Statistical and Econometric Analysis of Selected Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic

The paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on macroeconomic activity in the selected European countries. The studies are based on monthly and quarterly indicators of GDP, unemployment rates and key indicators of the tourism sector. To present how COVID-19 has affected these macroeconomic variables, statistic data from the three periods are compared. Namely, data are collected from the pre-pandemic period, i.e. the fourth quarter of 2019 as the reference period, the second period covers the first quarter of 2020 and means the beginning of the pandemic, and the third one covers second quarter of 2020, during which the pandemic has spread to all the analyzed countries. The following statistical techniques are used in the research: regression analysis, the hierarchical grouping of agglomerations, k-means method, and selected non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis test for a selected group of countries and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for a selected pair of countries). The results show the significant impact of the pandemic on the level of gross domestic product, unemployment rate and turism sector. In most cases, a correlation between incidence of COVID-19 infections, unemployment rate and GDP is observed. The statistical techniques also allow to demonstrate the similarities and differences in the response of the economies to the COVID-19 pandemic. Central Statistical Offices of the selected countries are the main data source and for all calculations Statistica version 13.3. is used.

Digitale Transformation in deutschen Kommunen

Deutschland landet in europäischen Rankings zur Verwaltungsdigitalisierung regelmäßig im hinteren Mittelfeld. Die bisherige Bilanz der Digitalisierung für die deutsche öffentliche Verwaltung ist trotz verstärkter Anstrengungen aller föderaler Ebenen, wie sie insbesondere in der Umsetzung des Onlinezugangsgesetzes (OZG) zum Ausdruck kommen, nach wie vor als eher ernüchternd einzuschätzen. Vor diesem Hintergrund beschäftigt sich der vorliegende Beitrag mit der Umsetzung, den Hürden und ausgewählten Wirkungsaspekten der Verwaltungsdigitalisierung auf kommunaler Ebene. Die empirische Basis bildet eine 2019 abgeschlossene Studie zur digitalen Transformation in einem Schlüsselbereich bürgerbezogener Leistungserbringung, den städtischen Bürgerämtern, welche die am meisten nachgefragten kommunalen Dienstleistungen bereitstellen. Aus der Analyse lassen sich wichtige Erkenntnisse für die zukünftige Entwicklung der Digitalisierung öffentlicher Leistungserbringung in Deutschland ableiten. Germany regularly lands in the lower midfield of European public administration digitalization rankings. Despite increased efforts at all levels of government, particularly in implementing the so-called Online Access Act (OZG), the digitalization record of the German administration continues to be rather sobering. Against this background, the following article analyses the practice, hurdles and selected effects of digitalization at the local level of government. It draws on data obtained from an empirical study carried out by the authors in 2019. The study investigated the digital transformation in local one-stop shops, a key area of citizen-related service provision which deliver the local public services most frequently requested by citizens. Based on our analysis, we draw some important conclusions regarding the future developments of the digital transformation in German public service provision.

Analysis of selected effects of the conventional and unconventional machining of titanium alloys

In this article, the results of wire WEDM (wire electrical discharge machining) of Ti6Al4V are collated by turning with modified wiper tool geometry. The electrode is CuZn37 brass wire with a diameter of 0.25 mm The analysis of 3D geometry of the Ti6Al4V alloy surface after wiper and WEDM cutting is presented. The possibilities and limitations of wiper and WEDM machining of titanium alloys were indicated.

Segmentation of markets in Central and Eastern Europe with the use of the CMS method

The paper aims at making a comparative analysis of the Central and Eastern European countries in the scope of effects accompanying changes in their export. The Eurostat’s data for 2016 were used in the study. The effects of changes in export of individual countries were separated based on the Constant Market Share (CMS) model developed by Leamer and Stern. The calculated effectssuch as: demand effect, market distribution effect, commodity composition effect and competitiveness effect enabled a detailed assessment of the sources of changes occurring in export of individual countries. They allowed, in particular, for answeringthe following question: to what extent may changes in export be explained by the economic situation in the world commodity trade of individual clustersand to what extent do they result from the competitiveness of these countries? The application of the multivariate statistical analysis method for the selected effects allowed for the identification of clusters of countries with the most similar position in the spatial and commodity arrangement, including countries of similar trade competitiveness.