Research Interests: Digital Divide, Social Networks, European Union, Digital Business Models, Digital Business, and 15 moreE Business, Cloud Computing, Digital Economy, Electronic Government and Business, Cluster Analysis, Digitisation, Digital Transformations, Digitalisation, Digitalization, Digital Business Model, E Bussiness, Electronic Business, Social Networks and Small Business, E Commerce, and Digital Transformation
Entrepreneurship support for the unemployed is one of the most common entrepreneurial policy tools for small start-ups. Usually, this tool is aimed at simultaneously promoting entrepreneurship as well as reducing unemployment. The aim of... more
Entrepreneurship support for the unemployed is one of the most common entrepreneurial policy tools for small start-ups. Usually, this tool is aimed at simultaneously promoting entrepreneurship as well as reducing unemployment. The aim of this paper is to examine in detail the effects of such an instrument in one of the least developed regions of the European Union (EU). At the same time, however, this region has been very effective in reducing the unemployment rate at the time of the research. The paper focuses, in particular, on entrepreneurship survival after support and compares it with maintenance of employment, in general. Our results, based on probit and bivariate probit regression, suggest that gender, age, economic development of the region and the amount of support are among the most important factors affecting the survival of start-ups after support. The differences between more developed and less-developed sub-regions are particularly pronounced for certain socio-economic...
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship, Economics, Public Finance, Unemployment, Rural Entrepreneurship, and 15 moreEmployment, Support Policies to Entrepreneurship, Labour market policy, Supported Employment, Startups, Labour Market, Demographic economics, Employment Policy, Regional Unemployment, European regions, Evaluation of active labour market programmes, Active Labour Market Policies, Micro and Small Business Entrepreneurship, Bivariate Analysis, and Less developed regions
Four papers published via SOLIDUS project by UMB Banska Bystrica: NEMEC, Juraj, Mária MURRAY SVIDROŇOVÁ, Beáta MIKUŠOVÁ MERIČKOVÁ a Helena KUVÍKOVÁ. Social Housing Provided by the Third Sector: The Slovak Experience. Critical Housing... more
Four papers published via SOLIDUS project by UMB Banska Bystrica: NEMEC, Juraj, Mária MURRAY SVIDROŇOVÁ, Beáta MIKUŠOVÁ MERIČKOVÁ a Helena KUVÍKOVÁ. Social Housing Provided by the Third Sector: The Slovak Experience. Critical Housing Analysis, 2017,4 (2), 67-75. ISSN 2336-2839. doi:10.13060/23362839.2017.4.2.387 M. Murray Svidroňová. Acts of Solidarity to Fight Socio-economic Inequality - Solidarity Practice in Slovakia. In: Innovation Governance in the public sector. Bratislava: NISPAcee, CD rom, 2017 M. Murray Svidroňová, J. Nemec, B. Mikušova. Civic Participation to Fight Corruption. In: Teoretické a praktické aspekty veřejných financí. Praha:VSE, pp. 156-16, 2017 J. Nemec, B. Mikušova, Peter Pisar, Maria Murray Svidronova. National Policies to Combat Social Spatial Inequalities: Slovakia. In: Spreading Standards, Building Capacities: European Administrative Space in Progress. Bratislava: NISPAcee, CD rom, 2016
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Background A significant share of business innovation arises from information and communication (ICT) sector. Business investment into research and development (R&D) activities can be seen as an important basis for innovation, which can... more
Background A significant share of business innovation arises from information and communication (ICT) sector. Business investment into research and development (R&D) activities can be seen as an important basis for innovation, which can further lead to better economic performance. This can be especially true for the ICT sector. Objectives The paper examines the share of the ICT sector on innovation and the total R&D expenditure in selected European countries. Furthermore, our aim is to test the potential positive correlation between R&D expenditure, productivity and the value added in the sector. Methods/Approach The goals of the paper has been tested by empirical data analysis using the pane regression analysis. We examined panel data for 24 European countries in the 2008-2016 period. Results The highest share of business R&D expenditure in ICT has been captured in Nordic countries. Firms in ICT appear to be innovative above the average and represent a significant share in the tota...
