Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, 2009 (vol. 17), issue 1

Interests and principles in foreign policy

Štěpánka Zemanová, Zuzana Trávníčková

Acta Oeconomica Pragensia 2009, 17(1):3-26 | DOI: 10.18267/j.aop.1  

The foreign policy of a sovereign state is a complicated decision-making process. Both security and economic interests of the state as well as its long-term values (more likely values of a moral nature) must be taken into account here. The paper deals with the relation between economic and trade policy (representing interests) on the one hand and human rights protection and promotion (representing principles) on the other. Basic conflicts between economic interests and other principles that have to be considered in decision-making are analysed. Furthermore, their role in foreign policy formation is examined. Finally, the paper draws attention to methodical...

European Union: Can federalism become the chief integration theory?

Ivana Šimíková

Acta Oeconomica Pragensia 2009, 17(1):27-44 | DOI: 10.18267/j.aop.2  

Federation is one type of state characterised by a contractual and constitutional structure, multilevel power redistribution, a written constitution, and duality of power. Federalism is a philosophy and a political instrument enabling a federation to function. The principle of federalism is an aggregation of cultural, social, economic, linguistic, and intellectual disparities within a federation. Federalism can become a mainstream integration theory: the present MLG can be defined as an umbrella theory based on the federalist principles. The EU can be defined as a specific type of evolving, decentralised federation. Finally, fiscal federalism can provide...

Global changes and new trends within the territorial structure of the oil, gas and coal industries

Milan Vošta

Acta Oeconomica Pragensia 2009, 17(1):45-59 | DOI: 10.18267/j.aop.3  

The development of power engineering in the last decades has corresponded to the rapidly growing demand for primary energy in the world. The economic, political and environmental problems which arise in connection to the exploitation and processing of primary energy resources has taken on a global dimension. The increased use of oil and natural gas has had a very important multiplication effect on the world economy. It has caused changes in the structure as well as the location of the power industry and in other industries, namely chemical and transportation. The important moments of the last decade which have influenced the total consumption of primary...

Economic policy of Angola and development of its national economy

Jiří Sýkora

Acta Oeconomica Pragensia 2009, 17(1):60-77 | DOI: 10.18267/j.aop.4  

The article describes the state and development of Angolan economy. From being one of the strongest economies in Africa, Angola was transformed by long-term civil conflict into debris of its former fame. Fortunately, the fighting has finished a few years ago and fortunately again, Angola is rich in natural resources, above all in oil. This article looks at the recent developments of Angolan economy and the lack of government's good will and capacity to use the vast and growing oil revenue for the benefit of national economy. Thanks to the situation of world oil market Angolan government can easily push aside the international calls for reforms and...

Unemployment care in Weimar Germany - international perspective

Jakub Rákosník

Acta Oeconomica Pragensia 2009, 17(1):78-88 | DOI: 10.18267/j.aop.5  

The article deals with the German obligatory unemployment insurance (so-called AVAVG, enacted in 1927) in the interwar period. This scheme replaced an older system, introduced in 1918, based on monetary provisions distributed under means-tests and financed from taxes. The prospective unemployment rate was underestimated. Because of this fact the insurance scheme had the serious trouble of showing a deficit. Financing became an important issue in the political struggle among political parties, and governments were not able to enforce any fundamental curative reform of this scheme before 1933.