scholarly journals USING THE TFP INDEX TO MEASURE CHANGES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN THE EU // PRIMENA TFP INDEKSA U MERENJU PROMENA POLJOPRIVREDNE PRODUKTIVNOSTI U EU

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Đokić ◽  
Verica Jovanović ◽  
Ivana Vujanić

In its development paper Europe 2020, the European Commission defined the ambitious goal of raising the level of resource efficiency. As a means of achieving this goal in the agricultural sector, the demand for increased productivity was replaced by the naturally based development of agriculture, which should be based on scientific foundation. The main results of this change should be higher outputs obtained with less investment. The aim of this paper is to determine whether this requirement is met. In this context, and in this paper, an analysis of the trends in agricultural productivity in the countries of the European Union in the period 2005-2015 was carried out by using the model of total factor productivity. The selection of the TFP index for measuring agricultural productivity in the paper proved to be correct since it enabled us to determine which of the several observed input factors had the greatest impact on the observed productivity trends. A general conclusion derived from the obtained results is that the overall productivity of agriculture in the EU has slowed growth in recent years and has started to lag behind leading global competitors. This indicates that, observed by the standards of modern agriculture, the modest growth of productivity in agriculture, is based on unsustainable principles, primarily in the intensive reduction of employees in agriculture, rather than on the application of scientific achievements. In the circumstances of limited natural resources, these achievements are the only possible source of sustainable growth.

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1212
Author(s):  
Alexander Gocht ◽  
Nicola Consmüller ◽  
Ferike Thom ◽  
Harald Grethe

Genome-edited crops are on the verge of being placed on the market and their agricultural and food products will thus be internationally traded soon. National regulations, however, diverge regarding the classification of genome-edited crops. Major countries such as the US and Brazil do not specifically regulate genome-edited crops, while in the European Union, they fall under GMO legislation, according to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). As it is in some cases impossible to analytically distinguish between products from genome-edited plants and those from non-genome-edited plants, EU importers may fear the risk of violating EU legislation. They may choose not to import any agricultural and food products based on crops for which genome-edited varieties are available. Therefore, crop products of which the EU is currently a net importer would become more expensive in the EU, and production would intensify. Furthermore, an intense substitution of products covered and not covered by genome editing would occur in consumption, production, and trade. We analyzed the effects of such a cease of EU imports for cereals and soy in the EU agricultural sector with the comparative static agricultural sector equilibrium model CAPRI. Our results indicate dramatic effects on agricultural and food prices as well as on farm income. The intensification of EU agriculture may result in negative net environmental effects in the EU as well as in an increase in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This suggests that trade effects should be considered when developing domestic regulation for genome-edited crops.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 25-31
Author(s):  
Xénia Szanyi-Gyenes ◽  
György Mudri ◽  
Mária Bakosné Böröcz

The role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is unquestionable in the European economies, while financial opportunities are still inadequate for them. The more than 20 million SMEs play a significant role in European economic growth, innovation and job creation. According to the latest EC Annual Report , SMEs are accounting for 99% of all non-financial enterprises, employing 88.8 million people and generating almost EUR 3.7 tn in added value for our economy. Despite the fact that there is plenty of EU funding available for these SMEs, for certain reasons these funds hardly reach them. But we have to see that the EU supports SMEs by various way, e.g. by grants, regulatory changes, financial instrument, direct funds. On the other hand, SMEs and decision makers realised that the environmental sustainability has to be attached to the economic growth, therefore more and more tools are available for these enterprises. Over the last few years, public institutions, the market, the financial community and non-governmental associations have explicitly demanded that firms improve their environmental performance. One of the greatest opportunities might lay in the Climate- and Energy Strategy till 2030 as 20% of the EU budget is allocated to climate-related actions, however the easy access to finance is still a key question. Does the EU recognise the actual difficulties? Is there a systemic reason behind the absorption problems? Is the EU creating a more businessfriendly environment for SMEs, facilitating access to finance, stimulates the green and sustainable growth and improving access to new markets? The paper analyses the current European situation of the SMEs and the effectiveness of some new tools, which are specially targeting SMEs. JEL classification: Q18