Research Interests: Business, Innovation Policy, Productivity, Technological Innovation, Innovation Systems, and 15 moreBusiness Innovation, Business Model Innovation, Information and Communications Technology, National Innovation Systems, Research and Development, Incentive, Research development and Analysis, Labour Productivity, Business Systems, Business performance, Business Finance, Economic Value Added, Research and Development Management, Research and Development Expenditures, and Business Productivity
The main aim of our paper is to assess the innovation potential of NUTS 2 regions in Slovakia and compare them with other regions in V4 countries. We synthesize the existing theoretical and methodological knowledge on this issue. Pointing... more
The main aim of our paper is to assess the innovation potential of NUTS 2 regions in Slovakia and compare them with other regions in V4 countries. We synthesize the existing theoretical and methodological knowledge on this issue. Pointing to some empirical research in this field and using this knowledge to apply the existing measurement methodology of regional innovation potential, while complementing it with our own method on example of V4 region. In the analytical part of contribution we apply selected indicators of regional innovation potential to measure it in V4 countries´ NUTS II regions, to compare and sort NUTS II regions in V4 countries due this potential. In the theoretical part of our contribution we systematize the findings of measuring regional innovation potential and its specificities. In the analytical part we work with data of selected European regions Then we use the factor analysis method to extract one factor of the regional innovation potential. The second appro...
Research Interests: Business, Computer Science, Creativity, Innovation statistics, Regional Science, and 10 moreEconomics of Innovation, Management of Innovation, Regionalism, Regional development, Technological Innovation, Regional Economics, Innovation and Creativity (Business), Regional economic development, Public Support, and SORT
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Information and communication technologies have important role in many different innovations and further positively affect the productivity and economic growth. Our aim was to examine examine the share of ICT sector in selected European... more
Information and communication technologies have important role in many different innovations and further positively affect the productivity and economic growth. Our aim was to examine examine the share of ICT sector in selected European countries and identify its potential determinants and consequences. We used mostly panel data for EU28 countries plus Norway and Switzerland and applied correlation and panel Granger causality tests. The employment in ICT was used as main examined variable. Our results suggest that there is a positive correlation between ICT skills as well as the share of people with ICT education and employment in ICT. The causal effect seems to be working in direction from education to employment. Moreover, variables capturing GDP per capita, trade openness, R&D expenditure, number of internet users, quality of regulation and political stability appear to be all positively correlated with employment in ICT and especially with employment in ICT services.
Research Interests: Computer Science, Information Technology, Communication, Economics of Innovation, Information Communication Technology, and 15 moreManagement of Innovation, Productivity, ICT for Development, Work and Labour, Technological Innovation, Employment, ICT innovation, Panel Data, Information and Communication Technologies, Labour Market, Information and Communications Technology, Openness to experience, ICT industry, ICT Industry in Bangladesh, and Per Capita Income
The innovation performance of the region seems to the determinant of the regional economic development in the long-run. In order to increase economic growth regions have to focus more on innovation support. However, there are several... more
The innovation performance of the region seems to the determinant of the regional economic development in the long-run. In order to increase economic growth regions have to focus more on innovation support. However, there are several circumstances that could significantly affect the innovation potential of any region. The sectoral structure of business in the region seems to be a very important one. Our research is focused on identifying the key similarities and differences in sectoral business structure in the regions of Slovakia. We analyse the current situation in NUTS 4 regions and applied cluster analysis in order to group these regions into clusters based on observed similarities in business structure. These could be useful, especially for setting the regional innovation policy and innovation support in the regions. Our results suggest that regions in Slovakia could be divided at least into 7 groups according to business structure. Each group have some specific characteristics...
The paper deals with the problem of business spending on research and development and their relation to innovation activities. It is focused on R&D in the business sector as a crucial part of the innovation system. R&D expenditure can be... more
The paper deals with the problem of business spending on research and development and their relation to innovation activities. It is focused on R&D in the business sector as a crucial part of the innovation system. R&D expenditure can be seen as the main precondition of successful innovation. However, the successful transformation of R&D investment into invention or innovation cannot be guaranteed. Our main aim is to examine the relationship between business R&D expenditure, invention and innovation in the long-run. We also examine the level of business R&D expenditure in EU countries. The long-run causalities have been tested by using panel cointegration approach on the macro-level panel data for EU countries. The scope of inventions is proxied by the share of firms introducing product or service innovation as well as the number of patents registered. Based on our results, there appears to be a positive causal effect of business R&D expenditure on patenting in the long-run.
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Background: The intensity of innovation could often be crucial for further economic development of the regions. Science and technology are often seen as the key factor supporting innovation in the regions. Furthermore, we can assume that... more
Background: The intensity of innovation could often be crucial for further economic development of the regions. Science and technology are often seen as the key factor supporting innovation in the regions. Furthermore, we can assume that higher intensity of research activities could lead to better economic performance. Objectives: Research aims to examine the link between the economic performance of the region and the intensity of science and technology activities, proxied by the share of employees in science and technology. Methods/Approach: The analysis is based on panel data for NUTS2 regions of the European Union (EU) member states. We conducted correlation analysis, panel Granger causality tests and regression analysis. Results: Our results suggest the existence of a significant positive correlation between GDP per capita and the share of employees in science and technology. Moreover, the regions with a higher intensity of science and technology activities are mostly characteri...
