The aim of this article is to provide empirical evidence on the level of digital entrepreneurial competences (DEC) that higher education students acquire during their higher education and to investigate the relationship between their socio-demographic characteristics and the level of DEC. The first competence area (Identification of opportunities) of the DEC EmDigital competence framework was assessed together with its three sub-competence areas (Search for and analysis of information, Creativity and innovation, and Prospecting), and the relationship between the level of DEC and various socio-demographic characteristics of higher education students was investigated using logistic regression. The results show a relatively low DEC level of the participating students for the first EmDigital competence area. Location, field of study, level of study and employment status were found to be statistically significant for the acquisition of DEC, while the variables age and gender had little impact. The results of this study are a step towards the development of an DEC online assessment tool (using the Digital Competence Wheel as a role model) that universities and other stakeholders could use to assess the level of DEC their students acquire during university education. This research is the first study to assess the acquisition of DEC during university studies and the impact of different socio-demographic characteristics of students on their level of DEC.

The paper examines differentiation business strategies in food production in Braničevo-Podunavlje region (Serbia). The research methodology includes survey research focused on the producers engaged in the production of value-added agricultural products, which have a greater potential for differentiation and branding. A range of survey indicators enable farmers and entrepreneurs of differentiated products to emphasize key success factors, detect barriers, and generate business ideas and innovations. Survey research was conducted in the period December 2018–January 2019, among 67 farmers, legal entities, and unincorporated enterprises−producers of high-quality niche food products in Braničevo–Podunavlje region. Results of the research indicated vegetable and fruit processing, beekeeping, and milk processing as sectors of the most promising value-added food products, including those that form the region’s basket of products. The study’s findings should contribute to the development of differentiated business models in the food sector and strengthening their role in smart regional development.

Advanced digital solutions, modern technologies and artificial intelligence have fundamentally transformed the pace of change and existing business models in the tourism and hospitality (T&H) sector. Implementing advanced digital solutions through new and improved tourism products and services can transform the customer experience while increasing the sector's productivity and resilience. However, in order to adequately leverage advanced digital technologies, the T&H sector's workforce must have a sufficient level of digital skills, competencies, and capabilities. Accordingly, this paper aims to assess the digital skills of the T&H sector employees in Serbia and identify the key factors that influence their level. The findings suggest that the digital skills of employees in the T&H sector in Serbia should be improved through formal and informal education in order for the sector to reposition itself in a more resilient and sustainable manner and in line with the 2030 Agenda.

This paper examines the relationship between FDI inflow per capita and unemployment rates in 17 transition countries over the period 2000-2014. It aims at testing the premise, usually suggested by policy makers, that higher attraction of FDI in transition countries results in inevitable unemployment reduction. The empirical analysis contributes to the existing literature applying panel cointegration approach in testing and assessing long-run impact of FDI on unemployment, as an alternative to typical panel analysis that examine contemporaneous relations. The evidence from seven performed panel cointegration tests provide the mixed results, while the Fully Modified and Dynamic OLS panel estimations indicate that FDI and unemployment are most likely not cointegrated. The inconclusiveness of the empirical evidences gives the argument in support of the general conclusion that long-run impact of FDI on unemployment in transition countries is either very loose or does not exist.

The world is constantly changing creating a new environment. One of the main factors in this process is the Digital Transformation which requires adjustment of skills, institutions, processes and business models. The European Commission started to cope with this topic in last twenty years and today their activities are according to the “Europe 2020 Strategy.” Enhancement of digital skills is one of the priority. Serbia also makes an effort in this area and policymakers already adopted several documents and policies. The main issue is a lack of scientific research that cover the subject – ex ante and ex-post analysis of adopted policies. We consider this subject very important having in mind that the digital skills become one of the basic element for the national growth and competitiveness. This paper presents findings on the existing level of digital skills of the workforce in Serbia, with focus on the gender gap. Findings are based on a standardized survey conducted during September 2017, within the pilot study research. Results show that the level of digital skills is Serbia is lagging behind the EU average and that the level of digital skills of Serbian women is lower than men.

There have been several attempts to benchmark competitiveness of nations and show that its levels have significant impact on the wealth measured by growth of GDP per capita, especially during the recession. Countries of South Eastern Europe including Serbia and Romania are going through deep recession, and some authors have confirmed that the level of competitiveness, measured by several existing indices, is highly influential on welfare and wealth of those countries. Some studies have confirmed that the Global Competitiveness Index - GCI is the most appropriate measurement tool for countries in the SEE region. However, the large number of variables composing GCI index does not allow observing particularities of individual countries. By the mean of factor analysis in this paper it was confirmed that it is possible to extract 11 statistically significant factors which explain the competitiveness level of the country, and enable comparison among countries differently than the original index. Moreover factorsLegal rights and Government impact stand out as a common variable for most SEE and especially for Romania and Serbia as principal generator for increasing competitiveness