Anđelka Stojanović

The obvious difficulties in securing resources, together with growing environmental and economic challenges, are encouraging companies and decision-makers to establish deeper interconnections and networks of cooperation. These connections are no longer based solely on traditional industrial patterns but involve the development of symbiotic relationships across sectors. In this way, it is possible to identify more sustainable business models, which are often formed at the territorial level. To develop sustainable networks of industrial symbiosis, it is necessary to analyze and assess the potential of geographic units to facilitate the establishment of efficient, long-term regional symbiotic systems. In this context, the paper aims to compare and rank the countries of Southeastern and Central Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Serbia), selected based on geographical proximity and availability of comparable data, with a special focus on the position of Serbia within these processes. For the analysis, a multi-criteria decision-making method was applied, which prioritizes countries based on selected indicators that reflect the potential for industrial symbiosis development. The results indicate marked differences between the analyzed countries, with European Union member states achieving better performance and occupying higher positions. The environmental goods and services sector was identified as a key differentiating factor within the analyzed model and the observed region.

Automotive importers face intense pressures from technological transformations and shifting consumer demands. Navigating this volatile environment requires objective frameworks for prioritizing capital and resources. This study evaluates the strategic development directions of a major passenger vehicle and spare parts wholesaler in the Republic of Serbia. A hybrid SWOT-AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) framework was applied to systematically weigh the company's internal capabilities against external market conditions. An expert management team identified key business factors, subsequently formulating seven strategic alternatives via a TOWS matrix. These qualitative insights were then translated into measurable priorities through AHP pairwise comparisons. The mathematical synthesis revealed that external opportunities and internal strengths carry the greatest strategic weight. Defensive approaches ranked much lower, suggesting the firm should actively pursue growth rather than rely on risk mitigation. This integrated approach offers a structured basis for strategic planning in the automotive import and distribution sector and confirms the practical utility of applied methodology in business contexts characterized by complex competitive dynamics.

Despite ongoing EU Digital Decade ambitions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Central and Eastern Europe face persistent barriers to digital adoption, including technological complexity, high costs, organizational resistance to change, and digital skills shortages. Drawing on secondary data from the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), Eurostat Digital Intensity Index (DII), ICT Usage in Enterprises surveys, and the IMF AI Preparedness Index (AIPI), this paper provides a comparative assessment of digital transformation in Hungarian and Serbian SMEs. Analysis reveals that Hungary demonstrates moderate progress - cloud adoption at 38.85%, AI uptake at 6.97%, and basic digital skills at 58.89% - while Serbia shows a declining trend in digital skills (33.6%, 2023) and minimal AI adoption (1.8%), yet unexpectedly high SME e-commerce engagement (28.4%). Both countries exhibit mixed attitudes to digitalization and sector-specific challenges, with organizational culture and government support emerging as critical contextual factors alongside the index-based gaps. Grounded in Marketing 5.0 principles, the study proposes human-centric digital strategies and identifies an index-derived baseline for future primary research and policy interventions.

In the conditions of modern market dynamics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly evolving from a formal ethical principle into a powerful strategic instrument, key to achieving sustainable growth and long-term competitive advantage. Companies that integrate CSR into their business not only affirm the values of social responsibility, but also position themselves as reliable and ethically oriented actors, thereby winning the trust of investors, motivating employees and building a stable base of loyal consumers. Hence, the aim of this research is to determine, through empirical analysis, to what extent and in what way individual aspects of corporate social responsibility influence employee perception and satisfaction, as well as to develop a predictive model of their mutual connection. The specific hybrid SEM-ANN methodology in the CSR field was applied to obtain more precise results than standard data analysis methods, which fulfilled the literature gap in this research field. The detailed hypotheses designed were empirically tested using SEM methodology and indicated a positive association between the social and stakeholder aspects with employee satisfaction. These outcomes were confirmed by the results of the ANN models. The findings obtained are not only theoretical, but also have a useful application in the real business environment, which is reflected in the development of strategies that can serve as a road map for organizations in achieving employee satisfaction. This could lead to a change in organizational culture with an emphasis on ethical business and greater responsibility towards society and stakeholders.

