STRATEGY OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT. ASSUMPTIONS AND PRACTICE

The aim of the article is to confront the arrangements of official strategy papers concerning agricultural and rural development, including the performance indicators, with the data illustrating the real policy pursued in this area and the effects of this policy. The content of key strategy papersas well as relevant data from the Central Statistical Office and the Ministry of Finance were also analysed. As a result, it was found that: (1) the indicators of objectives focused on supporting agriculture and rural areas adopted in analysed strategies cannot be used to interpret a coherent concept of the policy towards rural areas and agriculture; (2) there are inconsistencies between the arrangements of different strategies; (3) public support was aimed primarily at improving the income situation of farmers, to the detriment of achieving such objectives as improvement of agrarian structure and efficiency of farms, improvement of living conditions in the countryside and more effective environmental protection

Reasons for the deficit of the universal pension system in Poland

The aim of the article is to analyse the causes of the deficit of the Social Insurance Fund (SIF), namely the fund which forms the financial basis of the universal pension system. The article first discusses the factors influencing the financial stability of the SIF and the principles of the universal pension system along with the changes introduced after 1999. Next, the financial analysis of the SIF in 1999–2021 and the financial forecasts for the coming years are provided. It was noted that the actual picture of the SIF’s finances is distorted by large-scale off-budget operations. The article concludes with the statement that although the deficit of the universal pension system is largely due to the assumptions implemented in 1999, later decisions often led to a deterioration of the financial stability of the system

Efektywność transferów wyrównawczych pomiędzy sektorem rządowym a samorządowym w Polsce

The main objective of the equalization transfers is to allow local government units with different fiscal capacity to provide public services of a similar standard. The purpose of the article is to answer the question whether the Polish equalization system meets the basic efficiency criteria. Special attention is given to the external determinants shaping the revenue system of local government units in Poland. Next, the most important shortcomings and inefficiencies of the current system have been identified. The article also presents the concept of an approach how to assess the effectiveness of intergovernmental transfers, and additionally proposed some solutions to improve the system

Adjusting revenues to local government tasks in Poland. Practice and recommendations

The article deals with the problem of adjusting the revenues of Polish local government units (LGUs) to their tasks. The problem was analysed both from the point of view of the possibility of increasing LGU revenues and designing an effective system of fiscal equalization. The authors discussed the external factors which limit the possibilities of introducing such a desirable system. Next, based on the presented analysis, they drew conclusions regarding the necessary revision of the existing scheme. The article concludes with specific recommendations for a new system of financing LGUs, assuming, in particular, far-reaching changes in the algorithms for determining and dividing general subsidies, as well as a fundamental reduction in the scope of the so-called commissioned tasks

Territorial division versus financing of municipalities in Poland

The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of the territorial division on the finances and activity of Polish local government units (LGUs). The basis for such an assessment was both an analysis of changes in the administrative division and an analysis of statistical data. The authors have drawn some conclusions concerning changes in the administrative system. The most important recommendation is to decrease the number of local government units, which would lead to reducing disparities in their financial capacity. Although the paper focuses mainly on the basic LGU (municipality), it also mentions the problem of powiats and voivodeships in the current shape

Amount and Algorithms of the Distribution of Public Support for Agriculture and Rural Development

Celem artykułu jest oszacowanie rozmiarów wsparcia udzielanego ze środków publicznych na finansowanie zadań dotyczących rolnictwa i rozwoju obszarów wiejskich, identyfikacja zasad zarządzania publicznymi środkami na rolnictwo i rozwój obszarów wiejskich oraz ocena sposobu podziału i wykorzystania środków na rolnictwo i rozwój obszarów wiejskich z punktu widzenia skuteczności i efektywności interwencji publicznej. Badanie oparte zostało na analizie krytycznej krajowej oraz unijnej legislacji w odniesieniu do rolnictwa oraz obszarów wiejskich, a także analizie sprawozdań finansowych budżetu państwa, budżetu środków europejskich, jednostek centralnych i jednostek samorządu terytorialnego. Wyniki badania, opracowane według przygotowanej metodologii, szacują roczne wsparcie rolnictwa i obszarów wiejskich w Polsce na poziomie około 45-55 mld zł w zależności od roku. Poziom wsparcia jest mocno skorelowany z kalendarzem wieloletnich budżetów Unii Europejskiej. Największa część wsparcia związana jest z dotowaniem systemu ubezpieczeń społecznych rolników oraz dopłatami bezpośrednimi. Badanie oparto na wypracowanej wcześniej metodologii, pozwalającej na ocenę skali pomocy publicznej kierowanej do rolnictwa oraz rozwoju obszarów wiejskich. Agregacja wydatków publicznych z różnych źródeł pozwala na szersze spojrzenie na całość wsparcia. Wartością dodaną jest możliwość prowadzenia dalszych badań z wykorzystaniem wyników prezentowanych w niniejszym opracowaniu.The aim of this article is to estimate the size of the public financial support for financing tasks related to agriculture and rural development, to identify regulations public funds management for agriculture and rural development, and to assess algorithms of dividing and using funds for agriculture and rural development from the point of view of effectiveness and the effectiveness of public intervention. The study was based on a critical analysis of national and EU legislation in relation to agriculture support and rural development, as well as an analysis of the financial statements of the state budget, budget of European funds and local governments units. The results of the study estimates the annual support for agriculture and rural development in Poland at the level of PLN 45-55 billion depending on the year. The level of support is strongly correlated with the calendar of long-term budgets of the European Union. The largest part of the support is related to subsidizing the farmers’ social insurance system and direct payments (income support). The study is based on a previously developed methodology that allows for the assessment of the level of state support allocated to agriculture and rural development. Thanks to the aggregation of public expenditure from various sources, we have the possibility of a broader view of the entire support. The added value is the ability to conduct further research based on the presented results

Predictions about performance‑based budget implementation in Poland

The article presents a multi-faceted evaluation of the design and implementation of performance-based budget in Poland. In the beginning the author introduces the rationale behind the performance budgeting. Next, the methodology applied to performance-based budgeting is covered (various tasks, measures, indicators). In the final section the author introduces the results of the audit conducted by the Polish Supreme Audit Office in the Ministry of Finance and selected government units at the turn of 2011 and 2012

A new curriculum on Numerical Methods in Mechanics and Design. Is it shipbuilding-like enough?

The paper describes a new curriculum for teaching computing methods in mechanics and design developed at Faculty of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology, which has been introduced beginning from summer semester 2005. The new specialization covers the last 5 semesters (6 - 10) of the unified M.Sc. course in Ocean Technology. All courses of the new specialization are given in English. The objective of the new curriculum is to educate engineers skilful in applying modern modelling technologies for practical solving problems of structure and fluid mechanics, heat transfer and automatic control in the area of marine industry. The curriculum has been endorsed by General Electric (GE) as unique, novel and advanced one - moreover the company took patronage over the specialization. Similar encouragement has been obtained from PRS, LR, ABB and UGS when the idea of the course was presented on a special seminar