ANALYSIS OF FLOWERS PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION DETERMINANTS IN CZECH REPUBLIC

Abstract The paper deals with an analysis of economic factors which aff ect production and consumption of fl ower branch products. It answers scientic questions set on base of the fact that this branch started to get in a centers of attention and experiences growth again. The paper uses both the linear and the nonlinear regression models results of which are instrumental to recognition of practical problems in the monitored area. The most important surveyed factor infl uencing the production appears an amount of covered areas used for growing. The use of this production factor was decreasing till 2004; only in the following period growing areas have been enlarged. Despite the fact the decrease in covered space leads to an increase in production thanks to growing intensifi cation of the production. Subsidies to farmers provided by the European Union in a form of direct payments SAPS aff ect the production positively, however, with a lower sensitivity than the intensively used growing area. Basic determinants of the fl ower consumption monitored in expenditures for the fl owers are among others the price and the income. Because a signifi cant part of the price is the value added tax the VAT rate was used as a representative explanatory variable. Its change will infl uence the consumption with a lower sensitivity than the variable of the income. In the last part of the paper, a behaviour of consumers divided in groups according to amount of income was analyzed. A saturation level was determined in the commodity fl owers in consumers in a salaried employment in 2010

Mlékárenský průmysl v Evropské unii: Skupinové shlukování zemí v období před a po zrušení mléčných kvót

The European Union dairy processing sector has an important position and role in processing food and drinks in EU28 concerning the share of turnover, value-added, and employment. Its products belong to the most imported and exported items, mainly in EU countries. The article aims to evaluate the competitiveness of the EU milk market with respect to pre- and post-milk quota elimination periods. In addition, the paper identifies similar characteristics of the EU dairy sector, including milk production and processing. Eurostat and FAOstat data from 2008-2018 were used. Based on the clustering of k means, five groups of EU countries were distinguished. The clustering analysis reveals that the post-communist EU member states are characterised by similar levels of dairy processing industry characteristics. In addition, the article shows that the competitiveness of the dairy processing industry is higher in the old EU member states (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom). The results indicate that the abolishment of the milk quota has not induced visible changes in the clustering of characteristics of the dairy processing industry in EU countries.Odvětví zpracování mléka v Evropské unii má důležitou pozici a roli v odvětví zpracování potravin a nápojů v EU28, pokud jde o podíl na obratu, přidané hodnotě a zaměstnanosti. Mléčné výrobky patří k nejvíce dováženým a vyváženým položkám, převážně v zemích EU. Příspěvek si klade za cíl identifikovat skupinu zemí EU, které se vyznačují podobnými charakteristikami mléčného zpracovatelského průmyslu, a posoudit rozdíly mezi klastry pro období před a po zrušení mléčných kvót. Dále je charakterizován mlékárenský sektor, včetně výroby a zpracování mléka. Ke zpracování byla využita data Eurostatu a Faostatu v letech 2008-2018. Na základě shlukování k-means bylo nalezeno pět skupin zemí EU. Shluková analýza odhaluje, že postkomunistické členské státy EU se vyznačují podobné charakteristiky mlékárenského průmyslu. Rovněž bylo zjištěno, že úroveň konkurenceschopnosti mlékárenského průmyslu je vyšší ve starých členských zemích EU (Belgie, Německo, Irsko, Řecko, Španělsko, Francie, Itálie, Lucembursko, Holandsko, Rakousko, Portugalsko, Finsko, Švédsko a Spojené království). Výsledky naznačují, že zrušení mléčných kvót nezpůsobilo viditelné změny ve shlukování charakteristik mlékárenského průmyslu v zemích EU

Geopolitical risks for Egypt wheat supply and trade

IntroductionSince 2005, Russia has established a stable position in Egypt's wheat imports, and after 2016, it became the largest global wheat exporter. The shift in Russian grain production has visibly affected wheat export destinations in favor of developing countries. This paper identifies the main determinants of wheat trade in Egypt concerning the primary risks associated with the war in Ukraine.MethodsThe paper utilizes time series analysis, index analysis, and an econometric model to define the statistical relationship between the quantity of wheat imported into Egypt and population development, wheat price, and wheat production.ResultsDespite increasing wheat production growth rates (1.9% p.a. over 2000–2020) and a growing population (2.01% p.a.), Egypt is unable to reduce its import dependence below 50% of total consumption. Undernourishment in Egypt remains at 5.2%–5.4% of the population. The econometric model shows that variables describing the evolution of production, population, and prices are statistically significant in relation to wheat imports. Egypt's wheat imports continue to increase even with rising prices, which is typical for developing countries. The war in Ukraine and associated commodity price increases have far-reaching implications for Africa's food security and supply systems.DiscussionEgypt's vulnerability to external influences, such as climate change, migration, rising commodity prices, and population growth, exacerbates the situation. Most African countries, including Egypt, struggle with the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also face rising food and energy prices, conflicts between the world's largest food producers, and increasing poverty rates. The research findings confirm that Egypt is among the highly vulnerable countries due to the war in Ukraine and the disruption of agricultural supply chains

