Rodica Cristina Butnaru

Bio: Rodica Cristina Butnaru is an academic researcher from Université du Québec à Montréal. The author has contributed to research in topics: International Social Survey Programme & Per capita. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 23 citations.

Enablers of Entrepreneurial Activity across the European Union—An Analysis Using GEM Individual Data

Abstract: The objective of this study involves identifying the influence of different perceptual attributes on the likelihood of engaging in early-stage entrepreneurial activities (TEA). The study correspondingly applies individual data based on the statistics gathered from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Adult Population Survey database for 18 European Countries in 2007 and 2014. We performed several logistic regression analyses in order to test the influence of some entrepreneurial attributes on the propensity to engage in TEA. We identified four perceptual determinants: Capability to identify opportunity; having the skills, knowledge and experience to start up a business; fear of failure; and knowing other entrepreneurs. We tested their effect along with some control variables and interaction effects. The results confirm the importance of these factors in explaining entrepreneurial activities across different economies.

International Migrant Remittances in the Context of Economic and Social Sustainable Development. A Comparative Study of Romania-Bulgaria

Abstract: The economic stability is the main goal of every country’s administration, contributing to the decrease of uncertainty, creating an attractive business environment, attracting foreign direct investment and contributing to economic growth, which increases the standard of living, reduces income inequalities, represents a sustainable development for the country and puts an end to the migration process. Migration flows lower the demographic resources of the states going through this process and consequently they compromise the possibility for future generations to support a sustainable economic growth. Migration is a process with an aggressive and alarming manifestation in Romania and Bulgaria, raising the problem of the future capacity of these countries to ensure long-term economic and social sustainability and requiring an analysis framework from a scientific perspective. The current study proposes a comparative study to identify the important determinants of international migration in the EU28 and analyses the impact of remittances on economic growth/stability and income inequality in Romania and Bulgaria—Central and Eastern Europe countries—for the period between 1990 and 2015. The main contribution of the present study consists in emphasising the common determinants of the two countries regarding the migration process and at the same time providing solutions to improve government policies to contribute to the economic and social sustainability. The authors employed a multiple regression model and the correlation analysis, and tested 8 hypotheses for Romania and Bulgaria. The results indicated that the main determinants of the migration process in Romania and Bulgaria are the inflation rate, the income inequality and household consumption expenditure. Furthermore, the results indicated that there is not a direct relationship between the remittances received/capita and GDP/capita growth rate in Romania and Bulgaria. In addition, there is a direct relationship (negative and with average intensity) between the remittances received/capita and price inflation rate in Romania but not in Bulgaria. In the case of Romania and Bulgaria, the results indicate that there is a direct relationship with a similar intensity between the remittances received/capita and the unemployment rate, the household final consumption and income inequality.

Effect of pharmaceutical companies’ corporate reputation on drug prescribing intents in Romania

Abstract: This research examines the effect of pharmaceutical companies’ (PCs’) corporate reputation on drug prescribing intents. The aim is to determine the extent to which the PCs’ corporate reputation inf...

Heavy Work Investment from the Perspective of Cultural Factors and Outcomes by Types of Investors

Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the concept of Heavy Work Investment (HWI) by studying the factors determining this phenomenon, as well as its outcomes (both negative and positive). According to the European Directive of 1993, Heavy Work Investment occurs when an individual works more than 48 hours per week. The aim of this paper is to study the factors influencing the occurrence of the phenomenon of Heavy Work Investment from the perspective of time invested, using the multiple regression model, as well as the outcomes of Heavy Work Investment, using the structural equation model (SEM). The study used the data of the countries included in the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP), (37 countries and a total of 18,274 respondents) on employment status, the number of actual working hours, job and demographic characteristics. The results confirm the important impact of the cross-cultural differences on HWI behaviour as well as the outcomes of Heavy Work Investment according to the type of investor (dispositional / situational).

Entrepreneurial opportunities and the entrepreneurship nexus : a re-conceptualization

Abstract: The literature on “entrepreneurial opportunities” has grown rapidly since the publication of Shane and Venkataraman (2000). By directing attention to the earliest stages of development of new economic activities and organizations, this marks sound redirection of entrepreneurship research. However, our review shows that theoretical and empirical progress has been limited on important aspects of the role of “opportunities” and their interaction with actors, i.e., the “nexus”. We argue that this is rooted in inherent and inescapable problems with the “opportunity” construct itself, when applied in the context of a prospective, micro-level (i.e., individual[s], venture, or individual–venture dyad) view of entrepreneurial processes. We therefore suggest a fundamental re-conceptualization using the constructs External Enablers, New Venture Ideas, and Opportunity Confidence to capture the many important ideas commonly discussed under the “opportunity” label. This re-conceptualization makes important distinctions where prior conceptions have been blurred: between explananda and explanantia; between actor and the entity acted upon; between external conditions and subjective perceptions, and between the contents and the favorability of the entity acted upon. These distinctions facilitate theoretical precision and can guide empirical investigation towards more fruitful designs.

