Issue 1, 2005

After the restructuring of the agricultural production, the entrepreneurs realise their necessity to invest. For that purpose, however, there should be a favourable investment environment. Therefore specific instruments are suggested which could be used to stimulate the investment activity. The instrument is related to the gradual improvement of the environment of supply and demand of investment funds.

JEL: Q18; E22

The nature of logistics is clarified in the context of the evolutionary process, characterising its development in the last three decades. The main claim is that the increasing role of logistics in shaping the competitive advantages of the firms, which in the conditions of dynamically changing, highly competitive and already globalised environment, is becoming determinant for solving the complex business problems. The logistics alternatives for the competitive development of firms are presented as well as directions for their accomplishment based on the advances of world business practice. In this context are analysed the effects and directions in which the competitive superiority of firms are realised, emphasising the critical role of time in logistics. Revealed are the main factors determining the realisation of the potential of logistics in the competitive development of firms in Bulgaria.

JEL: F15; L20; M11

The article identifies and analyses the main aspects of the quality of the scientific economic research, trying to draw alternative directions for the refinement of its assessment. In order to accomplish this, the following problems should be solved: generalisation of the essence of nature and mechanisms of assessment; assessment of the research content; assessment of the achieved causality "analysis-results" of the research process; analysis of the established negative features of the scientific research.

JEL: Z00; A31

The basic assumption for the indicative numbers is rejected on the grounds of the set theory and the theory of the frequency division of the number set. Consequently, the characteristics of the binominal number set , expressed with the aggregate or average price level ( ), could be expressed in a kind of number, i. e.:
.
The problem of the indicative numbers is to find the characteristics (indicators) X and Y of , the product of which is equal to the indicator , expressed with the term value of , i. e.
.

JEL: С43

The use and contamination of natural resources is growing with ever accelerating pace. The Bulgarian strategy for their protection and regeneration must account for the methods and mechanisms, applied in the EU, including fiscal and non-fiscal instruments. We analyse the methods and mechanisms of management, protection and reproduction of natural resources, divided into five groups: biological; legal and administrative; economic; moral, religious; citizen initiatives; informal organizations initiatives. We suggest a wider consideration of the motivation of the final consumer of natural resources and the sources of damage in gathering funds for protection and reproduction of resources. It is necessary to achieve more significant state involvement. The sectors of the economy most interested in the preservation of natural resources - tourism etc., ought to have a more active role, based on the principle of consensus, in supporting the efforts of the state.

JEL: Q20; Q23; Q28

A classification is offered of the main economic costs and benefits of the EU enlargement for Bulgaria, the Central and Eastern European Countries and the old EU members. The costs and benefits are classified according to the time horizon (short and long term), character (economic, political, social) and beneficiaries (states, social groups, firms, persons). The most significant costs at macro and micro level in the enlarged EU are presented.

JEL: F15, F20