This conference proceedings volume examines key issues in international economics and the geopolitical landscape, assessing medium- and short-term developments and the structural reforms they demand. Featuring selected contributions presented at the 2024 Economic Scientific Research - Theoretical, Empirical and Practical Approaches (ESPERA) International Conference, this book analyzes the transformational forces reshaping national economies and evaluates policy tools suited to diverse regional contexts. Addressing both theoretical and applied dimensions of global economic change, this book explores themes such as cross-country implications, shifting industrial policies linked to renewable manufacturing, educational performance, public-debt pressures, fiscal-market tail risks, and the need for stronger multilateral coordination, among others. Bringing together quantitative and qualitative research, this volume is beneficial to researchers, scholars, academics, students, professionals, and decision-makers interested in the developments in the new world economy.

Luminita Chivu is Managing Director and Senior Researcher at the National Institute for Economic Research “Costin C. Kiritescu” (INCE), Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania. Her research focuses on economics of agriculture, rural development, labor market, economic growth, European integration, economic restructuring, industrial relations and working conditions.

Valeriu Ioan-Franc is Deputy Director and Senior Researcher at the National Institute of Economic Research “Costin C. Kiritescu” (INCE), Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania. He is also Executive Director of the Romanian Center for Compared and Consensual Economy, Director of the Economic Information and Documentation Center, and President of the “Pierre Werner” Center of Studies and Documentation Romania-Luxembourg. He has published numerous scientific papers in marketing.

George Georgescu is Deputy Director and Senior Researcher at the National Institute of Economic Research “Costin C. Kiritescu” (INCE), Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania. His also the Head of the Centre for Economic Information and Documentation Romania and Editor-in-chief of NIER publications. He has an extensive experience in various areas of economic research, including macroeconomic and financial balances, labor market, industrial restructuring, FDI, internationalization of companies).

Ignacio De Los Ríos Carmenado is Full Professor for Engineering Projects at the School of Agricultural, Food and Biosystems Engineering and Director of GESPLAN Research Group at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain. His research focuses on project management, urban/rural development, teaching methods, and behavioral competences.

Jean-Vasile Andrei is Full Professor at Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Department of Business Administration, scientific coordinator of the Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency within the National Institute for Economic Research "Costin C. Kiriţescu", Romanian Academy and Ph.D. mentor in economics at Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania. He is co-founder and scientific coordinator of the Research Network on Resources Economics and Bioeconomy (RebResNet).