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The article brings the empiric reflection and results-based analysis of the "Programme of Rural Revival" realization in the territory of the Central Bohemia Region (NUTS II/III) in the time of regional self-governing organization in the Czech Republic. The primary interest of the authors was focused on the participation of microregions in the Programme activities, resp. on the item and object spectrum. The scope of the grant title 7 of the " Programme of Rural Revival" is assigned specifically for microregions. The successful request-analysis indicates varying spheres of activity and themes that microregions prefer in their demands for the Programme subsidy. It is, among others, observed through the interest for preparation of projects in the LEADER+ programme intention because the grant title 7 is also available for the LEADER+ preparation purposes. The preferences of microregions reflected in the requests indicate a further trend of territory-development supported activities. Unsuccessful requests analysis points towards broad relations of the Programme realization at the institutional-legislative level. Further evaluation concerned the fundamental Programme aims and their fulfilment presents the failure of agricultural undertaking in the grant requests. As the paper concludes, the authors suggest partial recommendations, in their opinion, for improving the "Programme of Rural Revival" application in the Central Bohemia Region.

Although empirical findings show the deterioration of living standards in post- communist countries in the 1990s, there are significant differences in the public opinion about the "welfare state" project in countries where more rigorous liberal reforms were implemented and countries with much slower progression towards the liberal model of capitalism. The Czech Republic with its economic development is still on the symbolic crossways to make a decision about how to approach the welfare state. There is a very actively discussed model of an "active approach" (non-state subjects) to social policy with a residual role of the state. The model should have a chance to a more effective implementation in (small) rural communities where social problems can be better identified and resolved. The questions to be asked are that of the potential of social policy actors to participate in the process and the attitudes and approaches to social policy models in rural communities. It should be asked how the opinion of actors can be evaluated in the process of making a new system of social policy which still remains a "reform from above". The paper follows a preceding qualitative study of the author with a quantitative survey of public opinion on the participation and responsibility in social policy actors' action and acceptance of the welfare state model based on the liberal model of capitalism. The first part provides a review of international studies on rural poverty in post- socialist states. The main part of paper presents results of a quantitative investigation in one Czech rural community where significant social problems of the welfare state project (unemployment, illness, education, age, living conditions) have been studied.

The objective of the study was to assess public goods coming from agriculture. Decisions about subjects of the assessment was the first step which was followed by the choice of suitable methods in view of data availability. The choice came out mainly from the most significant agricultural subsidies in the framework of public finance extent and were introduced as multifunctional agriculture maintenance (landscape maintenance, grassing, vulnerable farming in protected landscape areas and national parks etc.). Landscape maintenance was considered as the most relevant and it was quantified by direct valuation method (contingent valuation method). The other public goods were assessed by indirect valuation methods (opportunity costs, replacement costs, prevention costs).

Decreasing numbers of tourists to the Czech Republic point at a weakening competitive position of Czech destinations during the most recent years. For many communities, tourism may be a short-lived economic dream when understanding of tourists´ perceptions and travel motives is lacking. The two objectives pursued in this study are 1) an identification of the positions of competing destinations and 2) an a-posteriori segmentation with psychographic variables. Market segmentation becomes the crucial factor in the strategic design process of target marketing. Like many other markets, tourism markets do not respond homogeneously to marketing activities. Subdividing visitors into useful groups may provide a basis for competitive advantage. Our study establishes taxonomy of visitors to Southern Moravia. The study tries to overcome well-known insufficiencies of single segmentation approaches by exploiting the advantage of the multivariate nature of combined push factors, pull factors, and other factors of more restrictive nature (i.e. time and money). The segmentation task employs multivariate data analysis techniques such as factor analysis, cluster analysis and multi-dimensional scaling. Recent research on the European Vacation Style Typology is incorporated.

The contribution firstly mentions a determination of possible approaches to the problems of regional development. The contribution content is the characteristics and comparison of the regional policy level in the European Union and the CzechRepublic. In the European Union, this policy has developed for a long time and it has been modified to the form which it has at the beginning of the 21st century. In this, it is a continuous process. On the contrary, in the Czech Republic during directive management, regional policy was not formulated and most of decisive processes were centralised. Since the beginning of 90ies, significant changes have taken place and in 2000 it was possible to say that the necessary presumptions for the use of efficient regional policy principles had been created.

