Ivan Malý

The role of civil society organisations in different nonprofit regimes: Evidence from Austria and the Czech Republic

Civil society organisations (CSOs) contribute essentially to welfare states and society. In Europe they play a key role in the provision of social services, but also fulfil a large variety of other functions, such as giving voice to unaddressed issues, offering alternative ways of occupational socialisation or facilitating social inclusion (cf. Kramer, 1981; Rose-Ackerman & James, 1986; Kendall, 2003). Current research suggests that the third sectors’ societal roles considerably vary between countries, depending on the welfare state they are embedded in: Starting with a revision of Esping-Andersens welfare regime typology (1990) and also based on the earlier work of Moore (1966), Salamon and his colleagues developed a typology of four different ‘non-profit regimes’ (Salamon & Anheier, 1998; Salamon, Hems, & Chinnock, 2000a). As key dimensions for this classification, they applied the extent of governmental welfare spending and the size of the third sector (cf. Johnson, 1999). According to this typology of nonprofit regimes, in countries with a large third-sector CSOs mainly fulfil the service function. Countries with a relatively small third sector, so the implicit conclusion, would tend to engage in ‘the expression of political, social, or even recreational interests’ (Salamon & Anheier, 1998, p. 229).

Decision Support of Waste Management Expenditures Efficiency Assessment

This paper is devoted to the development of methodology and information and communication technology tools for decision support in the public sector. It analyses appropriate metrics for a municipal solid waste management expenditure (MSWE) efficiency assessment using cost-effectiveness Analysis (CEA). In addition to many other methodological issues, finding a proper output (performance, outcome) measurement is important. From the point of view of municipalities, such a measurement ought to be as clear and simple to use as possible. We analyse three possible criteria – total generated municipal solid waste, population, and municipality area – for evaluating MSWE efficiency in order to examine their appropriateness for municipal administration. The analysis covers three years, from 2009 to 2011, and municipalities from the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. We focus on a sample of 21 municipalities with specific administrative status. Expenditures were estimated using open public data from the Czech Ministry of Finance municipal accounts database. Correlation analysis showed a very strong relationship between the three chosen criteria. Public administration can certainly use all of the criteria for an efficiency assessment of MSWE to aid in decision making. However, the most suitable criterion to be population, since efficiency analysis results showed a strong correlation between population and both CEA for waste amount and CEA for municipality area. Moreover, population has a stronger relationship with MSWE than either of the other two criteria.

Yield and quality of bush processing tomatoes fertilized with dried organic and organomineral fertilizers

