Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: René Wokoun
Title: Management of regional policy in the Czech Republic
Abstract: In this paper the author characterizes the evolution and the present situation of Czech regional policy. He also deals with management and legislation of the Czech regional policy. The Czech public administration faces up to a lot of problems including management and hierarchic structure of the regional policy. In regional development of the Czech Republic there are basic levels: ? European Union ? secondary legislation related to regional policy; co-fi nancing of the CR development under strict principles; ? Czech Republic ? central administrative authorities; ? Cohesion Regions (NUTS 2) ? regional councils; ? Regions (NUTS 3) ? regional authorities; ? Statistical regions at the level of districts ? regional units for determination of regions with concentrated assistance of the CR; ? Administrative territory of municipalities with expanded agency (so-called municipalities of the 3rd type); ? Administrative territory of so-called municipalities of the 2nd type; ? Micro-regions ? specifi c defi ned association of municipalities oft en with special character; ? Municipalities ? municipal and town authorities; ? Parts of municipalities. The role of the central administration consists in activities in conception and operation of law making and executive authorities in the area of the regional policy and support of regional development including fi nancial resources of the state budget and relevant legislative measures. The objective of the state support of regional development is growth of economic potential of regions, improvement of their competitiveness, balanced development of the regional structure of the CR and reducing inadequate disparities in the level of economic and social development of regions. The role of Cohesion Regions. Cohesion Regions (NUTS 2) were established for coordination and realization of economic and social cohesion policy, above all for using fi nancial resources of the EU structural funds. Regional Councils are authorities of Cohesion Regions and they dispose of appropriate competency. Role of regions consists in conceptual and operational activity of self-governing regional authorities on the area of regional development, especially: ? Coordination of development of their territory and development of areas in their separate agency; ? Conception of internal development policy, processing and implementation of development programs; ? Defi ning of regional development priorities and eff ecting of regional disparities in the territory of the region. The role of municipalities consists in conceptual and operational activity of self-governing authorities of municipalities in the area of municipal development, in initial activity in the area of solution of upon-municipal problems, in defi - nition upon-municipal programs and also in participation in realization of regional programs. In the part of the paper ?Micro-regional level? the author results from outputs of the research project of the Ministry of Interior ?Optimalization of legal and economic environment for development and improvement of operational eff ectiveness of territorial public administration?, which was processed by researchers from Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk University in Brno and Institute of public administration and regional development of the Faculty of Management and Economics, Thomas Bata University in Zlin in 2004. He used above all parts of the project processed by him and by Jaroslav Maryáš. For defining territorial administrative units it is oft en operated with certain criterions, e.g. minimal or maximal territory of territorial administrative units, leastwise approximated comparability of units is requested in measure of area, population, event. level of economic, social and cultural development, transport availability etc. Also psychological and sociological arguments (e.g. identifi cation of population with territory where they live) and economic aspects are important. In the process of defi ning units it is necessary to respect fact that territorial administration is a set of legal, regional, economic, political and cultural relations. Creation of elementary micro-regional structure will be probably able to realize at two levels ? lower and higher. For defi nition of higher elementary micro-regional structure related to management of regional development at the lower level of public administration there was very important to respect characteristics of physical geography (such as natural barriers, relief, rivers, wood complex etc.), historical and history-geographical aspects and also micro-regional,cultural and social relations in territory. Th ere was necessary to take into account historically conditioned relations in settlement, e.g. relations of ?natural? centers and their microregions. Th e further criterion was population of municipality, which is one of the basic attributes for establishment of municipality as a center of elementary micro-regional structure acceptable for optimalization of public administration eff ectiveness. On the base of these criterions 603 municipalities (without Prague) were included higher level of elementary micro-regional structure.
Keywords: regional policy, regionální politika, management of regional policy, development of regions, legislation of the Czech regional policy, management regionální politiky, rozvoj regionů, legislativa české regionální politiky
Pages: 2-7
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/37
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:37:p:2-7

