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We analyze the role of institutional founding conditions and institutional legacy for universities' self-representation in terms of diversity. Based on 374 universities located in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland, we can differentiate between a more idealistic understanding (logic of inclusion and equality) and a more market-oriented understanding (market logic) of diversity. Our findings show that the founding phase has no significant effect on the likelihood of a university focusing on a market-oriented understanding of diversity--however, we observe an imprinting effect with respect to the adoption of a diversity statement in general and an equity-oriented statement. Moreover, our findings show that there is a socialistic heritage for universities in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries that is at work and still influences universities' understandings of diversity today.

In this paper, we compare the development and possibilities for improvement of waste management in three countries: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Waste management is part of the circular economy. The circular economy is the basis for waste management today. This applies to municipal waste management, too. In this paper, we work with data available in the Eurostat database. We mainly deal with municipal waste in the three chosen countries. The output of this paper is an assessment of indicators such as recycling rates and waste production. The outputs are documented graphically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As donors channel more of their development assistance through private companies, a discussion is growing on what this shift means for international development. This paper focuses on four Central European donors, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, who have recently implemented new incentives to promote the greater engagement of the private sector in their international development programmes. The paper uses new survey data of project managers at organisations implementing aid projects funded by these four donors to explore how private actors differ in their approaches to aid implementation. The analysis reveals that the type of implementing organisation does not affect their focus on internal project goals (budget, schedule, and scope), but project managers at private firms consider long-term impact and economic sustainability of the project less important. These findings support claims that for-profit organisations exercise a short-term approach to satisfy funders, but lack a deeper focus on long-term development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes' results, while other support funds are often neglected. To fill this research gap, the authors undertook the research on cross-border cooperation of the area-based partnerships (Local Action Groups – LAGs) from Poland and the Czech Republic, financed by the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) 2014–2020. The main purpose of our paper is to identify the rationales for cooperation, strategies to find partners, the scope of activities and obstacles in implementing the joint projects. The qualitative research involved a content analysis of LAG documents and interviews with LAG managers. The actions in twelve identified cooperation projects were mainly related to local traditions, inventory and the promotion of local products and services, the development of tourism and environmental issues. The respondents have emphasised that these actions required separate financing by national RDPs following different administrative rules, even though when constituting the components of a single project. The bureaucratic restrictions resulted in a clear asymmetry of LAGs activities, manifested in a lower involvement of the Czech LAGs. As a result, many projects can be considered as highly unilateral, solely national rather than genuinely international, which has not been the intention of the LAG managers, however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in interest rates, inflation, and exchange rates are the main components of macroeconomic risks (financial risks) in projects evaluation. However, the conduct of monetary policy as well as its impact on the economic environment is seldom considered as an important component of macroeconomic risks. In this paper, we offer a simple framework to analyze the conduct of monetary policy. We examine the stabilizing properties of monetary policy, its impact, and the parallels in the monetary policy approaches taken in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland until the pandemic. We provide a simple theoretical background to motivate the main elements of the debate and the choice of policy strategy. We then rationalize the adoption of a form of flexible inflation targeting (FIT). It is characterized by an explicit concern over exchange rates. The empirical evidence, consisting of calibrated and extended Taylor rules, together with local projections estimates, suggests that monetary policy has been practiced with considerable flexibility by all three central banks and has contributed to business cycle stabilization in the region. Most notably, the exchange rate plays an important role in the conduct of monetary policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on audits of public administrations performed by Supreme Audit Offices (SAO). The aim of the paper is to assess the performance of audit activities by the highest audit institutions in the Visegrad Four (V4) countries with a focus on the types of audits performed (compliance audits, performance audits, financial audits) in the period of 2005-2020. Pearson's correlation coefficient and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to test the set hypotheses. The study focuses on the relationships between the number of audits performed (especially compliance audits and performance audits) and the volume of audit findings, recommendations and actions. Compliance audits predominate in the Slovak Republic and Hungary. However, the current trend is to gradually increase the share of performance audits. Most performance audits were carried out in the Czech Republic. The analysis found a statistically significant relationship between the number of performance audits performed and the number of auditors' recommendations in Poland and Hungary. In addition there is a statistically significant relationship between the number of performance audits performed and the number of audit findings in Poland and the Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the micro-determinants of unemployment durations and exits in Czechia, Poland and Austria. Our hazard estimates utilize EU-SILC data and identify national specificities in which individual, household and regional characteristics affect labor market outcomes. This concerns particularly the effects of education