Project title: Adapting the labour market to socio-economic dynamics, technological modernisation, demographic change, and educational restructuring in the context of euro area membership
Source of financing: Competition for financial support of basic research projects – 2023, National Science Fund, Ministry of Education and Science
Period: 2023-2026
Participating organizations: Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration – leading organization, Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – partner organization; University of Reading, United Kingdom – foreign academic partner
Sofia University participants: Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Zlatinov, PhD – project leader
Department of Economics – Prof. Vania Ivanova, PhD; Prof. Stefan Petranov, PhD; Assoc. Prof. Stela Raleva, PhD; Chief Asst. Prof. Ilia Atanasov, PhD; Chief Asst. Prof. Stoyan Shalamanov, PhD; Asst. Prof. Radostina Ivcheva, PhD Student; Nino Avreyski, PhD Student
Department of Statistics and Econometrics – Assoc. Prof. Andrey Vassilev, PhD; Assoc. Prof. Kaloyan Ganev, PhD; Assoc. Prof. Ralitsa Simeonova-Ganeva, PhD; Maya Todorova, Master's graduate
The aim of the project is to theoretically derive and empirically assess the medium- and long-run relationship between the expected changes in Bulgarian economic activity from euro area membership and the state of key labour market indicators, considering different scenarios of demographic development, the processes of digitalization of the economy, the adaptation of the education system and the resulting transformation of the green transition.
It is foreseen during its implementation:
- development of an integrated model of the labour market by modelling the channels of impact of Eurozone membership on the labour market;
- analysis of the economic sectors and activities in which positive and negative effects on the labour market are expected to the greatest extent upon joining the euro area;
- development of macroeconomic, social, educational, and demographic policies favouring the adaptation of the labour market to modern challenges;
- forecasts for the development of the labour market and forming conclusions about the situation on the labour market in Bulgaria in comparison with other member states of the Eurozone, considering national specificities;
- adaptation of the statistical methodology to the new realities of the labour market, including a review and analysis of the available methodologies for labour market processes investigation in the conditions of digital and green transition.
To promote cooperation between the partners, a joint research centre will be established between St. Kliment Ohridski and the Institute for Economic Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the field of innovative labour market policies in Bulgaria. Its activities will be focused on knowledge transfer and providing opportunities for discussion between young scholars from both institutions and the international partner - the University of Reading, United Kingdom.