ESG reporting and disclosure enable financial performance by attracting revenues and optimizing managerial decisions. Within this landscape falls the present study that aimed to examine the quality of ESG reporting connected to the financial performance of listed companies. Stratified analysis revealed four groups of companies according to the average value of ROA and ROE indicators, as well as four classes according to the average ESG disclosure score. The analysis of GRI topics and materiality disclosure scores showed an average disclosure level on ESG components, located between a satisfactory and a good level of disclosure. Also, companies were found to be more inclined to disclose data on the sustainability strategy but provided poor and vague information on the business model. The results of comparative clustering analysis based on FinESG reporting and disclosure scores showed that 31.57% of companies maintained their position in the final ranking. Content analysis of sustainability reports by Leximancer, v.5.0 software highlighted that the most salient topic was “employees”, and it revealed correlations between the themes “employees” and “emissions”. The practical implications of the study were found in the promotion of an integrated reporting that best meets the needs of both stakeholders and those of environmental protection and the development of society.

This study investigates managers’ perceptions of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption within the framework of Industry 4.0, emphasizing the relationship between technological modernization, organizational culture, and sustainability. Drawing on empirical data collected in 2025 from 150 Romanian companies ’managers by applying a structured questionnaire, followed by a multivariate analytical approach supported by the Benjamini–Hochberg correction, the research identifies critical managerial perceptions that influence the success of digital transformation. The findings show that managers recognize digitalization as a strategic opportunity for process optimization and competitiveness. At the same time, they perceive it as a structural challenge driven by legacy systems, financial constraints, and limited digital competencies. Similarly, managers view AI as a valuable tool for data analysis and market forecasting, while also expressing concerns related to ethical, technical, and cybersecurity risks. The study further reveals managerial ambivalence toward Industry 4.0. Although automation and IoT are considered inevitable for maintaining competitiveness, their implementation remains constrained by logistical and cultural barriers. By integrating technological, organizational, and human dimensions, this research contributes to the literature on sustainable digital transformation. It provides an in-depth understanding of how managerial perceptions mediate the balance between innovation, responsibility, and long-term resilience. Finally, the results offer actionable insights for policymakers and business leaders seeking to align digitalization and AI initiatives with sustainable development objectives.

Ensuring a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability is crucial to reduce the impact of CO₂ emissions and ensure sustainable economic development for future generations. The goal of this study is to investigate the influences of the adjusted gross dispensable income (GDI) per capita, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, energy consumption per capita, economic inequality in the population (GINI), and the median age on the carbon emissions in 27 European countries. In the dynamic panel analysis, CO₂ emissions represent the dependent variable, while adjusted GDI/capita, GDP/capita, energy use/capita, median age, and GINI are the independent variables. The valid results of the model show us that only the past values of CO₂ emissions, GDP/capita, and median age significantly influence the carbon emissions in the European countries analyzed. The median age and the GDP/capita have inversely proportional impacts on the carbon emissions in Europe. A 1% increase in GDP/capita produced a 0.006% decrease in carbon emissions in Europe. The younger the population is, the higher the carbon emissions. In contrast, the adjusted gross disposable income/capita, the energy consumption/capita, and economic inequality do not significantly influence CO₂ emissions/capita in the European countries and period analyzed.

Romania, like the whole world, is facing a sustainable development challenge that now takes the form of the energy transition towards renewable energy sources. This transition also addresses industrial consumers as well as domestic consumers. The number of household prosumers of electrical energy from renewable sources reached above 63,000 in Romania in 2023, but there is a slowdown in the process with dissatisfaction from residents. The present research covers a gap in the specialty literature by investigating the perception of Romanian residents (from two cities, Oradea and Timișoara) regarding renewable energy sources and the barriers they identify to the adoption of these sources. The research enjoys a consistent sample of 1098 valid responses. The research method is the survey through a questionnaire applied with an operator and the use of a mix of data processing techniques, namely Importance-Performance Analysis with RStudio202207.1+554 and qualitative processing with Atlas.ti22. The results obtained are categorical by corroborating the two methods, which show valid results that express the position of the respondents. Immediate strategic measures that the Romanian state can take to remove barriers and accelerate the process of adopting renewable energy sources are suggested.

There have been several decades since the creative and cultural economy (CCE) was praised for its contributions to long-term socio-economic development and also for its sustainable approach concerning the main production factors involved by the creative industries—human intellect and talent—and cultural ones, and now, more than ever, the creative sector could be perceived as vital in facing and recovering from the several crises of recent years. In order to determine the “recipe” of a flourishing local CCE, our research continues analysing seven Romanian cities, by assessing several influential factors considered as catalysts of the CCE, such as: student populations, young populations, and local public expenditure on culture during 2008–2019 for the selected creative cities. In this paper, we will determine the connection between these catalysts of the local CCEs’ development as independent variables, and two economic dimensions, the number of employees and turnover, as the dependent variables. The determination of this correlation started by using the observation method and the method of multiple regression, but further investigation was needed, so the present paper deepens the research by approaching the panel data method. Our results prove an existing correlation between the analysed variables, some of them influencing positively, and others negatively.

Corporate sustainability has become integral to business strategy worldwide, including in Romania. With growing awareness of environmental impacts and the need for sustainable development, Romanian corporations are increasingly adopting green policies. This study explores how Romanian companies balance economic goals with environmental responsibilities and examines how managers’ perceptions of financial outcomes, innovation, and proactive orientations influence sustainability practices. The research adopts a novel management-focused perspective to analyze factors driving sustainable practices within organizations. A two-pronged methodology was employed: qualitative data were collected via a questionnaire administered to 149 CEOs and CFOs, providing insights into financial health and strategies and performing the statistical analysis to comprehensively evaluate long-term environmental and economic sustainability. The results show moderate to strong positive correlations between financial performance, proactive orientation, innovation, and ecological performance. While proactive and innovation parameters significantly impact ecological policies, financial performance plays a more moderate, indirect role. Key findings reveal that transport companies are the least likely to adopt green strategies, while the age of companies does not play a vital role. The study underscores the complex interplay between corporate sustainability and economic performance, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for Romanian businesses in advancing green policies.