on job-finding probability, which are nearly absent in Poland, as opposed to Austria and, even more so, Czechia. However, the key results are common across countries: Unemployed women are less employable than unemployed men, even after controlling for explanatory covariates and the disproportionally high female selection to inactivity. The analogous findings apply to the elderly and those in poor health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to explore the role of professional diagnostic rapid testing of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially COVID-19 and influenza, ensuring proper disease management and treatment in Europe, and particularly in Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. The paper was constructed based on a review of scientific evidence and national and international policies and recommendations, as well as a process of validation by four experts. The development of new testing technologies, treatment options, and increased awareness of the negative multidimensional impact of ARI profiles transformed differential diagnosis into a tangible and desirable reality. This review covers the following topics: (1) the multidimensional impact of ARIs, (2) ARI rapid diagnostic testing platforms and their value, (3) the policy landscape, (4) challenges and barriers to implementation, and (5) a set of recommendations illustrating a path forward. The findings indicate that rapid diagnostic testing, including at the point of care (POC), can have a positive impact on case management, antimicrobial and antibiotic stewardship, epidemiological surveillance, and decision making. Integrating this strategy will require the commitment of governments and the international and academic communities, especially as we identified room for improvement in the access and expansion of POC rapid testing in the focus countries and the inclusion of rapid testing in relevant policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to decide whether or not term premiums appear and thus are predictable in Central European countries in the data sample of forward rate agreement interest rates and corresponding spot interest rates. Term premiums theoretically are explained thanks to the applications of the efficient market hypothesis theory, the expectations theory, and the liquidity preferences theory. Empirically, we used cointegration techniques for nonstationary time series, mainly using the cointegration method (simple and even for panel data) and the vector error correction model. We used data samples of Central European countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland) and also of the United Kingdom. We found that the best future estimate of term premiums is its current value. It does not refer in the same way to the market efficiency hypothesis (EMH) or theexpectations hypothesis (EH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: The sustainability of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represents a significant scientific and professional problem in the current turbulent period because these enterprises play an important role in any country's economic and social systems. Purpose of the article: This paper aimed to define the significant sustainability factors of small and medium-sized enterprises and to quantify their impact and importance on the sustainability of SMEs. The areas of Human Resource Management, Corporate Social Responsibility, and financial management were defined as significant sustainability factors. Methods: Empirical research, on which the scientific hypotheses were formulated and evaluated, was conducted in June 2022 in V4 countries (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, and Hungary) using a structured questionnaire. The study accumulated a sample of 1398 respondents. Data collection was conducted through an external agency, MN FORCE, operating in Central European countries. The Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method was used to record respondents' perceptions. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the hypotheses. Findings & value added: The research showed that all defined factors in the areas of Human resource management (HRM), Corporate social responsibility (CSR), and financial management of the firm had an impact on defined sustainability attributes. The greatest impact was found on the firm's financial management, followed by CSR and HRM. The empirical results confirm that the intensity of the independent variables varies across the V4 countries. These results also show that the intensity of the selected HRM, CSR, and financial management factors of a firm is higher in the integrated models than in the models for individual V4 countries. The research results have shown that a range of factors determine the right attitude towards the sustainability of companies. In this context, economic policymakers and entrepreneurs must perceive sustainable growth as complex and apply a systemic approach to its design and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the memoryscapes of Cieszyn Silesia, Orawa and Spisz in a context of the border conflicts of the twentieth century. The regions located on the current Czech-Polish and Slovak-Polish border have lived through paralleled histories of the border demarcation after WWI, which was unprecedented there. In both cases the national minorities were left behind the border, outside of their home states. Their stories and memories are, however, not being researched together. This paper contrasts the patterns of memory production related to the border shifts in the landscape in both regions. Emphasis is placed on the memory sites, their narratives and memory activism related to the conflicting past. The results show that the main axes of both memory debates are contrasting. While the conflict over Cieszyn Silesia was most shaped by the short war in 1919, the lesser-known dispute over Orawa and Spisz was marked by numerous smaller incidents, assimilation efforts and a layer of post WWII violence. This has important consequences for the memory production. The other important differentiating factor is the scope of memory activism inside of the national minority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of empirical studies assume the symmetric effects of exchange rate development on the trade balance. However, we follow more recent studies to show that there are distinctions to be made between the directions of changes inthe exchange rate. In this study, we assume that the effects can be asymmetrical in certain branches of the agri-food industry. This paper aims to evaluate the asymmetric effects of the exchange rate on foreign trade in the agri-food sector in the Visegrad region. For this purpose, we employ a non-linear auto-regressive distributed lag approach to incorporate the assumed asymmetries of exchange rate changes in a model of the J-curve pattern in the case of Czechia, Hungary, and