Course work

in the discipline “Socio-economic geography of foreign countries”

on the topic “Geography and socio-economic development of Slovakia”

Introduction

Chapter 1 Prerequisites for social economic development Slovakia

1.1 Assessment of economic and geographical position

1.2 Natural conditions and resources

Chapter 2 Characteristics of the population of Slovakia

2.1 Features of the demographic, ethnic, religious situation

2.2 Territorial features of population distribution

2.3 Labor potential

Chapter 3 general characteristics economic development economic complex Slovakia

3.1 Historical features of economic development

3.2 Externally economic ties

3.3 Prospects for cooperation between Slovakia and the Republic of Belarus

Chapter 4. Structural and territorial features of the development of the economic complex of Slovakia

4.1 Industry

4.2 Agriculture

4.3 Service sector

Conclusion

List of sources used

Application

Introduction

Over the past decade, the rapid rise of National economy Slovak Republic. Slovakia is a developed industrial-agrarian country and, in some indicators of socio-economic development, is ahead of other eurozone member countries.

This topic is also relevant for study because at present the Republic of Belarus and the Slovak Republic have prospects for cooperation. As a result, there is a need to study the economy, in particular the economic complex, of Slovakia.

The overall goal of the work was to illustrate the overall picture of the development of the economic complex of the Slovak Republic and to show what the results of the socio-economic situation in the country are today.

First of all, it is worth considering the general prerequisites for the socio-economic development of Slovakia, because this is the basis for the development of the country. Chapter 1 is devoted to this.

In the 1st section, a description and assessment of the economic and geographical position of Slovakia is given, since this is one of the most important factors in the development of the country’s economy, one of the reasons for its sectoral specialization.

Natural resources and the conditions are illustrated in the 2nd section. The main development potential of a country lies in the presence or absence of resources, their qualitative and quantitative characteristics, therefore this section important in characterizing the socio-economic development of the country.

Chapter 2 describes the population of Slovakia. This chapter covers such aspects of this issue as demographic situation in Slovakia, including the ethnic and religious composition of the population, the characteristics of the distribution of the country’s residents, as well as the labor potential of Slovakia.

Chapter 3 is devoted to the characteristics of foreign economic relations of the Slovak Republic. Section 1 reflects the history of the development of the country's economy, starting from the 90s. until today. The economy of the Slovak Republic has two main features that determine its development. This is, firstly, the small size of the domestic market, and secondly, the lack of a comprehensive mineral resource base. Hence the need, on the one hand, to import many types of resources and, on the other, to sell their products on the foreign market. The main foreign economic relations of the country and priority areas foreign trade are reflected in section 2. Slovakia is one of the four European countries who are actively developing trade cooperation with the Republic of Belarus. Therefore, the 3rd section is devoted to the characteristics and prospects of cooperation between Slovakia and the Republic of Belarus. And also here are some indicators of the socio-economic development of countries.

The analysis of the economic complex with all its achievements is discussed in Chapter 2. Section 1 reflects sectoral structure industry of Slovakia, the main indicators of the country's development in this sector are analyzed. Sections 2 and 3 illustrate the country's agricultural and service sector indicators, respectively. Particular attention is paid to the development of tourism and those types of services that are related to tourism activities.

The structural feature of this work is to highlight the characteristics of the population of Slovakia in a separate chapter, which is associated with the special ethnic and religious composition of the country, the uneven distribution of the population of Slovakia, which is reflected in the territorial specialization of the economy of the Slovak Republic.

Many economic indicators Slovakia from various sources are displayed in tables and figures (diagrams, diagrams) on the pages of the work, as well as in the appendix.

When writing this work, a wide variety of sources were studied and used: starting with scientific literature of the late 20th century. and ending with the latest data from the world's leading organizations. In particular, the magazine “ World economy And international relationships", which reflects the latest development trends in China. Statistical data was taken from the website of the Ministry of Statistics of the Republic of Belarus, the website of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the website of the US Central Intelligence Agency, and the website of the World Bank.

Chapter 1 Prerequisites for the socio-economic development of Slovakia

1.1 Assessment of economic and geographical position

When characterizing the prerequisites for the socio-economic development of Slovakia, it is necessary to note the peculiarities of the economic and geographical position of the country. Slovakia is located in the center of Eastern Europe, lying on the territory of the Tatra and Carpathian mountain ranges. The Tatras occupy a significant part of the country's territory. They include the Western and Eastern Tatras, the best known part of which are the High Tatras. An important feature of Slovakia, like other countries of Eastern Europe, is its transit position between countries Western Europe and CIS. This geographical position has a positive impact on the development of the country's economy, since Slovakia is closely involved in the process of international economic relations with surrounding countries. The Slovak territory is of great transit importance for the development of Russia’s relations with the countries of Central and Western Europe. Oil is transited through it to the Czech Republic and natural gas to Western Europe (up to 90 billion cubic meters per year). Also, important for the development of the economic complex of Slovakia and the influx foreign investment has close proximity to such highly developed centers as Germany, Italy, Austria. These countries are the main partners of foreign trade.

