Inequality and development

Inequality can be analyzed from various aspects. In this paper our attention is drawn to economic inequality, most frequently manifested through income and wealth. The measurement of economic inequality is a complex task. The Lorenz curve and a number of numerical indices are applied, and let us mention the following ones: the Gini coefficient, the coefficient of variation, the Theil index and the Atkinson measure. These indices do satisfy the criteria (principles) presenting, according to general consent an appropriate measure of economic inequality: anonymity (symmetry) principle, population principle, relative income principle and the Dalton principle of transfer. In recent times, the problem of inequality has been attracting a lot of attention. The explanation should be sought in the widening of income differences (within individual countries and between them) and also in new knowledge about the relationship between inequality and development. The attitude to inequality being determined mainly by the economic development level (as presented in the Kuznets hypothesis) is gradually being replaced by the attitude to inequality being the determinant of income and its growth. Contrary to previous beliefs about the stronger income inequalities being favorable to the economic growth, more recent research has pointed to the fact that a more equal distribution of income through various channels, can possibly act as an efficient stimulus of growth

Green Growth as a Generator for Overcoming the Crisis

Faced with the severest economic crisis after World War Two, the global economy is turning to new sources of growth, which should guide it on the road to economic recovery. In such circumstances, the idea of green growth, based on the belief that economic growth and care for the environment go "hand in hand," is being reaffirmed. In a way, green growth represents a step backward, i.e., going back to the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio in 1992, when environmental sustainability of economic growth was the focus of attention. On the other hand, green growth also represents a step forward, as it is a practical and flexible approach that should contribute to the implementation of the concept of sustainable development in all its dimensions:economic, environmental and also social. A large number of countries, including the European Union, follow the green growth model, respecting national idiosyncrasies, which is demonstrated in this paper. In order to communicate with Europe and the world successfully, Serbia needs to share their fundamental values and commitments, but also preserve its national economic identity. Green growth (in the context of sustainable development) is a good option for Serbia and is its strong link to the rest of the world

Fundamental drivers of prosperity in the European Union and Western Balkans countries

In this paper the aim is to identify key drivers that have contributed the most to the prosperity of European Union and Western Balkan countries in the 2007-2016 period. Empirical analysis is based on data for cumulative growth rate of values of nine original Legatum Prosperity Index (LPI) pillars and on implementation of Multivariate Data Analysis. Using Principal Component Analysis, four principal components are obtained and we named them: Economic Environment, Social Infrastructure, Institutional Framework and Life Conditions. Based on standardised score values of four new variables, we distinguish the countries that had the highest positive and negative score in each component. With cluster analysis based on LPI pillars growth rates, four clusters of countries have been formed: the first cluster consists of three Western Balkan countries, the second and third of, respectively, ten and four mostly new EU member state countries, and fourth of fourteen predominantly 'old' EU member countries. The analysis points out the fundamental drivers of prosperity in countries belonging to different clusters according to changes in values of nine LPI pillars in the previous decade. In all observed countries it is possible to identify certain similarities in the change of components of prosperity, as they are EU members or candidates for membership

The trans-European transport corridors: Contribution to economic performances of European regions

Previous empirical researches have mostly confirmed the existence of positive impact of transport infrastructure investments on economic growth of national economies. There are a very few researches carried out at the lower levels of territorial units, mostly at the levels of NUTS-1 or NUTS-2 statistical regions. The aim of this paper is to analyse economic effects of transport infrastructure development at even lower level of territorial units, i.e. at the level of NUTS-3 statistical regions. The paper compares economic performances of the TEN-T European regions characterized by developed core trans-European road and rail transport network, with economic performances of other regions without the core network. A significant difference in favour of the TEN-T regions was identified, both in the case of gross value added of the entire economy and gross value added of the manufacturing industry. No significant differences were identified in terms of the employment rate. On the other hand, the labour productivity is higher in the TEN-T regions, primarily in the manufacturing industry, as a direct consequence of reducing transport time and transport costs

Poland - Serbia : the challenges of the scientific cooperation

Foreword: "This book contains the collection of 21 academic articles (arranged alphabetically according to the names of the Authors) dedicated to Professor Iliija Rosić, former Rector of Kragujevae University and the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, who died on January 11,2008.The book contains the preface, a biographical note including a complete list of acadcmic achievements, as well as the outline of Professor Rosic’s scholarly, academic and organizational activities in Poland."(...