Entrepreneurial aspirations, motivations, and their drivers

Abstract: textSeveral drivers of entrepreneurial aspirations and entrepreneurial motivations are investigated using country-level data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) for the years 2005 and 2006. We estimate a two-equation model explaining aspirations using motivations and socioeconomic variables, and explaining motivations using socioeconomic variables. We find that countries with a higher incidence of increase-wealth-motivated entrepreneurs tend to have a higher prevalence of high-job-growth and export-oriented entrepreneurship and that a country's level of social security relates negatively to the prevalence of innovative, high-job-growth, and export-oriented entrepreneurship. We also find that the increase-wealth motive mediates the relationship between socioeconomic variables and entrepreneurial aspirations.

Women's Work: Gender Equality vs. Hierarchy in the Life Sciences:

Abstract: In bureaucratic firms, and increasingly in the courts, the received wisdom is that if management is serious about promoting equal opportunity, it will institute and monitor formal evaluation procedures. These formal procedures are there to guard against subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination processes such as cognitive bias, in-group preferences, attribution errors, network-based social exclusion, harassment, and targeted discrimination. But what happens to equal opportunity when the organizational context is not bureaucratic and hierarchical? It is this question that Smith-Doerr examines in her study of women Ph.D.s’ careers in the life sciences. SmithDoerr’s previous work with Powell, Koput, and others on the networked form of the biotechnology industry provides the substantive focus for answering this question. Life science Ph.D.s typically end up in three destinations: academia, pharmaceutical companies, and, increasingly, biotechnology startups. With a strong mix of historical, qualitative, and quantitative analysis, Smith-Doerr examines the impact of gender on scientists’ careers across these organizational contexts.

The Effects of Financial Literacy on Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Abstract: Entrepreneurship contributes to the economic well-being of every country. Specifically, the level of individual entrepreneurship is crucial in the process of developing and building economic potential, especially in Central European countries. Among the several factors impacting entrepreneurship, the ability to access the necessary external sources of financing need to be considered crucial. The financial literacy of the entrepreneur plays a crucial role in the relationship between the lender and the borrower. In this paper, we investigate the effects of financial literacy on sustainable entrepreneurship. We based our analysis on the framework proposed by the World Economic Forum. We present an OLS model that adopts entrepreneurship, financial literacy and macroeconomic variables. The analysis is carried out on individual and national data from different sources of information (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, World Bank, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). The results show a positive and statistically significant relationship between financial literacy and sustainable entrepreneurial activity. This evidence supports the increasing number of financial education initiatives and the inclusion of topics related to economic and financial culture in school education systems. We identify internationally valid policy implications. In the context of the growth strategies of Central European countries, financial literacy takes on even greater importance. The introduction of financial education in the national curricula could strengthen entrepreneurial skills and accelerate the inclusive growth process across Europe.

Corporate philanthropy, reputation risk management and shareholder value: A study of Australian corporate giving

Abstract: This study examines the role of corporate philanthropy (CP) in the management of reputation risk and shareholder value of the top 100 ASX listed Australian firms for the 3 years 2011–2013. The results of this study demonstrate the business case for corporate philanthropy and hence encourage corporate philanthropy by showing increasing firms’ investment in corporate giving as a percentage of profit before tax, increases the likelihood of an increase in shareholder value. However, the proviso is that firms must also manage their reputation risk at the same time. There is a negative association between corporate giving and shareholder value (Tobin’s Q) which is mitigated by firms’ management of reputation. The economic significance of this result is that for every cent in the dollar the firm spends on corporate giving, Tobin’s Q will decrease by 0.413 %. In contrast, if the firm increase their reputation by 1 point then Tobin’s Q will increase by 0.267 %. Consequently, the interaction of corporate giving and reputation risk management is positively associated with shareholder value. These results are robust while controlling for potential endogeneity and reverse causality. This paper assists both academics and practitioners by demonstrating that the benefits of corporate philanthropy extend beyond a gesture to improve reputation or an attempt to increase financial performance, to a direct collaboration between all the factors where the benefits far outweigh the costs.