The Stock Market Situation and Economic Growth – An Attempt to Assess the Dependence

The aim of the article: The main aim of the article is to analyze the relationship between the stock market situation and the real economy, measured by the strength of the correlation between the rate of return on the stock market and the rate of GDP growth in European capital markets. The next objective is to answer the question whether the stock market index changes are ahead of, and if so, by how much, GDP changes. The author’s hypothesis stipulates that the stock exchange situation precedes the change in economic activity and serves as its forecast. Methodology: The empirical research work was carried out on the basis of quarterly data value of the stock index and the GDP between 2010 and the first quarter of 2021 for 20 European countries. For indices and GDP, the quarterly dynamics of the rate of return and GDP were calculated. Data on the value of the stock exchange index was taken from the website www.stooq.pl, while data on GDP was taken from Eurostat. Subsequently, the analysis concerned the correlation relationships between the variables on the basis of the Pearson correlation coefficient. The correlation between the variables was calculated without delay, as well as with a delay of one, two or three quarters of the returns on stock indices. Results of the research: Changes in the value of the stock exchange index is in most cases positively correlated with the change in GDP and the correlation is pronounced, but it is low and moderate. The only market for which a significant correlation was observed, was the Polish market. At the same time, it can be stated that the rates of return on the stock exchange index precede a change in GDP by one or three quarters. No changes were observed for the analyzed countries for two quarters.

Capital Structure of Companies Listed at the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the COVID-19 Pandemic Effect on Their Risk

Subject: The financial management of companies is examined in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the relationship between their capital structure and risk changes during the pandemic is scrutinised. The purpose of the article: To determine how companies’ total, systematic and idiosyncratic risks changed during the COVID-19 pandemic depending on their capital structure based on a sample of organisations listed at the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Methodology: The study involves the use of a panel data regression model. Results of the research: The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the risk of overleveraged companies and underleveraged ones alike. Its influence on their total risk was weaker among the underleveraged organisations. Regarding systematic risk, its levels did not generally change significantly in the wake of the pandemic, but idiosyncratic risk, only in the case of the overleveraged companies increased statistically significantly.

Change Dynamics of Electricity Prices for Households in the European Union between 2011 and 2020

The aim of the article: The aim of the article is to evaluate and analyze the dynamics of electricity prices for households in the European Union member states (EU-27) in the period 2011–2020. The study also focuses on the key components of electricity prices in the countries analyzed. The discussed issues are important from the socio-economic point of view. It refers to the issue of sustainable development, where electricity prices are addressed in relation to the problem of energy poverty of households. Methodology: The study is of a theoretical and analytical character. In addition to the review of available dnational and foreign literature, Eurostat data on electricity prices for households in the EU-27 were analysed. Moreover, the paper presents the application of a selected cluster analysis method, i.e. the k-means method, to assess the situation of the EU-27 countries in terms of electricity prices for households in the analysed period of 2011–2020. Results of the research: The result of the analyses undertaken is a presentation of the share of VAT and other taxes and levies in the price of electricity for households. The analyses showed differences between the countries in the structure of establishing the electricity price for households. Only in three countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia) it was found that there was no share of other taxes and levies in the electricity price. In turn, the applied k-means method contributed to obtaining the division of countries into four groups reflecting the differentiation in terms of the amount of electricity price for households in the period under study.

Participatory Budget – An Effective Tool for Social Participation and Building Local Identity. A Case Study of the City of Lodz

The aim of the article: The main aim of the article is to present the essence and significance the institution of civic budget as a tool not only allowing citizens to actively participate in the process of deciding about the directions of spending public funds, but also a tool to determine the directions of social expectations, the essence and importance of social participation. Hypothesis: The hypothesis accepted in the study stipulates that the growing popularity of the civic budget makes it an effective tool for social participation. Methodology: The study was based on a literature review, legal acts, information on the functioning of the civic budget in Lodz as well as a questionnaire conducted among the city residents. Results of the research: The civic budget in Lodz has been functioning for eight years, and during this time it has been constantly contributing to the idea of citizen involvement in the decision-making process. Although the budget procedure itself is undergoing numerous corrections and transformations, as the ongoing political, social and macroeconomic changes must be taken into account, it is still a basic tool enabling active participation and involvement of citizens. The matters it concerns are important to the community, and the civic budget offers an opportunity to express their opinions on key issues. The conducted survey indicates that Lodz is a positive example of using the participatory budget mechanism in the city management process. The sustained high (on a Polish scale) turnout confirms the inhabitants’ interest and willingness to change the public space, thus positively influencing the building of a sense of local community.

Effects of the „Polish Deal” Programme on Local Government Units

The aim of this paper is to present the „Polish Deal” program in the context of its influence on budget management of local government units. The paper puts forward a thesis that changes in the tax system, as specified in the „Polish Deal” programme, will have a negative impact on the finances of local government units. The study was based on selected literature, documents on the financial perspective for 2021–2027, the „Polish Deal” programme, financial information on the state of finances of local government units in 2018–2020 and opinions of the Union of Polish Metropolises and the Association of Polish Cities to the draft Polish Deal programme. The period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic coincided with the beginning of the next financial perspective in the European Union for the years 2021–2027. EU institutions have prepared a number of instruments relevant to the post-pandemic era, including the Next Generation EU. At the same time, they imposed on Member States the obligation to prepare their own post-pandemic plans. Poland prepared the National Recovery Plan. This was followed by the government’s presentation of the „Polish Deal” program, which is a promise of socio-economic reforms. The projects included in the „Polish Deal”, in many areas will require the activity and involvement of local authorities. The effects of these activities will be not only financial but also organizational, which will translate into increased spending. Changes in the tax system, especially in the personal income tax, will considerably affect revenues from PIT shares, which will disturb the stability of territorial self-government units’ financial system. Therefore, it is necessary that the government and self-government representatives jointly work out solutions, which will guarantee the compensation of losses for the self-governments in a long-term, and a stable way to restore the principle of adequacy.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Changes in Competitiveness in the Public Procurement System

The aim of the article/hypothesis: The impact of the pandemic on the European and global economy is unquestionable. The question is how the epidemiological situation has affected the European public procurement system. The study was limited to assessing the changes in the structure of the procedures used to award public contracts and the possible effects of a lack of dynamics in this respect. The aim of the work is to observe the effects of changes in the structure of tendering procedures and to identify other phenomena in the public procurement system, caused by the pandemic. Methodology: Taking into account the diversity of national solutions in the field of public procurement, resulting both from the legal systems and national practice, an analysis of awarded public contracts was carried out, with particular emphasis on the domestic market. The research was conducted in the direction of determining the changes in preferences of selecting non-competitive procedures, new possibilities of awarding contracts and the analysis of changes in the preferences of the non-competitive procedure on the European Union market. The tools used for the analysis included basic statistical measures and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results of the research: As a result of the analysis, it was found that there was a statistically significant increase in the share of the non-competitive procedure on the European market. The observation of individual national markets shows that in some Member States there has been a decrease or a very limited increase in the non-competitive mode. This may result from ad hoc legal changes and means that an unknown number of contracts of unknown value was awarded outside the control of the monitoring of the public procurement system.