Equilibrium ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Stanickova

Research background: Economic crisis hit all the European Union Member States hard, with the impact of crisis varying considerably. The low growth performance in the EU has increased concerns regarding an increasing wage dispersion, income inequality at large, and social exclusion in line with poverty. Inequality should be seen as a cornerstone of both sustainable and inclusive growth under the Europe 2020 Strategy. Social inequality in the EU is a real problem, which hampers sustainable economic growth. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this study is to introduce evaluation of social development convergence and divergence trends between the EU Member States in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The study gives an outline of the issues of the labour market and income disparities and poverty. Policymakers must be clear about what social objectives they are aiming to achieve, therefore special attention is paid to headline national goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Methods: The main task of this study is to assess social dimension and inequalities problems in the EU27 by applying Data Envelopment Analysis method, resp. time-series dynamic efficiency analysis in the form of output-oriented Malmquist Productivity Index. This study contains changes of key social equality indicators related to the Europe 2020 Strategy and compares objectives and general outlines of period 2010-2015, as well as the impact on national economics and living conditions. Findings & value added: Results contain elements of typology premises of the EU28 and point to a large diversity in inequality patterns, as the Author observes both increases and decreases in inequality at the EU level. Recent changes in social inequality have been associated with the business cycle, particularly with the accessibility of the labour market and, of course, with income inequality. Additionally, the development challenges are discussed for improvement of the socioeconomic well-being of the EU and to avoid social disparities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 662-673
Author(s):  
Vladimir Gonda

In the current conditions of globalization, the importance of innovation is growing. Innovation is a key to sustainable growth, a tool to increase the competitiveness of companies, regions, states and integration groups, a means to address societal challenges. The European Union pays great attention to innovation efforts - f.e. through the group-wide strategies of competitiveness such as the Lisbon strategy and the Europe 2020 strategy. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the fulfillment of the Europe 2020 national goals for Slovakia in the field of smart growth, to analyze selected issues of innovative development in Slovakia and to propose possible measures for its improvement. As the subject matter is extremely complex and multitangular, the paper discusses only selected issues and questions.


2020 ◽  
pp. 14-14
Author(s):  
Alexandre Almeida ◽  
Óscar Afonso ◽  
Mario Silva

The inability of the European Union (EU) to grow has raised questions regarding the effectiveness of competitiveness and growth policies. To increase efficacy, the EU has determined that regions must undergo an exercise in smart specialization and devise a strategy for the same. However, particularly in follower regions facing severe locked-in problems and structural bottlenecks, the application of smart specialization may require adjustments and a more dynamic vision, especially with regard to the follower regions. Furthermore, many operational issues arise in the programming and policy-devising stages. This article aims to contribute to this debate by proposing a framework to guide the selection of priorities and by applying the proposed framework to the Portuguese North region.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 295-311
Author(s):  
Matilde Lafuente-Lechuga ◽  
Úrsula Faura-Martínez ◽  
Olga García-Luque

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show evidence of the divergence of welfare outcomes in the European Union (EU) during the economic crisis, which made the European social model fail, and the convergence among European countries halt. This study reviews Sapir’s model for classifying European welfare state systems and adapts it to the new reality, taking into account Europe 2020 targets on poverty reduction and employment growth. Design/methodology/approach Two variables are used in the application of Sapir’s graphical analysis to European social models: the employment rate as efficiency indicator, and the people At Risk Of Poverty and/or Exclusion rate as equity indicator. Both efficiency and equity are present in Europe 2020 targets. In addition, a cluster analysis is applied. Findings The division of EU member states into four geopolitical social models has proved to be dynamic, changing in the period under analysis. As a consequence of the economic crisis and the fiscal consolidation, efficiency and equity levels across the EU are polarised between the Mediterranean and the Nordic models. Originality/value This paper shows the effects of the economic crisis in the EU, analysing the evolution between 2008 and 2014, and incorporating Eastern Europe new member states into the analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Borut Rončević

Abstract The European Union is steering its development by a series of successive strategic documents, its grand strategies. While having important role, these strategies do not have a perfect implementation score and a score of initiatives and research is dedicated to better understand these processes. The article presents one such initiative, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence Technologies and Innovations in Regional Development for Europe 2020, a focal point of competence on the topic. Utilising novel Social Fields approach to innovation, the centre combines original empirical research, public debates and formal and informal learning to collect and disseminate knowledge on the topic.


