Determinants of the development of the Mazowieckie Province in 2007-2016

The article presents the results of the analysis of factors influencing the development of the Mazowieckie Province (Masovia) in the years 2007–2016. Data for the study were collected from the Central Statistical Office and Statistical Yearbooks of the Mazowieckie Province. The results indicate that the level of development of Masovia is considerably higher than of other provinces in the country. At the end of the analyzed period, in Masovia the GDP per capita was almost twice as high as the national average. Masovia held the highest share in Poland’s GDP (22%). Important factors positively affecting the development of Masovia are: positive population growth and improving demographic situation, and broad access to telecommunications. Additional factors of the dynamic Masovia’s development are: extensive transportation infrastructure (104.3 km per 100 km2) and high number of students (236.5 thousand) and college graduates (60.8 thousand) who constitute the future substantive resources of the province’s economy.

Demographic changes in rural and semi-urban areas in Poland (2003-2016)

The demographic potential, especially in the peripheral and remote areas, Has been deteriorating. Negative natural increase, low or negative migration balances, unfavourable values of the feminisation index and growing relation of the number of people at post-working age to the number of people at working age have been threatening rural development. The aim of the research was to show spatial concentrations of municipalities (LAU 2 level) with a similar level of demographic potential. The study was carried out for 2169 municipalities (LAU 2 level), including rural and semi-urban (urban-rural, including small towns) ones. It was based on the data from the Statistics Poland. The municipalities were are ranked by the level of demographic potential (by 4 variables) and put into 5 groups by the potential level using the taxonomic development measure of Hellwig. The results were presented in maps using cartogram method. The most favourable and promising situation according to demographic potential is observed in central and southern Poland, especially in semi-urban and suburban areas of large cities. The worst demographic potential level and at the same time the least favourable demographic forecasts concern mostly the Eastern Poland, already known as problem area. The spiral of negative conditions accelerates, causing more disadvantages, making young people looking for new places to work and live, deepening current demographic problems and leading to socio-economic development pathologies.

The role of Hévíz sludge cosmetics in beauty care at the Danubius Health Spa Resort in Hévíz with special regard to the Kaviczky products

The paper presents the effect of the Hévíz Lake sludge on health and beauty,with particular emphasis on the beneficial properties of the Hévíz sludge ingredient In cosmetics, which is mainly presented with the Kaviczky treatments applied in Danubius Health Spa Resort in Hévíz and the ecological unevenness of Lake Hévíz. Agnes Kaviczky developed the Pannon Formula, which is composed of Hévíz sludge, Hévíz water, natural grain extracts and biologically pure essential oils. The unique features of the Lake Hévíz, its therapeutic effect, its unique flora and fauna are of great importance for those seeking healing, beauty, relaxation and excursions. From an environmental point of view, the sustainability, protection, conservation of its living and healing sludge for future generations must be sought.

The concept of land use model in Lithuania – the tool for sustainable development

Urbanization process in the Republic of Lithuania has formed a strong visual, cultural and economic gap between rural and urban areas. Lithuanian villages face major social, cultural changes and economic difficulties, which result in increasing migration of people to cities and foreign countries. Everyone could self-realize only in a safe and comfortable environment. The right environment, in which persons feel safe and are able to realize their potential in activities, can be created by spatial planning. Lithuanian scientists talk much about problems in territorial planning, but no particular proposals are offered and state institutions do not take any measures in order to stop this chaotic urbanization. There are a lot of problems related with land usage, so it is very important to create the sustainable model of land usage in Lithuania.

Bitcoin as an example of cryptocurrency – current state and perspectives

The idea of anonymous digital money existing outside of traditional banking system lasts at least 40 years. It appeared as soon as technological solutions, which such a system requires, became available. The article analyses the genesis of the crypto-currencies and technological solutions implemented into the Bitcoin digital currency. The article shows current state of the Bitcoin market and changes in its price, market capitalisation and number of transactions during last decade of operations of the crypto-currency market. Although there are difficulties in using Bitcoins, which include technical background and resulting from the high volatility of prices of this currency, the continuing upward trend of the Bitcoin price and the average daily number of transactions shows that interest in this currency is growing. Bitcoin features that attract new users are a large dose of anonymity, security of funds guaranteed by the extremely high computing power of the Bitcoin network, the speed of transactions and their low cost associated with the exclusion of a financial intermediary. The features of this money and data from the market allow to expect that Bitcoin will gain more individual and institutional users.