Poland. The dataset on the SITC two-digit level covers the period between 2000 and 2018. The paper shows that there is a clear difference in the effects of appreciation and depreciation. The difference is not only in the direction, but also in the intensity, of the effects of exchange rate changes on the trade balances of food and live animals, dairy products and birds' eggs, and animal oils and fats in Czechia; meat and preparations in Hungary; sugar, sugar preparations and honey and beverages in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Onomastica is the property of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Language Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Space & Society / Tér és Társadalom is the property of Centre for Economic & Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, Israel Studies have been gaining momentum in Europe, especially in the Central and Eastern parts of the continent. The aim of this paper is to scrutinize the genesis and evolutionary developments of Israel Studies as a separate study field in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The authors tackle the following aspects: the dominant intellectual traditions, historiographic approaches, and disciplinary frameworks; the teaching and research environment for Israel Studies in each examined country; potential entanglement of the discipline with political ties to the State of Israel and its consequences. The paper employs the qualitative research approach and relies on the case study methodology. However, an essential part of the study utilizes a comparative perspective and offers certain prospects for Israel Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main purpose of the following article is to present the implementation process of interactive platform to exchange the information about innovations in the chosen international third-party company. The main identified problem is the problem connected with insufficient knowledge about innovation possible to use and even innovation already in use in the different logistics platforms when the need of its usage appears. Design/methodology/approach: Identified problem was connected with the not enough knowledge of current innovation in use or in consideration. The different platforms in the different regions or countries were not aware about technological solutions used in the whole organization and waste time and human power for searching the suitable solutions and solutions suppliers for the regional activity. Needs in this case were identified among the managers. The 60 managers from Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia were asked about the preferred user requirements of such a tool. Findings: The proposed platform allowed implementation in the 3PL company structure the knowledge about innovation flow and make such information highly available. Currently, the innovations in the filed of 3PL activity were divided into main categories as follows: picking, packing, transportation, internal transportation, sustainable solutions, quality control, reverse logistics and claims, warehousing and Big Data analysis. A presented case study was implemented in the activity of an international 3PL company which gain the awareness of innovations which are used in the different regions or which were considered to use. Originality/value: In the following research paper were presented the knowledge about innovation sharing platform for logistics operator to facilitate their activity connected with innovations implementation and as a result to provide the logistics services in the more efficient way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how and why Green Recovery could be beneficial for the Visegrad countries based on a modelling exercise using the E3ME macroeconometric model. Green Recovery is defined as including policies in recovery plans that not only target economic recovery, but also contribute to environmental targets. The paper proposes that a Green Recovery could be valuable and suitable for the region contributing to both restoring employment and boosting economic activity as well as reaching climate goals. This is tested through a macroeconomic simulation, using the E3ME model. E3ME is built on Post- Keynesian economic theory and on econometric estimations of macroeconomic relationships. The results of the analysis focus on three dimensions: (1) social - employment, (2) environmental - level of CO2 emissions and (3) economic activity - gross domestic product (GDP). Outcomes indicate that a green recovery can shorten the time needed for employment and economic recovery as well as contributes to CO2 emission reductions. In Hungary, Czechia and Poland, the impact persists into the long-term; however, the paper also concludes that countries with high reliance on coal (e.g. Poland) could return to coal in the long term if no further policies are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to social behaviours in Europe. One of its major consequences was the temporary closure of borders, which was introduced as a measure to prevent the uncontrolled pandemic spreading and involved internal Schengen borders. This has had a major impact in the way in which cross-border cooperation has been conducted in Europe, including the Czech-Polish borderland, as it dramatically restrained all flows across borders. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of the pandemic on five roles of cross-border cooperation: 1) as a multi-level governance form; 2) as a regional development tool; 3) as a para-diplomacy form; 4) as a post-conflict reconciliation tool; and 5) as Europe-building. We argue that the impacts of the pandemic complicated regional development and the Europe-building role of cross-border cooperation in the Czech-Polish borderland. The article envisages re-bordering processes also in the Czech-Polish borderland, but with important exceptions in the regions with a high level of cross-border integration, mainly in the Euroregion Těšínské Slezsko/Śląsk Cieszyński. The paper also calls for the elaboration of the guidelines for possible repeated (Schengen) border closures and proposes modifications of the INTERREG microprojects schemes, to keep them attractive also in times of expected cuts in public finances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to define the impact of the investment in training in education by the European Social Fund (ESF) in four Eastern countries, namely, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Hungary. Those countries have some political, cultural, social and economic similarities and share some common ground in the human resource development (HRD) sectors. