Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Václav Žďárek Author-Name: Jaromír Šindel Title: Real and Nominal Convergence and the New EU Member States - Actual State and Implications Abstract: This paper analyses the process of nominal and real convergence of the new Member States of the European Union. It also discusses theoretical and methodological issues relating to this process. The importance of nominal and real convergence is underlined in connection with a successful catching-up. The EU-10 economies experienced robust economic growth in recent years, which had a positive impact on the convergence process. Although this favourable development of real convergence (GDP per capita in PPS) is accompanied by a simultaneous price (nominal) convergence (changes in relative prices and a convergence of price levels), the comparative price level is still biased towards lower level in comparison with the per capita income. Keywords: competitiveness, nominal and real convergence, Balassa-Samuelson effect, relative price level Classification-JEL: E30, F15, O11 Pages: 195-219 Volume: 2007 Issue: 3 Year: 2007 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/download.php?jnl=pep&pdf=305.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/305 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2007:y:2007:i:3:id:305:p:195-219 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpep/references/305 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiří Večerník Title: The Czech Labour Market: Historical, Structural and Policy Perspectives Abstract: A proper picture of the Czech labour market emerges by focusing on its nuanced details from various perspectives. First we focus on the specific phases of the labour market as it developed in the 1990s. Second, we observe the changing composition of the labour force and labour mobility. Third, we examine the vulnerable categories of people. Policies, active labour market policies in particular, are described in the fourth section. Fifthly, we analyse the flexibility of the labour market in its various forms. In conclusion, several questions regarding the future of the Czech labour market are raised: predominant montage character of the Czech economy and labour force, weak work commitment, growing differentiation of the labour market and a weak legal and institutional environment of business and employment. Keywords: labour market, Czech Republic, labour force, employment policy Classification-JEL: J4, J6 Pages: 220-236 Volume: 2007 Issue: 3 Year: 2007 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/download.php?jnl=pep&pdf=306.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/306 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2007:y:2007:i:3:id:306:p:220-236 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpep/references/306 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yusaf Akbar Author-Name: Sonia Ferencikova Title: Industrial Clustering and Global Value Chains in Central and Eastern Europe: Role of Multinational Enterprises in Industrial Upgrading Abstract: The authors are attempting to draw together existing literature on the governance of GVCs; research on host country "spillovers" as a consequence of MNE activity and the broader cluster and innovation literature. While cluster research had done important work in identifying and operationalizing the necessary conditions for cluster formation, it had relatively ignored the global-local linkage brought by the presence of MNEs. The "spillover" literature has identified in theory numerous benefits of MNE presence in host countries. There was relatively little empirical work done in CEE to discover if these benefits actually exist. Neither literature had focused on how MNEs govern their GVCs. Thus bringing these sources together presents an important opportunity for international business. The authors find that in the Slovak case the industrial clusters among the firms surveyed were not much functional. On a strategic level, there appears to be little evidence of cooperation in areas of marketing, export promotion or investment. This is especially of concern in sectors such as automotive where cooperative strategies among suppliers could offer significant benefits. Keywords: foreign direct investment, transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, industrial clustering, multinational enterprise Classification-JEL: F21, F23 Pages: 237-251 Volume: 2007 Issue: 3 Year: 2007 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/download.php?jnl=pep&pdf=307.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/307 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2007:y:2007:i:3:id:307:p:237-251 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpep/references/307 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Wadim Strielkowski Title: A Living Worth Leaving? Economic Incentives and Migration Flows: The Case of Czechoslovak Labour Migration Abstract: Migration studies cannot explain a paradox why migrations from regions or countries with lower economic performance to regions or countries with higher economic performance remain low even though the economic incentives of emigration are high. This gives EU stakeholders solid reasons for building serious administrative barriers and introducing "transition periods" for free movement of labour from EU-8. It is generally believed that removing barriers would cause mass labour migration. However, it might be that the problem lies elsewhere and labour migration might remain low with or without barriers. This paper analyses the pattern of Czechoslovak migrations in 1993-2004. After the split-up of Czechoslovak Federation citizens of both countries could reside and work in another country without any restrictions. This was even more simplified by the common cultural background and unique language proximity. Although the Slovak Republic was generally less successful in its economic growth than the Czech Republic, the analysis of the model of Czechoslovak migrations specified in this paper does not leed to the conclusion that economic differences between the two countries influence migration between Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It might be that economic disparities might influence migration however it happens only after they reach some critical level. Keywords: transition economies, EU enlargement, migration, labour mobility Classification-JEL: C200, F22, J61, P3 Pages: 252-264 Volume: 2007 Issue: 3 Year: 2007 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/download.php?jnl=pep&pdf=308.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/pep/308 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2007:y:2007:i:3:id:308:p:252-264 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpep/references/308