What Factors Affect the Use of Rural Development Subsidy Funds for the Period 2007–2013, Axis III and IV

The main objective of this IAEI internal research project was to assess what factors influence drawing of subsidies from the 3rd and 4th Axis Rural Development Programme in the Czech Republic over the period 2007 – 2013. We analyze factors of rural development and employ a questionnaire survey. One part concentrates on quantitative analysis and assesses available data on factors of development on the level of municipality (village), categorised by individual measures of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 in Axes 3 and 4 (from 2007 through June 2013). The other part considers selected municipalities and their successful applicants. Results of the analysis of available data showed that the statistical methods did not produce sufficient explanation of factors that affect the utilization of grant funds for measures of Axis 3 and 4. Quantitative approach is suitable for a general categorization of territorial monitor progress. For an explanation of the factors that influence the utilization of grant funds is necessary qualitative investigation, such as questionnaires. The questionnaire showed that the initial information about the project is being received almost exclusively randomly. Therefore, it is recommended to increase promotion of public awareness of rural development measures in next period (2014-2020)