Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kamil Janáček Author-Name: Martin Čihák Author-Name: Marie Frýdmanová Author-Name: Tomáš Holub Author-Name: Eva Zamrazilová Title: Czech economy in 1998: risks and challenges Abstract: Characteristic for 1997 was a significant slowdown of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth: within the first three quarters, GDP grew by 1.1 %, and our estimate for the whole year is 1.4 %. At the same time 1997 was a turning year with respect to some components of Gross Domestic Product. The growth rate of household consumption decreased substantially (by almost one half). After three years of very dynamic, double-digit growth of gross fixed capital formation, in 1997 investment in fixed capital was falling (a decrease of almost 5%). Government consumption practically stagnated. Growing exports were among the main components of GDP growth, especially in the second halt of 1997. Volume: 1998 Issue: 2 Year: 1998 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/148 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1998:y:1998:i:2:id:148 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Chvojka Title: Financial context of ceec process of privatization and restructuring (czech republic, poland, hungary) Abstract: As EU Eastern enlargement draws nearer, CEE countries - especially those with the best chance to become EU members in the first group - have to get prepared for the EU environment, where they will be exposed to new competitive pressures. They have to increase their performance and overcome their low level of competitiveness, existing in spite of their recent relatively successful transition from command to market economy. Even though they are not a homogeneous group of states, at minimum those of them, the application of which for joining EU are dealt with, show despite the existing differences certain common features of their hitherto transformation (including restructuring) development (we take into account the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland). Volume: 1998 Issue: 2 Year: 1998 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/149 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1998:y:1998:i:2:id:149 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vladimír Tomšík Title: Development of foreign trade and balance of payments in the czech republic, hungary and poland Abstract: The objective of this paper is to analyse one of the greatest problems in the process of transformation of these three economies in the years 1990-1996 - foreign trade development. Following political changes in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe, economic changes had to be implemented that also implied changes in foreign trade. These crucial changes include abolition of foreign trade monopoly and its liberalisation, introduction of stepwise convertibility of national currencies (for transactions of balance of payments on the current account at first), changes in exchange rate policy, price liberalisation and territorial reorientation of foreign trade. All these changes were reflected in foreign trade development in all three countries compared. Volume: 1998 Issue: 2 Year: 1998 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/150 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1998:y:1998:i:2:id:150 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Šauer Author-Name: Petr Fiala Author-Name: Antonín Dvořák Title: Model for support of decision making in environmental policy - negotiation between authority and polluters Abstract: Several approaches to solving pollution reduction problems have been published in the 40 years history of environmental economics. Some of these serve as a theoretical basis for the creation of systems of practical environmental policies. In the 1990's, a new trend in environmental policies seems to be developing. It is the voluntary participation of business (as one of most important polluters) in pollution problem solving. So-called environmental management system principles and standards are being developed and certified in many countries. A reasonable number of corporations have already introduced this system. Voluntary agreements between industry and authorities have occurred and have achieved benefits that are significant to both parties. This article contributes to the development of theories that could promote further progress in the field of business participation. It describes a relatively new approach to pollution reduction problem solving - negotiation between polluters and authorities - and discusses some possibilities for practical applications. Volume: 1998 Issue: 2 Year: 1998 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/151 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1998:y:1998:i:2:id:151