Nierówności społeczne a wzrost gospodarczy z. 83(3)/2025

URI dla tej Kolekcjihttps://repozytorium.ur.edu.pl/handle/item/12559

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Economic barriers of African students arriving in the Czech Republic
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Lovětínská, Ivana; Neugebauer, Jan; Vokoun, Marek
International students coming to the Czech Republic for education, experience, and potential future employment opportunities encounter a variety of challenges. While each student's experience is unique, shaped by personal background, financial situation, chosen university, and community support, specific challenges are common to most students. The primary objective of this study is to identify and analyze the economic and social barriers faced by African students, particularly those from Nigeria. To establish a strong theoretical foundation, the PRISMA–PICOT approach was applied, followed by a qualitative research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to validate or challenge the theoretical assumptions. The study focuses on two key phases of the international student experience: pre-arrival and post-arrival. The findings indicate that the most significant barrier in the pre-arrival phase is the visa application process, which involves difficulties in securing embassy appointments and fulfilling complex administrative requirements. In the post-arrival phase, financial insecurity becomes a major obstacle, as many students struggle to cover both initial and ongoing living expenses. The combination of these barriers creates a substantial burden, making the transition process more challenging and stressful for African students studying in the Czech Republic.
Household management and the gendered division of unpaid work in dual-earner couples: theoretical and methodological insights
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Kollár, Ján; Kováčiková, Vanesa
This paper explores the theoretical and methodological foundations of household management in the context of unpaid work, focusing specifically on dual-earner couples. Unpaid work, including household chores, childcare, and eldercare, represents a critical yet often invisible component of both economic and social life. Despite its importance, the management and division of unpaid work have received limited scholarly attention, particularly in countries like Slovakia. This paper provides a review of key theoretical approaches and international empirical research, highlighting how gender roles and negotiation processes shape the distribution of unpaid labor. While the article does not analyze gender inequalities as its primary focus, it acknowledges the gendered nature of household management practices and their potential implications for work-life balance and well-being. The paper argues for the integration of management perspectives into unpaid work studies, emphasizing the need to understand households not only as sites of consumption but also as units of organization and coordination. Finally, it outlines directions for future research, calling for context-specific empirical studies to better capture the unique features of dual-earner households in Slovakia and similar socio-economic environments. The findings have implications for public policy, gender equality initiatives, and the well-being of individuals within dual-income families.
Economic barriers and their impact on access to healthcare facilities
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Neugebauer, Jan; Lovětínská, Ivana; Vokoun, Marek; Rotschedl, Jiří
Healthcare access is very standard nowadays. Healthy people generally do not prioritize how they access healthcare facilities. However, the most common client of a healthcare facility is not a healthy person, but one who is suffering. In this case, many limitations can impact access to proper care. The study’s primary objective was to identify all potential economic barriers that affect access to healthcare facilities. We established the theoretical basis using the PRISMA-PICOT approach, then focused on the qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews to test our theories. Results show that a few spectrums of people are in different conditions, making them vulnerable. Based on the group's vulnerability and specific needs, there are various economic barriers, ranging from low income to inadequate travel approaches. For example, people from rural areas often have limited transportation options, and many are unable to use their mobile phones to call for an emergency. Social services in the Czech Republic provide support to individuals in managing specific situations. However, it does not resolve the financial crisis or the health issues of vulnerable patients. Some knowledge should be spread to this group to reduce risks. It can lead to a better understanding of one’s health and access to healthcare when needed.
Outsourcing in the context of the cluster business model
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Chorób, Roman
The main goal of this paper is to present outsourcing as a tool supporting business model modification in cluster structures, which is one of the factors influencing increased competitiveness and success. The next section explores the issue of coopetition between business entities in terms of increasing their competitiveness and achieving business success. A brief presentation of business models and strategies in the context of clusters, as well as outsourcing as business model conversion, is provided. The importance and role of outsourcing in cluster structures is discussed, and examples of implementing outsourcing elements in domestic and international clusters are presented. These considerations are supported by research findings, thus enriching the subject matter. The paper proposes the research thesis that implementing outsourcing in clusters enables cost optimization, increased efficiency, and a focus on core competencies. Due to its complexity and importance, this issue constitutes a premise for further research in the future.
Impact of circadian rhythms on business efficiency and economic growth
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Prošková, Petra
