Slavomir Bucher

This paper deals with the multi-perspective bibliometric analysis of Central European scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science database and covered in the Journal Citation Reports – Social Science Citation Index (SSCI). The analysis focuses on the evaluation of the (inter) national orientation of Central European Social Science journals indexed in the period 2012 – 2015. Data were obtained from the Web of Science database on October 20, 2016. The journals are divided in two groups in favour of the scientific discipline identifying the journal in the Web of Science. The first group consists of journals belonged to public health and psychology. The second group includes all social related scientific journals covered in both the SSCI and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) databases. Journals were chosen by language versions of journals in the Web of Science, language versions of articles, authors' most important institutional affiliations; and other statistically significant indicators provided by Clarivate Analytics. Assessment of the " openness of Central European journals " to foreign authors was analyzed on the basis of the " INO indicator " (Index of National Orientation). Statistical analyses were conducted on the articles which carry the relevant scientific information. Descriptive statistics was used for the data analysis, using frequencies, percentages and means. The results of this research showed a strong orientation towards Slovakian and Czech authors regardless of the two analyzed groups. Based on INO, most of the Central European journals quality and impact were comparatively low. A competitive environment has been created for journals in the social science disciplines, especially for those with competitors in neighboring countries in fields such as psychology, economics, geography and sociology.

На основе индекса глобальной конкурентоспособности в статье проанализирована конкурентоспо-
собность 41 европейской страны за период 2014–2016 гг. и доказывается, что этот показатель опре-
деляется не преимущественно каким-то одним или несколькими, а всеми факторами, включёнными
в индекс. Автор оценивает вклад каждого фактора в величину индекса глобальной конкурентоспо-
собности с применением различных статистических методов, а также с использованием дополнитель-
ных данных из Отчёта о глобальной конкурентоспособности Всемирного экономического форума за
2014–2016 гг. Анализ конкурентоспособности стран Европы в соответствии с индексом глобальной
конкурентоспособности позволяет выявить особенности существующей региональной социально-
экономической дифференциации в сравнении с усреднёнными европейскими данными. Эти характе-
ристики должны учитываться при выстраивании национальной конкурентной стратегии каждого из
государств региона. Исследование обнаруживает высокую корреляцию между рейтингом страны со-
гласно индексу глобальной конкурентоспособности и индексом развития человеческого потенциала,
внутренним валовым продуктом на душу населения, уровнем гендерного неравенства, а также конку-
рентоспособностью отрасли путешествий и туризма.

The competitiveness of 41 European countries, based on the global competitiveness index, is analyzed
for the period 2014–2016, proving that this indicator is primarily determined not by any one factor or
by several factors but by all of those included in the index. The author evaluates the contribution of each factor
to the value of the global competitiveness index using various statistical methods, as well as additional data
from the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Reports 2014–2016. The analysis of the competitiveness
of the European countries in line with the global competitiveness index helps reveal the specifics of
the existing regional socioeconomic differentiation compared to averaged European data. These characteristics
should be considered when building the national competitive strategy of each state of the region.
The study reveals a high correlation between a country’s rating for the global competitiveness index and the
human development index, the gross domestic product per capita, the level of gender inequality, and the
competitiveness of the travel and tourism industry.

The paper deals with regional differentiation of human resources and its determinants
identified by selected indicators of human potential. The selection of correct and relevant
indicators has a key role in the identification and measurement of human potential. The aim
of the study is to outline causal and determinant relationship (the relation and the level of
dependence) in the spatial differentiation of human resources in Europe and approaches to
their interpretation. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the link between human
potential and quality or inequality of life and its effect on population from a demographic
viewpoint. Methods of correlation and regression analyses were applied. A wide range of
the most important and most often used human potential assessment indicators based on a
basic systemic classification of human potential will also be presented. Although the first
glance the quality of human resources situation in Europe might seem relatively compact,
deeper analysis showed that there are quite significant regional differences. Our results
show that set of specific condition a constant or moderately growing human capital may
aggravate the consequences of population ageing rather than alleviate them. The important
results of this study include recognition of the existence of several easily manageable
methods and ways of measuring demographic and/or socio-economic solutions to the
challenges posed by quality of human resources in Europe.

