Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiří Večerník Title: Subjektivní indikátory blahobytu: přístupy, měření a data Title: Subjective Indicators of Well-Being: Approaches, Measurements and Data Abstract: There is a growing effort to find alternative measures of the overall performance of economy and social development. More complex indicators are constructed, multi-dimensional approaches are searched and concepts of subjective well-being are increasingly applied. While academic research is booming and politicians are interested about innovative approach in the West, not much attention is given to the topic in the Czech Republic. The article drafts some of many problems appearing on the interface of the objective and subjective indicators. In the first section, some multi-dimensional approaches are tackled and in the second, concepts of happiness and satisfaction are overviewed. The relationship between economic growth and human happiness is described next. In the fourth section, survey data on reported happiness in the Czech Republic, ready for analysis and comparison, are described. In the conclusion, perspectives of research in the area are outlined, together with a possible use of subjective indictors in policies. Keywords: Czech Republic, happiness, subjective well-being, life satisfaction, social reporting Classification-JEL: I31, I38, Z10, Z18 Pages: 291-308 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=843.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/843 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:843:p:291-308 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/843 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Libor Dušek Author-Name: Petr Janský Title: Dopady změn daně z přidané hodnoty na reálné příjmy domácností Title: The Impact of VAT Changes on the Households´ Real Incomes Abstract: The article evaluates the distributional impacts of the value added tax changes in the Czech Republic using the Household Budget Survey, a representative sample of approximately 3000 households. It evaluates the impacts on the living standards both for the VAT reform that was actually approved in 2011, as well as for alternative reform proposals that were discussed during 2011 and that also considered a reduction in payroll tax rates. The estimates refl ect the recent empirical fi ndings about the incidence of consumption and payroll taxes. Unifying the VAT at a single tax rate has an almost proportional impact on the households from the 2nd to impact 10th income decile while having a disproportionately larger impact on the poorest decile. A reduction in the payroll tax would have reduced the progressivity of the tax system across the entire income range. Keywords: Czech Republic, households, value added tax, impact evaluation, evidence-based policy Classification-JEL: D04, D12, D31, H23, H24, H31, H55 Pages: 309-329 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=844.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/844 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:844:p:309-329 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/844 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Oldřich Hájek Author-Name: Jiří Novosák Author-Name: Petr Zahradník Author-Name: Pavel Bednář Title: Regionální disparity a financování regionální politiky - některé poznatky z České republiky Title: Regional Disparities and Financing of Regional Policy - Some Lessons from the Czech Republic Abstract: This paper deals with the relationship between regional disparities and financing of regional policy. The Czech Republic and the Convergence goal of cohesion policy were chosen as a case study. Four themes are discussed in this regard. First, the spatial distribution of funds is analyzed with respect to the disparity goal of regional policy. Second, the coherence of regional policy on different regional levels is evaluated. Third, the differences in evaluations based on the seat of applicants on one hand and place of realization on the other are discussed. Finally, some thematic issues are considered. Our findings point at some ambivalent conclusions with respect to both, the disparity goal and the coherence of regional policy on different regional levels. In addition, the differences in the both forms of evaluations are emphasized. Keywords: European Union, Czech Republic, regional policy, regional disparities, regional development, cohesion policy Classification-JEL: O18, O22, R12, R58 Pages: 330-348 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=845.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/845 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:845:p:330-348 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/845 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jana Chvalkovská Author-Name: Petr Janský Author-Name: Jiří Skuhrovec Title: Listinné akcie na majitele a veřejné zakázky Title: Bearer Shares in Paper Form and Public Procurement Abstract: Tento článek zkoumá souvislost mezi transparentností vlastnické struktury a ziskovostí akciových společností, které vítězí v soutěžích o veřejné zakázky (VZ). Cílem je statistickými metodami testovat hypotézu, že vlastnická struktura není z hlediska zadávání veřejných zakázek relevantní skutečností, tj. že o vítězství ve veřejných zakázkách rozhoduje kvalita nabídky, nikoliv vlastnické vazby. Abstract: This article examines for the first time the relationship between transparency of ownership structure and (i) profits of firms winning public procurement contracts and (ii) competition for the contracts and savings of the public authority. These characteristics are compared for two groups of public procurement contract winners that differ by their ownership structure. The detailed data from the Czech Republic are used and the firms with bearer shares in paper form serve as the less transparent firms. The results show that less transparent firms have significantly higher profit margins in terms of tens of percentage points and participate in less competitive public procurement contracts and result into lower savings for the public authority. This could be an indirect indicator of conflict of interests or corruption. The article concludes with policy recommendations. Keywords: profitability, Czech Republic, corruption, Public Procurement, bearer shares, bearer shares in paper form, ownership structure Classification-JEL: D73, H57, L14, L25, M14, O16 Pages: 349-361 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=846.