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In this paper, in a sample of Central and Eastern European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Ukraine) we investigate the effects of: 1) democracy (measured by democracy indices); 2) government related variables and 3) other selected macroeconomic variables, on labor market outcomes. As labor market outcomes we use the following variables: unemployment rate, long-term unemployment rate, employment to population ratio, and average annual hours worked. As independent government related variables we use the following ones: government consumption (lagged), tax revenues as percentage of GDP (lagged), Herfindahl index of government (lagged). For the level of democracy we use following indices: Freedom house political rights and Civil liberties index (lagged), worker rights by CIRI human rights data project and Physical integrity rights index (lagged). Finally (regarding the independent macroeconomic variables), we estimate the effects of economic growth, inflation, and gross capital formation, on labor market outcomes. The empirical findings are based on two econometric techniques: The Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR), and the General Method of Moments (GMM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyze the nature of the shocks hitting the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) over the recent years. To this end, we first evaluate the relative importance of symmetric versus asymmetric shocks, and then extract their temporary component. Our final aim would be assessing the vulnerability of the CEECs to temporary and asymmetric shocks, which would be the most harmful case for the operation of a monetary union. Finally, a comparison with the case of the current EMU members is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to present the similarities between the components of competitiveness and investment attractiveness as two complementary categories, and to show the role of new locational advantages in determining the level of investment attractiveness of a country. Another objective of this paper was to provide a comparative analysis of Central and Eastern European countries in terms of their investment attractiveness. Thus this paper was organized as follows: the first part of the paper focused on a country's competitiveness, and the traditional and new location advantages that determine its investment attractiveness in view of direct investment inflows in the light of M. Porter's model of a diamond, an eclectic paradigm of J. H. Dunning and new growth theories. The second part presented the results of investment attractiveness analysis including selected countries of CEE in the years 1995-2013. Comparing the investment attractiveness of Central and Eastern European countries shows that a rather narrow group of countries attracts a greater amount of FDI, and many more countries have experienced a decline in FDI. Therefore, the research results allow for the conclusion that Central and Eastern Europe reduced its investment attractiveness over the past years. This means that the majority of Central and Eastern European countries are becoming less successful in attracting FDI, and therefore in shaping the environment in which foreign companies wish to conduct their business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causal relations between nominal exchange rates and monetary fundamentals. The analysis is conducted using panel quarterly data from the period 2001-12 for Central and Eastern European countries (including Turkey) with relatively flexible exchange rate regimes. The paper reconnects the empirical literature on exchange rates in Central and Eastern European countries with the most recent findings on exchange rate determination in advanced economies. Kóyna's approach, which accounts for linkages between countries, is used in the study. The main findings indicate the existence of causal relations running from both nominal exchange rates to monetary fundamentals and in the opposite direction as well as the existence of a relatively strong link between exchange rates and differentials in the relative price of non-tradables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the agro-food exports variety from twelve central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) to the European Union (EU) during the years 1995-2007. The panel regression models explain the agro-food exports by its previous year, income in the importing EU countries, and measure of agro-food export product variety, while the real exchange rate appreciation of the CEEC currencies has negatively influenced agro-food exports. The EU enlargement with the reduction in agricultural protection and the borderless single market has induced agro-food export increases in primary agricultural produce and intermediate food-processed products, but less in higher value-added food-processed differentiated products. The impact of increased number of CEECs agro-food product varieties on agro-food export to the EU is positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper analyzes the location decision for foreign direct investments (FDI) in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries based on the attractiveness of policies most influenced by public officials. Our assessment of the FDI inflows in a country is based on four pillars: infrastructure, quality of institutions, labor market and taxes. The attraction degree of the CEE countries in 2007 and 2010 is calculated using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, a tool usually used for decision-making issues. The empirical result indicates that Estonia is the most attractive country for investments (as regards the public policy approach). Globally, the paper establishes the state's role in attracting FDI and identifies whether there is room for further improvement on the public policy side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University 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.)

