This book presents economic research on global paradigm shifts after the COVID-19 crisis. It explores some expected deep and long-lasting changes that are building up a “new normal”. Featuring select contributions presented at the 2021 International Conference of Economic Scientific Research - Theoretical, Empirical and Practical Approaches (ESPERA), this book explores topics such as digitalization and digital sovereignty, workforce management, virtual training, digital currency, de-carbonization in production processes, supply chains, cybersecurity, automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things and blockchain technologies.

ESPERA was initiated in 2013 by the National Institute for Economic Research "Costin C. Kiritescu", Romanian Academy. The aim of the International conference is to present and evaluate the economic scientific research portfolio, to argue and substantiate development strategies, including European and global best practices. ESPERA intend to become a scientific support for conceptualisation and establishment of policies and strategies and to provide a systematic, wide and challenging dialogue within the European area of economic and social research. The 2018 edition of the Conference took place under the title "The Romanian Economy. A Century of Transformation (1918-2018)", as part of the Romanian Academy anniversary events celebrating the "100th anniversary of the Great Union of Romania".

The volumes are dedicated to the 30th anniversary of "Costin C. Kiritescu" National Institute for Economic Research and its research network of the return under the aegis of the Romanian Academy. The NIER's network of incorporated research institutes and centers under its scientific coordination include the Institute of National Economy, the Institute of Economic Forecasting, the Institute of Agricultural Economics, the Research Institute for Quality of Life, the Institute of World Economy, the Centre of Industry and Services Economics, the Centre for Financial and Monetary Research, the Centre for Studies and Research on Agricultural and Forest Biodiversity and the Centre for Economic Information and Documentation. Also, under NIER's umbrella six unincorporated research entities are set up: the Centre for Complex Research, the Romanian Centre for Comparative Economics and Consensus, the Centre for Macroeconomic Modelling, the Centre for Demographic Research, the Centre form Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and the Centre for Mountain Economics.

The volumes are dedicated to the 30th anniversary of "Costin C. Kiritescu" National Institute for Economic Research and its research network of the return under the aegis of the Romanian Academy. The NIER's network of incorporated research institutes and centers under its scientific coordination include the Institute of National Economy, the Institute of Economic Forecasting, the Institute of Agricultural Economics, the Research Institute for Quality of Life, the Institute of World Economy, the Centre of Industry and Services Economics, the Centre for Financial and Monetary Research, the Centre for Studies and Research on Agricultural and Forest Biodiversity and the Centre for Economic Information and Documentation. Also, under NIER's umbrella six unincorporated research entities are set up: the Centre for Complex Research, the Romanian Centre for Comparative Economics and Consensus, the Centre for Macroeconomic Modelling, the Centre for Demographic Research, the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and the Centre for Mountain Economics.

The book contains researchers’ scientific opinions and ideas focused on Romanian Academy Strategy 2020. The authors consider economic structures, trends and possible responses to globalisation and European integration challenges.This volume is dedicated to the recently deceased research fellow professor Constantin Ciutacu who was one of the initiators of the ‹‹Economic Scientific Research – Theoretical, Empirical and Practical Approaches›› (ESPERA) conference and a personality of the Romanian economic research. ESPERA is initiated annually by the National Institute for Economic Research ‹‹Costin C. Kirițescu›› of the Romanian Academy. It aims to present and evaluate the economic scientific research portfolio and to argue and substantiate development strategies, including European and global best practices. ESPERA intend to become a scientific support for conceptualisation and the establishment of policies and strategies to provide a systematic, permanent, wide and challenging dialogue within the European area of economic and social research.

This book analyses the multidimensional condition of the Romanian industrial landscape, which played host to a multitude of demo-economic, financial, trade, and trans- and inter-sectoral development practices before the intense period of European deindustrialisation. The authors stress the need to recognise the economic importance of industry and renewed investment in infrastructure, tracing its impact on GDP, growth and labour productivity. With a focus on R&D, technological innovations and government funding, this volume highlights a strategy for the reindustrialisation, with consistent enablers, of Romania that can also be applied to other EU countries to ensure positive economic development in the context of new European and international policies. Awarded the prize for best book in Economics published in the academic year 2017-2018 by the Romanian Association of Economics Faculties (AFER).

ESPERA was initiated in 2013 by the National Institute for Economic Research "Costin C. Kiritescu", Romanian Academy. The aim of the International conference is to present and evaluate the economic scientific research portfolio, to argue and substantiate development strategies, including European and global best practices. ESPERA intend to become a scientific support for conceptualisation and establishment of policies and strategies and to provide a systematic, wide and challenging dialogue within the European area of economic and social research. The 2018 edition of the Conference took place under the title "The Romanian Economy. A Century of Transformation (1918-2018)", as part of the Romanian Academy anniversary events celebrating the "100th anniversary of the Great Union of Romania".