Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights
UNIT 31
Points for discussion: economic rights
 Explore the existing situation of economic rights: the
right of ownership and market competition. Can
foreigners acquire property and under what
conditions? Do molopolies exist? What is the extent
of foreign investment?
Points for discussion: social rights
 Unemployment, working conditions, social security,
formation of trade unions. How does government
cope with unemployment?
Points for discussion: cultural rights
 Situation in education, science, healthy environment.
 Is there a need for improvement? In what direction?
Economic rights
 Entrepreneurial freedom and the
market-based regulation of economic
relations – backbone of successful
economies
Role of the state
 The state must ensure that certain rules are upheld
in market competition
 All enterpreneurs should enjoy equal legal position
on the market
 The state should prevent abuse of monopolies
Monopoly
 Results in the elimination of market relations and
leads to the preclusion of market competition
 May exist in certain industries (railways, electricity,
water management)
State instruments in economic policy
 Market – imperfect mechanism of social regulation
 Modern states use different instruments to intervene
in market relations: taxes, customs, subsidies, state
investments
 In circumstances of crisis – such role of state
particularly emphasized
Market freedom
 Market and other economic activities should be
conducted in full freedom and under equal
conditions
 The focus of responsibility – individual citizens,
while the state retains its role of ensuring respect for
the rules of free market competition, using its
economic policy measures only for limited
interventions
Workers’ rights
 State interventions imply the obligation to create and
expand the possibilities and conditions for citizens to
exercise their right to work
 Workers – entitled to fair remuneration which may
be claimed either individually or through trade
unions and other organizations
Social rights
 The right of employees and their families to social
security, formation of trade unions and the
protection of families, children and persons with
disabilities – among the most important social rights
Cultural rights
 Right to education, scientific, cultural and artistic
creativity, sports
Environmental rights
 Right to a healthy life with an emphasis on the
protection of public health, nature and a healthy
environment
Legal terms
 Enterpreneur
 One who organizes, owns, manages and assumes the
risks of a business; one that organizes, promotes, or
manages an enterprise or activity of any kind;
poduzetnik
 Enterpreneurial
 Of or relating to an entrepreneur
Legal terms
 Market competition
 Striving for a greater share of the market; tržišno
natjecanje
 Monopoly
 Ownership or control that permits domination of the
market in a business; a commercial monopoly is
where the supply of a certain commodity is
controlled by one manufacturer, trader, or group
Legal terms
 Subsidy
 A grant of money made by government
 Remuneration
 Salary or compensation; naknada, plaća, honorar
Define the following
 Enterpreneurial freedom
 Regulatory powers
 Monopolistic situation
 Market relations
 Social insurance