Aim : The present study examined the correlation between the achieved environmental health and ecosystem vitality measured by Environmental Performance Index and factors, represented as independent variables Health Index, Environmental Sustainability, Innovations and Human Development Index in Asia. Selecting appropriate indicators and methodology for arriving at the acceptable environmental quality of life, which quantify the impacts of environmental degradation on well-being, including impacts on health, access to natural resources, and losses caused by natural disasters is a subject of much debate and research.

Methodology: Association between independent variables and Environmental Performance Index were assessed using Pearson correlation and regression models. Descriptive statistics were used in order to hierarchical classification of countries in the sample based on their competitiveness score on nine issue categories, each of which fit under one of two overarching objectives.

Results : Although significant positive correlations were found between the selected independent variables such as Health index, Environmental Sustainability, Innovation, Human Development Index and two sub-indexes of Environmental Performance. High correlation between Environmental Performance and Human Development Index suggested that the analyzed countries should improve environmental health and ecosystem vitality to improve the overall long-term sustainable development. In other words, improvement in the partial competitiveness of a country empowers growth in its long-term environmental competitiveness.

Interpretation : It is important to point out that incensement of Environmental Performance Index significantly contributes to the Human Development. In order to create sustainable and efficient green environment essential for human health that would result in desired ecosystem vitality and environmental health outcomes, there has to be cooperation between the environmental sector and others sectors in a country. The outcomes of the present research strongly highlight that high-developed Asian countries demonstrate commendable achievement regarding most effective indicators of environmental sustainability and development.

The primary objective of this article is to highlight the importance and the potential for the development of special interest tourism, in the example of two post-conflict target destinations within the territories of Croatia and Slovakia. The basic ideological platform of the article is to define sociological and psychological aspects of special interest tourism, and dark tourism as a reflection of the current society, in the trend of increasing demand for places from the distant or recent past, in which some tragedy or misfortune took place.

The paper demonstrates how indices of Environmental Performance
Index (EPI) is constructed through the calculation and aggregation of nine categories
reflecting national-level environmental data. This study uses the most
recent performance and trend data in order to consider the evaluation of indicators
affected on Environmental Performance competitiveness in Europe.
Selected methods of multivariable objects hierarchy and classification
have been used in the study. A wide range of the most important and most often used Environmental Performance assessment indicators based on a basic systemic
classification of environmental potential will also be presented.
High correlation between Environmental Performance and Human Development
Index suggested that the analyzed countries should improve environmental
health and ecosystem vitality to improve the overall long-term sustainable
development. In other words, improvement in the partial competitiveness of
a country empowers growth in its long-term environmental competitiveness.
This article attempts to detail a methodology for constructing an EPI
for the country and based on the EPI scores, rank the states and demonstrate
commendable achievement regarding the most effective indicators of
environmental sustainability and development.

The age structure of a population is an important factor of progressive economic growth. Popula
tion ageing is associated with the demographic characteristics of the population; when we evaluate population
ageing, we evaluate population processes and indicators that are typically interconnected and interrelated.
Two main factors contribute to the ageing of a population, namely, declines in mortality and fertility. Our
study aims at describing population ageing in the Russian Federation by the last census of 2010. The purpose
of the present paper is also to highlight selected indicators of population ageing in 83 federal subjects of Rus
sia, showing a significant spatial differentiation of population ageing, depending on gender and urban–rural
habitation.
Keywords: Russian Federation, indicators of economic and social support, demographic ageing, demographic
transition, coefficients of inflow and outflow, age structure.

Brownfi elds vznikajú v rámci celého administratívneho územia miest, prirodzene je ich priestorová diferenciácia v rámci ÚOJ
nerovnomerná. V Košiciach prevládali (takmer 38,5 %) areály BF lokalizované v centrálnej mestskej zóne – v OÚJ Staré Mesto.
V prípade Košíc sa potvrdil predpoklad, že poloha areálu BF v rámci sídelného útvaru hrá dôležitú rolu v procese ďalšieho
redevelopmentu. Až štyri areály BF zo šiestich, ktoré sú zaradené do kategórie súčasného stavu exploatácie ako –
prebiehajúca/plánovaná rekonštrukcia/revitalizácia sú lokalizované v OÚJ Staré Mesto.