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use the human capital theory with some extensions to analyze the context, operations and impacts of the ESF in the Visegrad four (V4) countries between 2007 and 2013. The authors use three levels of methodology to access each one of those problems. Findings: The authors conclude that the ESF helped building the vocational training system in those countries, and to help them get near the equilibrium of high skills of the V4 Western European neighbors, and therefore, this one was a success story. However, quality issues remain to be addressed that may hinder the continuation of the success in the future. Research limitations/implications: The research could be enlarged in time and space and deepened in terms of methodology. This is one a first clarifying step. Theoretical work should become aware of the dichotomy between absorption and scientific logic. Practical implications: Detailed and precise evaluation practices must be implemented to guide and assess the policy. Social implications: Precisely because funds are scarce this paper enlights the dilemma and the tension between quantity and quality in the European HRD policy, this is an important social problem. Originality/value: The study is original because even if the HRD in those countries had already been studied (Sheehan and Buchelt, 2016), no study analyzing specifically the ESF in those countries has been carried out so far. The authors use an innovative methodology and address questions on context, operations and impact, which are also innovative and very relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the utilization of the International Atomic Energy Agency's toolkit for reactor technology assessment (RTA) application to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Czech Republic, Egypt, and Poland. The increasing demand for clean energy has led to the prominence of small modular reactors (SMRs) in addressing global energy challenges. The successful integration of SMRs into national energy systems necessitates comprehensive evaluations that take into account each country's specific characteristics and energy requirements. RTA application represents significant progress towards innovative nuclear solutions, advancing a cleaner and more resilient energy future plan. The aim of this study is assessing the feasibility and advantages of SMR implementation in these countries, focusing on energy security, emission reduction, and long-term sustainability. Various SMR technologies, including NuScale, SMART, HTR-PM, BWRX-300, SMR-160, and RITM-200, are comparatively analyzed based on safety, scalability, efficiency, and economic viability. The findings reveal that BWRX-300 suits the needs of the Czech Republic and Poland, while RITM-200 is the optimal choice for Egypt. Moreover, NuScale also stands as a strong alternative for all three countries. This article emphasizes the importance of informed discussions and evidence-based decisions, promoting sustainable energy development and global advancements in nuclear technology. By utilizing SMRs, the Czech Republic, Egypt, and Poland can enhance energy security, reduce emissions, and meet rising energy needs sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Oeconomia is the property of Wydawnictwo SGGW and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the proliferation of the Industry 4.0 paradigm, the inadequacy of conventional quality management tools has become increasingly apparent. The preliminary investigation presented in this paper focuses on the identification of the Quality 4.0 readiness level of organizations operating in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, as well as affecting factors. The study is based on the review of relevant literature. The web-based questionnaire enabling organizations' representatives through Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) to take part in the study was used. Data from 298 completed responses were subjected to comprehensive analysis. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were applied to analyse the data. Small and medium-sized organizations achieve low levels of Quality 4.0 readiness. Large organizations are better prepared. The study confirmed the dependence between the Quality 4.0 readiness level and whether the organization operates in automotive, while automotive organizations achieved a higher level of Quality 4.0 readiness than other organizations. The significant relationship between the Quality 4.0 readiness level and whether the organization has a certified management system was also confirmed. Received data also enabled the identification of the main barriers and benefits of Quality 4.0 implementation perceived by the organizations. The research findings identify the challenges that enterprises face regarding the Quality 4.0 implementation and the necessary support that organizations require. These findings can be a foundation for developing novel research initiatives and implementation programs. The research results contribute to the existing body of knowledge and bring new information and insights into the field of quality digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When discussing historic structures, a significant problem is how to preserve and protect these structures. The presented paper deals with some issues of the unfavourable impact of industrial activity on some historic structures. Long-term influences from the industrial activity are one of the common sources of damage observed in these structures. Due to the size and volume of such structures, they are characterized by very low resistance to vibration and ground deformations. At the same time, the high cultural and material value of historic structures necessitates their costly protection and repair. Knowing the origin of problems, one may take proper actions to protect them. This paper discusses two important types of impact typical for industrial areas, especially affected by mining, seismically induced vibrations and continuous ground deformations from underground extraction. The presented discussion is based on the case study examples of historical sites located in some industrial areas in the Czech Republic and Poland. They point to different sources of damage to those structures that may arise as well as a combined effect of mining-induced seismic events and land subsidence. The medieval Jeroným Mine represents an underground structure loaded with natural and technical seismicity. The paper also includes a short overview of the process of seismic loading evaluation and basic information about historic structures with respect to seismic standards and land surface subsidence caused by underground mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a parameter identification methodology of the SIRD model, an extension of the classical SIR model, that considers the deceased as a separate category. In addition, our model includes one parameter which is the ratio between the real total number of infected and the number of infected that were documented in the official statistics. Due to many factors, like governmental decisions, several variants circulating, opening and closing of schools, the typical