Issue 2, 2005

The state analysis and the outlined main strategic priorities for development have important significance for overcoming the crisis in the transport industry. This task is coordinated with the tendencies towards dynamic development of the national economy and the European transport policy. The main concept in priorities development is the confirmed position that the transport is a structure determining industry with extremely important social function and role for the development of the whole economy. The transport development has a determining significance also for successful integration of Bulgaria to the common European economic, infrastructural, market and social environment. The objective integration processes impose the necessity for technological, organizational and economic compatibility of the national transport with the European transport structures. The main strategic priorities are developed based on a study in the following directions: economic and production-technological specifics of the transport as a factor for accelerated development and international integration; main directions of the European transport policy and necessity for coordination of the strategy for transport development in Bulgaria with the European standards; state, priorities and main factors for development of transport and transport infrastructure. The strategic tasks are concretization of the strategic tasks by types of transport and common transport processes.
The state analysis and the outlined priorities for transport development are basis for further research studies and effective management decision making at all levels. Thus an accelerated development of the transport can be guaranteed as well as opportunities for it to correspond to the increasing needs of transport services.
JEL: L91, F15

The present study identifies and analyzes, critically evaluating, the contributions and shortcomings of the following theories, approaches and models, which are attempting to explain post factum the creation of international joint ventures in the practice: transaction costs theory and its derivative - internalization theory and eclectic theory of international production; strategic management theory; resource dependence theory; knowledge based and learning approach; Uppsala internationalization model; and the Auster's model of the relationship between the alternative forms of foreign investment and the life cycle of the industries in which these forms are realized.
From the endeavor to put order in the caused by the lack of a general theory of the international joint ventures chaos of predominant normative ideas, unsatisfactory defined concepts and relationships between them, as well as the existing "aggregation problem", the study draws the conclusion that the analyzed 8 theories, approaches and models, are not developed to the state, in which they can be applied unreservedly in the research of the international joint ventures.
However, the study ends with a suggestion to the future researchers to use systems theory as a coordinating and multidisciplinary framework for research of the international joint ventures, because of the systems theory's principle of isomorphism, which allows the used concepts in a given scientific field to be transferred to another perceived as a system scientific field for its most realistic explanation.
JEL: L24; F23; M21; B52; B59

The development of each business - larger or smaller - today is becoming more dependent on its public communications' level and character. Public communication is changing from indicator of perfect corporate management to a non-material company's resource. Winning the trust of all interested parts, this resource becomes fundamental for company's success. That is because the most important part of the modern communication company's strategy is the creation of its corporate image.
JEL: L21, L29, M30

A central aspect of the economic and political life in Bulgaria before the EU accession is the development of an active and competitive private sector. Small and medium-sized business contributes to accelerating economic development, employment, improving the competitive environment, promoting private initiative, etc. A considerable part of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Bulgaria do not meet requirements concerning competitiveness on European markets. Possibilities to launch new techniques and technologies, access to foreign financing, export orientation, state stimuli, etc. play a major role for removing above shortcomings.
The object of the study is the small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria (excluding agricultural).
The subject of the study is SME external financing in Bulgaria, incl. through instruments for financial support from EU pre-accession funds as an additional source of capital. Conclusions are made about possibilities for efficient financing of enterprises through EU pre-accession funds and improving the absorption of funds.
JEL: F36, G21, M21

This study pays attention to the principally new role of the service sector in contemporary economies and its strategic importance for the restructuring of national economies. First, the nature of the new postindustrial model of social development is revealed, the service sector being its basic characteristic. Then, the key factors for the development of the service sector in Bulgaria are identified and the evolution of its concept and significance is followed. The study also lays a stress on the transforming influence of the service sector both through its own development and through its influence upon the national economy as a whole. An analysis is given to the basic economic variables, such as investments, employment and gross added value and the positive effects which the service sector creates for other service of the economy and its overall development. Bearing in mind these facts and global economic trends and expertise, a conclusion is drawn that the successful economic development of each country depends strongly on a well-organized and efficient service sector.
JEL: L80, O11, O14

The sustainable development of the tourist destination is necessary for presenting a solution for preventing and eliminating the negative consequences from the accelerated development of the tourism, as well as for keeping or increasing the competitiveness and attractiveness of the destination. The objective of this study is to present a specific mechanism, which will be applied in the management of the tourist destination for the needs of its sustainable development. It is developed on the basis of the common principles for sustainability and their performance concerning the tourism and a specific tourist region. The key determinant for sustainable development of tourist destination is an expression of the irreplaceable capital, which include concrete resources, values and connected with them competencies and factors, with significance for the competitiveness and attractiveness of the destination. The presented specific mechanism of the key determinant suggests directions for solving one of the significant problems today, namely separating the development of the tourism from the degradating exploitation of natural and social capital without leaving the local population and tourist without good life style and opportunities for recreation, but also without leaving the future generations without access to natural resources and social values. To achieve this objective two main research tasks are solved:
• Outlining principles of sustainable development of the tourist destination
• Defining the key determinant for sustainable development of the tourist destination.
JEL: O20