Возрастной состав населения – важный фактор поступательного экономического роста. Анализируя старение населения как демографическую характеристику общества, как правило, оценивают
взаимозависимые процессы и показатели. Два главных фактора старения населения – снижение
смертности и рождаемости. В предлагаемой вниманию читателей статье старение населения Российской Федерации описывается на основе данных Всероссийской переписи 2010 г., освещаются отдельные показатели этого процесса в 83 субъектах федерации. Показана существенная пространственная дифференциация старения населения, а также в зависимости от пола и места жительства в городских или сельских поселениях.

Ключевые слова: Российская Федерация, индикаторы экономической и социальной поддержки,
демографическое старение, демографический переход, возрастная структура.

The study aims to determine the intensity of local, regional, national identity, based on the geographical research applied to the model territory of the historical centre of cities, through the names of streets and squares in the eight regional cities of Slovakia. This work largely deals with the practical possibilities of the analysis of urban toponyms and their interpretation, which may be interesting in the field of multidisciplinary studies, as we can see penetration of the topics like sociology, history and geography. We will try to define basic tendencies in the process of street nomenclature, while paying attention to the thematic focus of streets. Our ambition has been to verify the statement that the names of streets, squares or parks in the historic centre of cities, serve as indicators of the official views and ideological impressions on the political, social and historical events, in the context of our central European region.

In this paper we consider the impact of Human Development Index and Environmental Health on sustainable development in 178 observed countries. We focus on the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches that estimate and predict how selected indicators such as (1) Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access); (2) Life expectancy at birth, female (years); (3) Improved water source, rural areas (% of rural population with access); (4) Access to electricity (% of population), and (5) Health expenditure per capita (current USD) influence on sustainable development and environmental health in the World. The Environmental Health and Human Development Indicator allow countries to compare their social and environmental inequalities with other surrounding countries/regions. Any correlations between Environmental Health and Human Development Index as well as with five World Bank indicators were to be analyzed. The objective was also to explore the heterogeneity of observed countries according to their level of sustainable development based on Environmental Health and Human Development Index.

The purpose of the study is to focus on the understanding of sense of the place through the conceptualization of regional identity. The theory of institutionalization of regions, by geographers Chojnicki and Paasi, gives us a useful framework for understanding how regions and regional identity are emergenced and continually reproduced and thus transformed in and through the practice of individuals and institutions at variety of spatial levels. The submitted paper creates a compact mosaic of the selected theoretical approaches and chosen concepts of new regional, cultural and behavioural geography, which can be used in regional identity researches. The central purpose of the paper is to enrich and explain possibilities of utilization of behavioural techniques in the formation of the regional identity and the identity of the area. The aim of the study is to identify the level of respondents' patriotism towards the selected hierarchical and residential regions of Slovakia.

Tourism is now the largest contributor to World’s national product. The economic impact of tourism is increasing steadily at local, national, and global levels. The goal of the paper considers the evaluation of 14 factors that affect destination competitiveness and tries to compare the competitiveness levels of European destinations. In this context, for evaluating the competitive indices of the mentioned countries must be determined weaknesses and necessary recommendations for the improvement of competitiveness measures should be taken. Secondary data, the reports published by the World Economic Forum and other international institutions will be used. Cluster analysis and standardized variables were conducted for the analysis of findings. The results of the study are intended to provide valuable information about the factors which affect the competitiveness of European countries mostly.

A contribution to understanding the historical meaning of
Bratislava urbanonyms in the context of the national socialist and communist ideologies
during the period 1939-1989. Historický časopis, 2015, 63, 3, pp. 451-481,
Bratislava.
The article mainly deals with the urbanonymy of the capital of Slovakia – Bratislava
in the period 1939-1989. The accent is on the hierarchy of the street network,
where we can define various ideological views of the governments on social and
historical events, which influenced the political development of the territory in the
local or national contexts. The work mostly deals with the practical possibilities
of the analysis of urbanonyms and their interpretation, which may be interesting
in the field of history, ethnology, anthropology and geography. During the period
1939-1945 also known as the first Slovak Republic, a puppet state of Nazi Germany,
a lot of foreign (German and Austrian origin) place-names were introduced.
After February 1948 known in Communist historiography as the „Victorious February“,
the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia with Soviet backing, assumed
control over the government of the state. Many urbanonyms were replaced by
names of Soviet or Russian origin. The purpose of our study is a reflection of the
historical identity of the Bratislava old town. Study of urbanonymy, or renaming in
space and time led to the conclusion, that the place names reflect the shared history,
culture and political processes in the wider region of Eastern Europe.

