"Statistics" Magazine, issue 2/2014

 

 

The article is divided into two parts: a) theoretical and methodological issues of the essence, qualifications and indicators and methods for statistical analysis of the infrastructure; b) assessment of the level and differences in the development of infrastructure at statistical regions and statistical areas level by the method of Bennett.

 

In the first part the author makes a critical analysis of the existing definitions of infrastructure in the scientific literature and regulatory documents, and a working definition of the term "infrastructure" and "infrastructure of the region" is displayed. Presented is a classification of infrastructure according to different indications and an indicative list of the composition of the material and institutional infrastructure at national and regional level. Outlined are the indicators of the infrastructure and a critical review of methods for measuring the level of infrastructure development and the differences in these levels at the regional level. A review and critical analysis of approaches to assess the impact of infrastructure on various aspects of economic and social development of the region is made. The results obtained in this theoretical and methodological plan are a good scientific basis not only for the particular study, but can be used by other researchers of the infrastructure problems.

 

In the second part of the article are displayed relative integral assessments of the levels and differences in the development of physical and institutional infrastructure in Bulgaria at the level of statistical regions (NUTS2) and statistical areas (NUTS3), as well as a specific assessment for the access of economic agents and the population in the regions and districts of Bulgaria to linear and point objects of the infrastructure with international, national and regional importance. Recommendations are made for the accelerated development of infrastructure as a whole and its individual sectors in the areas where its development is insufficient and appears to be a limitation for the economic growth and attraction of foreign investment.

 

 

An analysis of existing ICT in the NSI in relation to their possible updating and implementation of new methods of work organization using ICT as a survey done by computer web interviews, telephone interviews, cloud technologies, GIS and GPS technologies. Introduction of new information systems will enhance and facilitate the work of the employees in the RSO in collecting primary data, and if necessary, by penalizing incorrect respondents.

 

The article discuses the need for the use of corporate content management systems in order to streamline business processes and reaching readiness for e-governance using cloud systems and data warehouse (Data Warehouse). Application of Cloud Technologies at the NSI is related to the necessary modernization of IT. Common definitions for cloud computing, which is characterized as an approach to complete rethinking of the role of IT in organizations are presented.

 

Listed are the key priorities with a view to the future development of ICT in the NSI to improve the statistical production processes.

 

The following articles are published under the Statistical research and analysis rubric:

 

                             

Object of the survey are changes in the scope and structure of income segmentation of the labour market in Bulgaria based on annual (pack) data from the "Statistics on Income and Living Conditions" 2007-2010 survey. For that purpose are defined six profitable segments covering low, medium and high labour income of the employed persons. The boundaries of the segments are defined as a percentage of the median annual gross labour income. The structure is reviewed depending on the educational level of employees, gender, occupation, sectorial affiliation and rental relations. In each segment stability and trends of the studied parameters are identified. Outlined are the major changes in the scope and structure of the segments during the survey period. It was found that the main characteristics of the employed persons and the rental relations significantly affect labour market segmentation.

 

 

Subject of the article are the status and development of the population of the country and the town of Yambol in different demographic periods. Analysis of the population of the town of Yambol since the emergence of the organized demographic statistics in Bulgaria till nowadays is presented.

 

The data sources used - periodic population censuses and current demographic statistics are specified in the "Introduction".

 

The "General overview" makes a historical retrospect of the whole analysed period. Information is presented from a little known to the general readership data collection for the population of Eastern Rumelia in 1880.

 

In "Demographic development” the analysed period is split into three sub-periods, which correspond to historical periods in the development of the Third Bulgarian State. For each sub-period the basic parameters of demographic change - fertility rates, mortality, infant mortality, marriages and divorces are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the age structure of the population of the town of Yambol and its changes over time.

 

The final part of this paper makes an estimate of the population of the city of Yambol in 2035.

 

 

The number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2013 was over 300 000, which represents 99.8% of all businesses. Most numerous are the micro enterprises with 0-9 employees, whose share is 91.9 % of all businesses. Next is the group of small enterprises with 10-49 employees - 6.7 % and the medium-sized enterprises with 50-249 employees -respectively 1.3 %.

 

A key feature of the small and medium business in Bulgaria continues to be the large number of micro enterprises, which however have lower average employment rate (2.0 employees per enterprise) and relatively low labour productivity, which is lower as compared with the group of the small enterprises, as well as with the group of the medium-sized enterprises.

 

The large territorial disproportions in the typical for the SMEs characteristics in Bulgaria are preserved. In terms of territory most attractive for planning and development of SMEs is still the Yugozapaden statistical rajon. On the opposite side is the extremely low structural contribution of the Severozapaden rajon whose shares are between 2 % and 5 % for the various indicators.

 

The answer to the question whether the economic crisis in the sector of Small and Medium Enterprises has been overcome cannot be unequivocal. In some sectors, such as "Production and distribution of electricity, heat and gaseous fuels", "Production and distribution of information and creative products; telecommunications", "Water supply sewerage, waste management and recovery" and others, the level of economic activity of 2008 has definitely been surpassed. In other sectors like "Construction" and "Real Estate Operations" the decline continues. The lack of sufficient investments to expand and modernize the activity of production of goods and provision of services, however, does not contribute for increase in the competitiveness of SMEs and creates an environment of uncertainty.

 

The following articles are published under the Historical development of statistical theory and practice rubric:

 

 

This article has statistical and historical character. It is dedicated to the two population censuses conducted at the end of XIX century in the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia, constituted by the Great Powers in the Treaty of Berlin (1878). Used are collected and published rich statistical data that clearly and explicitly present the picture in that detached part of Bulgaria. The data illustrate the ethnic composition of the population. Regardless to the missing methodological framework the data precisely reproduce the situation in Eastern Rumelia on spatial distribution of different ethnic groups, as well as the existence of "pure" settlements inhabited only by representatives of one ethnic group, as well as settlements, which have been jointly inhabited by representatives of three and more ethnic groups. The author defends the thesis about the recognition of these population censuses as part of the history of Bulgarian statistics.

 

The following paper about the Bulgarian participation in the conferences in Amsterdam and Brussels is published under the Information, reviews and consultations rubric:

 

• INFORMATION ON PARTICIPATION AT A CONFERENCE IN AMSTERDAM AND BRUSSELS IN 2014 – author  Ph.D. Vice-President of the National Statistical Institute, Chief Editor of "Statistics" Magazine

 

In October 2014, a conference in Brussels, Belgium, on „Moving „beyond GDP” in European economic governance” took place. The conference was attended by high-level experts, statisticians and politicians. The papers presented are of high scientific level and explicitly outline the problems of socio-economic development in Europe and worldwide.

 

In a way the conference in Brussels can be regarded as a continuation of the conference which took place in February 2014 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on "European framework for measuring progress." Participation of scientists and senior managers in the structures of the European Union contributed to the clear delineation of critical issues for the development of the countries of Europe and the world. The conference identified some specific measures in relation to the work and activities of statistics as a science and practice in formulating rational socio-economic development policies.