We investigated the resilience of small-scale family farms because of the contemporary importance of both the farms’ resilience and the role of these farms in five countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The authors addressed a research gap concerning cross-sectional research on the resilience of farms by combining determinants from various fields. Thus, the primary goal of this article was to identify microeconomic and political factors and links to markets that affect the resilience of small-scale family farms in Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Serbia. Using a database of over 3500 farms, the resilience of the farms was calculated, and then the impact of selected factors on that resilience was determined. The research showed that the production scale was the key determinant of the resilience of farms. To achieve higher benefits, increasing the production should be combined with strengthening the market integration of agricultural producers. The position of the producer in the food supply chain determined the income situation of the farm (economic stability). This shaped the quality of life of the family members (social stability). Identifying the effects of those dependencies may provide recommendations for the policy of supporting small-scale family farms in the analysed countries.

Distribution of agricultural products from the aspect of farms is a continuous issue. Efficient application of the distribution model should provide a farm owner with regular income, as well as with a competitive advantage. Assessment of distribution channels in the context of an agricultural producer is subject to multi-criteria decisions, including both qualitative and quantitative factors. The aim of this paper is to develop a model which enables a structured analysis and an efficient assessment of distribution channels. The methodology based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) will be a useful tool in setting various criteria for deciding on distribution channels, as well as a tool for managing a multi-variant qualitative assessment of data included in decision-making processes. The survey results show that the most important distribution channel for agricultural products is the channel of sales via processing plants (cooling and drying facilities, silos and agricultural combines), compared to sales through advertising (which significantly increased its share with the COVID-19 pandemic), sales through sales channels or at farmers’ markets.

The trend towards foreign investments in Serbia has been in rapid progress in recent years. The biggest and most valuable numbers of investments are coming from Italy. The authors’ expectation is that the trend of Italian investments in future will continue; therefore it is of high importance for the representatives of both countries’ business sectors to under-stand and accept differences and similarities to the other country’s business culture. Research of cultural differences between two nations , which are considered like a frame of business culture, helps avoiding possible misunderstandings and improving business cooperation be-tween two countries. Having in mind students of economics and management, on one hand like future leaders of Italian and Serbian business and on other like representatives of the cur-rent education value system in the field of economics and management, this study consists of an application of the 7-D Hofstede Model. The application of the model takes place through the administration of two surveys done by students of Serbian Megatrend University, in Bel-grade, and Italian Università degli Studi Gabriele d’Annunzio, in Pescara

Agriculture is a pillar of Serbia's economic development. Consequently, this paper provides an overview and analysis of the status of farms in Serbia, with a special focus on finding factors influencing the sustainable development of small-scale family farms. To facilitate simpler and more precise problem-solving and decision-making processes for improving the farms' operations, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model is used in this paper. This model is applied to the selection of key economic determinants for small farms' viability, illustrated through the results of the authors' own survey of 550 small farms in Serbia, which refers to the economic, social and environmental aspects of small farms' operation. By applying the criteria for selecting key economic indicators of a small farm, the multi-criteria assessment results can be utilised to inform more effective business and policy decisions directed at improving the operation of small-scale family farms. The survey results show that the best-ranked determinants for the viability of small farms in Serbia are first, the price of agricultural products, and next, wellstructured agricultural product distribution channels.

The authors provide an overview and the analysis of the situation of agricultural holdings in the Republic of Serbia and Romania, with special emphasis on the importance and role of small and family farms in creating economic and social sustainability. The paper analyses three thematic research areas -the roll and definition of small farms in the Republic of Serbia and Romania with their basic features the policy on agricultural, national and from foreign funds incentive measures, as well as statistical presentation of the state of agricultural holdings. The purpose of this study is to recognize how small and family farms are significant for the national economy and to compare the situation in the Republic of Serbia and Romania. Published papers and statistical data were used for the statistical review and comparative analysis of their advantages, potentials, and limitations of agricultural holdings in the Republic of Serbia and Romania.