Population ageing in the states of the European Union is a contemporary phenomenon which results from both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates. The EU response to the challenge of population ageing is theactive ageing’ policy, which aims at increasing the employment rate of elderly workers and increasing the retirement age, and also refers to their participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs. Population ageing will have an impact on the development of entrepreneurship and the rise of silver economy’ which promotes the development and marketing of innovative products and services aimed at elderly consumers. This paper discusses the relation between the level and dynamics of population ageing and the development of entrepreneurship seen here as the economic activity of population running their own businesses by age groups. The spatial distribution of population ageing, employment in the age groups of 50-64 and 65 and over as well as the number of small and medium enterprises per inhabitant will be presented in the EU national systems. In the light of this research, which shows low employment activity among the elderly, the answer to the question what action should be taken in order to increase the entrepreneurship of this age group is crucial for the EU regional policy

Entrepreneurship Education at Secondary Level in Transition Economies: A Case of Poland

The aim of the paper is to analyze changes in industry in Poland with respect to changes in other European Union member states. The research problems include: the changing role of industry in the Polish economy in the era of economic transformation, European integration based and globalization on its share of the employment structure and gross valued added, changes in the branch structure of Polish industry as well as exports as an expression of restructuring processes, influence of foreign capital on the functioning of industrial enterprises and its role in the re-structuring of Polish industry

This paper presents a pilot comparative research project on pre-vocational education in lower secondary schools (ISCED level 2) within regions in three European countries. The primary aim of the study was to better understand how the pre-vocational education curriculum is constructed and taught within schools. A case study methodology was selected given the de-centralized nature of curriculum-making within each of the units of analysis. The data collection period covers the years 2009–2011 and the regions taking part were from Germany, Poland, and Scotland. The research method is based upon both the collection of secondary data, through the analysis of curriculum documents within regions in each country, and the use of primary data sources, through interviewing school teachers. The research builds upon previous studies in curriculum-making, in particular a theoretical framework that explores the differences between the ‘prescribed and enacted curriculum’. Finally, this study will argue that, although it is possible to identify quite a distinct pre-vocational curriculum within each region that, in practice, the subject is rarely taught (enacted) according to this prescribed curriculum.

The largest companies that are part of the energy sector are defined by Forbes as those associated with the production of energy from nonrenewable sources and they play a very significant role in the world economy and in the generation of the command and control (C & C) function of cities. No comprehensive studies are available at the present time illustrating changes in financial performance in relation to the share of the largest firms in the energy sector in terms of their role in the generation of the C & C function. Thus, the aim of the paper is to show changes in financial performance and the impacts of energy sector companies on the C & C function of cities as well as to show spatial variances in the sector’s geography. The energy sector is developing most rapidly in Chinese cities, although it does not play a major role in the most important cities in the world via its impact on the C & C function—this may be due to rapid growth in other sectors of the economy. It is, however, very important in smaller cities. On the other hand, a large share of the energy sector involved in the development of renewable sources of energy may disturb the position of cities whose C & C function relies on energy sector companies. Thus, forecasts are needed for the sector and its impact on the command and control function of cities for the period of transition from nonrenewable sources to renewable ones. One new area of research is the formulation of methods that would allow the determination of the effects of economic recessions in the future on the financial health and C & C function impacts of the energy sector.