The aim of this paper is to research, theoretically and empirically, the impact of institutional reforms on economic growth in transition countries (new European Union members) and Croatia, in the period from 1996 to 2012. In order to prove the hypothesis, we will use panel analysis of transition economies and Croatia, namely the Arellano–Bond dynamic panel analysis. The analysis includes two dependent variables (gross domestic product per capita [G.D.P./p.c.]and the share of export in G.D.P.) and five independent variables (total Heritage Index of Economic Freedom, Worldwide Governance Indicators (W.G.I.) government effectiveness indicator, W.G.I. rule of law indicator, corruption perception index and the index of institutional reforms in transition countries). The results show that there is a significant positive impact of institutional reforms on the economic growth of transition countries and Croatia, which creates preconditions that are essential for the future growth rate of the Croatian economy.

The deposit insurance system is a form of banking regulation that protects depositors and provides stability in the banking system. It is an important part of the financial safety net, especially in times of economic turmoil, as it provides explicit depositor protection and prevents a ‘bank run’. However, there are some negative effects on banking stability associated with the increase in bank risk, i.e., moral hazard, adverse selection and the principal-agent problem. The functioning of the deposit insurance system depends on its determinants, but also on the characteristics of the national banking system, supervision, legal and cultural framework and the general development of the country. Considering that the banking systems in EU and especially in comparison to Southeast European countries are very different, the aim of this paper is to study the impact of the deposit insurance system on bank stability depending on the characteristics of banks. Bank stability is analysed using bank risk variables: z-score and ratio of non-performing loans to total loans. By applying a dynamic panel analysis using the GMM Arellano–Bond (AB) estimator to a sample of EU countries and selected Southeast European countries, we provide further evidence on the deposit insurance system over the period from 2005 to 2014. The results provide evidence that large and systemically important banks behave in a riskier way, distorting the purpose of the deposit insurance scheme and jeopardising the safety of banking systems.

Throughout history, women have struggled to find their place in the labour market. Their participation in the labour market is usually characterised by worse working conditions; they tend to work in lower-paid jobs, under worse social conditions, and in the vast majority of cases their work in the household is not credited. Women make up half of the world’s population, and their non-participation in the labour force has negative consequences for economic growth. Therefore, this paper examines the impact of women’s participation in the labour market on living standard in the European Union. Data on women’s participation in entrepreneurship and politics were also analysed as part of this work. Panel data analysis was conducted for the period 2009–2022 for 27 members of the European Union, using fixed and random effects. The results show that long-term unemployment has a negative impact on GDP per capita. Moreover, a higher share of women in parliament and better education of women is confirmed to be crucial for GDP per capita growth. Failure to include women could have serious consequences for economic growth. The key to success is education and social change that enable women to play the same role as men in the labour market.

This study evaluates the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the financial performance of companies operating within the global tobacco industry. According to the Forbes Global 2000 list, the research covers...

In Croatia, the social security system is based on generational solidarity, i.e. payment of contributions, which is known as pay as you go (PAYG), but the balance of its functioning is permanently and significantly disturbed by long-term unfavourable demographic processes. Projections show that the worrying demographic situation will deteriorate even further and that, with low birth and fertility rates and negative natural growth, negative net migration will contribute to further depopulation. In addition, contributions directly burden labour, i.e. they increase labour costs for employers and reduce their competitiveness in the marketplace, affecting economic growth. The paper reviews empirical research on the impact of different tax structures on economic growth, the sublimated conclusion of which is that direct taxes have a negative effect on growth, while indirect taxes are neutral. The Croatian tax system, with VAT as the main factor in the tax structure, is focused on taxing consumption, but is also characterized by a high level of levies. In this paper, the authors use the vector autoregression model to analyse the relationship between economic growth and the changed tax structure of the Republic of Croatia, in which the role of indirect taxes would be more emphasized. Data in model are consist of different types of taxes, GDPpc, population growth, gross fixed capital formation, unemployment rate and cover the time period from 2004 to 2019. The authors prove that the reduction of the tax burden through direct taxes has positive economic, demographic and fiscal effects.

This study presents a comprehensive bibliographic and semantic analysis of 3957 scientific publications on artificial intelligence (AI) in government and public administration. Using an integrated text- and network-based approach, we identify the main thematic areas and conceptual orientations shaping this rapidly expanding field. The analysis reveals a research landscape that spans AI-driven administrative transformation, digital innovation, ethics and accountability, citizen trust, sustainability, and domain-specific applications such as healthcare and education. Across these themes, policy-oriented and conceptual contributions remain prominent, while empirical and technical studies are increasingly interwoven, reflecting growing interdisciplinarity and methodological consolidation. By clarifying how AI research aligns with governance values and institutional design, this study offers actionable insights for policymakers and public managers seeking to navigate responsible public-sector AI adoption. Overall, the findings indicate that AI-for-Government research is moving from fragmented debates toward a more integrated, implementation-relevant knowledge base centered on trustworthy and value-aligned digital-era governance.