The competitiveness of EU regions

The competitiveness of EU regions This paper results from the project financed by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GA ÈR). The project was carried out by the research team consisting of both The Centre of Regional and Administrative Studies and The Regional Studies Department's members in 2009 -2011. The introductory part of the paper is focused on the theoretical background with a special emphasis on the concept definition and determination of factors of the regional competitiveness. The concept of competitiveness is relatively new in the economics and the economic geography. In fact, there are no general definitions, the concept is mostly related to a specific issue. Micro-oriented definitions consider the competitiveness as a success in selling products or services on open markets. The macro-economic view is much more variable. It is often associated with an economic development of a sustainable character. The social and environmental aspect is also closely observed as well as the impact of the regional economic growth on other regions, in the sense of whether or not the economic growth is realized at the expense of other regions. The following part of the paper, based on the methodology and index defined for this purpose, assesses the competitiveness of EU regions on the NUTS II level. The regional competitiveness index was compiled on the basis of available Eurostat data. Next part of the paper presents the key factors of the regional competitiveness. Factors are classified as universal and specific. Concerning universal factors, regions with a high level of competitiveness mostly have an important economic centre; these are often metropolitan regions of member states (London, Stockholm, Paris, Prague) with a significant share of services and existence of both public and private decision-making headquarters. In non-metropolitan regions with a high level of competitiveness, there is an economic centre- city with a share of services, R&D and innovation sector. Competitive regions (or their centres) are mostly well connected with the transport infrastructure, especially TEN-T, national highways and international airports. Such regions are important air, rail, road or water transport junctions. One of the key aspects of the regional competitiveness is the concentration of scientific, R&D and innovative institutions often linked to tertiary educational institutions. In general, the educational structure with a high proportion of tertiary or higher secondary educated population (corresponding to the Czech system of secondary education with the school-leaving examination-maturita) is another aspect of a competitive region. The institutional conditions also determine the regional competitiveness and development. Specific factors of the regional competitiveness are the tourism potential, natural sources and the technical infrastructure

Industrial zones – an effective tool of regional development support in transitive economy? Case study: The Czech Republic

Investment incentives as well as promotion of industrial zones become one of the most debated issue for experts, especially in connection with the effect of foreign direct investments on economies at both national and regional levels. The aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of promotion of industrial zones as the key tool of regional development support in the framework of economic conditions in the Czech Republic. The assessment is focused on industrial zones support which was provided by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the Czech Republic or, more precisely, the CzechInvest agency in the framework of the Programme on Industrial Zones Development Support, Programme on Business Zones and Infrastructure Support and the Investment Incentives System. This paper's main source is the data set obtained in empirical research carried out by authors throughout industrial zones across the Czech Republic. Another important source was the accomplished analysis of economic management of all economic subjects observed in the supported industrial zones mentioned above. The research shows that firms in industrial zones have positive effects on the regional labor market, that companies in industrial zones contribute to technological development through restructuring of industry and affect SMEs positively, that industrial zones improve the business image of the region. The negative effect on the environment is low and the impact of industrial zones on social cohesion may be considered as neutral. Firms contribute to efficient use of available resources, creating greater added value. In the context of economic development, it is also possible to evaluate positively stable export growth in its absolute value; wages of workers in industrial zones may be assessed as above average as firms try to get quality workforce. The contribution of observed companies (or industrial zones) to the total number of jobs created in R&D is very limited. Industrial zones may be considered as significant accelerators of secondary sector development and, to a relatively lesser extent, also on the Quaternary and Quinternary. To assess the impact of the state support in industrial zones on the state budget, a complex function has been compiled to map specific indicators. The model has been applied in three variants: 'pessimistic', 'medium' and 'optimistic' and has implemented data from the period of 2006 to 2009

XXV. mezinárodní kolokvium o regionálních vědách

Title in English: 25th International Colloquium on Regional Sciences: Conference proceedings The conference proceedings consists of papers presented at the 25th International Colloquium on Regional Sciences that was organized by Department of Regional Economics and Administration FEA MU. It contains 57 articles arranged by topic. The individual articles deal with e.g. socioeconomic disparities among regions, regional policy, territory attractiveness, tourism, or regional public administration

THE EFFECT OF STIMULUS INTENSITY IN SENSORY PRECONDITIONING.

Abstract not availabl

Czech Regional policy in epoch access to European Union

Czech Regional policy in epoch access to European Union. Regional policy, Structural funds, Cohesion fund, Regional structure.P(GA402/03/1306), Z(MSM 265300021

Location Factors of Small and Medium Enterpreneurship under the Economic Condictions of the Čzech Republic

