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National levels of personal health-care access and quality can be approximated by measuring mortality rates from causes that should not be fatal in the presence of effective medical care (ie, amenable mortality). Previous analyses of mortality amenable to health care only focused on high-income countries and faced several methodological challenges. In the present analysis, we use the highly standardised cause of death and risk factor estimates generated through the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) to improve and expand the quantification of personal health-care access and quality for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015. We mapped the most widely used list of causes amenable to personal health care developed by Nolte and McKee to 32 GBD causes. We accounted for variations in cause of death certification and misclassifications through the extensive data standardisation processes and redistribution algorithms developed for GBD. To isolate the effects of personal health-care access and quality, we risk-standardised cause-specific mortality rates for each geography-year by removing the joint effects of local environmental and behavioural risks, and adding back the global levels of risk exposure as estimated for GBD 2015. We employed principal component analysis to create a single, interpretable summary measure–the Healthcare Quality and Access (HAQ) Index–on a scale of 0 to 100. The HAQ Index showed strong convergence validity as compared with other health-system indicators, including health expenditure per capita (r=0·88), an index of 11 universal health coverage interventions (r=0·83), and human resources for health per 1000 (r=0·77). We used free disposal hull analysis with bootstrapping to produce a frontier based on the relationship between the HAQ Index and the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a measure of overall development consisting of income per capita, average years of education, and total fertility rates. This frontier allowed us to better quantify the maximum levels of personal health-care access and quality achieved across the development spectrum, and pinpoint geographies where gaps between observed and potential levels have narrowed or widened over time. Between 1990 and 2015, nearly all countries and territories saw their HAQ Index values improve; nonetheless, the difference between the highest and lowest observed HAQ Index was larger in 2015 than in 1990, ranging from 28·6 to 94·6. Of 195 geographies, 167 had statistically significant increases in HAQ Index levels since 1990, with South Korea, Turkey, Peru, China, and the Maldives recording among the largest gains by 2015. Performance on the HAQ Index and individual causes showed distinct patterns by region and level of development, yet substantial heterogeneities emerged for several causes, including cancers in highest-SDI countries; chronic kidney disease, diabetes, diarrhoeal diseases, and lower respiratory infections among middle-SDI countries; and measles and tetanus among lowest-SDI countries. While the global HAQ Index average rose from 40·7 (95% uncertainty interval, 39·0–42·8) in 1990 to 53·7 (52·2–55·4) in 2015, far less progress occurred in narrowing the gap between observed HAQ Index values and maximum levels achieved; at the global level, the difference between the observed and frontier HAQ Index only decreased from 21·2 in 1990 to 20·1 in 2015. If every country and territory had achieved the highest observed HAQ Index by their corresponding level of SDI, the global average would have been 73·8 in 2015. Several countries, particularly in eastern and western sub-Saharan Africa, reached HAQ Index values similar to or beyond their development levels, whereas others, namely in southern sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and south Asia, lagged behind what geographies of similar development attained between 1990 and 2015. This novel extension of the GBD Study shows the untapped potential for personal health-care access and quality improvement across the development spectrum. Amid substantive advances in personal health care at the national level, heterogeneous patterns for individual causes in given countries or territories suggest that few places have consistently achieved optimal health-care access and quality across health-system functions and therapeutic areas. This is especially evident in middle-SDI countries, many of which have recently undergone or are currently experiencing epidemiological transitions. The HAQ Index, if paired with other measures of health-system characteristics such as intervention coverage, could provide a robust avenue for tracking progress on universal health coverage and identifying local priorities for strengthening personal health-care quality and access throughout the world. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Type of the article: Research Article Understanding the impact of traditional financial factors and intangible assets on the value of listed companies is increasingly important amid rapid changes driven by the recent pandemic, energy, and geopolitical crises, alongside emerging economies’ shift toward knowledge-based models. This study aims to assess how traditional financial indicators and the intensity of intangible assets influence the market value of firms listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), using Tobin’s Q as the valuation measure. Out of an initial population of 84 companies, 56 were selected based on data completeness and consistency, covering the period 2019–2023, a timeframe marked by significant economic shocks. A multiple linear regression approach was employed, with Tobin’s Q as the dependent variable and firm size, intangible assets, leverage, liquidity, and profitability as predictors. Data exhibit significant dispersion and asymmetry, particularly in profitability and liquidity, indicating varied shock absorption capacities across firms. The regression model explains nearly 60% of the variation in firm value and meets all diagnostic criteria. Intangible assets emerged as the most influential positive factor, followed by firm size, while leverage negatively affects firm value. Liquidity and profitability showed no statistically significant effect when controlling for other variables. These results suggest that Romanian investors place growing emphasis on knowledge-based resources and firm scale, while penalizing high leverage. The study enriches existing literature and offers practical guidance for managers to prioritize investments in intangible capital over mere expansion of tangible assets.

