Measuring transparency in public spending: Case of Czech Public e-Procurement Information System

The objective of this paper is to analyze the potential of e-Government tools to enable the general public to oversee spending of public institutions. The paper illustrates the “watchdog” potential of reducing corruption by means of providing information to the public on the example of the Czech Public e-Procurement Information System (further called System). The System is an Internet portal, where public authorities announce their intention to purchase goods and services. Such announcements are monitored by private entities that can compete for the respective public contract. For our paper we used a web robot to collect data about public procurements from the System and utilized them for construction of an original Transparency Index, which rates institutions that award public contracts (so called contracting authorities). The composite Index is constructed as a weighted sum of ten various transparency indicators, computed separately for each contracting authority. This Index could serve as an efficient benchmark for continuous control and comparison of public institutions in the area of public procurement and demonstrates how an e-Government tool can contribute to greater openness and accountability of these public institutions and to enhancement of the civic engagement in the control of governmental activities. The results of our research suggest that although the System is good step forward, its current structure does not enable the public to effectively exercise public control over procurements spending of contracting authorities, because of serious difficulties related to viewing (and extraction) of aggregate data. On the other hand, on example of our Transparency Index, we demonstrate that if the System allowed for easier access to data on public procurements, it would serve as an efficient tool of public control and facilitate open government initiatives.public procurement, Transparency Index, efficient public control, open government, corruption

Inflation of virtual currencies

Tato práce studuje mechanismy formování cen uvnitř ekonomiky virtuálního světa World of Warcraft, a jeho propojení s ekonomikou reálnou, skrze obchod herních peněz za skutečné. Hlavním zjištěním je fakt, že ekonomika WoW je významně ovlivňována tímto obchodem, především její cenová hladina. Pomocí empirické studie autor ukazuje že dlouhodobá inflace herní měny je způsobena změnami směnného kurzu EUR/CNY, a aktualizacemi hry ze strany jejích autorů. Následuje mikroekonomický model studující motivaci autorů k znehodnocování vlastní měny. Závěrečná teoretická kapitola, vycházející z odkazu Karla Mengera, studuje konkurenceschopnost virtuálních měn oproti těm reálným. Celá práce významně spočívá na jedinečných datech, získaných pomocí softwaru vytvořeného autorem.This papers examines formation of prices in virtual economy World of Warcraft, and its interconnection with real economy through Real Money Trade - exchange of in-game currency for real cash. Paper nds, that WoW economy is heavily leveraged through this channel, namely that it determines price level within the game. It empirically shows that causes of long-run in ation of currency are EUR/CNY FX rate and patches issued by game operator. Later on author builds general microeconomic model of arti cial scarcity, to explain motivation of game operator to in ate own currency. Last chapter is devoted to potential of virtual currencies, argumenting with thoughts of Karl Menger, that these currencies may be able to compete with real ones. Paper heavily relies on unique data, collected using software developed by author.Institute of Economic StudiesInstitut ekonomických studiíFaculty of Social SciencesFakulta sociálních vě

