Multiplier effect of factors influencing the inflation processes in Ukraine in 2014-2018

The study aims to identify the financial performance measures used as a proxy of the firm-level competitiveness dimensions of small and medium-sized enterprises and their competitiveness. By investigating the factors that affect competitiveness in general, those areas will be introduced, related to an identified competitiveness dimension. Financial and non-financial performance indicators will assess these areas. The paper considers competitiveness as an outcome variable, suggests a relationship between financial performance and the identified areas, and searches for the financial performance measures drivers.
A panel data model was tested on Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and US SMEs. The collected data cover the period between 2013 and 2017. As a result of the applied panel regression, those variables were successfully identified that drive and could predict financial performance measures related to competitiveness. The research found a significant difference between the two-sample dataset results, which differences can be connected to country, industry, and, in general, to economic development characteristics.
The results provide decision-making support and hint about the managerial tools and techniques aiming to control the firm characteristics, performance, and, eventually, firm-level competitiveness. Based on the results, further research can be dedicated to the development characteristics of firm-level competitiveness and the analysis of the relationship between the competitiveness dimensions and competitiveness itself.

Acknowledgment
The research was financed by the Higher Education Institutional Excellence Programme of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary, within the framework of the 4th thematic programme „Enhancing the Role of Domestic Companies in the Reindustrialization of Hungary” of the University of Pécs.

Non-state pension funds play an important role in the development of the economy. The development of the system of non-state pension provision, which includes non-state pension funds, complies with the main aspects of the Ukraine – 2020 Sustainable Development Strategy. The importance of selecting investment areas for non-state pension funds results in the need to further explore and find ways to improve the investment process. The purpose of the article is to develop theoretical and methodological aspects of investing assets of non-state pension funds in bonds. The study object is the investment activity of non-state pension funds. The following methods are used: vertical and horizontal analysis, SWOT analysis, regression analysis, graphical and tabular methods. It is determined that effective investment of non-state pension funds’ assets provides an increase in the value of assets, which in turn enables participants of non-state pension funds to enhance the quality of life. Involving non-state pension funds in the stock market and their interaction with other entities in this market are illustrated by the investment in bonds example. The market of bonds in Ukraine for 2013-2017 has been analyzed and the tendency towards development has been determined. The possibilities and threats of investment of non-state pension funds’ assets in bonds are substantiated. The approach to determining the impact of factors on the government bond yields, in particular, bonds of domestic state loans and bonds of enterprises has been further developed. This approach, unlike the existing ones, provides for the use of regression analysis and takes into account changes in the environment according to factors (consumer price index and household income for government bonds, the number of enterprises and the discount rate of the National Bank of Ukraine for bonds of enterprises). That is of practical importance and will make it possible to improve the investment strategy of non-state pension fund assets in bonds.

Financial sustainability is one of the most important characteristics of an enterprise's financial position. It determines the level of the company independence from external entities and sources of financing, and, in turn, is conditioned by a set of multifaceted factors. In the case of negative influence of the external environment, engineering enterprises require research and selection of factors of influence on financial sustainability, which are formed in the internal environment of their functioning. The content analysis of definitions of the "financial stability of an enterprise" concept is carried out. Given the analysis results, the key informative characteristics of the enterprises are emphasized, such as state and structure of financial resources, solvency and profitability of the enterprise. In the context of selected areas and based on comparative analysis of literature sources and methods recommended at the state level for assessing the enterprise financial status, the study has formed a list of coefficients, the calculation and analysis of which is appropriate in evaluating assessment of financial enterprises. Using regression analysis, the study has revealed factors that most significantly influence the level of financial sustainability of engineering enterprises. It is established that the level of financial stability of the mechanical engineering industry enterprises in Kharkiv region is mainly influenced by the level of security of current liabilities of enterprises with financial current assets, the ability of enterprise assets to generate net profit and the share of equity in the financing sources structure. Therefore, to ensure the financial sustainability of engineering companies, management should take measures to ensure that they have a sufficient level of financial assets to cover their current liabilities and to optimize financial results in the context of increased net profit.