Research background: As Artificial Intelligence (AI) weaves into the fabric of daily life, its societal and economic implications underscore the urgency of embracing an environment conducive to its informed adoption. This requires a sophisticated understanding of the societal perception and adaptability to AI, emphasizing the importance of developing comprehensive AI literacy. Purpose of the article: This study inquiries into the sociodemographic underpinnings of AI literacy, aiming to demystify how knowledge about AI's capabilities in everyday tasks varies across individual population segments. It allows us to define the basic determinants that influence the differences in the individual population structures. It also reveals the potential risks associated with the use of AI. Methods: This study investigates the awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in daily lives of the Czech population, focusing on the influence of socio-demographic factors. Utilizing computer-assisted web interviewing, we surveyed 1,041 respondents in April 2023, ensuring representativeness by applying quotas for age, gender, education, region, and residential area size. Our investigation spanned AI applications in sectors like customer service, music playlist recommendation, email sorting, healthcare, online shopping, and home devices. Findings & value added: Findings taken from descriptive statistics reveal variable AI awareness levels across different domains, with younger demographics exhibiting notably lower awareness in several areas. Regression analysis highlighted that awareness is significantly associated with gender, age, and education level. Regression analysis showed that males, younger age groups and those with higher levels of education were more likely to correctly answer majority of questions about the role of AI in everyday life. These insights are crucial for stakeholders aiming to enhance AI literacy, tailor communication strategies, and develop digital platforms, offering guidance for policymakers and market analysts in optimizing AI-related initiatives.

Background and aims: The current level of knowledge concerning the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on internet use, gambling, and substance use in structurally disadvantaged regions is scarce. The objective of this study was an investigation of the relationship between SES and risky internet use, gambling and substance use in a structurally disadvantaged region in Central Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among high school students (n = 1063) in a Czech structurally disadvantaged region in autumn 2017. Binary Logistic Regression models were applied to data from the modified Excessive Internet Use scale (mEIUS), a standard tool for measuring the risk of addictive behavior on the internet and the risk of excessive gaming. Other data were collected using the Lie/Bet (problematic gambling), CAGE (acronym of the key words: cut, angry, guilty and eye-opener), and the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) (problematic alcohol/cannabis use) tools. Results: There were statistically significant differences between at-risk and not-at-risk groups in addictive behavior on the internet and gaming, while none were found in problematic gambling. Individual dimensions of SES showed significant effects on substance use. Regarding parenting styles, significant differences were found only in the risk of addictive behavior on the internet or gaming between the authoritarian and authoritative styles. Being engaged in behavioral addictions with one´s parents increased the odds of the behavioral addiction risk and decreased the odds of the substance addiction risk. Engagement with one´s parents in substance addictions decreased the odds of the behavioral addiction risk and increased the odds of the substance addiction risk. Discussion and Conclusions: The results point at specific relations between SES and the risk of addictive behaviors on the internet and gaming within structurally disadvantaged regions. The results of SES and/or structurally disadvantaged region measures obtained in research, policy-making, and care-provision may improve the focus of actions taken.

Research background: Improving business conditions and SME development are signs of a country?s macroeconomic stability. The issue of identifying and removing barriers to the development of firms in the SME segment is a priority in all countries with developed economies and its importance is currently increasing. Purpose of the article: The main aim of this paper is to explore possible differences in entrepreneurs? perception of the business environment based on the industry in which the company operates. The analysis contains also a national view, where a comparison between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic is performed. Methods: Correspondence analysis was used to achieve the research objectives in order to examine the relations between the categorical variables. Its application is beneficial in cases where the graphic output is clearer than the numerical one. Findings & Value added: The presented research makes it possible to identify problematic aspects of doing business in each sector and to create support mechanisms for the creation of effective structural policies. Entrepreneurs from the Czech Republic?s Production and Transport sectors agree with the statement that the business environment in the country is suitable for starting a business. As for business environment?s suitability for doing business, neither Slovak nor Czech entrepreneurs sector-wide agreed with the given statement. Czech entrepreneurs from the Services, Trade and Construction sectors, respectively, agree, fully agree with the statement that the business environment in the country is reasonably risky and allows for doing business. In the case of entrepreneurs from Slovakia, no significant correspondence is observed. Findings regarding the statement that the business conditions in the country have improved over the past five years are the following: In the Czech Republic, there is a perfect correspondence of the Transport sector and the agreement with the given statement. In the Slovak Republic, agreement was found with the given statement in the Transport sector and neutral position in the Production sector.

The efficiency of public resource use and its strategic framework with respect to sustainable public procurement policies, such as the most economically advantageous tender (hereafter MEAT), has become an important topic nowadays. Therefore, the study examines the determinants of savings creation within MEAT in Central European countries. It uses a dataset published in the Tenders Electronic Daily database in 2017–2018 about contract award notices and carries out a generalized linear model to study the determinants of savings creation within MEAT. The findings suggest that when services are procured within MEAT, the savings are considerably higher than compared to works. If the framework agreement takes place in a procurement process, the savings are significantly smaller. In cases where the subject of procurement is not co-financed by EU funds, the savings are higher than in the case that they are. If an open type of procurement is used, the savings are seemingly smaller than in cases where a non-open type of procurement takes place. When the contract is awarded to a single supplier, the savings are higher than otherwise. A higher number of total offers, as well as a higher number of offers from small and medium-sized enterprises, induce higher savings. It can be concluded that the use of sustainable public procurement subtly reduces the creation of savings.