Taxonomy and bionomy of the weevils of the tribe Hyperini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Stanovisko k doktorské disertačnípráci Mgr. JiříhoSkuhrovce Taxonomiea bionomienosatcoviýchbroukůzeskupinyHyperini (Coleopteraz Curculionidae) JiříSkuhrovecnastoupildo doktorskéhostudiasjasnýmprojektem,kterýbyl aje v těsné návaznostinajehoprojektmagisterský.Stanoviskooborovéradyzoologiek podanému projektubylovíceneŽkladné,navícpodpořenéautoritouškolitelespecialistouRomanem Borovcem.ostatnístudijnípovinnostibyly splněnybezezbytku. Výslednýspisje postavennaosmipracíchajednomabstraktuzmezinárodní konference.Dvě z nichjsouvýištěnyv impaktovanýchčasopisech,atoZootaxaaJournalof EconomicEntomologl.Dalšítři jsoupublikoványv mezinárodníchrecenzovaných periodicích.Zbýek tvořítři dotiskupředloženémanuskripty. PráceprošlykvalitnímrecenznímŤízením.Jeprotopromnetéměřzbyečnésezde pokoušetnajítnedostatky,kterénějakýmpodivnýmřízenímosudu,unikly kriticemnohem přísnějšíchspecialistův danémoboru.Sezájmemjsemsi přečetli úvodníkomentář,ve kterémdefendendzasazujesvédílčívýsledkydoširšíhoteoretickéhorámcea přibližujeblíže problematikutaxonomie,bionomiea zoogeografieuvedenýchskupin' Zvýšeuvedenéhovyplývá,ženemámk předloženémuspisuŽádnénegativní komentářeanipóznámky.Jensnadbychseráddozvěděljakouproblematikuřešíkolega v současnédobě,čihodlářešitv blízkébudoucnosti,zdaplánujenapříkladřešenítaxonomie za...Stanovisko k doktorskédisertačnípráci Mgr' Jiřího Skuhrovce Taxonomie a bionomie nosatcovitých broukůze skupiny Hyperini (Coleoptera: Carculionidae) Jiří Skuhrovecnastoupildo doktorskéhostudiasjasnýmprojektem,kterýbyl aje v těsné návaznostinajeho projektmagisterský.Stanoviskooborovérady zoologie k podanému projektubylo vícenežkladné,navícpodpořenéautoritouškolitelespecialistouRomanem Borovcem. ostatní studijnípovinnosti byly splněny beze zbytku. Výsledný spisje postavenna osmi pracíchajednom abstraktuzmezinárodni konference. Dvě z nich jsou vytištěnyv impaktovaných časopisech, a to Zootaxa a Journal of Economic Entomologl. Dalšítři jsou publikovány v mezinárodníchrecenzovaných periodicích,Zbytek tvoří tři do tisku předloženémanuskripty. Práce prošlykvalitním recenznímŤízením.Je proto pro mne téměřzbyečnése zde pokoušetnajítnedostatky,kterénějakým podivnýmŤízerumosudu' unikly kritice mnohem přísnějšíchspecialistův danémoboru.Se zájmemjsem si přečetli úvodníkomentář,ve kterémdefendendzasazujesvédílčívýsledky do širšíhoteoretickéhorámce a přibližujeblíže problematikutaxonomie,bionomie a zoogeografieuvedenýchskupin. Zvýše uvedenéhovyp|ývá, Že nemámk předloženémuspisu Žádnénegativní komentrířeani póznámky. Jen snadbych se rád dozvěděljakou problematiku řešíkolega v současnédobě,čihodlá řešitv...Department of ZoologyKatedra zoologiePřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc

Revision of the genus Limobius, with the description of a new species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Hyperini)

The new species, Limobius winkelmanni sp. n. is described, keyed, and illustrated. This enigmatic new species has seven desmomeres as other Hyperini-species, but according to shape of elytra and aedeagus, which are typical for representatives of Limobius, it is treated in this genus. The actualised key and check-list of Limobius is presented. The taxonomical position and status of the genus Limobius within the tribe Hyperini is also discussed here.The study of Jiří Skuhrovec was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture (Mze ČR) RO0416 and a SYNTHESYS (ES-TAF-3511).Miguel A. Alonso-Zarazaga was partly supported by project CGL2015‐66571‐P (MINECO/FEDER) (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain).Peer reviewe

The Invasive Box Tree Moth Five Years after Introduction in Slovakia: Damage Risk to Box Trees in Urban Habitats

The box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive species in Europe and a serious pest of box trees (Buxus spp.). In Slovakia, Central Europe, it was first reported in 2012 within the low elevation region with a warm climate. We hypothesize that the cold mountain region of Slovakia would provide less suitable conditions for the spread of this species, indicated by no or only slight damage to box trees. Five years after C. perspectalis was first recorded in Slovakia, we assessed the probability of occurrence of the moth and the probability of damage to box trees (Buxus sempervirens) by its larvae, using temperature and altitude data as predictors. In June and July 2017, at 156 locations (towns and villages) between the altitudes of 109 and 888 m, we recorded damage and categorized the intensity of damage to box trees by C. perspectalis using a four-point scale. Box trees infested by C. perspectalis were recorded in most locations at altitudes between 110 and 400 m with the mean annual temperature varying between 10.5 and 7.9 °C. High damage to box trees was found in locations up to 340 m a.s.l. characterized by mean annual temperatures above 8.5 °C. Our results suggested high probability (>60%) of any damage to box trees for the area up to approximately 300 m a.s.l. (mean annual temperature above 8.4 °C), and high probability (>60%) of high damage for the area up to approximately 250 m a.s.l. (mean annual temperature above 9 °C). The area where damage to box trees was predicted using the altitude showed great overlap with the area predicted using the mean annual temperature. The area with the probability of any damage was only slightly larger than the area with the probability of high damage