The article summarises the main results of the analysis of the perception of selected meat products in theCzechRepublic (i.e. the following types of salami: Gothai, Famer´s, Tourist, Poličan, chicken ham salami, Hunter´s, pork ham salami and turkey roll). Two factors have been defined on the basis of a composition approach, which influence the evaluation of meat products by Czech consumers during their purchase. The first factor was the perceived quality of the product and the second one was the healthiness factor. It has been found out that the perceived quality of the product has a decisive influence on forming of the preferences of Czech consumers in all analysed meat products. This finding has resulted from both direct and indirect acquisition of preference data. The healthiness factor is also important even though it has a relatively higher importance mainly in the meat products made from poultry and lean parts of other slaughter animals. Further, the analysis has confirmed the hypotheses of the influence of the consumers´ perception on forming their preferences.

Phenomenalistic data of the development of prime costs in agriculture-oriented companies inSlovakia indicate that they have considerably increased in the main production, intracompany services and the company as a whole. Therefore, the management of a company has to apply an economic approach to cost management. Recommendations to build up a control structure of the cost system in the agricultural primary production are presented and its rational connection with actual costing, which uses algorithms of unconventional calculation methods, is analysed. In the cost system control structure, costs are recommended to be divided in two levels, namely by groups of activities and classification by elements of cost and by the relationship to outputs covering agricultural products. Using a general model, the objectives analysed are implemented in the livestock production aimed at dairy cow breeding.

Agricultural co-operatives play an important role in the European Union, as can be proved by their numbers in the individual EU countries. However, they have diversified during the last decades and developed from the "classical" co-operative of the Rochdale type into several forms, which do not always fully observe all the recognised co-operative principles. These are namely the share co-operatives, daughter co-operatives, "New Generation Co-operatives" and limited liability co-operatives. Among the individual EU countries, there are also considerable differences with regard to the co-operative legal frame. For the future, co-operatives can play important role both in the economic field and in the social field.

Utilisation of regional policy helps to reduce disparities among regions. The approaches to solving these problems in the European Union differ from the approaches practised in Central and Eastern European countries. The development of rural areas in the European Union is realised through the principles of regional policy and its instruments, i.e. Structural Funds, in co-operation with the Common Agricultural Policy. The applied assistance from the Structural Funds is aimed at the objectively defined areas. The situation of countries with many socio-economic problems is reflected in the weak demographic structures of these regions. Solutions of the problematic situation can be found in implementation of the approach supporting the development of multi-functional agriculture and a broader social and territorial context of economic development in all adopted tools of rural development. The way of supporting diversification of the competitive rural economic structure based on encouraging new activities leads also through integrated programmes. Regional policy realisation in the CEECs depends on the institutional framework created in the dependence of the habits applied by the past political regime of the relevant country. The basic issue for the sustainable development of rural areas can be seen in diversification of agricultural activities, creation of small firms and development of tourism together with sustaining the countryside specifics.

The paper considers contracting problems of the transitional period agriculture. The slow and inexperienced legal system makes third party contract enforcement non-viable. Market enforcement of contract is imperfect due to incompleteness of contracts and underdevelopment of informal features (institutions) of the society, such as codes of behaviour, low importance of goodwill, low adherence to ethical norms, inexperience with conflicts solving in market economy. The survey data related to contracting in transitional agriculture are presented.

The focus of this article is on the emerging private farming in Slovakia, mainly on newly re-established class of private farms. The aim is to analyse the wants and the needs and the current situation of farming entities represented through the sample of 412 farmers spread in two production areas in South and Northwest Slovakia. In the questionnaires, farmers were asked not only about the objectives but as well about their subjective feelings of their current situation in terms of economy, their life standard and their planes to the future.

The paper addresses the behaviour of Czech farmers in the frames (structures) created by the agricultural policy in Czechia during the period of the Czech agriculture revitalization. The theoretical background of the paper is formed by the duality of actor and structures. The text considers the ideas embedded in the rules of agricultural policy in investigated period as they are confronted with actual behaviour of the Czech farmers. The main assumption is that the circumstances of agricultural policy should primarily increase the competitiveness of the Czech agriculture. Because this issue is a new one, the qualitative approach to deal with these problems was exploited. In-depth (less standardized) interviews with representatives of six farms were conducted. These farms are typical by various strategies of action. The results focus on information about the level of systematic knowledge of agricultural policy, about the specific reactions to particular areas of this policy (incl. farmers evaluation of particular measures related to Czech integration into EU) and about experiences related to the SAPARD program implementation.