Za první významný milník výzkumu problematiky lokalizace v teoretickém pojetí je možno označit vytvoření prvních lokalizačních teorií založených na předpokladech dokonalé konkurence, na které navazuje celá řada pozdějších lokalizačních teorií. Po zpochybnění předpokladů dokonalé konkurence byla modifikována také lokalizační teorie. Problematice dosažení určité úrovně monopolizace je věnován např. Hotellingův model. Z teoretického směru lokalizace služeb je třeba zmínit zejména klasickou teorii centrálních míst W. Christallera. Z francouzského prostředí vychází polarizační teorie, která má silné vazby na problematiku klastrů (je používána k jejich identifikaci). Specifický směr představují behaviorální a institucionální přístupy zpochybňují např. některé předpoklady racionálního chování jednotlivců a firem. Základem všech lokalizačních teorií je hledání faktorů lokalizace. Faktory lokalizace jsou specifické vlastnosti daných míst, které mají vliv na umístění socioekonomických aktivit. Jedná se o problematiku, která je vysoce aktuální i v současném národním hospodářství České republiky při snižujícím se významu materiálově orientovaných faktorů. Na základě empirického výzkumu lze provést následující kategorizaci faktorů SME vázaných na lokální či regionální dodavatelský či odběratelský trh ČR dle významnosti v lokalizačním procesu. První kategorii tvoří faktory, jejichž význam pro SME je nezpochybnitelný napříč sektorovou a velikostní strukturou. Do této kategorie patří ze sledovaných faktorů pouze geografická (dopravní) blízkost odbytového trhu. Protipólem této kategorie jsou faktory, které nejsou významné ani v jedné z velikostních nebo sektorových kategorií. Do této (druhé) kategorie patří možnost získat exklusivní postavení na daném trhu a možnost spolupráce s konkurencí a získání informací od konkurence. Třetí kategorii tvoří faktory, které jsou významné v některé ze sledovaných sektorových či velikostních kategoriích. Sem patří geografická blízkost (vzdálenost) konkurence (její význam lze identifikovat v terciárním sektoru a u velikostní kategorie mikrofirmy), geografická blízkost dodavatelů (faktor významný pro střední firmy), dostupnost komplementárních služeb (významná pro všechny velikostní kategorie a v sekundárním a terciárním sektoru), hospodářský růst regionu (významný pro všechny velikostní kategorie a v sekundárním a terciárním sektoru), kopírování konkurence (významné v primárním sektoru a v kategorii středních firem). Stanovená hypotéza určující existenci universálních lokalizačních faktorů vázaných na lokální či regionální dodavatelský a odběratelský trh v ČR definovaná ?I přes značně různé určení lokalizačních faktorů v teorii lokalizace, existují lokalizační faktory malého a středního podnikání vázané na lokální či regionální dodavatelský a odběratelský trh v ČR, které lze označit za universální, tj. takové, které zvyšují atraktivnost daného místa pro většinu podnikatelských subjektů malého a středního podnikání.? byla na základě provedeného testování s nízkou nejistotou vyvrácena. Napříč sektory a velikostními kategoriemi je významný pouze faktor geografická (dopravní) blízkost odbytového trhu. Tento faktor však v žádném případě nelze označit za universální. Výsledky fakticky determinují možnosti dalšího výzkumu lokalizačních faktorů. Jako logické pokračování výzkumu lze identifikovat hledání specifických lokalizačních faktorů dle jednolitých oborů ekonomiky.The first location theories are based on assumptions of perfect competition (e.g. J. H. von Thünen, A. Weber). These theories build fundaments for other classic or modern theories of location decision-making process. Modification of location theory was realized after deconstruction of assumptions of perfect competition (e.g. Hotelling´s model, A. Lösch). The key point of the location service sector theory is the central places theory (W. Christaller). The influence of French background is important in pole development theory given base for interpretation of spatial dimension of modern spatial cluster this theory. The behavioural theory?s authors deconstructed the assumptions of rational behavior of consumers and firms. The realized empirical research in 284 small and medium firms (SME) is a base for classification of location decision making factors. The empirical research was aimed to verification of SME factors realized on local or regional supplier and customer's market in the Czech Republic. The universality of location factors is tested. Geographical (transport) nearness of the customer?s market (factors important for SME location decision making process irrespective of sector and size character) forms the first category. The reverse category (factors insignificant over the sector and size character) is formed by the possibility to gain an unique market position, possibility to cooperate with competitiveness and improve information position about its activities. The third category (factors important partly) is formed by geographical nearness (distance) of competitiveness (important in tertiary sector and for micro-firm location decision making process), geographical nearness of suppliers (important for medium firms), accessibility of complementary services, regional economic growth (important over size characteristic and in secondary and tertiary sector) and copying of competitiveness (important in primary sector and category of medium firms). None of tested location decision-making factors can be determined as a universal one (important for majority of firms irrespective of sector and size characterization)

Location factors of small and medium sizes entrepreneuship under the economic conditions of the Czech republic

The first location theories are based on assumptions of perfect competition (e.g. J. H. von Thünen, A. Weber). These theories build fundaments for other classic or modern theories of lo- cation decision-making process. Modification of location theory was realized after deconstruction of assumptions of perfect competition (e.g. Hotelling ́s model, A. Lösch). The key point of the location service sector theory is the central places theory (W. Christaller). The influence of French background is important in pole development theory given base for interpretation of spatial di- mension of modern spatial cluster this theory. The behavioural theory‘s authors deconstructed the assumptions of rational behavior of consumers and firms. The realized empirical research in 284 small and medium firms (SME) is a base for classificati- on of location decision making factors. The empirical research was aimed to verification of SME factors realized on local or regional supplier and customer‘s market in the Czech Republic. The universality of location factors is tested. Geographical (transport) nearness of the customer’s market (factors important for SME location decision making process irrespective of sector and size character) forms the first category. The reverse category (factors insignificant over the sector and size character) is formed by the possi- bility to gain an unique market position, possibility to cooperate with competitiveness and improve information position about its activities. The third category (factors important partly) is formed by geographical nearness (distance) of competitiveness (important in tertiary sector and for micro- -firm location decision making process), geographical nearness of suppliers (important for medi- um firms), accessibility of complementary services, regional economic growth (important over size characteristic and in secondary and tertiary sector) and copying of competitiveness (important in primary sector and category of medium firms). None of tested location decision-making factors can be determined as a universal one (impor- tant for majority of firms irrespective of sector and size characterization)