Financial Outlays Research Articles

Cost risk of construction of small hydroelectric power plants

The growing demand for electricity forces the humanity to find the most economical methods of its production. Functioning without electricity in today's world deprives human from the possibility of a free existence, and even completely prevents it because of the technicisation of society. Growing awareness of acquiring "clean" environmentally-friendly energy from renewable sources contributes to the successive development of this sector of the economy. The purpose of the article was to analyse the risk of construction costs for small hydroelectric power plants along with an indication of the location and needs of a small hydroelectric power plant in Poland. The subject of the study was a small hydroelectric power plant producing electricity, using a turbine to convert the kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy. Aiming at illustrating the benefits of the discussed investment based on the estimation of construction costs and, as a result, financial results, a specific case of a small hydroelectric power plant located in the region of Kujawsko-Pomorskie [Kuyavian-Pomeranian Viovodeship] in central Poland was analysed. The intended research objective was achieved using industry literature, magazines as well as technical knowledge of persons holding building qualifications (including hydro-technical construction) and materials made available by two Bydgoszcz companies specializing in the implementation of small hydroelectric power plants. TheCOMAR- Jarek Górecki®algorithm, which operates in the industry as the author's concept of calculating the variation of financial outlays incurred for the implementation of investment and construction projects, was used to analyse the risk of costs of a construction project.

Cities, unblocking road transport routes in Poland

The article presents the influence of elements of the transport system on its final shape and quality of operation, on the example of road transport infrastructure. In addition, reference was made to the recent thesis, which is the "need to obstruct traffic" for drivers of passenger cars in cities, which may reduce passenger car traffic in their areas. In the further part of the article, selected examples of road investments were presented, together with the economic calculation calculated for them, indicating a quick payback period of the financial outlays incurred for their construction. The article was created as part of a research work entitled: "Analysis of the impact of the built road infrastructure on the level of economic activity in the surrounding territorial units", under the Operational Program Technical Assistance No. POPT.02.01.00-00-0021 / 15-00, Fri: the institution for strategic coordination of the Partnership Agreement in the years 2015-2016, implemented for the Ministry of Investment and Development and the Road Innovation Development Program (RID) organized and financed by the National Center for Research and Development and the General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways (contract No. DZP / RID- I-41/7 / NCBR / 2016).

Economic and Financing Aspects of Removing Asbestos in Residences

Reflecting its utility and versatility, asbestos was used in the past in many different products, including eaves, fences, roofs, walls, ceilings, floor coverings and backing, brake drums, pipe lagging, ironing boards, electrical meter boxes, sealants, pipes, and so on. Most Australian jurisdictions banned ‘the mining of raw asbestos and the manufacture, import and installation of products containing crocidolite (blue) and amosite (brown or grey) asbestos’ from 1985 (Fary 2012, p. 11). An Australia-wide ban on the manufacture and use of all types of asbestos and asbestos containing material took effect on 31 December 2003. Work Health and Safety legislation in all states and territories prohibits the supply, transport, use, or handling of asbestos unless an exception or exemption applies. Despite the bans, remnant asbestos products are still ubiquitous, particularly in older Australian homes. Exposure to asbestos fibres may result in asbestos-related disease, which in turn may lead to interstitial lung disease or various thoracic malignancies such as universally fatal bronchogenic carcinoma or mesothelioma. Inhalation of fibres is recognised as a hazard in a range of exposure levels in different occupations (Gottschall, 2002) and residential activities (Gordon & Leigh 2011), with different types of asbestos varying in their potency levels (Berman & Crump, 2008). Three “waves” of asbestos-related disease have been posited in Australia. The first is associated with the mining of raw asbestos and the manufacture of asbestos-containing products. A second wave was generated by the use of asbestos products in industry. Of greatest current concern is a growing third wave of non-industrial exposure, especially affecting those undertaking residential renovations and maintenance (Olsen et al., 2011; Musk et al. 2016; ASEA 2016). The two main themes examined in this paper are: 1. socio-economic rationale. A necessary condition for enhancing the well-being of society is that the social benefits of a proposed government action exceed its social costs. But it is also necessary to establish that any action is best undertaken by government, rather than by private firms or individuals. Situations of market failure can generally provide a prima facie case for government intervention, but the relative transaction costs and the risk of government failure also need to be considered in taking a decision. 2. cost-minimisation. Once a government has decided to take action, budgetary considerations and competing expenditure priorities will dictate that associated financial outlays be minimised as far as possible. A range of possible approaches to implementing asbestos removal are outlined, with a succinct presentation of their key advantages and disadvantages. A number of implicit and explicit assumptions are made throughout the paper. For example, the constitutional level of government involvement is left unstipulated. While state governments have primary responsibility in Australia’s federal system for public health issues, the Australian Government established an Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) in 2013 to provide a national focus on asbestos issues which goes beyond workplace safety to encompass environmental and public health concerns. The agency aims to ensure that asbestos issues receive the attention and focus needed to drive change across all levels of government. References below to ‘government’ therefore refer to any combination of local, state and federal governments, but not to any specific one. Further, no distinction is made between the many types of asbestos or their effects.