The contemporary Czech countryside underwent an important change during the last ten years. The political, economic and social system of agriculture and rural areas went through a basic transition. We can say that the transformation of agriculture after 1989 is one of the principal milestones of rural development, as for example the agrarian crisis in the end of the 19th century, the land reform in 1919 and the collectivisation in 1949. The processes of restitution and privatisation changed the ownership structure of land and property. The share of rural population employed in agriculture decreased. Unemployment grew, offer of work opportunities and possibilities decreased in turn. Social, civic and religious life regenerated. There are many new organizations and institutions, open borders cause positive as well as negative events. The Czech countryside comes near to European rural areas in many aspects. However, there is a considerable differentiation of approach to one's own future. Some social groups of rural population were strongly affected by the transformation, especially people with low qualification, poor health, socially handicapped, less adaptable, and incapable of retraining. On the other hand, for other social groups opened so interesting options of employment or enterprise which were not even thinkable of before 1989. The standard of living, life style and attitudes of rural inhabitants differentiate. Results of a nation-wide research, "Trends of Social Change in Agriculture and Rural Areas", predicate main changes in the economic and social spheres. Detailed knowledge of economic and social processes of the Czech countryside is necessary for co-operation within the framework of the European Union.

The society has deepened its reflection on the future of the Czech countryside - not only in connection with the multi-functional agriculture but mainly with regard to the actor of service. It seems that this reflection went relatively far especially in the tourism industry where an understanding of a need for complex legislation defining the tourism industry as a long-term interest of the whole society (especially in connection with regional development) was reached. Since in the Czech countryside, national heritage monuments constitute both the key attraction and the axis of the inhabitant structure, tertiarization of the countryside cannot take place without strengthening of the revival strategies with regard to the national heritage monuments. However, among the heritage protectors themselves, no reflection in this sense has yet taken place.

Price fluctuations make agriculture a risky business. High price fluctuation of agricultural commodities may have through its income effect a very unfavourable impact on the economic situation of agricultural subjects. In finding corresponding instruments of agricultural policy to stabilize prices and incomes, it is necessary to distinguish between various types of price changes. However, important question for conception of adequate price policy is how to protect against high price fluctuations and not to restrain function of price as a signal about market situation. Application of partial equilibrium analysis to evaluate impact of price stabilization policies is an adequate method, especially if price changes in the market do not cause significant price fluctuation in other markets. Using this methodological approach is possible to prove that price stabilization brings for common net benefit consumers and producers. However in practical application some additional aspects must be taken into account if dealing with stabilization of agricultural products prices.

The paper is a part of solution of the research plan of the FBE MUAF in Brno, No. GAMSM 431100007, and it is focused on analysis of factors influencing intensity of competition fight among the existing firms in the Czech dairy industry - describing their actual situation and their possible development in the future relating to the expected integration of the Czech Republic into the European Union. All analysed factors are important and significantly intensify competition fight among the existing firms in the industry. The level of concentration is low - 16% of businesses in the industry control 60% of market, but almost 30% of businesses in the industry have only 3% share in the market, growth of the industry is slow - about 5% annually, and barriers of exit from the industry are significant. Situation of the next four factors (level of fixed and storage costs, product differentiation and switching costs, size of capacity augmentation, diversity of competitors) is similar.

On the basis of structure and qualitative parameters of agricultural soils, there are only 23.4% non profitable soils for the winter wheat growing in the total area of the Gemer Region. The same percentage for the corn maize growing is 78.7%, for the sugar beet growing 80.0% and for winter rape growing 46.0% of the total agricultural soils area in the mentioned region. Generally, for the crop production, it can be stated, that without production subsidies, at the present economic situation there are 65.9% soils non-profitable, 23.0% low profitable, 6.3% medium profitable and 4.8% high profitable in the Gemer Region. The calculated economic parameters can be used for a more effective production allocation and soil utilisation in different regions.

