sales
dynamics and env ironmental challen ges
showcases the delicate balance required for
economic viability and environmental
sustainabil ity. Hasnagiu' s endeavor to reclaim
the local market f or Rom anian vegetables
highlights the poten tial for enhanced
distribut i on networks and promotional
activities. Th e call to sup port local farmers and
convey the intrin sic value of small-batch
products become s pivotal i n the face of stiff
competition. This analysis serves as a
foundation for ad dressing the far-reachin g
implications on economic viabi lity,
environment al sustainability , and the strategic
14
positioning of individual agricultural producers
in the Northwe st Romanian landscape.
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Journal of EcoAgriTourism I SSN: 1844-8577 Vol. 19, no. 1, 2023
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ANIMALI A MO UNTAIN P RODUCTS, AS F UNCTIONAL FOOD.
EVIDENCE FROM ROMA NIAN AG RICULTURAL P RODUCTIO N
B. COVA CI 1,2 , R. REY 1 , R. BREJE A 2 , C. CATUNA 1, 3* ,
M. CONSTA NTIN 1 , M. COVACI 1 , D. NECUL A 1 , 4* , A. CIOTEA 2*
1 Centre for Mou ntain E conomy of the R omanian A cadem y , Pe treni 49, Vatra Do rnei, ROMANIA
2 Oradea University, Universit atii 1, Ora dea, ROMANIA
3 Buch arest University of Eco nomic Stud ies , Roma na 6, Bucharest, R OMANIA
4 University of A gricultural S ciences a nd Veterin ary Medicin e of Cluj -Napo ca , Mana stur 3-5, ROMAN IA
* Correspon ding authors : nordicmoun taresearch@gma il.com
Abstract: The p aper p resents experimen tal a nd statis tical resea rch ca rried o ut on
produ cts from th e catego ry of anima l resources from th e moun tain area , especially those
with the ch aracter of fu nctional foods such as yogu rt, kefir and sana . The purpose of
analyzin g these p roducts resides in their qu alitative, q uantitative, territorial a nd a grono mic
develop ment. The mo untain area o ffers a he althier ec o system than other area s, th rough the
lens of a less polluted ecosystem. The soil is an impo rtant d imension in the realization of
the mentioned animal products, bu t for higher quality resu lts the entire ecosystem mu st
meet certain stan dards, which is valid in the case o f th e moun tain area. The p aper presents
experimenta l research carried out on the men tioned animal p roducts, a gronomic research
on the traditional p roduction of these p roducts ( traditiona l products are th e best sellers), as
well as statistica l research on their distributio n in the Romanian mountain area .
Keywords: Animalia fermen ted prod ucts, An imalia mountain p roducts, functio nal food
1. Introduction
Among t he analyzed pr oducts, kefir i s the
least known, especially in terms of its health
benefits. Fe rmented dairy p roducts (Lactobacillus
spp., La ctococcus spp., Streptococcu s
thermophilus ) - yogurt , sana, kefir, whippe d
milk, thick milk, sour milk, curdled m ilk,
pasteurized milk - represen t a ve ry well-
represented se ctor from the poin t of view of
health, as wel l as from production and point o f
view.
Kefir i s an element of Turkish cuisine, used
extensively in Sou t h-Wes t Asia, Asia Minor,
South-East Europe and the Middle East. Kefir is
a fer mented drink tradition ally m ade from cow's
or goat's m i lk. It is obtained by adding fenugre ek
seeds to milk. These are not gra i ns of grain, but
grain-like colonies of yeast and lactic acid
bacteria that resemble a cauliflowe r in
appearance. Within about 24 hours, the
microorganis ms i n the kefir grains m ultiply and
ferment the sugars in the milk, tu r ning it i nto
kefir. Then the grains are removed from the
liquid and can be used again. The lactic acid
bacteria in the grains convert milk's lactose into
lactic acid, so kefir tastes sour like yogurt but ha s
a thinner consi stency. Kefir is more used tha n
yogurt as a functional food because it can contai n
up t o 61 different microorganisms, just as show n
by Leite et al. [16]. Kefir is therefore a m uch
stronger source of probiotics than many other
fermented dairy pr oducts. Kefir presents
numerous benefits on hum an and animal health ,
namely rich sou rce of prob iotics, has antibac terial
properties, strengthens bones and reduces the risk
of osteoporosis, preve nt s cance r, improves we ll -
being, effective for various digestive problems
[19].
According to the clinical studies presented and
supplemented by the research within t he paper,
the consumption of yogur t present an affe ct on
immunity, especially regarding l eukocytes ,
average corpuscu l ar hemog lobin, averag e
concentration of hemoglobin/ erythrocyt es,
lymphocyte s, monocy tes , eosinoph i ls and z inc
[7 -11].
Fermented dairy products have health benefit s
such as alleviating lactose and sugar intole rance.
