Miroslava Knapková

The aim of this article is to examine and analyze the relationship between gender motivation for self-employment in the Slovak Republic. The article examines potential differences in motivational factors for entering self-employment between men and women based on 13 motivational factors, which were divided into two categories: “pull” and “push”. For the evaluation of the data from the primary questionnaire survey in which more than 300 respondents were involved, we used the Jamovi statistical software, while for statistical testing we used the Mann-Whitney U test. Our results showed that statistically significant differences exist in the two evaluated factors (I wanted better working conditions, I had the opportunity to get the resources to start a business). We did not demonstrate statistical significance between men and women in the other evaluated motivational factors for self-employment. In the aggregate statistical testing of the influence of pull and push factors by taking gender into account, we also did not demonstrate statistical significance. However, our results indicate that the respondents were motivated to start a business more by pull factors.

Start-ups that utilize modern technologies and innovative solutions in various areas of their activities gain an advantage over their competitors. This chapter presents examples of innovative solutions for start-ups in selected countries of the European Union and indicates those solutions that can be considered as the indicators of the changes that are taking place in the economy within the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Through extensive research, different patterns of start-ups functioning have been distinguished while taking each branch and country into account. These results can be helpful for researchers in developing hypotheses that are useful for creating business models. An interesting observation is that in the European Union countries the success of start-ups does not depend on the development level of these countries.

This chapter focuses on the academic and practical understanding of a start-up company’s establishment, regulation, and financing methods, including the changes, trends, and challenges that start-up companies must face. This part develops the knowledge and specifics of start-up companies within a comparative analysis of the Slovak and Polish business environments. The current situation has led to the emergence of new start-up companies in the field of biomedicine (linked with the COVID-19 pandemic but also other diseases), smart waste management, and customer and mobile applications. In addition to the theoretical framework, the chapter provides examples of successful start-up companies in both Slovakia and Poland.

Jedným z významných rozhodnutí fyzických osôb je voľba spôsobu zabezpečenia svojho príjmu. Medzi základné možnosti zárobkovej činnosti na Slovensku patrí vykonávanie závislej práce v pracovnoprávnom vzťahu a vykonávanie samostatne zárobkovej činnosti v podobe podnikania alebo inej samostatnej zárobkovej činnosti. Popri klasických zárobkových činnostiach (t.j. závislá práca a samostatná zárobková činnosť), čelí aj Slovenská republika novodobému fenoménu ekonomicky závislej samostatnej zárobkovej činnosti. Zámerom monografie je skúmať a identifikovať základné prístupy pri vymedzení práce na hrane medzi závislou prácou (zamestnaním) a nezávislou prácou (podnikaním), t.j. nepravej alebo falošnej samostatne zárobkovej činnosti. Monografia prepája ekonomické vnímanie podnikania a samostatne zárobkovej činnosti s legislatívnymi trendmi, a tým upozorňuje na potenciálne úskalia v aplikačnej praxi. Hlavným cieľom vedeckej monografie je vymedziť podstatu nepravej samostatne zárobkovej činnosti a ekonomicky závislej samostatnej zárobkovej činnosti, zhodnotiť možnosti ich merania a vykazovania a identifikovať hlavné trendy v právnej regulácii nepravej a závislej samostatne zárobkovej činnosti a ich dopady na aplikačnú prax. V teoretickej rovine vychádza z medzinárodne akceptovaných teórií a konceptov falošnej a závislej samostatnej zárobkovej činnosti a v a praktickej rovine sa opiera o dáta a výsledky originálneho empirického výskumu z roku 2022, ktorý bol realizovaný v slovenských podmienkach.

Unemployment is one of the most important problems affecting people in all countries. It affects the functioning of entire economies, industries, and enterprises; it also reduces the level and quality of people’s lives. The dynamic changes that are taking place in the labor market are forcing entrepreneurs to adopt a flexible approach to labor market resources – that is, employees – and also to choose appropriate forms of human capital management. This may lead to a reduction in unemployment in the market. Consequently, tackling unemployment is one of the important challenges facing the European Union, especially on its way to achieving sustainable development goals. High levels of unemployment could significantly hamper the achievement of the Agenda 2030 employment targets (SDG8), leading to poverty, social and economic inequality, and social instability. Therefore, the subject of this study is unemployment in EU countries; the main objective is to examine unemployment levels across EU member states. The deliberations and analysis are carried out in the context of the Agenda 2030 Goal 8 (SDG 8) for sustainable development. Taking into account the different degrees of implementation of SDG8 by individual Member States, and thus the different results in this respect, the study finds differences and similarities among the surveyed Member States in terms of types and levels of unemployment. The research is based on Eurostat data for 2022, and uses multidimensional comparative analysis methods such as cluster analysis and linear ordering. A review of selected sources on international and European law focuses on employment policy standards, including the problem of unemployment; this serves as a background for the analyses. The considerations are embedded in the concept of sustainable development, which influences the functioning of entire economies, but also in the processes of enterprise management. Based on the literature and the results of the analyses, it is concluded that levels of unemployment vary greatly in the analyzed countries. The best conditions for availability and accessibility of work are found in the Czech Republic and Malta; the worst are in Spain and Greece, where unemployment is very high.

Improving energy efficiency includes a number of measures implemented as part of the greening of the energy industry, which in turn is a prerequisite for the creation of a sustainable energy industry to ensure energy and environmental security for the world. Despite the adoption of the EU directives on energy efficiency, there is still insufficient public awareness in this area in Poland and Slovakia. This is particularly surprising because improving energy efficiency not only brings national and global benefits, but also has a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and households. The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the national policies of Poland and Slovakia, which are based on the European Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, and which introduce new measures aimed not only at increasing energy efficiency, but also at increasing the well-being of households and individuals. Methods of desk research and content analysis were used. The current situation in both countries is illustrated by case studies that document the administrative process (Slovakia) and the calculation of energy savings (Poland) when using renewable energy sources in the case of family houses.