Because circadian rhythms control key processes such as sleep, cognition and metabolism, their disturbance is now widely viewed as a significant factor reducing worker productivity and influencing economic performance. While biomedical research provides extensive evidence on the health consequences of circadian misalignment, its implications for labour efficiency, organizational outcomes, and public finances remain underexamined in economic literature. This review synthesizes findings from empirical studies published between 2011 and 2025 to assess how sleep disruption, shift work, and chronotype mismatch affect individual performance, workplace efficiency, and broader economic indicators. Results consistently show that circadian misalignment reduces cognitive functioning, increases error rates and absenteeism, and contributes to long-term health risks, including metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. These outcomes impose substantial costs on firms through productivity losses, higher turnover, and increased injury risk, while also generating financial burdens for public healthcare and social insurance systems. The review highlights several evidence-based strategies such as chronotype-aligned scheduling, predictable shift systems, improved lighting conditions, and sleep-hygiene interventions that can mitigate these negative effects. The study concludes by emphasising the economic relevance of integrating circadian science into workplace policies and human resource management practices.
Development of pro-ecological energy in Poland
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Miczyńska-Kowalska, Maria
Poland is in the phase of adjusting its economy to the challenges of the energy and climate transition. The concept of the transition assumes a reduction in energy production from sources emitting greenhouse gases, including CO2. The energy sector is the main sector included in the concept of the European Green Deal. In the EU, a 30% share of energy produced from RES by 2030 is assumed. For Poland, this means very significant obligations in the process of reducing energy production from high-emission conventional sources. This will mean accelerating the development of production from ecological sources, including wind farms, photovoltaic farms, and the generation of energy from biogas and biomass. It will be necessary to launch energy production from nuclear power. In view of the above, the article refers to documents shaping Poland’s energy policy, namely: Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 and National Development Concept 2050. The aim of the article is to present the development of pro-ecological energy in Poland, its adaptation to the requirements of sustainable development: to present trends in Polish energy in the years 2020–2025, and to present the development trends of energy generation and distribution in Poland until 2040. The following research questions were posed in this study: Which renewable energy sources are used in Poland? Does the implementation of pro-environmental energy policy threaten energy security? How does electricity prosumption contribute to the pro-environmental development of the Polish energy sector? After conducting the analysis, the answers to these research questions are as follows: in the analysed period 2020–2025, both ecological energy sources based on biomass, biogas, and gravitational systems, as well as solar and wind energy, are utilized. Photovoltaic energy is developing the most dynamically. Other sources have relatively low installed capacity. A decline in production and installed capacity in coal-fired power plants is also observed, during 2020–2025, the fastest growth occurs in photovoltaic installations. These installations are highly dependent on weather conditions, time of day, and season, and they possess very high installed capacity. The nature of their operation causes significant energy surpluses or shortages in the power system within very short periods. This entails substantial risks in maintaining proper energy quality parameters. In extreme cases, it could lead to a blackout, representing a serious threat to Poland’s energy security, prosumer energy generation in Poland, as a phenomenon, clearly supports the development of pro-environmental energy. However, its implementation faces challenges. Poland is experiencing an uncontrolled increase in the number of PV installations, while other renewable energy sources are developing relatively slowly. The construction of wind farms—which should be regarded as far less weather-dependent than solar installations—has been practically blocked by legislation. Biomass and biogas sources are also not widely adopted, even though they are completely independent of weather conditions. The article uses the analytical-synthetic method. Available data concerning both the theoretical dimension and the practice of functioning of the energy system in Poland were analysed. It was found that Polish energy faces many challenges and problems to be solved. The undertaken actions, although costly, are necessary to achieve the goal of living in a pollution-free environment, without the effects of global warming, in a state that eliminates the risk of ‘energy poverty.’
Eco-Innovation Performance of the Polish Economy in the European Union Context
(Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2025-09) Kaliszczak, Lidia; Wojnar, Jolanta
The article analyses and assesses the level of eco-innovation in the Polish economy in comparison with other European Union countries and identifies the main barriers and directions for supporting the development of eco-innovation in Poland. The hypothesis tested was that Poland’s position in the Eco-Innovation Index (Eco-IS) and its eco-innovative performance compared to the EU average are mainly influenced by insufficient government spending on R&D as well as research and development in the fields of environment and energy. Based on a detailed analysis of the degree and dynamics of changes in the Eco-Innovation Index (EII) for EU countries in 2014–2024 and its structure, an assessment of 12 sub-indicators in the EU and Poland in 2024 showed that in the 10-year period under review, Poland improved its score from 50.2 to 69.7, which indicates a 39% increase in the index value and a move up by one position in the ranking (from 26th to 25th place). Despite the increase, the country’s ranking position improved only marginally, which reveals that other countries intensified their efforts in the field of eco-innovation. As a result, Poland did not move closer to the top-ranked countries and continues to rank at the bottom of the EU list. The authors identify insufficient R&D expenditure (% of GDP) as well as insufficient government funding and spending on research and development in the fields of environment and energy as the main reasons. The proposed increase in R&D expenditure in relation to GDP as a means of reducing barriers to the growth of eco-innovation in the Polish economy should be correlated with the development of eco-innovative investments and implementations, while simultaneously sustaining high levels of human capital.

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