Journal of Economics - Obsahy ročníkov

The present study investigated whether gender differences in wage expectations (reservation wage and expected wage level after probation) could be considered as a reliable explanation of the gender wage gap. First, whether women are willing to accept lower wage offers than men do was examined. Then socio-economic and demographic factors that affect wage expectations in relation to a post of a regional manager in a winery were identified. A total of 381 Slovaks (201 female) participated in the study. Generally, women and men stated similar wage expectations despite significantly different actual incomes. Next, correlation analysis showed that reservation wage was positively related to personal income and masculinity controlling for age (the expected wage level after the probationary period was not related to any of the measured variables), whereas hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed personal income and masculinity as significant predictor of reservation wage. Finally, after dividing participants into age quartiles, ANOVA revealed that with increasing age wage expectations increased as well.

This paper assesses differences in the financial performances of member businesses of selected cluster organizations in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The first research sample was comprised of member businesses of five cluster organizations operating in the Czech Republic. The second research sample was made up of member businesses of four cluster organizations operating in Slovakia. The aim of the research was to find out whether the financial performance of member businesses in Czech cluster organizations differed from the performance of member businesses in Slovak cluster organizations. The financial performance was assessed using selected financial indicators. The research results showed that member businesses of selected Slovak cluster organizations did not achieve any different financial performance. Finally, the possible causes of this situation are discussed.

Given the relatively low level of productivity and the persisting productivity gap (between the European Union and the United States, and among the member states), measures to enhance total factor productivity growth and productivity convergence in the member states of the European Union are inevitable. The aim of this paper is to determine the factors influencing productivity convergence in member states of the European Union, with emphasis on the role of selected labour market institutions. By means of fixed effects panel regression (LSDV estimator), a catch-up specification of production function and its extensions are estimated. The empirical analysis is conducted on a dataset covering observations from 1995 to 2017 for all member states of the European Union. The empirical results have approved the role of knowledge in determining total factor productivity convergence and the suggestion about the decisive role of labour market institutions.

The objective of this paper is to identify the occurrence of unfair trading practices (UTPs) in Slovakia’s milk agri-food supply chain. Based on survey data we aim to find out what UTPs are used at different stages of contract execution. We investigated the trade relationships between milk producers (dairy farms) and milk processors. Our results show that the weakest point of a business relationship, most exposed to UTPs is the phase of the contract negotiation. “No safeguard defined if the purchaser fails to fulfil the contract” is considered as the most common unfair trade practice by farmers. The highest incidence of UTPs is observed in the group of farms delivering more than 2 mil. litres of milk per year, especially when trading with big processor (dairies with annual sales more than 50 mil. EUR).

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly paralyzed tour operators’ activities around the world. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the state of tour operators using the example of Slovakia and to point out its specifics that may affect its recovery. This paper identifies active tour operators, recognizing them in terms of selected criteria and uses cluster analysis to reveal consistent groups of enterprises. It is based mostly on content analysis of relevant websites. The results show there is a moderate level of concentration that characterizes Slovak tour operators with four large enterprises generating more than a third of all revenues. A typical tour operator in Slovakia is an outbound micro-enterprise with 3S mass product which intervenes in the activities of travel agency. The authors estimate that due to the Covid-19 pandemic measures, many tour operators will disappear, transform into pure travel agency or leave mass holidays product.