Smart legislative regulation: investigation of the behavior of the Czech RIA Committee

Motivation: This article studies the behavior of the Czech Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Committee during the years between 2013–2018. This institution assesses RIAs of new laws and regulations which are in the process of ratification. Aim: The main aim was to find if the legislative change of February 3, 2016 had a direct impact on the decision-making of the Committee. Further, we ask whether there are other distinct patterns in the behavior of Czech RIA Committee members. Specifically, do the RIA Committee’s verdicts become more negative with time? We also investigate the level of independence of the Committee. In our analysis we used basic statistics: Chi-Square test of independence and regression analysis. To complete our study, we used data from a questionnaire which was distributed among RIA Committee members. Results: In our analysis we found that the legislative change did not have a direct immediate effect on the RIA Committee of the Czech Republic. However, we discovered that the RIA Committee has lost most of its independence and power in the six years of its existence. This change was gradual and most likely catalyzed by pressure from politicians. Further, voting per rollam yielded more positive results. We also discovered an institution whose RIA Committee verdicts differed significantly. Based on the findings of our research, we offer recommendations to the RIA Committee and other institutions with a similar purpose

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Why is the agricultural lobby in the European union member states so effective?

This paper tries to answer the question‘ what is the power of the agricultural lobby, as the interest group which causes that EU member states continue to invest in a costly and ineffective agricultural policy. Mediating interests in the EU Member States, as demonstrated in the case of the Czech Republic, are discussed. Czech agriculture bears the heritage of an extensively collectivised sector. The case study demonstrates the efforts of a new Member State to modernise in the area of professionally mediated interests while at the same time the controversial role of agricultural organisations in the competitive fight for agricultural subsidies. The strong position of the lobby, and agricultural lobbies, is primarily based on the unity and the unilateral nature of their interests, the excellent organisation when promoting these interests, the ability to gain the sympathy of politicians, consumers and tax payers, the existence of relatively small and homogenous groups and, last but not least, their abilities at pointing out the fact that agriculture has an irreplaceable role in society and the national and international economy. The liberalisation of agriculture depends on a successful fall in the importance and voter strength of the agricultural sector and its sympathisers and a balancing of its natural political advantages. Strong elements supporting the liberalisation of agriculture are also sustainable development and modernisation of the agricultural sector and the sustainable economic development, distancing itself from agricultural roots. Generally, it is evident that because of the liberal, even if limited, reforms of the European agricultural policy, the weakening of the agricultural lobby power can be expected

Wasser-Governance matters : 15. World Water Congress vom 25. bis 28. Mai 2015 in Edinburgh, Schottland

Der World Water Congress 2015 in Edinburgh hat eine deutliche Tendenz hin zu Wasser-Governance gezeigt. Die technischen Ansätze und Lösungen werden zwar berücksichtigt, jedoch nicht mehr als wichtigste Maßnahmen aufgefasst. Diese Veränderung einer Fachplanung kann und darf von der Raumplanung nicht unbeobachtet bleiben. Aus diesem Grund sollte die ARL das Thema „Raumplanung und Wasser“ weiterhin auf der Agenda behalten

Eco-Innovation Activities in the Czech Economy 2008–2014: Impact of the Eco-Innovative Approach to the Profit Stream and Differences in Urban and Rural Enterprises

The environmental benefits from the eco-innovation activities of enterprises have the nature of reduced material or water use per unit of output, less pollution and waste, better CO2 ‘footprint’ in production and subsequent business processes. The socioeconomic impacts are associated with circular economy benefits like reduced energy use, decreased pollution and waste, and well-organized recycling possibilities of the product after use. The goal of this paper is to evaluate this innovative approach in the Czech economy. The hypotheses are aimed at the localization of enterprises, appropriability, and characteristics of enterprises that introduce eco-innovations to markets. The dataset is provided by the Czech Statistical Office and contains observations about the innovation activities of firms. Eco-innovation was surveyed in 2008 and 2014. This paper utilizes the estimation principles of CDM (Crépon, Duguet, and Mairesse) method at the firm level. The results suggest that rural–urban separation has no impact on the financial R&D intensity but urban enterprises have a higher probability to engage in innovation activities. The probability to introduce new-to-the-market innovations and eco-innovations is not dependent on localization. High-tech and knowledge-intensive industries have a lower probability to introduce eco-innovations to the market. The change in localization of enterprises to rural areas contributed to the higher sales form innovated goods and services. Higher appropriability was also observed in product eco-innovators. This paper offers a synthesis of factors that stimulate eco-innovation and shows that eco-innovation is a viable and sustainable innovative approach for rural and urban enterprises and identifies directions for future research