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Zdeněk Szczyrba
Author-Name: Pavel Klapka
Author-Name: Josef Kunc
Author-Name: Petr Tonev
Title: Diffusion Processes in the Czech Retail
Abstract: Development of retail in the Czech Republic in the period of economic transformation aft er 1989 went through crucial changes including both privatization process in the fi rst half of the 1990s and introduction of foreign retail concerns to the Czech market in the second half of the decade. Th e latter phase of transformation of the Czech retail infl uenced significantly formation of new network structure of retail. Its origin is related to process of spatial innovation diff usion of large-format sale concepts (super? and hypermarkets, discounts, shopping centres etc.) into the Czech environment, which took place during relatively short period. As presented by some studies (Shopping monitor, GfK Praha) adaptation of these concepts in the Czech Republic ranks among the highest in comparison with other post-communist countries in Europe. The most frequent type of diff usion was expansive hierarchical diffusion typical of hypermarkets, hobbymarkets, other specialised outlets and shopping centres. In case of diff usion of some discount markets expansive contact diff usion was recorded with a characteristic innovation wave from the west to the east (home country being Germany, see fi g. 2).
Keywords: Czech Republic, Česká republika, diffusion processes, diffusion of innovation, retail, network structure, difúzní procesy, difúze inovací, maloobchod, síťová struktura
Pages: 8-12
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/38
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:38:p:8-12

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Jana Kouřilová
Title: Relationship between an education level of citizens and population of towns
Abstract: The paper is aimed at relationship between educational structure and population of towns in the Czech Republic, where population gradually concentrates in big towns or their close neighborhood. So the hierarchy town system is created and the capital Prague is a dominant centre with national importance. Process of town hierarchy is possible to demonstrate using Zipf method (Rank Size Rule) in countries with one dominant centre: Pn=P1/n, where P1 ? population of the biggest town, n ? sequence of the town and Pn ? population of the n-th town. Author applied the Zipf method for towns of the CR and their educational structure, she examined availability of correlation: bigger town ? more inhabitants with tertiary education and less inhabitants with basic education. In the collection of 261 towns with population more than 5.000 inhabitants the author found largely dependence between population of the town and its educational structure. There are also other factors which infl uence educational structure of towns: position toward the more important towns, educational tradition or economic activities developed above all in the 2nd half of 20th century etc. In the second part of the paper the author aimed at the towns with population more than 50.000 inhabitants (collection of 22 towns under census 2001). In detailed examination of the relationship between educational structure and population of these towns she certifi ed certain relationship but not absolutely. Th ere are some exceptions, e.g. Ostrava ? town on the third position under population but on the 12th position under rate of tertiary educated inhabitants. Finally it is necessary to say that low achieved education degree of population is also generation problem in the CR. Accession to education had been changed aft er 1989. Young people understand the importance of education and make prompt eff orts to achieve tertiary education. Assessment of changes in the educational structure of the towns will be possible on the base of the relevant data aft er the CR population census in 2011.
Keywords: education, vzdělání, educational structure, town, Zipf method, hierarchy of towns, vzdělanostní struktura, město, Zipfova křivka, hierarchizace měst
Pages: 13-18
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/39
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:39:p:13-18

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Jiří Ježek
Title: Management in local and regional development and the problems of its theoretical defi nition
Abstract: The aim of the thesis was to analyze and systematize theoretical and practical knowledge of management in local and regional development, to do critical evaluation of conditions and practical experience with management in local and regional development in the Czech Republic (on a level of microregions or voluntary associations of municipalities) on the base of the analysis of a current state, and to suggest measures to its support and improvement. In the first chapter the hypothesis and aims of the thesis are determined. In the second chapter some basic terms as e.g. local and regional development, actors of local and regional development or endogenous strategy of local and regional development are defined. The third chapter deals with general conditions of management in local and regional development. Attention is payed to globalization and regionalization of economy, increasing of competitor´s fi ght between municiplities and regions, increasing importance of the local and regional actors in controlling development process, and also to changes in regional policy and public administration spheres (see a discussion about new public management). Th e main part of the thesis deals with a definition of management in local and regional development, its specifications (compared with corporate management) and its main functions. The fourth chapter points at competences of managers in local and regional development. The fifth chapter deals with various organizational arrangement forms of local and regional development actors. Management in local and regional development has not been theoretically defined, yet. Current knowledge of management in local and regional development does not provide neither complete, nor definite instructions and methods of how to start or control development process on the local and regional levels. Moreover, they present a collection of knowledge which can serve as a starting point for work of managers who are involved in local and regional development. These are the main people who have to be able to apply them appropriately in specific local conditions. The role of the managers is key, because according to the numerous researches, a success of the development process is more and more dependent on authorities: political leaders and professional managers. Not only their knowledge, but also practical skills and social maturity is required.
Keywords: regionální politika, management, local and regional development, regional politics, management, místní a regionální rozvoj
Pages: 19-22
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/40
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:40:p:19-22