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/846 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:846:p:349-361 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/846 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Martin Janíčko Author-Name: Ivo Koubek Title: Informační asymetrie a systém dvojího standardu ve vztahu zdravotník - pacient Title: Information Assymetry and Double Standard in the Doctor-Patient Relationship Abstract: The aim of the article is to explore the doctor - patient relationship using the information asymmetry framework and principal-agent theory. From the perspective of economic exchange, this relationship is relatively specific, as an uneven rank and position of the agents involved play an important role here. It is argued that this unevenness arises from several different factors, such as education and qualification, work experience, path dependence, and the nature of goods and services provided. The relationship specificity is then discussed from a theoretical point of view while its most important elements are highlighted and put into a wider context. Further, market approach in healthcare system and healthcare services is partially debated and a simple model analyzing he "double-standard treatment is developed. Subsequently, this type of treatment is analyzed with the aid of vertical differentiation approach. Based on economic rationale, the authors claim that "medical knowledge/information obligation should play a crucial role in all healthcare services. This type of instrument is to be applicable for both parties in the doctor - patient relationship, as it may help overcome the inherently present information asymmetry by rendering the healthcare services provision more transparent. Keywords: information asymmetry, healthcare services, industry entry, vertical differentiation, double standard, medical knowledge/information obligation Classification-JEL: D8, D81, I11, I18, L15 Pages: 362-379 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=854.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/854 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:854:p:362-379 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/854 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Martin Grančay Author-Name: Nóra Szikorová Title: David Ricardo, Robert Torrens a autorstvo princípu komparatívnych výhod Title: David Ricardo, Robert Torrens and the Origins of the Principle of Comparative Advantage Abstract: The authorship of the principle of comparative advantage is generally credited to David Ricardo. Recent papers published in scientific journals have cast doubt on this axiom and have debated roles of Robert Torrens, James Mill and John Stuart Mill in its history. We show many of the arguments used in this debate are unscientific and unverifiable. After conducting an analysis of the history of development of the principle we define the difference between minimum satisfactory and complex formulation of the principle. We come to the conclusion that the first satisfactory explanation of comparative advantage was offered by Robert Torrens. Keywords: 18th century rule, comparative advantage, relative costs, history of economic science, economics of 19th century Classification-JEL: B12, F10 Pages: 380-394 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=847.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/847 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:847:p:380-394 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/847 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Špecián Title: Od Misese k Schutzovi. Otázka apriorismu v ekonomii Title: From Mises to Schutz. A Question of Apriorism in Economics Abstract: The study analyzes Mises´s approach to the question of apriorism in a broader methodological context. It shows that it is not inevitable to advocate the aprioristic character of economics (resp. science of human action), as Mises does, to maintain the subjectivist-individualist methodology and the effort to adequately grasp the general laws of human action from its perspective. The present redefinition of apriorism is developed on the basis of thoughts of Barry Smith and Alfred Schutz. It suggests abandoning the apodictic character of apriori (which is untenable) and move closer to a broadly defined empiricism. The methodological insights developed in the paper are finally used to contribute to the debate between the behavioral economists and the proponents of rational choice theory. Keywords: methodological individualism, Ludwig von Mises, Alfred Schutz, fallibilistic apriorism, ideal type, behavioral economics and rational choice theory Classification-JEL: A12, B40, B53 Pages: 395-410 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=848.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/848 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:848:p:395-410 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/848 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Karel Dyba Title: Zásadní příspěvek k aktuálním problémům současnosti Title: Essential Publication on the Actual Contemporary Problems Pages: 411-416 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=849.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/849 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:849:p:411-416 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/849 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Vymětal Author-Name: Milan Žák Title: Lidský kapitál očima statistiků? Chvályhodný počin Title: Human Capital in a Statistician´s Perspective: A Praiseworthy Achievement Pages: 416-418 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=852.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/852 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:852:p:416-418 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/852 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Antonie Doležalová Title: Hospodářské dějiny nebo dějiny hospodářství? Title: Economic History or History of Economics? Pages: 419-422 Volume: 2012 Issue: 3 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/download.php?jnl=polek&pdf=853.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/polek/853 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpol:v:2012:y:2012:i:3:id:853:p:419-422 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlpol/references/853