Paweł Dec

In recent years, a key challenge for most cities worldwide has been to eliminate or at least minimise the harmful impact of the pollution they generate on their own residents and surroundings. The authors have set themselves the goal of presenting current environmental issues and the possibilities for solving them, including the topic of undertaking pro-environmental actions and attitudes towards strategic development, particularly the implementation of eco-innovation in local government units. This is considered both at the current operational level and in terms of long-term strategic plans (through the application of solutions that take into account the principles of sustainable development or the ESG concept) with a focus on eliminating and/or mitigating environmental threats. The authors analysed examples from selected cities in Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on their sustainable development strategies and the implementation of “green” investments. Various research methods were applied, including literature reviews, desk research, and quantitative, qualitative, and comparative analyses.

In the current global business environment, the key factor influencing the success and sustainability of enterprises are the ESG assumptions, which aim to take into account environmental, social, and governance aspects in the decision-making process and when conducting business activities. This concept is not only gaining in importance but also penetrates deeply into an organisation's strategy, defining how companies should manage resources, product quality, and their impact on the surrounding world. Authors show how ESG is becoming an integral part of enterprise management, especially with respect to quality and environmental protection cost management. They focus on specific Lean Accounting tools and integrated quality and environmental cost accounting that can be used when implementing ESG assumptions. The proposed solutions result in a reduction in the use of raw materials and other resources, which is beneficial both for the planet and the company's financial results.

The article concerns the issue of the existence of non-obvious relationships and of potential correlations between the emission of greenhouse gases and particulate matter (PM), renewable energy and corruption perceptions. Additionally, it analyses the possible impact of these above-mentioned connections on the economic, environmental and social situation in the context of further economic development, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and in relation to European countries. The issue of reducing dirty energy sources and corrupt activities is not only a problem considered at the state level, but it is very closely related to the operation of many private enterprises. The conducted research applied methods of desk research as well as comparative quantitative analyses and used extensive statistical data of most European Union member states as well as the United Kingdom and Norway. The ambiguity of the results obtained in the research does not allow for an explicit verification of the existence of relationships between corruption and the pro-ecological initiatives influencing the lower intensity of greenhouse gases and particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere or increasing share of renewable energy in the whole energy consumption. However, in many analysed cases it is possible to observe the occurrence of the indicated relationships, which, although not considered to be a rule, may give direction to further detailed research in this area, in particular in order to show the resulting beneficial or unfavourable implications for the performance and development of companies and the economy as a whole with rules of sustainability.

The article concerns the responsibility of financial institutions, primarily banks, for sustainable development and pro-ecological activities. The aim of the presented study is to identify the scope of activities of financial institutions in the field of sustainable development. What roles could banks have in contributing to sustainable development by offering socially responsible financial products? The authors conducted both quantitative research on a random group of Polish managers and a Delphi study on a group of several dozen experts, former members of the government, and bank presidents. The main results of the research indicate a 78% support among Polish managers for the activities of enterprises in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. More than 60% of the experts surveyed said that offering socially responsible financial products by banks is a growing trend in the economy. Moreover, two-thirds of the study’s participants think that such products are to be characterized by lower fees and margins than other standard financial products. Examples of the most frequently mentioned and expected products include those related to the development of green energy and eco-innovations or waste disposal. The results of the conducted research clearly indicate the need for financial institutions or banks to offer socially responsible financial products, which should become a part of their development strategies.

The paper deals with the problems of public and legal burdens of cooperative banks operating in Poland, in terms of their limits on the strength of taxes (various types of mandatory fees and levies for the state). Comparative public and legal burdens of banks are discussed in the literature. As the main research goal, the authors chose to examine the situation of cooperative banks in the context of increasing tax and legal burdens. The article uses the desk research method, comparative method and quantitative analysis of cooperative banks’ tax burden for calculating the author’s tax restrictiveness index. The authors proposed their own definition of the tribute paid by cooperative banks to the state and institutions subordinate to it. An interesting perspective on the subject of effectiveness of cooperative banks in comparison with their tax burden was analyzed. The paper also exposes the methodology of examining public-law burdens in cooperative banks and conducted a stress limit analysis for these burdens (tributes) on the example of 309 banks – participants of the Association Protection System – SOZ BPS. It is important to point out that the tax restrictiveness index (WD) in the studied group of cooperative banks was calculated. A new concluding case on problems related to further raising the tax burden of cooperative banks in Poland was also presented.

Artykuł dotyczy aktualnego problemu prognozowania bankructwa banków. W okresie ostatniego kryzysu finansowego wiele europejskich i amerykańskich banków ogłosiło upadłość, a znaczna część pozostałych banków miała gorsze wyniki finansowe. W związku z tym istotne wydają się nasilone badania dotyczące metod i narzędzi ograniczających ryzyko upadłości takich instytucji finansowych. Podobnie ważne są jednoznaczne regulacje i wymogi organów ustawodawczych czy nadzorczych odnośnie do zasad rachunkowości i sprawozdawczości finansowej banków. Autorzy stwierdzili, że wielość i dostępność różnych modeli prognozowania bankructwa banków (nie deprecjonując oczywiście innych działań i metod nadzorczych czy kontrolujących instytucji), a także przejrzystość narzucanych bankom zasad rachunkowości wpływa na ogólną stabilność sektora bankowego.

The paper contains an analysis of enterprise financing through mezzanine capital. It is a unique source of relatively capital, especially in the context of finding a company in crisis, and the lack of acquisition of other capital from all available sources of external financing. Crucial from the point of view of the authors of the article seems to be correct to define and theoretical mezzanine capital, because it directs not only the use but also the assessment of efficiency. In addition, synthetically it presents quantitative data on the practical application of mezzanine capital. It shows the main advantages and disadvantages of using this type of financing business activity, not forgetting, however, that this issue requires a very thorough and intensive research is in practice.

Prezentowany artykuł dotyczy problemu występowania paniki klientów w bankach na świecie. Zjawisko to po ostatnim kryzysie finansowym zdecydowanie się nasiliło, stąd celowym wydaje się podjęcie próby analizy tego tematu. Problem zarządzania paniką w bankach czy na rynkach finansowych jest niezwykle złożoną kwestią wymagającą zarówno ujęcia teoretycznego, jak i praktycznego. Autorzy podjęli próbę scharakteryzowania paniki jako zjawiska socjoekonomicznego. Poddali analizie behawioralne aspekty paniki i instrumenty jej dezaktywacji. Ponadto opisano przykłady runu na kasy w Europie. Przeprowadzone badania pokazały nie tylko złożoność problemu, ale również skuteczność i zawodność pewnych instrumentów ograniczających, czy wręcz likwidujących, panikę na rynku.