Consuming lactose, in the absence of lactase ,
leads to diarrhea, bl oat i ng, abdominal pain and
flatulence. Cell-fer m ented lactates of L.
Journal of EcoAgriTourism I SSN: 1844-8577 Vol. 19, no. 1, 2023
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bulgaricus, L. ac i dophi lus, S. ther mo philus, and
B. bifidum help co nsumers digest lactose.
Fermented dairy products provide protectio n
against gastrointes ti nal infections, have
anticancer, an tih yperten si ve, antiallergenic
effects, stimu late the immune system, lower
serum chol esterol and alleviate con stipation [22 ].
Regarding the superior quality of the mountain
products, E uropean researchers believe that for
Animalia mountain products , the key to higher
nutritional values is the air-soil-water ecosystem,
especially in the use of organ ic fertilizers. The
main influence for t he superio r quality of
mountain produc ts provide s less polluted water-
air-soil-temper ature ecosyste ms of the mount ain
area [20]. Accord ing to a study, organic
fertilizers could represen t a quantitative i ncrease
in potential of about 50%. Organic f ertilize rs
improve poor and acid mountain soils, throug h
organic matter and alkalin ity, with minimal costs
and the econo mic effect o f maintaining floral
structure and v aluable biodi versity [7 -11, 23 ].
A gr oup of Spanish and Canadian
researchers, interested in pr esenting the mounta in
product as a functional food with superio r
nutritional values, analy zed Anima l ia dair y
products from the mountainous area of Spain
compared to t hose from the pl ains. Their study
captured the importanc e of the mountain ar ea in
ensuring excep ti onal qu ality f or mounta in dairies.
The nu t ritional qualities of the fats in mountain
and plain m il k were compared.
The results confirmed t he high quality of the
mountain dairy produ cts, in the conditions where
no add itional intervention s were made, n amely
milk production in the pla i ns. Fatty a ci d profile
differences between m oun tain and val l ey milk
samples were r elated to the nutritional content of
botanical species under extensive grazing.
However, supplemen t ing t he grass -based diet
with concen tr ate in lowland farms increased the
observed differences in milk fatty acid
composition between lowland and upland farms.
The approach of t hese authors was a spearhead in
the research of the nutri ti onal importance of
mountain products. Research has shown that milk
produced on mountain farms in northern Spai n is
much heal thier than milk produced in lowl and
areas. Extending these results t o t he dairy sector
could contribute to the add ed value of mountain
products, including, for example, nutritiona l
information on "mountain product" l abels. The
authors of th is study believe that thes e results
could be used to promote t he commerc ializ atio n
of dairy produc t s in m ounta i n areas and at the
same t ime to contribute to rural development in
the desert mounta in areas of northern Spain and
also in othe r European countr i es [6].
In a research on milk recovery, an exploratory
analysis of consume r p urchasing choices, carried
out on 606 Animal ia mountain producers in the
Italian Alps, the authors were able to notice the
high nu tritional v alue of m ounta i n pr oducts. I t
has been observed th at individuals who
emphasize the protection of their own health a n d
the development of the local economy are more
inclined to con sume mountain p roducts [5].
Several A ustrian and Sloveni an
mountainee rs conduc t ed a qualitative research on
local Animalia mountain products, study i ng t he
long suppl y chain, inte rviewing some f armers in
the Austrian and Slovenia n Alps . The mountain
entrepreneu rs who partic ipated in the study
emphasized t hat in orde r to ensure a good quality
of the food product, in this case Tolminc cheese,
several defining elements of the ecosystem are
necessary, namely so il , meadows, precipitation ,
climate. The specif i c mountain soil i n correlat ion
with the compos ition of the gras s, the highe r
rainfall with cooler climate and the shorter
vegetation growth period lead t o a mowing cycle
of only two to three times . All t hese factors give
the feed superior qua l ities. Another quality facto r
of the mounta i n dairy pr oducts studied in this
research is t he hygiene of t he silo in the s t udie d
areas, this influentially defines cheese processin g
in t he case of the Austrians/ S lo v enes. Othe r
mountain entrepr eneurs considered that the
mountain product is of higher qual i ty if the
breeds used fo r p roduction ar e better and t he feed
is i n sma ller quanti t ies, i.e. less silage, less corn
and more gr azing. Milk produced in moun t ain
farm s at highe r altitudes, with intensive grazing,
is of superior qua lity to other types of m i lk. Some
farmers emp hasize the importa nce of
microbiologi cal quality of milk, hygien e, proper
cooling and t he absolute need f or proper
pasteurization [ 24 ].