assumption that the parameters of the model stay constant for long periods of time is not realistic. Thus our objective is to create a method which works for short periods of time. In this scope, we approach the estimation relying on the previous 7 days of data and then use the identified parameters to make predictions. To perform the estimation of the parameters we propose the average of an ensemble of neural networks. Each neural network is constructed based on a database built by solving the SIRD for 7 days, with random parameters. In this way, the networks learn the parameters from the solution of the SIRD model. Lastly we use the ensemble to get estimates of the parameters from the real data of Covid19 in Romania and then we illustrate the predictions for different periods of time, from 10 up to 45 days, for the number of deaths. The main goal was to apply this approach on the analysis of COVID-19 evolution in Romania, but this was also exemplified on other countries like Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland with similar results. The results are backed by a theorem which guarantees that we can recover the parameters of the model from the reported data. We believe this methodology can be used as a general tool for dealing with short term predictions of infectious diseases or in other compartmental models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper tries to approach the issue of ethics in the archaeological environment in the Slovakia. The introduction discusses the legislative that provides the main protection of historical heritage. However, there are ethical codes, which also provide a certain type of protection. In brief, the reader also become familiar with the history of solving ethical issues in the Slovakia. In the next part the author approaches the possibilities of solving the problem with amateur archaeologists by help of the code of ethics. The conclusion of the article deals with the ethical codes of the neighbouring states of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the joint ethical code for archaeologists and the content of these documents is described in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite conceptual challenges in defining informal education and learning, as well as methodological difficulties in identifying clear markers of its validity, the relevance of informal education and learning in the teaching-learning environment is emphasized in this paper. Informal education is presented here from an educational-organizational standpoint and assumed to play an essential role in the context of educational quality. The article provides an understanding of selected educational and organizational features of informal education as seen through the eyes of students from three universities in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Research results indicate the existence of a significant group of students who are unaware of the content of the university's mission and values, which may affect the university culture. A significant percentage of respondents at each university do not know where to look for support in conflicts and have not heard about equality and antidiscrimination procedures. The study's findings are part of the "Enhancing Quality Teaching of Humanities and Social Sciences in Higher Education for 21+" research project funded by the Erasmus+ KA220-HED Cooperation partnership in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a discontinuity‐based analysis of the settlement pattern changes in the Czechia–Poland cross‐border historical region of Těšín Silesia. An approach based on a well‐known and popular method (regression discontinuity design) was applied to measure spatial discontinuity. To describe the spatiotemporal changes, a combination of spatial, statistical and cartographic methods was used. The observed differences have been developing for more than 150 years; at the start, this area belonged to the territory of one state, and later it was divided by a national border. The division of the region resulted in areas following different development trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to answer the following research problem: what are the models of reasonable (proper) implementation of public expenditure arising from specific constitutional rules, and what are the standards for such spending? The authors present a thesis that the constitutional principle of legality, as well as the principle of public finance as a good which is protected constitutionally, sets general models, which consequently determine the standards of reasonable (proper) spending of public funds in the broad sense, i.e. in the context of legality and economy (purpose, economy, effectiveness and efficiency). Notably, these models and standards meet the postulate of complete financial control, i.e. at every stage of the budget procedure (budget design, planning and execution). The article uses socalled non-reactive research methods, based on the analysis of the content and availability of source information, i.e. theoretical and legal publications as well as legal regulations (especially constitutional ones) crucial from the point of view of the selected subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the association between work trajectories and frailty in later life in four ageing contexts (AAI index): Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy and Poland. Data of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) is used to create the frailty index and linear regression models are applied to assess the association between frailty condition and work trajectories of 6187 women and men, aged between 50 and 74 years old. The findings underline that women experience worse frailty than men in all countries. Having precarious work trajectories is detrimental to individuals' health everywhere, but it becomes even worse for Danish men and Polish men and women. The ageing context (AAI index) is not associated with health inequalities in older people. We suggest that further research should explore more in detail the mechanisms linking job insecurity to psycho-social risks as possible determinants of frailty, taking into account differences at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main topic of the paper is a comparison of maternity benefits in the Czech Republic and Poland. The first part is dedicated to the definition and description of maternity leave and its grounding in the social security systems of both countries, based on the current legislation in both countries. Next, the maternity benefits in the Czech Republic and Poland are presented in tables which yields interesting results for the observed period. The third part represents the core of the paper – comparison of the maternity benefits in the Czech Republic and Poland. The expenditures in both countries in the observed period 2010-2019, including their proportion to the total social security