Information and communication technology (ICT) is considered a significant factor in economic growth and development. Over the past two decades, scholars have studied the impact of ICT on economic growth, but there has been little research that has addressed the impact of ICT on human development, which is considered one of the fundamental factors of economic development. This could be especially important from the perspective of developing countries, which can develop faster through the implementation of ICT. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of ICT use on human development, distinguishing effects among high, upper-middle, lower-middle and low-income countries following the World Bank classification 2020. Our sample includes 130 countries in the period from 2007 to 2019. The empirical analysis is based on dynamic panel data regression analysis. We use Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) as an estimator, i.e., two-step system GMM. The results primarily support the dynamic behaviour of human development. The results of the analysis also show that ICT has highly significant positive effects on human development in lower-middle-income and low-income countries, while the effects do not appear to be significant in high- and middle-income countries. This research serves as an argument for the need to invest in ICT and its implementation in low-income countries; however, it also suggests that the story is not one-sided and that there are possible negative effects of ICT use on human development. From the perspective of economic policy, the results can be a guideline for the implementation and use of ICT in developing countries, which could lead to economic growth and development and thus better quality of life. On the other hand, policymakers in developed countries cannot rely on ICT alone; they should also consider other technological innovations that could ensure a better quality of life.

Contemporary studies of economic inequality and poverty emphasise that their key causes are in the area of tax policy, labour force policy, and employment, and the causes that are being pointed out lately are education and educational attainment level of the population. The aim of the paper is to confirm the theoretically defined link between education and income inequality reduction and to point out that economic policy makers cannot solve the problem of inequality in society without a significant influence on public education, primarily through increased availability and quality of public education. In the second part of the paper, the Gini coefficient, the education index, and the coefficient of human inequality are used on the example of 130 countries to establish a correlation between education and income inequality reduction. The model shows a strong link between income inequality reduction (measured by the Gini coefficient) and increase in the educational attainment level of the population, increase in income, but also improvement of the health care system. It was found that, for each unit reduction of the coefficient of human inequality (IHDI), the Gini coefficient decreases by 9.7 points. In addition to research limitations and the proposal of future research, the conclusion proposes the opportunities and measures for increasing the educational attainment level of the population in order to reduce income inequality. Emphasis is also placed on the importance of tertiary maritime education.

The “smart village” concept is relatively new among EU decision- and policy it is a result of many-it is a result of many years of debate, economic and territorial inequalities, social exclusion, diversification of certain areas, gradual reduction of agricultural activities and the interaction of cohesion, regional, and common agricultural policy. The concept of smart villages implies saving villages and their inhabitants, protecting cultural heritage and using local potentials to meet modern challenges. In its initial stages, it requires activities of all stakeholders, from individuals living in the rural area in question to decision-makers participating in identifying the strengths, threats, opportunities, and weaknesses of a certain rural area. Apart from the theoretical definition of smart villages, this paper aims to analyse European regulations of smart villages, and to define the challenges and smart village traps in rural development and ways in which they can be prevented.

Abstract:In the theoretical part of the research, the authors will define the category of human resources and identify its similarities and differences in relation to similar categories. Furthermore, they will provide a brief overview of theoretical and methodological achievements in the measuring of the value of human capital at the macro level, i.e. development of human resources. In the empirical part of the research, development of human resources will be evaluated through the HDI in selected countries, with particular emphasis on CEE countries. Human resource development rank of CEE countries in 2014 will be established, and the change in the index in the period 1990-2014 presented and analysed. In conclusion, it will be identified which countries achieved the greatest change in human development in the period 1990-2014.

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