Another study on m ountain dairy produ cts,
carried out by a group of Italian and Danish
professors, considered the preferenc es of
educated consumers in the spirit of the nutritiona l
quality of f ood. These consumers believe that
mountain farms organize d in a specific m ountai n
way ar e produce rs of hi gh quality Animalia
mountain milk. The study also shows t hat t he
freedom of movement o f farm animals (for
example, not kept for a long time in stables),
climatic and topog raphical conditions are
important dimensions in ensu ring the nutritional
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Journal of EcoAgriTourism I SSN: 1844-8577 Vol. 19, no. 1, 2023
30
quality of mountain products for Dutch, German
or British consu mers [27 ].
One of the important di mensions of
mountain essent ial oils is its effectiveness in no t
spoiling food, a significant issue of human safety
and security today. Researchers from I ran,
Tunisia, Brazil, France, etc. correlates the use of
mountain essential oils with the non-alteration of
some An imalia produc ts , namely dairy pr oducts
[18], honey ( Apis mellifera products ) [1],
beeswax [17 ], milk and cheese [ 2 6 ].
2. Materials and Methods
The paper presents experimenta l, statis ti cal,
agronomica l , and terr itorial profile r esearch.
The authors in some ag ricultural and food
analysis labor at ories have realized th e
experimen t al research. Macronutr i tional analysis
have been real i zed at the ICA Research and
Development, and by the compa nies in self -
regime [13,14]. Aut hor analysis processing
presented in the pape r reflects the informat ion
offered by SC ALS Life Sciences Roma nia SRL
[4] for v itamins B12, D2, and D3, and by the
National Institute of Research-Develop ment for
Animal B iology and Nu trition for iron Fe and
calcium Ca [21]. For vitamin B 12, the code of th e
method is B-VB12ELI 01; f or vitamin D2 and
vitamin D 3, the code is B-VD LCP02.
Determina t ion of vitamin B12 was r ealize d
through the ELISA method - RID ASCREEN
FAST commercial set (made at ALS Czech
Republic, ac credit ed laboratory according t o EN
ISO IEC 17025) [4]. The determina ti on of fat -
soluble vitam ins D2 and D3 was devel oped
through two-dimensio nal liquid chromatograph y
method with PDA detection (made at ALS Czech
Republic, an accredited l aboratory according to
EN ISO IEC 17025) [4]. The determination of
iron was realized throu gh SR EN ISO 6869:2002
and STAS 9597/17-86, and calcium acco r ding to
the complex onometric method add EDTA [21].
The statist i cal part of t he paper consists in
consulting the National Register of Mountain
Products developed by t he Romanian Mountain
Area Agency and making an ordering of t he
products according to their functional role ,
respectively through the p rism of being cl assif i ed
as products of animal origin or products of
vegetable origin. Later, the data were used to
create graphics rel at ed to mountain product s or
the territori al pro file map regarding the mountain
producers of fermented dairy pro duct s. The map
was created wi th the paint m ap.com sof tware.
The ag ronomic r esearch w as explo ratory an d
applied. The specia li zed literature related to
fermented dairy products was studied and the
best solution was found f or the pr oduction of
fermented dairy produ cts in the tradi ti ona l
system. The producers learned t o apply this
method. The traditiona l procedu re applied by the
studied mountain producer s in volves the
successive inoculations of the initial st arte r
cultures (prepa red the previous day), S.
thermophilus and L. Bulgaricus. Then, the
mountain producers incub ate in bulk until firm
coagulation occurs or incubate overnight at room
temperature.
This way o f making fermented dai ry
products h as drawbacks, such as a ci difica tion of
fermented milk (with unwanted effects, for
example whey syneresis), lack of control over the
level of lactic acid produced during
manufacturing . But the higher profits resultin g
from the sale of traditional fermented dairy
products at higher prices than for the others
encourage mou ntain producers not to give up this
method. The increase in the pr oduc ti vity of these
companies was observed a gainst the backgroun d
of increas ingly high demand for fermented dairy
products ma nufactured in t he traditional syst em.
3. Results and Di scussion
The mountain animal products taken into
account for the macronutritional analyze s in the
paper are from the category of f erment ed dair y
products, r es pective l y Yoghurt ADO 2.8 % ,
Yogurt Gordon 2.8%, Yogurt Ibanest i 3.6%,
Yogurt ADO 10% , Yogurt Ibane sti 10%, S ana
Gordon 3. 6%, Sana Ibanesti 3.6%, Ke fir ADO
3.3%, Kefir Gordon 3.5% , Kefir Ibanes ti 3.3%
(table 1) . The ADO brand bel ongs to t he Western
Region of Ro mania, and Gordon and Ibanesti to
the Central R egion of Rom ani a.
