Weighted Goal Programming and Penalty Functions: Whole-farm Planning Approach Under Risk

The paper presents multiple criteria approach to deal with risk in farmer’s decisions. Decision making process is organised in a framework of spreadsheet tool. It is supported by deterministic and stochastic mathematical programming techniques applying optimisation concept. Decision making process is conceptually divided into seven autonomous modules that are mutually linked up. Beside the common maximisation of expected income through linear programming it enables also reconstruction of current production practice. Income risk modelling is based on portfolio theory resting on expected value, variance (E,V) paradigm. Modules dealing with risk are therefore supported with quadratic and constrained quadratic programming. Non-parametric approach is utilised to estimate decision maker’s risk attitude. It is measured with coefficient of risk aversion, needed to maximise certainty equivalent for analysed farms. Multiple criteria paradigm is based on goal programming approach. In contribution focus is put on benefits and possible drawbacks of supporting weighted goal programming with penalty functions. Application of the tool is illustrated with three dairy farm cases. Obtained results confirm advantage of utilizing penalty function system. Beside greater positiveness it proves as useful approach for fine tuning of the model enabling imitation of farmer’s behaviour, which is due to his/her conservative nature not perfect or rational. Results confirm hypothesis that single criteria decision making, based on maximisation of expected income, might be biased and does not necessary lead to the best - achievable option for analysed farm.goal programming, risk modelling, risk aversion, production planning, Risk and Uncertainty,

Change in Farm Production Structure Within Different CAP Schemes – an LP Modelling Approach

After accession to European Union in 2004 direct payments became very important income source also for farmers in Slovenia. But agricultural policy in place at accession changed significantly in year 2007 as result of CAP reform implementation. The objective of this study was to evaluate decision making impacts of direct payments scheme implemented with the reform: regional or more likely hybrid scheme. The change in farm production structure was simulated with model, applying gross margin maximisation, based on static linear programming approach. The model has been developed in a spreadsheet framework in MS Excel platform. A hypothetical farm has been chosen to analyse different scenarios and specializations. Focus of the analysis was on cattle sector, since it is expected that decoupling is going to have significant influence on its optimal production structure. The reason is high level of direct payments that could in pre-reform scheme rise up to 70 % of total gross margin. Model results confirm that the reform should have unfavourable impacts on cattle farms with intensive production practice. The results show that hybrid scheme has minor negative impacts in all cattle specializations, while regional scheme would be better option for sheep specialized farm. Analysis has also shown growing importance of CAP pillar II payments, among them particularly agri-environmental measures. In all three schemes budgetary payments enable farmers to improve financial results and in both reform schemes they alleviate economic impacts of the CAP reform.CAP reform, optimal farm structure, linear programming

Gradec in Slovenci

Gradec je bil vse do prve svetovne vojne upravno, kulturno, gospodarsko in politično središče Štajerskega, v katerem so Slovenci predstavljali tretjino prebivalstva. Tako kot Trst na zahodu slovenskega etničnega ozemlja je bil vabljivo mesto za družbeni vzpon in kariere številnih Slovencev. Do 1919, tj. do ustanovitve univerze v Ljubljani, je bila graška univerza ob Dunaju in manj Zagrebu tudi glavno univerzitetno središče Slovencev. Gradec je bil mesto, v katerem so se porajale in uresničevale številne nove zamisli. *** Until the First World War, Graz was the administrative, cultural, economic, and political center of Styria, in which Slovenians represented one third of the population. Thus, like Trieste on the west of Slovenian ethnic territory, the city attracted many Slovenians interested in advancing themselves socially and building careers. Until the founding of the University of Ljubljana in 1919, alongside the universities in Vienna and (to a lesser extent) Zagreb, the University of Graz was also a major university center for Slovenians. Graz was a city in which many new ideas were engendered and came to fruition

Income Situation of Agricultural Households in Slovenia after EU Accession: Impacts of Different Direct Payments Policy Options

Paper investigates income effects of different direct payments policy options after the accession of Slovenia to the EU by application of a static deterministic total income model for rural households in Slovenia (TIM). Model is based on actual income data of 120 agricultural households in Slovenia. With respect to pre-accession baseline situation and accession agreement, income situation of analyzed households is likely to improve under all analyzed policy scenarios. Estimated benefits are highest in case of standard direct payments scheme, followed by basic flat-rate area payment option (entirely decoupled). Model results reveal also that policy reform will have redistributive impacts in favour of agricultural households engaged in extensive agricultural production.EU enlargement, CAP reform, total income, income impacts, Slovenia, Farm Management, Q12, Q18,

Broadening horizons : the benefits of multicultural education at the elementary level

