EPOC

Submit now to: Special Issue “Energy and Environmental Economics: Modelling Pathways for Green Transition and Sustainable Development”

Keywords
energy–environment nexus
energy transition
sustainable development
green economic transition
ESG integration
environmental performance
environmental externalities
climate–energy regulation
sustainable energy systems
green growth

✅Prof. Dr. Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea
✅Dr. Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran
✅Prof. Dr. Georgiana-Raluca Lădaru
Guest Editors

Call for Papers – Special Issue Invitation

We invite researchers and scholars to submit their work to the Special Issue of Sustainability (MDPI):

“Energy and Environmental Economics: Modelling Pathways for Green Transition and Sustainable Development”

This Special Issue welcomes innovative modelling and economic research supporting the green transition, climate policies, renewable energy development, and sustainable growth.

📌 Submission is open now.
More details and guidelines:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/0NNYF3W4V9

We look forward to your contributions!

➡️Prof. Dr. Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea
➡️Dr. Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran
➡️Prof. Dr. Georgiana-Raluca Lădaru
Guest Editors

Energy and Environmental Economics: Modelling Pathways for Green Transition and Sustainable Development Special Issue in journal Sustainability: Energy and Environmental Economics: Modelling Pathways for Green Transition and Sustainable Development

Dear colleagues,

You are warmly invited to submit your research to the Sustainability (MDPI) Special Issue. We welcome high-quality, original contributions and would be delighted to receive your work.

Please feel free to share this call with interested colleagues.

We look forward to your contributions and to fruitful academic exchanges.

Guest Editors
👩🏻‍🏫Prof. Dr. Oana-Ramona Lobont
Finance, Business Information Systems and Modelling Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timisoara, Romania
👩🏼‍🏫Prof. Dr. Ana-Cristina Nicolescu
Finance, Business Information Systems and Modelling Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania

Digitalisation, Governance, and Innovation for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Societies Special Issue in journal Sustainability: Digitalisation, Governance, and Innovation for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Societies

⭕️Publication opportunity:
📕*Special Issue: Digitalisation, Governance, and Innovation for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Societies*

Guest Editors
✅Prof. Dr. Oana-Ramona Lobont
✅Prof. Dr. Ana-Cristina Nicolescu

Keywords:
digitalisation governance
quality innovation capacity
sustainable development
economic growth
climate and societal resilience

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/927U6BP352

𝟐𝟎𝟐5 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔📚

ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀʀᴋᴇᴛꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴜᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ? ᴜɴᴠᴇɪʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴇᴄᴏɴᴏᴍʏ’ꜱ ɪɴꜰʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏɴ ᴇᴄᴏɴᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ

📋Abstract:
This paper examines the changes in the level of informal and shadow economy, mapping their evolution within the EU and measuring their implications on economic growth. The study also addresses the issue of conceptual differences in the methodology for measuring these phenomena. We used a two-dimensional methodological approach, combining theoretical and empirical analysis. Initially, the bibliometric analysis—conducted exclusively on the Web of Science Core Collection to ensure methodological rigour, international comparability, and high-quality, standardised data—reveals the evolution of the subject and the inconsistencies in the conceptualisation and measurement of phenomena associated with the shadow economy. Subsequently, the normative analysis highlighted the most relevant norms, directives, and projects developed and applied at the European Union level to prevent and combat tax evasion activities. Finally, the empirical dimension of this study was conducted through structural equation modelling and fixed and random effects regressions, using data from the EU 27 member states for the period 2000–2022. Our results reveal a potential relationship between the level of scientific research and the prevalence of the shadow economy within EU countries and indicate a negative effect of the informal economy on economic growth, as undeclared work produces goods and services that are consumed in the informal economy and hinders economic growth. Since the level of the shadow economy has not decreased proportionally with the increase in the GDP per capita, we conclude that the efforts to combat the shadow economy are insufficient, and tax administration needs to be more drastic and efficient.

Lobonț, O., Crăciun, A., Vătavu, S., Nicolescu, A., & Cristescu, M. P. (2025). Dark Markets for Bright Futures? Unveiling the shadow economy’s influence on economic development. Systems, 13(12), 1115. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13121115

🗒️ Workshop 11 - Unpacking Environmental Governance Architecture: A Dual Scientometric Examination of Sustainability, Board Characteristics, and Financial Performance under Climate Change Risk

Invited: Prof. Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea, PhD (Senior Researcher (EPOC Project)
Speakers:
👩🏻‍🏫Lecturer Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran, PhD, Assistant Manager (EPOC Project)
👩🏻‍🏫Master Student Mihaela Diaconu

📊At the prestigious International Conference on Applied Business and Economics (ICABE 2025), held between November 3–5, 2025, in Kuwait City, Kuwait, the paper entitled “Toward Better Governance: Investigating the Financial Impact of Board Characteristics in European Union Firms Using SEM and Data Mapping”, authored by Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran, Grațiela-Georgiana Noja, and Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea (West University of Timișoara, Romania), Simona-Mirela Cristea (University of Craiova, Romania), and Tomasz Dorożyński (University of Łódź, Poland), was professionally presented by Prof. Grațiela-Georgiana Noja, PhD.