Slovakia has a small territory. total area The country's area is 49,035 sq. km., which is significantly less than the area of ​​neighboring countries. Thus, the Czech Republic is 1.6 times larger than Slovakia, Austria - 1.7 times, Hungary - 1.9 times, Poland - 6.4 times, Ukraine - 12.3 times.

The total land borders of the Slovak Republic are 1,355 km. In the north, Slovakia borders with Poland (border length is 444 km), in the east - with Ukraine (90 km), in the south - with Hungary (515 km), in the west - with Austria (91 km) and the Czech Republic ( 215 km.).

Another feature of the configuration of the territory of Slovakia is that the length of the country from west to east is 450 km, which affects the contrast of climate, flora and fauna.

The Slovak Republic is landlocked, which is the main disadvantage of its geographical location, as it largely limits the possibilities for the development of foreign trade relations and tourism activities. However, part of the main European watershed of the Baltic and Black Seas passes through its territory.

It should also be noted the physical features of the territory of Slovakia. In the north and in central regions The country has mountain ranges that occupy almost 80% of the territory; lowlands are located in the south and west of Slovakia (Zagorska in the west, Podanubia in the southwest and East Slovakia in the southeast of the country). The physical features of the country and its topography determine the specialization of agriculture and its regional characteristics.

Administrative-territorial division is important for the management of the country and its development as a whole. The territory of the Slovak Republic is divided into 8 counties and 79 districts.

Thus, Slovakia is an Eastern European country, the geographical location of which historically has both positive and negative features. Their influence on Slovakia’s place in international economic relations is that Slovakia occupies a transit position between the countries of Western Europe and the CIS. Thus, we can conclude that this feature is positive for Slovakia, since it is closely involved in the process of international economic relations with surrounding countries. However, there is a negative feature based on the geographical location of Slovakia, due to the lack of access to the sea, which limits the country's capabilities. Also, the configuration of the territory and the topography of the country influence the features of the structural and regional development economic complex of Slovakia.

1.2 Natural conditions and resources

The basis for the development of the economic complex of the country and its regions is its natural conditions and resources. For the stable development of the country's economy, it is necessary to rationally involve all types of natural resources in production, which include energy, mineral, land-soil, water, natural-climatic and other types of resources.

The peculiarities of the geological and tectonic structures determined the composition and nature of the geographical distribution of minerals in the Slovak Republic. Slovakia is relatively rich in mineral resources. There are and are being explored deposits of hard and brown coal, lignite, and in the Slovak Ore Mountains - iron, manganese, polymetallic ores, antimony, magnesite.

Macedonia, Albania, as well as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

The countries of this region have a lot in common in historical and socio-economic development. After World War II, they were united by belonging to the socialist economic system, which led to stable economic ties with each other and the USSR. Most of them were members of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) and the political bloc of the Warsaw Pact.

Currently, these countries are undergoing radical economic transformations, as a result of which their ties with Western Europe have expanded.

Until recently, the political situation in the countries remained extremely tense. As a result of hostilities, the former republics of Yugoslavia suffered greatly.

The countries of Eastern Europe are a single territorial area stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea and. The main features of the economies of Eastern Europe are:

• the coastal position of most states;
• the possibility of access to the sea along the Danube waterway for countries that do not have direct access to the sea (Hungary, Slovakia);
• neighborly position of countries in relation to each other;
• transit position on the way between Western European countries and countries.

All these features create good preconditions for the development of integration processes.
The natural prerequisites for the economic development of the countries of Eastern Europe are also quite favorable, although there is a certain shortage of natural resources.

Differs in a variety of industries. The industries of international specialization were: glass production in the Czech Republic, leather goods in Bulgaria, perfumes and sports equipment in Poland.

The peculiarity of agriculture is that each country has its own specifics. In general, it predominates, with the exception of Estonia and Lithuania, where pig farming and dairy farming are developed. In Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, mountain pasture sheep breeding is developed.

The branches of crop production are presented as follows:

• rye, potatoes (Poland, Estonia, Latvia);
• gardening, viticulture (Albania, Yugoslavia, Hungary);
• corn, vegetables (

Economic and geographical position of Slovakia

The Slovak Republic is located in the central part Foreign Europe and in the north it borders with Poland, the eastern border is with Ukraine, in the south with Hungary, the western border is with Austria and the Czech Republic.

The border with Ukraine is an external border European Union. Despite the fact that the border with Ukraine has 2 road, 2 railway and 1 pedestrian crossing points, Ukrainians cross the border illegally and mainly to smuggle goods and drugs. The Slovak side suffers great damage from this.

