ISBN online: 978-80-7701-047-4 | DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4
27th Annual International Conference ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY 2025
27.–28. 4. 2025 Brno
- Petr David (Ed.), Hana Vránová (Ed.)
On March 27th and 28th, 2025, the Faculty of Business and Economics of Mendel University in Brno organized already the 27th international conference “Economic Competitiveness and Sustainability“ with over 100 onsite participants from the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine and USA. In the presented Proceedings you find 16 papers which were recommended by conference discussants and selected on the basis of a peer-review process. The presented research outputs contribute to and extend the current state of knowledge and will stimulate further debate not only in academia but also in other institutions of public and private sector. The submitted papers reacts on the current interdisciplinary problems arising in the areas of Business Economics, Public Administration, Digital Transformation, Sustainability, and Marketing.
online: 2025, publisher: Mendel University in Brno
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Conference papers
LEVERAGING HTTP/3 FOR EFFICIENT RESTFUL API COMMUNICATION
Jiří Balej, Andrej Juríčka, Jiří Passinger
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0008
The rise of IT systems automation required the shift of the management of network devices and servers to machine-oriented interfaces, such as REST APIs. It enables large-scale batch requests but also creates challenges such as latency and limited concurrency handling. This paper investigates the potential benefits of adopting HTTP/3 for REST-based network and server management, examining its impact on communication efficiency. Specifically, the research compares different versions of HTTP in terms of communication performance, latency, message count, and execution speed, while exploring the advantages and challenges of such solutions. The findings provide valuable information on the integration of HTTP/3 into modern network management practices, with the aim of optimising automation and improving performance across IT infrastructures.
EU MERGER CONTROL: HEALTHCARE MARKET ISSUES
Anželika Banevičienė
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0016
This article analyses the laws and practices regarding the control of mergers in the healthcare sector at the EU level and in several EU member states. It compares the legal frameworks of the EU and its member countries to establish the legal basis for controlling the mergers (concentrations) of the undertakings. Additionally, the article indicates interconnections between the jurisdictions of the European Commission and EU member states national competition regulatory authorities. It also provides an analysis of the European Commission’s merger assessment practices in the healthcare sector since the adoption of EU Merger Regulation 139/2004 on 1 May 2004 till the end of 2024 in comparison with the practice of the Lithuanian competition regulatory authority.
OPTIMIZING PROMPTS THROUGH AI FRAMEWORKS: A PATH TO MORE RELEVANT RESPONSES
Jana Dannhoferová, Petr Jedlička
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0029
The rapid growth of large language models has increased the importance of prompt engineering in facilitating effective human-computer interaction. While various frameworks have been developed to assist users with prompt engineering, a comparative analysis of these frameworks and their core components is still lacking. This study addresses this gap by analyzing key terms in widely used frameworks such as RACEF (Role, Audience, Context, Example, Format) to identify recurring elements that are critical to prompt optimization. The findings will lead to actionable recommendations and the development of a unified framework incorporating the most important elements for effective prompt engineering.
WHICH AI MODEL LEADS IN SUMMARIZING FINANCIAL ARTICLES? A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GPT, MISTRAL, AND LLAMA
Jana Dannhoferová, Jan Přichystal
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0039
In an era where financial data grows at an unprecedented pace, effective summarization is vital for informed decision-making. This study rigorously evaluates the summarization capabilities of three advanced AI models—GPT-4o, Mistral Instruct, and Llama 3.1 8B Instruct 128k—when applied to diverse financial articles. A key contribution of this research is the development of a comprehensive evaluation framework, which assesses the models across critical dimensions, including accuracy, clarity, relevance, adherence to formatting specifications, and practical usability. While GPT consistently achieved the highest overall scores, Llama demonstrated superior performance in certain criteria, such as clarity and compression efficiency, highlighting its potential for applications where brevity and conciseness are prioritized. Despite occasional inconsistencies, Mistral excelled in generating concise summaries with high compression ratios. Our findings emphasize that the selection of an AI model should depend on specific task priorities—whether it is accuracy, brevity, or response speed. These insights underline the importance of both rigorous evaluation methodologies and careful model selection based on task-specific requirements, paving the way for more targeted applications and further research into AI-driven summarization tools in finance.
