Economics and Management 5 (2) 2013

In the paper, the author presents determinants of Danish welfare state. After the operationalization of welfare state, its functions and models, the historical concept of the system creation was introduced. The author also characterises the modern shape of welfare state in Denmark and enumerates the social and economic reasons, which have influenced the realised labour market policy in that country (the particular stress was put on the flexicurity model). The publication was based on both – desk research and primary qualitative research, which were conducted in 2012 in Aarhus, Denmark.

Keywords:
welfare state  models of social policy  labour market policy  flexicurity model 

In this research diagnosis of attitudes to national culture, traditions and value system was made. Examinations were conducted in 2003 (sample of 325 students) and in 2008 (sample of 379 students). It was assumed that there are differences between this two groups in acceptance of attitudes and that attitudes to national culture and tradition dependon the value system. The theoretical ground was based upon Rokeach’s concept. The results of research allow to state that most students stress significance of national heritage. However in the second sample (2008) attitudes become less positive. Additionally attitudes appeared to depend on the value system: positive attitude to culture and traditions of own nation is connected with higher preference of collective values, whereas the acceptance of cultural integration with Western countries is linked with individual values.

Keywords:
attitude to national culture and tradition  value system  individualism-collectivism 

The aim of this paper is to present, how Polish territorial units try to minimize the increasing problem of demographic crisis, by using the tools of territorial marketing. The local governments of depopulating districts undertake a number of promotional actions, by preparing the specific products of place, in order to encourage young people to remain in a particular territorial unit or to settle there permanently. On the basis of the empirical examples derived from the projects of promotion of Polish territorial units, in the paper the variety of the specific products of place has been presented. Keywords: local government, promotion of family, demographic crisis, depopulation of cities, territorial marketing, product of place Author: Sławomir Kamosiński Title: Promotion of family as a product of place. New local products in territorial marketing of Polish territorial units (Show abstract) download The aim of this paper is to present, how Polish territorial units try to minimize the increasing problem of demographic crisis, by using the tools of territorial marketing. The local governments of depopulating districts undertake a number of promotional actions, by preparing the specific products of place, in order to encourage young people to remain in a particular territorial unit or to settle there permanently. On the basis of the empirical examples derived from the projects of promotion of Polish territorial units, in the paper the variety of the specific products of place has been presented.

Keywords:
local government  promotion of family  demographic crisis  depopulation of cities  territorial marketing  product of place 

International intellectual migration as a phenomenon emerged at a late stage of the development of international labour migration. It has a complex structure. It is a process of differentiation on professional grounds, skill level with the release of the holders of intellectual capital flows. Along with the category of international intellectual migration lawful use of the category "brain drain" in which a motion vector of intellectual capital is unidirectional. The paper presents the genesis of international labour and intellectual migration and the differences between international intellectual migration, labour migration and the "brain drain".

Keywords:
knowledge economy  labour migration  intellectual migration  "brain drain" 

The principal aim of the paper was to use exponential smoothing methods for forecasting EUR selling rate. Forecasting models were built on the basis of data from the period from January 2010 to April 2013, obtained from the website of the National Polish Bank. The important objective of the study was to use the simplest exponential smoothing methods. Another important element of the study was the conduct of a comparative analysis of the quality of forecasts. To assess the quality of forecasts, six measures of statistical description were used: mean error, mean absolute error, maximum absolute error, root mean square error, mean absolute percentage error, median absolute percentage error and maximum absolute percentage error.

Keywords:
forecast exchange rates  exponential smoothing methods  the quality of forecasts 

The text raises the question of postmodernism. It aims to show that Ukrainian postmodernism is a specific phenomenon based on the relationship between East and West. It is something distinctive from what has been previously discussed in the literature of postmodernism. It is not as clear and unambiguous, as there is no clear foundation. It is based on complexes, insularity, twists of history, and specific political “games”. Writing this text was a journey of budding creativity in a neighbouring, but yet little discovered country. The more so with so many outstanding characters absorbing attention of their talents and an interesting world view.

Keywords:
postmodernism  modernism  Ukrainian modernism  Ukrainian postmodernism 

Invention protect gives the inventor the right to stop people making, using, importing or selling the invention without permission. This protection must be effective but also easy and accessible. The inventors in Poland can use three patent procedures abroad. That is: the European patent, International protection and in the future Unitary patent. Poland doesn’t participate in Unitary patent system in Europe. This idea it is not supported in Poland now, Polish government and business representatives fear that unitary patent will have a negative effect on Poland’s economy.