2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 583-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Bašek ◽  
J. Kraus

The objective of the paper is to assess how the Czech agricultural sector has withstood keen competition in the EU single market as measured by the basic indicators of foreign trade exchange. The impacts expressed by the indicators of active and/or adverse balance of trade were monitored for the post-accession period (the average of the years 2005–2007) in comparison with the pre-accession period (the average of the years 2001–2003). The assessment of the impacts of the accession to the EU is based on an analysis of the commodity and territorial structure of Czech agricultural foreign trade. The comparison of agricultural balance before and after the accession to the EU for our major trading partners shows that the active balance of the CR with Slovakia increased to 12.0 billion CZK per year; on the contrary, in relation to Poland, the trade deficit of 6.4 billion CZK per year was recorded while Germany strengthened its position in relation to the CR by an increase in the negative balance to 5.4 billion CZK and in relation to Austria, our adverse balance is maintained at the level of 1.1 to 1.2 billion CZK per year for a long time. After the accession to the EU, it was confirmed that the former EU 15 countries took a greater advantage of the customs union enlargement in the framework of the EU 27.


Author(s):  
Krzysztof Rutkiewicz ◽  
Angelika Pruchnicka

The aim of the study is to discuss the legal and economic aspects of granting of state aid in the sectors of agriculture, forestry and in rural areas in the light of the EU competition policy in the years 2004-2015. The methods of deduction, descriptive, critical-cognitive and comparative analysis of statistical data (derived from Eurostat database) on the value and structure of state aid for sectoral targets in the EU-28, were used. State aid in the EU is the instrument aimed at achieving the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy, which strengthens the competitiveness and profitability of all agricultural branches, promotes the sustainable forest management and territorial development of rural areas, stimulating the actions in the field of climate and energy efficiency. The greatest beneficiaries of state aid in the agricultural sector in the years 2004- 2015 were: France (16%), Germany (12%), Finland (10%), Italy (9%), Spain (8%), Poland (7%), Great Britain (6%) and Netherlands (5%). In the structure of state aid in the EU-28 Member States, tax exemptions were the predominant use (14%), followed by investments in agricultural holdings (13.6%), support to the livestock sector (8%), animal disease control (6%), agricultural and livestock insurance contributions (5.4%), technical support (5%), forestry support (4.8%), aid for research & development & innovation (4.7%), adverse weather events (4%), public expenditures for environmental protection and compensations for natural disasters and other exceptional occurrences (3.5% each).


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Hanclova ◽  
Petr Doucek ◽  
Jakub Fischer ◽  
Kristyna Vltavska

The paper examines economic growth in old and new member countries of the European Union (EU-15 and EU-12) during the years of 1994–2000 and 2001–2008 mainly due to changes in information and communication technology (ICT) capital development. The first group EU-15 is presented by old EU countries and the second group EU-12 is presented by new member countries that joined the EU in 2004–2007. The threefactor Cobb-Douglas production function is estimated through the panel general least squares method. The input factors that might influence the economic growth are labour, ICT capital services and non-ICT capital services. Since ICT capital growth data are not available for all selected economies, the groups of countries were reduced to EU-14 and EU-7. The estimated panel production functions confirmed that the average growth of GDP in the EU-7 countries was supported by the stable growth of labour quantity and ICT-capital and increasing total factor productivity. A short-term drop in non-ICT capital growth with follow-up stagnation was caused rather by lower labour productivity. The research discovered that the drop in GDP growth in the EU-14 countries was a result of the slower growth of non-ICT capital and total factor productivity and the stagnated growth of ICT capital with low elasticity, and showed that even the compensation of growth in labour quality did not prevent a decrease in total factor productivity and economic growth.


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