Dear readers,
we are bringing to you a new issue of ACTA VŠFS journal. Before we go through the articles that it contains, I would like to get you informed with two changes whose target is to improve the impact and quality of the journal. First, to streamline the publishing process and ensure the widespread availability of the journal, we publish it since this issue in the electronic form only. The new issues will always be available at the journal’s website. Additionally, if you want to be notified about the new issues of ACTA VSFS, please fill in the website form with your e-mail, name and/or institution. You will receive a verifying e-mail and when you complete the verification, you will be present on our mailing list. If you decide in the future to unsubscribe, just send the request to the journal’s e-mail.
Second, we changed the format of the articles’ abstract to a structured one, with compulsory and voluntary part for higher author’s flexibility. While it can be a bit more demanding for the authors, we believe this is going to improve the quality and understandability of the abstracts.
This issue contains four research articles.
The first one, “Enhancing corporate performance through debt financing: evidence from Nigerian consumer goods firms” came to the editorial desk from far away Africa. The article examined enhancement of corporate performance of Nigerian Consumer Goods Firms through debt financing for a period of eleven years from 2011 to 2022. Based on the findings, this research concluded that long-term debt and firms’ size enhance the Nigerian consumer goods firms’ performance while short-term debt and loan quality do not enhance Nigerian consumer goods firms’ performance. Thus, long-term debt financing, if needed, is recommended.
The second article, “Financial crisis management from the perspective of national MPs: A qualitative assessment” was written by the German author. Financial crises have characterized economic history since the Roman Empire. Despite intensive political debate and extensive scientific research, parliaments in their role as legislators have failed to develop effective protection mechanism The paper aims to provide insights into how financial politicians use their individual knowledge in policymaking and how knowledge management tools can help achieve financial market stability. The results show that while the majority have the skills and understanding, the topic itself is underrepresented in everyday parliamentary life. The article concludes with a discussion of the need to introduce knowledge management systems in the parliamentary context.
The third article was written by a German author, too and its title is “User cost of housing analysis of the German real estate market” . It looks at the development of the German real estate landscape, which recorded a continuous rise in prices between 2009 and 2022. The owner-occupier costs are determined using the user cost of housing approach and compared with the current rental prices in the respective cities and districts. Various factors are considered, including the purchase price, financing costs, maintenance and rental prices. The results of the analysis show that home ownership still offers a considerable cost advantage on average across Germany: In mid-2023, it is around 57% cheaper per square meter to invest than to rent.
The fourth article by Teymur Akhundov, “Factors influencing customers’ bank selection decision in Azerbaijan” is focused on the situation at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. The findings reveal that speed and quality of service, proven and strong shareholders, innovativeness and variety of services (credit cards), ATM network and accessibility, respect and friendliness staff, brand name at the market, and low interest rate on loans are the most important influencing factors for customers during the bank selection decision. The study could be used by banks and as the starting point for the next similar studies in the country.
As you see, the topics tackled by the articles in this issue are interesting and worth to explore and get acquainted with. In the dynamic landscape of contemporary scholarship, our journal remains a beacon of insightful discourse and rigorous analysis. Each issue is meticulously curated to bring forth groundbreaking research and diverse perspectives that push the boundaries of knowledge. We are dedicated to fostering a rich intellectual environment where ideas flourish and contribute to meaningful advancements in economics. As you delve into this issue, we invite you to engage with the abovementioned articles that reflect our commitment to excellence and our passion for discovery.
Thank you for being an integral part of our academic community, and we look forward to continuing this intellectual journey together. I wish you a pleasant reading and a nice, restful summer.
Doc. Ing. Jan Mertl, Ph.D.
Editor-in-chief of ACTA VŠFS