Professionalization and economization of rural NGOs and the activity of their members. An example of local action groups from Wielkopolska

Wśród wiejskich organizacji pozarządowych można wyróżnić zarówno te, które zrzeszają niewielką liczbę członków, działają incydentalnie wykorzystując głównie środki pochodzące ze składek członkowskich, jak i te, które zrzeszają kilkaset osób, prowadzą regularną działalność charakteryzującą się wysokim poziomem ekonomizacji i profesjonalizacji. Przykładem drugiego rodzaju struktur są lokalne grupy działania. Celem artykułu jest odpowiedź na pytanie, czy wysoki poziom ich profesjonalizacji i ekonomizacji wpływa korzystnie na aktywność ich członków czy wręcz odwrotnie jest dla nich ograniczeniem? Została ona udzielona na podstawie badań (przeprowadzonych za pomocą techniki ankiety rozdawanej), zrealizowanych w 2012 roku na próbie 104 respondentów z pięciu lokalnych grup działania ulokowanych na obszarze Wielkopolski. Analiza wykazała, iż wysoki poziom ich ekonomizacji i profesjonalizacji nie oznacza zwiększenia aktywności ich członków. Pracę w organizacjach wykonują przede wszystkim członkowie zarządu oraz rady. Ich aktywność (najczęściej wykazywana od momentu powstania organizacji) utrwaliła ich pozycję w grupach, co stało się jedną z przyczyn marginalizacji innych członków, wśród których znaleźli się także ci, których chęć działania blokuje fakt, iż wszelkie prace wykonują „ciągle te same osoby”. Wysoki poziom ekonomizacji i profesjonalizacji analizowanych organizacji nie oznacza również, że w ich skład wchodzą tylko członkowie dysponujący wysokimi kompetencjami. Niepokojący wydaje się deficyt wiedzy członków LGD w zakresie specyfiki nowego modelu rozwoju wsi. W przyszłym okresie programowania przewiduje się zwiększenie znaczenia tych organizacji w zakresie oddziaływania na społeczno-gospodarcze przemiany wsi. Tym bardziej będzie wskazane podwyższenie poziomu kompetencji członków lokalnych grup działania, zwłaszcza tych, którzy przynależą do zarząduAmong rural non-governmental organisations there are those, which unite few members and act incidentally using mainly the resources which have been obtained from member fees, as well as those, which unite several hundreds of people and conduct regu- lar activities characterised by high level of economisation and professionalisation. The other kind of organisations can be exemplified by local action groups. The purpose of this article is to address the question whether the high level of professionalisation and economisation has positive influence on the activities of its members or – the opposite – it constitutes a hindrance. The issue shall be addressed basing on research (carried out via the distributed surveys) conducted in 2012 on a sample of 104 respondents from local action groups located within the territory of Wielkopolska. The analysis demonstrated that the high level of economisation and professionalisation of an organisation does not imply increased activity of its member

ANNA GRABSKA, MICHAŁ MOSZYŃSKI, PIOTR PYSZ (EDS.), STANOWIONY I SPONTANICZNY ŁAD GOSPODARCZY W PROCESIE TRANSFORMACJI SYSTEMOWEJ POLSKI I BYŁEJ NRD

Review of the books

Institutional and legal conditions for the German stabilization policy during the economic crisis 2008–2009

Motivation: The economic crisis of 2008–2009 and its consequences have raised a debate among economists concerning the effectiveness of methods stabilizing economy arising from the recommendations of economic theories forming the mainstream economy.Results: The necessity to take anti-crisis measures in the countries affected by it resumed the interest in the recommendations proposed within this realm by John Maynard Keynes. Keynesian solutions have been globally adopted as a basis for anti-crisis stabilization policy. In economic policy it has been manifested primarily as the increased government intervention in economy via the increase of costs and enlarged budget deficits. One of the countries that have applied such a solution was the Federal Republic of Germany.Aim: The aim of this article is presenting the institutional and legal means of German stabilization policy as well as attempting to evaluate their effectiveness in restoring macroeconomic balance in Germany. In this regard, Keynesian Act to Promote Economic Stability and Growth, passed in 1967, which enabled using the appropriate remedial measures was addressed in detail

