The Economic and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Romania in a European Context

This volume examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market and the business environment in the European Union (EU), with a specific focus on Romania, the least developed country in the EU. The book emphasizes the need to rethink recovery models and suggests a new normal based on the pillars of economic, climatic, and social resilience. Is proposed the redefinition the policies’ mix that will allow fundamental changes in development, focused also on social and societal profit, the redefinition of productivity and environmental performance of businesses, and the rebalancing of work and leisure life.

The COVID-19 crisis not only accelerated the digital transformation of society but also reconfigured the coordinates of economic development by prioritizing sustainable development for all, based on green jobs as a starting point for business innovation and decent jobs for active social protection. Following this approach, the contributions discuss selected issues with importance to the development of society in the post-pandemic world.

The book is of interest to students, scholars and researchers in economics, business, management and political science, as well as to policy makers and practitioners, for a better understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market and the business environment in European Union.

Chapter 1. Preliminary Comments. A Scientometric Dimension of the Economic and Social Impact of Covid-19.- Chapter 2. Another Crisis, Different Responses? – Determinants of Crisis and Mixt Impact on Economic Development. A Comparative Approach of the Eu Countries.- Chapter 3. Digital Transformation. Challenges and Limits for the New Normal.- Chapter 4. Thinking Beyond Covid-19: What’s Next for Romanian SMES?.- Chapter 5. Distortions and Gains in the Foreign Trade Activity During the Post-pandemic Era.- Chapter 6. Tax Burden During the Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Challenges.- Chapter 7. The (Post)pandemic Employment Model.- Chapter 8. The Impact of the Pandemic on the Participation in the Labour Market of Vulnerable Groups: Women, Young People, the Elderly, Self-employed Workers.- Chapter 9. Propensity for Migration of Healthcare Professionals: Push-pull Factors Analysis.- Chapter 10. Features of the Policies Adopted for the Mitigation of the Pandemic Recession Impact on the LabourMarket Operation.- Chapter 11. The Impact of Covid-19 on the Healthcare Labour Market in European Countries and Romania in Particular.- Chapter 12. Issues Regarding the Management of Hazardous Medical Waste During the Covid-19 Crisis in Romania.- Chapter 13. Conclusions – Looking Forward - Main Challenges and Limits.

Valentina Vasile is the Director of the Institute of National Economy, Romanian Academy, Bucharest (Romania), full professor of economics at Nicolae Titulescu University of Bucharest (Romania) and PhD adviser in economics. She participated in various national and international interdisciplinary research projects, with a main focus on labor economics, migration, human capital, digital economy and employment, social policies, education, macroeconomics, sustainable development, resilience, and circular economy.

Elena Bunduchi is a Lecturer at the Center for Economic Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures (Romania), and at the Institute of National Economy, Romanian Academy, Bucharest (Romania). She holds a PhD in Economics from Romanian Academy. Her research focuses on foreign direct investment, macroeconomics, migration, fiscal policy and taxation, and financial management.