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship, Economics, Education, Education Innovation and Ventures, Higher Education, and 15 moreEconomic Growth, Economics of Education, Diffusion of Innovations, Economics of Innovation, Education Policy, European Union, Academia Research, Economic Development, Employment, Economics of Higher Education and Research, Granger causality, Business Systems, Economic Development Policy, Higher educational institution, and Econometric and Statistical Methods
The article deals with the problems of business innovation and inventions in the EU countries with a focus on the potential effects of business R&D expenditure. Since the business is considered an essential sector concerning innovation,... more
The article deals with the problems of business innovation and inventions in the EU countries with a focus on the potential effects of business R&D expenditure. Since the business is considered an essential sector concerning innovation, business R&D expenditure can play a significant role in their creation. However, several obstacles hinder the successful transformation of R&D expenditures into invention or innovation. R&D expenditures as any other type of business investments are associated with a certain risk. In this case, the risk of failure can be even higher due to their long-term nature and complexity. The article aims at an examination of the short-run and long-run relationship between business R&D expenditure, on one hand, an invention, and innovation on the other. To achieve this, the tests of Granger causalities and panel cointegrated regression has been applied on macro-level data. Furthermore, the structure of R&D expenditure in EU countries has been also examined. The ...
Research Interests: Business, Economics, Innovation statistics, Diffusion of Innovations, Patents, and 15 moreManagement of Innovation, IT and Innovation, Innovation and Creativity (Business), Economics of R&D and innovation, Business Management, Inventions, Business Model Innovation, National Innovation Systems, Research and Development, Business Cycle, Economics and Business, Research and Development Management, Innvation, Business Investment, and Patenting
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship, Education, Higher Education, Economics of Education, Public Universities, and 15 moreEducation Policy, Knowledge Transfer, Academic entrepreneurship, Learning And Teaching In Higher Education, Higher Education Policy, Employability Skills, Engineering Economics, Entrepreneurship Education in Universities, Entrepreneurship Education, Entreprenureship, Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Academic Spin Offs, Academic Entreprenurship, Entrpreneurship and Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Skills
Research Interests: Science Policy, Innovation Policy, Economics of Innovation, Scientometrics, Patents, and 14 moreScience and Technology Policy, New Product Development, Science and Technology, Technological Innovation and Economic Development, Economics of R&D and innovation, Academic Publishing, University patents, High Technology Market, Research and Development, Exports, Research development and Analysis, Research and Development Management, Science and Technology Studies, and Reseach Policies
Research Interests: Economic Theory, Unemployment, Labour Studies, Work and Labour, Labour Economics, and 9 moreWorkplace Flexibility, Labour Market, Workforce Flexibility, Work-family balance and conflict, Labour market flexibility, Comparative labour policies and labour relations, Family and Work, Labour Force, and flexible Labour Markets
Research Interests: Regional innovation, Innovation statistics, Innovation Policy, Diffusion of Innovations, Economics of Innovation, and 15 moreManagement of Innovation, Local Economic Development, Economic Development, Regional development, Regional Studies, Regional Economics, Regional economic development, Public Expenditures, Research and Development, Research Development, Innovation Support Policies, Research development and Analysis, Economic and Regional Growth, Educational Research and Development, and Research and Development Management
Research Interests: Regional innovation, Innovation statistics, Innovation Policy, Diffusion of Innovations, Economics of Innovation, and 15 moreManagement of Innovation, Local Economic Development, Economic Development, Regional development, Regional Studies, Regional Economics, Regional economic development, Public Expenditures, Research and Development, Research Development, Innovation Support Policies, Research development and Analysis, Economic and Regional Growth, Educational Research and Development, and Research and Development Management
Background: Transfer of knowledge from academia to business is one of the crucial issues for creating innovation. Creation of university spin-offs could significantly improve this transfer. Objectives: The main scientific aim is to... more
Background: Transfer of knowledge from academia to business is one of the crucial issues for creating innovation. Creation of university spin-offs could significantly improve this transfer. Objectives: The main scientific aim is to examine the differences between universities in European countries and identify factors affecting the probability of creating the university spin-off. The paper is also focused on the differences in the specialization and financial sources of universities. Methods/Approach: We compare selected indicators for higher education institutions in European countries and examine potential determinants affecting the probability of academic spin-off formation. With respect to the main aim, the logit and probit regression analyses have been used. Results: Our results show that the creation of spin-offs is typical on the one hand for highly specialized universities or on the other hand for universities with a wide variety of study programs. They should also have an o...