In light of growing economic, environmental and sustainability challenges, increasingly more attention from policymakers, companies and researchers is being devoted to consumption patterns and understanding the factors that shape consumer behavior. The adoption of sustainable products within the European Union is actively promoted through a series of policies and initiatives aligned with the principles of the circular economy, to provide consumers with more transparent and accessible information, thereby empowering them to make eco-friendly choices. Nevertheless, consumer acceptance of sustainable products appears to vary considerably and is influenced by complex interactions among diverse factors. This study examines consumer readiness for sustainable products across twenty-seven EU countries using nine indicators across three dimensions: environmental awareness, financial readiness and trust in institutional sustainability mechanisms. A hybrid MEREC-MARCOS methodology was employed for ranking countries. This novel methodological approach allows for a detailed cross-country comparison and identification of areas for improving policies that incentivize sustainable consumption across the EU. Sweden emerges as the top-ranked country, followed by Cyprus and the Netherlands, while Latvia and Estonia rank lowest. The results suggest considerable divergence among EU Member States and potentially offer valuable insight into gaps in sustainable consumer behavior.

Trade in recyclable metals within and outside the European Union borders is a key part of establishing patterns of circular economy and industrial symbiosis in the metalworking industry. Industrial symbiosis implies the creation of industrial synergies in areas that can utilize waste materials or by-products, and is particularly important in sectors of intensive mineral processing, as it reduces the amount of waste, the need for exploitation of primary raw materials (virgin materials), and the negative environmental impact. This paper examines the potential of European Union countries for creating industrial symbioses, based on an assessment of trade in recycled metals within the EU and with third countries. A multi-criteria analysis was employed, utilizing the MARCOS methodology to rank EU countries, thereby determining which countries have the most significant potential for recycling various types of metals and making synergies. Research on trade in recycled materials contributes to the promotion of circular and sustainable mechanisms, and the results can serve policy makers, industrial actors and researchers as a basis for investment planning, optimization of flows of secondary raw materials and development of regional centers of industrial symbiosis.

The process of globalization creates intense competition in the global market, requiring the economies of all countries to gain a competitive advantage through the development of innovation. This paper analyzes the innovation capabilities of all ten BRICS member states, including both the founding countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the new members (Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates). The analysis is based on the values of the Global Innovation Index (GII), which contributes to the creation of an environment in which innovation factors are continuously assessed and enables a comprehensive evaluation of innovation policies. The aim of the paper is to group BRICS countries into a homogeneous cluster in order to better understand their innovation capacities based on data collected over a five-year period. The research results provide a more comprehensive insight into the position of each BRICS member, identifying both the countries that stand out as leaders in innovation and those that lag behind.

The proliferation of digital technologies has caused significant changes across various domains, particularly impacting businesses and workplaces. This transformation has considerably altered the way the labor market and economy operate. Also, digitalization presents a significant challenge for older workers, as it demands a specific set of knowledge and skills that must be continuously updated and upgraded. On the other hand, the lack of digital competencies encourages digital marginalization and the exclusion of certain social groups that are digitally deprived. Age is not an obstacle to using digital technologies, but older people often face certain difficulties when using them. As people age, the demand for various social services (health and social protection, education, finance, and others) has grown, but many of these services are only available online nowadays. Therefore, the problem of digital inclusion for the older population has become a significant area of social policy concern and presents a substantial challenge for policymakers. This study analyzes the impact of digitization on the older workforce in Serbia. Data from the Republic Statistical Office and the Eurostat database were reviewed to gather information. Findings from Serbia suggest that digital technologies create some barriers for older adults due to limited access to the labor market and inadequate opportunities for acquiring institutional support.