expeditures, as well as birth rates in the said time period, are graphically presented in this part. In the final part, the obtained data are evaluated and the results of the comparison are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Income is one of the appropriate indicators for the evaluating of living standards of people, so it is important to examine the distribution of income and its degree of differentiation in society. A lot of research has been directed at describing empirical distributions by the theoretical model. In 2010 Zenga proposed a new threeparameter model for economic size distribution. The aim of this paper was to apply Zenga model to income distribution in the Czech Republic and in Poland. The results of conducted approximations obtained by means of D'Addario's invariants methods confirm that the Zenga distribution is a good income distribution model which can be successfully applied to income inequality analysis and income distribution comparisons both in the Czech Republic and in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with a possibility of foreign language learning (FLL) intervention in older adults as a psychosocial rehabilitation method to improve the quality of life (QoL) in this age segment, i.e. the people who are over 55 years. FLL has been researched as a successful tool to maintain or even enhance cognitive functions in older age along with other intentional activities, such as engagement in any physical activity. FLL cannot dramatically improve memory and cognitive deterioration of older adults, however, it can improve QoL by increasing subjective happiness that is connected to improved wellbeing. The research was conducted in two groups of seniors who are engaged in FLL, specifically in the Czech Republic and Poland. The major premise of the research was based on the positive psychology concept, i.e., the subjective happiness leads to improved levels of QoL. Both groups consisted of about a hundred respondents whose opinions were researched by an online questionnaire. The major focus of this questionnaire was to evaluate the level of subjective happiness and then compare the results obtained from the respondents from these two geographically different regions. The findings clearly showed that those who had engaged in FLL had reached high levels of subjective happiness, therefore, their subjective wellbeing could be improved. These results might be important for psychosocial rehabilitation practices because they can create a framework for further non-pharmacological intervention to maintain healthy aging. FLL can thus be a very efficient tool for any psychosocial rehabilitation in older healthy adults who do not suffer from any cognitive pathological development but who are just experiencing negative side effects of natural aging process. The research into this topic is very scarce, and therefore, this paper could be an inspiration for further and larger-scale research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Serbian Journal of Management is the property of Serbian Journal of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Modern communication and information technologies are rapidly being deployed at health care institutions around the world. Although these technologies offer many benefits, ensuring data protection is a major concern, and implementation of robust data protection measures is essential. In this context, health care providers and medical care facilities must frequently make difficult decisions and compromises between the need to provide effective medical care and the need to ensure data security and patient privacy. In the present paper, we describe and discuss key issues related to data protection systems in the setting of cancer care hospitals in Europe. We provide real-life examples from two European countries—Poland and the Czech Republic—to illustrate data protection issues and the steps being taking to address these questions. More specifically, we discuss the legal framework surrounding data protection and technical aspects related to patient authentication and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, North America as well as Europe have experienced a significant boom of craft breweries. While it has been understood mainly as a result of neolocalism, we argue that this view is overly unilateral and depending on spatial context. Other factors like glocalization may potentially also affect the emergence of craft breweries. This paper examined the factors influencing the expansion of craft breweries in seven regions of Czechia and Poland, two Central European countries that share similar history but differ in their brewing traditions. Based on semi-structured interviews with representatives of 59 breweries, we identified important similarities but also fundamental differences. Many breweries have indeed been significantly influenced by neolocalism, while some did not capitalize on it, and others even directly rejected it. The role of spatial context has also manifested, particularly through the increased importance of glocalization in several regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zpravoday Hnede Uhli is the property of Brown Coal Research Institute, j.s.c. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Capital structure plays an important role in corporate finance, especially in the period of restrictive monetary policy in many developed countries. This paper aims to estimate the debt ratio based on five selected financial indicators: tangibility, return on assets, size of total assets, current ratio, and size of total sales using multiple linear regression for four countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, as well as the V4 region. The total sample consists of 3828 small- and medium-sized enterprises from the transport sector in the Central European area. These data are drawn from Amadeus by Bureau van Dijk from 2019. The results show that three of the five variables are statistically significant in all models. These findings indicate that transport companies prefer the pecking order theory. We find that the increase in tangibility, return on assets, as well as current ratio, reduce the debt ratio. The outputs provide new theoretical and empirical knowledge regarding transport companies in V4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revolutionary advancement of technology in the past decade brought the attention of academics and management practitioners to ways of improving innovative capabilities of organizations. Advice-seeking relationships have an essential role in the knowledge production of modern-day organizations as they enable actors to acquire information, professional support and knowledge elements that they can recombine to form new knowledge. This paper conceptualizes advice-seeking behaviour as part of an inherently complex social world that can best be captured by a multiplex approach to organizational network