https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/18 2026-08-14T08:59:56Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/5243 Measuring Smuggling Through the Gravity Equation and the Mimic Model: Evidence from the Republic of Moldova Butucea, Grigore Smuggling represents a critical, unobservable challenge for emerging economies, particularly the Republic of Moldova, hindering fiscal stability, market functionality, and progress toward European Union integration. While existing literature often relies on either statistical discrepancy or Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) models, this article introduces an original, integrated methodological approach to measure the phenomenon. The study combines the theoretically rigorous Structural Gravitational Equation (SGE) with the MIMIC model, applied for the first time to the Moldovan context over the period 2010–2024. The SGE first forecasts "expected" legitimate bilateral trade flows with 29 partners, generating statistically significant deviations (residuals) that capture unexplained trade (illicit activity). These residuals are then incorporated as a key endogenous indicator within the MIMIC framework, alongside structural causes such as weak governance capacity and significant excise duty differences. Smuggling is treated as a latent phenomenon shaped by institutional and fiscal determinants and reflected in observable indicators such as mirror trade gaps, excise differentials, seizures/fraud cases, and gravity-based anomalies. The gravity model is estimated with PPML-HDFE to obtain expected flows and anomalies; these, together with mirror gaps and excise differentials, enter a MIMIC system that recovers a standardized index of smuggling intensity. The findings confirm that low institutional quality and tax differentials significantly stimulate illicit flows, with excise differences being the most potent driver. Results indicate that governance improvements and excise alignment reduce illicit trade, while fiscal and labor market pressures increase it. Robustness checks confirm stability across indicator sets, lag structures, and sectoral gravity runs. The resulting synthetic index of smuggling magnitude provides a robust and consistent quantitative tool for policymakers, offering an empirical foundation to develop targeted, sustainable fiscal and anti-corruption measures necessary for stability, good governance, and international development goals. JEL: F17; UDC: 339.19:330.4(478) BUTUCEA, Grigore. Measuring Smuggling Through the Gravity Equation and the Mimic Model: Evidence from the Republic of Moldova. Online. Eastern European Journal of Regional Studies. 2026, June, vol. 12, issue 1, pp. 126-139. ISSN: 1857-436X; ISSN: 2537-6179. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.53486/2537-6179.12-1.08 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/5242 Research about Tourism Value Chain Impact in Religious Tourist Destinations from Lebanon Mănica, Casandra-Mariana; Hamdan, Mohammad Hussein This paper examines how tourism value-chain performance influences visitor satisfaction and behavioral intentions in religious tourism destinations in Lebanon. Grounded in value chain theory and studies on religious tourism supply chains, the research uses a structured questionnaire developed from the literature and administered to 208 adult respondents in Lebanon, including current and prospective visitors. Perceptions were measured through 23 Likert-type items covering transport infrastructure, accommodation quality, and local business services, while outcomes included overall satisfaction, intention to revisit, recommendation likelihood, and willingness to participate in religious events. The scale showed excellent internal consistency, although the very high alpha value should be interpreted cautiously because it may also indicate item redundancy. Results show strong positive associations between value-chain dimensions and all outcome variables. The regression model explains 87.9% of the variance in overall satisfaction, while chi-square tests indicate significant associations between prior visitation and revisit intention, as well as between perceived infrastructure and recommendation intentions. The findings suggest that strengthening religious tourism in Lebanon requires coordinated improvements in accessibility, culturally appropriate accommodation, and community-based local services. The study offers practical guidance for destination managers and policymakers working in complex and fragile tourism contexts. JEL: Z32, L83, L89; UDC: 338.48(569.3) MĂNICA, Casandra-Mariana and Mohammad Hussein HAMDAN. Research about Tourism Value Chain Impact in Religious Tourist Destinations from Lebanon. Online. Eastern European Journal of Regional Studies. 2026, June, vol. 12, issue 1, pp. 106-125. ISSN: 1857-436X; ISSN: 2537-6179. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.53486/2537-6179.12-1.07 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/5241 Mathematical Model for Assessing Cybersecurity Level in Critical Civilian Information Infrastructures: Healthcare, Energy and Education Timercan, Fiodor This paper develops and clarifies a mathematical model for assessing the cybersecurity level of critical civilian information infrastructures in healthcare, energy and education. The objective is to provide a transparent and reproducible composite index that can support institutional diagnosis, cross-sector comparison and regional policy prioritization. The model integrates three normalized dimensions: threat exposure, control effectiveness and operational resilience. Threat exposure is estimated from likelihood and impact indicators and transformed through a bounded calibration function; control effectiveness is derived from implementation and validated operational performance of security controls; and resilience is calculated from recovery and response indicators. The final cybersecurity score is expressed within the interval [0,1] through an explicit weighted aggregation formula. The article also explains the normalization logic, calibration parameter, sector-specific weighting and reproducibility conditions of the model. Because access to institutional cybersecurity datasets is limited, the application presented in this paper is illustrative and hypothetical rather than empirical. To address this limitation, the paper provides complete input tables, intermediate calculations and a sensitivity analysis showing how the final score changes under alternative weighting scenarios. The proposed framework contributes an integrated evaluation logic that links cybersecurity risk assessment, security control maturity and operational continuity into a single policy-oriented metric. JEL: O3; UDC: [004.056.5:330.4]:[338.49:351.84] TIMERCAN, Fiodor. Mathematical Model for Assessing Cybersecurity Level in Critical Civilian Information Infrastructures: Healthcare, Energy and Education. Online. Eastern European Journal of Regional Studies. 2026, June, vol. 12, issue 1, pp. 95-105. ISSN: 1857-436X; ISSN: 2537-6179. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.53486/2537-6179.12-1.06 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/5240 Economic Growth and Labor Quality in Romania in the Light of the 2030 Agenda - A Comparative Insight with the Republic of Moldova Stoica, Irina-Elena; Nicula, Elena-Violeta; Drăgan, Nicoleta-Ștefania; Pintilia, Liliana; Pârțachi, Ion This paper analyzes the relationship between economic growth and labor market dynamics in Romania, within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8). The aim is to empirically assess how GDP evolution influences the main labor market indicators: employment rate, total and youth unemployment, real average wage and labor productivity. The analysis uses annual data for the period 1996-2025 and combines descriptive methods with linear regression. The results highlight a positive relationship between economic growth and labor productivity, as well as a moderate correlation with employment. However, GDP only partially explains labor market developments, which are also shaped by structural factors such as human capital and institutional rigidities. The persistence of youth unemployment and the gap between wages and productivity reveal the limits of translating economic growth into decent work. Economic growth is necessary, but not sufficient for achieving SDG 8. JEL: E24; O47; J21; C22; UDC: [330.35+330.55+331.5]”2030”(478+498) STOICA, Irina-Elena; Elena-Violeta NICULA; Nicoleta-Ștefania DRĂGAN; Liliana PINTILIA and Ion PÂRȚACHI. Economic Growth and Labor Quality in Romania in the Light of the 2030 Agenda - A Comparative Insight with the Republic of Moldova. Online. Eastern European Journal of Regional Studies. 2026, June, vol. 12, issue 1, pp. 75-94. ISSN: 1857-436X; ISSN: 2537-6179. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.53486/2537-6179.12-1.05 2026-06-01T00:00:00Z