This study examines the convergence and catchup effects of the economic and social (well-being) performance of the NUTS 2 regions of Central and Eastern Europe between 2004 and 2014. The separate management of these two development dimensions is justified by the fact that they have no clear relationship. In the study, the theory of closed economies is abandoned and, thus, the performed regression analyses include spatial interactions and spillover effects. As the applied regressions provide only an average picture about the studied phenomenon, the authors also present the individual paths for each region. The results confirm the theory of absolute convergence for both the economic and social convergence. Thus, regardless of any other explanatory factor, less developed regions tend to converge with the more developed ones. The traditional examinations and those that assess spatiality aspects point to a faster annual convergence rate of well-being, so the two phenomena have different dynamics. This is partly supported by the individual regional catch-up paths. Furthermore, it clearly complements the mathematicalstatistical results. The novel results highlight the catching up of the 'local dimension' that puts the regions along the two dimensions as 'catch-up not complete' and 'catch-up complete'. The authors' results suggest a non-parallel way of achieving social and economic cohesion.

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This paper describes the Hungarian aspects and the latest results of the so-called Eastern European health paradox in terms of (micro-)regions. In particular, this paper aims at highlighting the spatial correlations of premature mortality and the main causes of death by gender as well as their socio-economic and spatial embeddedness. The tool for our study is represented by exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA): the main health inequalities of Hungary's micro-regions are described with the use of global autocorrelation tests as well as regression models suitable for the identification of general and spatial features. According to our findings, the causes of premature death are characterised by a marked spatial determination for both genders but mostly for men. The regression models of the causes of premature death have confirmed that neighbourhood relations and micro-regional inequalities in issues like the level of socio-economic development, settlement structure, lifestyle, social capital, healthcare infrastructure or social deprivation have substantial impacts on mortality in a given area in the case of men. These findings are also true for women, except for one issue: neighbourhood assimilation. It should be noted in view of our research findings that, in addition to socio-economic explanatory factors, spatiality (belonging to a region) is a major explanatory factor regarding the micro-regional inequalities of premature mortality. In particular, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, known as a former industrial base, should be noted here; this county is a significant and complex crisis area with regard to the health status of both genders in Hungary today. As a short-term measure for the improvement of spatial health status, the development of health awareness and the mitigation of psychosocial stress (by civil organisations) are suggested.

Absztrakt: A versenyszféra által támasztott gyakorlatorientált felsőoktatás iránti igény hívta életre hazánkban is a duális formában zajló képzéseket. Jelen tanulmány célja a duális képzésben részt vevő hallgatók gyakorlati kompetenciáinak mérésére és értékelésére irányuló felmérés koncepcionális kereteinek felvázolása, mely az Eszterházy Károly Egyetemen duális képzési formában is választható 12 szakon tanuló hallgatók körében kerül megvalósításra. A kompetenciamérést a felsőoktatási intézmény a gyakorlóhelyekkel együttműködve végzi el kérdőíves felmérés, értékelő központ és tereptanári értékelés alapján.

Technological progress is a dynamic process that, via the application and the widespread use of new technologies, becomes the engine of growth through the achievement of efficiency gains in productivity. Most countries are unable to create new technologies because they do not have the appropriate resources or their institutional environment does not favour to innovation. However, technological progress can also be observed in these countries, by adapting new technologies developed and applied effectively elsewhere. Thus, technological progress can be achieved through independent research and development activities, that is, an innovation-driven way, and through the adaptation of new technologies which are already in use in other countries, i.e. in an imitation-driven way. Human capital is also essential for the creation and adaptation of technology, so the quantitative and qualitative features of the human resources available in a country determine the conditions of technological progress. Our research aims to illustrate spatial characteristics of human resources conditions by the method of spatial autocorrelation highlighted the differences between innovation-based and imitation-based economies.