Modern challenges of creating tourism brand of Kazakhstan

The article is dedicated to studying contemporary situation and problems of torusim brand development in Kazakhstan. The results of the conducted survey have show that consumers are interested in such tourist-and-recreational resources as natural reserves and national parks and monuments, the Yassavi mausoleum, the branded direction – Borovoye and the mountains, as well as the symbol of the country could become the Golden man or the snow leopard. The research is based on authors own empirical research on the issues regarding tourists awareness and preferencess, as well as experts’ survey. The empirical research was provided based on literature review, primary data (in form of tourists surveys), secondary data collection, analysis and synthesis. To survey tourists a structured questionnaire was designed; 96 people were surveyed, including 55 women and 41 men as a random sampling. The experts’ survey was conducted in free form, and eight experts were surveyed. As was evidenced by the study results, international tourists are particularly interested in authentic cuisine as well as activities. Moreover, the research revealed that a gap between the way Kazakhstan officially defines its identity and the actual brand image the country has for now as a tourist destination.

The key to increasing competitiveness is investing into human resources

This paper focuses attention on the fact that the V4 (Visegrad) countries in general are poorly prepared to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the fourth industrial revolution, and less protected against the risks created by it. First of all economic structural indicators prove that the economies of the V4 countries are still not knowledge based, and can be characterized by low value added activities. In some cases Poland stands out with slightly better results, but all in all V4 countries lag behind the economically more advanced countries for all the analysed indicators. Secondly these countries do not Invest enough into their human resources. The article suggests that unless the V4 countries start putting stronger emphasis on developing human skills and local knowledge they will lose a historic opportunity for becoming successful nations which are able to benefit from the ongoing processes of the fourth industrial revolution by moving up on the value chain.

Control and the illusion of control in the financial decisions of entrepreneurs

The article concerns the phenomenon of control and illusion of control In financial decisions of Polish enterprises. The article identifies the main determinants of the illusion of control. The aim of the paper is to assess the level of control and the degree of illusion of control. For this purpose a CAWI survey was conducted on a group of persons employed in enterprises and responsible for financial decisions. The empirical part of the article presents an primary study conducted among financial directors which showed high results of surveyed entrepreneurs in the area of control and the observed phenomenon of the illusion of control in decision-making situations in the field of finance. At the same time, the main factors influencing the level of the illusion of control were verified.

MACROECONOMIC STABILITY AND SOCIAL PROGRESS IN THE EU MEMBER STATES AND UKRAINE

The main purpose of the study is the role and influence of social factors on macroeconomic stability. The research is based on the hypothesis that countries with greater macroeconomic stability achieve greater social progress. The integrated index of human capital is proposed as a target for the construction of an appropriate system for monitoring social progress, and in the future – identifying the impact on macroeconomic stability. The main stages of estimating the integral index of human capital are: identification of relevant indicators that will form each of the sub-indices; filtering the selected indicators in the previous stage based on the analysis of the correlation matrix of each of the subindices; normalization of indicators in each of the subindices, calculation of the integral index for each of the subindices, calculation of the final integral index of human capital. The calculations of the integrated capital human capital index for some of the EU countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Croatia, Romania) and Ukraine for the period 2000–2015 allowed us to conclude that Romania and Ukraine were on a marginal level of social progress, while Lithuania, Poland and Croatia in the range of moderate level. The use of the OLS (the least squares) method to determine the significance of changes in social progress to macroeconomic stability has revealed a positive and statistically significant impact of social progress on macroeconomic stability.

MONITORING THE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SUPPLY CHAIN IN TURKEY

Turkey’s bio-diversity, geographical structure and climatic conditions, makes it possible to produce a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Although, the high production capacity, half of the vegetables and fruits are lost during the supply chain processes from farmer to the end consumer because of the long and complex structure of the supply chain. At the same time the current supply chain structure leads to huge gaps between producer and consumer prices. The aim of this study is to determine the structure of the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain in Turkey and develop alternative supply chain forms to prevent the “price differences” and “product losses” from farmer to the final consumer. The study included descriptive analyses with secondary data as well as literature review. In addition, this study emphasizes the asymmetric power relationship in the agricultural supply chain. The asymmetric power relationship is explained by the price differences between the farmer and the final consumer. The research findings suggest that the transition from the existing multi-intermediated supply chain to the non-intermediated model must be done in a gradual way and through strengthening of the farmers.