research. It investigates how different layers of interpersonal relationships in the workplace may contribute to the appearance of advice-seeking interactions. This study examines the cases of three knowledge-intensive organizations and applies binary logistic regression to shed light on the yet invisible relational foundations of workplace collaboration. Implications for Central European audience: Central European countries attempt to improve their economic competitiveness by attracting knowledge-intensive companies as well as incentivizing innovation and digital transformation. Knowledge-intensive firms, such as business service centres or information and communication technology companies, are significant contributors to the economic output of countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Recommendations derived from the results of this paper provide insights into the leadership of knowledge-intensive companies regarding creation of organizational environments that foster knowledge sharing and innovation. Measures that promote interpersonal trust, visibility of expertise and boundary-spanning behaviour are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: Firms' innovation activities play an important role in fostering firms' competitiveness and enhancing economic growth of regions and countries. Regarding the significance of the issue, it is essential to explore indicators of firms' innovation activities. Here, special attention was given to external linkages and intellectual assets. In the study, particular emphasis was put on firms from the Czech Republic and Poland as the countries distinguished by similar innovation performance. Purpose of the article: The aim of this paper is to explore whether external linkages and intellectual assets impact on innovation activities of Czech and Polish firms. Methods: In the study, the Cobb-Douglas function was employed. The study used data from the European Innovation Scoreboard 2018 with regard to firms' innovation activities. In particular, special stress was put on variables related to external linkages and intellectual assets such as: innovative SMEs collaborating with others, private co-funding of public R&D expenditures, PCT patent applications and trademark applications. The time period was 2008-2015. Findings & Value added: This paper contributes to the existing literature by providing new insight on issues connected with indicators of firms' innovation activities. The results reveal statistical significance of selected variables connected with external linkages and intellectual assets on innovation activities of Czech and Polish firms. These findings have policy and practical implications. There is a need to further stimulate, among others, the linkages between firms and universities, research organisations, institutional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An appropriate transfer pricing policy and procedures help to reach a win-win situation between involved parties - taxpayers and tax administration authorities. The paper deals with one of the instruments that could help to reach such a desirable status - namely with the Advance Pricing Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “APA" only). The aim of the paper is to identify fundamental rules as stated for the APAs in the standards of the OECD and subsequently describe, assess and compare general rules for the APAs in the Czech and Polish domestic law. The research realized is based on a qualitative research; a case study was selected for its realization. A content analysis of a text was a technique used for the collection of relevant data and information. On the basis of results reached, one can observe that the Czech domestic legal regulation does not meet the criteria, unlike polish one, for the APAs as stated by the OECD. The legal regulation contained in the Czech domestic law is insufficient and in this respect the provisions contained in the Polish domestic law can be considered as a suitable and inspiring. Following this conclusion, authors present some de lege ferenda proposals for the Czech domestic law rising from the Polish domestic law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the case of information warfare, it no longer exists a demarcation line between the state of pace or the state of war, this type of war being used by the state and non-state actors because of its effectiveness and the difficulty of being traced and repelled. In addition, it is known that the Russian Federation used information activities against Western and Eastern European countries. To see the specificity of information operations, we must define the concepts and components that underlie information warfare and the perspective Russian military thinkers have on information activities. Even if the paper does not describe in detail all the components of the information warfare, it is important for us to clarify the role of information operations and its components as part of information warfare, as well as the terms that are often used in the public and academic area, such as disinformation, manipulation, propaganda, fake news etc. To better understand the Russian information activity, the paper provides some specific examples from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the growth of research productivity is a core element of performance in the higher education sector. This paper aims to analyse the scientific productivity of the Visegrád Group countries (2010–2019) based on data from the Web of Scopus and Scopus databases, as well as data from secondary sources (demographic and socio‐economic factors). Quantitatively, although Poland has the highest output, this is due to its comparative size, whereas output per researcher in Poland is lower than in other Visegrád Four (V4) countries. As regards the qualitative approach, Hungary and the Czech Republic are significantly more effective in terms of scientific collaboration and receive a greater number of European Research Council grants. Thus, bibliometric data in relation to cross‐country characteristic indicators (socio‐economic variables including expenditure on science and having prestigious universities) are related to the positions of the V4 countries. Practical implications suggest that university management within the Visegrád Group must develop and continue strategies to strengthen international collaboration between researchers in order to accelerate change in the dissemination of scientific output at the global level. Academic scholarly publishers may benefit from publishing research on specific issues important to different regions of the world in order to expand their audience and gain new potential resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction to the selection of the papers presented at a two-day workshop “The End of the Story?” Problems and Perspectives of East European Literary Studies,” held at Princeton University on 8–9 February 