Sustainability as a growing trend in the 21st century has encompassed almost the entire world economy, including the automotive industry. As a result of this trend, automotive companies are adjusting their strategies and operations to contribute to the achievement of the concept of sustainability at the global level. By turning to sustainability, the automotive industry is experiencing perhaps the biggest transition in its history. This paper therefore deals with the research of sustainable strategies of leading companies in the automotive industry. The paper aims to examine the extent to which the world’s leading companies in the automotive industry meet certain SDG UN goals. The method of the qualitative comparative analysis using the desk method alternative provided the information on sustainability strategies and their fulfilment within the top five companies in the automotive industry according to the Interbrand scale from 2021, considering the UN Agenda 2030 sustainability goals. The results of the analysis showed that the observed companies in the automotive sector meet most of the goals of sustainable development of the UN with their sustainability strategies, which indicates that they are successfully adapting their business operations to modern business requirements. This also makes their brands green, hence the application of the principle of sustainability also affects the strength of their brands, adding “extended customer value”. The paper contributes not only to the development of the framework and elaboration of business models of sustainability in the automotive industry, but also to the development of further theoretical and empirical research in this field and the conceptualization of the principles of sustainability in this area.

Investment decision-makers increasingly rely on modern digital technologies to enhance their strategies in today’s rapidly changing and complex market environment. This paper examines the impact of incorporating Long Short-term Memory (LSTM) models into traditional trading strategies. The core investigation revolves around whether strategies enhanced with LSTM technology perform better than traditional methods alone. Traditional trading strategies typically depend on analyzing current closing prices and various technical indicators to take trading action. However, by applying LSTM models, this study aims to forecast closing prices with greater accuracy, thereby improving trading performance. Our findings indicate that trading strategies that utilize LSTM models outperform traditional strategies. This improvement suggests a significant advantage in using LSTM models for market prediction and trading decision making. Acknowledging that no one-size-fits-all strategy works for every market condition or stock is crucial. As such, traders are encouraged to select and tailor their strategies based on thorough testing and analysis to best suit their needs and market conditions. This study contributes to a better understanding of how integrating LSTM models can enhance traditional trading strategies, offering a path toward more effective decision making in the unpredictable stock market.

The objective of this study was to provide decision-making assistance in selecting electric vehicles (EVs). The multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM), criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) and evaluation by distance from ideal solution of alternatives (EDISA), along with the technical specifications of EVs, were employed to facilitate the decision on purchasing an EV. A total of 14 minivans were analysed based on 10 criteria. The findings from the CRITIC method indicated that the most significant criteria are battery charging and vehicle consumption. The EDISA method indicated that EV11 exhibited the best characteristics and represented a prudent purchase decision. Nevertheless, the ultimate decision must consider additional factors beyond just the technical specifications, as numerous elements affect the final choice, necessitating an examination of other attributes of the EV.

This paper deals with a comparative analysis of the determinants of unemployment in CEE and SEE countries. The comprehensive analysis for the observed period from 2002 to 2019 provides important insights into the homogeneity of the determinants of unemployment and the efficiency of the labour markets of CEE and SEE countries, thus contributing to the existing literature. As determinants of unemployment in CEE countries the analysis confirmed the importance of unemployment from the previous period, GDP, public debt, labour force participation rate, self-employment and the population aged between 15 and 64, while the importance of unemployment from the previous period, GDP and the population aged between 15 and 64 were confirmed as determinants of unemployment in SEE countries. The demographic factor had an exceptionally strong impact on the reduction of unemployment in CEE and SEE countries – population aged between 15 and 64, which is a devastating fact and a great challenge that the observed countries will have to manage. Without effective demographic policies, labour market policies, education system in line with market needs, investment in research and development, and the systematic promotion of a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, it will be difficult to increase the efficiency of the labour market in the long run and achieve sustainable economic growth.

The paper analyzes the interrelation between labour markets, demographic factors, and economic performance in Northern and Southeastern European countries during the period 2012–2023, using advanced ANFIS methodology. The aim of the study was to identify key differences between the developed countries of Northern Europe (Sweden, Norway, Finland) and the less developed countries of Southeastern Europe (Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania) and to pinpoint factors contributing to sustainable economic development. The research findings reveal significant differences in labour market structures, the impact of demographic factors, and resilience to macroeconomic shocks between the regions studied. Developed Northern European countries demonstrate high productivity levels, labour market stability, and resistance to inflation, while less developed Southeastern European countries are characterized by greater sensitivity to inflation and a higher dependency on low wages. The analysis highlights the need for structural reforms and increased investment in human capital and technology in less developed countries to reduce their reliance on volatile factors and foster sustainable growth. This paper contributes to understanding the complex relationships between labour markets, demographic factors, and economic performance and provides guidance for formulating effective public policies within the European Union.

This paper evaluates botanical gardens in terms of their potential for tourist valorization, aiming to identify the garden with the highest tourist appeal and integration opportunities within the tourist market. Based on a literature review and established attractiveness criteria, a methodological framework using multi-criteria decision-making was developed to compare and rank the botanical gardens. The empirical part of the study focuses on botanical gardens in Split–Dalmatia County, including six gardens evaluated across nine criteria. Eight local tourism experts assessed the importance of these criteria and the gardens’ performance. The fuzzy SiWeC (SImple WEight Calculation) method was used to determine the importance of each criterion. The fuzzy TOPSIS method (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was used to measure the potential of botanical gardens. The main results obtained with this approach showed that the most important criteria are C4—Visitor content and C3—Biodiversity conservation. The Botanical Garden of Primary School Ostrog has the greatest potential, followed by the Botanical Garden Split. All observed botanical gardens have excellent tourist potential, with minimal differences in ranking among them. These findings demonstrate that botanical gardens play a key role in diversifying the tourist offer, reducing seasonality, and increasing the overall attractiveness of destinations. They also contribute to raising environmental awareness and emphasizing the importance of nature conservation and sustainable development, aligning with the increasing tourist interest in natural and ecologically responsible experiences. This study offers practical insights, as the results can assist garden management, tourism communities, and policymakers in developing and promoting strategies. Additionally, the framework proposed can be applied in other regional and international contexts.