Compared to Ukraine, Slovakia's neighbors are more developed countries EU. Slovakia is a continental country in Eastern Europe that does not have access to the open sea, which, on the one hand, limits the possibilities for the development of foreign trade relations.

On the other hand, its peculiarity is its transit position between the CIS countries and Western European countries, and this has a beneficial effect on economic development.

Slovakia is actively involved in international economic relations with its neighbors. The transit position of the Republic is of great importance for the development of relations with Russia, especially since oil and gas flow through its territory to the countries of Central and Western Europe.

The proximity of developed European countries - Germany, Austria, Italy, France - provides an opportunity for an influx of investment.

Slovakia has its own natural resources, including coal, iron and manganese ores. The country exports part of these resources.

It must be said that the heavy industry of Slovakia is unproductive and uncompetitive; in this regard, the country is poorer than the Czech Republic.

Agriculture, due to the presence of vast plains there, develops mainly in the south of the country.

The transport infrastructure is developing at a fairly rapid pace, the network of railways and highways extensive and most highways meet international standards.

Rail transport accounts for 58.4% of all freight traffic, road transport carries 40% of cargo, and water and air transport account for 1.6%.

Water transportation is carried out only along the Danube.

The country has three ports for servicing cargo ships - Bratislava, Komárno, Sturovo.

In the 90s, changes occurred in the geography of the country's foreign trade. For example, until the beginning of the 90s, 67% of all exports went to the countries of the socialist camp and 27% to European countries. Imports from socialist countries of that time amounted to 50%.

Changes occurred in 1993 - 53% of exports were already to Western European countries and only 35% to Eastern Europe. The exports included semi-finished products for manufacturing industries, as well as machinery and chemical products.

Imports were dominated by cars and different types fuel. Today, 56.9% of Slovakia’s exports go to EU member countries, with the main share going to:

• Germany,
• Italy,
• France,
• Austria.

The country exports machinery and equipment, road and construction equipment, ferrous metal products, pharmaceuticals, and forestry products.

Slovakia imports raw materials from the CIS countries, for example, raw cotton from the Central Asian Republics.

Ukraine sends iron ore and thermal coal; it has not been a member of the CIS since 2014.

The position of the country has changed over time. Until the 90s, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were one state, called Czechoslovakia. On the night of December 31, 1992 to January 1, 1993, the law dividing the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia came into force. United Czechoslovakia ceased to exist.

Note 1

Thus, the economic and geographical position of the country is favorable, and it is trying to do everything possible to extract maximum benefit from this for its development.

Natural conditions of Slovakia

The relief of Slovakia is mainly mountainous. 80% of its territory is located at an altitude of 750 m above sea level.

The Tatra Mountains stretch along the north-eastern border with Poland, the peak of which is Gerlachovsky Štit rising to 2655 m.

In the south and southeast of the country there are lowlands, where it mainly develops Agriculture Republic.

The mountainous terrain has two features: on the one hand, it complicates the development of transport, and on the other hand, it creates good opportunities for the development of ski tourism.

The country has a temperate continental climate. Altitudinal zonation is expressed in the mountains.

In flat areas, average January temperatures are -1, -4 degrees, in mountainous areas -10 degrees.

July temperatures on the plains are +19, +21 degrees, and in the mountains +8, +12 degrees.

Precipitation falls unevenly across the territory; more of it falls in the mountains - 1600-2100 mm per year, in flat areas from 470 to 700 mm.

The winter season is characterized by solid precipitation in the form of snow, which can remain on the plains for 30-40 days, and in the mountains up to 130 days.

The largest European river, the Danube, flows through the territory of Slovakia, as well as its tributaries Tisza and Vág, the longest river in the country.

Natural resources of Slovakia

Natural conditions and resources underlie the development of the country's economy.

The composition and distribution of minerals throughout the country is related to the peculiarities of its geological and tectonic structure.

In its depths there are minerals - hard and brown coal, lignite. Iron ores, manganese, polymetallic ores, antimony, and magnesite are associated with the mountains.

There are hydrocarbons, but in insufficient quantities. Oil reserves are estimated at 1.2 million tons. 0.05 million tons are produced, while oil consumption is more than 3.5 million tons. The main oil importers are Russia and Norway.

As for gas, its proven reserves amount to 15 billion cubic meters. m, and about 0.17 billion cubic meters are produced. m. To meet the needs of its industry, gas has to be imported.

A Canadian company is working in Eastern Slovakia to study the territory for uranium ores, of which, according to preliminary data, there are 15 thousand tons.

Silver and gold mined in the country are involved in the production sector and are used to make jewelry; part of the gold is exported.

The great wealth of the country is its soils, mainly brown forest in the deciduous forest zone, and in the mountainous areas significant forest resources have been preserved, the provision of which is quite high compared to other European countries.