The goal of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the competitiveness of the tourist
destination and the elements that affect the competitive position of the destination, and to consider the
position of the Visegrad group in the European tourism trends and its competitiveness in the tourism
market.
The countries that are active in the international tourist market are constantly enforced in finding the
best ways that will enable satisfaction of the clients – tourists. Therefore it is great importance for
Visegrad countries the following of the modern trends and occurrences in the international tourist
market, which are the more diverse needs and demands of the tourist clientele.

The Balkan Peninsula, as an intersection of the European and intercontinental
routes, is a place of meeting, contact and mingling of civilizations, cultures and
religions. The historic processes in the Balkans at the end of the 20th century did
not correspond to the European integration processes; the Balkan nations met
them economically and politically unready. As a geo-strategically important European
area at its south-eastern extremity, the Balkan peninsula represents the cradle
of Europe in its cultural-historic, civilization and political development. From the
geographical and geostrategic perspective, it is a “geo-political crossroads” and
“geopolitical hub” of the East and West, and a gate to the east and west, south and
north of Europe. This article brings an analysis of the elementary exterior and
interior factors of the geostrategic position of Serbia and its chances of regional
and global integration.
Key words: Serbia, the Balkans, geopolitical position, factors of geostrategic
position, geopolitics

This article seeks to contribute to the discussion
about the concept of socio-cultural identity in geographical science. Its main aim is to
present the concept of local and regional identity, first as a significant source of sustainable
national wealth and secondly as an effective tool for regional development in Slovakia. Slovakia
consists of several kinds of regions at the sub-national level, represented by historical
areas, small ethnographic regions and various administrative units. Their hierarchy derives
from their former historical role, current administrative function, and their regional importance.
The outputs of this survey indicate regional disparities in the so-called soft factors
involved in the development of social identity among Slovakia’s self-governing regions. In
addition, the article discusses the need for a more comprehensive approach, directly linking
ethnographic, geographical and sociological methods.
KEY WORDS: self-governing regions – society – actor/subject in socio-cultural identity –
perceptions of cultural identity – Slovakia.

Nowadays, many European countries are faced with the serious problem of ageing populations.
The goal of this article is to highlight and identify these demographic trends through some indicators of
population ageing in new member states of the European Union. Based on data from the United Nations (UN),
their section “Population Division, Population Estimates and Projection Section” and the topic “World
Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision”, this paper considers some of the indicators of the ageing of the
population in new member states of the EU. Statistical methods and mathematics evaluations are utilized to
compare different parameters of age structure (e. g. ageing index, old age dependency ratio, potential support
ratio and parental support). The ageing index was expressed as the percentage of the number of persons in
65 and over age group per 100 persons in 0-14 years old. Potential support ratio was obtained as the number
of people in the working ages of 15-64 per every person 65 or older. Parental support is defined as the ratio of
the number of persons in the age group of 85 years and older and the number of persons in the age group of
50-64. An old age dependency coefficient represents the number of people in 65 and over per 100 people in
15-64 years old. The forecast of research covers the period from 2015 to 2050. Proportions of the population will
be examined, as well as their transformations in age categories: 65 and over, young-old (65-74), old-old (75-84)
and oldest-old (85 and over). Results: As shown in the forecast from 2015 to 2050, the proportion of the
productive population (20-64 years) dropped in new member states from 63.6 % in 2015 to 52.9 % in 2050
(medium variant). There are substantial regional differences across the new member states with respect to the
share of the population of productive age. The decreasing proportions of youth and productive persons have
been accompanied, in most European countries, by constant increases in the proportion of older persons.
The proportion of the population in the age category young-old will increase from 9.1 percent in 2015 to 14.5
percent in 2050. This means that, by 2050, almost 14 million young-old retirees will require Medicare and Social
Security in new member states of the EU.
Key words: Population Dynamics European Union Forecasting Health Status Indicators Age Groups

