What drives you to use a driverless car?

The investigation of driverless car from the economic perspective is one of the most discussed topics nowadays. Although it can be approached from various perspectives there is still a lack of studies focusing on the behavioral intention to use self-driving cars and its influencing factors. Over the last few decades, various psychological models have been developed to investigate the influencing factors of usage of certain technologies, but most of them cannot provide clear answers on consumer attitudes and intentions with regard to autonomous vehicles. Thus, new models have appeared to better describe the psychological factors of this new technological development that will revolutionize the future of mobility. In our research CTAM (Car Technology Acceptance Model) was used to measure intention to using self-driving cars. In 2019, 314 participants responded to our questionnaire and provided answers to the given questions. We used structural equation modelling to investigate the linkages between the behavioral intention and influencing factors revealed during the literature review. According to the results, the most important influencing factors of intention are attitude, perceived safety and social norms, while anxiety (of using the technology), effort expectancy, performance expectancy, and self-efficacy have not been proven important factors. The model used in our investigation explains behavioral intention to a great extent (63%).

Measuring eating behaviour

Obesity has dramatically increased during the last decades and is currently one of the most serious global health problems. The consequences of obesity for physical health are well established. The development of human obesity is attributed to overeating. Studying eating behaviour is an important approach in tackling obesity. Eating behaviours influence energy intake through choices about when and where to eat, and the types and amounts of foods chosen, including decisions about starting and stopping eating. This paper summarizes the measurement tools and methods in analyzing eating behaviour. The aim of this paper was to find the correct questionnaire for future research, which is the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire in this case.

Measuring monetary policy in emerging economies

Measuring the stance of monetary policy is of importance for the analysis and implementation of monetary policy. The existence of multiple instrument framework as well as the significance of the interest rate and exchange rate channel in emerging economies imply that monetary condition index can play an important role in evaluating whether monetary policy is restrictive or expansive in these economies. In this paper, we use the VAR model to evaluate the role of monetary condition index as an overall measure of monetary policy in emerging economies. The weight of components of monetary condition index is derived from the inflation equation in the VAR estimation. The empirical results suggest that a contraction in monetary policy causes a reduction in inflation. The finding implies that monetary condition index is a useful indicator that can predict the stance of monetary policy and predict the trend of inflation in emerging economies.

Drivers of productivity differences in the Hungarian manufacturing sector 2014–2017

Earlier research proved the existence of multilayer dualities within the Hungarian Economy. Based on these findings, this paper examines the driving forces of productivity differences comparing two groups in Hungarian manufacturing sector: locally owned and foreign-owned companies. The cluster analysis and the panel regression based on financial data of 1725 firms for the period 2014 to 2017 revealed that, while crucial driving forces may match, their direction and importance differ considerably. While foreign companies have an apparent advantage in productivity, their increase in export ratio correlates with lower efficiency; in contrast, export intensity boosts the efficiency of the locally owned companies. While the proportion of highly trained workforce correlates with productivity, this effect appears to be weaker in foreign-owned companies, which signals inefficient use of intellectual resources. These results raise questions regarding the efficacy of the current Hungarian economic policy of promoting foreign investments (FDIs).

Livestock product supply and factor demand responsiveness

Despite there being incredible challenges in enhancing livestock development in Kenya, this article isolates product supply and factors input demand responsiveness as the main constraints facing the smallholder. A flexible-Translog profit function permits the application of dual theory in the analysis of livestock product supply and factor demand responsiveness using farm-level household data. The results indicate that own-price elasticities were elastic for cattle, while goat and sheep were inelastic. Cross-price and scale elasticities were found to be within inelastic range in all cases, with the goat being a preferred substitute for cattle. All factor inputs demand elasticities were inelastic with the exception of elastic cattle output prices and labour cost. Thus, the recommended policy option would be supportive pro-pastoral price policies, enhanced investment in pastureland improvement and an increasing wage rate, since these assume key significance in improving the livestock production/marketing.