This paper analyses assets and liability structure on the selected data set from the primary agricultural production in Slovakia. Accounting is presented as a complex foundation, information system, which provides information for decision-making and company management. The source of input data are accounting records generating statements of finances. The theme of the paper is selected issues of balance sheet analysis. The results of the research show unfavorable total assets development. The index 2000/1999 has the value 96.7. There are long-term problems in liabilities volume and structure. Equity capital stagnates. Borrowed capital decrease because of the decreas in loans. Loans were 2 741 SKK/ha in 2000. Most of the companies are in primary insolvency position, when payables after maturity are twice higher than receivables after maturity.

Formation of strategic development intentions of Czech agriculture is determined from a viewpoint of external factors by European integrating processes and strengthening tendencies of globalisation. This multi-dimensional process is a driving power and at the same time also an eliminating factor of many development trends. The sustainable dimension of globalisation is formed in the frame of the world society, world economics, world ecology and world policy. Problems of world agriculture are represented by the intersection of these trends and present a starting point for the formation of the European and Czech agricultural policy.

The comparison of Czech and French agriculture results shows a higher intensity, productivity and profitability of French agriculture. There are just small differences in the effectiveness of the production. The Czech agricultural enterprises have been in economic distress for several years and only a low portion of them is able to modernize and increase reproduction. There is also highlighted the importance of the EU Common Agricultural Policy for the development and stabilization of French agriculture.

The study deals with the comparison of financial situation of farms in the Czech Republic. Three groups of farms are compared - co-operatives, business companies and individual farmers. The data were analysed within the years 1994 and 2000. The analysis of financial situation was done by the means of indexes describing liquidity, activity and profitability as well as some other additional indicators such as labour productivity and costs levels etc.

Agriculture is a traditional branch for the Republic of Bulgaria. The favourable agriclimatic and soil conditions further the growth of 145 agricultural crops and the production of various products, many of which have leading positions in the international market. The aim of this paper is to examine the nature and specific features of the reform of the land relationships in the Republic of Bulgaria during the period of transition towards market economy. The development of land relationships in this country reflects the economic interests of its society, which show their specific nature in the relationships between the owners and the leaseholders of the plots. It is typical for this country that during the collectivisation period, which took place in the middle of the last century, the land, being the basic production factor in the agricultural branch, was public property, the private character of which was never abolished. During the transition period, a process for restoring the land 'within its real borders' was started. This led to delay in the reform and a significant fragmentation of the land. The completed agricultural reform contributes to the recovery and precipitation in the process of developing of the land relationships in the country. A sign of this is the formation of land market. In the year 2001, 28 878.1 ha changed their owners, and another 280 000 ha were leased. The aim is, through active laws, to achieve synchrony of the social interests with the interests of the owners and leaseholders and to create conditions for optimisation of the production process in agriculture. A favourable economic environment will contribute to increasing the efficiency of the agricultural branch in the Republic of Bulgaria and to the formation of the land relationships, which will facilitate the process.

Human resources are a key factor in the development and competitiveness of organisations. The concept of organisation's intellectual capital enables a complex and systematic look at the decisive organisation sources (including human resources). Talents - people with management skills and the so-called project talents play an important role within the frame of human resources. Talents - bearers of special endowments and abilities - are a decisive factor in the growth of the organisation. Partial probes carried out in agribusiness organisations have confirmed the significance of both theoretical concepts. At the same time, they have revealed that organisations utilise various kinds of talents the differentiation of which requires a more profound examination and analysis in order to assess, in a competent way, the contents and forms of education of young professionals, as well as the contents and forms of lifelong education in the field of agribusiness.

In spite of the official goals of support for rural tourism promulgated by governmental bodies, rural tourism remains a marginal phenomenon. This lack of confidence in rural tourism has relatively deep roots. The basis for this is almost of an ontological nature and consists in opposition, although subconscious, against "commodified authenticity". Another source of this lack of confidence lies in the fact that rurality, the main attractive feature of tourism, has been substantially impaired as a result of trends in the 20th century. A third reason follows from the combination of rural tourism and mass recreation, as well as inadequate response by governmental bodies and authorities to the risks for regional stability, based on unmanaged mass tourism.