V4 Countries Research Articles

Navigating New Waters: Russian Military Aggression on Ukraine and Effects on the Visegrad Group

In this article, the author examines the dynamic evolution of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries in response to Russia's war on Ukraine. Although V4 cooperation is deeply rooted in shared historical experiences, recent geopolitical challenges have revealed significant differences among member countries. Poland and the Czech Republic are strongly supportive of Ukraine and oriented towards NATO, while Hungary and Slovakia are more ambivalent, creating internal tensions. The author examines the factors that shape national identities and their influence on these divergent responses, highlighting that these factors have implications for the future of the V4 countries. The researcher used mixed methods to analyse official documents, political speeches and opinion poll data from the V4 countries, to examine the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on V4 unity and solidarity, and to consider the implications for the future of the V4 countries. The findings point to a fragile unity and growing concerns about the V4's ability to respond coherently to external threats.

The impact of minimum wage increases on unemployment in the V4 countries: Assessing the recommendations of the European Commission

The European Commission has recently implemented legislative measures to improve worker protection through an adequate minimum wage set by national laws or collective agreements. A recommended benchmark for minimum wage calculation is 60% of the gross median wage or 50% of the mean wage. However, the Kaitz index, a ratio indicator, shows lower values in most EU countries, raising concerns about potential negative impact on the labour market. This study aims to identify the impact of the Kaitz index and several other selected variables on unemployment in the V4 countries. Using multiple linear regression, we concluded that the Kaitz index’s growth does not uniformly impact unemployment in the V4 countries. Specifically, in Slovakia and the Czechia, the Kaitz index growth appeared to increase unemployment, in line with neoclassical economic theory. In contrast, Hungary and Poland did not register significant effects. Gender differences were also noted, with the Kaitz index affecting female unemployment in the Czechia and Hungary, and male unemployment in Slovakia. The research results suggest that increasing the minimum wage in the V4 countries is feasible if its growth rate is higher than that of unemployment benefits and the living minimum, but lower than the average wage growth, and if it is supported by economic growth.

Comprehensive Study of Critical Areas of Change Management as a Starting Point for Leaders in the Area of Managing Human Resources in Organizations: The Case of the Visegrad Four

(1) Background: This research deals with an element of strategic management, namely corporate changes. It applies to production enterprises operating in the countries of the Visegrad Group. Since similar studies in the area of change management in the V4 environment are absent, we consider the research to be beneficial for the subject area. The aim of the paper is to identify key elements in change management that would contribute to improving the work of leaders. (2) Methods: We conducted the research on a sample of 318 manufacturing companies operating in V4 countries. We verified the obtained data using several tests, including Chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact test or binomial test, through which we verified established research hypotheses. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was also used, which made it possible to identify critical factors in the area of change management. (3) Results: Critical change management factors emerged from the research, and we also determined the preconditions for successful management of these initiatives. We consider the results significant for change management leaders. (4) We consider the findings to be a contribution to the given field of management, as similar studies are absent in it, which creates a gap in this field.

Impact of the environmental ESG pillar on firm sustainability: Empirical research in the V4 countries

The research aimed to define the impact of the environmental pillar of ESG principles on the sustainability of firms in the V4 region and quantify the impact of certain factors on the perception of firms’ sustainability. To this end, a questionnaire survey on the attitudes of managers and business owners was conducted in February 2024 in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. Data were collected using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) research method. The distribution of respondents by country was as follows: there were 338 respondents from the Czech Republic, 349 from Poland, 312 from Slovakia and 321 from Hungary. Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were used to test the scientific hypotheses. The results suggest that firms that focus on the environmental education of employees, use green practices, provide truthful information about environmental impacts, and spend adequate costs on environmental protection are more likely to achieve sustainable growth. On the other hand, there appears to be no affect on corporate sustainability from policies pertaining to managing the company in accordance with specific regulations, minimising the environmental impacts of business activities, intensively addressing the energy efficiency of company buildings, and using renewable energy sources. In conclusion, firms in the V4 countries focus on that aspects of Pillar E that affect sustainable growth but do not significantly increase costs or increase the overall complexity of processes.