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mountains are one of the most sensitive regions in terms of climate changes. This also concerns water balance, which plays an important role, especially in the context of the ecological state. Furthermore, numerous studies indicate the atmospheric circulation as one of the crucial factors affecting climate conditions. Therefore, the goal of the paper is to examine the impact of the atmospheric circulation on the changes in climate water balance (CWB) in the Sudetes Mountains and their foreland. The analysis was carried out based on the 1981–2020 data derived from the Polish and Czech meteorological stations. The impact of the circulation factor was examined using the Lityński classification, while the calculation of evapotranspiration based on the Penman–Monteith equation. The results showed that despite positive trends for evapotranspiration, the changes in CWB in 1981–2020 were generally statistically insignificant. The only exception was the increase in CWB under the eastern circulation and its negative tendency for the western and southern sectors for some of the stations. This corresponds to the changes in the frequency of the circulation types. The results of the study can be used in further research on water balance in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides new empirical evidence on the transformation of the structure of production in the Visegrád (V4) countries—the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—using a multi‐regional version of the subsystem approach to global input‐output tables. In particular, the paper analyses structural change in these countries, with a focus on the integration of market services in manufacturing. Moreover, using an input‐output structural decomposition analysis (SDA), we evaluate the role of some key determinants of employment changes in manufacturing. The results indicate that an increasing amount of intermediate demand comes from producer services. Further, a substantial portion of manufacturing employment is generated by foreign final demand, and the SDA demonstrates that labour intensity and final demand play a determining role in the change in the number of hours worked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is some indication that discrimination as well as low levels of life satisfaction render young people at risk of cyberhate victimization. Adopting a socio-ecological perspective, this paper examines whether supportive family, peer and school environments may buffer against the effects of perceived discrimination and low life satisfaction on cyberhate victimization. Data from four countries (N = 3396) of the EU Kids Online IV survey on children aged 11–17 (51% girls) revealed a positive association between perceived discrimination and cyberhate victimization, but this impact was moderated by supportive family and peer environments. A negative association between life satisfaction and cyberhate victimization was mitigated by peer support. However, no associations with the school context were found. The current study provides new insights on how social support on different levels of the social environment may buffer against potential risk factors for cyberhate victimization and can inform decision-makers towards intervention and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the adequacy of obligatory tax advisors' insurance to meet their needs in Poland and Czechia using the comparative-legal method. It is crucial, due to the need to protect the weaker party in a transaction and provide certainty in trading. The comparison is made between legislation concerning compulsory liability insurance for tax advisors and the general contracts negotiated by professional self-governing bodies. The Polish product is characterised by mandatory coverage and private initiative. Like other compulsory insurance, this product is more accessory than voluntary insurance because the insurer also provides protection in case of damage caused by gross negligence. In that insurance, there are no limitations of a financial nature (deductible, integral, and deductible franchise) on the liability of insurance companies. Consequently, the insurance company's liability is even more similar to the insured's. The reduction of accessoriality occurs only in regulated exclusions. The Czech legislator has only imposed the obligation to have this insurance without handling its details. The General Insurance Conditions regulate the remaining matter. The analysis indicated that the Polish regulations provide more complete protection. However, they require some modernisation—an increase in the sum assured (10,000 EUR is too low) or how it is calculated. Reasults show faults in existing Polish regulations and indicate ways to improve them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to ascertain, from the normative ("should be" - academic experts) and business practice ("is" - management accountants) perspective, whether and to what extent management accountants' competence requirements differ between the Czech Republic and Poland and if so, to indicate the reasons for such differences. Both groups of respondents, as well as both countries have they own specific characteristics, but also share some common qualities. All respondents emphasize an important role that management accountants play in modern companies and suggest the necessity of developing standards and requirements for this position. The study is unique, since it compares different perspectives of management accountants' professional competences expected by academic and business practice in two neighbouring countries (the Czech Republic and Poland) with their own specific institutional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the drivers and the size of the shadow economies of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. It also investigates the tax losses associated with these shadow economic activities in all three countries. The Multiple Indicators and Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model is applied and uses time series data covering the period 1990–2019. The key findings show that the sizes of the shadow economies of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are 10.44, 11.18 and 20.47% respectively. The results also show that the average size of the shadow economies between 1990–2019 was 14.92% in the Czech Republic, 18.72% in Hungary and 22.85% in Poland. The Czech Republic loses 3.13% of tax revenue from goods and services and 2.83% from incomes and profits as a result of the shadow economy, while Hungary loses 5.05% of tax revenue from goods and services and 1.68% from incomes and profits. Poland loses 5.25% of tax revenue from goods and services and 4.34% from incomes and profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Management Issues / Problemy Zarządzania is the property of Problemy Zarzadzania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)