Journal of Economics - Obsahy ročníkov

The catching up with the economic level was very fast in EU-5 in the current decade, however the real convergence slowed down in the recession period (except of Poland), especially in Slovenia and CZ. GDP per capita is the highest in Slovenia and the CZ, while GDP per employed person in Slovenia and Slovakia. The position of EU-5 (except of Poland) measured by GNI or NNI is worse than that measured by GDP. The RGDI rates of growth show similar results as the GDP ones in 2001 – 2007 except of Slovakia, where they were by 0.5 p. p. lower. The relation of CPL to EU-27 approximated to the relation in GDP per capita. The wage level is still much lower. The aggregate ULC in relation to EU-27 reach from one half in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to more than 60% in the Czech Republic and 90% in Slovenia. Keywords: real convergence and its factors, the structure of GDP usage, alternative indicator – real gross domestic income, GNI, NNI JEL Classification: E01, E20, E23, E24, E60, F14

In Slovakia day health care (DHC) has been used only for a decade. The usage of DHC is differently perceived by health insurance companies that radically reduce the financial resources. On the other hand, the usage of DHC is differently perceived by hospitals which are permanently indebted. The reduced payment for DHC performance in comparation with payments for finished hospitalization aggravates the conditions of hospitals. The reason is improperly adjusted and economically demotivated system that causes the significant lagging behind the European average. In Slovakia no studies declare usage, determinants, riskiness, utilization barriers of the DHC in regions and price strategies of health insurance companies. The contribution presents research output focused on DHC development in order to increase an efficiency of healthcare system in Slovakia, and also presents the pilot study in this field. Keywords: day health care (DHC), day surgery, healthcare system, performance risk in day health care, performance efficiency in day health care, development barriers in day health care JEL Classification: I13, I19

Health care as a socio-economic category is currently undergoing a number of analytically remarkable changes. In countries like the Czech Republic, where in the past there was a universal health care paid from the government budget, we have seen in the last 20 years the development of differentiated forms of health care with special characteristics. This article aims to show changes in perception of health care as socio-economic category in the context of reforms of health systems. Attention is also paid to the international experience in financing schemes of standard and above standard health care and possible scenarios for future development. The article shows the development phases of health care and new problems that arose in this context. Keywords: health care, health care system, financing, public expenditure, private expenditure JEL Classification: I31, H80, H00

The issue of tax harmonization and tax competition in the European Union has dealt extensively since its inception. The aim of this study has been find out dependence between tax competition and tax burden in European Union by regression analysis and to analyze chosen reasons for tax competition in area of direct taxes. We have confirmed by regression analysis and correlation following: tax competition is connected with lower government expenses in public services, it leads to higher economic growth, it raises tax burden of consumptions and budget deficit acts as limiting factor of tax competition. Keywords: tax, tax competition, tax burden, regression analysis, correlation JEL Classification: H21, H25, H26, M41

This article examines the impact of maturity of economy on an activities’ focus of cluster organisations. For a basis of research concerning the focus of activities of clusters from advanced economies and clusters from the Visegrad Group countries (V4), the authors of this article obtained data from a large sample of clusters. This research has tested whether differences in clusters’ activities and their implementation in various advanced economies are not caused by different thinking and attitudes of clusters’ managers or the respective age of clusters. The research results confirmed that the selection and use of activities could be different according to the maturity of the economy, considering the same stage of the clusters life cycle and similar views of managers regarding the focus of activities that contribute to the successful development of clusters. Keywords: cluster; cluster initiative; cluster organisation; economic maturity; advanced economies; V4 economies JEL Classification: L14

The paper deals with relationship between reasonable profit and risk in the provision of public passenger transport. In the first part, the paper analyzes requirements for determination of reasonable profit in current time. The paper analyzes actual determination of reasonable profit, too. Reasonable profit is often specified as percentage part of the costs. In the second part, there is an analysis of risks which affect reasonable profit. These risks are divided into two basic groups: cost risk and income risk. The paper describes ways of dividing risks between contractual sides. In the last part, the relationship which expresses the functionality between reasonable profit and risk in public passenger transport is discussed. Keywords: transport, financing, risk, factor, region, public JEL Classification: R48, H40