Use of coordination fields in food economics

The coordination plays central role in the economics. The conventional economic theory looks at the market and enterprise (or hierarchy) as two different, separated manner of coordination of economic goods and services. However the modern organization theory, price theory and institutional economics show that different types (not only market and enterprise, but also several types of hybrid forms) of coordination (or governance structure) necessarily live together in the current economic system. Based on my previous research on the field of regional clusters in the food industry I came to the conclusion that the cluster is one of the spheres where economic coordination can occur. At the same time I pointed out that the ways of coordination can be ordered on an ordinary scale according to its normative or positive nature. I've also found that the choice between the coordination spheres (market, enterprise or cluster) is not arbitrary, but instead depends on the interest's dimension which is represented by the exchange of goods and services in question. --exchange,coordination,institutions,governance structure

Innovation across the food chain – the Hungarian case

The small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Hungarian agri-food sector play determining role. The innovation capacity (efforts, activities and results) however of the individual SMEs is very limited. Food production (including SMEs) has to fulfil food safety requirements in a rapidly increasing extent, which implies a continuous innovation and development process from all market players. In Hungary the agri-food chain had to face a suddenly increased competition especially after the EU enlargement. Based on survey data this paper examines the efforts, activities and results in knowledge acquisition, utilisation, coordination and transfer in the Central Hungarian food SMEs. We have found (using ordered logistic regression) that R&D expenditures, achieved innovations, export/import orientation as well as the networking activity of the SMEs play significant role in market development

Food SMEs’ innovation profile – the Hungarian case

The small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Hungarian agri-food sector play determining role. The innovation capacity (efforts, activities and results) however of the individual SMEs is very limited. Food production (including SMEs) has to fulfil food safety requirements in a rapidly increasing extent, which implies a continuous innovation and development process from all market players. In Hungary the agri-food sector had to face a suddenly increased competition especially after the EU enlargement. Based on survey data this paper examines the efforts, activities and results in knowledge acquisition, utilisation, coordination and transfer in the Central Hungarian food SMEs. We have found (using ordered logistic regression) that R&D expenditures, achieved innovations, export/import orientation as well as the networking activity of the SMEs play significant role in market development

Value creation and appropriation through the Hungarian SME’s food chain

Value creation is the result of the continuous innovation activity of the entrepreneur, which is carried out mainly in form of open innovation among the agri-food SMEs. However value creation is not the ultimate goal of the enterprises. They are more interested in increased appropriation of the created value. Although the value creation (innovation) is very well explored and cultivated area of research, there are some voids in the field of agriculture and food industry: the behavioural aspect of open innovation is very rare. The value capturing is even much less studied, therefor our research approach is largely explorative one. Data are drawn from a survey carried out in Hungary among the agri-food SMEs in 2014. We use Structural Equation Modelling as well as ordered probit and semi-non parametric ordered probit models for analysing the data. Our results show that there is positive relationship between the knowledge sharing with chain partners and the innovativeness. We could explore that size of the firm, absorptive capacity and openness to foreign trade ambiguously affects value capturing. However trust in chain partners, reciprocity in knowledge sharing with chain partners and willingness to cooperate with buyers positively influence the appropriation of the created value

Trust - Networking - Innovation

From innovation point of view the agri-food industry is seen as matured branch of the economy, where revolutionary new products and processes are very rare. Especially the SMEs are in squeezing situation: they have to fit very sharp prerequisites and demands on one side and very much constrained resources to give them power in order to formulate appropriate answers on the other side. They are looking for partners beyond the boundaries of their organization, mainly with other firms, universities, research organisations and government agencies. Adopting an effective innovation process to successfully introduce and develop new products to the market has become one of the most important strategies for food companies. The innovation dimension of networking activity contributes to growing network complexity, which in turn also affects the nature of traditional governance structure. Trust and other relational factors are playing an increasing role in these structures. Our research interest is whether the trust as coordination form of governance structure plays significant role in the Hungarian agri-food industry. Empirical data was drawn from a survey carried out in Central Hungary and aiming at the research of cooperation and knowledge management within the SMEs of the food economy. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is applied in order to determine the relationship among the three (Trust, Networking, Innovation) latent factors. We have found that trust plays significant positive role in increasing networking activity and innovation, but the extent of it is less than expected

Az európai betétbiztosítási és bankszanálási rendszerek jellemzői és azok finanszírozása

Az Európai Parlament és az Európa Tanács 2014-ben közös irányelvekben fogalmazta meg elvárásait egyrészt a bankok és befektetési vállalkozások szanálási mechanizmusára, másrészt a betétbiztosításra vonatkozóan. A szanálási mechanizmus erősítésére az euróövezet tagállamaiban alkalmazandó, az irányelveknek megfelelő rendelet alapján létrejön az Egységes Szanálási Alap, amely a bajba kerülő hitelintézetek, befektetési vállalkozások szanálásának pénzügyi hátterét biztosítja, míg az irányelvek alapján a nem euróövezeti tagállamok saját, nemzeti szanálási alapot hoznak létre. Cikkünkben a betétbiztosítási és szanálási folyamatot elemezzük, továbbá számítással támasztjuk alá azt az állításunkat, amely szerint az Európai Bizottság által előzetesen 55 milliárd euró nagyságúra tervezett Egységes Szanálási Alap vagyona az eredeti tervekhez képest nagyobb lesz.* Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) kód: E53, E58, G20, G21, G28, G38

Geothermal phenomena in the context of gravity-driven basinal flow of groundwater

Gravity-driven groundwater flow systems function in topographic basins as subsurface conveyor belts. They pick up and move fluids, gases, solutes, colloids, particulate matter and heat from loading sites in recharge areas and/or on their way to the discharge areas and can deliver them “en route” or in discharge regions. Gravitational flow systems of various horizontal and vertical extents are organized into hierarchically nested complex patterns controlled by the configuration of the water table’s relief and modified by the rock framework’s heterogeneities of permeability. The systems are ubiquitous and act simultaneously on broad ranges of the spatial and temporal scales of measurement. Their universal geologic agency is manifest by numerous different, even disparate, natural processes and phenomena. Several of these are associated with geothermal heat flow. The understanding of geothermal phenomena in the context of basinal flow systems requires, therefore, an intimate familiarity with the overarching “Theory of regional groundwater flow” which, in turn, comprises two component theories: “The hydraulics of basin-scale groundwater flow systems” and “The geologic agency of basin-scale groundwater flow-systems”. The paper’s outline is based on this conceptual structure. The paper presents examples for geothermal effects of groundwater flow by means of the first theoretical models and some case studies of thermal springs and wells, and petroleum accumulations. The final section reflects the author’s conviction that geothermal studies cannot be complete without consideration and understanding of the area’s groundwater flow regime