In this paper, we develop a methodology for studying the sustainability of the circular economy model based on environmental factors. In open-end systems, waste is converted back to materials and objects through recycling; hence, a linear economy is transformed into a circular economy. Environmental factors support an argument for the sustainable implementation of a circular economy. As humans are producing and using more and more matter and energy for the economy, the environment and recycling become more and more important factors affecting public health. The aim of this study is to present the economic factors of the sustainable development of a circular economy, based on the findings of the economic literature in the field. Starting with the Mankiw–Romer–Weil model of economic growth based on resource productivity, environmental employment, recycling rate and environmental innovation, three statistical hypotheses were validated through a panel data model with the use of the statistical software EViews 9. An econometric analysis was performed for 27 European Union countries between 2007 and 2016. The results highlight that the extended Mankiw–Romer–Weil model is determined by resource productivity, environmental employment, recycling rate and environmental innovation. Investing in recycling infrastructure and innovative resources is essential for the econometric model presented in our analysis, which is in line with the aims of environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.

Based on recent findings of the economic literature on the implications of entrepreneurial innovation for recycling municipal waste, this paper aims to examine the main factors of recycling municipal waste at the European Union (EU) level. In this study, the authors developed a linear regression model to analyze the relationship between business expenditure on research and development (R&D), private investments, gross domestic product (GDP) expenditures on R&D, resource productivity, and environmental taxes on the recycling rate of municipal waste (RRMW). In our analyses, we used data from the Statistical Office of the European Union (EUROSTAT) and five statistical hypotheses were validated through a multiple regression model with panel data using the statistical software EViews 11. The study was conducted in 27 European Union countries between 2010 and 2017. Our results indicate that business expenditure on R&D, private investments, GDP expenditures on R&D, and resource productivity have a direct and significant impact on the RRMW, while environmental taxes have a significant and inverse impact on the RRMW. These findings underline that public policies should be focused on increasing the use of private and public investments on R&D for recycling municipal waste.

Electronic commerce appeared as a new way of managing businesses in the digital era. However, it has also been accelerated by the recent pandemic situation. Retailers had to find new strategies of reaching customers in the online environment. Thus, concepts such as multi-channel and omni-channel retailing have gained the attention of both retailers and researchers in this field. This paper aims at using a text-mining approach in order to reveal the researchers focus on this theme in a period that also precedes and covers the COVID-19 pandemic. The research methodology follows five steps that are necessary in order to obtain a relevant collection of documents that will further provide the content to be analyzed. These steps refer to: (1) Creating the database of documents for analysis purposes; (2) identifying geographic areas for separating the collection’s documents; (3) framing a thematic dictionary of descriptors; (4) exploring the text using text mining approach; and (5) correspondence analysis. The discussion of the main findings is constructed starting with the geographic and the temporal distribution of documents and the design of a thematic dictionary of descriptors. Then, exploring the content of the documents provides information on the frequency of descriptors and reveals clusters of descriptors along with a link analysis. All of them are presented separately on geographic regions. Finally, the correspondence analysis of descriptors versus years provides the proximity maps and reveals the preferred topics and less approached themes. Among the main findings, one can highlight: (1) The greatest contributor in terms of documents related to the theme of interest is the United States; (2) a higher number of connections (and stronger) among descriptors for America as compared to the other two regions; (3) some categories of descriptors are specific to a particular year, which means that there are different themes under the researchers lens depending on the period; (4) the most frequently used descriptors are included in the following categories from the dictionary: Online retail environment and Consumer behavior, regardless of the region. In the end of this paper, research limitations and guidelines for future research are elaborated.

The paper uniquely assesses the relationship between the main elements of the sustainability of the supply chain and the performance of Romanian enterprises. To identify dimensions of supply chain sustainability, a sample survey was conducted on a structured questionnaire basis among a sample of 385 Romanian enterprises represented by supply chain managers and practitioners. The hypothesis testing and the validation of the proposed construct model were achieved by using the modeling of the equation with the smallest partial squares (SEM-PLS) and multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA). The results suggest a positive and significant relationship between supply chain sustainability practices and business performance. This study provides original evidence to Romanian managers that business performance can be maximized by focusing on increasing the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the supply chain. The results of this quantitative marketing research add to the existing literature and have far-reaching theoretical and practical implications for enterprises in the Romanian economy.

The article aims to highlight the usefulness of composite indicators applications as an analytical tool in guiding national security policies related to multidimensional phenomena revealing its role in measuring hybrid threats - as part of global risks. The qualitative and quantitative research shows that the use of composite indicators in measuring hybrid threats at country level is a relatively new topic, that has enjoyed increased interest since 2021. The originality lies in the way it is putted in evidence the link between the composite nature of hybrid threats, and the composite indicators in order the argue the role using this modern tool in the process of forecasting the risks with national impact, by using SWOT analysis. To highlight the relevance of composite indicators in measuring hybrid threats to peace and security, we have chosen to compare the results of measurement made by Normandia Index. The outcomes demonstrate upward trend in hybrid threat values (cybercrime, economic crises, disinformation, energy insecurity and terrorism) at the UE-27 level (as one country), comparative to the world level situation, between 2019-2022. We concluded that using composite indicators in measuring hybrid threats represents an analytical strategical level method that could play a role as an early warning engine to support policy makers and, also as a facilitator instrument of the planning process country level to avoid strategic surprises and prevent security risks. Considering the geopolitical clashes of power poles and the unpredictable situation of the socioeconomic environment, we have concluded that future steps of the research should be related with the dynamics of hybrid threats at the global level. An important contribution could be brought by the development of new systems for interpreting measurement by specialized software, and by the identification of appropriate calculation formulas to reduce misinterpretation due to the lack of real data provided.