The primary objective of the following paper is to outline of the most important
characteristics related with post-industrial era of global urbanization. The paper
analyses by critical point of view the relevant literature mostly connected with
sociology and urban geography background. The current processes in the cities’
spatial structure are defined both by factors related to the transformation of the
social system and by globalization. The outstanding feature of these transformation
processes is their various developments in different parts of the city. Post-Industrial
transformation processes carried upon the concentration of transactional activities.
The following processes characterize post-industrial city: deindustrialization,
economic polarization of the population and gentrification. Additionally, opposing
viewpoints of the most prominent researchers, regarding the position and role of
the modern city in the production of (socio-) economic progress will be presented.
Deindustrialization is process of societal and commercial transformation produced
by the elimination of industrial capacity or activity in the country or region,
especially heavy industry or manufacturing industry.
The conclusion is that the place, i.e. the city remains the relevant source of (socio-)
economic progress and that possible domination of the metropolitan region over
the (central) city will not necessarily result in complete disappearance of the city
as know it from the industrial age. The results of the study suggest particular path
dependencies and combined effects of endogenous and exogenous factors.
Key words:
Post-industrial city, deindustrialization, gentrification, globalization,
transformation

Mestá možno charakterizovať ako body ekonomického a spoločenského života. Mesto
je zložitý organizmus, ktorý sa neustále vyvíja a mení v závislosti od spoločenských,
ekonomických a sociálnych podmienok spoločnosti. Po hlavnej etape urbanizácie, po ktorej
už Košice nevládali absorbovať ďalšie prichádzajúce obyvateľstvo, začali sa vytvárať, najmä
pozdĺž významných dopravných ciest nové ostrovčeky bývania. Obyvatelia týchto lokalít boli
nútení dochádzať za prácou, službami a inými aktivitami terciérneho sektora do mesta. Tým
sa začali upevňovať vzťahy medzi mestom a jeho najbližším okolím. Čím bolo mesto väčšie
a významnejšie, tým intenzívnejšia bola aj jeho spätosť s okolím.
Opísaná situácia zdôrazňuje potrebu zaoberať sa najmä v sídelnej geografii
problematikou analýzy miest. Je nutné zaoberať sa ňou pre lepšie využívanie a hodnotenie
priestorových vzťahov napríklad aj medzi mestskými časťami Košíc. Jednou z možností môže
byť hodnotenie mesto obslužných a mestotvorných funkcií Košíc. Kým sa jadro mesta
sústredilo na zhromažďovanie priemyselných, neskôr služobných odvetví, bytová výstavba
mala na druhej strane umožnené lokalizovať sa do vzdialenejších (suburbánnych) častí Košíc.

Today, many countries motivated by numerous benefits decide to develop
natural collaboration. The regional movement is discussed in both historical and
current developmental context. The intention is to shed light upon its natural
process quality and defend its positive role in the economic life and political
constitution of the modern Croatia state. Finally, the characteristics of the actual
regionalization in Croatia have been analysed and an attempt of defining the
functional regionalization of the country in the contemporary circumstances at the
beginning of the 21st century has been given.
Keywords: Croatia, NUTS region, nodal-functional regionalization, territorial
organization, polarization

Abstract: This paper describes the natural movement and migration movement in the
city of Kosice in 1999 and 2005.The natural movement consists of natality and mortality.
The migration movement comprises emigration and immigration. The result of migration
and natural movement is the total movement of the population. This paper explains the
changes in movement of inhabitants in the municipal units in Kosice and interprets growth
or decrease of municipal parts of Kosice. We describe usage model of population potential
in municipal units of Kosice in 2005.
Key words: population potential, natural movement, migration movement, total movement,
population density, municipal units, size category of population

' 7 am very happy that we will celebrate the euro's 10th
anniversary by welcoming Slovakia as a new member. Slovakia is about to take a
historic step forward, for all its citizens and for Europe. Joining the euro will place
Slovakia at the economic and political heart of Europe, less than five years after
joining the European Union. This is a superb achievement and I look forward
enormously to welcoming all Slovakians into the euro area" [ 9 ] s a i d J o s e - M a n u el
B a r r o s o d u r i n g t h e 1 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e e u r o i n S l o v a k i a . S i n c e t h i s s t a t e m e n t has
b e e n said a n o t h e r 4 y e a r s p a s s e d a n d S l o v a k i a b e s i d e s i n t r o d u c i n g o f e u ro
c o n s e q u e n t l y h a s b e e n f a c i n g a f i n a n c i a l c r i s i s . F o r t h a t r e a s o n s i t i s o f t e n u n c l e a r,
w h a t i m p a c t t h e i n t r o d u c i n g o f e u r o h a d o n e c o n o m y o f S l o v a k i a , s p e c i f i c a l l y o n
a c t i v e t o u r i s m .

