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EJPAR - Issue 6


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​T​itle
FROM GOVERNANCE TO GROWTH: INSTITUTIONAL AND MARKET DRIVERS OF GDP PER CAPITA IN ROMANIA (1998–2023)

DOI DOI: 10.47743/ejpar.2026-6-1 
Author Marian-Marius Alexe
Abstract
This study analyses the relationship between the quality of public administration and economic growth in Romania, between 1998 and 2023. The question it seeks to answer is whether state institutions in Romania have reformed under internal or external pressures? The indicator used to measure economic performance is GDP per capita correlated with other indicators that measure real convergence such as governance, quality human development, financial market development, foreign direct investment and fiscal capacity. To capture the structural changes, the period under review is divided into four subintervals, reflecting structural and economic changes and external pressures: 1998-2006 (pre-EU accession period), 2007-2015 (global financial crisis), 2015-2019 (recovery period) and 2020-2023 (COVID 19). The results confirm that public institutions in Romania improved when only there were external pressures to make administrative reforms: required to join EU (1998-2006), required by International Monetary Fund (2007-2015), required to access EU pandemic recovery funds (2020-2023). In the absence of these pressures, the quality of institutions decreased (2015-2019). These results confirm the Public Choice theory and crisis triggered reform (Rodrik, 2007), reflecting the importance of conditionality and external anchoring in governance transformation.
Keywords
institutional reform; public administration; external conditionality; governance indicators; Romania.​
JEL Codes H83; D7; L1; Z18

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​Title
DOIDOI: 10.47743/ejpar.2026-6-2
AuthorMihaela-Otilia Aroșoaie
AbstractThe Romanian state established the institution of the prefect, who, among other responsibilities, monitors the organization and ensures the proper functioning of local public administration within the limits set and imposed by the legislator. The legal representative of the institution is the prefect, constitutionally entrusted with verifying the legality of local administrative acts. Through legality control, the prefect can identify potential abuses of power by local public authorities in exercising administrative rights and competences. The preventive role of the prefect contributes to strengthening the rule of law and the constitutional order. The local administrative act, as an instrument for the functioning of local administration, must be certified by the prefect as being legal, which implies conformity with the higher regulatory framework and the elimination of any abuse of rights by local public authorities. In this context of the legality of the local administrative act, local autonomy coherently integrates into the activity of local public administration authorities. The correct exercise of local autonomy underpins the appropriateness of initiating local administrative acts.
Keywordsprefect; legality, appropriateness; local autonomy; local administrative act.
JEL CodesH83; K10​

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​Title
ADMINISTRATIVE RESILIENCE IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: FROM DIGITALIZATION TO ALGORITHMIC GOVERNANCE 
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DOIDOI: 10.47743/ejpar.2026-6-3
AuthorSebastian Avăcăriței, Ana-Maria Bercu
AbstractAdministrative resilience is undergoing structural transformation under the accelerated integration of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration. This paper examines how the convergence between digital infrastructure and algorithmic governance influences the capacity of public institutions to maintain legally justified and resilient administrative decision-making. The central research question asks to what 
extent the current normative, governance, and technical frameworks ensure the legal defensibility and operational continuity of administrative decisions in the context of AI deployment. Methodologically, the study applies a mixed doctrinal and analytical approach combining legislative and policy analysis with an evaluation framework based on resilience indicators (prevention, absorption, and recovery capacities), ilustrated through selected institutional case studies. The results indicate that Romania has made significant progress in building infrastructural resilience through the government cloud and interoperability systems. However, gaps persist in the institutionalization of algorithmic governance mechanisms, particularly independent audits, standardized impact assessments, and access to technical documentation. The paper concludes that administrative resilience in the AI era depends not only on digital infrastructure but on the systematic integration of accountability, transparency, and audit mechanisms into public governance. These findings support the development of standardized procedures and governance tools to strengthen the legal and operational resilience of public administration in the context of algorithmic decision-making.
Keywordsadministrative resilience; algorithmic governance; artificial intelligence; public administration.
JEL CodesK23; H83; O33; D83.​