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Jiří Ježek
Author-Name: Renáta Ježková
Title: Town marketing in the Czech and Slovak Republics and the problems of its implementation
Abstract: In the Czech and Slovak Republics town marketing is a relatively new approach to administration and development of municipalities and towns. Th e fi rst eff ort to apply it originated in the second half of 90-ies of 20th century. The fi rst more significant scientific works about town or regional marketing began to appear approximately in a half of 90-ties of 20th century. Th e main topic was the possibility to apply foreign experience in conditions of the Czech and Slovak towns and regions. Th at was mainly searching possibilities of how to apply the foreign experience (German, English and Netherlands). Several works have also arised within the international projects solution. Th e most significant problems which are connected with implementation of the marketing approaches in the Czech and Slovak towns have been summarized on the base of the published studies (see the review of references), as well as both authors´ own experience acquired within their scientifi c-research activities and consultancy. Th ese problems have been considered as the key ones: different interpretation of the term town marketing, insufficient goal orientation of town marketing, lack of funds, insufficiences in spheres of leadership and organization of the marketing process (human resource task), participation of actors and their motivation, insuffi ciently developed Public ? Private Partnership, insufficient use of experts and knowledge, unclear defi nition of town marketing towards the other roles of the town administration and problems with implementation and evaluation of marketing activities. Moreover, there has not been any generally accepted neither theoretical, nor practical concept of town marketing solution. Every town has to fi nd its own concept and at the same time, off course, they should learn from those who are the best in this field. In both countries there are many towns like these.
Keywords: Czech Republic, Česká republika, Slovak Republic, Slovenská republika, town marketing, implementation, mestský marketing, implementácia
Pages: 23-27
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/41
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:41:p:23-27

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Jan Malinovský
Title: Innovation Policy, R&D Policy and their Regional Aspects in the Czech Republic
Abstract: Research and development represent the source of new findings and knowledge. Innovation policies should not be, however, connected only with research as such. They should respond to the existing discrepancies between economic and political reality that manifest themselves in three mutually overlapping spheres: global, continental-regional as well as national territorial levels. National level obviously includes its regional and local components. In the Czech Republic, it has been decided in 2006 that national research and development policy and national innovation policy will be harmonized with further relevant policies. National research and development policy in the Czech Republic that concerns 2004-2008 is among others the information for strategic decision-making and subsequent accomplishment of the innovation intentions. At the same time, it serves as an initial base for the preparations of regional conceptions in research and development. Czech Republic has a national innovation policy, which is prepared for the period from 2005 till 2010. It contains four strategic aims: strengthening the research and development as a source of innovation, formation of functional co-operation between public and private sectors, identification of human resources for innovations and more efficient performance of the state administration in research and development and innovations. Concrete regions differ significantly in the realms of innovations and research and development. In the sphere of research and development, the capital city of Prague occupies the dominant position in the Czech Republic. Apart form Prague, we can see the potential in diff erent branches in Brno and Ostrava. Next position is held by Plzeň and innovations became more pronounced also in South Bohemia, Pardubice and Hradec Králové regions. Innovations are insuffi ciently accentuated in Karlovy Vary, Olomouc and Vysočina regions so far. In 2006, potential of institutions with innovative activities was the most distinctive in Moravian-Silesian and South Moravian regions as well as the capital city of Prague. Regional innovation strategies that should contribute to the support of the changes in socioeconomic situation in particular regions were elaborated in five regions.
Keywords: Czech Republic, European Union, Česká republika, Evropská unie, faktory regionálního rozvoje, innovation policy, R&D policy, Innovative factors of regional development, inovační politika, politika výzkumu a vývoje, inovační aktivity v regionech
Pages: 28-35
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/42
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:42:p:28-35