also include textbooks, which have an unsubstitutable role during
the educational process. Textbooks have been subject of research for a long time.
Researchers ([6], [12], [13], [14], a.o.) have a number of foreign and domestic
publications at their disposal that analyze the functions of textbooks, show how to
study and evaluate textbooks, how to write and work with them. By closer
examination and comparison of the structure of textbooks in Finland, it is possible to
detect differences and potential deficits in Slovak textbooks, which can help to create
the new proposals for structural changes and their subsequent establishment in
practice, not just in textbooks, but also in other study materials, therefore ensure
quality growth levels of school education

R e g i o n a l / l o c a l i d e n t i t y i s a p h e n o m e n o n w h e r e people i d e n t i fy
t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e s o c i a l s y s t em o f a c e r t a i n r e g i o n w i t h i t s p e o p l e , culture,
t r a d i t i o n s , landscape, etc. [ 9 ] . I t is g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t concept o f r e g i o n a l i d e n t i t y i s
c o m p l e x and h a r d t o d e f i n e . A c c o r d i n g t o P a a s i [8] t h e c o n c e p t o f r e g i o n a l i d e n t i t y i s
s t i l l unclear, a l t h o u g h i t h a s been a n i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t i n g e o g r a p h i c a l research f o r
l o n g t i m e . T h e o r y o f i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f r e g i o n s b y F i n n i s h g e o g r a p h e r Paasi
p r o v i d e s us a u s e f u l f r a m e w o r k f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g h o w r e g i o n s a n d r e g i o n a l i d e n t i ty
emergence, a n d a r e c o n t i n u a l l y r e p r o d u c e d and t r a n s f o r m e d i n a n d t h r o u g h t he
practice o f i n d i v i d u a l s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s at a v a r i e t y o f spatial l e v e l s.
H o w e v e r , T e m p e l m a n [11] does n o t c o n s i d e r t h i s a n issue as t h e q u e s t i o n ' w h at
r e g i o n a l i d e n t i t i e s d o ' is o f greater i m p o r t a n c e and r e l e v a n c e.

As cultural tourism becomes more important in an economic sphere,
and high profde in political terms, a growing number of countries (regions and cities)
in Europe are using cultural tourism as a part of development strategies. So Slovakia
has to develop cultural tourism and use its rich cultural heritage as an integral part
of tourism and economic regeneration strategies. The goal of the submitted article:
„Cultural tourism as a assumption for sustainable development of the region"
is to confirm the hypothesis, that cultural tourism can contribute to developing cultural
tradition in region as well as improve the quality of life in an urban or rural
environment. In last decades, some destinations of Europe were increasingly oriented
to cultural tourism, because the tourism is important segment for development
peripheries regions.
Key words: culture, regional development, cultural heritage, cultural and historical
potential of the region's cultural heritage

The paper begins with an overview of the unemployment rate in Slovenia and focused on
education status of unemployment and regional characteristics of the unemployment rates.
The analysis of the education status of unemployment spells is based on the data obtained
from the Employment Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Our attention will be focused to
trends of unemployment and classification of the municipalities in Slovenia by the education
status of unemployment.
Key words:
structure of unemployment, Slovenia, education status of unemployment, scholarship level

The macro regional differences expressed through some indicators of population ageing may reflect social
and economic disparities in the World. The current research considers the relationship between selected
ageing parameters like ageing index, potential support ratio, parental support, the old age dependency
coefficient, longevity index and centenarian index in the World macro regions. The main
objective of the study is to focus and describe the forecast of population ageing – the demographic
phenomenon in the World characterised by a reduction in fertility, a decrease in mortality rate, and
higher life expectancy among World population from 2015 through 2050. The gradually declining proportion
of youth and productive population in the next decades will be accompanied in most countries
across the World by a constant growth in the share of post-productive population. Based on data from
the Unite Nations (UN), their section “Population Division, Population Estimates and Projection Section”
and the topic “World population Prospects: The 2012 Revision”, this study, endeavour determinate
and understand actions in health and social sphere, which would lead to alleviation the negative consequences
of ageing.
Unfortunately, the ageing forecasts for macro regions are not optimistic. Therefore, it will be beneficial
to identify outcomes related to specific needs of non-working oldest-old cohorts like the availability of
social and healthcare support for elderly people.

