Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jakub HUSÁK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Helena HUDEČKOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Humanities, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Utilisation of the natural potential of rural areas for social inclusion Abstract: The paper presents selected results of the sociological research focused on social inclusive activities that use and are located in the natural environment of rural areas. The paper is based on the contemporary form of the concept of a fully integrated modern society, and deals with the implementation of this concept within the strategy of social inclusion in both the European and Czech context. The authors have created, based on secondary research, a typology of social inclusive activities within Czech rural areas. Primary research, consisting of a questionnaire survey, was used to study the awareness of these issues among the rural population. Based on the selected results of both the primary and secondary research, the authors conclude that a possible path to social inclusion, is, alongside specific social services, social farming, which harmonizes the potential of the rural natural environment with the attitudes of the rural population (the actors and observers of social inclusive activities within their locality).The ongoing research is focused on monitoring barriers to the development of this business sector, which are crucial for the rural actors. Keywords: inclusive activities, local natural potential, rural municipalities, social exclusion Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 149-162 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/13/2016-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/13/2016-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201804-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:13-2016-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Shahrzad ANOUSHEH Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economic, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: Kambiz HOJABR-KIANI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economic, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: Ahmad MOJTAHED Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economic, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economic, I.A.U. Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran Author-Name: Homayoun RANJBAR Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economic, I.A.U. Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran Title: Agricultural R&D, spatial spillover and regional economic growth in different R&D sectors of performance: evidence from a spatial panel in regions of the EU-28 Abstract: Agricultural R&D has been identified as an important determinant of economic output in the agricultural sector. Surprisingly, in previous studies, spatial spillover associated with R&D spending in the agricultural sector has not been taken into account. This paper investigates the effects of spatial spillover of agricultural R&D on regional economic growth across EU-28 NUTS-II regions in the period 1995-2014. In particular, we extend previous studies by considering spillover in all sectors of agricultural R&D performance including business enterprise, government and higher education. The spatial Durbin panel data model is employed to estimate brooders effect including direct and indirect effects. Empirical results show a positive effect of agricultural R&D and its spatial spillover on regional growth in all performance sectors. Moreover, the impact of spatial spillover of agricultural R&D on regional growth depends on the performance of the R&D sectors; positive spillovers are stronger in the business enterprise sector. Finally, the interaction effect between the economic output of the agricultural sector of each region with that of its neighbours is significantly positive. Keywords: agricultural output, panel data, spatial Durbin model Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 163-169 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/224/2016-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/224/2016-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201804-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:224-2016-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Valdemaras MAKUTENAS Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: Astrida MICEIKIENE Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: Tatiana SVETLANSKA Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Natalia TURCEKOVA Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Tadas SAUCIUNAS Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Management, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Kaunas, Lithuania Title: The impact of biofuels production development in the European Union Abstract: The article analyses the effects of the development of biofuel production in the EU (European Union) countries. For this purpose, the authors develop and adapt methodology to determine biofuel production effects considering resource prices, the areas of distribution and employment in the EU. Twenty-seven EU member states are selected for empirical research. Over 98% of production is devoted to first-generation biofuels; therefore, second- and third-generation biofuels are not analysed. The empirical study is carried out by analysing the dynamics of quantitative indicators, and we assess changes in direction by setting the values of qualitative indicators. Quantitative and qualitative indicators are calculated using correlation analysis. The results suggest that the fastest growth of ethanol production in the EU took place in Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. During the analysed period, Germany and France were the largest producers of ethanol and biodiesel. The regression analysis showed a very strong correlation between the number of jobs created and biofuel production. There is also a very strong correlation between the volume of production of biofuels and land used for biofuel feedstock production. The production of biofuel does not significantly affect food and feed crop prices. Keywords: biodiesel, effect of production development, ethanol Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 170-185 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/285/2016-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/285/2016-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201804-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:285-2016-AGRICECON Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Gangyi WANG Author-Workplace-Name: College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China Author-Name: SI Runxiang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China Author-Name: LI CuiXia Author-Name: GuiTong ZHANG Author-Workplace-Name: College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China Author-Name: Nengyue ZHU Author-Workplace-Name: College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China Title: Asymmetric price transmission effect of corn on hog: evidence from China Abstract: In this study, we used monthly corn price and hog price data from January 2000 to June 2015 to conduct an empirical analysis based on a smooth transition regression (STR) model. The analysis confirms and explains the asymmetric transmission mechanism and process of the smooth transformation of corn prices to hog prices and measures the mechanism conversion threshold. Using the smooth transformation mechanism and its threshold as its foundations, this study breaks up continuous smooth transfer price volatility transmission effects into completely linear, not completely linear, and nonlinear mechanism states. Based on these states, the influence of corn price on hog price fluctuation is attributed to cost-push inflation, risk stabilisation effects, and the coexistence of cost-push and risk-stabilisation effects from the perspective of adaptive expectations. Keywords: asymmetric transmission effect, corn prices, hog prices, mechanism decomposition, STR model Journal: Agricultural Economics Pages: 186-196 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/227/2016-AGRICECON File-URL: http://agricecon.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/227/2016-AGRICECON.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/age-201804-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlage:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:227-2016-AGRICECON