Species interactions: next‐level citizen science

We envisage a future research environment where digital data on species interactions are easily accessible and comprehensively cover all species, life stages and habitats. To achieve this goal, we need data from many sources, including the largely untapped potential of citizen science for mobilising and utilising existing information on species interactions. Traditionally volunteers contributing information on the occurrence of species have focused on single-species observations from within one target taxon. We make recommendations on how to improve the gathering of species interaction data through citizen science, which data should be collected and how it can be motivated. These recommendations include providing feedback in the form of network visualisations, leveraging a wide variety of other data sources and eliciting an emotional connection to the species in question. There are many uses for these data, but in the context of biological invasions, information on species interactions will increase understanding of the effects of invasive alien species on recipient communities and ecosystems. We believe that the inclusion of ecological networks as a concept within citizen science, not only for initiatives focussed on biological invasions but also across other ecological themes, will not only enrich scientific knowledge on species interactions but also deepen the experience and enjoyment of citizens themselves

Scots pine forest in Central Europe as a habitat for Harmonia axyridis: temporal and spatial patterns in the population of an alien ladybird

Understanding of habitat favourability has wide relevance to the invasion biology of alien species. We studied the seasonal dynamics of the alien ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in monoculture Scots pine forest stands in south-west Slovakia, Central Europe, from April 2013 to March 2015. Adult H. axyridis were collected monthly across seven randomly selected pine stands of different ages and canopy closure, from the lower branches of pine trees, and larvae were recorded qualitatively. Adults were recorded all year round, most abundantly in November and least abundantly in February. The relationship between the abundance of H. axyridis and selected forest stand characteristics was modelled using the negative binomial Generalized Additive Model with penalized spline component in month (seasonality) effect, year, canopy closure and age effects and the random effect of forest stand (sample area effect). The abundance of H. axyridis was significantly influenced by the age of stand and seasonality (with month granularity) for both closed and open canopy stands, whereas the effects of canopy closure and sample area were not significant. The bimodal pattern of seasonal dynamics of H. axyridis on Scots pine was common for closed and open canopy stands, with two peaks reflecting the cyclic movement of the species from and to overwintering sites. Harmonia axyridis utilized certain pine stands preferably for foraging during the growing season and certain stands for refuge during winter. The ladybirds were found in highest numbers in the 15 year old closed canopy stand (overwintering site). The occurrence of both adults and larvae in most stands indicated a suitability of Scots pine forest for ladybird breeding. The model of year-round dynamics of H. axyridis has been presented for the first time within the invaded range of the ladybird in Europe

Development of the European Ladybirds Smartphone Application: A Tool for Citizen Science

Wildlife observations submitted by volunteers through citizen science initiatives are increasingly used within research and policy. Ladybirds are popular and charismatic insects, with most species being relatively easy to identify from photographs. Therefore, they are considered an appropriate taxonomic group for engaging people through citizen science initiatives to contribute long-term and large-scale datasets for use in many different contexts. Building on the strengths of a mass participation citizen science survey on ladybirds in the United Kingdom, we have developed a mobile application for ladybird recording and identification across Europe. The main aims of the application are to: (1) compile distribution data for ladybird species throughout Europe, and use this to assess changes in distribution over time; (2) connect and engage people in nature and increase awareness about the diversity and ecological importance of ladybirds. In developing the application we first constructed a database including ladybird species from the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Belgium, and Portugal with associated information on relevant morphological features (e.g., size, main color, pronotum pattern) to inform identification. Additionally, the species were assessed on the basis of probability of occurrence within each country which enables users to reduce the number of species to only those with relevance to the location of the recorder. This is amongst the first collaborative citizen science approaches aimed at involving participants across Europe in recording a group of insects. In the near future, we aim to expand the use of the application to all countries in Europe

