Agnieszka Poczta-Wajda

Perspektywy wielostronnej vs regionalnej liberalizacji handlu artykułami rolnymi na tle tendencji na rynkach żywnościowych po kryzysie w 2008 roku

This paper aims to identify the role of the WTO in the multilateral liberalization of trade in agri-food products and its alternative – trade regionali sm. In the first part of the article we have identified the most important trends characterizing contemporary world agricultural markets after 2008. On the basis of the World Bank NRA estimate, we have also presented the evolution of agricultural policy in countries at different stages of development. The financial crisis and the accompanying food crisis have no permanent influence on the protection of agricultural markets. The attempts to liberalize tariffs in the multilateral and regional dimension are being accompanied by an increase in non-tariff protectionism. This suggests the need to intensify activities towards the liberalization of agricultural trade, both in the WTO as well as within the regional economic groups.

Paradygmat rozwoju zrównoważonego – ujęcie krytyczne

The concept of sustainable development is now being used in many areas of the economy. Its implementation, however, has its supporters and constructive opponents. Because most authors have a positive attitude towards sustainable development, the aim of the study is to present critical views regarding this concept. The article is based on The analysis of Polish and English literature. The most important critical opinions formulated against the idea of sustainable development include: contradictory, too general and vague definition of sustainable development; abuse of the concept of sustainable development, which has led to the devaluation of the term; and the lack of effects of the implementation of sustainable development and the ever deepening of the problems it was supposed to solve. In order to break the United Nations deadlock, it is necessary to formulate measurable guidelines and to take concrete actions, which require significant financial resources.

POTENTIAL TRADE EFFECTS OF TARIFF LIBERALIZATION UNDER THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (TTIP) FOR THE EU AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

The aim of this article is to determine the potential trade effects of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) for the EU agri-food sector. The ex post analysis covered the characteristics of agri-food trade between the EU and the US in the years 2004–2014 on the basis of statistical data from the database of the World Bank WITS. The ex ante evaluation was carried out using SMART – a partial equilibrium model. The results of the study indicate that although bilateral agri-food trade relations of the EU–US have relatively little importance, but it is significant at the individual industries level. TTIP agreement, which includes the reduction of tariff barriers to agri-food trade between the EU and the US, will contribute to boosting bilateral agri-food trade to a greater extent for the US. The creation of a free trade produces mostly creation effect, whereby it will be asymmetric – concentrated in a few product groups.

The role of natural conditions in qualified agritourism – case of Poland

Th e article investigates the role of natural conditions in the development of the qualifi ed form of rural tourism, which the authors defi ne as qualifi ed agritourism. Th e research hypothesis assumes that rural space, which is characterized by high natural conditions, complemented in sporting infrastructure, can support the development of qualifi ed agritourism. Th e empirical survey examines the relationship between the sightseeing and natural conditions and the conditions for physical recreation occurring on agritourism farms in Poland. Further, the fi ndings suggest that, in the opinion of the hosts and guests of agritourism farms, undertaking of physical recreational activity and its intensity are infl uenced by the favourable sightseeing and natural conditions, the number of off ered forms of physical recreation and the availability of sports