Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.51.2.6

Business indicators of veterinary organizations in the light of general economic trends in Croatia

Denis Cvitković ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Tadić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Selim Pašić ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Pavlak ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Changes in economic indicators in veterinary organizations have long been monitored, particularly since the beginning of the global economic recession in 2008. There are a number of reports on the potential causes and consequences of the 2008 crisis on the operations of veterinary organizations, focusing on a number of indicators, three of which are considered here: average net salary, number of employees and total income. These data were collected for the period 2003–2017. To obtain clearer insight into the circumstances of operations, we extended our attention to more general indicators of economic activity at the level of the national economy (gross domestic product, public debt, employment, population and age structure, imports and exports) and agriculture as an important component of veterinary activities. Other studies have shown that the recession did more harm to veterinary medicine than to the general economy, and therefore, we wanted to examine this and warn about the future economic reality in the overall economic picture. Given that economic trends are driven by human needs, demographics can help identify macro and micro trends and therefore demographic indicators were included in the study. Total income and number of employees at larger veterinary organizations declined as wages rose slightly until 2008 and then stagnated. In smaller veterinary practices, all indicators rose, but in the years following the onset of the recession, wages generally stagnated or fell slightly. In 2017, there was a slight increase in net salaries in both types of veterinary organizations. Changes in agricultural and general demographic trends, such as a significant decrease in the number of reproductive animals and milk production, an aging human population and a decrease in the birth rate, together with the strong correlation between debt and population, suggest certain further stagnation or decrease in the economic activity of veterinary organizations.

Keywords

veterinary organizations; business; livestock production; demographic indicators; debt

Hrčak ID:

236149

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/236149

Publication date:

25.3.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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