Wasser-Governance matters : 15. World Water Congress vom 25. bis 28. Mai 2015 in Edinburgh, Schottland

Der World Water Congress 2015 in Edinburgh hat eine deutliche Tendenz hin zu Wasser-Governance gezeigt. Die technischen Ansätze und Lösungen werden zwar berücksichtigt, jedoch nicht mehr als wichtigste Maßnahmen aufgefasst. Diese Veränderung einer Fachplanung kann und darf von der Raumplanung nicht unbeobachtet bleiben. Aus diesem Grund sollte die ARL das Thema „Raumplanung und Wasser“ weiterhin auf der Agenda behalten

Residents and Non-residents Response to the Widening of the Exchange Rate Fluctuation Range of CZK

The biggest change in a foreign exchange inter-banks market during the first part of 1996 was an announcement of ČNB about widening of the exchange rate fluctuation range of CZK toward DEM and USD from 0,5 % to 7,5 %. The aim of text is clarification of reaction residents and non-residents on the widening of the exchange rate fluctuation range of CZK on base of ČNB fixing exchange rate and position of banking framework towards residents and non-residents. The behaviour of residents and non-residents was a reaction on possible change of exchange rate CZK towards a group of currency in future nay on real change.

Macroeconomic impacts of capital adequacy

The paper reviews capital requirements in some developed countries and in the Czech Republic. Capital requirements in the Czech Republic was introduced in 1994. Capital ratio of the group of foreign banks permanently exceeds 13 % while the group of large and small banks has problems. There is excessive volume of credits in the Czech banking sector. Many developing countries and emerging markets decided to follow inflationary solution of bad credits, but not Czech Republic. Due to the lowering of inflation (or even deflation) in the Czech Republic bad credits have not been solved yet. It seems that they will be transferred into some state agency. The reduction of bank credits seems necessary in the near future. In this sense credit crunch can be seen as useful for long-term prosperity of the Czech economy. Capital requirements introduced by the Czech National Bank support desirable credit crunch.capital requirements, capital adequacy, credit crunch, GDP, bank profitability, bad loans

Reserve requirements on foreign currency deposits

The paper reviews reserve requirements on foreign currency deposits anddiscusses whether they should be in local currency or in foreign currency.These issues have become important concerns of the Czech National Bank asforeign currency deposits have become a significant proportion of totaldeposits. Foreign currency reserve requirements may provide a safer andsimpler alternative do discourage currency conversion when foreign currencydeposits are a substantial fraction of deposits and reserve ratios aresignificant. The introduction of foreign currency reserve accounts at thecentral bank raises the issue of whether banks should be allowed to usethese accounts for payments purposes. In cases wherea substantial amount ofinterbank transactions is in foreign currency, banks are likely to requestthat the settlement of foreign currency transactions be allowed in the booksof the central bank. There trend in reserve ratios in the Czech Republic similar to general trendin the world to lower reserve requirements. The reserve ration in the Czechbanking sector is 5% for banks and 4% for building societies and for theCzech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank. The reserve ratio of reserverequirements on depoits in the CZK does not differ from reserve ratio ofreserve requirements on deposits in foreign currencies. Reserve requirementson deposits in foreign currencies are to be held only in CZK.reserve requirements, foreign exchange, high inflation, currency substitution

Impact of may turbulences in 1997 on profit and loss of banks in the Czech republic

Currency turbulences in May 1997 had positive impact on profit of the Czech banking sector. The profit of the banking sector increased for additional CZK 1190 million in May 1997 and for additional CZK 1135 million in June (without the bank with special treatment). On the other hand impact on corporates and households was negative in the same magnitude. During May (and June) 33 banks (from 51 banks) showed additional profit. Foreign banks and branches of foreign banks reported the biggest additional profit of CZK 1488 million even if their share on the assets of the banking sector was 22.31 % (at the end of 1997). The group of large banks realised additional profit of CZK 568 million but its share on the market was 65.64 %. Building societies reported additional profit of CZK 246 million and special banks CZK 100 million. Small banks with Czech participation realized additional loss of CZK 77 million and the banks with special treatment additional loss of CZK 411 million.banking sector, profitability, currency turbulences