Education of population for the future and the future of education

The key to the future of any country in the modern world lies in the knowledge, skills and talent of its population. This gives a special importance to education through which human capital is created as an important component of national wealth. Different methods of measuring human capital are found in literature. There is a well-known division into monetary and non-monetary methods, with the latter being specifically addressed in the article. Education plays an important role in achieving sustainable development. Through education, knowledge about sustainable development is acquired while human resources that are capable and willing to achieve this development are created. Education, just like sustainable development, has a long-time perspective. In both cases, the interests of the future are respected when making decisions in the present. The impact of education on sustainable development is manifested through all three of its dimensions – economic, social and environmental. The key role of education for achieving sustainable development has been globally recognized and embedded in relevant United Nations documents, including a new global development agenda by 2030, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals, of which Objective 4 explicitly refers to education. The European Union also pays considerable attention to education for the future in the context of the commitment of its members to achieve sustainable development. Serbia, at least declaratively, follows it, given the orientation of the country to join this regional integration. The future of education is under the strong influence of global mega trends, especially the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which strongly influences the world of work and the necessary knowledge and skills. During the earlier industrial revolutions, it took several decades to build appropriate education and training systems, but there is no time for that now. Changes must be anticipated, and reactions should be quick. The quality of educational systems of countries around the world and their preparedness for the challenges of the new age can be evaluated on the basis of the results of the Program for International Student Assessment – PISA, the most important research in the field of education, which, under the auspices of the OECD, tests the knowledge and skills of fifteen-year-olds, and relying on the composite indicator introduced by the World Economic Forum – Global Human Capital Index (GHCI). The results for Serbia are generally discouraging, but in some segments, they point to the country’s hidden potentials that should be activated. Education represents the development opportunity of Serbia at the threshold of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As a small and economically country, Serbia should not remain at the margin of events, in the role of a passive observer. On the contrary, through adapting its education system to the demands of time by adequate financial and institutional support, thus improving human capital of the people, Serbia can find its place in a changing labor market and create preconditions for dynamic and sustainable economic development

Economic reality and prospects of Serbian economic recovery as a prerequisite for successful defense

The economic reforms of the Republic of Serbia have, after 2001, initiated the transformation of institutions. However, they still remain insufficiently functional. The new Constitution has been adopted, as well as dozens of reform legislation; value added tax has been introduced; and the social policy reform has been launched. However, the market economy in the Republic of Serbia does not yet function in a sustainable manner, not even at the level of advanced transition countries, because the interference of politics is largely decisive for the economic position, especially that of enterprises and institutions in the public sector. The economic power of the state is a decisive factor in the ability to use the Serbian Armed Forces in accordance with their assigned missions and tasks, as the Armed Forces, being an important state institution, are allocated a part of the state budget

Socio-IT aspects of e-learning

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed paperThe monograph presents issues of contemporary e-learning in its broadest sense. Methods, tools, formal and legal aspects of distance learning as well as socio-ethical conditions have been discussed here. The issues raised in the monograph is particularly important in the context of changes that have been taking place in recent years. Increasingly, lots of virtual educational institutions as alternatives to traditional learning have emerged. On the other hand, at currently existing universities and schools there are more and more e-learning courses. We are in the time of transition and therefore a new model of education based on generally available online teaching resources is becoming more and more widespread. The monograph is divided into nine chapters in which the focus is on the issues connected with different aspects of e-learning which collectively point to the multifaceted nature of this form of education