Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Ševela Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Price levels convergence of consumer expenditures in the European Union Abstract: The convergence of price levels is one of the important aspects of a real convergence and is often viewed as a criterion for the evaluation of preparedness. The convergence process of comparative price levels can run either through the exchange rate channel and/or that of nominal prices. The paper is focused on the assessment of comparative price levels and the rate of their convergence in the enlarged European Union within the period of 1999-2003. With the exception of Cyprus, the price levels in the new EU member countries were significantly lower. The greatest differences from the price level of EU countries existed in Poland, Slovakia and Baltic countries. The new member countries differ also in the rate of convergence. When combining their initial position and the rate of convergence, it can be concluded that all countries will be able to reach 80% of the comparative price level of the European Union till the year 2010. In Poland, the development is very unfavourable because its price level will reach only 55% provided that there will be no changes in its development. Keywords: European Union, EU-enlargement, comparative price level, consumption expenditures Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 197-204 Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5016-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5016-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200605-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:5:id:5016-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Klíma Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Palát (Sn.) Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Analysis of the development of the economic account for agriculture of the Czech Republic Abstract: The paper is focused on assessing the development of the economic account for agriculture of the Czech Republic in the selected reference period 1998-2003. There were evaluated effects of the particular types of the economic accounts. Methods of regression and correlation analysis and development trends were used for the mathematical-statistical analysis. The plant production output similarly as the output of agricultural industry show an increasing tendency since the period under investigation reaching a peak about 2001 and in next years decreasing in difference to the gross value added at basic prices and the net value added at basic prices which shows an increasing trend throughout the period. Both animal output and the agricultural services output show a decreasing trend reaching a minimum about 2002. Keywords: agriculture, economic accounts for agriculture, analysis of development, Czech Republic, mathematical and statistical methods Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 205-208 Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5017-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5017-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200605-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:5:id:5017-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Jeníček Author-Workplace-Name: University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Krepl Author-Workplace-Name: University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Development assistance Abstract: Development assistance achieved remarkable success in different periods. For example, Botswana and South Korea reached the great development in the 60s after very bad situation, Indonesia in the 70s, Bolivia and Ghana at the end of the 80s, Uganda and Vietnam in the 90s. In these countries development assistance played important role in economic transformation in formulation of the development of politics. The development assistance contributed educational programs and financially supported the development of public sector. The "Green Revolution" - by means of innovations in agriculture, investments and political changes - improved the live conditions of millions people thanks to the collaboration of many bilateral and multilateral donors. But there are some failures with the foreign aide. While the formed dictator of Zaire Mobutu Sese Seko became one of the richest people in the world (and invested his property in abroad), the development assistance did not stop for many years, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) is only one example of the situation, where the permanent flows of assistance ignore or support the corruption and in suitable politics of governments. Tanzania received two milliards dollars for building the roads destiny the twenty years. But the roads were destroyed sooner, than the works could be finished because of insufficient maintenance. The study of World Bank brings the conclusions of the new conception of the development assistance: financial assistance works only in suitable political world; the lowering of poverty is possible only with working institutions - political and economic; effective assistance complete the private investments; receiving country is obliged to have public sector in function; the function of public sector is developing on the activity of civil society; patience and good ideas, not only money, can help to reforms in very unfavorable conditions. Keywords: foreign development aid, developed market economies, less developed countries - recipients Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 209-224 Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5018-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5018-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200605-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:5:id:5018-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C. Akbay Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sutcu Imam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey Author-Name: E. Jones Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sutcu Imam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey Title: Demand elasticities and price-cost margin ratios for grocery products in different socioeconomic groups Abstract: In this paper, the demand elasticities and the size of price cost margin (PCM) ratios were investigated for private and national branded products using scanner data from a large supermarket chain in Ohio, USA. Demand elasticities and PCM ratios were measured for 32 national branded and 14 private label products for 9 food categories by using Almost Ideal Demand System. According to the results, lower-income shoppers were more prices sensitive than higher-income shoppers and the average price elasticities were ranged between -1.96 (Snacks) and -3.33 (ice-cream). According to the results, non-collusive case gave smaller PCM than the Bertrand case and the average PCM ratios ranged from 27% for ice cream to 54% for chips. Keywords: price competition, AIDS model, food, elasticity, private and national brand Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 225-235 Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5019-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5019-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200605-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:5:id:5019-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: N. Demirbaş Author-Workplace-Name: Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Author-Name: Ö. Karahan Author-Workplace-Name: Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Author-Name: Z. KENANOGLU Author-Workplace-Name: Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Author-Name: C. Karagözlü Author-Workplace-Name: Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey Title: The evaluation of the developments in food safety systems formation in the world for dairy industry from the standpoint ofTurke Abstract: Food safety is important due to new protection measurements applied in the growing world trade as much as the raise and continuity of life quality. In recent years, the countries have begun to face with important problems both in domestic consumption and exportation, because of the sensitivity of consumers on the safety of food products. Regarding this, in the dairy industry, which is an important sub sector of the food industry, the food safety issues has begun to gain importance in developing countries like the developed ones as a result of the world trade. Therefore the aim of this study can be stated as examining the food safety systems for dairy industry and comparing them withTurkey. Keywords: dairy industry, food safety, HACCP, Turkey Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 236-243 Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5020-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5020-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200605-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:5:id:5020-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: H. Součková Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Agricultural Economics, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Rape methyl-esther as a renewable energy resource in transport Abstract: The conception of the agricultural politicy of the Czech Republic is in accordance with the European model of agriculture, and one of this politicy pillars has been concentrated on the development of the multifunctional agriculture. In this contribution, several findings from the solution of the research project QF 4142 have been summarised in a synthetic form. It introduced financing and support programme of the rape methyl-esther (RME) and mixed fuel production. In the article, the availability and economic potential of the renewable energy sources till the year 2010 are shown primarily. The RME and the bio-diesel form an important part of the biomass in the Czech Republic. We describe in brief the RME characteristics in the year 1997-2004 in the following fields: production and support of the RME and mixed fuel. We have the capacity of the RME production 150 000 t in the Czech Republic with the average costs 20 CZK/l RME. Keywords: :rape oil methyl-esther, non-food products, supports, renewable source of energy Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 244-249 Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5021-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5021-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200605-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:5:id:5021-AGRICECON