Suchergebnisse

The social transformation in post- totalitarian countries is characterized by extraordinarily dynamic differentiation tendencies. With respect to social groups & territorial communities, these tendencies differ or are even contradictory, resulting in an internal social & territorial polarization in the national systems concerned. These polarization processes are, on the one hand, a reaction to the equalizing tendencies in communist countries, and, on the other hand, are the result of the need for qualitative changes to social structures. One such structure is the regional organization of society, which owing to the heterogeneous nature of the conditions it exists in has very specific features. Essentially it is the environmental organization of society, where the effects of social & natural factors are combined. Consequently, there is typically a higher level of territorial inequality in the distribution of economic activities than in social distribution, and, by contrast, less variability of geographical differentiation than social differentiation. These features are demonstrated in an empirical analysis of the current development in the Czech Republic, wherein a distinction is made between two ways of assessing regional distribution. First, there is the assessment of differentiation of the territorial intensity of economic activities (economic aggregate/km2). Second, there is the assessment of relative economic & social development (economic aggregate/inhabitant). Despite the differences in the level & variability of the two types of regional differentiation, there are similar trends in their development, heading towards greater inequalities.

The article explores the connections between the performance of the Czech regional governments, the economic development of the regions, & the level of social capital in the regions. Analyses suggest that there is no relationship between regional government performance & the economic performance of the regions, & no relationship between regional government performance & the level of social capital in the regions. Government performance does not appear to be dependent on either of these two factors. Some positive statistical relationships do exist between the level of social capital & the economic performance of the regions. This relationship is stronger when the dynamics of the changes are evaluated -- economic growth in the period between 1995 & 2004 was significantly higher in regions with a higher level of social capital. Analyses also revealed the strong effect of another factor -- the level of human capital as measured by the education of the population -- on all the other observed parameters of the regions. The regions with more educated inhabitants recorded more rapid economic growth, a higher level of social capital, & better performing governments.

Obálka -- Obsah -- Úvodní slovo a poděkování -- 1. Kdo byl Josef Vavroušek -- 2. Systémový inženýr a vizionář v českém prostředí -- 3. J. Vavroušek a "rada moudrých" světa jeho doby: K. Boulding, B. Ward a Amartya Sen -- 4. Slabiny modelu všeobecné tržní rovnováhy v epoše antropocénu -- 5. Eudaimonia a štěstí. Finalita ekonomie, úděl a poslání člověka na Zemi -- 6. Cena Josefa Vavrouška očima mladých účastníků soutěže -- 6.1 Ohlas ceny mezi studenty Univerzity Karlovy -- 6.2 Příspěvky moravské environmentální a rozvojové školy -- 7. Epilog jako naděje ekologické konverze -- Přílohy (Jiří Kameníček) -- A. Faksimile "Zakládací listiny" studentské soutěže o Cenu Josefa Vavrouška -- B. Seznam přihlášených a oceněných studentských prací v letech 1996-2015 -- C. Fotografická příloha -- Literatura.

The article aims to identify the development phases in the process of the regional differentiation in the Czech Republic after 1989, & examines whether this differentiation trend is currently changing. The assumption the article's hypothesis is based on is that during recent development the basic 'parameters' of the principal features of the country's regional structure have been stabilized amidst the conditions of parliamentary democracy & a market economy. Unlike the first phases of socio- economic transition, when differentiating trends prevailed, a certain degree of stabilization can now be assumed, alongside the emergence of new trends. The development of regional differences was analyzed using indicators of GDP, the unemployment rate, entrepreneurial activity, & tax revenue from self- employed physical persons. The findings show that over the course of the 1990s regional differences intensified at both the mezo- regional (regional) level & the micro- regional level. It was also confirmed that at the turn of the millennium the phase of divergent regional development ended, & since that time regional differences have hovered around the same level.

Economic growth of the Czech Republic differed strongly in two periods: 1996-1999 & 2000-2004. While in the first period the economy was hit by the recession & the average annual rate of growth of GDP reached only 0,9%, in the second period the growth accelerated to 3,2%. The economic growth measured by the indicators of real income (namely of real gross domestic income) was faster. This was caused by positive contribution of the terms of trade. On the supply side the main contributing factors were labor & total factor productivity. On the demand side the growth was pulled by domestic demand which grew even faster than GDP. The contribution of foreign trade becomes positive in the year 2004 & mainly in 2005. Macroeconomic stability of the Czech economy improved substantially in the fields of inflation, monetary development & foreign trade. Imbalances persist in general government budget & on the current account of the balance of payment. The process of real convergence accelerated in the years 2000-2004 & was based on the growth of labor & total factor productivity. In 2004 the GDP per capita in purchasing power standards surpassed 70% of the average level in EU-25. The comparative price level of the Czech Republic in this year reached only 53% despite accelerated process of catching-up. Tables, Graphs, References. Adapted from the source document.