An unfinished project or the dispute over the reform of higher education continued

This text is a contribution to the discussion on the reform of higher education in Poland. By referring to selected examples, it shows that the planned changes are based on several fundamental myths resulting from the inefficiency of earlier attempts to heal the university system. At the same time, it aims to show why it is necessary to abandon the belief that higher education can be reformed quickly, with little financial outlays, and that the results of the implemented changes can be instant. The text offers also a criticism of the view assuming that the expected changes can be arrived at only through a reform of the law, and that it is possible to transplant solutions functioning in other countries directly to Poland. The presented considerations oppose the position according to which there exist some ideal models of education and research, whose implementation can make it possible to “breed” an ideal scholar. Arguing that education and academic success will always be an outcome of many variables, a critical analysis of selected solutions included in the law on science and higher education has been offered as well.

Factors That Influence Adoption of Cloud Computing: An Empirical Study of Australian SMEs

Cloud computing is a recent computing paradigm enabling organizations to have access to sophisticated computing services via the Internet on a fee-for-service basis. It provides Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with opportunities to become as technologically advanced as their larger counterparts, without significant financial outlays. This paper examined the important factors that influence SMEs’ adoption of cloud computing technology. Drawing upon aspects of the Technology, Organization and Environment framework and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, we developed a research model of SMEs’ adoption of cloud computing and tested it through an online survey of 149 Australian SMEs. Data was analyzed using multiple regression methods, with results showing that SMEs were influenced by factors related to advantaging their organizational capability (i.e., relative advantage, quality of service and awareness) rather than risk-related factors (i.e., security, privacy and flexibility). The findings offer insights to SMEs owners, Cloud service providers and government in establishing Cloud computing adoption strategies for SMEs.

Optimisation of the Municipal Waste Collection Process in a Small Size and Scarcely Populated Municipality

Abstract The paper presents a review of legal conditions regarding the process of municipal waste collection. An analysis of systems and solutions for the management and monitoring of a fleet of vehicles that can be used in the operation of means of transport during the implementation of the municipal waste process was carried out. The paper presents a coherent concept of ICT system for the optimization of the municipal waste collection process in a small-sized municipality. The proposed system can be used by companies responsible for waste collection, transport and service companies participating in the waste collection process. By basing the system on commonly available elements and services (Internet, GSM and GPS), its installation and operation is fast, simple and does not require large financial outlays.

FINANCING INNOVATION ACTIVITY BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF ENTERPRISES FROM PERIPHERAL REGIONS

The aim of the work is to characterize the scale, sources of financing and the allocation of financial outlays for innovative activities in the surveyed enterprises. The enterprises are located in two counties of the region showing the characteristics of peripherality. The most important barriers to innovative activity were also examined. The work was based on the results of surveys using the interview questionnaire carried out in the examined counties of the Lublin voivodeship. The research material consists of 147 interviews with entrepreneurs. The research were conducted in 2015. They covered the period 2010-2014. The study showed that expenditures aimed at increasing the innovativeness of enterprises were rarely made and were intended mainly to strengthen their material potential. Entrepreneurs financed innovative activity almost exclusively from their own resources. Entrepreneurs mostly noticed the existence of barriers to innovative activity. The barriers mainly concerned limited possibilities of financing the innovative activity and high level of its costs.

DETERMINANTS OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

The article seeks to specify the extent to which municipal development strategies form the basis for municipality development and what determines these strategies and development processes at the local level. It discusses the following issues: the nature and objectives of local development strategies, characteristics of the development strategy in the Stara Błotnica Municipality in the Mazowieckie Voivodship, and the determinants of the municipality’s local development strategy. The considerations herein suggest that the foundation for actions and the use of its resources is provided, on the one hand, by its multifunctional development and, on the other, by sustainable development, relying chiefly on its resources and support from various aid funds, in particular the European Union funds. The municipal development path is set in line with the socio- -economic policy implemented by higher levels, namely the EU, Poland, the Mazowieckie Voivodship and the Białobrzeski District. Task performance requires financial outlays that exceed the municipality’s budget, which proved to be a barrier to full implementation of the strategy. The article was prepared on the basis of related literature as well as documents and materials concerning the Stara Błotnica Municipality in the Mazowieckie Voivodship.