Participative management style in SMEs: Influence of CSR factors. Empirical evidence from the Visegrad Group

The aim of this study was to define significant corporate social responsibility (CSR) factors that determine the use of participative management style in SMEs and quantify this influence. In order to achieve this objective, a questionnaire survey was conducted on a sample of 1,398 SMEs across V4 countries. The data was collected through computer-assisted web interviewing by MNFORCE, a well-known market research firm. The empirical research was conducted in June 2022. The fundamental relationships and interconnections between CSR and the use of a participatory management approach were substantiated through the application of regression analysis. The research results demonstrated that a portion of these CSR factors significantly affects the application of participative leadership in SMEs. The strongest impact is observed for entrepreneurs' belief that CSR makes it possible to acquire satisfied, loyal, and motivated employees. The second most significant factor determining the application of participative leadership style was factor X3 (the average value of the correlation coefficient was 0.208). The potential opportunity to gain competitive advantage through the implementation of CSR also motivates entrepreneurs to apply participative leadership in SMEs; as the third most significant factor, it had an average correlation coefficient of 0.199. Finally, entrepreneurs' belief that implementing CSR has an impact on improving firm performance also proved motivating for SMEs. This study has significant practical implications. The results should motivate managers to implement essential attributes of the CSR concept, especially concerning their own employees. Managers should also recognize the importance of assessing and implementing appropriate HRM policies regarding skills, motivation, and opportunities for their employees in order to enhance business performance.

Comparison of Mediterranean and Ukrainian Migration Impacts on V4 Countries

Today’s Europe still resonates with the migration crisis connected with the arrival of migrants from Africa and Asia. Despite its massive impact on Central Europe, the significant migratory flow from Ukraine avoids considerable media attention. This article compares the effect of the Mediterranean migration and Ukrainian migration on V4 countries before the Covid-19 pandemic. There is an significant disproportion in the volumes of the compared migratory flows favouring the Ukrainian migration. However, Mediterranean migration became a substantial issue in elections in particular V4 countries. Our analysis focuses on the causes of different perceptions of both migratory flows and their impacts on recipient countries at the social and foreign policy levels. According to our research, different perceptions of the flows by the people and politicians are connected to the level of immigrants’ cultural and linguistic proximity and their potential integration. As the current situation suggests, the stabilisation of the political situation in Ukraine will take a more extended period, and the subsequent social and economic renewal will take another period. We assume the migratory flows from Ukraine will continue in the following years. Similarly, the Mediterranean migratory flows are likely to continue, probably with the shifts in their intensity, depending on their home countries’ situation and the Schengen regulatory measures. All of the above-mentioned issues put pressure on recipient countries to create a long-term immigration strategy that would enable them to manage the migration flow-related problems without societal destabilisation. The submitted interdisciplinary article uses the theoretical basis of migration studies (immigration policies, push and pull factors) and international relations (neorealism). The methodology of the text is anchored in the analysis of the relevant literature and statistical sources. The title of the article suggests the use of the comparison method.

Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions and Economic Growth in the Visegrád Region: A Study Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis

The relationship between fossil fuel CO2 emissions and economic growth in the Visegrád (V4) countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) is examined through the lens of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Employing the modified environmental Kuznets curve (MEKC) hypothesis, time-series data from 2010 to 2022 were analyzed. The methodology encompasses a range of econometric techniques, including temporal, comparative, correlational, and regression analyses, to unravel the intricate relationship between economic development (measured by GDP per capita) and environmental pollution (CO2 emissions). Results reveal a complex nonlinear correlation between GDP per capita and CO2 emissions in the V4 countries, following an inverted U-shaped pattern. Specifically, Czechia and Hungary exhibited peak emissions at approximately USD 5000 and USD 4500 GDP per capita, respectively, with corresponding emission levels of 1.15 and 0.64 metric tons. In contrast, Slovakia’s emissions decreased after its GDP per capita exceeded USD 5000 and carbon dioxide emissions reached 0.15 metric tons. However, Poland’s data deviate from the MEKC pattern, exhibiting a consistent rise in CO2 emissions across all levels of GDP per capita. The study highlights that the power industry is the largest source of CO2 emissions in all four countries, contributing 88.09% of total emissions. The transportation and industrial combustion sectors account for about 2.12% and 1.28% of annual emissions, respectively. GDP–CO2 emission correlations vary across the V4 countries. While Czechia exhibits a positive correlation of 0.35, Hungary (−0.37), Poland (−0.21), and Slovakia (−0.11) display negative relationships. Notably, Poland experiences the most significant increase in CO2 emissions from both road transport and air traffic. The conclusions drawn from this study provide a robust foundation for developing tailored environmental policies that support sustainable growth in the Visegrád region and other transitioning economies.