🌏This was a notable academic moment, showcasing interdisciplinary research and international collaboration.

👏🏻Congratulations to our team for representing UVT with excellence at this prestigious international conference!

Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara EPOC

The International Conference on Applied Business and Economics (ICABE 2025) takes place in Kuwait City, Kuwait from November 3rd to 5th 2025

🪧 #487 “Toward Better Governance: Investigating the Financial Impact of Board
Characteristics in European Union Firms Using SEM and Data Mapping”
🏷️Alexandra-Mădălina Țăran (West University of Timisoara, Romania) alexandra.taran@e-
uvt.ro;
🏷️Grațiela-Georgiana Noja (West University of Timisoara, Romania) [email protected];
🏷️Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea (West University of Timisoara, Romania) [email protected];
🏷️Simona-Mirela Cristea (University of Craiova, Romania) [email protected];
🏷️Tomasz Dorożyński (University of Lodz, Poland) [email protected];

🪧 #548 “Amplifying Digitalisation's Impact: Mediation Pathways and Contextual Conditions
for EU Economic Development”
🏷️Cristina Criste, West University of Timisoara, Romania
🏷️Lobont Oana-Ramona, West University of Timisoara, Romania
🏷️Pele Mircea, West University of Timisoara, Romania
🏷️Moldovan Nicoleta – Claudia, West University of Timisoara, Romania

IX. International Applied Social Sciences Congress – (C-IASOS – 2025), which will take place between 13 – 15 October 2025 in the Sapienza University- Rome

📚25-035- Sorana Vatavu, Oana-Ramona Lobont, Nicoleta-Claudia Moldovan, Florin Costea - Sectoral Value Added and Environmental Governance in the European Union:
An Empirical Analysis of Pollution Intensity

📚25-042- Gratiela Georgiana Noja, Ana-Cristina Nicolescu, Alexandra-Mädälina Täran, Alina lonascu, Eleftherios Thalassinos -Environmental Responsibility and Profitability: The Double-Edged Impact of ESG in European Energy Firms

📚25-038-Alexandra-Madälina Täran, Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea, Mihaela Diaconu- Linking Financial Incentives to Firm Performance in the Context of Sustainable Development: European Insights

📚25-046-Gratiela Georgiana Noja, Alina lonascu, Alexandra-Mădalina Täran, Tomasz Dorozynski, Andrea Imprria- Navigating the Green Paradox of Al: A Cluster-Based Analysis of Environmental and Technological Disparities in the European Union

📚25-034-Lobont Oana-Ramona, Barbulescu Mariana-Alexandra, Criste Cristina, Ran Tao, Mihit Lavinia Daniela - Taxing Pollution, Funding Transition: EU Environmental Tax Revenues and Emissions Policy

📚25-125- Criste Cristina, Lobont Oana-Ramona, Pele Mircea, lonascu Alina - The Digital Transformation of the European Labour Market: Assessing the Opportunities and Challenges

ꜰᴏʀᴇꜱᴛ ɪɴᴠᴇꜱᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴄʜɪɴᴀ: ᴀɴ ᴇꜰꜰɪᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴄᴏɴᴏᴍɪᴄ ꜱᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛʏ?

🟢Abstract

Utilising the TVP-VAR-SV approach, this article aims to reveal the dynamically evolving relationships among forest investment (FI), climate uncertainty (CU) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU). The results indicate that FI benefits CU in the early stages, whereas this positive trend reverses over the medium and long terms. This observation suggests that the positive effects of forestry investment on climate security are delayed. FI consistently negatively influences EPU, highlighting the role of forestry investment in enhancing economic security. Notably, the impact of FI on EPU is more substantial than its impact on CU, primarily due to the more direct and correlated nature of investment in the economy. Conversely, CU has mixed effects on FI, showing climate insecurity can either boost or hinder forestry investment. EPU, however, hinders FI, implying economic insecurity blocks forestry investment. These findings suggest valuable suggestions to ensure China’s climate and economic security through forestry investments.

🔴 D**g, X., Wong, X., Qin, M. et al. Forest investment in China: an efficient way to climate and economic security?. Econ Change Restruct 58, 7 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10644-024-09853-0

𝒞𝒜𝐿𝐿 𝐹𝒪𝑅 𝐵𝒪𝒪𝒦 𝒞𝐻𝒜𝒫𝒯𝐸𝑅𝒮

🟢 ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ꜰɪɴᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄʟɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ

🔴ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴅᴀᴛᴇꜱ:
ᴀʙꜱᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ ꜱᴜʙᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴏɴ: 1ꜱᴛ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 2025
ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀʙꜱᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ: 30ᴛʜ ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 2025
ꜰᴜʟʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴜʙᴍɪꜱꜱɪᴏɴ: 15ᴛʜ ᴍᴀʏ 2025