Journal of Contemporary Economics

Student Dropout in Higher Education: Exploring the Reasons Behind Student Attrition in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dragana Preradović Kulovac — 2025-05-29

Reducing tertiary education dropout rates is a critical concern for higher education institutions (HEI) due to its significant social, financial, and personal implications. This study aims to initiate region-specific and national research by presenting, for the first time, an insight of reasons of higher education attrition in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) based on primary data. The data, collected from one of the public universities in the country, encompass students who withdrew voluntarily between 2007 and 2019. A survey of 96 undergraduate students who discontinued their studies reveals that approximately one-third of the dropouts could have been prevented, as they were linked to institutional factors. Among the identified reasons—private, institutional, financial, and pedagogical—the primary cause of attrition was disputes or conflicts with faculty members. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve faculty-student relationships and address institutional shortcomings to enhance retention.

The Role of Digital Workplace Transformation in Enhancing Organizational Sustainability: A Post-Pandemic Analysis

Ljubiša Mićić — 2025-07-22

The increasing adoption of digital workplace technologies has significantly reshaped organizational operations, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Digital transformation has become a key enabler of business sustainability by improving efficiency, reducing operational costs, and fostering remote and hybrid work models. However, the relationship between digital workplace strategies and organizational sustainability remains underexplored, particularly in the context of long-term adaptation and resilience. This study examines how digital workplace transformation contributes to sustainability by analyzing its impact on employee productivity, collaboration, and environmental resource optimization.

The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining a systematic literature review with case studies of organizations that have successfully implemented digital workplace strategies. Secondary data from industry reports, academic publications, and surveys provide insights into the benefits and challenges associated with digital workplace adoption. The findings reveal that digital workplace tools enhance employee engagement and productivity while also contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing office-related energy consumption and commuting emissions.

The study underscores the need for organizations to integrate digital workplace transformation into their long-term sustainability strategies. It highlights the role of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and knowledge management systems in enhancing digital collaboration and innovation. The results offer practical implications for business leaders and policymakers aiming to develop resilient and sustainable organizations in the digital era.

Unionization in Transition: Dynamics and Challenges in Post-Socialist European Countries

Branka Zolak Poljašević — 2025-07-28

The dynamics of unionization in post-socialist European countries remain a critical area of investigation, influenced by historical, economic, and social transitions. This study analyses union membership density and its influence across sectors and industries in ten post-socialist countries. The research is based on data from 1,076 organizations, collected through the CRANET survey during 2021–2022. Statistical methods, including Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test, were employed to test the hypotheses. The results demonstrate a strong positive correlation between union membership density and its influence, underscoring that higher union membership significantly enhances unions' negotiating power. Public sector organizations consistently exhibit higher union membership and influence compared to the private sector. While traditional industries, such as manufacturing and public administration, show stronger union presence and influence at an aggregate level, this trend is only partially confirmed across individual countries, reflecting the complexity of unionization dynamics. This study contributes to the literature on labour relations by providing empirical evidence of unionization trends in post-socialist European countries. It underscores the necessity for unions to modernize their strategies, including the adoption of digital tools, engagement with non-standard workers, and advocacy for inclusive policies. These adaptations are essential to address challenges posed by emerging industries and declining membership rates. The findings offer practical recommendations for strengthening union capacity.

Investigating the Financial Kuznets Curve with Innovation in G7 Countries: An Augmented ARDL Approach

Ahmet Baran Zeren — 2025-08-16

This study explores the Financial Kuznets Curve (FKC) hypothesis in six G7 countries by incorporating innovation, measured through R&D expenditure, into the finance-inequality nexus. Using annual time series data and the augmented ARDL bounds testing approach, we examine long-run relationships among financial development, innovation, and income inequality. The results provide partial support for the FKC: France and the United Kingdom exhibit a significant inverted-U relationship between financial development and inequality, while no such pattern is found in the United States, Germany, Italy, or Japan. In contrast, innovation demonstrates a consistently significant and inequality-reducing effect across all countries. These findings suggest that innovation may moderate the distributional effects of financial development and highlight the importance of integrating financial and innovation policies to promote inclusive economic outcomes in advanced economies.

Regulatory Pressure and Corporate Sustainability: How Policy Changes Influence Business Strategies and Profitability

Tugce Uysal — 2025-10-09

This study explores how evolving regulatory frameworks influence corporate sustainability strategies and financial performance. Against the backdrop of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Taxonomy, and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the research investigates how companies adapt strategically and operationally to increasing regulatory demands. Using a qualitative methodology based on expert interviews across diverse industries, the study reveals that while regulatory compliance often imposes short-term financial and organizational burdens, it can also catalyze innovation, strategic repositioning, and long-term value creation. The findings highlight the heterogeneity of corporate responses, shaped by internal governance, industry context, and leadership commitment. The study concludes with practical recommendations for both policymakers and corporate leaders, emphasizing the need for clearer regulatory guidance, robust ESG data infrastructures, and the cultural integration of sustainability within organizations.

From Education to Employment: Impact of International Business Graduates in Liberec region

Zuzana Potuzakova — 2025-10-20

This paper examines selected aspects of the career trajectories of graduates from the Bachelor's degree specialization in International Business (IB) in the Liberec region, one of the border regions of Czechia. The region is characterized by below-average GDP per capita and a lower proportion of tertiary-educated individuals compared to the national average. Our analysis focuses on the period 2010–2024, during which IB graduates began entering the labor market.

In the first part of the study, we investigate whether the share of tertiary-educated individuals has a positive impact on selected macroeconomic indicators in the region. In the second part, drawing on data from an electronic questionnaire distributed among graduates, we analyze their integration into the regional labor market and assess the extent of potential education–occupation mismatch.

Based on correlation analysis, we find a strong relationship between the proportion of tertiary-educated individuals and key economic indicators in the Liberec region. These findings suggest a clear policy implication: regional authorities should prioritize attracting a highly qualified workforce to foster economic growth. The survey results support this recommendation, revealing that the largest share of graduates remain employed in the Liberec region, with nearly half working in roles directly related to international business.