An important challenge for the research on post-socialist big cities is to identify the mechanisms of their uncontrolled urban space growth. This analysis is focused on the built-up urban space affected by transformations from a centrally planned to a market-based economy. Post-socialist changes in Bucharest are clearly reflected in the dynamics of built-up space. Land cover dynamics were evaluated using spectral mixture analysis of Landsat 5 TM (Thematic Mapper) data to map percent impervious surface area in 1988 and 2010. Change analysis reveals (1) a decrease of built space in central and peri-central areas of Bucharest, (2) an expansion of new residential areas to the south, (3) land fragmentation to the east and southeast, (4) a mixture of densities to the north, and (5) the role of the ring road in spurring recent development. A key challenge facing Bucharest is the disposition and repurposing of the lands covered by old large housing estates and shuttered heavy industries.

Despite its peripheral location within the European metropolitan system, Bucharest has significant competitive advantages – large scale market, high-skilled labour pooling, dynamic business environment, institutional capacity, and knowledge organizations. The location of MNCs has enhanced the domestic small-scale entrepreneurship and the emergence of an innovative IT&C cluster. As the world economic crises stroke almost everywhere, in the case of Bucharest it was enhanced by a political crisis which diminished the industrial growth. In this context we focus on the IT small and medium enterprises which, by surviving the crises and developing even more, show clear evidence of strengthening the cluster identity. Based on the two-digit CANE data on employment, the paper analyzes in an empirical way the IT firms from Bucharest between two representative moments: 2007 the year of maximum growth for Romania and 2010. We attempt to identify the factors contributing to the growth of the cluster and to assess the contribution of the cluster to the generation of regional wealth and jobs. The results shows that, despite of the crises, the local entrepreneurship alongside the continuous foreign interest in the local workforce have pulled together an emerging industrial cluster.

Based on research conducted with users and librarians of the National Library of Romania, this article discusses specific forms of integration of marginal people in Bucharest: young adults with no stable employment and pensioners. Some come to have access to information; others want to self-educate, enrich themselves culturally, and benefit from the library staff's support. The article argues that libraries should partner with other private and public stakeholders to empower librarians to deal with complex situations and foster further forms of inclusion.

This study examines the digital resilience of the Bucharest Nine, an Eastern European NATO alliance, and Ukraine amidst the challenges of digital transformation. It aims to identify factors influencing their ability to manage cyber threats, digital divides, and socio-economic disparities resulting from rapid digitalization. Using a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative analysis and qualitative insights, the research computes an index of digital resilience based on cybersecurity measures, digital infrastructure quality, and socio-economic impacts. Findings reveal varying resilience levels, with some countries demonstrating robust cyber defenses and advanced digital infrastructures, while others lag due to weaker capacities and socio-economic constraints. Comprehensive policy frameworks and inclusive digital strategies are emphasized as critical for enhancing resilience. However, the study’s focus on the Bucharest Nine and Ukraine may limit broader regional representation, and reliance on available data and potential biases in self-reported indices may affect comprehensiveness. Nonetheless, the insights can inform policymakers in developing targeted strategies to bolster digital resilience, emphasizing cybersecurity, bridging the digital divide, and promoting digital literacy and participation. This research contributes to understanding digital resilience by offering a comparative analysis of often overlooked geopolitical regions, combining various indicators to provide a holistic view of their digital landscapes.

