The Žilina region is located in northwestern Slovakia. Considering the amount of GDP, unemployment, employment and average wage, it belongs among the medium-performance regions in Slovakia. FDI is considered one of the factors promoting its sustainable development, economic performance and balancing regional differences. A positive aspect of FDI in terms of regional development is the fact that they contribute to an efficient allocation of resources, as investors are directing their investments in those regions where they expect the achievement of economies of scale. FDI began to increasingly flow to the Žilina region after 2004, in connection with the arrival of KIA Motors and establishing its subcontracting partners. The aim of this article is to point out the condition and development of economic performance and FDI in the Žilina region, and to demonstrate a causal relationship between FDI and the sustainable development of the region.

Business performance management (BPM) is an instrument that allows the fulfillment of business objectives and the improvement of competitiveness in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). When BPM is implemented and measured, it can improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the enterprise. Despite its potential benefits, the possibilities of BPM in SMEs are often underestimated due to the lack of resources (mainly personal or financial). The goal of this paper is to introduce a framework for the implementation of BPM in Slovak SMEs based on research on transportation SMEs. To this end, certain steps that support the efficient introduction and use of BPM in these SMEs will be proposed. Our proposal regarding the performance of BPM is based on the findings of previous research studies along with the results of own questionnaire surveys and personal meetings/interviews with owners/managers of transportation SMEs. The results of this research shows that SMEs are generally not familiar with BPM and how the system is used. Essential elements to implement BPM are lacking in SMEs, and although the BPM system might help these firms improve their competitiveness, SMEs remain uniformed about the advantages of BPM. The proposed framework of BPM implementation in this paper can be used to inform SMEs and to assist them in their decisionmaking processes regarding the application of this system.

<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> As management systems, enterprise risk management and enterprise performance management pursue similar objectives and influence each other positively. The paper aims to provide an insight into the relationship between Enterprise Risk Management and Business Performance Management.</p><p><strong>Methodology/Approach:</strong> The paper compares the results of an American study with the results of a Slovakian study. First, the American results are cited and interpreted. Then the Slovak results are presented and discussed. Then the results are compared. In the last part an overall conclusion is drawn, the relationships between the results are shown and practical implications are explained.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> The results show similarities, but also differences to Enterprise Risk Management and the relationships between Enterprise Risk Management and Business Performance Management. The paper shows that there are differences in both the management approach and the impact on business performance between American and Slovak companies.</p><p><strong>Research Limitation/implication:</strong> A limitation in both studies is the limited number of participating companies. This is accompanied by a higher probability of error.</p><strong>Originality/Value of paper:</strong> The paper provides new information to the gap related to subjects enterprise risk management and business performance management and their relations.

This paper is focused on the problem of the economic security as the principal component of a multilevel security concept in the present global economy. The authors characterize various theoretical and practical notions of security as the complex phenomenon. The economic security as an integral component of the mentioned security concept is also characterized. The further text is concentrated on the global aspects of economic security, which are depicted in the examples in economies of China, the U.S.A. and the EU.

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