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The attitudes of local people are very important for the long-term development of tourism, which is particularly true for Dubrovnik, whose orientation on the cruise tourism is relatively new, but its consequences are already objective, and noticeable in the perceptions of the inhabitants. The main objective of the study is to examine how the inhabitants of Dubrovnik perceive the effects of the cruise tourism and verify the existence of gender differences, as well as the association with age, education level, employment status, number of family members and the distance of residence from the area covered by cruise tourism. The study was conducted on the sample of 122 participants from Dubrovnik, using a questionnaire The Tourism Impact Scale. The results revealed that the participants on average negatively perceived effects of the cruise tourism, especially in terms of environmental impact, but also social, cultural, as well as socio-economic impacts. Statistically significant higher negative perception of socio-economic impact of the cruise tourism was found in females. There was no statistically significant correlation between the distance of the apartment / house of the Old City and other areas frequented by cruise tourists, with particular perceived effects of the cruise tourism. A larger number of family members in males was significantly associated with a more positive perception of the effects arising from the crowd („crowding-out“ effect), while other socio-demographic variables (age, education, work experience and length of living in Dubrovnik) are not significantly correlated to perceptions of the effects of the cruise tourism. The results suggest the need for further research, which can be of use in planning the sustainable development of tourism in Dubrovnik. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to shed some light on the problem of the relationship between economic cycles and the rhythm of political cycles, as exemplified by the events of 1903/1904. After the crisis that had lasted from 1873 to 1895 the economy of Croatia and Slavonia experienced accelerated growth. The paper reexamines the Kondratiev waves, especially the initial effect of the third Kondratiev wave on Croatia and Slavonia. The prosperity that came about after 1895 (compared to previous decades) was not evenly distributed. It was felt the least by the peasantry due to slow modernization. On the other hand, the swelling of the entrepreneurial stratum, in which the GDP was concentrated, in the cities lead to the growth of social inequality. It can be concluded that the uneven distribution of prosperity (which worsened the distrust that peasants felt towards the citizens), in combination with many other inherited problems faced by the peasantry, was one of the triggers of the peasant movements of 1903/1904 and a decisive factor which convinced the Radić brothers that the peasantry had to become politically active as soon as possible. It is also important to note that the uneven distribution of prosperity became an important basis for garnering the support of the peasantry for the political program of the Croatian popular peasant's party (HPSS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world economic crisis is a key factor that will encourage fundamental reforms in the existing economic structures. With its development and consequences, it indicates the unsustainability of market fundamentalism. The established global instability sets a major challenge before Croatia: how can a small country such as Croatia overcome the incurred consequences, if the United States of America and the developed countries of the European Union have not been able to achieve that goal yet? A key hypothesis of this paper takes the view that the global economic crisis has affected the national economy to a small extent only, while the main factors of the current economic situation can be found in causes that generated and have been neglected in the past two decades. The research showed that the major part of respondents correctly identify the cases of problems in the national economy as endogenous. It receives additional foundation in a percentage of 93,5% of respondents who expressed the view that the problem of the Croatian economy are results of internal causes. At the same time, more than half of respondents believe that the world economic crisis has significantly affected the Croatian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to present stylized facts on basic patterns of economic growth for interpreting development processes and emphasizing institutional economy as part of endogenous theory of growth supporting the idea of how a country will develop if it develops and strenghtens 1) institutions aiming at transaction costs decrease and confidence increase, which generates development programme initiatives and 2) institutions facilitating acquisition of knowledge, skills, information, production resources for individuals as to increase their productivity, income and welfare in general. In order to prove the importance of institutions in economic development the paper interpretes economic history through a number of selected cases exemplifying the extent of economic development depending on institution quality and institutional framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike the strategic development on a micro level, strategic management on the macro level gets its final form within the period of 10 to 30 years. It was not until recently that strategic documents of the Croatian economy occurred in a larger number. If taken into consideration as documents important for a systematic, national and market-oriented development, and not just as a mere administrative need, development