The Impact of Oil Prices on the GDP of V4 Countries

This study is concerned with forecasts of GDP growth for the Visegrad countries (V4-hereafter) and oil prices simultaneously. The series for GDP and Oil prices are quarterly, covering the period from December 1, 2000, to October 1, 2023. Neural network techniques were performed to generate individual forecasts. The forecasts for oil prices maintain higher accuracy than the GDP ones due to autoregressive lags. In other words, current oil prices absorb significant influence from past prices. The GDP forecasts for the V4 group indicate tremendous shock and moving growth to a lower steady state. The lower growth observed by the end of the period under review can be attributed to two subsequent non-economic shocks: the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic. The V4 countries faced difficulties after the outbreak of COVID-19, mainly due to the stringency measures. In addition to accelerating inflation, the war also disrupted energy commodities within supply chains. These and other facts justify the low growth that awaits these countries until 2028. Ultimately, the oil price until 2028 is estimated to oscillate between $60 and $90 per barrel.

Innovation performance of V4 countries

Innovation performance of V4 countries

Evaluating the relationship between income inequality, renewable energy and energy poverty in the V4 countries

The European Union has prioritized addressing energy poverty, as outlined in the “Clean Energy for all Europeans Package”. The recent international context dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia war in Ukraine, have exacerbated this issue because of the substantial energy prices growth. Since eradicating energy poverty necessitates long-term policy implementation, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of income inequality and other economic and social factors (output per capita, renewable energy use) on energy poverty as measured by three indicators (total utility bill arrears, utility bill arrears for households with dependent children, population unable to maintain adequate). The findings based on mean group estimators for the V4 (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia) countries from 2005 to 2022 suggest that income inequality, proxied by the Gini index, exacerbates energy poverty. However, sustainable economic growth has the potential to alleviate energy poverty. Policy recommendations include reducing income inequality, reforming renewable energy policies, to encourage the development of renewable energy sector and green industries.

Analysis of the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in V4 Countries and Their Impact on Competitiveness

Analysis of the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in V4 Countries and Their Impact on Competitiveness

The Use of Recycled Wood as a Factor in Production Efficiency of Manufacturers in V4 Countries

This article deals with a quantitative assessment of the production efficiency of wood-processing enterprises in the V4 countries. Efficiency was calculated through a non-parametric method of data envelopment analysis. This method allows the construction of an efficiency frontier without having to make any assumptions about its shape. The analyses are based on the financial statements of individual companies from 2018 to 2021. Efficiency assessments are therefore based on the actual performance of individual companies (i.e., quantities of output, costs, and capital). This micro perspective allows us to examine differences in efficiency not only by country but also by company size. A total of 10 companies have been selected in the V4 countries that can be identified as actively using recycled material in their production. The results of our empirical analyses show that this group of »recyclers« performs better than other market players in terms of median efficiency. Even in 2020, which can be marked as the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, overall, these companies had better results. Our results also show that the efficiency is significantly affected by company size (which is also reflected in economies of scale).

Forecasting land use and land cover change as a tool for optimising adaptation to climate change: Examples of selected Second-Tier Cities of the V4 Group

Second-tier cities are an important element in the socio-economic development of each country, including V4 countries. The result is a dynamic change in land use/cover patterns. The article analyses the possibility of using Markov chains to predict changes in land use. The results show that it is possible to use the Markov chains method in proper decision-making in land-use policy, which is combined with the stimulation of sustainable land use. The research results show that Markov chains can be an important tool to guide cities’ climate policies and build their capacity to adapt to climate change.

Are there differences in business ethics within SMEs’ most important business sectors in the V4 countries? Empirical research

Abstract Business ethics represents an important aspect that influences each country’s socio-economic system, and is important to society, environment, and economy. The present article aims to define significant attributes of business ethics in the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and compares their attitudes within the three most significant business sectors in the Visegrad Group countries (V4 countries: Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, and Hungary). An empirical study, focusing on the attitudes of small and medium-sized firms, was conducted in June 2022 in Visegrad Group countries through the reputable hired company MNFORCE, using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing research method. The total number of respondents in the Visegrad Group countries was 1,398. Statistical hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Z-score at a significance level of α = 5%. The most important conclusion of this research is that there are no significant differences in the approach of SMEs to business ethics based on the sector in which the companies operate. Some notable differences in attitudes among SMEs in Slovakia and the Czech Republic were identified, but these were marginal. Therefore, differences in the transformation process within selected economic sectors do not impact the formation of attitudes of small and medium-sized companies in business ethics. It is evident that business ethics is significantly determined primarily by the personal characteristics of the owner/manager of the company, and the specificities of individual sectors do not influence this field.