BOČEK, S., MALÝ, I., PATOČKOVÁ, Š.: Yield and quality of bush processing tomatoes fertilized with dried organic and organomineral fertilizers. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2008, LVI, No. 2, pp. 31–38 The eff ect of dried organic and organomineral fertilizers on the yield and quality of the bush processing tomatoes variety ‘Proton’ were explored in 2005–2006. Field experimental plots were established in Žabčice in the Czech Republic. The following variants of fertilizers were included: Agormin T, Agro, Dvorecký agroferm, farmyard manure, mineral fertilizers and unfertilized control. All plots, except the control, were fertilized with mineral fertilizers on the same nutrients level. Total yield, marketable yield, number of fruits and mean fruit weight were assessed. Total solids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and nitrates (mg.kg−1 of fresh fruit weight) were analysed in fruits. Fertilizers did not signifi cantly infl uence total yield and marketable yield. The highest yields were found at Agormin T (7.42 kg . m−2 and 6.73 kg . m−2, respectively), the highest mean fruit weight was found at mineral fertilizers (82.9 g) and Agormin T (82.4 g). Fertilizing with Agro resulted in the highest number of fruits (81.0 pieces . m−2). Dvorecký agroferm signifi cantly increased ascorbic acid content in fruits compared to the control. The highest nitrates content was recorded for the control, the lowest for mineral fertilizers. There was not found signifi cant eff ect of fertilizers on total solids and carotenoids. All tested dried organic or organomineral fertilizers were shown to be effi cient alternatives to traditional farmyard manure. Only Agro signifi cantly decreased ascorbic acid content in comparison to farmyard manure. organic fertilizers, tomatoe, yield, fruit weight, total solids, ascorbic acid, nitrates, carotenoids Tomatoes are one of the most frequently cultivated vegetables in the world. There are lots of studies dealing with optimal fertilization and using organic fertilizers in tomatoes crop (Quattrucci, 2000, Patil et al., 2004) to ensure high productivity and high quality of the product. Using conventional farmyard manure meets some hygienic and labour problems. Manure transportation over long distance is uneconomical, because of high bulkiness due to high water content (Bélec et al., 2003). Restructuring of agriculture concerns in the Czech Republic leaded to lack of manure in some areas with plant production specialization and, on the other hand, its surplus in other ones. Fermentation and modifi cation of the raw manure into dried granular fertilizer is one of the possibilities how to solve this problem (Zahradník and Petříková, 2006). Presented paper put the results of the study of the eff ect of some dried organic and organomineral fertilizers on the yield and qualitative fruit parameters of bush processing tomatoes. The aim is to explore possibility of utilization of these fertilizers as the alternative to conventional farmyard manure. MATERIAL AND METHODS The fi eld experimental plots were established in the training agriculture enterprise of Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno (MUAF) in Žabčice (South Moravia, Czech Republic) in 2005–2006. The locality is characterized by average year temperature 9 °C and average year precipitation 490 mm, soil type is Arenic Cambisol. Nutrients level in the soil before plot foundation is presented in Tab. I. Nutrients P, K, Ca, Mg were extracted according to Mehlich III method and subsequently analysed by colorimetry (P) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (K, Ca, Mg). 32 S. Boček, I. Malý, Š. Patočková I: Soil analyses before fertilizing (mg.kg−1) Year pH/CaCl2 Nmin (mg.kg −1) P (mg.kg−1) K (mg.kg−1) Ca (mg.kg−1) Mg (mg.kg−1) 2005 6.73 19.54 218.3 326.7 2345.8 235.2 2006 6.85 22.33 316.7 251.7 2560.0 228.4 We used the bush processing tomato variety ‘Proton’ (SEMO Ltd., CZ). It is a medium early maturing variety with very fi rm, ovalround to round fruits of medium weight (80–90 g). It is suitable for hand picking and direct consumption as well, it is shortterm storable. Maximum yield effi ciency is 80 t . h−1. We used the following fertilization treatments: Agormin T (an organomineral granulated fertilizer made from peat, with added basic nutrients), Agro (an organic granulated fertilizer made from poultry bedding and molasses), Dvorecký agroferm (an organic granulated fertilizer made from fermented and dried cow-dung, granulated), cattle farmyard manure, solo mineral fertilizers and unfertilized control. Cattle farmyard manure came from the training agriculture enterprise of MUAF Brno in Žabčice. We applied 35 t . h−1 of manure in the middle of October in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Dried organic fertilizers were applied two weeks before planting (4th of May 2005 and 6th of May 2006, respectively). Che mistry and doses of organic fertilizers are presented in Tab. II. We used calcium ammonium nitrate (27% N) and potassium sulphate (50% K2O) for mineral fertilization. Phosphorus fertilizers were not applied, because of very high level of P in the soil. All plots, except the control treatment, were fertilized by mineral fertilizers with regard of nutrients content of the applied organic fertilizers, soil level and supposed target yield (60 t . h−1). Thus all variants of fertilizers had the same nutrients level of nitrogen and potassium: 129 kg.ha−1 N and 129.3 kg.ha−1 K (Malý et al., 1998). II: Chemistry (% in dry matter) and applied doses (t.ha−1) of used fertilizers Fertilizer (producer) N (%) P (%) K (%) Dose (t.ha−1) Agormin T (AGRO CS Inc., CZ) 1.14 0.21 3.55 2.5 Agro (MeM. B.V., NL) 3.87 0.97 5.72 1.0 Dvorecký agroferm (AGRO Dvorce Ltd., CZ) 1.70 0.47 2.99 1.0 Farmyard manure (MUAF Brno, Žabčice, CZ) 2.00 0.46 2.13 35 Tomatoes were sown in greenhouse on the 4th of March 2005 and the 6th of March 2006, respectively. A er 18 days they were pricked out into multiplots (sizes 0.6 x 0.4 m with 96 cellpots per plot). Seedlings were planted out in space 0.6 x 0.5 m on the 23rd of May 2005 and on the 22nd May in 2006, respectively. The experimental plot design was a randomized block with 3 replications and plots of 16 m2. Herbicide Sencor 70 WG was applied 14 day a er planting. Later the soil surface was kept free of weeds by manual hoeing. Watering was applied by overhead sprinklers. Fungicide Acrobat MZ was applied preventively against late blight (Phytophtora infestans) on 10th of July 2005 and on 1st July 2006, respectively. Later the fungicide Kuprikol 50 was used, fi rstly on 27th July 2005. In 2006 there was signalised high infection pressure of the fungus Phytophtora infestans, therefore, we applied the Kuprikol 50 twice preventively (22nd July, 3rd September). Later it was applied repeatedly a er every other harvest. Altogether 7 harvests were done weekly in 2005, the fi rst one on the 10th of August, the last one on 20th the September. In 2006 due to severe Phytophtora infestans infection period in August we gained only 5 harvests, the fi rst one on the 17th of August, the last one on the 13th of September. Overall yield (kg.m−2), marketable yield (kg.m−2), number of fruits (pieces.m−2) and mean fruit weight (g) were assessed in every harvest. Market fruit quality was classifi ed according to Commission regulation (EC) No. 790/2000 (common marketing standard for tomatoes). Unmarketable yield was represented mainly by cracked fruits or fruits with late blight (infected by Phytophtora infestans). Total yields were expressed as the sum of all harvests. Fruits were sampled by plot replications during the third harvest and submitted to analysis for nutritional values. We used a mixture of 6 randomly chosen fruits per one replicate for analyses of total solids and carotenoids. Total solids (%) were determined by weight measurement a er drying to a constant weight at 105 °C. Carotenoids (mg.kg−1 of fresh mass) were extracted with acetone and analysed by colorimetry according to Holm (1954). We used 6 randomly chosen fruits from each treatment plot for analyses of ascorbic acid and nitrates. Ascorbic acid and nitrates (mg.kg−1 of fresh mass) were measured with Refl ectoquant® test strips in RQfl ex 2 refl ectometer (Merck KGaA, Germany). Ascorbic acid reduces yellow molybdophosporic acid to phosphormolybdenum blue that is determined refl ectometrically. By a reducing agent nitrate ions are reduced to nitrite ions, which react with an Yield and quality of bush processing tomatoes fertilized with dried organic and organomineral fertilizers 33 aromatic amine to form a diazonium salt, which in turns react with N-(1-naphtyl) ethylene-diamine to form a red-violet azo dye that is determined refl ectometrically. Measurement error of the apparatus is ±1.0 mg . kg−1. Data were statistically processed by analysis of varian ce and multiple range Tuckey HSD test (P ≤ 0.05) using so ware Unistat 5.1. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fertilizers did not signifi cantly infl uence total yield, marketable yield, number of fruits and fruit weight (Tab III). Total yield, marketable yield and number of fruits were signifi cantly higher in 2005 compared to 2006. Lower yields in 2006 were caused mainly by unfavourable weather conditions: long lasting rain period in August resulted in high crop damage by late blight and shorter harvesting period. III: Analysis of variance for yield in 2005–2006 Source of variability d.f. Total yield (kg.m−2) Marketable yield (kg.m−2) Number of fruits (pieces.m−2) Fruit weight (g) Fertilizer 5 0.57 0.72 99.9 16.812 Year 1 21.46** 21.79** 3130.2** 5.361 Fertilizer x Year 5 1.63 1.12 320.1 36.926 Residual 24 1.84 1.82 234.7 37.991

