The main goal of this paper is to measure and compare the awareness and preferences of consumers in relation to local products in three countries: Albania, Bulgaria, and Poland. (1) Background: The analysis focused on consumer choices when presented with local products, specifically knowledge as to their environmentally friendly status. The study was evoked by the need to recognize and evaluate changes in consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic and the global challenges related to climate change and the widespread call for nature preservation. (2) Methods: An online survey was conducted with 300 respondents from Poland, 262 from Albania, and 250 from Bulgaria. Statistical analysis was applied. (3) Results: The study answered research questions about consumer readiness to pay a premium price and awareness about the impact of regional products on the environment and livelihood of rural communities. (4) Conclusions: The study proved that consumer perceptions and behavior are influenced by a variety of factors and driving forces in the three countries surveyed depending on socioeconomic characteristics and relevant policies. COVID-19 accelerated the demand for products derived from nature-friendly production systems. Products with geographical indication (GI products) are a better choice from the perspective of sustainable consumption.

Operation of short food supply chains (abbr. SFSCs) during the period of the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus provided a lesson which might be useful for perceiving the behaviour of farmers and local food systems in potential future crises caused by various endogenous or exogenous factors. A study based on a sample of 1081 beekeepers in Western Balkan countries shows how beekeepers involved in SFSCs perceived the influence of the pandemic on the growth of demand and sale of honey through these marketing channels. On the scale from 1 (no influence) to 7 (very strong influence), the average rating of 3.53 indicated a weak to moderate influence, which was fairly consistent across the countries of this region. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test determined that large-scale beekeepers, those in mountainous areas, those adding value to honey and beekeepers producing other bee products apart from honey stated that the pandemic had a stronger influence on the growth of demand and sale of honey through SFSCs. At the same time, a higher rating of the pandemic’s influence on sales growth was accompanied by greater limitations of beekeepers regarding the availability of family labour for selling honey, as well as by greater needs for digital marketing knowledge and skills. Binary logistic regression showed that the increase in beekeepers’ age led to the decreased rating of the influence of the pandemic on the growth of demand and sale of honey through SFSCs. It also showed that the influence rating rose with the increase in production capacity, adding value to honey and beekeepers’ needs for digital marketing knowledge and skills. The obtained results provide valuable knowledge about the potential response of SFSCs and involved producers to future crises and disruptions. It is primarily intended for policy makers, but also to practitioners and scientific and expert communities. All of them should respond proactively on behalf of society and prepare themselves for future challenges.

The subject of the paper refers to the research on beekeepers’ perceptions of environmental threats to beekeeping in the Western Balkan region. The following environmental threats were supposed to be the most pronounced: cutting of melliferous perennial plants and clearing of forests, urbanisation and environmental pollution, use of pesticides in agricultural production, pests and agents of bees’ diseases, climate changes. The aim of the research was to find out how beekeepers perceived these threats, to determine the presence of the threats and to define their intensity as well as their mutual relationship. For the purpose of this research, the authors created a structured questionnaire which was filled in by randomly selected beekeepers living in the Western Balkans. The research results show that most beekeepers in the studied area evaluated the assumed threats as strong to very strong, while the greatest percentage of beekeepers believes that climate change represents the greatest threat to beekeeping in the region. All assumed environmental threats show the same tendency, while they have the most serious effect on large apiaries with more than 150 bee colonies, located in lowland areas up to 200 meters above sea level with intensive farming. Findings of this research are important in order to adapt the current beekeeping practice in the region to more sustainable solutions, through improvement of the existing beekeeping legislation and advisory services.

Tourism expenditures are an important indicator for measuring the impact of tourism on a destination. Information taken from the micro data of tourism expenditures, together with other socio-demographic characteristics of visitors, provides important data on the tourist demand for a destination. Visitor costs in combination with other variables can be used to profile the demand for tourist goods and services in the destination area. In this paper, the daily expenses of visitors in the Gjirokastra district of Albania are analysed. The Gjirokastra district is one of the more preferred regions and attracts a considerable number of domestic and foreign visitors, because it offers a diversity tourist attractions and services. For the purposes of this study, a survey of 200 visitors was conducted. The survey results were analysed with descriptive statistics via a cluster analysis. The survey provides detailed data on the daily expenses of visitors, divided into six main categories of a typical travel budget. Through the use of data mining cluster analysis, we identified and analysed the tourists’ daily expenses based on the purpose of their visit to the area of Gjirokaster.

Aim: The tax system is a key pillar of the conceptual framework for the design and implementation of economic policies in Albania. This system, being constantly subject to changes and reforms, sometimes uncoordinated or without follow-up, in certain cases contains contradictory or unclear provisions that do not provide accurate decisions on certain transactions or situations. Changes in tax law provisions and enforcement regulations have recently resulted in unintentional errors by Albanian taxpayers, which are reflected in most cases in small businesses or rural households. The situation is more complicated in rural areas since only 10-12% of the total number of farms are equipped with a Tax Identification Number(NIPT). The main objective of this study is to assess the effects of changing tax rates on the personal income of farmers. Methodology: To carry out this study, the descriptive study research method was used, and primary data were collected through 100 interviews with farmers, and also secondary data were statistically performed as well as analysed with the aim of making conclusions. Results: Findings show that the new income tax rate has changed many times in a decade, and this change has not positively helped farmers. Conclusions: Tax rates have changed irregularly and without a well-studied long-term policy. This must be improved quickly so as not to discourage farmers from following through with their activityand business in Albania.

The paper presents the results of research on changes in the level of socioeconomic development in Western Balkan countries, including Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, for the period 2010- -2018. The level of development was determined by the method TOPSIS, based on two social and six economic criteria using data from national statistical offices. The results indicate that four countries present long-term positive growth over the course of the decade. Throughout the entire analyzed period, Montenegro characterized with the highest and Albania the lowest development in the region. These countries characterized with the most and the least favorable levels of the analyzed categories, inter alia, the level of employment in agriculture, population growth, infant mortality rate, or the average wage. The levels of development of North Macedonia and Serbia were average for the region. However, the stable and rather favorable trends of the main socia