Factors determining variation in colour morph frequencies in invasive Harmonia axyridis populations

The Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis Pallas, native to eastern Asia, is an invasive, non-native species that has recently achieved an almost worldwide distribution. A conspicuous feature of this species is colour polymorphism of the elytra. In its native area, the populations consist of a recessive non-melanic morph, several dominant melanic morphs and small numbers of other (rare) morphs. The morph proportions in native populations have been intensively studied and vary with geographic area, climate and time. In contrast, colour polymorphism in invaded regions has been little studied. We examine and try to account for the morph frequencies observed across the different invaded regions. In America, monomorphic populations consist of the non-melanic morphs while European populations contain also melanic morphs. In particular geographic areas of Europe, the average percentage of the non-melanic morphs varied between 78 and 99%. It was highest in the lowlands of northern Italy and central and northern Europe and decreased in the Alps and western (Spain, UK) and eastern (southeast Russia) margins of the recently invaded area. In central Europe the frequency of the non-melanic morphs decreased over the course of the year but increased over the years from 2010 to 2018. The local differences might thus arise through gradual change of the morph composition of the founder invasive, non-native population. However, the variation in non-melanic morph frequency was not correlated with climatic characteristics that might affect coccinellid polymorphism. The observed rate of change in morph proportions in our data was too small to explain the diversification of what was supposedly a uniform invasive, non-native population at the point of introduction

Tři eseje o veřejných zakázkách

(in Czech) Práce je souhrnem tří kvantitativních analýz mikroekonomických dat o veřejných zakázkách a alternativních formách veřejných nákupů. Společným jmenovatelem jednotlivých analýz je extenzivní práce s rozsáhlými daty o veřejných zakázkách a z ní plynoucí přesah do technických a právnich disciplín. První část zkoumá vztah mezi transparentností vlastnické struktury a (i) zisky firem z veřejných zakázek a (ii) konkurencí a úsporami u konkrétních veřejných zakázek. Identifikuje významnou výhodu anonymní vlastnické struktury ve zkoumaných parametrech, která indikuje zvýšené riziko střetu zájmů a korupce. Druhá část zavádí metodu hodnocení zadavatelů veřejných zakázek. Navržený rating měří odchylku od dobré praxe v oblastech otevřenosti, konkurence a transparentnosti. Nepřímo tak indikuje možné nedostatky v efektivitě či korupčním jednání. Pilotní aplikace je demonstrována na vzorku českých měst Třetí část zkoumá hypotézu vytěsňování investic z národních rozpočtů penězi z fondů EU. Sleduje přímé rozpočtové dopady dotovaných veřejných zakázek spolu s dalšími nepřímými náklady. Propojením dat o samotných dotacích s účetními závěrkami měst navržený přístup identifikuje potenciálně problematické případy, kdy příjemce mohl využít prostředky v rozporu s principem adicionality - tedy na běžné výdaje...The core of thesis lays in quantitative analysis of microeconomic data on public procurement and alternative forms of dealing with public money. It consists of three essays with one common attribute: extensive groundwork with data, including overlaps into legal and technical disciplines. The fist essay examines the relationship between transparency of ownership structure and (i) profits of firms winning public procurement contracts and (ii) competition for the contracts and savings of the public authority. It identifies a significant advantage of firms with opaque ownership structure in terms of access to public money. It concludes with a possible explanation of conflict of interest and corruption, which might channel such advantages. The second essay proposes and tests a novel methodology for benchmarking of contracting authorities. The proposed rating measures a deviation from best practice recommendations in the areas of openness, competition and transparency. Indirectly it measures efficiency and corruption potential in public procurement. The pilot results of the methodology are provided and extensively discussed for a group of Czech municipalities. Third essay investigates issue of crowding out effect potentially introduced by EU funds provision. It studies direct budgetary impacts of...Institut ekonomických studiíInstitute of Economic StudiesFaculty of Social SciencesFakulta sociálních vě