A particular path has to be followed in order to measure and monitor country wellbeing and progress, leading from concept to measure, to syntheses, to interpretation. In order to achieve the possibility to monitor a country consistently with the definition of progress and wellbeing, the following definitions are needed: (a) the concepts to be measured and monitored and their conceptual dimensions, (b) the ambits (domains) in which the concepts are observed and monitored, (c) the indicators to be developed and constructed (including their synthesis), (d) interpretative / explanatory models, which actually link obtained results to the previously defined concept. The widely accepted main concepts defining the progress of a country (or community) are wellbeing of individuals (quality of life), its fair distribution (equity) and sustainable promotion (sustainability). Each concept can be declined, observed and investigated through both objective and subjective aspects, which refer to and concern opinions, evaluations, feelings, perceptions, attitudes, desires, values, and motivations related to each individual life as a whole or in different specific contexts. Social policies and programmes need more and more data on subjective components in order to complement social, economic, and health factors, such as the degree to which a perceived need is being met and the importance of that ‘perceived need’ to one’s overall life. This work aims at clarifying some conceptual issues concerning subjective characteristic (such as subjective wellbeing) and unravelling some important methodological aspects and issues that should be considered in measuring subjective characteristics and creating subjective data and indicators.

The paper aims to present an expert report prepared by researchers from the Economic Research Institute and the Institute for Population and Human Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences focused on one of the key priorities of the actualized National Demographic Strategy (2012-2030). This strategic priority relates to the increase of fertility in the country by the means of creating socio-economic settings supporting childbearing and childrearing.The document includes proposals for state policy measures and interventions that are formulated on the basis of an overview presented in brief in three spheres of key importance for the demographic policy of the country: the infrastructure of nurseries and kindergartens; the family life – work balance and the social insurance policies related to maternity and parenthood.

The historical and regional economic determinants of the present migration are discussed, reasoning the movement from underdeveloped to higher developed places at domestic or regional level. The low economic level and quality of work and life are particularly analysed in Bulgaria being considered as a transit country by refugiests and legal emigrants. In this context the long years of international emigration of Bulgaria are considered, as well as the internal migration towards the towns having better living conditions and chance of job finding. The conclusion is that the regional economic inequality could be considered as a start of real demographic crises, if measures of improvement and better circumstances of getting jobs, social infrastructure and living standard are not involved.

This article’s focuses are the results of studies on internal and external migration’s evolution over the past two and a half decades in the country and on legal framework of migration policies at a national level. This research is aimed at the possibilities to make accurate assessment of trends in migration processes evolution nationally and their impacts on demographic reproduction and country’s development. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of the Demographic Strategy, which is the baseline instrument applicable to migration policy in Bulgaria, are also highlighted and this is the background for mapping out the major areas of focus in terms of how to modify or supplement the 2030 Demographic Strategy in force. Both internal and external migrations are analysed and these have proved to be instrumental for an assessment of their size, direction and significance for the population development in the context of contracted demographic reproduction. The study covers a period of 25 years so as to study the long-standing trends of processes evolution and their developments and this is the platform to be used for an assessment of the realism of the on-going policies. Moreover, post-1990 governments’ migration policies were completely liberalised. This potentiates making a comparison between the period covering the 1990s, when there was no governmental instrument tackling with migration policy’s aims and goals, on the one hand, and the period covering the last 10 years, i.e. when the Demographic Strategy was adopted and enforced. For the purposes of this study, official current statistical information on migration as published by NSI and Eurostat and data from the population censuses conducted over the reference period and population statistics was used.

The migration of population between countries and continents is one of the most pertinent issues for many countries, especially for the states in Europe and the European Union. In its predominant part, it is predetermined by continued military action in the countries in the Middle East and North Africa, but also by economic difficulties, lack of job opportunities and incomes, by political, religious and social security. This paper is dedicated to that new and massive in its scope migration flow and the situation in Bulgaria as one of directly affected countries. The article analyzes the trends, the size and the structure of that movement for various groups of persons as determined by their status (refugees, immigrants), and the relevant policies. The situation in Bulgaria is reviewed in the context of historical developments, the existing global, European and national policies and the development of Bulgaria – in terms of demography, economy and social aspects.

The National Strategy for Demographic Development of Bulgaria (2012-2030) is analyzed in terms of the new migration phenomenon faced by the country in recent years - the migration pressure. It proceeds from the fact that during the period when the strategy was worked out, such increased migration pressure did not exist and it is not taken into account. Considering the increase of continuous migration pressure, an update of the National Strategy for Demographic Development of the Republic of Bulgaria is necessary. The migration flows through Bulgaria and near-by are basically transit. Although it is possible for this situation to be changed as a consequence of the influenceof three main factors: the uncertain future of Dublin regulation agreement, the common border between Bulgaria and Turkey (which is a major gateway to Europe), and the internal fragmentation of the Schengen area since 2015. These evidences bring forth the important conclusion that the immigration processes in Bulgaria and in neighbor countries will not depend longer on the push and pull factors only, but on the changing of the common European immigration situation. Some specific policies and solutions have been suggested. They would allow Bulgaria to control and to manage the immigration process according to its national interests and to the needs of its economy.

Using analytical consulting approach, we studiedly discuss the ethnicity related policies and measures in Bulgaria’s Updated National Strategy for Demographic Development (2012-2030) and its 2015 Plan for Monitoring and Implementation. Special attention is paid to health and human capital issues. The major problems of health policies and medical practices concerning fertility, (child/maternal) mortality, infectious diseases and morbidity are construed. Furthermore, the educational system’s shortcomings concerning the Roma children are listed and analysed. Recommendations which provide particular solutions of the pending problems are propounded.

The paper explores issues associated with school integration of Roma children in the Municipality of Kyustendil (Bulgaria), where they constitute nearly 2/5 of all children at school age. Analysis is based on qualitative research conducted in 2014- 2015. Among the issues covered are: Roma children’s preschool education, early dropout of school, school segregation/desegregation, access to quality education, and their vocational education and training. The focus is on the inequalities concerning access to quality education for Roma children (as well as for rural children, children in institutions, children from poor families), a problem typical for the whole educational system in Bulgaria which leads to the reproduction and reinforcement of social inequality and stratification. In conclusion, a SWOT analysis of the municipal educational system is conducted, in order to support the efforts of local authorities to find better solutions to enhance the municipality’s human capital.