Ethical Foundations of Competitive Order According to Walter Eucken

Ordoliberalism is a German economic and legal doctrine, in which ethics occupies a privileged place. The basic premise is the freedom and responsibility of human beings. In contrast, the starting point for considering ordoliberalism as a doctrine is the economic, social and political order. The most prominent representative of this doctrine was Walter Eucken. Achievements of this outstanding economist, and other representatives of this school underlay the concept of the German social market economy and EU competition policy. The aim of this article is to present the concept of Eucken’s competitive order and describe its philosophical and ethical foundation. The article uses the method of descriptive analysis and literaturę studies.The “Annales. Ethics in Economic Life” is affiliated and co-financed by the Faculty of Economics and Sociology of the University of Lodz

Etyka w ekonomii a globalny kryzys gospodarczy

Globalny kryzys gospodarczy, z jakim mamy do czynienia w ostatnim okresie, przyczynił się do wznowienia dyskusji dotyczącej problemu kształtowania się prawidłowych relacji pomiędzy państwem a rynkiem. Kolejny raz okazało się, że brak jasnych reguł gry gospodarczej powoduje na rynku uruchomienie tendencji do samozniszczenia się. W obecnej sytuacji staje się jasne, że aby przeciwdziałać w przyszłości podobnym jak ta sytuacjom, wszystkie podmioty gospodarcze działające na rynku powinny przestrzegać ogólnie obowiązujących reguł gry gospodarczej. Stawia to przed ekonomią i polityką gospodarczą nowe wyzwania. Na temat przyszłości ekonomii zabierają głos nie tylko sami ekonomiści, ale również papież Benedykt XVI. Jego encyklika Caritas in veritate poświęcona jest w dużej mierze tej problematyce. Celem artykułu jest zaprezentowanie tych stanowisk, a także próba odpowiedzi na pytanie, czy i o jakie elementy etyczne należy wzbogacić ekonomię, by bardziej skutecznie potrafiła w przyszłości stawiać czoła nowym wyzwaniom

Systemic transformation in Poland and Eastern Germany: two versions of the Social Market Economy?

Motivation: The process of systemic transformation in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland and Eastern Germany, which began in the early 1990s, can be described as a unique event in the entire economic history of the world. Therefore, in a situation where it was necessary to decide on the model and pace of stabilization, it was difficult to refer to the experience of other countries. The 30 years that have passed since the beginning of the systemic transformation in Poland and East Germany have been a convenient time to assess the course of the transformation process, the changes that have taken place in these economies, and describe the economic models that have shaped them. The reason for this lies in the importance of this subject and the consequences which the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland and East Germany, continue to face. Parts of this paper were written as part of Statutory Research at the College of World Economy of the Warsaw School of Economics in 2020, 30 years after the system transformation: lessons and current challenges for the economy in Germany and Poland. Aim: The article aims to compare the course and consequences of the systemic transformation in Poland and East Germany, highlight subconsciousness and differences, and determine to what extent the shape of the economic system meets the assumptions of the Social Market Economy. Results: The primary added value of the article is a comparative analysis of the Polish and East German systemic transformation from the perspective of 30 years from its beginning, its successes and failures and a reference to the assumptions of the social market economy, as well as an attempt to answer the question about the contemporary characteristics of both economies

Institutional and legal approach to eldercare versus sustainable work concept in selected European Union countries