The extend of urbanization – the main factor of differentiation of regional and settlement
development socio-urbanization status conditions existential and development conditions of
regions quantitative characteristics of regions, social potentials of regions and their total
development. The rate index of urbanization refers to the proportion of total population which
inhabits urban places. Urbanism as a way of life is the net effect, as evident in human behavior,
of all these facets of the urban place also a form of social organization.
Key words: settlement analyses, territorial and administrative arrangement, size structure of
the region, regional development

Population ageing and depopulation are dominant demographic processes in Slovakia.
Population age structure-the comparative size of specific age groups relative to the population
as a whole-can help illustrate where countries' risks and opportunities lie in relation to critical
issues such as democracy, development and security. In fact, the influence of age structure on
a state's governance, risk of an outbreak of civil conflict, and economic development is both
significant and quantifiable. The paper reports on the development of characteristics of the
burden carried by the productive population in consequence of the demographic ageing of
population in the conditions of the Slovakia regions and member states of EU. Population was
divided into age groups and burden on the productive population was analyzed using burden
coefficients, age index and coefficients describing the dynamics of burden changes, specifically
the inflow, outflow and substitution coefficients. This article expresses a degradation of all
coefficients values, according to the trend imitating more and more situation in the advanced
European countries. In years to come it is anticipated further setback, when the increase of the
productive population charging (as a result of expected reducing of the pre-productive
population rate) will be due more to post-productive population charging.
Keywords: age structure, pre-productive population rate, post-productive population charging,
depopulation, Slovakia, European Union

The aim of the study is to analyze the population potential in the demographic behaviour and in the formation
of the population in Eastern Slovakia. This paper is dealing with the evolution of the productive population
charging characteristics in the region NUTS II – eastern Slovakia conditions through passed 10 years in
consequence of a demographic population charging. The population of the region was separed into the
groups and productive population charging was analysed with the coefficients of the charging, old age index
and coefficients describing dynamics of charging changes.
Key words: ageing of population, inter-temporal and inter-regional analysis, population increase, natural
increase, migration, education.

Abstract: The article explores the formation of regional identity with regard to scale and
topic in works and final thesis of Slovak geography students from selected geographic
institutions and departments. Taking into account papers and diploma thesis of students, we
tried to discover how the authors perceive and form the image of a region of the theme and
spatial scale of their works. If geographers in their publications and articles deal with specific
topics of their subject research area - physical geography, settlement systems, composed of
urban centres, economic activities in the region, or spatial intra-regional relations, thus they
are forming the space material base, indispensable for the development of regional
consciousness and identity itself.
Key words: place, scale, thematic focus, geography, self-government regions

Cieľom práce je výskum identity v slovenskej spoločnosti, ktorá vzhľadom na prebiehajúcu modernizáciu a osvojovanie si nových poznatkov nie je štandardnou témou výskumu v geografickej societe. Hlavným zámerom práce je identifikovať na základe skupinových identít obyvateľov v samosprávnych krajoch ich vzťah a percepciu identity k rôznym hierarchickým úrovniam územno-správneho členenia Slovenska. Ktorá identita vo vzťahu k teritóriu je pre nich najdôležitejšia? Aká je ich miera hrdosti k samosprávnym krajom? Môžeme verifikovať výrok, podľa ktorého sú respondenti nášho výskumu v najväčšej miere stotožnení s lokálnou a národnou identitou? Problematiku identity analyzujeme v kontexte novej regionálnej geografie, pričom bližšie špecifikujeme správanie sa skupinových identít v priestore a mierku územia využijúc Paasiho teoreticko-metodologický koncept inštitucionalizácie regiónu. Paasiho koncepcia nám umožňuje hlbšie pochopiť transformáciu regionálnej identity prostredníctvom jednotlivcov a inštitúcií na rôznych hierarchických úrovniach.
Radi by sme preto upriamili pozornosť na kľúčové faktory sociálnej identity, ako aj na ich interpretáciu. Na základe jednotlivých analýz si dovolíme tvrdiť, že najvyššiu mieru pozitívnych sympatií prejavujú respondenti k svojej vidieckej obci/mestu a krajine (Slovensku).