Multicultural Education has evolved for many years as a method of teaching equity across all cultures and races. However, progress in its acceptance and implementation has been slow. This study was conducted on a Central Coast community in California. Data was collected from teachers and parents of an elementary school to determine the benefits of Multicultural Education at the elementary school level. Additional information was gathered from interviews conducted with nearby university students to recognize their views on Multicultural Education. Cultural performances were organized at the elementary school and resources were provided to the teachers for educational purposes. Results for the data showed that Multicultural Education was deemed valuable by all teachers, parents, and university students. However, knowledge and consistency of implementation varied among participating teachers. Further actions were planned to help the elementary school improve moderate levels of Multicultural Education already present at the school

Sustav lokalne samouprave u Sloveniji s posebnim naglaskom na status glavnog grada Ljubljane

Slovenia is one of the most centralised countries in Europe. Local self-government is under strong auspices of the central state in terms of content and finances. Although the Slovenian Constitution provides for the two tiers of self-government, only municipalities have been established so far. Out of 212 municipalities, 11 are urban municipalities. If they are established, provinces will be very important for decentralization of the country and for realisation of the subsidiarity principle. Despite rich and favourable public debate, political actors are not in favour of provinces. Ljubljana is the centre and capital of Slovenia, and should be the focal point of the central province. The City of Ljubljana has a special status, with certain specificities with regard to its competences and to financing public affairs. It has three main bodies, the City Council, directly elected mayor, and the Supervisory Committee. The town administration consists of 15 administrative bodies. Ljubljana has 17 sub-municipal units (neighbourhoods) with neighbourhood councils as the main bodies. The main decentralisation steps are establishment of provinces as the second tier of self-government, decentralisation of public affairs, widening of the local financial autonomy, and reducing the large number of inefficient municipalities.Slovenija je jedna od najcentraliziranijih zemalja u Europi. Lokalna samouprava je pod strogim nadzorom središnje države u pogledu sadržaja i financiranja. Premda slovenski Ustav omogucuje dvostupanjsku samoupravnu, dosad su osnovane samo općine. Među 212 njih, 11 je gradskih opcina. Ako budu osnovane, pokrajine će biti iznimno važne za decentralizaciju zemlje i ostvarenje načela supsidijarnosti. Unatoč sveobuhvatnoj raspravi koja podržava osnivanja pokrajina, politički su akteri protiv. Ljubljana je središte i glavni grad Slovenije, a trebala bi biti i središte centralne pokrajine. Gradska općina Ljubljana ima posebni status sa specifičnostima u pogledu djelokruga i načina financiranja javnih poslova. Ona ima tri tijela, Gradsku skupštinu, direktno biranog gradonačelnika te nadzorni odbor. Gradska se uprava sastoji od 15 upravnih tijela. Ljubljana je podijeljena na 17 submunicipalnih jedinica koje sve kao svoje glavno tijelo imaju izabrano vijeće. Glavni koraci u decentralizaciji su uspostava pokrajina kao drugog stupnja samouprave, decentralizacija javnih poslova, širenje lokalne financijske autonomije, te smanjenjem velikog broja neefikasnih jedinica lokalne samouprave

Regionalisation of the Republic of Slovenia

The paper critically examines the planned introduction of fourteen regions in the Republic of Slovenia (RS). Regions as a mandatory second level of selfgovernment will be of major importance for the decentralisation of Slovenia, and consequently for the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity as the fundamental principle in arranging relations between the State and sub-national government levels. However, there are some serious disagreements about the size, competences and financing of the regions. An appropriate division of the state territory into regions is the basis for the optimal territorial organisation of material activities as well as for the settlement of population and decentralisation of state functions. Numerous economic, administrative, geographical and other reasons justify the need to divide Slovenia into regions, preferably into six to eight regions. The paper confronts this project with international criteria and standards as well as with some cases of regionalisation in the European Union (EU) and in the Council of Europe (CE) member states. The author recognises that in almost all CE member states, far-reaching reforms of regional authorities have been completed, are in progress or are planned for the years ahead. The CE, preparing a document (recommendation/convention) on regional self-government, respects the sovereignity and freedom of member states to determine their own internal organisation in conformity with the fundamental standards and principles of democracy. The CE also considers that the process of decentralisation and the regional authorities where they exist can facilitate economic growth, sustainable development, quality public services and the strengthening of democracy

Merjenje učinkovitosti sistema za upravljanje informacijske varnosti

V prispevku so predstavljene različne metrike in metodologije za merjenje učinkovitosti sistema za upravljanje informacijske varnosti (SUIV) v organizaciji. Izpostavljene so prednosti in slabosti posameznih metodologij kakor tudi uporabnost metrik v praksi. Poudarjeno je, da je za kontinuirano spremljanje učinkovitosti sistema za upravljanje informacijske varnosti v organizaciji potrebno definirati ustrezna merila in sistem merjenja. Pri tem je potrebno izhajati iz glavnih poslovnih procesov in ne zgolj iz IT procesov v organizaciji