The establishment of democracy in the communist countries, which generated profound social and economic transformation, was accompanied by a decline in fertility. We attempt to provide an overall survey on fertility since 1989 in ten Central and Eastern European Countries, members of the European Union, and to identify the variables which explain the fertility decline. We will use univariate and multivariate statistical analysis to identify disparities between the ten countries, and the variables which explain these differences. Also, we developed a panel econometric model to confirm the hypothesis of a similar pattern of evolution for fertility in these countries and that the decline in fertility can be explained both through demographic and economic variables. The decline in fertility can be explained by economic growth, marriage, divorce, abortion, and migration. The empirical evidence presented in this paper supports the view that the decline in fertility over the 1989s represents the continuation of a longstanding trend of the previous period, according to the demographic transition theory, but its speed and magnitude has been influenced by the new social and economic landscape. These results can be useful for public authorities of the CEE countries to rethinking demographic policies and to ensure the sustainability of demographic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the crisis frame, many forecasts failed to provide well determined ratios. What we tried to explain in this paper is how some selected Central and Eastern European countries will perform in the near future: Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic, using neural networks-based forecasting model which we created for the nominal and real convergence ratios. As a methodology, we propose the forecasting based on artificial neural network (ANN), using the well-known software tool GMDH Shell. For each output variable, we obtain a forecast model, according to previous values and other input related variables, and we applied the model to all countries. Our forecasts are much closer to the partial results of 2013 in the analyzed countries than the European Commission's or other international organizations' forecasts. The results of the forecast are important both for governments to design their financial strategies and for the investors in these selected countries. According to our results, the Czech Republic seems to be closer to achieve its nominal convergence in the next two years, but it faces great difficulties in the real convergence area, because it did not overpass the recession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although, at the time of accession to the EU, organic farming policies formally were equally developed in the Czech Republic and Poland, a closer investigation reveals some variation. This paper takes a policy network perspective to explore the policy differences between these two countries. Common network themes are used to link networks with policy output. It is argued that the capacity of the organic sector and its structural organization, its cohesion, and the relationship between organic interest groups and the government affect the political discourse, and, in consequence, how organic farming policy is elaborated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Following the massive entry of foreign banks into the Central and Eastern European (CEE) banking markets, one may wonder whether their competitive behaviour differs from that of their domestic counterparts, possibly leading to the segmentation of these markets at the regional and national levels. We find that the competitive behaviour of foreign and domestic banks differs, with foreign banks having less market power until the recent financial crisis and more market power after this financial turmoil. Despite this difference, banks tend to behave similarly, and their market power converges to a similar level. The tendency towards similar competitive behaviour is observed at the regional and national levels and for both foreign and domestic banks, although foreign institutions that enter these markets through the acquisition of domestic banks have slightly more market power. Our findings suggest the regional integration of CEE banking markets and no segmentation between foreign and domestic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University 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 Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu 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.)

This study investigates the determinants of FDI inflows in six Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) by incorporating the traditional factors and institutional variables over the 1996-2009 period. The study identifies whether and how these determinant factors differ across four investor countries (EU-15, the US, China, and Japan). The results verify, the positive and economically significant role of GDP size, trade openness. EU membership, and institutions (measured by economic freedoms, state fragility, political rights, and civil liberties indices) on FDI inflows. The results also reveal the existence of notable differences in the determinant factors across four investor countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to collect retrospective data on renal anemia management, comorbidities and prospective data on 12-month standard care erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy used in 398 hemodialyzed patients in selected Central and Eastern European countries (50 centers in 3 countries). Patients were divided into three groups according to ESA therapy start: group A-ESA (after start of hemodialysis, HD), B-ESA (within 3 months from start of HD), C-ESA (more than 3 months before HD). At the chronic kidney disease diagnosis, hemoglobin in all patients was 10.3 ± 2.3 g/dl; however, ferritin, iron, TSAT were within reference limits. Early ESA therapy (C) was administered to 10% of patients only. 47% of patients received ESA after start of dialysis. Before study, the mean weekly ESA dose in group C was statistically lower than in groups B and A (p < 0.001). At baseline visit, hemoglobin in group A patients was slightly lower than in group B and C patients (p = 0.025). In conclusion, in Central and Eastern European countries renal anemia therapy with ESA starts shortly before or after start of HD. This highlights important differences in standard care in Eastern Europe. However, paradoxically, due to the tight reimbursement policy we foresee the clinical implications of the TREAT trial for the chronic kidney disease population. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University 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.)