Why Some Sectors of Transition Economies are less Reformed than Others? The Case of Research and Education

We analyze university research and education in transition countries. University system differs from industry in the nature of product that it produces. University system is engaged in production of public goods rather than private goods. The sector also suffers from measurement problem. We argue that because of these factors reforms were slower in this sector leading to low productivity growth. Lobby groups succeeded to gain significant control inside administrative structures regulating the sector. The case studies from the Czech Republic and Slovakia provide the evidence in support of this argument.Research, education, public good, transition, reform, productivity

The Wars of the Judges

This piece is a response to J. Jonas Anderson, Judicial Lobbing, 91 Wash. L. Rev. 401 (2016)

Lobbing jako instrument partycypacji społeczeństwa w realizacji zasad państwa demokratycznego

The purpose of this paper is to indicate the role and importance of lobbying as a form of ac- tive participation in the decision-making process of entities interested in a given outcome of this process. Lobbying involves business circles, political deputies and potential addressees of the solutions to be enacted, therefore this form of civic activity has attracted increasing interest. Parties involved frequently establish certain organizational structures in order to initiate the activity of authorized entities and involve them in the decision-making process by expressing their approval or disapproval for legislative initiatives. The methods and instruments applied to exert influence are supposed to persuade the decision makers of the necessity to maintain the current solutions, or to inspire changes, but they primarily increase civic consciousness as regards the opportunity for active protection of one’s particular interests

Regulace procesu prosazování zájmů v Evropské unii: Lobbistické kodexy chování

Případová studie sledující využívání regulačního nástroje kodexu. Tento nástroj je klíčový u EP a EK. Cílem je zjistit postoj členských států k kodexu jako regulačnímu nástroji.The Case study to explore the application of the Code of conduct for lobbyist. The Code of conduct represents the essential principle of regulation in EP and EC. The goal is to evaluate the attitude of the EU member states towards this instrument

Rola lobbingu w polskich stosunkach przemysłowych

Lobbying is one of the strategies applied by groups of interest. Like any other strategy it is to help achieve the goals that a particular group identifies and articulates. Paradoxically, the greatest value and the strongest enemy of lobbying is its popularity. On one hand lobbying is a series of activities that group elites willingly (e.g. in the U.S.) employ to achieve their interests. On the other hand, though, referring to the notion of lobbying in various contexts, whether in PR, marketing or journalism, it raises numerous questions. The latter, i.e. the journalistic context distorts it most severely. It is journalism that applies the name of lobbying to mysterious, to put it mildly, and dubious interactions between the private and the political sectors, thereby implying a rather derogatory ‘image’ of this instrument in public opinion, which is especially the case in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland. However, lobbying is more than a handy tool to achieve particular, strictly business interests, it is also an important route to implement social interests. It can be easily used by large economic groups of interest, trade unions or business organizations, wrestling with the strong third party of industrial relations, the state. By this token lobbying becomes a component of industrial relations, and by no means is it a worse party, one that is less socially-oriented and more like an ‘old boys’ network’, but a party which can efficiently contribute to a specified social interest to be implemented in the labor market. In order to make it possible, though, appropriate regulations, conditions, and factors of a legal, organizational and cultural nature need to be developed. A profound change in this field does not seem feasible in Poland, which becomes clear when reading the long-awaited law on lobbying currently in the legislative process. Maybe we should not be very surprised, given that our industrial arena is highly susceptible to hybrid and ephemeral solutions, and the issue of making appropriate use of lobbying also leaves a margin for uncertainty and deformation. Despite these concerns and limitations caused by industrial relations it is worth improving and creating the proper environment for lobbying activity in Poland, which the authors of this paper try to demonstrate.Lobbying is one of the strategies applied by groups of interest. Like any other strategy it is to help achieve the goals that a particular group identifies and articulates. Paradoxically, the greatest value and the strongest enemy of lobbying is its popularity. On one hand lobbying is a series of activities that group elites willingly (e.g. in the U.S.) employ to achieve their interests. On the other hand, though, referring to the notion of lobbying in various contexts, whether in PR, marketing or journalism, it raises numerous questions. The latter, i.e. the journalistic context distorts it most severely. It is journalism that applies the name of lobbying to mysterious, to put it mildly, and dubious interactions between the private and the political sectors, thereby implying a rather derogatory ‘image’ of this instrument in public opinion, which is especially the case in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland. However, lobbying is more than a handy tool to achieve particular, strictly business interests, it is also an important route to implement social interests. It can be easily used by large economic groups of interest, trade unions or business organizations, wrestling with the strong third party of industrial relations, the state. By this token lobbying becomes a component of industrial relations, and by no means is it a worse party, one that is less socially-oriented and more like an ‘old boys’ network’, but a party which can efficiently contribute to a specified social interest to be implemented in the labor market. In order to make it possible, though, appropriate regulations, conditions, and factors of a legal, organizational and cultural nature need to be developed. A profound change in this field does not seem feasible in Poland, which becomes clear when reading the long-awaited law on lobbying currently in the legislative process. Maybe we should not be very surprised, given that our industrial arena is highly susceptible to hybrid and ephemeral solutions, and the issue of making appropriate use of lobbying also leaves a margin for uncertainty and deformation. Despite these concerns and limitations caused by industrial relations it is worth improving and creating the proper environment for lobbying activity in Poland, which the authors of this paper try to demonstrate

