Aleksandar Georgiev
Class of 2025Sofia, Sofia City
About
Hi! My name is Aleksandar and my Polygence project is a research paper titled "Estimating Bulgaria's 2023 Bright Economy Composite Index: Insights Into the Size of Hidden Economy". I chose this topic because I am passionate to learn about compelling concepts that are not often talked about, and I am also looking into pursuing my education in the sphere of Economics and Finance. My desired outcome for this project is to utilize my eagerness to learn new information with my mentor's expertise so that I eventually achieve a paper that showcases the best of my abilities!Projects
- Estimating Bulgaria’s 2023 Bright Economy Composite Index: Insights Into the Size of Hidden Economy with mentor Prerna (Aug. 27, 2024)
Aleksandar's Symposium Presentation
Project Portfolio
Estimating Bulgaria’s 2023 Bright Economy Composite Index: Insights Into the Size of Hidden Economy
Started May 31, 2024
Abstract or project description
This study estimates Bulgaria’s Bright Economy Composite Index (BECI) value, a crucial tool for assessing the country’s transparency and formalization of economic activities. By analyzing both the statistical and sociological indicators that BECI comprises, the paper examines the trends in Bulgaria’s bright economy and infers about the scope and size of the country’s hidden economy. This research paper employs four methods of statistical estimation in order to predict BECI for 2023 based on past data and trends, as well as multiple scenarios that could have caused the composite index to deviate from its natural progression. By utilizing different variations and extracts from the complete dataset to ensure robustness and accuracy, this study forecasts that the estimated BECI 2023 value will be in the 78.19-80.50 range, implying the hidden economy accounts for about 20% of economic activity. The paper’s findings suggest that while Bulgaria has made progress in brightening its economy, significant challenges remain, particularly in sectors prone to informal activities, highlighting the need for continued governmental efforts to reduce the hidden economy through targeted policies and increased transparency. The paper concludes by outlining potential avenues for future research, such as expanding the application of BECI to other sectors, exploring cross-country comparisons, and examining the impact of digital transformation on the hidden economy.