ANALYZING CONSUMER BEHAVIOR USING NEURAL NETWORKS AND GRAMMATICAL EVOLUTION
Aleš Ďurčanský, Kamil Staněk, Michal Ježek, Jiří Šťastný
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0051
In this contribution, we will present an approach to the automatic classification of customers based on their behaviour in the food market. The analysis is based on the data from a survey on meat product consumption in the Czech Republic. Classifiers were created to categorize customers into classes according to their habits of purchasing meat products, dividing the customers with respect to such characteristics as age or education. To accomplish this task some selected types of artificial neural networks (Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network, Kohonen Neural Network) were trained and also an approach based on grammatical evolution was used. These classifiers were compared with regard to their abilities to perform the given task. Also, the survey data pre-processing is described.
STUDENT-DRIVEN RESEARCH ON BLOCKCHAIN SOLUTIONS FOR MICRO-CREDENTIALING SYSTEMS
Oldřich Faldík, Pavel Turčínek
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0060
The rapid advancements in blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies have catalysed a growing demand for professionals equipped to navigate this transformative domain. Mendel University’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies course addresses this need by integrating theoretical foundations with hands-on project-based learning. The curriculum delves into blockchain architecture, consensus mechanisms, smart contracts, decentralized applications, and economic and regulatory implications. Students engage with diverse blockchain platforms, including Hyperledger Fabric, BigchainDB, Avalanche, Corda, and Polygon Mumbai, to develop real-world solutions for micro-credentialing systems. The comparative analysis of these platforms reveals distinct trade-offs in scalability, security, privacy, and functionality, offering insights into selecting optimal technologies for specific use cases. Through interdisciplinary projects, students gain practical experience, foster innovation, and prepare for strategic roles in the blockchain industry. This approach highlights the critical interplay between theory and application, equipping students to tackle complex challenges and contribute to blockchain innovation across diverse sectors.
AWARENESS OF AGILITY IN SLOVAK MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE ENTERPRISES
Martin Halász, Andrea Janáková Sujová, Denis Pinka, Jarmila Schmidtová
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0066
The article deals with the awareness of agility in Slovak industrial and service companies, reflecting on the experience gained during the unpredictable changes caused by the coronacrisis. The aim is to identify the attitude to agility in enterprises as the ability to respond quickly to dynamic market conditions and to implement agile principles. The research was conducted through a questionnaire survey, examining activities undertaken to build agility, the ability of enterprises to be agile, perceptions of agile barriers, benefits of agility and the importance of enterprise agility. The results of the research present benefits for theory, science and practice. The findings offer new empirical insights from the Slovak industry and service sectors environment that can contribute to increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises.
CONSUMER PROTECTION MECHANISMS IN EU REGULATORY SANDBOXES
Jana Janderová
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0076
Regulatory sandboxes have emerged as pivotal tools in fostering innovation within the financial and technological sectors. This article explores the concept of regulatory sandboxes, focusing on their legal regulation under European Union (EU) law and the critical role of regulators in ensuring consumer protection. The EU’s approach to regulatory sandboxes is characterized by a flexible yet robust framework that allows for the controlled testing of innovative products and services. This framework aims to balance the need for innovation with the imperative of safeguarding consumer interests. The article delves into the legal foundations of regulatory sandboxes within the EU, examining key legislative instruments and policy initiatives that support their implementation. It highlights the European Commission’s efforts to harmonize the AI sandbox regulations across member states, promoting a cohesive and efficient regulatory environment. A significant focus is placed on consumer protection, detailing how regulators ought to implement safeguards to mitigate risks associated with new technologies. In conclusion, the article argues that regulatory sandboxes, when effectively regulated and supervised, can serve as powerful catalysts for innovation while maintaining high standards of consumer protection.
PROGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS – REALITY CHECK FOR BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Amer Kajmaković, Badema Durkić, Samira Avdić
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0087
This study examines the level of digitalization in Bosnia and Herzegovina through a survey of 140 companies from various sectors and sizes. Bosnia and Herzegovina, like other countries in the Western Balkans, is classified as a developing country. These Western Balkan countries offer significant nearshoring opportunities due to lower labor costs compared to the EU. To capitalize on these opportunities, digitization, automation of industry, and green transition are among the priority tasks. Supported by EU investments, Western Balkan countries are investing in infrastructure and production, improving development, raising living standards, and adapting production processes to Industry 4.0 standards. However, the survey shows that technology adoption is mostly a continuation of Industry 3.0, with limited integration of advanced analytics and data connectivity. While a significant number of companies possess modern machinery, indicating production capabilities, the adoption of robotics and Industry 4.0 technologies remains concerningly low. Despite their awareness of advanced industrial technologies and significant usage of ERP software, companies lack serious intentions to digitize, suggesting a need for further investigation into the factors hindering this transition.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS AS THE DRIVERS OF POST CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION IN EUROPE
Yuri Krivorotko
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0101
This paper examines the scope of European national development banks, their role, their objectives, their policy mandates, their financial services, which clients they target, how they are regulated and supervised, what business models they have adopted, what their governance structure is and what challenges they face. The research questions passed in the paper are to examine role that National development banks plays in times of post-conflict reconstruction, namely: gap between investment needs and financial capacity; examine the scope of National development banks, their roles, missions and business models in several EU member States; measure and compare their performance to each other and their business models; the actual level of control exercised by the public sector; analyze the missions and visions of public financial institutions in terms of their objectives, geographic scope, stakeholders, products and services. The research methodology is based on empirical data of development banks from 2012 to the present: periodic reports of the World Bank, Annual reports for 2022–2023 of 23 National development banks (NDBs) from 16 European countries.
ACCEPTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL BUSINESS PLATFORMS: AN ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYEE ATTITUDES IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND REGIONS
Isidora Milošević, Olesea Plotnic
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0121
Digitalization has recently sparked a technological revolution by drastically altering how businesses function. These changes have been further hastened by global difficulties, which have led to a rise in the use of digital business platforms. These platforms enable businesses to focus their efforts on distant users and modify their business plans to meet the market’s needs. The main goal of this study is to examine employees from various industry sectors and geographical areas’ attitudes toward adopting digital networks and using digital business platforms. The employee survey was conducted to understand better their attitude towards these tools and their readiness to integrate digital solutions into everyday work activities. Through cross-tab analysis, the study looked at attitudes regarding adopting and implementing digital business platforms across many industries and geographical areas. The collected data was analyzed using statistical techniques using the SPSS software package. The results obtained provide companies with valuable recommendations for more efficient use of digital tools and improving the digitalization of their business processes.
CHANGING THE CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN FOOD PRODUCT PURCHASING ACCORDING TO THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD CONSUMPTION
Nataliia Parkhomenko
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0128
The limited natural resources with the growth of the population make the problem of sustainable food consumption very relevant and important, as it affects the environmental, economic and social aspects of life. The purpose of the study is to develop recommendations for shaping the behavior of food consumers based on the concept of sustainable consumption. The information base of the study was formed by interview data, official statistical materials, and the results of our own research. The research methods used were a systematic approach, an economic and statistical method, and an expert evaluation method. As a result of the study, the components of the sustainable food consumption system were determined in accordance with the concept of rational consumption; the motivators that guide the purchase of food products were characterized, as well as the demotivators that prevent consumers from sustainably consuming food products; proposals were made for changing consumption behavior in accordance with the concept of more sustainable food consumption.
SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVENESS: THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE IN ECONOMIC RANKINGS
Elisabeth T. Pereira
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0136
This study examines the relationship between competitiveness and sustainability, demonstrating a positive correlation between high national competitiveness and strong environmental performance. Using data from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, the analysis highlights those sustainable practices that contribute significantly to long-term competitive advantage. The results show that countries excelling in economic infrastructure, innovation, and governance often prioritize environmental policies, enhancing both competitiveness and sustainability. These findings underscore the importance of integrating sustainable practices into economic strategies to foster balanced and resilient growth.