When will biofuels be economically feasible for commercial flights? Considering the difference between environmental benefits and fuel purchase costs

Abstract This paper evaluates the financial outlays and environmental costs of using biofuel and traditional aviation fuel for selected flight routes. Cost-benefit analysis and the dose-response method were applied for evaluating the financial and environmental costs of both biofuels and traditional fuel. Selected flight routes originating from Taipei were used for empirical analysis, for the purpose of comparing the use of different fuels in monetary terms. The use of biofuel leads to a considerable increase in fuel purchase price; however, it results in fewer negative environmental impacts compared with the use of the traditional aviation fuel. The empirical results and sensitivity analysis show that the reduction in environmental costs will only outweigh the additional purchase cost of biofuel if the unit environmental social costs of pollutants are considered to be very high. The potential incentives for the use of biofuel in commercial flights could come from some form of government measures that internalize externalities, or from a reduction in biofuel price (e.g. through subsidy) or an increase in traditional fuel price (e.g. through tax). The environmental benefit of using biofuel in commercial flights, estimated in monetary terms and compared with its extra financial cost, provide good reference for policy makers when implementing policies and incentives for the development of biofuels.

Alokacja funduszy unijnych a wydatki inwestycyjne gmin

The aim of the article is to demonstrate the impact of obtaining EU funds on the intensity of investment projects of communes and poviat cities. The underdevelopment of the basic technical infrastructure in many of them is still a major barrier to development and, therefore, requires further financial outlays. For many local governments, obtaining EU subsidies is an opportunity to accelerate the development processes and to eliminate the quantitative and qualitative infrastructure gap.

Demand and Financial Constraints in Eliminating Architectural and Technical Barriers for People with Disabilities in Poland

The purpose of the study is to analyse the availability of financial resources for people with disabilities and to assess the needs satisfaction level of the disabled in order to eliminate architectural and technical barriers in Poland. The research conducted among the disabled affected by physical disability indicates that mobility barriers and obstacles remain among the most important problems encountered by people with disabilities. The research has shown that the problem of barriers increases with age. The elimination of architectural barriers requires, each time, higher financial expenditure, whereas the elimination of technical barriers improves the life quality of people with disabilities at low financial outlays. The average funding in Poland amounted to PLN 827.53 in 2016, including the funding of EUR 1453.60 for the elimination of architectural barriers and approx. EUR 582 for the removal of technical barriers. The financial resources allocated for this purpose do not cover the actual needs of the people with disabilities. The analysis revealed that the demand for investment in the elimination of barriers is increasing with age, whereas the expenditure of the Polish state is decreasing.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of an airport passenger and baggage security screening system

Airport security managers need methods to quantify changes in security level to prevent terrorist attacks. This study presents a method using a fuzzy inference system to assess the overall effectiveness of prohibited items detection during passenger and baggage security screening. The results show that the screening system performance can be improved from medium to high by upgrading screening devices at hold baggage checkpoints and by increasing the frequency of training sessions. In the case of increased risk of terrorist attacks an obligation to control 20 percent of passengers manually and 30 percent increase in the sensitivity of metal detectors increases system performance to very high detection level. On the positive side our results show that these results can be achieved with minimum financial outlays, while on the negative side system throughput is somewhat reduced. Overall our results show that screening performance can be improved substantially, but as the required performance level rises there is a trade-off with system throughput and personnel training costs.

PROJECT OF IMPLEMENTATION PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNIQUES IN CONVENTIONAL HOLDING – CASE STUDY

Intensive technological development requires the agricultural sector to adapt to the requirements of today's economy. To achieve this, agricultural production must seek to minimize costs while increasing production. All this must be achieved while maintaining the principles of sustainable development. To achieve this, precision farming technologies are used. This paper presents the concept of the implementation of precision techniques in a conventional farm. The results obtained allowed us to present a SWOT analysis of the modernization of the farm described above, which showed that the strengths of the system prevail and the opportunities for the farm to develop during its implementation. The initial financial outlays will be returned quickly and significant savings in grain, fertilizers and plant protection products will be achieved, as well as time and health of the farmer.

