In this study, the possible tariff structure changes were calculated using the comparison of the present Czech tariffs and the German tariffs, which include only common external EU tariffs. The concept of Balassa's and Corden's effective protection rate was used to express more precisely the burden on production by customs duty tariffs, in comparison with nominal tariffs. The effect of tariff structure changes on the structure of comparative advantage and resource allocation was estimated. Here the concept of revealed comparative advantage was used. A list of sectors with reinforced comparative advantage was chosen.
The results of the calculations should be taken as experimental, and for the present may give only general signals of effects, due to the obsolete statistical databasis used, and also due to limitations in the sectoral break up, given by the disposable input-output table which was used in calculations. Future changes in economic situation and the updated statistical databasis will call for updating of our calculations. Keywords: effective rate of protection, comparative advantage, competitiveness, resource allocation Volume: 1999 Issue: 2 Year: 1999 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/43 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1999:y:1999:i:2:id:43 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Martin Myant Title: Czech enterprises: the barriers to restructuring Abstract: Much of the literature on changes in Czech enterprises has been developed around a neo-classical framework with the emphasis on the effects of hard budget constraints and privatization. That, however, provides a limited view of the choices available to enterprises and of the constraints that have been imposed by a weak institutional environment, an often inappropriate policy framework and an approach to privatization that has, in a number of different ways, made subsequent rationalization and modernization more difficult. The effects on, and changes in, enterprises are analysed around experience in four different sectors; light industry, engineering and transport equipment, milk-processing and brewing. This points to the need to place more emphasis on enterprise access to financial resources for modernization and, above all, on the ability of managements to formulate coherent and appropriate long-term strategies. It also points to the desirability of a more active policy framework. Keywords: Czech economy, privatization, enterprise restructuring, industrial competitiveness Volume: 1999 Issue: 2 Year: 1999 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/44 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1999:y:1999:i:2:id:44 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: James D. Goodnow Title: International business transformation patteerns of czech enterprises since the velvet revolution and the velvet divorce Abstract: From a macroeconomic standpoint, the Czech Republic has been viewed as a leading example of successful transformation from a state owned to a privatized economy. Yet at the firm and industry levels, the transformation process is still in its early stages. This article focuses on the transformation of outbound international business activities of the country and offers statistical and case study evidence to support four propositions describing the transformation process to date. First, most Czech international business activity is oriented toward its European neighbors. Second, globalization is beginning in a few selected firm and industries. Third, the reliance on low price rather than other international marketing advantages limits the development of world class images of Czech export commodities. Fourth, beginning globalization efforts of Czech firms focus on emerging markets of Asia, South America and Africa and to a lesser extent on the United States but largely exclude Japan. Keywords: privatization, transformation, globalization, export, industry, price, marketing, competition Volume: 1999 Issue: 2 Year: 1999 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/45 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:1999:y:1999:i:2:id:45