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Lenka Brown
Title: Economic and social cohesion policy implementation in Hungary and Poland and its comparison to the conditions of the Czech Republic in programming period 2007-2013
Abstract: The analysis of the economic and social cohesion policy implementation in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic during the programming period 2007-2013 makes it possible to compare the approaches of these countries towards the implementation of this policy. Th e approach adopted by the Czech Republic seems to be only fragmental in comparison with the approaches of the other analyzed countries, both at the level of structure and content of the existing operational programmes and at the level of the roles of public administration (national and regional) in the preparations and management of these programmes. The fragmental approach of the Czech Republic could be seen for example at the number of the thematic (sector) operational programmes. The Czech Republic, which has all together 10 thematic operational programmes, while Hungary with comparable amount of structural funds resources only 8 and Poland with the allocation of structural funds three times higher than the Czech Republic only 5. Also the implementation structure of the Czech operational programmes seems to be more fragmental than the implementation structures of both Poland and Hungary. The number of institutions carrying out the obligations of the managing authority is higher in the Czech Republic than in the other two analyzed countries. Both in Hungary and Poland (with an exception of regional operational programmes) the single managing authority has been designated for all the operational programmes realized in programming period 2007-2013. Compared to the approaches of the Czech Republic with 14 different public authorities designated as managing authorities of one or more operational programmes, the approach of both Hungary and Poland makes it possible to increase the effi ciency of the programme management at the level of the single managing authority.
Keywords: Czech Republic, Česká republika, Poland, Hungary, Maďarsko, economic and social cohesion, EU structural policy, hospodářská a sociální soudržnost, strukturální politika Evropské unie, Polsko
Pages: 39-41
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/43
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:43:p:39-41

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Marek Jetmar
Title: Paper to discussion on focus of cohesion policy and its territorial dimension
Abstract: The process of strategy shaping for EU programming period 2007-2013 was fi nished at both EU and member states level. Now aft er presentation of the Fourth cohesion report it is time to open broad discussion at European and national level regarding to nature of next generation policy (beyond 2013 horizon). Th ere are two main processes with critical influence on thematic priorities of cohesion policy and possible ways of implementation (as the system and nature of operation programmes). The first trend emerged in 2005/2006 years was linked to use the cohesion policy as a vehicle for delivery Lisbon actions; the economic and social cohesion policy became the most important channel for implementation relaunched Lisbon strategy at EU level. We can anticipate continuation of this trend also in coming programming period. But next stage of lisbonising will open question regarding to relate between cohesion and other EU policies on one side ? particularly with activities grouped under 1A subheading of financial perspective, on other side between cohesion interventions in countryside and contributions of agricultural policy to activities in rural areas. Another important innovation is declaration of the territorial cohesion as the third pillar of cohesion policy (now also incorporated into reform treaty). The understanding of this issue is still varied and we can see diff erent interpretation of this principle in EU documents and national statements. There is series of potential obstacles that may threat process of shaping universal comprehensive methodology at the EU level.
Keywords: regions, regiony, Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, Regional Development and Regional policy, EU, Member States, Cities and Countryside, Hospodářská, sociální a územní soudržnost, regionální rozvoj a regionální politika, EU, členské státy, města a venkov
Pages: 36-39
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/44
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:44:p:36-39