This article examines social resilience among the Bucharest Nine (B9) countries and Ukraine amidst the intricate geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe. It explores various aspects of social resilience, such as political structures, economic robustness, defence capabilities, social unity, and cultural identity, while also taking into account the influence of historical legacies, contemporary policies, and societal perceptions. The study constructs an integrated index of social resilience, amalgamating economic, political, social, and environmental parameters, thereby filling a critical void in the existing literature by providing a holistic understanding of a nation's social resilience. Key findings highlight divergent levels of social resilience among these nations, shown to be influenced by institutional trust, economic inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. Estonia emerges as the most resilient country with a \"sufficient\" level, while others like Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine fall within the \"medium\" resilience category. None of the research countries exhibited \"high\" or \"low\" level of social resilience. Consideration of the practical implications underlines the necessity for targeted strategies in bolstering institutional trust, economic inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion. By offering a multi-dimensional viewpoint, this study can inform policy formulation, enhancing nations' capacities to navigate regional complexities and uphold societal integrity and national stability. Limitations such as the dynamic nature of social resilience factors and challenges in data availability, particularly in war-affected regions like Ukraine, are acknowledged. The study advocates for future research focusing on longitudinal studies and the influence of digital transformation and innovation on social resilience.

In recent decades, more and more researchers and practitioners have expressed their interest in sustainable development and sustainability. Since it was introduced in 1987, the concept of sustainable development has been treated by the United Nations in various ways, which are of reference not only to countries but also to companies. However, a clear understanding of how organizations should address sustainability is still missing, despite all efforts to encourage companies to improve their triple balance sheet. Today, sustainability reporting has become a common practice among the world’s leading companies as individuals are increasingly taking environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into account in their investment decisions. Nevertheless, adapting to a business environment where responsible investment becomes the rule poses several challenges to organizations. Even though transparency and non-financial reporting are gradually gaining ground and receiving more and more attention in Europe, there is still considerable emphasis on financial reporting in the eastern part of the continent. Consequently, in this paper, the authors are looking to identify how several selected companies listed on BVB (Bucharest Stock Exchange) (from different industries) take into account ESG values. They achieved their goal by conducting a content benchmark analysis, which emphasized the similarities and differences between the reports of the companies included in the analysis, issued over different periods. Last but not least, there were highlighted the standards and the non-financial reporting tools considered in the analysis carried out.

The paper aims at describing two dimensions of acquirers’ behaviour when purchasing minority shares in Romanian listed target companies, based on a sample of 710 Romanian minority acquisitions. The first dimension regards the acquirer’s decision to invest a certain amount, being influenced by the profitability of the target company The relationship was found to be positive and significant. To test the model further, a sample of 308 transactions was used, after excluding the transactions involving primary sector and blue-chip target companies. The second dimension focuses on the amount of purchased stake, which leads to either financial gains or the takeover intention, under the influence of the target company’s operational profit. The results show a positive and significant relationship for the small stakes and a non-significant one for the high stakes.

The present paper aims to provide up-to-date information on the internationalisation endeavours undertaken in the last five years by the Romanian topmost economic university – the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), based on ambitious goals set by means of its “Internationalisation Strategy” launched in 2016. We first briefly refer to key national and international literature on the internationalisation of higher education, and to the University’s international dimension since its establishment in 1913: the enrolment of foreign students, the presence of study programs in foreign languages, the existence of student exchange programmes, cooperation agreements with universities from abroad etc. Next, the paper illustrates the measures taken since 2016 in four priority areas, where constant progress has been recorded: in-house internationalisation; internationalisation abroad; internationalisation of research; and consolidation of international prestige. The analysed data are collected mainly from ASE’s International Relations Department, the Rector’s Annual Reports (2016-2019), but also from various pages of the institutional website. The discussion and conclusion sections highlight the contribution and limitations of this paper to the national literature in the field.