The economic development of the Czech Republic & Slovakia after the split of former Czechoslovakia in 1993 shows some important differences, caused by different economic policy & the starting level. The convergence of the Slovak economic level to the Czech one was very fast after the World War II, due to the massive reallocation of resources (the transfer of resources in favor of Slovakia represented 11% of the Slovak GDP). The Slovak economy adjusted to the lower economic level after the split by sinking real wages & by depreciation of the Slovak koruna, so that the ULC are now the lowest among the Central European countries. Slovakia enjoyed very fast growth of GDP in recent years fluctuating from 7 to 10%, while in the Czech Republic it reached from 6 to 7%. The abundant inflow of FDI & economic reforms helped to speed the real convergence in Slovakia, which continued fluently after a deep fall accompanying the split of Czechoslovakia. In 2007, the Slovak GDP per capita measured in PPS reached 84% of the Czech one. The common challenge for both economies is to overcome the one-sided orientation on cost/price competitiveness based on low wages & pass over to the qualitative competitive advantage, based on the innovations & production of high quality goods & services. Tables, Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.

The paper is concerned with macroeconomic aspects of fertility. Second section starts by outlining the role of population in the history of economic thought, & continues by examining the theory of demographic transition. The fourth section explores the relation between population & economic growth, distinguishing theoretical approaches & empirical research. The fifth section examines the relation between the birth rate & death rate. The sixth section makes insights into the interdependence of fertility & business cycles. The seventh section takes the fiscal effects of population development into account. Tables, Graphs, References. Adapted from the source document.

This paper is focused on the sub-regional level of integration in the region of Southern Africa. It aims to sketch the formation and operation of the most important development corridors (DC), spatial development initiatives (SDI) and industrial development zones (IDZ). From a theoretical point of view, this article is based on the concept of the new regionalism approach (NRA), especially with its emphasis on non-state actors (such as civic society, private enterprises, and financial corporations) in the process of integration. The hypothesis of the text is the following: sub-regional integration is currently the most dynamically developing form of integration. Judging by the way it exists and works, it has the best potential to contribute to African economic development. The paper summarizes the most important cases of sub-regional integration projects, describes their specificities and main characteristics, and points out some weak and strong features of this kind of integration. Adapted from the source document.

The presented paper describes the first membership of Czechoslovakia in the International Monetary Fund in the post-war period & the circumstances of its expulsion from this institution in 1954. Although Czechoslovakia was one of the founding members of the Bretton-Woods institutions & its relationship with the IMF looked promising at the beginning, the communist political take-over in February 1948 implied substantial change in this development. It was followed by the introduction of a centrally planned economic system & by a shift in the country's foreign-political orientation toward the East. The reason for Czechoslovakia's exclusion from the Bretton-Woods institutions was its repeated non-performance of the member state duties according to the Articles of Agreements of the IMR The main problem was that Czechoslovakia systematically refused to inform the IMF about developments in its economy & consult relevant monetary & economic arrangements with the IMF. Adapted from the source document.

The essay deals with the development of theory in development economics as a subdiscipline of international economics, within the context of general economic theory. Although some authors believe that it started to develop during the 19th century (as some Latin American countries gained their independence at this time), most authors connect its origin with the decolonization process of the 1950s. The first part describes its rather "naive" beginnings, when it was believed that it is possible to discover a universal theory applicable to the whole "third world" -- such as theories of vicious circles of poverty, the best ways & tools for breaking them, etc. The second phase of development economics, spanning approximately 1970-1990, was characterized by disillusionment & produced a lot of mostly analytical works dealing with partial problems. The third stage (1990-present) has been characterized by a growing demand for the so-called new synthesis. As the authors believe, such a goal would be very difficult to achieve, but in essence, it is achievable by means of joint efforts based on the Millennium Development Goals, changes of international economic & political relations systems & changes in a wide range of global issues. Adapted from the source document.

The paper examines the sources of economic growth in the ten new member states of the European Union (EU-10) & in previous member states (EU-15) as a whole. Special attention is devoted to the Czech republic, both from macroeconomic point of view & from the view of nine industries. For the analyses is used growth accounting method, where factors of production are labor, capital & total factor productivity. With the exception of the Czech Republic & EU-15 the reconstruction of capital stock was needed. We have used perpetual inventory method. The analyses has shown, that the main factor of economic growth in EU-10 was total factor productivity, mainly in the Baltic states. In the Czech Republic the main driving force of macroeconomic total factor productivity was manufacturing industry. The fast growing total factor productivity in EU-10 was the main factor of convergence to EU-15. Tables, Graphs, References. Adapted from the source document.

This paper investigates the possible reasons why many microfinance institutions (MFIs) have gradually experienced a decrease in the share of female borrowers in their portfolios over the last few years. We confirm that the share of women may be decreasing due to the growing proportion of low-income inhabitants in the area and unpaid family workers. Our results further show that the share of women is also strongly dependent on employment policy that has a positive impact on the dependent variable. Unexpectedly, none of macroeconomic variables such as economic growth, wage and household consumption has an impact on the number of female borrowers. Adapted from the source document.