Forests account for 41% of the territory. The southern slopes of the mountains are covered with beech and oak, the northern slopes are covered with coniferous spruce and fir forests.

The country has healing mineral springs, which cover almost the entire territory, and large reserves of groundwater. Groundwater is found in the river sediments of the Danube and Zhitny Island; its reserves are estimated at 10 billion cubic meters. m.

Slovakia - geographical location on the world map

Slovakia or the Slovak Republic is a state located in Central Europe, its area is 48,845 km², with a population of more than 5.45 million people. National composition: Slovaks (85.7%), Hungarians (10.6%), Roma (1.5%), Czechs (1%), Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, Germans. On the territory of the country there is the geographical center of Europe - the peak of Kragule - near the city of Kremnica. Slovakia is a continental state with no access to the sea or the world's oceans. It has a land border with Ukraine in the east of the country, with Poland in the north, the Czech Republic in the northwest, Austria in the west and Hungary in the south. The longest border is with Hungary (679 km). The shortest is with Ukraine (98 km).

Capital of Slovakia - BRATISLAVA- the city is unique. He managed to locate on the border of three states at once - Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. The city is located in such a way that residents of some streets can go for a walk in the morning and find themselves in a border Austrian village! However, this is not all that the capital of Slovakia - the “pearl of the Danube” - can surprise. It has its own special atmosphere of mixing quiet antiquity and modern vibrant life, and it is beautiful in its own way.

Largest cities: Bratislava(442 thousand), Kosice(235 thousand), Nitra(90 thousand), Presov(87 thousand).

Distance from Bratislava to the nearest European capitals: to Vienna - 60 km, to Budapest - 200 km, to Prague - 320; to Berlin - 670 km, to Warsaw - 678 km. The distance between Bratislava and Moscow is 1960 km.

The main waterways of Slovakia are the large rivers Danube, Váh, Morava and Hron.

Slovakia is located in a temperate zone with a continental climate and a pronounced alternation of four seasons. The average daily temperature in winter is -2 degrees Celsius, in summer 21 degrees Celsius. The coldest month is January, the warmest months are July and August. In mountainous areas, snow lasts up to 130 days a year.

The official language is Slovak. In areas where ethnic groups live, Hungarian and Czech are widely spoken. The older generation remembers Russian, and young people speak German and English fluently.

TIME ZONE: Time is 2 hours behind Moscow. Daylight saving time is in effect from March to September.

Since 2007, Slovakia has become a member of the Schengen agreement, and since 2009 it has joined the European Union, which allows citizens of Slovakia and persons with residence permits and permanent residence in this country to move freely throughout the single European space.

Economy

Slovakia is a country that has existed for a long time as part of various states, be it Czechoslovakia or Austria-Hungary. Therefore, for a long time, the Slovak economy was only part of something larger. The independence of Slovakia was proclaimed on January 1, 1993, after the “Velvet Revolution”, as a result of which the Slovaks gained their own independent state.

Only at the end of the 90s, with the beginning of real market reforms, Slovakia began to increase its gross domestic product. In 2001, the growth of the Slovak economy was 3.5% per year, and 7 years later it increased to 8%. Today, thanks to such rapid growth, Slovakia is considered one of the most attractive investment regions in Central and Eastern Europe.

The basis of the Slovak economy today is heavy industry and mechanical engineering. In the structure of Slovakia’s exports, products from these industries account for over 50%. Thanks to the openness of the economy, many global industrial giants have come to Slovakia in the last fifteen years. Germans built their factories in the country Volkswagen, Korean Kia motors and the French concern Peugeot. The total number of cars produced annually in Slovakia is about half a million units. Car production per capita in Slovakia is one of the highest in the world. To other companies whose factories form the “backbone” of the Slovak economic miracle, include American Metallurgical Corporation US Steel, Asian tech giants Sony And Samsung, manufacturer of household appliances Whirlpool and a Norwegian aluminum holding.

The share of tourism in the Slovak economy is showing strong growth. The tourism infrastructure of Slovakia is considered to be not yet as well-functioning as in the neighboring countries of Poland or the Czech Republic. However, the fact that Slovakia is moving in the right direction is confirmed by tourism revenues, which have more than doubled over the past five years. Over one and a half million guests visit Slovakia every year.

CURRENCY UNIT : from January 1, 2009official monetary unit Slovakia is Euro.

Currency can be exchanged at exchange offices (zmenaren), hotels, banks, post offices and transport agencies. The rate at banks is usually less favorable than at exchange offices.

Banks are open daily, except Sundays, from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. On Saturday - until 12:00. Exchange offices on weekdays they usually work from 7:00-8:00 to 17:00-19:00 with an hour lunch break (some around the clock). On weekends, their opening hours are usually from 8:00 to 12:00-15:00.

Credit cards are accepted in almost all banks, most large hotels, gas stations, large restaurants and stores.