The Internationalisation (Transnationalisation) of the SME Sector as a Factor of Competitiveness

As part of a wider research program we analysed the theoretical frameworks and the developments of the process of internationalisation (transnationalisation) of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union and specifically in Hungary and Spain. We tried to highlight the barriers and trends of internationalisation. We consider internationalisation of the SME sector as a crucial factor in increasing competitiveness and as an important condition for sustainable and dynamic growth and improving employment (Europe 2020). We made policy recommendation mostly for the government in terms of how to promote the process. We carried out analyses of documents and databases, interviews, and online data collection

Convergência econômica dos Bálcãs Ocidentais à UE-15

This paper aims to analyze the beta convergence of Western Balkan countries towards the EU-15 Member States in the period 2004-2016, and two sub-periods: 2004-2008 and 2009-2013. Beta convergence is based on the neoclassical growth theory and tests the hypothesis that poor countries tend to grow faster than rich countries, in per capita terms. The empirical findings support the economic convergence hypothesis, with convergence rates ranging from 1.1% to 2.3%. The results show that the recent financial crisis negatively affected the absolute and conditional convergence process, when economic variables are included. The main limitation of the research is the availability of data.El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la convergencia beta de los países de los Balcanes Occidentales hacia los Estados miembros de la UE-15 en el periodo 2004-2016 y dos subperiodos: 2004-2008 y 2009-2013. La convergencia beta se basa en la teoría del crecimiento neoclásico y pone a prueba la hipótesis de que los países pobres tienden a crecer más rápido que los países ricos, en términos per cápita. Los hallazgos empíricos apoyan la hipótesis de convergencia económica, con tasas de convergencia que van del 1.1% al 2.3%. Los resultados muestran que la reciente crisis financiera afectó negativamente el proceso de convergencia absoluta y condicional, cuando se incluyen variables económicas. La principal limitación de la investigación es la disponibilidad de datos.O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a convergência beta dos países dos Bálcãs Ocidentais aos Estados-membros da UE-15 no período de 2004-2016, e dois subperíodos: 2004-2008 e 2009-2013. A convergência beta está baseada na teoria do crescimento neoclássico e coloca à prova a hipótese de que os países pobres tendem a crescer mais rápido do que os ricos, em termos per capita. Os achados empíricos apoiam a hipótese de convergência econômica, com taxas de convergência que vão de 1,1% a 2,3%. Os resultados demonstram que a recente crise financeira afetou negativamente o processo de convergência absoluta e condicional, quando são incluídas variáveis econômicas. A principal limitação desta pesquisa se encontra na disponibilidade de acesso aos dados

The Implications of Exhausting Unemployment Insurance Entitlement in Hungary

The single most likely way to leave the unemployment insurance (UI) register in Hungary is not by getting a job but by running out of entitlement to benefit. This situation raises two questions. First, what are the implications of the cessation of UI for living standards? Second, does UI exhaustion have much effect on the probability of getting a job through increasing incentives to work? We investigate these issues with a survey of persons exhausting entitlement to UI in Summer 1995, paying special attention to the household circumstances of the unemployed and to the probabilities of claiming and being awarded means-tested assistance benefit.

Out of credit: Evaluating the impact of the EU structural funds on Hungarian small business growth and access to finance

Totaling EUR 29 billion, Hungary is in the midst of implementing its largest economic development program in its young democratic history. At the center of the European Union led development program is an effort to revitalize and reequip Hungary’s languishing small and medium sized enterprises (SME), long the country's heart of employment. This paper examines the efficiency and impact of two Structural Fund's instruments to enhance SME development – ECOP 2.1.1 and JEREMIE. A survey of 1275 SME and interviews with dozens of top policy-makers paint a flawed development program in dire need of reform. Despite this, empirical analysis suggests JEREMIE funds may have dampened the effects of the financial crisis and are crucial for the continued liquidity of SME, who have been particularly hit hard by the world financial crisis

Efficiency of Effectiveness? The Hungarian Practice of Using the EU Funds

Efficiency or effectiveness? It not just the matter of definition. Experts and researchers have to make a difference between the qualitative and quantitative approach. The efficiency of EU subsidies means the ratio of the committed and disposable amount of EU subsidies can be measured, which was used and paid out within the given timeframe and along the legal regulations. The effectiveness of EU subsidies needs a much more complicated and complex approach than efficiency. The effectiveness of usage on a project level can be measured by the ‘added value’ of the project; and on the programme level by the added GDP growth or employment rate. The following research essentially analyses the project level or micro-effectiveness, however, it discusses the results of some macro-analyses as well (qualitative approach)

The Informational Value of Job Search Data and the Dynamics of Search Behaviour: Evidence from Hungary

Labour market analysis places much emphasis on the concept of search. But there is insufficient empirical information on (a) the relationship between reported search and job-finding and (b) how search behaviour changes over a spell without work. We investigate these issues using a sample constructed from Hungarian labour force survey panel data of the flow from jobs to the state of "joblessness". The results on job exits call into question aspects of the standard international classification of "unemployment" and "out of the labour force". Transitions during joblessness in and out of search and the various categories of non-search are found to be only modest.

The effect of monitoring unemployment insurance recipients on unemployment duration: evidence from a field experiment

Programme administration is a relatively neglected issue in the analysis of disincentive effects of unemployment benefit systems. We investigate this issue with a field experiment in Hungary involving random assignment of benefit claimants to treatment and control groups. Treatment increases the monitoring of claims - claimants make more frequent visits to the employment office and face questioning about their search behaviour. Treatment has quite a large effect on durations on benefit of women aged 30 and over, while we find no effect for younger women or men.field experiment, monitoring, job search, unemployment insurance, Hungary

Outflows from Insured Unemployment in Hungary, 1992-1996

The paper looks at outflows from registered unemployment in Hungary between 1992 and 1996 using microdata from the unemployment insurance system. We address two questions. First, we investigate the trends in outflows in the period. A related question is whether the decline in the unemployment stock from early 1993 is associated with an increase in the outflow. Second, we look at how the probability of leaving registered unemployment to five states - employment, training, subsidised employment, subsidised self-employment and public works - varies with personal characteristics and the local unemployment rate. This also shows how active labour market policy in Hungary is "targeted" across groups of unemployed.

Mechanical and thermal induced phase transformations in superduplex stainless steel

The aim of this work is to study the microstructural changes in SAF 2507 type superduplex stainless steel due to heat treatments and mechanical fatigue process. Specimens were heat treated in the 400-1360 °C temperature range for 1 and 5 hours respectively. An other series of specimens were periodically loaded by using a fatigue testing machine. The microstuctural changes were investigated by using a complex micromagnetic measuring system which includes a Barkhausen noise measuring and a magnetic harmonic analysing system. The RMS value of the Barkhausen noise, the distortion factor (k), and magnetic coercivity values were measured. The microstuctural changes were investigated by metallography using scanning electron microscope