Keywords:
intellectual property  innovation  patent protection 

The aim of the study is characterization and commenting on regulations in nanotechnology, formulation of the guiding rules of the legal system in this category. The provisions of the European Union law in relation to nanomaterials are arranged according to: products, chemicals, protection of workers and environmental protection. The legislation directly referred to nanotechnology has been introduced so far for cosmetics, biocides and food. In other areas where nanomaterials are profited the provisions for their equivalent macro are used.

Keywords:
law  nanotechnology 

Nanotechnology is a relatively new field of science and technology, but nevertheless more and more popularized in the modern world, focused on minimization. As a new field, it requires a number of regulations in legal, ethical, social and above all scientific and technical aspects. Therefore, most countries prepare appropriate strategic documents governing the development of research in the field of nanotechnology and indicate directions and methods of funding as well as conducting research. For the purposes of this study, the authors examined the strategic documents indicating the importance of nanoscience and nanotechnology in Poland in the research system, referring to the documents of the European Union. In addition, basing on statistical data of all Polish regions and the number of projects in the nano area, they evaluated the national scientific and research potential in the field of nanotechnology.

Keywords:
nanoscience  nanotechnology  research and development potential 

In the paper the attempt to analyse existing approaches to education on the basis of conceptually clear distinctions was made. Such approaches are presented in two aspects: their natural evolution and their role of the development of human culture. It is assumed that education is the first and only tool. In the paper the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches to education are shown, and new views, contributing to the development of existing and new approaches are formed.

Keywords:
approach to education  culture  development of education 

In the paper the subject of innovation is undertaken in the context of companies providing logistic services. The authors defined the role of innovation in the creation of market competitiveness and present results of research assessing the level of innovation in LSP in Podlasie. The conducted survey shows that the main objectives of innovation in logistics companies are: improvement in the quality of services, adapting services to meet the needs and expectations of customers, reducing operating costs and increasing productivity. As the barriers of innovative projects there have been identified: financial barriers, long time of innovation and the fear of taking risk. Factors that could foster innovation in logistics companies are: access to external sources of financing innovation, gain knowledge on innovative solutions for business processes and have a greater ability to manage innovative projects. The authors believe that the activities associated with the creation of regional economic policy should be aimed at promoting innovation, and therefore it is recommended to use the research results in practice of decision making related to creating economic policy in the region.

Keywords:
innovation  logistics  LSP  Podlasie 

This paper is devoted to the concept of corporate social responsibility. The author presents short history and selected definitions of corporate social responsibility. In the paper the concept of stakeholders was defined and its importance in the implementation of the corporate social responsibility was discussed. This paper shows how beneficial for the company is to take socially responsible actions. The benefits of implementing the concept of corporate social responsibility are divided into external and internal, financial and nonfinancial. The potential benefits and the relationship between socially responsible actions and their consequences are presented with the usage of a matrix created by SustainAbility and International Finance Corporation.

Keywords:
corporate social responsibility  stakeholder concept  benefits of corporate social responsibility 

In the real world there are many different tasks of decision-making. Many normative methods were previously offered as a panacea for solving all problems. Now is the time for detailed classifications of both problems and methods. The article introduces the reader to the concept of verbal decision analysis approach (VAR) provides a brief overview of the existing numerical methods for decision-making and shows the main differences between these methods and VAR.

Keywords:
verbal decision analysis  multi-criteria utility theory  the ordering of alternatives  the distribution of the classes of alternatives solutions 

It is now generally believed, within the current literature, that an academic and practitioner focus on intellectual capital is important and that the measurement of a company’s intangibles provides value of a company. However, it is essential for researchers in the field of intellectual capital to be able to justify these newly formed theoretical assumptions through rigorous empirical testing. The paper reviews the state of research evidence in the field. The main source of empirical data is carried out by the author of the study in construction companies. The study was conducted with the usage of a questionnaire survey. The results show that managers underestimate the importance of intellectual capital in the value creation of the company to the extent to which these meanings are assigned in the literature.

Keywords:
intellectual capital  resources management  value creation 

From the perspective of stakeholders the company's operations cannot be seen solely in terms of creating value for the company, but also in terms of sharing of values between different groups of stakeholders. The purpose of implementing the concept of corporate social responsibility is not only profit but optimizing (not maximizing) value for all stakeholders. This paper aims to analyse the impact of CSR on the value of the organization. This paper presents a theoretical discussion of the organization's values and factors affecting this value in connection with the implementation of socially responsible actions.

Keywords:
corporate social responsibility  value of the organization