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​Title
DOIDOI: 10.47743/ejpar.2026-6-4
AuthorNadiia Davydenko, Irina Teodora Manolescu, Zoia Titenko, Natalia Mocanu
Abstract
The article examines the relationship between levels of financial and digital literacy and the financial behaviour of Ukrainian households in the context of contemporary economic challenges. The authors highlight the growth in the financial literacy index (from 11.6 points in 2018 to 12.3 points in 2021), which puts Ukraine on a par with Central and Eastern European countries. At the same time, it has been established that access to the Internet has a significant impact on economic well-being: households with Internet access have higher incomes, and the correlation coefficient between these parameters is more than 0.96, which indicates a strong direct relationship. The article reveals the concept of digital financial literacy as an integrated competence that includes the ability to search for, process and apply information about financial products, use modern financial technologies and adequately assess digital risks. Key competencies (such as cybersecurity, information processing, and innovative use of 
fintech) confirmed by international and domestic research are highlighted. Based on statistical data analysis, the authors show that improving households' digital and financial literacy promotes informed decision-making, reduces financial vulnerability and improves quality of life. A systematic set of recommendations is developed: from self-education through digital services to integrated educational programmes covering different age and social categories. The article will be useful for researchers of economic behaviour, policymakers, representatives of financial institutions and educational institutions.​
Keywordsdigital literacy; financial behaviour; financial inclusion; financial decisions; households
JEL CodesD14; G53.

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​Title
DOIDOI: 10.47743/ejpar.2026-6-5
AuthorMichal Noach
Abstract
Background: Nurses around the world frequently find themselves at the front in times of emergency. During periods of crisis, they play an essential role both in leading and in problem solutions. Throughout the 7th of October war, Israeli nurse Administrator have been coping with challenges that involve the administration of nurse teams in a national emergency crisis. 
Aim: to present the findings of a study designed to identify the challenges involved in administration of nurse teams in war. Furthermore, it investigates whether support resources received at home, at work, and from colleagues and superiors affect their coping with decision-making.
Methods: The study is conducted according to qualitative research paradigm, whereby data are collected from semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of nurse administrators. 
Results: The qualitative analysis yields give major topics: administration outlook of nurse administrators; challenges of nurse administrators during war; the support resources available to nurse Administrators at work and at home; and nurses’ relationships with their direct superior.
Conclusion: Nurse Administrator experience meaningful challenges in wartime that can affect their personal and organizational resilience.
Keywordscrisis; hospital nurse teams’ administration; decision-making in time of crisis; resilience of nursing teams; Swords of Iron war.
JEL CodesM54; I10

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​Title
DOIDOI: 10.47743/ejpar.2026-6-6
AuthorZeala Pinto​
AbstractWomen enter the Israeli high-tech pipeline in substantial numbers yet remain sharply underrepresented in senior technical and leadership roles, holding fewer than 12% of chief technology officer positions in the sector's high-growth domains (Israel Innovation Authority, 2025). This paper examines the Performance-Recognition Gap, defined as the systematic tendency for women's professional contributions to receive less credibility, 
visibility, and reward than equivalent work by male colleagues. Drawing on Heilman's (2001) lack-of-fit model, Castilla and Benard's (2010) meritocracy parad​ox, and the double bind framework (Eagly and Karau, 2002; Rudman and Glick, 2001), the study draws on qualitative findings from exploratory interviews that informed an adapted survey-based operationalization tested among 220 women in Israeli high-tech. The Performance-Recognition Gap construct, adapted from the Gender Bias Scale for Women Leaders (Diehl et al., 2020), showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.866) and is interpreted through three related facets: the Credibility Tax, Transparent Effort, and the Broken Scale. Rather than treating recognition asymmetry as a single undifferentiated experience, the paper approaches it as an evaluative mechanism and examines its internal structure. Quantitative findings provide triangulating support: the construct is associated with lower relative career advancement, lower advancement expectancy, and higher exit intention. This article presents an initial adapted operationalization rather than a full psychometric validation.
KeywordsPerformance-Recognition Gap; gendered evaluation; Israeli high-tech; meritocracy paradox; double bind.
JEL CodesJ16; J24; J71; M12; O33​

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