Matúš Kubák

Fiscal Decentralization and Public debt in the European Union

This paper analyses the relationship between fiscal decentralization and the level of the public debt in the twenty seven member countries of the European Union. Our panel data analysis points to the importance of size as fiscal decentralization reduces public debt in large and small countries, but not in medium - size countries. In addition, our results show that the number of government levels and average size of the lowest government unit is insignificant with respect to the public debt in these countries.

Impact of selected socio-demographic factors on the development of mortality due to circulatory system diseases in the Slovak Republic

AIM We mapped the situation within a group of diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) in the Slovak Republic during 1996-2014. We focused mainly on spatiotemporal differences in mortality while controlling for age and sex. METHODS We performed binary logistic regression aiming to reveal socio-demographic factors that influence the odds of dying due to diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99). In our analysis, the dependent variable was death diagnosis and the independent variables were age, region, gender, and marital status. RESULTS Our findings suggest that odds of dying due to diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) increased for every year of age by 5.4%. Within the period from 1996 to 2014, the risk of dying from diseases of the circulatory system decreased by 2% every year. We also documented the fact that being female raised the odds of dying due to diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) by 12.9% compared to males. Furthermore, it could be argued that serious differences in terms of regional distribution of deaths caused by diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) exist in the Slovak Republic. CONCLUSIONS We present the development of diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) in the Slovak Republic. Differences in spatial distribution of deaths are documented as well as related gender differences. Our study can serve as a tool for policy makers and benchmark for professionals.

Time trend, age and sex distribution of deaths from diabetes mellitus at the regional level in the Slovak Republic

AIM To describe the time trends, age and sex distribution of death from diabetes mellitus (E10-E14) as a significant part of endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90), during 1996-2014 in the Slovak regions, and to estimate the influence of social characteristics on mortality. METHODS Secondary data on deaths during 1996-2014 were gathered from the National Health Information Center in the Slovak Republic. The total crude death rate per 100,000 of the standard Slovak population and age-standardized death rate per 100,000 of the standard European population were calculated by direct standardization. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS Deaths from diabetes mellitus account for 91.6% of deaths registered in the endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases Chapter. The age-standardized death rate per 100,000 of inhabitants decreased from 19.2 in 1996 to 15.3 in 2014 in the Slovak Republic, although a massive increase of up to 32.5 was reported in 1999. The highest age-standardized death rates per 100,000 inhabitants were typical for the Košice, Nitra and Trenčín regions. On the other hand, the lowest counts were recorded in the Bratislava region. Mortality from diabetes mellitus starts to be evident in the 45-49 year age-group in both sexes. The median age of death for women is lower in the 75-79 year age-group in comparison to men although the total crude death rate for men in lower age groups is higher. After age 80 the situation is reversed. The odds of dying due to endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases decreases by 0.4% each year. The odds of dying are lower by 17% and 12.3%, respectively, in the Žilina and Prešov regions compared to Bratislava region. Women have a higher probability of dying by 38% in contrast to men, and married couples by 16.7% than singles. Age is proved to be an insignificant factor. CONCLUSIONS In spite of the declining trend of mortality from diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to reduce the risk of its incidence by healthier food consumption and physical activity.

On the Structure of Mortality among the Regions in the Slovak Republic

AIM The Slovak Republic consists of eight regions which may dispose a different structure of cause-specific mortality. The aim of this study is to reveal the regions with higher risk of dying from the main categories of diseases selected according to the chapters of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). METHODS Data were obtained from mortality reports throughout 1996-2014. We applied multinomial logistic regression analysis, where the dependent variable is death categories and the explanatory variables are regions, age, year and gender. The Bratislava region and Diseases of the circulatory system are set as the reference level. RESULTS We propose a spatiotemporal analysis of the relative risk ratio of dying in the Slovak Republic for every significant group of diseases from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems maintained by the World Health Organization. Moreover, we propose gender and age analysis. CONCLUSIONS These results could be useful for setting active prevention programs, as well as a hospital network specialising in high risk diagnoses in Slovakian regions.

Risk of dying from cancer by socio-demographic indicators in the Slovak Republic

AIM Cancer mortality distribution was investigated by detailed neoplasms groups, age, sex, marital status of deceased, and regions in the Slovak Republic, and examined how these determinants influence the odds of dying due to cancer. METHODS A retrospective analysis of cancer mortality statistics registered in the Slovak Republic during the years 1996-2014. For this time period, data was available only on the underlying subgroups of cancer deaths, place of death, age, year, sex, and marital status. Binary logistic regression was applied for odds of dying calculation influenced by these socio-demographic factors. RESULTS The most common are deaths from malignant neoplasms of digestive organs in males as well as females. The biggest difference among both genders is recognized in malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx, where deaths among males are on average 7.9 times higher in comparison to females. As for place of death the Bratislava region reports the highest level of cancer mortality stated at 25.22% of all deaths, on the contrary the Banská Bystrica region reports only 21.40% of all deaths. Age has a negative influence on odds of dying due to neoplasms compared to all other causes of death by 1.7%. In all regions compared to the reference Bratislava region, the odds of dying from neoplasms are lower. Being female diminishes the odds of dying due to neoplasms by 25.7% compared to males. Yearly the relative ratio of dying from neoplasms increases with respect to all other causes of death. When single people are set as the reference category, the relation of the probability of death from cancer to the probability of death due to other causes of death is higher for married, divorced and widowed persons. CONCLUSIONS The results should be taken into account when comparing risk of dying due to cancer among people with the mentioned sociodemographic characteristics. Health policy makers should consider place of death and cancer types while planning hospital care units.

Governmental Research Support Programs and Private Entities in Slovakia

Abstract The paper analyses public subsidies aimed to enhance development and innovation in the Slovakian private sector. The paper reviews theoretical approaches of the necessity of public support to research and development activities in order to increase private investment in research and development. An overview of research and development support tools in Slovakia is presented. The analytical part of the work is oriented on a comparative analysis of two granting agencies in Slovakia [Agency for Research and Development (ARD) and Agency of Operational Program Research and Development (OPRD)]. Special attention is given to direct public financial support. Logit analysis showed a relationship between success of grant applicants and their characteristics. We find that the following have impact on success of the application: Age of the company, amount of the grant required, legal form of the company, and the agency to which the application for grant was submitted. Applicants with legal form Ltd. (limited liability company) have a higher chance of receiving grant than other legal forms. The highest chance of success has a request for a grant of up to 500.000 €. According to the results of our analysis, the chance to obtain a grant decreases with each passing year.

Determinants of the Road Traffic Accident Rate in Slovak Republic

Traffic safety is an important topic because of serious economic burden which is linked to the problem (damage costs, health care costs, administration costs and costs resulting from loss of future output). In this paper, we model damage to property and accidents involving deaths and injuries in the Slovak Republic. Using secondary data, it was found out that accidents involving deaths and injuries, accidents caused by animals and accidents caused by speeding have a strong impact on damage to property. Interesting finding is, that number of registered drivers have a negative impact on damage to property. On the other hand, accidents caused by animals and accidents caused by speeding have a negative impact on accidents involving deaths and injuries. Moreover, expressways seriously diminish number of accidents involving deaths and injuries.