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Milan Damborský
Title: Regional distribution of gross domestic product in the Czech Repbulic
Abstract: Regional distribution of gross domestic product is one of the basic themes of regional analyses. Knowledge of main trends in regional disparities is conduction for realisation of the whole scope of research projects in the area of regional development. Gross domestic product (GDP) is the most frequently used indicator for rating of economic level and power of economy of regions. Weakness of using indicator GDP is the fact that it is impossible to quantify exactly the GDP on lower level than NUTS 0 or NUTS II. Th e highest value of absolute regional (NUTS III) GDP per inhabitant in current prices in 2006 was in Prague (663.000 of CZK, nearly 2.5-multiple of value of the Czech republic). Prague is followed by Plzeňský kraj (region) with great distance (295.000 CZK). Th is region is very attractive for foreign investments. Next region is Jihomoravský kraj (286.000 CZK). Brno, the growth-centre with national importance, is very important for this region. Th e lowest values are discovered in Olomoucký kraj, Karlovarský kraj (240.000 CZK), Ústecký kraj (254.000 CZK).Th e highest growth of GDP in 2006 was discovered in Liberecký kraj (9.6 %), Zlínský kraj (7.7 %) and Středočeský kraj (7.3 %). Th e lowest growth of gross domestic is discovered in Olomoucký kraj (region with the lowest value of absolute gross domestic product). Th e low growth of GDP is also in Jihomoravský kraj (5.3 %) and Prague (5.4 %) ? regions with above-average absolute GDP. Annual rate of growth of GDP (from 1995 to 2006) in fi xed prices in the Czech Republic is 3.0 %. Th e highest values are in Středočeský kraj (4.5 %), Praha (4.2 %) and Vysočina (3.4 %). Th e lowest values are in Karlovarský kraj (0.7 %), Ústecký kraj (1.3 %) and Moravskoslezský kraj (2.1 %). From the comparison of order of regions in absolute value of GDP per inhabitant and average growth annual rate of GDP from 1995 to 2006 in fi xed prices it is possible to set that regions with lower level of GDP are also regions with low growth of GDP and equivalently regions with higher level of GDP are also regions with higher growth of GDP (correlation coeffi cient 0.66). Th e highest diff erences of position in order of absolute GDP per inhabitant and average annual rate of GDP are in Jihomoravský kraj (? 7), Vysočina (+ 6), Moravskoslezský kraj (? 5), Liberecký and Středočeský kraj (+ 3). Absolute value of the other regions is only 1 or 2. Correlation coeffi cient of absolute value of GDP per inhabitant and annual rate of growth of GDP in 2006 is not so high (0.37).Th e most developed region of the Czech Republic is Prague with highest absolute value of GDP per inhabitant in 2006 and second highest average annual rate of GDP from 1995 to 2006 in fi xed prices. Prague is the most important development centre of the Czech Republic. Th e similar situation is in the large majority of the states over the whole world. Second developed region is Středočeský kraj with fourth possition in order of absolute value of GDP per inhabitant and the highest average growth annual rate of GDP. Th e worst economical situation is in Olomoucký, Karlovarský and Ústecký kraj. On the base of analysis of position of regions in order of modifi ed indicators of GDP it is possible to say that regional disparities in the Czech Republic are higher and higher.
Keywords: region, region, regional development, regionální rozvoj, regional disparities, regionální disparity, gross domestic product, economy, hrubý domácí produkt, ekonomika
Pages: 42-45
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/45
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:45:p:42-45

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Milan Damborský
Title: Posibility of realization of spatial-planning concept in the Czech Republic
Abstract: Th ere is not realized concept of integrated spatial planning (spatial development policy) in the Czech Republic. Aims, instruments and measures integrated in this planning (policy) are divided into two policies. Th ese policies are regional policy and land-use (physical) planning. Possibility of integration of these policies is the main objective of the project ?Possibilities of realization of concept of spatial planning in the Czech Republic? which was supported by the Intern Grant Agency of the University of Economics in Prague. This project was realized by researchers Marek Jetmar (head of the team), Lucie Staroňová and Milan Damborský. Main goal of this project was to verify hypothesis ?In current institutional conditions in the Czech Republic, there is a strong potential for realization of spatial planning concept as a new method for coordination of spatial relations which are still being coordinated by divided instruments of regional policy and land-use (physical) planning?. The results of the study did not determine long-term (systems) barriers for realization of concept of spatial planning in the Czech Republic. As result of integration of regional policy and land-use (physical) planning a number of benefi ts are presumed e.g. reduction of possible confl ict of aims in the space between regional policy (aimed on socio-economical development) and land-use (physical) planning (aimed on technical and environmental issues). We can say that the hypothesis ?In current institutional conditions in the Czech republic there is existing strong potential for realization of spatial planning concept as a new method for coordination of spatial relations which are still being coordinated by divided instruments of regional policy and land-use (physical) planning? was not verifi ed. The most important obstacle in the short-term period is different legislative base of these policies ? very detailed and strict civil construct law (no. 183/2000) and relatively ?loose? regional support law (no. 248/2000). But the results indicate that in the long-term period there is existing a strong potential for usage of the spatial planning concept as a new method for coordination of spatial relations still coordinated by divided instruments of regional policy and (physical) planning. This concept is also supported in the regional policy of EU in which the coordination of regional relations becomes more and more signifi cant).
Pages: 45-47
Volume: 2007
Issue: 1
Year: 2007
File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/rst/46
File-Format: text/html
Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlrst:v:2007:y:2007:i:1:id:46:p:45-47