Successes and failures in Hungarian family businesses

The Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are a necessary element of the social and economic development of the national economy from the perspective of their significant contribution to employment, innovative capacity, and flexibility. Innovative SMEs are necessary building block in the restructuring of transition economies. The successful reformers of the Central and Eastern Europe countries can promote policies conducive to the development of innovative SMEs, and consequently benefit from the economic advantages of SMEs. However, the majority of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries are lagging behind significantly. This paper gives the analytical description of the development of SMEs in post-socialist countries during the transition process within the framework of the market reforms. The main barriers to growth of SMEs with innovation capacity are the institutional environment, and the inadequate attitude of the government towards small companies. The countries which integrated to European Union been able to overcome these barriers considerably, while the CIS countries do not have a record of significant achievement in this area.

Leadership characteristics that influence corporate efficiency

Economic focus analysis alone cannot answer an organisation’s efficiency issues, as the soft attributes associated with management skills and leadership qualities are also important. According to transformational leadership theory (Bass–Avolio 1994, Bass 1990, Judge–Bono 2000, Bass–Bass 2008), there is a transformation between the manager and the subordinate, in which the two parties interact with and affect each other. A joint two-phase study was conducted to investigate the role of management in increasing corporate efficiency. As a first step, financial data of 1752 Hungarian manufacturing firms were analyzed. Companies were grouped according to their TFP (total factor productivity) (Juhász et al. 2020). As a second step, we linked a questionnaire survey to the preliminary TFP categorization. In our questionnaire research, we examined the individual characteristics, qualities, and specialties of leadership practices concerning the economic performance of the organizations. According to our findings, both the individual qualities of the leader and the characteristics of the leadership practice are decisive for the efficiency and results of the organization.

Effects of the Global Financial Crisis on the V4

The aim of the research is to explore the development of trade relations between the Visegrád countries and their major Western European partners since accession to the European Union. The topic is currently an important one, as the Visegrád region is highly dependent on Western European countries, especially in the area of foreign trade. The research analyzed how the 2008-2009 global economic crisis and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis in Europe affected these trade relationships, i.e. did it cause significant changes in levels of relationship and/or trends. To answer this question, this paper used a time-series analysis method called Interrupted Time Series Analysis. As a result, statistically significant changes in the level and trend of foreign trade relations between the Visegrád countries and their Western European partners were detected. Finally, a more detailed breakdown of product groups also revealed which product groups are most responsible for slowing down the growth of trade relations.

EU competitiveness in a changing world economy

The region as a whole is lagging behind the recovery of others in the world. The future shows a shift in global economic power, away from the established advanced economies, especially from those in Europe, towards emerging ones in Asia and elsewhere. Compared to earlier years, risks related to euro area economic conditions have increased. This influences the function and effectiveness of the banking sector as well. The global outlook has deteriorated. The top three prominent risks expected to affect the euro area banking system over the next years are: (1) economic, political, and debt sustainability challenges in the euro area, (2) business model sustainability, and (3) cybercrime and IT deficiencies. The study discusses these factors with special emphasis on banking supervision. It analyses EU bank regulation after the financial crisis and its prospects.

Comparative analysis of the innovation system of Kazakhstan

In the modern world, economic growth is closely linked to the development of innovation. Today, to become an economically developed country, it is necessary to invest in innovation and improve factors that have a direct impact on innovation activity. However, the significant problem in innovation is the gap among the industrialized countries, countries with economies in transition, and developing countries. This study focuses on a country with a transition economy – Kazakhstan, and its ability to make an innovation breakthrough. In search of the indicators influencing innovation activity in Kazakhstan, we drew on the methodology of the European Innovation Scoreboard. Through data harmonization, we found Kazakh indicators and compared them with European indicators. This empirical result allows us to draw conclusions on the importance of human resources in science, and of fast-growing enterprises with innovation activity. The growth in R&D expenditure also positively affected Kazakh innovation in line with world practice. In this way, the quality improvement of some key factors is positively affecting the growth of many innovative indicators in Kazakhstan. The contribution of this empirical result allowed us to compare Kazakhstan with European Union countries through the European system of innovation estimation.