Motivation: European societies face the problem of ageing populations and shrinking labour force. One of the ways to tackle this issue is the development of sustainable approach towards work. Sustainable work means creating such living and working conditions that they enable people to remain in employment throughout their extended working life. It requires gaining adequate skills, adjusting working conditions for elder workers’ needs as well as helping them balance work and life. Family obligations are not only related to childcare but also to eldercare given to parents, step-parents or spouses. The balance between work and care might be supported both at the enterprise and the institutional level.Aim: The article aims to examine the legal and institutional approach to care for the elderly in the selected EU countries (Germany, the UK, Finland and Poland) and to answer the question to what extent these institutions and laws support the concept of sustainable work.Results: The extent to which national institutions and laws support sustainable work concept differ between countries, depending on the welfare model they represent. Finland represents Nordic welfare model in which publicly organised and financed eldercare is very generous, so sustainable work model is easy to put in practice. German welfare state also has its social policy well developed, and care systems are supported by the universal long-term care insurance. The UK is an example of a more liberal regime, in which sustainable work concept is more market-driven. Polish efforts to follow the German model with reference to social insurance are still under public debate. However, we doubt whether German solutions are possible to be introduced in Polish conditions due to the different position of trade unions in this country, less importance of employee participation in company management than in Germany, and definitely less than in Germany the regulation of the labor market. In Poland, informal institutions, such as family and cultural customs, play a much greater role in organizing help in the care of an elderly person. Formal institutions play a smaller role in the organization of this care. We propose to take some solutions at the national and enterprise level to raise awareness of the need to take steps to address the issue of support for employees caring for an elderly person

Institutional and legal approach to eldercare versus sustainable work concept in selected European Union countries

Motivation: European societies face the problem of ageing populations and shrinking labour force. One of the ways to tackle this issue is the development of sustainable approach towards work. Sustainable work means creating such living and working conditions that they enable people to remain in employment throughout their extended working life. It requires gaining adequate skills, adjusting working conditions for elder workers’ needs as well as helping them balance work and life. Family obligations are not only related to childcare but also to eldercare given to parents, step-parents or spouses. The balance between work and care might be supported both at the enterprise and the institutional level. Aim: The article aims to examine the legal and institutional approach to care for the elderly in the selected EU countries (Germany, the UK, Finland and Poland) and to answer the question to what extent these institutions and laws support the concept of sustainable work. Results: The extent to which national institutions and laws support sustainable work concept differ between countries, depending on the welfare model they represent. Finland represents Nordic welfare model in which publicly organised and financed eldercare is very generous, so sustainable work model is easy to put in practice. German welfare state also has its social policy well developed, and care systems are supported by the universal long-term care insurance. The UK is an example of a more liberal regime, in which sustainable work concept is more market-driven. Polish efforts to follow the German model with reference to social insurance are still under public debate. However, we doubt whether German solutions are possible to be introduced in Polish conditions due to the different position of trade unions in this country, less importance of employee participation in company management than in Germany, and definitely less than in Germany the regulation of the labor market. In Poland, informal institutions, such as family and cultural customs, play a much greater role in organizing help in the care of an elderly person. Formal institutions play a smaller role in the organization of this care. We propose to take some solutions at the national and enterprise level to raise awareness of the need to take steps to address the issue of support for employees caring for an elderly person

Obesity - an epidemic of the 21st century – literature review

Introduction and purpose: The article deals with the problem of obesity, which significantly increases the number of cases among children, adolescents and adults all over the world, leading to the occurrence of systemic disorders. A noticeable increase in the incidence of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and diabetes leads to a reduction in life expectancy. The main aim of the work is to emphasize the seriousness of the contemporary problem, which causes impairment of the functioning of many systems. A secondary goal is to indicate the current standards of obesity treatment and how to deal with overweight.   Brief description of the state of knowledge: Obesity is a disease that affects nearly 800 million people around the world and affects every fourth Pole. Uncontrolled weight gain is caused; lifestyle changes, consumption of highly processed foods, and genetic and endocrine factors. It is a chronic disease with a tendency to relapse, with serious consequences and in need of diagnostics, personalized treatment, and often associated with psychological support.   Material and methods: The article analyzes the research to date and the latest treatment methods, which show that a person struggling with obesity is at risk of over 200 complications, including, for example, fatty liver, stroke, type 2 diabetes or cancer.   Results and conclusion:  According to our analysis, obesity is a pathological condition that is truly life-threatening. Despite the society's downplay of the problem, people affected by this disease struggle with many comorbidities that worsen their quality of life