Wybrane aspekty turystyki dostępnej w Krakowie w opinii studentów z niepełnosprawnością

Kraków jest jednym z czołowych polskich miast inwestujących w prężnie rozwijający się sektor turystyczny. Prowadzi to do konieczności rozwijania infrastruktury i usług dostępnych dla wszystkich. Duże nakłady finansowe, dotacje europejskie oraz współpraca z organizacjami pozarządowymi pozwoliły, aby miasto stało się pionierem w przystosowaniu przestrzeni miejskiej dla osób niepełnosprawnych. Artykuł jest analizą stanu rozwoju turystyki dostępnej w Krakowie. Jego celem jest ocena dostępności przestrzeni turystycznej miasta Krakowa dla osób z dysfunkcjami. Wykonano badanie ankietowe na grupie 213 osób posiadających orzeczenie o niepełnosprawności w przedziale wiekowym 20–26 lat, którzy mieszkają w Krakowie. W kwestionariuszu ankiety zapytano ich o ograniczenia podczas poruszania się po mieście używanymi przez nich środkami transportu. Zbadano stopień przystępności miasta i projekty realizowane na rzecz turystyki osób niepełnosprawnych. Artykuł zwraca uwagę także na oczekiwania wobec turystyki dostępnej respondentom. Na podstawie wniosków z przeprowadzonego badania w artykule wykazano, iż pomimo wielu skutecznych działań samorządu

Methods of Raising Funds for Purchasing of New Cruise Ships by International Corporations

Abstract The world’s cruise corporations regularly purchase large, luxurious cruise ships. In accordance with the Cruise Line International Association, 33 new ocean cruise ships will be available on the market by 2020. These types of capital expenditures are associated with large financial outlays of up to $ 1 billion. The leading cruise corporations are not able to finance purchases of new units with their own resources and therefore look for different solutions. Available publications focus mainly on issues related to purchasing cargo ships, not cruise ships. The objective of the article is to identify sources of funding of new cruise ships. Our analysis identifies the average capital expenditure associated with purchasing new cruise ships and factors that influence it. The most popular methods for raising such capital are also provided. Our research methodology relies on data exploration method, a desk research method and comparative analysis.

Competitiveness of Polish enterprises in relation to the potential of cloud computing

Enterprises seek for possibilities to limit the costs and for areas that stimulate the level of innovation. Both of these aspects can be effectively supported by application of cloud computing, without a simultaneous need to make a choice of a trade-off type. The aim of the article is to prove that cloud computing provides entrepreneurs with the possibility to limit the costs and at the same time to support their activities related to the selected direction of innovation development. It has both a direct influence on the level and structure of costs in the enterprise, as well as an indirect influence, e.g. related to shortening the time for introduction of new solutions to the market, making decisions or limiting the costs of projects.

Practical example of data integration in a PRM environment, BC-10, Brazil

Deepwater developments always represent a huge capital investment, and this is especially true when the field in question is instrumented with Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM). These massive financial outlays demand optimum efficiency to maximize the return on investment. This means taking full advantage of the value in the large volumes of time-lapse seismic data collected. In this paper, we examine enhanced workflows and solutions for optimizing the utility of Permanent Reservoir Monitoring data in a deepwater setting. We do this by fully integrating these data into our subsurface models and decision making in a rapid, thorough, and quantitative fashion. Parque das Conchas (BC-10) represents a major milestone in the development and commercialization of Brazil’s deep water. The project consists of several distinct small-to-medium-sized fields in the Campos Basin that allow for phasing. The fields have been developed using subsea wells and manifolds, all of which are connected to a centrally located floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Espirito Santo (Figure 1). The Espirito Santo FPSO, which has a processing capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d), was built by SBM in Singapore and delivered to Brazil in late 2008 being moored in around 1800 m of water. The double-hulled FPSO’s design required significant power and heat delivery systems to drive the seabed lift equipment and process the heavy crudes. This development is the first of its kind based on full subsea oil and gas separation and subsea pumping. This system uses 1500-horsepower underwater pumps – each equivalent to a Formula One engine – to drive oil and a small quantity of gas to the surface.

