Post-Communist Countries in Central Europe
Emma Jane Riddle, 2013
Overview
•
•
•
•
•
•
Business culture in Poland
Managing employees in the Czech Republic
Statistics: population and GDP
The European Union and the euro currency
Economic and political news
Business and industry
Business Culture in Poland
•
•
•
•
Design products for Poland.
Win-win negotiations work well.
You can be direct, but be tactful.
Be prepared to provide data. People are not
impressed by "sales talk".
• Take time to build relationships and gain trust.
• Be willing to "give something back" to the
community.
Business Culture in Poland (2)
• Local governments have a large role in business
regulation. Some areas are more conducive to
business than others.
• Professional titles are used in Poland.
Example: engineer
• Do not call older people by their first names until
you are invited to do so.
• Business entertainment should be reciprocated.
• People are reluctant to share personal information.
Managing Czech Employees
• Establish a good rapport with employees.
• Managers must be trustworthy and credible
• Younger Czech employees
– Are eager to learn and often creative
– Want work that is meaningful and appreciated
– Want opportunities for professional development
• Some older Czechs may lack motivation and are
not accustomed to taking initiative
Managing Czech Employees (2)
• Czechs may be reluctant to tackle new
responsibilities because
– They tend to be perfectionists.
– They don’t want to lose the respect of colleagues by
making a mistake.
• Many Czechs do not like to take risks.
– Responsibilities and work procedures should be clear.
• People are reluctant to share personal information.
Source: Karin Genton-L’Epee, Prague Post, Jan. 6, 2005
Population (Millions)
2011 Estimates
Slovenia
2.0
Slovakia
5.5
Poland
38.4
Hungary
9.8
Czech Republic
10.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Population (millions) - 2011 Estimate
U. S. Population = 314 Million
35
40
Gross Domestic Product (Billion $)
2011 Estimates
Slovenia
49.6
Slovakia
96.1
Poland
513.8
Hungary
140.3
Czech Republic
215.3
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
GDP (Billion U. S. $) - 2011 Estimate
U. S. GDP = $15.09 Trillion = $15,090 Billion
GDP Per Capita (Thousand $)
(Purchasing Power Parity)
Slovenia
29.1
Slovakia
23.6
Poland
20.6
Hungary
19.8
Czech Republic
27.4
0
10
20
30
GDP Per Capita (Thousand $), PPP
2011 Estimate
U. S. GDP Per Capita = $49,000
40
Requirements to Join the EU
• Be a stable democracy, respecting human rights, the rule of
law, and the rights of minorities.
• Have a functioning market economy that can compete in
the EU.
– Many state enterprises were privatized.
– Foreign investment was needed to develop the
economies.
• Adopt EU laws, product standards, and regulations.
• Agree to adopt the euro currency at a future date
Requirements to Use the Euro Currency
•
•
•
•
•
Stable consumer prices – low inflation
Government budget deficit <= 3% of GDP
National debt <= 60% of GDP
Stable long-term interest rates
Value of the national currency must be
stable relative to the euro
• Slovenia and Slovakia use the euro
Benefits of EU Membership
• Ability to export to other EU countries, with
no tariffs charged.
• Citizens of an EU country can live, work,
and study in any EU country.
• Economic development aid from the EU
• Easier to attract foreign investment
Higher Education
• Mixture of public and private universities
• Higher education in the European Union
–
–
–
–
Five-year Master’s degree program
Three-year Bachelor’s degree program
Two-year Master’s completion program
After completion of a Master’s degree, a doctorate can
be completed in three years.
• European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
Economic and Political News
• In 2009, Poland was the only country in the EU to
have growth in real GDP.
• In most recent elections in the EU, incumbent
leaders have been defeated.
• Hungary had a financial crisis.
– Real estate bubble, financed by loans that had to be
paid back in euros
– The Hungarian forint lost value, relative to the euro
– Many people could not pay off their loans.
Threats to Democracy in Hungary
•
•
•
•
The central bank is now under political control.
Judges were forced to retire at age 62, instead of 70.
The head of the National Judicial Office names all new judges.
Public television is being told what stories to cover, whom to
interview, and what not to cover.
• The Media Council cancelled the license of an independent television
station because of stories that the Prime Minister disliked.
• The Media Council can fine media outlets with whom it disagrees.
• The Constitution was amended to allow ethnic Hungarians living
outside Hungary to vote in Hungarian elections, regardless of how
long they or their families have lived elsewhere.
Economic Growth in Central Europe
•
•
•
•
Automotive industry
Fashion
Financial services
Information technology
•
•
•
•
Internet services
Pharmaceuticals
Tourism and hospitality
Transportation, distribution
Gedeon Richter – Hungary
Skoda – Czech Republic
Price Waterhouse Coopers - Prague
Allied Irish Banks - Poland
Wrigley Factory - Poland
Dell
Automotive Industry
Poland
• Fiat
• Opel
• Toyota
• Volkswagen
• Solaris
• Volvo
• Scania
Czech Republic
• Skoda Auto
• Toyota/Peugeot
• Hyundai
• Several Czech bus
manufacturers
Automotive Industry (2)
Slovakia
• Kia
• Peugeot
• Volkswagen
Slovenia
• Automotive parts
Hungary
• Audi
• Opel
• Daimler
• Primarily engines and
transmissions