Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Bielik Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agriculture University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Pokrivčák Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agriculture University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A. Qineti Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agriculture University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: N. Pokrivčáková Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agriculture University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: The spillover effect of foreign direct investment - the case of Slovak beer and malt production sector Abstract: The paper deals with the FDI spillover effects in production of beer and malt in Slovakia. Malt producers have a dominant position in the market. The use of the almost monopsonistic power of malt producers is constrained the by low asset specificity of primary producers of barley, other outlets for the disposal of barley (export), and demand for high quality of malt from malt producers. Because of high dependence of malt producers for high quality and reliable deliveries of barley, malt producers provide a significant assistance of primary farmers. Keywords: FDI, spillover effect, barley, malt, beer, Slovakia Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 347-352 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5033-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5033-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5033-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Kučera Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A. Látečková Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Information and knowledge systems in the operation of agricultural and food-processing enterprises Abstract: The utility value presents the main competitive advantage in the knowledge and digital economy. It cannot be achieved without modern technologies, modern organization and operation of the production and social processes. One of the Slovak government's precedences is to establish favourable conditions for the development of knowledge economy in every section. The informatisation level of the agricultural sector is continually increasing. As perspective, we can see the implementation of the knowledge systems in agricultural and food-processing enterprises. The main contribution is mainly the possibility to forecast the development and the state toward the future and the use of knowledge base for ensuring of the operational, tactic as well as strategic management. Keywords: knowledge, economics, information systems, software, management Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 353-357 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5034-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5034-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5034-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Kretter Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: I. Ubrežiová Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Factors of successfulness of organic markets Abstract: In Slovakia, agricultural enterprises have applied the organic way of production from the 90s of the 20th century. We can state that the production of organic products has been improved. More than 90% of organic agricultural products are oriented towards export markets or conventional production. There are only a few storages with eco-products in the Slovak Republic. The paper deals with the factors of the successfulness in the market with organic products from the viewpoint of the vertical line "agricultural enterprise - processor - trade - consumer". These relate to the active market with eco-products in Slovakia. Keywords: organic agriculture, eco-food-stuffs, factors of market's successfulness, eco-producers, strengths and weaknesses of ecological production Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 358-360 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5035-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5035-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5035-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Bielik Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: E. Horská Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Dziembala Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Some aspects of the investment attractiveness of the Visegrad Group countries Abstract: The article stresses the importance of analysing the inflow of foreign direct investments to the countries of the Visegrad Group. In this context, what is shown is the attractiveness of the CEE countries, including the Visegrad Group, in terms of the FDI location; and there are also other factors depicted, which determine the attractiveness of regions for foreign investors. The EU accession gave the Visegrad Group countries new opportunities to attract FDI; the point is to take advantage of these opportunities. Actions at both national and regional level are constantly needed in order to enhance the location attractiveness, since the VG countries need capital to modernize their economies. The quality of the investments attracted is also crucial, as the "modern" ones will create stable bases for the economy modernization and for building of a sustainable competitive advantage. Keywords: foreign direct investment, capital, region, economic environment Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 361-367 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5036-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5036-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5036-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Covaci Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Z. Sojková Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Investigation of wheat efficiency and productivity development in Slovakia Abstract: This study has focused on two main tasks: verifying the suitability of using stochastic frontier analysis on a transforming sector, and providing empirical evidence to explain the technical efficiency structure among farms in the time period 2000-2004. Two stochastic frontier model specifications were employed, the Battese and Coelli 1992 specification with the systematically time-varying inefficiency effect, and the Battese and Coelli 1995 one stage specification explaining technical inefficiency based on farm-specific variables. Our analyses were carried out at the commodity level, wheat production, where the accessibility of a data panel allowed us to enrich the calculation of the level of technical efficiency by the analysis of productivity changes within the chosen period of time, supports this idea as well. Keywords: technical efficiency, total factor productivity index, stochastic frontier analysis Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 368-378 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5037-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5037-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5037-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ž. Hacherová Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Szovics Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Trends and factors of assets and capital in enterprises of primary agricultural production Abstract: A smooth entrepreneurial activity requires adequate cash flows. This need is quantified due to the special position of primary agricultural production. The required volume, structure, quality and availability of financial resources creates economic framework for decision making and managing entrepreneurial activities. The results show the lack of total capital in connection to the needs of investment processes and ensuring operational activities in the selected enterprises. Both legal entities (agricultural cooperatives and business enterprises) decreased the total volume of assets and total liabilities in 2004. The economic result was improved in both types of legal entities, in the case of cooperatives by 3 525 SKK/ha a.l. and in business companies by 1 840 SKK/ha a.l. Receivables and payables also decreased, cash flows from business activities have increased. There is a decrease in the balances of the existing loans and new loans were provided by commercial banks for enterprises in primary agricultural production. Keywords: assets, capital, equity, payables, economic result Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 379-384 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5038-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5038-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5038-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Hennyeová Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Selected aspects of e-business development Abstract: The enhanced use of information and communication technologies (ICT) has a strong impact on business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) relationships as well as the way the key business processes are conducted. It can save costs and time, enable businesses to reach a wider market and to respond more quickly to the customer demands. These benefits open up new ways of doing international business. The policy objective is to encourage the integration of e-business into normal business by promoting the take-up of e-business services. Information and communication technologies are necessary to be seen as a tool for the increase of prosperity and competitiveness. Keywords: e-commerce, Internet, information and communication technologies (ICT), information society Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 385-388 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5039-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5039-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5039-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Hambalková Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: The factors of competitiveness and the quantification of their impact on the export efficiency of grape and wine in the Slovak Republic Abstract: The paper devotes attention to evaluating the factors of competitiveness and the quantification of their impact on the export efficiency of grape and wine in the Slovak Republic. For the reason of bad conditions in grape production, Slovakia has not covered the domestic wine demand in years 1998-2003 and therefore wine was imported to Slovakia. Opposite to, some European wine-producing countries, Slovakia does not suffer from wine overproduction and Slovak vintners have not got problems with selling their production on foreign market. After the downfall of custom protection, an increase of import was expected, mostly of cheap table wines. The chance for Slovak producers is the production of high quality wines, which are getting a good combination of quality and price in comparison with foreign quality wines. It is important, that Slovak consumers should know and prefer quality wines and that the export of Slovak wines are oriented also on other markets not only on the market of the Czech Republic. Keywords: competitiveness, Grubel-Lloyd index, revealed comparative advantage, foreign trade Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 389-394 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5040-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5040-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-200608-0008.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5040-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Horská Title: Competitiveness in the EU: a main theme of two scientific events at the Faculty of Economics and Management of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 395-396 Volume: 52 Issue: 8 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/5041-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5041-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:52:y:2006:i:8:id:5041-AGRICECON