Možnosti zvyšování efektivnosti veřejného sektoru v podmínkách krize veřejných financí II.

Monografie je založena na kvalitnich výstupech doktorandskeho studia na ESF MU a zprostředkuje odbornikům, ale i sirsi veřejnosti studie, ktere jasně naznacuji možnosti a limity v oblasti růstu efektivnosti VS. Texty sa věnuji třem klicovým oblastem fungovani veřejneho sektoru – zdravotnictvi, aktivni politice zaměstnanosti a nastrojům růstu kvality a efektivnosti na urovni mistnich samosprav.

Health policy in the Czech Republic: General character and selected interesting aspects

Abstract Transformation of the health care system was a task faced by all formerly socialist Central and Eastern European countries. The years of changes revealed a large number of problems, including those induced by the limited capacity of governments to formulate and implement health care reforms. The goal of this article is to reflect the Czech situation. We start by summarizing the historical development of the Czech health care system in the context of government capacity for implementing health policy. In the core parts of this article, we highlight the main features of Czech health policy making and implementation and present an in-depth analysis of two selected country-specific issues - a low level of patient co-payments and a pluralistic insurance-based financing of health services.

Municipal Expenditures Efficiency with Emphasis on the Competitiveness and Type of Company: Case Study on Waste Management Expenditures in the South Moravian Region

This paper, based on the analysis of current municipal expenditures on waste management, compares expenditure per capita and examines the impacts of competitive environment and type of waste management company (character of ownership) on the expenditure efficiency. Expenditures are compared by the number of competing companies in neighbouring municipalities by the districts and municipality size groups. First part of the paper briefly describes current situation around environmental protection municipal expenditure in Czech Republic and explains reason why the area of current municipal waste management expenditure has been chosen for the efficiency evaluation. Second part is dedicated to the idea of the efficiency evaluation methodology which is based on Cost-efficiency Analysis (CEA) and assessing the impact of a competitiveness and type of company to the efficiency. Evaluation and comparison is performed on the all 673 South Moravian municipalities for each of the years in the five-year period ended 2011.

Aktuální problémy tvorby a implementace zdravotní politiky z pohledu regionů

Tento přispěvek představuje dilci průběžný výstup z řeseni viceleteho výzkumneho projektu Dopady vybraných veřejných politik na regionalni rozvoj ve Slovenske republice a v Ceske republice zpracovavaný na Ekonomicko-spravni fakultě Masarykovy univerzity a Vysoke skoly ekonomie a managementu v Bratislavě. Cast výzkumu, zaměřena na zdravotni politiku a analýzu jejiho vlivu na regionalni rozvoj, bude provaděna formou komparace mezi Slovenskou a Ceskou republiku. Pro nasledujici, navazujici, fazi výzkumu byly stanoveny tyto cile: (1) identifikovat rozsah aktivit krajů, pokud jde o koncepcni cinnost v oblasti zdravotni politiky, a soucasně porovnat tyto odlisnosti se statistickými udaji o urovni zdravotniho stavu v krajich a (2) na přikladu poplatků za zdravotni peci demonstrovat problem autonomnich pravomoci krajů, jejich vztahu k vladě a regionalnich diferenciaci.