strategies demand the support of all elements of a national development concept. A successful harmonization of the elements of development is a result of a good approach to the issue of forming a strategic development model of a national economy. Within the system of harmonized elements of a strategic development on the macro level, the system lex specialis of the law which regulates nautical tourism is of utter importance. Therefore, changes in a macro development strategy, leading to the changes of strategic goals, require appropriate changes in supporting legislation. This research will take into consideration the following issues: * Does legislation follow the strategic development objectives, or it precedes and indicates the necessary changes? * Do the changes of regulations regarding ports and ships support the strategic development of yachting in Croatia, or do they slow it down? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim and purpose of organizing the economic interest association is to facilitate and promote the activities of business units and to improve and increase their business performance and functioning The authors of this scientific work have carried out research into business operations of the Croatian County Port Authorities pointing at certain deficiencies in their business operations. In order to eliminate the perceived weaknesses and improve the management of the County Port Authorities, a detailed analysis of the possibilities of implementing economic interest associations into the Croatian port system has also been carried out. At the same time, and based on the results obtained, in this research, steps, measures and activities of the newly established Port Authorities economic interest units or associations at the county and national level, are defined, namely through changes in the environment and in business activities of the Port Authorities. Within the scope of this research and resulting from scientific theories and postulates as well as from worldwide experience, discussions have been carried on not only on the already implemented organizational solutions, but on the possible models of the Port Authorities economic interest associations that could be applied to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paper is occupied with Istrian Demarcation - a document from 14th century which was defining boundaries, ridges and confines (kunfini) between Istrian mediaeval municipalities (communes), belonging to the Dukedom of Pazin, Patriarchy of Aquileia, and Venetian Republic - as an important and unavoidable source for study of mediaeval economic history of Istria. As a proof for such opinion attention is devoted to those parts of the document which speak on cattle breeding, viticulture, agriculture, forestry, and fishery, with conclusion that: - Cattle breeding was important industry in Istria. Besides meat, milk and milk products (cheese, curd…) cattle was giving wool and leather for production of clothes and footwear. One could say that survival of people of particular territory was depending on the quantity of cattle, what is confirmed with positively solved request of Stari Pazar to widen pasture area for its village Gradin (vas Gradin). - Production of crops was also important economic field in Istria. Production of crops dictated quantity of feudal taxes on which speaks Istrian Demarcation. - Viticulture was also treated as an important production branch. Forestry lands were cleared to raise new vineyards and to improve production of wine. - In municipalities situated at the coastal area fishery was additional source of food supply. - Possession of forestry lands was very apreciated, and important in evaluation of economic strentgh of municipalities (communes). Forests weren't only source of fuel, but also of materials for building houses and production of vessels, and even for roofing. - Exchanges of agricultural surpluses were taking place in fairs organized beside church buildings during festivities of their patron saints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the research the aims of which were to analyse some aspects of the quality of life of elderly persons with physical disability and the connection with social policy. The aspects of quality of life related to: socio-economic indicators, coping with everyday life and mobility, formal and informal forms of social support and subjective sources of strength. The aim was to determine whether the aforementioned aspects of the quality of life of elderly age group differ from those of the younger age group of disabled persons. The sample consisted of 480 disabled persons, out of which 105 persons were older than 65. The research was conducted by the Croatian Association of Disabled Persons in March, 2003. The data was obtained throughout Croatia via semi-structured survey. The results have shown that elderly disabled persons enjoy a favourable housing situation and that their housing is partly adjusted to their needs. Their financial situation is poor, they have to use orthopaedic aids, the environment is inaccessible to them, they rarely use their rights due to the lack of information about them, and they most frequently get informed through the media. Their social network is small, mostly including their children and spouses. The sources of formal support (professionals from Social Welfare Centres, the government representatives and politicians) are inadequate. In general, the assessment of their quality of life is lower than those of younger disabled persons. Such results point out that there is a need to provide a better care and support by the community for the persons with physical disability, and emphasise the importance of social inclusion in order to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]