HETFA was commissioned by the Agency for Education to execute this research project hand in hand with the investigation on the Impact of Academic Research on GDP Growth.

The main themes of the evaluation prepared by HETFA were the following:

• Presentation of the context of the projects implemented from 2007 to 2012
• Evaluation of results by institutions and the achievements regarding the whole higher education system
• The sustainability or results
• Explanatory facts for lagging behind planned targets
• Presentation of best practices

In the frame of the evaluation 10 case studies on higher education institutions and three on R&D&I were prepared. These are available in a separate volume additional to the final report.

HETFA Research Institute was commissioned by the National Development Agency (NFÜ) to carry out the evaluation of programmes targeting higher education.

Summary of the Research Report in English

Although the effects of the measures are not assessable since only a short time has passed, nevertheless, according to the case studies the funds had positive effects, such as the increasing popularity of the school, reduction of the drop-out ratio, institutional development of schools, which on the long term may have an impact on the results of the competencies assessment.

Upon the commission of the National Development Agency, experts of HETFA Research Institute Ltd. carried out the evaluation between October 2012 and March 2013.

Summary of the Research Report in English

• outpatient care,
• the modernisation of the central register of medical equipment, and
• healthy lifestyle development projects,

the evaluators analysed the overall utilisation of healthcare development resources and their spatial distribution, too. The quantitative (statistical/econometric) part of the study deals with (1) the territorial targeting, (2) the direct results (availability and use), and (3) the short-term economic and health-related impacts of interventions. Within this latter, the impacts on

• the restructuring of out and inpatient care,
• the number of days spent on sick leave, and
• the health care of patients with chronic diseases

were primarily under scrutiny.

The evaluation has found that EU resources spent on health care contributed to the policy aim of shifting healthcare provision towards lower levels of progressivity, and that the territorial targeting of interventions was also appropriate: inhabitants of micro regions with worse healthcare indicators (higher mortality rate) received a higher ratio of funding compared both to the average, and to the distribution of regular funding. The main recommendations are related to the regulatory and financing system, the handling of human-resource problems in health care, and to the monitoring of health-care institutional operation.

Summary of the Research Report in English

Economic Review. [Közgazdasági Szemle LX. évf., 2013. szeptember (965—991. o.).]

Economic development programmes generally define job creation as the solution for increased employment, however, it is only one of the transmission mechanisms of economic policy. By applying a spatial econometrics model for the Hungarian labour market (which is based on some key figures of the previous twenty years of the Hungarian labour market and a macroeconomic prognosis), the study examines the relationship between the spatial differences in the demand for labour and the actual employment, as well, as the potential employment effects of job creation. The model is estimated on a microregional panel data set. The results show the significant but moderate effects of job creation. Both employability of labour and the macroeconomic conjuncture are channels of greater importance. It is also proven by the analyses that only a small part (less than ten percent) of jobs created by job creation programmes increases employment on the long run, moreover, the majority of them does not necessarily improve the rates locally but in those neighbouring microregions where labour force surplus is larger. With the exception of bigger cities and especially the capital, labour markets indicate the scarcity of employable labour force which is strengthened by the increasing volume of subsidies. In the middle of the decade, prospects of national job creation programmes are rather unpromising, therefore the achievement of employment related goals of development policy requires the use of other channels.

This study was prepared as part of the cooperation between the State Court and the Competitiveness Research Centre. Its aim was to substantiate the research about the problems of the operation of the state.

Research Report available in Hungarian

In this study, ordered by the Economic and Social Council, we reviewed the employment problems of people with lower education, and we formulated recommendations for the ESC and for public actors.

Employment rate of low educated people is especially low in Hungary. Besides, low educated people over represented among unemployed and inactive socio-economic group. As it is highlighted in the Government Program, the New Széchenyi Plan, as well, as the Hungary Work Plan published in Széll Kálmán Plan private businesses shall offer greater opportunities for this group apart from social economic and public work programmes. Nevertheless, governmental programmes are supposed to facilitate their return to labour market.

The aim of the research commissioned by the National Labour Authority was to find out how sectors indicated as prioritized areas of intervention by governmental strategic documents are able and ready to realize the goals defined by the government. Our research results suggest that without improving the qualification of low educated people and changing the negative perceptions of these people, small enterprises cannot be expected to contribute significantly to their increased employment rate on short term.

Research Report available in Hungarian

HETFA (2010): International Routines to Smaller Bureaucracy. ISSN 2062-3798

The aim of this paper is to review foreign experience of good practices with reference to the relieving of administrative burdens. In this study we introduce the recommendations of OECD, EU and World Bank, the simplification strategies referring to small and middle enterprises, the factors, putting back the lowering of the burdens, and the forms of cooperation between state institutes and civil society.

Available in Hungarian including a short English abstract

HETFA (2010): Administrative Burdens in Hungary. ISSN 2062-3798

In this paper we would like to give an overall picture of the administrative burdens, which make the work of Hungarian businesses difficult. We summarized the achievements of the main researches conducted so far and reviewed the experts’ recommendations, with an emphasis on relieving these burdens.

Available in Hungarian including a brief English abstract

HETFA (2010): Bank Tax: Pros and Cons

HETFA Research Institute organized an expert discussion about the bank tax in Hungary. The discussion was held on the 16th of August 2010, its aim was to complement the debates in the topic, considering its topicality and importance.

Available in Hungarian