Table 1. Mac ronutrient inf ormation for fermented m ountain products
Nutritional
information / 100 g
Energetic va lue
Lipids
Fats
- Saturated
fatty acids
Carbo
hydrates
-
Sugars
Proteins
Yoghurt ADO 2.8%
237kJ/ 57kcal
2.8g
-
-
4.6g
3.3g
Yogurt Gordon 2 .8%
227kJ/ 54kcal
-
2.8g
1.86g
4.05g
2.29g
3.2g
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Journal of EcoAgriTourism I SSN: 1844-8577 Vol. 19, no. 1, 2023
31
Yogurt Ibanes ti 3.6%
258kJ/ 62kcal
-
3.6g
2.5g
4.2g
4.2g
3.1g
Yogurt ADO 10 %
508kJ/ 122k cal
10g
-
-
4.6g
3.3g
Yogurt Ibanes ti 10%
532kJ/ 128kcal
-
10g
6.7g
4.5g
4.5g
5g
Sana Gordon 3.6 %
275kJ/ 66kcal
-
3.6g
2.41g
4.62g
2.39g
3.75g
Sana Ibanesti 3.6%
258kJ/ 62Kca l
-
3.6g
2.5g
4.2g
4.2g
3.1g
Kefir ADO 3.3%
261kJ/ 63kcal
3.3%
-
-
4.6%
3.6%
Kefir Gordon 3. 5%
275kJ/ 66kcal
-
3.50g
2.27g
4.93g
2.82g
3.65%
Kefir Ibanes ti 3.3%
241kJ/ 58kcal
-
3.3g
2.1g
4g
4g
3g
Source: Au thors ac cording to ICA Res ea rch an d Dev elopm ent and farmers’ information [1 3 - 14 ]
Carbohydra t es, which ensure the highe st daily
intake of energy, must be approxim at ely 67 g, the
ADO mountain p roducts ensuring th is
requirement. The Ibanesti and ADO mountain
products, considered in the research, al so meet
the other nutrition al requirements r elated to
functional foods with hi gh probiotic effects
(fermented milk products).
The informatio n presented about Gordon' s
mountain products complies wit h the standard
rigors for a p roduct with na tur al prob iotic effects.
The micronutritiona l analyzes related to the
fermented dairy products belong t o the individua l
producer Amarinei Ov i diu from the North -
Eastern Region of Romania ( table 2).
Table 2. Micro -nutritional i nformat i on: fermen ted milk mountain p roduct Amarinei O.
Nutritional in formation
Author analys is
USDA value s
Vitamin B12
0.690 µg/100g
0.560 µg/100g
Vitamin D2
12.5 µg/kg
0.025 µg
Vitamin D3
12.5 µg/kg
0.025 µg
Iron
1.138mg/100g
0.08mg/100g
Calcium
0.96%: 960mg /100g
183 mg/100g
Source: A uthors acco rding to SC ALS Life Sciences Ro mania S RL for vitamins B12 , D2, an d D3 , and Natio nal
Research a nd Development Institute fo r Anim al Biology and Nutrition and farmers informa tion fo r Fe an d Ca
[4]
The different values betw een t he yogu rt
produced in the Western Region of Romania
(Ferma Denis ADO) and that produced in the
Central Region of Roma nia (Gordon Hargh ita
and Ibanes ti Mures) are given by the d ifferent
ecosystems of these areas.
In the Ro manian Cente r region, the r elie f
favors this type of development, the soils being
rich in humus and prese nti ng the m ost ferti l e
lands. The zonal soils with high fertile content
are from the class of molisols, specific for the
cultivation of cereals and technical plants,
leached chernozems, arg iloi luvial soils, brown
and brown- acidic soils (cambiso l s), spodosols
(podzols and mountain acid browns ). The
agriculture of the mountain ar ea i s predominan tly
based on pastures and natural hay. The forest
fund of the region is very rich, giving the air -
water-soil-tem perature ecosys tem high natural
values. [12]
Differe nt from the Center region of
Romania, the West region of Romani a has a
climate tempera te -contine ntal with oceanic and
sub-
Mediterranea n accen ts, is one of the
advantages of the western moun tai n area. Being a
warmer area, m ountain production is favored f or
a longer period than i n other ar eas of Roman ia.
Due to the abundant precipitation, the area is
favorable f or crops specific to wetlands. Th e
hydrographic resources o f the region suppor t
high-quality mountain pr oduction. The
spontaneous flora of the r egion, with Central -
European and Macaronesian-Med iterranean
influences, is intens i vely exploited within the
mountain-spec ific production-sales ch ai n. Th e
fauna presents a multitude of biotypes, many of
the anima l resources being used as support f or
mountain production. In the r egion, all classes of
soils are pr esen t , r elevance for mountain
production being clayey, ca mbisols, spodosols,
molisols and hydromorphic soils. Agricultura l
areas have high potential for regional and
national mount ain producti on. [ 12]
I n t he Harghita Mountains – Cente r
region – the soils are bro wn acid, podzolic and
ferialluvial, favoring wa ter r etention influencing
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