Research Interests: Knowledge Management, Higher Education, Economics of Education, Economics of Innovation, Education Policy, and 15 moreAcademia Research, Knowledge Transfer, Technological Innovation, Higher Education Management, Higher Education Policy, Economics of Higher Education and Research, Academic Performance, University, Spin Off, Research and Development, Universities, Commercialisation of Research, Business Systems, Academic Spin Offs, and Economics of Higher Edcuation
Research Interests: Higher Education, Educational Research, Knowledge sharing, Technology transfer, Academia Research, and 13 moreKnowledge Transfer, Economics of Higher Education and Research, Academia, Academic research, Research and Publications, Spin Off, Research and Development, Universities, Tertiary Education, Knowledge Diffusion, Academic Spinoffs, Academic Spin Offs, and Technology Spin-offs
The work flexibility is considered as an integral part of the modernization of the labour market and also as an effective solution of the current problems at the labour market. The paper is therefore focussed on this problem in terms of... more
The work flexibility is considered as an integral part of the modernization of the labour market and also as an effective solution of the current problems at the labour market. The paper is therefore focussed on this problem in terms of the working time organization, as well as selected forms of employment in developed countries. We pay an attention to theoretical issues and practical application of work flexibility. Appling the methods of spatial comparison and cluster analysis, we identify the key differences and similarities in labour flexibility among selected countries. There are rather significant differences between groups of countries. The results of panel dataregression largely indicate that higher flexibility on the labour market could have positive impact on the reduction of unemployment in the future, especially when taking into account the two years lag.
Research Interests: Economic Theory, Unemployment, Labour Studies, Work and Labour, Labour Economics, and 9 moreWorkplace Flexibility, Labour Market, Workforce Flexibility, Work-family balance and conflict, Labour market flexibility, Comparative labour policies and labour relations, Family and Work, Labour Force, and flexible Labour Markets
Background: The university-spin off company is a specific but rather effective tool for the direct transfer of knowledge and new technology from academia into business. However, this seems to be still a not very common phenomenon in many... more
Background: The university-spin off company is a specific but rather effective tool for the direct transfer of knowledge and new technology from academia into business. However, this seems to be still a not very common phenomenon in many European countries. Objectives: The paper aims to compare the characteristics of universities in European countries based on empirical data for 2465 higher education institutions in Europe retrieved from European Tertiary Education Register database. Methods/Approach: We examined factors that could have a potential effect on the creation of university spin-off companies in Europe. In order to find these factors we applied logit and probit regression analysis. Results: Our results strongly suggest that those universities which are neither strongly focused on a few fields of research, nor very broad in their focus are mostly less active in creating the university spin-off companies. Conclusions: The intensity of PhD study, the share of tuition fees as...
Research Interests: Higher Education, Educational Research, Knowledge sharing, Technology transfer, Academia Research, and 13 moreKnowledge Transfer, Economics of Higher Education and Research, Academia, Academic research, Research and Publications, Spin Off, Research and Development, Universities, Tertiary Education, Knowledge Diffusion, Academic Spinoffs, Academic Spin Offs, and Technology Spin-offs
The paper deals with the potential relationship between higher education and entrepreneurial activities. Universities and other higher education institutions could be seen as boosting entrepreneurship in the region. University graduates... more
The paper deals with the potential relationship between higher education and entrepreneurial activities. Universities and other higher education institutions could be seen as boosting entrepreneurship in the region. University graduates could be more often involved in starting up a new business and the university itself could commercialize their innovations by creating academic spin-off companies. The paper aims to examine the potential effect of higher education on the probability of starting a business as well as its further success. Based on the data for 40 EU and non-EU countries, retrieved from a Eurobarometer survey, we conducted probit and IV probit regressions. These have tested the assumed relationship between higher education and entrepreneurial activities. Our results strongly suggest that higher education can often be very beneficial for starting up a new business and this seems to be one of the factors determining the success of new businesses. Furthermore, those respon...