Development and Structural Changes of Carbon Footprint in EU28

This paper examines the development of CO2 emissions in individual countries of the European Union (EU28) for the period between 2000 and 2017. Carbon footprint is monitored in four basic economic sectors of the EU28 countries—energy, other industries, agriculture, and waste management. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a structural analysis of the percentage contribution of individual sectors while determining the average conversion of emissions in tonnes per capita for individual countries, subsequently identifying the tendencies in the development of the detected rates. A cluster analysis for the EU28 that demonstrate similar carbon footprint values in the examined economic areas is conducted for the findings. The partial aim of the paper is to perform a comparison of the monitored countries and detect whether the differences between those striving for decarbonisation are diminishing. The energy industry is the most significant contributor to emission levels. The index analysis indicates that the level of emissions throughout the EU28 in all the monitored sectors has decreased, predominantly in waste management (by 40%,) which is followed by industry (17%), energy (by 16.2%), and agriculture (by 5%). The cluster analysis conducted for 2000 and 2017 has confirmed the convergence of the identified groups of the EU28. Individual clusters of the countries thus display minor differences and converge in general

Productivity of Czech Milk Production in European Comparison

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the development and main characteristics of Czech milk production productivity and to compare Czech development with the situation in the European Union. From a methodological point of view, a parametric approach in the form of stochastic frontier analysis was applied, the input distance function was estimated, and total factor productivity was examined. The analysis used an unbalanced panel data set, which describes TF14-45 specialist milk production from 27 member states of the European Union in the period 2004–2016 collected in the FADN database. The results showed that in the Czech Republic, the average value of technical efficiency was 94.01% during the analysed time period. Compared to EU member states, this figure was above the EU-13 average (93.71%). Czech milk production in the analysed period and the milk production of almost all other EU countries was characterized by increasing returns to scale. Examination of total factor productivity (TFP) showed that the scale effect and technical efficiency change effect can be considered the main components of TFP changes in Czech milk production. However, the scale effect was more significant in EU-15 countries than the Czech milk sector

Productivity of Czech Milk Production in European Comparison

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the development and main characteristics of Czech milk production productivity and to compare Czech development with the situation in the European Union. From a methodological point of view, a parametric approach in the form of stochastic frontier analysis was applied, the input distance function was estimated, and total factor productivity was examined. The analysis used an unbalanced panel data set, which describes TF14-45 specialist milk production from 27 member states of the European Union in the period 2004–2016 collected in the FADN database. The results showed that in the Czech Republic, the average value of technical efficiency was 94.01% during the analysed time period. Compared to EU member states, this figure was above the EU-13 average (93.71%). Czech milk production in the analysed period and the milk production of almost all other EU countries was characterized by increasing returns to scale. Examination of total factor productivity (TFP) showed that the scale effect and technical efficiency change effect can be considered the main components of TFP changes in Czech milk production. However, the scale effect was more significant in EU-15 countries than the Czech milk sector

Productivity of Czech Milk Production in European Comparison

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the development and main characteristics of Czech milk production productivity and to compare Czech development with the situation in the European Union. From a methodological point of view, a parametric approach in the form of stochastic frontier analysis was applied, the input distance function was estimated, and total factor productivity was examined. The analysis used an unbalanced panel data set, which describes TF14-45 specialist milk production from 27 member states of the European Union in the period 2004–2016 collected in the FADN database. The results showed that in the Czech Republic, the average value of technical efficiency was 94.01% during the analysed time period. Compared to EU member states, this figure was above the EU-13 average (93.71%). Czech milk production in the analysed period and the milk production of almost all other EU countries was characterized by increasing returns to scale. Examination of total factor productivity (TFP) showed that the scale effect and technical efficiency change effect can be considered the main components of TFP changes in Czech milk production. However, the scale effect was more significant in EU-15 countries than the Czech milk sector

Climate Change and Sustainability in Czech Wheat Production

The paper deals with the analysis of Czech wheat production and its determinants. We use the Just and Pope (1979) stochastic production function to estimate the effects of economic and weather variables, together with technological progress and climate change, on wheat yield in the Czech regions in the period 1961–2018. The results suggest that both economic and environmental factors play important roles in the wheat yield function. The output/input price ratio has a positive effect on the wheat yield. The effects of temperature and precipitation are month-specific and highly non-linear. Technological change also has a positive effect on yield, whereas climate change has a rather negative effect on wheat yield