Issue 5, 2004

The emigration potential is estimated, as well as the profile of settlers and the temporary long-term and short-term Bulgarian emigrants. The difference between the actual emigration and the generally declared intention to travel abroad is discussed.
The data from two surveys carried out using the same questionnaire in 2001 and 2003 is used. When identifying the profile of emigrants there have been established two types of variables: demographics; employment, education and previous stay abroad.
There are used standard cross-tabulations and binary logit-models. Three individual logit-models for each type of emigrant are estimated. It is emphasized that: the immediate emigration potential from Bulgaria (within the current year) does not differ dramatically from that of the countries of Central Europe; age and previous stay abroad are among the most important determinants of emigration attitudes of Bulgarian citizens; employment, education and incomes do not have the expected influence. It is argumented that migratory policies, based on restrictions and bilateral agreements (in their European version), could hardly be effective under the conditions of the newly created migration networks and the business which has found a niche in the provision of emigration services.

Some of the most recent tendencies in the development of the European integration processes as a means of overcoming the contradictions of economic globalization. Special attention is paid to the process of enlargement of the EU to the East, as well as to its likely effect over Russia's foreign trade relations. On that basis there have been drawn some conclusions concerning the positions, attitude and possible strategic approaches of the country towards further development of economic integration within Europe.

This paper discusses the main mechanisms of the neoliberal agricultural policy followed in this country after 1989. Its negative results are pointed out. Some opportunities to implement a new agricultural policy are revealed. The main guidelines to adapt the Bulgarian agricultural policy to the Common agricultural policy of the European Union are outlined.

The main bank system (MBS) is analyzed in the paper in the context of the changes occurring therein after 1990.
The peculiarities of the system before 1990 are concisely characterized and illustrated with data and the functions of the main bank (MB) are analyzed.
The sources of the economic problems in the 1990s in Japan are outlined in the light of the changing relations between banks and large non-financial companies. The (mis)functioning of the traditional corporate governance mechanisms as regards the MB in Japan - the capital market, competition in the banking sector, and regulatory organs - is analyzed.
New developments in the banking industry in Japan in the 1990s - liberalization of financial activity, changes in financial supervision, bank mergers and the emergence of new types of banks - are considered as having shaken the MBS, but not yet brought about its demise.

The concept of "Logistic Infrastructure" (LI) entered the global business practice not long ago. It expresses the nature of a major element of the global economy, which is dynamically developing and is of decisive importance for the success of the latter. Because of the novelty of the concept individual authors attribute various senses to it. It is our task here to determine the precision of its use. For that purpose this paper discusses the following: the nature and evolution of the notions of "infrastructure" and "logistics"; the factors for the differentiation of the LI for the needs of business logistics; definition of the concept of logistic infrastructure; some examples of its use in the practice and the prospects for its development.