Issue 1, 2008

The study discusses the concepts of capitalism, socialism, democracy and change of the system, which are since long interesting for the author. When discussing these fundamental problems of the post-socialist transformation, the distance from the daily events is maintained, though writing of this study is inspired by concrete political events.
The main objective of the study is to present a mean and a method of approach. How can a person approach the positive definition of the social structure? How can the positive and negative approach be kept separate in the theoretical analysis? These are not easy problems and their solving is not a usual task. The study gives many examples of these theoretical tasks. To distinguish the less significant daily attempts from the really big historic transformation, fundamental facts of the change of the system are reminded, about how the capitalist economy and parliament democracy have emerged.
JEL: Р30, Р50

This is a study of the political sphere from the perspective of the public choice theory. It analyses the political markets in comparison to the private markets within the microeconomic theoretical framework (methodological individualism, rational choice theory, self-interest axiom). Part one studies the similarities (scarcity constraints; choosing, rational and self-interested individuals; competition), as well as the differences (institutional constraints, the individual cost-benefit calculus, time dimension of the decision-making process, consequences of the individual choice, responsibility, etc.) in the two types of markets. Part two compares the private and political market failures. Part three analyses in-depth a particular pathology in the political markets: the phenomenon of the voter's rational apathy (ignorance/abstention).
JEL: D70, D72, H10

The study presents the results of a study of the level of development of the main territorial communities in the country - municipalities, districts, planning regions, for the period 2003-2004 and on this base the differences between them are identified.
The necessity of a study of the differences between the main territorial entities in Bulgaria is reasoned, aiming to reduce the intra-regional and inter-regional differences.
The slow districts, including one or more municipalities, are outlined. Their fast development will contribute to the reduction of the regional differences in the country.
JEL: R11, R19, C49, O18

The study discusses the differences in the investment capacity of the Bulgarian municipalities, districts and planning regions. It analyzes and evaluates the ranking and differentiation of the territorial entities by indexes of investment capacity in 2003 and 2004; and the dynamics of the changes in the ranking.
JEL: R11, R19, R58

The objective of the study is to determine, analyze and evaluate the state and development of the social differences between the territorial entities in Bulgaria for the period 2003-2004. The study is carried out consecutively at three levels - municipalities, districts and planning regions. The concrete research tasks concern carrying out of: (a) at municipality level - analysis and evaluation of the ranking and differentiation of the municipalities by chosen social indicators in 2004; analysis and evaluation of the changes in the ranking and in the differentiation of the municipalities by generalizing evaluations of their state; (b) at district level - analysis and evaluation of the social differences between the districts and of the changes in the differentiation between them; (c) at planning regions level - analysis and evaluation of the social differences between these territorial entities and of the changes in the differentiation between them; (d) generalizations and conclusions for the identified territorial social differences.
Using a model, based on the taxonomic method, are calculated and analyzed generalizing evaluations of the social state of the territorial entities in Bulgaria. The evaluations are based on statistical information for the following indicators: size of the average work salary; size of paid social benefits per inhabitant; share of the population in water-usage regime from the water-supplied population; number of doctors and number of dentists per 1000 inhabitants.
JEL: I38, O18, R13

An attempt is made to range all municipalities in the country concerning the requirement for achieving a "sustainable" (ecology consistent) development. With the help of a "taxonomic approach" and emission and immission characteristics are outlined groups of municipalities, which create substantial ecological failures, respectively forming "depressive" territories. The disproportions of ecologically directed infrastructural elements for waters, air and waste treatment are followed. Conclusions for turning the ecological factor from a "restraint" to an accelerator of the sustainable development are drawn.
JEL: R11, R19

The study discusses an extremely actual problem of the expected changes in the state and development perspectives of the agricultural companies under the influence of the already negotiated support mechanisms by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of EU.
Using the developed methodological approach and based on analysis is outlined the influence, which the direct payments will have on the economic state and sustainability of the agricultural companies, and the incomes of rural households. The study is carried out by typology of the agricultural companies, in order to count the different impact and the multi-directional effect of the CAP implementation.
The directions of restructuring of the agricultural companies depending on their specialization, size and juridical status are also outlined.
JEL: Q12