The impact of selected financial factors on business ethics in the SMEs segment in the V4 countries

The impact of selected financial factors on business ethics in the SMEs segment in the V4 countries

Sustainable human resource management: a mixed-method analysis of the research field focusing on the visegrad countries

PurposeI aimed to analyze and synthesize the literature on sustainable HRM and its sub-concepts, such as green HRM and socially responsible HRM, with the focus on research conducted in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. I posed the following research questions: (1) What are the main characteristics of sustainable HRM research in the worldwide literature? (2) What are the main characteristics of research conducted in the V4 countries? (3) Which future research directions are promising gaps to be filled by research conducted in V4 countries?Design/methodology/approachFor the purpose of this study, I applied bibliometric analysis, scientific network analysis and in-depth content analysis.FindingsThe results of the analyses of articles indexed in the Scopus database revealed that there is a growing trend in research on sustainable HRM. However, scarce research comes from the V4; scholars have conducted such studies only in Slovakia and Poland. There are five thematic clusters in the main sample, though the concept of green HRM has been explored the most. Although the keyword network analysis showed that the V4 articles focus mostly on sustainable HRM, the in-depth content analysis provided evidence that the V4 sample represented all concepts.Originality/valueThis is the first study to analyze the achievements of scientists from the V4 in this research field. It applies methodological rigor and a mixed-method approach. Moreover, it presents directions of research that go beyond the recommendations presented in the analyzed articles.

Similarities of the V4 Countries Characterised by the Business Environment Quality and Megatrends

Every economy possesses its unique characteristics and forces forming and affecting that particular business environment. Despite the differences in conditions, quality and interventions in the business environment, there are similarities within the specified deviations. Based on these similarities, it is possible to determine the common lines of countries within which their business environments and trends develop over time. The paper focuses on finding that lines through the division of the countries of the V4 into clusters according to indicators of the business environment quality and selected megatrends over time. Using cluster analysis performed in SPSS Statistics 26 for the chosen period from 2011 to 2022, countries are divided into clusters based on indicators of economic environment and megatrends. For the purpose of this study the index of economic freedom, change in economic power, lack of resources, technological breakthrough, social changes, and rapid urbanization. Based on the results of the cluster analysis, the degree of similarity of the economies represented by the quality of the business environment and selected global trends is identified during the monitored period, and vice versa the degree of differences within selected subjects is identified.

Kwestia transformacji relacji UE-Rosja w dyskursie politycznym przywódców państw Grupy Wyszehradzkiej

The main purpose of the article is to analyze the transformation of EU-Russia relations in the political discourse of the Visegrad Group leaders in the context of Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. Based on the analysis of selected speeches, the author focuses on explaining the style of political leadership of the prime ministers from V4 countries and on the main elements of the presented assumptions regarding the transformation of the European Union’s foreign policy. Particular attention is paid to the issue of future format of EU-Russia relations, as well as to the issue of EU enlargement. For this purpose, a comparative analysis of the leadership style evolution of the main actors (both institutional and individual) from the European Union and the Visegrad Group countries was carried out in relation to the issue of cooperation with Russia in 2014–2022 and after the full-scale Russian invasion that took place on February 24, 2022.

Remote Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Visegrad Countries

The aim of this article is to explore the issue of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Visegrad countries. The paper consists of a theoretical part, an empirical part and a discussion of the results of the research conducted by the author. The first section of the article defines remote work. Later, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market is described. In the next section, legal changes related to remote work in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary are presented. The legal regulations in the V4 countries are examined using a legal-dogmatic method, while the changes in the legislation – with a historical method. Subsequently, the article focuses on empirical research methodology and analyses the research results. The comparative analysis is based on data collected in the four Visegrad countries (Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary).

Renewable Energy Consumption in the Context of Economic Development, CO2 Emissions and Implications for Public Administration: The Case of Visegrad Group Countries

Renewable energy consumption has gained growing importance in the world energy consumption portfolio over recent years. One of the reasons is the increasingly negative development of climate change. The research carried out in this paper aims to discern whether the examined economic indicator (GDP per capita) and the environmental indicator (CO2 emissions per capita) affect the renewable energy consumption in the region of the Visegrad Group (V4 – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovak Republic) countries, and to draw implications for public administration in the given issue. The fixed effects panel regression model was used to verify the mentioned relationships between variables from 1990-2020. The results show that the level of the share of renewable energy consumption on the total energy consumption in the region of the V4 countries can be affected by the GDP per capita (positive relationship validated) and the CO2 emissions per capita (negative relationship validated). These results are mostly in line with the findings of other researchers conducted on different samples of countries, although some differences can be noted, especially regarding the direction of the relationship. The implications of the research results are presented on three levels: practical implications for the business sector, emphasis placed on political implications for public administration, and theoretical implications that lay the foundation for further research. The main limitation of the research results comes from the sample used in V4 countries and, thus, from the limited possibilities of generalizing the results. The direction of further research in the addressed issue will include a larger number of countries in the research and the use of various quantitative and qualitative research methods.