EU policy-making in the field of copyright. Problems of the consultation process and the stakeholders’ lobbying

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest omówienie sposobu prowadzenia polityki przez Komisję Europejską w zakresie prawa autorskiego. Jest to ważna kwestia z uwagi na szerokie działania Komisji w zakresie dostosowywania prawa autorskiego do potrzeb jednolitego rynku cyfrowego, a także na wyzwania dotyczące eksploatacji dóbr niematerialnych w związku z rozwojem nowych technologii oraz na kontrowersje, jakie budzą przyjmowane dyrektywy. Postawione pytanie dotyczy tego, jak wygląda proces konsultacji oraz zaangażowanie obywateli (w tym działania lobbingowe) w kreowanie polityki Unii Europejskiej w omawianym obszarze. Rozważania odnoszą się do procesu legislacyjnego dwóch przyjętych ostatnio dyrektyw, a mianowicie dyrektywy 2011/77/UE nowelizującej przepisy w zakresie czasu ochrony niektórych praw pokrewnych oraz dyrektywy 2012/28/UE, która dotyczy dozwolonych sposobów korzystania z utworów osieroconych. W pierwszej kolejności podjęty został problem sukcesu lobbingowego niektórych tylko grup interesu (analiza dotyczy czynników leżących po stronie grup oraz charakteru procesu konsultacyjnego), a następnie dokonana została ocena działań Komisji Europejskiej w zakresie regulowania procesu konsultacyjnego i działalności lobbingowej. Unijny proces legislacyjny ujęty jest z perspektywy politologicznej, ponieważ dotyczy działań instytucji unijnych w zakresie procesu konsultacyjnego oraz partycypacji obywateli w procesach legislacyjnych.The objective of this paper is to discuss the EU policy making in the field of copyright. This is an important issue in view of recent EU initiatives to adapt copyright law to the needs of the digital single market as well as of challenges of exploitation of immaterial goods in connection with the development of new technologies and controversies over the EU directives. The article focuses on the consultation process (conducted by the European Commission) and the stakeholders’ participation (including lobbies) in creation of the EU policy in a given field. It is discussed in relation to the legislative process of the following two, recently adopted directives: 2011/77/EU which extends the term of protection of certain related rights and 2012/28/EU which introduces certain permitted uses of orphan works. The first part refers to the question why some groups of interest are successful and some other fail (the analysis concerns factors resulting from groupactions and the character of a consultation process). Next, the article evaluates the Commission’s activity in the field of regulations of the consultation process and lobbying. The EU legislative process is discussed from the point of view of political sciences as it concerns the EU actions related to the consultation process and the participation of citizens in the legislative process

Measuring viability of pacs during reform period in Maharashtra: A case study

The study showed a reduction in the operational efficiency of the selected PACS during the post-economic reform period as against the pre-economic reform period. The operational efficiency was measured in respect of various liquidity ratio, profitability ratios and financial leverage ratios. Not only the selected societies showed a decline in their current ratio, rate of return on assets, return on owner’s equity and Marginal Efficiency of Capital (MEC) but also showed higher dependency on lender’s capital for their finances. This dependency was seen to be higher in the case of ‘A’ graded society. Nonetheless, ‘A’ graded society showed an improvement in its permanent capital. Further, as for ‘A’ graded society, there was not much improvement in the net worth, and in fact the share of net worth in its total liability had declined in the post-economic reform period. The declining share of net worth had caused an increase in debt-asset ratio of this society during the latter period. The return on owner’s equity of the selected societies were seen to fall sharply during the post-economic reform period. Since the return on owner’s equity is a function of as to how efficiently a firm manages its assets, the net profit margin on sales and the degree of financial leverage, a reduction in this equity could, therefore, be considered as a sign of reduction in the efficiency of the societies in managing their assets and liabilities, and also income and expenditure pattern during the latter period as against the former period. The reform initiatives could be held responsible for this moribund state of cooperative credit sector. Due to unfavourable policy framework, much of the rural finances extended through cooperatives are now going into investment rather then extending loans to farming sector. The need of the hour is not to rely on the financial sector reforms but tackling issues such as sustainability of and viability of these credit cooperatives