Social Justice in the Post-Affluent Society

The article spells out the reasons and provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that if the culture of a society shifts from one that extols affluence to one that extols communitarian pursuits-major gains for social justice will become much more probable. An obvious reason to expect that this hypothesis will hold true is that the more members of a particular social grouping view each other as members of the same community-the more they are likely to be willing to support reallocations of wealth that reduce inequality in that society. However, there are much deeper and stronger links between a communitarian culture and social justice. Before I can outline those and present relevant evidence, I need to outline the reasons such a culture shift is called for and what it may encompass.UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONSa. In the near future, a large number of jobs will be lost to smart (AI-equipped) instruments, machines, and robots.b. Unlike previous technological revolutions, this one is unlikely to generate a large number of new jobs.c. Hence, underemployment will increase and many of those who do find jobs will be paid poorly and have few benefits. Indeed many will work in the gig economy.d. Those who design, produce, and own the smart instruments will increase their wealth, leading to growing inequality.e. As a result, most people-who currently expect to improve their economic conditions and to be able to bequeath to their children a better life than they had-will be very frustrated.f. As a result of these trends-as well as others not explored here-these frustrations will result in growing hostility toward the government, the affluent, minorities, and foreigners. These trends are already visible in Europe and, to a lesser extent, in the US.g. These consequences can be mitigated if those who have their basic needs well sated and secured find contentment in pursuits that are not labor or capital intensive and hence have low costs. These communitarian pursuits include spending more time cultivating meaningful relationships; in spiritual pursuits widely understood (from religion to meditation); and in community activism. Reference is not to a culture that favors an austere life but one in which one's consumption is capped at a level at which true needs are fully sated but status goods are avoided -and are sated through one or more communitarian pursuits. (To flag the difference between an austere culture and the one just outlined, I refer to the latter one as a capping society, one in which a person's quest for material goods is not minimized but bounded).2Such a society will be much less taxing on the environment, and much more sustainable, than the affluent society. This is the case because transcendental activities require relatively few scarce resources, fossil fuels, or other sources of physical energy. Social activities (such as spending more time with one's children) require time and personal energy but not large material or financial outlays. (Often those who spend large amounts of money on their kids' toys or entertainment bond less with them than those whose relations are less mediated by objects.) The same holds for cultural and spiritual activities such as prayer, meditation, enjoying and making music, art, sports, and adult education. True, consumerism has turned many of these pursuits into expensive endeavors. However, one can break out of this mentality and find that it is possible to engage in most transcendental activities quite profoundly using a moderate amount of goods and services. One does not need designer clothes to enjoy the sunset or shoes with fancy labels to benefit from a hike. The Lord does not listen better to prayers read from a leather-bound Bible than to those read from a plain one, printed on recycled paper. In short, the transcendental society is much more sustainable than consumer capitalism.RELEVANCE FOR ATTAINING A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVEL OF SOCIAL JUSTICEMuch less obvious are the ways the capped culture serves social justice. …

Various methods of heat supply for a building which is operated periodically during the year

Stand-alone buildings operated periodically require heat supply for hot water and heating purposes to be carefully analyzed in terms of the technical capabilities, the energy and financial outlays. The paper presents the analysis of heat supply for hot water purposes and central heating in the stand-alone cloakroom building located in Poland. The analysis is undertaken for different variants of heat delivery for a building from electric heaters, gas boiler and district heating solutions to renewable sources applications, namely solar panels and heat pumps. For each solution, usage of usable, final and primary energy was calculated. Also the financial analysis for investments and energy costs were carried out. This analysis has been done in according to SPBT and NPV method for different levels of building use.

Estimating Premium and Out-of-Pocket Outlays Under All Child Dental Coverage Options in the Federally Facilitated Marketplace

To estimate premium and out-of-pocket costs for child dental care services under various dental coverage options offered within the federally facilitated marketplace. We estimated premium and out-of-pocket costs for child dental care services for 12 patient profiles, which vary by dental care use and spending. We did this for 1039 medical plans that include child dental coverage, 2703 medical plans that do not include child dental coverage, and 583 stand-alone dental plans for the 2015 plan year. Our analysis is based on plan data from the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight and Data.HealthCare.Gov. On average, expected total financial outlays for child dental care services were lower when dental coverage was embedded within a medical plan compared with the alternative of a stand-alone dental plan. The difference, however, in average expected out-of-pocket spending varied significantly for our 12 patient profiles. Older children who are very high users of dental care, for example, have lower expected out-of-pocket costs under a stand-alone dental plan. For the vast majority of other age groups and dental care use profiles, the reverse holds. Our results show that embedding dental coverage within medical plans, on average, results in lower total financial outlays for child beneficiaries. Although our results are specific to the federally facilitated marketplace, they hold lessons for both state-based marketplaces and the general private health insurance and dental benefits market, as well.