Vážené študentky, vážení študenti, dostáva sa Vám do rúk prvé vydanie učebnice
venovanej súčasným strategickým dokumentom v Slovenskej republike, ktorých
výsledkom by mal byť Koncept strategického rámca inteligentného mesta
v podmienkach SR. Podobný učebný materiál v slovenskom jazyku obsahujúci
aktuálne poznatky tejto vednej disciplíny, doposiaľ absentoval nielen na Ústave
geografie Univerzity Pavla Jozefa Šafárika, ale aj na ostatných slovenských
univerzitách. K dispozícii boli len viaceré učebnice zaoberajúce sa regionálnym
rozvojom v teoretickom kontexte. Mestá a ich priľahlé funkčné územia sa
podstatnou mierou podieľajú na ekonomickom rozvoji celej krajiny, sú prirodzenými
centrami verejných aj komerčných služieb. V prípade Slovenska poskytujú mestá
v súčasnosti bývanie pre viac ako 54 % obyvateľstva.
Významným medzníkom pre systematické zlepšovanie prostredia pre mestský
rozvoj je príprava koncepcie mestského rozvoja Slovenskej republiky, ktorú
Ministerstvo dopravy a výstavby Slovenskej republiky (MDV SR) uskutočňuje v
spolupráci s ďalšími rezortmi, odborníkmi a zástupcami súkromného a neziskového
sektora. MDV SR sa však pri tvorbe štátnej politiky chce oprieť o oveľa širšie
zastúpenie mestských samospráv, a preto v období november 2013 – február 2014
realizovalo prieskum o rozvojových prioritách slovenských miest, na ktorom sa
zúčastnilo spolu viac než 78 % slovenských miest.
Ministerstvo dopravy a výstavby SR v zmysle Zákona NR SR č. 378/2016 Z. z.,
ktorým sa mení a dopĺňa zákon č. 575/2001 Z. z. o organizácii činnosti vlády
a organizácii ústrednej štátnej správy v znení neskorších predpisov a ktorým sa
menia a dopĺňajú niektoré zákony je centrálnym orgánom štátnej správy pre tvorbu a
uskutočňovanie politiky mestského rozvoja. Ministerstvo dopravy v roku 2014
zriadilo pracovnú skupinu pre mestský rozvoj a prizvalo do nej zástupcov krajských
miest, strešných organizácií samosprávy, rezortné ministerstvá, akademickú obec,
podnikateľský a mimovládny sektor, ktorí z hľadiska svojej pôsobnosti a odbornej
erudície by mohli významnou mierou prispieť k smerovaniu ďalšieho rozvoja
slovenských miest. Problematika mestského rozvoja pribudla ku kompetenciám
ministerstva na základe potrieb Slovenskej republiky, ale aj všeobecných
medzinárodných trendov, ktoré dlhodobo potvrdzujú význam úlohy miest v
sociálnom a ekonomickom rozvoji krajín.
Decentralizácia kompetencií prispieva k efektívnejšiemu riešeniu problémov
miest či skvalitneniu služieb pre občanov. Najčastejším problémom je nedostatok
finančných prostriedkov potrebných na plnenie kompetencií samosprávy. Mestá by
do svojich kompetencií presunuli oblasť sociálnych služieb spolu s dostatočnými
finančnými prostriedkami, oblasť cestných komunikácií, stredného školstva či
živnostenského registra. Najväčšiu záťaž pre mestá predstavujú kompetencie v
oblasti školstva, stavebného úradu, životného prostredia a sociálnej oblasti.

Socioeconomic indicators, such as unemployment, the  ageing of the population, education or poverty, significantly contributed to regional competitiveness in Europe. The sustainable development and regional competitiveness of a particular country are the result of interactions between many conditions and factors which have a different intensity in different societies and regionas and lead to regional disparities. Our research focused on exploring the relationship between the countries distribution of environmental, social and economic competitiveness and selected indicators in Europe; we explored specific types of indexes such as global competitiveness index, environmental performance index, aggregate index of human potential and human development index as well as travel and tourism competitiveness index.