THE SUSTAINABILITY TRAJECTORY IN BUSINESS: EXPERIENCES FROM THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Denis Pinka, Mariana Sedliačiková, Martin Halasz
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0145
Sustainable business is one of the main strategic factors for businesses that are trying to strengthen their competitiveness and ensure long-term prosperity in a dynamically changing market environment. Business activities in the field of sustainability include specific steps supporting economic, environmental and social balance, while addressing global challenges of sustainable business. Initiatives in sustainable business also strengthen the reputation of businesses and increase their long-term competitive advantage in the market. The presented study focuses on the analysis of sustainable business in the Slovak Republic, examining selected sustainable activities implemented by businesses. Based on a questionnaire survey that included 402 businesses of various sizes and sectors, it was found that the most frequently implemented activities are recycling and waste minimization, as well as the reduction of water and energy consumption. Sustainable activities bring benefits to businesses, such as reduced operating costs, increased image and access to new markets. Despite positive trends in sustainability, differences persist in the intensity of their application in practice. The paper emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to sustainability and the importance of involving employees in the transformation process. The findings provide a basis for further research into effective sustainable business strategies.
EVOLUTION OF USAGE PATTERNS FOR ONLINE TOOLS IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Tomáš Sochor, Hana Sochorová, Jan Krejčí
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0155
The paper focuses on analysis of data available from various sources regarding the usage of internet services. The paper goal is to put the data about internet usage in the context of digital transformation (DT) of the society. Both social and human-resource aspects of the DT were emphasized in the presented research oriented primarily to the investigation of share of population accessing the internet in various countries, its relation to various parameters reflecting public services (e.g. government efficiency). For selected relations, correlation and/or regression analyses were performed as well. The main conclusion is that a relation between internet user ratio and government efficiency seem to exist but it is weak.. Also, the study argues that the minority not adopting the digital transformation tools is large enough and should not be neglected in making decisions, e.g. by eliminating non-IT ways to use public services.
FACILITATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: LEGAL ASPECTS
Violeta Vasiliauskienė
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0162
This article explores the legal obligations of states and businesses in facilitating the employment of persons with disabilities, emphasizing the intersection between sustainable business practices and human rights. It examines key international legal frameworks, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the International Labour Organization’s Tripartite Declaration of Principles. The study highlights the role of corporate sustainability due diligence, particularly in light of the EU Directive 2024/1760, in ensuring equal employment opportunities. It focuses on measures to facilitate employment, including affirmative action, support for career development, vocational training, self-employment opportunities, and public sector initiatives aimed at fostering an inclusive labour market.
ISSUING MICRO-CREDENTIALS WITH BLOXBERG BLOCKCHAIN
Martin Záklasník, Veronika Konečná, Oldřich Faldík, Oldřich Trenz, Andrej Gono
DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7701-047-4-0172
The increasing demand for flexible, modular learning credentials has positioned micro-credentials as an attractive alternative to traditional educational qualifications. However, effectively verifying and securing micro-credentials remains a significant challenge. This paper investigates the utilization of the Bloxberg blockchain—a platform specifically tailored for academic and research use cases—to issue and manage micro-credentials. Our approach builds on previous work by proposing a proof-of-concept application that integrates Bloxberg’s Proof of Authority consensus mechanism with three key API end-points: registering credential issuers, issuing new certificates, and verifying existing certificates. By separating on-chain credential identifiers from off-chain storage of sensitive personal data, our design addresses both GDPR requirements and the practical need for privacy. We develop a REST API with Swagger documentation and a React-based frontend to facilitate integration into existing institutional infrastructures or to function as a standalone solution. The paper details the technical architecture, including the generation of decentralized identifiers (DIDs) for issuers and certificates, and presents an initial evaluation of the system’s capabilities for handling revocation and validation. Our findings suggest that blockchain-based micro-credentialing offers improved security, reduces reliance on centralized authorities, and can improve trust among stakeholders. This study not only demonstrates the technical feasibility but also proposes a methodological framework for assessing the effectiveness of such blockchain-based systems, addressing key issues such as centralization, cost, and accessibility that are inherent in traditional credentialing systems. The framework includes verifiable metrics for evaluating improvements in security, trust, and efficiency.