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship, Education, Higher Education, Economics of Education, Public Universities, and 15 moreEducation Policy, Knowledge Transfer, Academic entrepreneurship, Learning And Teaching In Higher Education, Higher Education Policy, Employability Skills, Engineering Economics, Entrepreneurship Education in Universities, Entrepreneurship Education, Entreprenureship, Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Academic Spin Offs, Academic Entreprenurship, Entrpreneurship and Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Skills
Regional policy is one of the most important EU policies. Large amounts of resources used for support programmes automatically put forward the question of their effectiveness and efficiency. These aspects can be examined both from macro... more
Regional policy is one of the most important EU policies. Large amounts of resources used for support programmes automatically put forward the question of their effectiveness and efficiency. These aspects can be examined both from macro and micro perspectives. In this article we focus on one aspect of inefficiency – "deadweight". This effect occurs if public subsidy is spent on activities that would have happened even without these resources. We examine the effect on selected projects for small and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The article consists of four parts. First we discuss theoretical background for using the subsidies as development tool. Then we look more closely on the definition of deadweight effect and previous studies analyzing it. In the methodology part we discuss different approaches how to measure this effect and introduce methodology in our research. We also discuss potential problems with interpretation of the results and in...
Innovation has been broadly recognized as an important factor of economic growth. Lots of theories and approaches have been developed in order to explain the way how regions and states could profit from innovations. The aim of this... more
Innovation has been broadly recognized as an important factor of economic growth. Lots of theories and approaches have been developed in order to explain the way how regions and states could profit from innovations. The aim of this article is to evaluate different forms of regional innovation support in the regional innovation strategies as one of the tools for support of innovation on the regional level and by the regional level in V4 countries. Regional innovation strategies represent good example of actual strategic thinking of different regional self-governments. Evaluation of these strategies allows us to compare the theory of innovation support with the suggested practical application of these theories.
The countries in Central Europe have witnessed dramatic political developments over the last 20 years. First were the political changes in the late 80’s, which resulted in the ousting of the totalitarian political system and democracy.... more
The countries in Central Europe have witnessed dramatic political developments over the last 20 years. First were the political changes in the late 80’s, which resulted in the ousting of the totalitarian political system and democracy. This over throw was followed by social and economic transformation during the 90’s. The entry of those countries into NATO and their preparation for EU accession was a confirmation of democratic development. Development in Slovakia was slower, but in 2004 this country also joined both NATO and the EU. The starting positions of each country were different. The transition countries also differed in regional differences. Those differences were driven mainly by the economic structure and the ability to quickly refocus the primary and secondary sectors to the tertiary sector and sectors with high added value. The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 was an important historical turning point not only for the new Member States, but also for the European ...
Background: The intensity of innovation could often be crucial for further economic development of the regions. Science and technology are often seen as the key factor supporting innovation in the regions. Furthermore, we can assume that... more
Background: The intensity of innovation could often be crucial for further economic development of the regions. Science and technology are often seen as the key factor supporting innovation in the regions. Furthermore, we can assume that higher intensity of research activities could lead to better economic performance. Objectives: Research aims to examine the link between the economic performance of the region and the intensity of science and technology activities, proxied by the share of employees in science and technology. Methods/Approach: The analysis is based on panel data for NUTS2 regions of the European Union (EU) member states. We conducted correlation analysis, panel Granger causality tests and regression analysis. Results: Our results suggest the existence of a significant positive correlation between GDP per capita and the share of employees in science and technology. Moreover, the regions with a higher intensity of science and technology activities are mostly characterized by relatively low unemployment rates. Conclusions: Research activities are positive correlated with regional GDP and negatively correlated with unemployment. However, increasing the share of employment in science and technology beyond a certain turning point would not lead to any further positive effects on regional economic performance.
Research Interests: Regional innovation, Higher Education, Economics of Innovation, Unemployment, Management of Innovation, and 15 moreAcademia Research, Economic Development, Regional development, Science and Technology Policy, Human Resources, Science and Technology, Regional Economics, Employment, Economics of Higher Education and Research, Regional economic development, Research Policy, University, Research and Development, Researchers, and Science and Technology Studies
There are several factors which could significantly affect the international competitiveness of a country with respect to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Especially, factors related to business regulations and administrative... more
There are several factors which could significantly affect the international competitiveness of a country with respect to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Especially, factors related to business regulations and administrative costs of operating a business could be seen as important ones. The more strict business regulations could represent some sort of burden for any foreign investment. On the other hand, a business environment that significantly lacks the regulations could also be less attractive for new investors and vulnerable to malpractices. Overall high administrative costs of running a business could pose another significant obstacle for new foreign investment into a country. However, these costs are also mostly related to the business environment and regulations. In our paper, we aim to identify the potential effect of selected indicators related to business regulations and the costs of running a business on the inflow of FDI into the EU countries. A correlation analysis, as well as panel data regressions, is used in order to fulfill the aims of the paper. We used panel data retrieved from the World Bank database and identify several potential determinants of FDI inflows.