F15 - Economic IntegrationNávrat zpět

Over a period of more than three decades from 1982 to 2019, this study examines the impact of financial globalization on financial development, taking into account differences between developed and developing countries. It also examines sub-indices of financial-development and provides a comprehensive perspective on the topic. The analyses in this study use the Durbin-Hausman panel cointegration test, which provides more precise and less biased results for panel data with a large number of units and the augmented mean group (AMG) estimator, which combines the advantages of both fixed-effects and random-effects estimators to provide more efficient and robust forecasts. Empirical findings reveal a long-run association between financial development and financial globalization across both developed and developing economies. Notably, while the coefficients of this relationship are consistently positive in both groups, statistical significance is observed only in developed countries. This result implies that the positive effect of financial globalization on financial development is more pronounced in developed countries. It also points to the importance of market participants in developed and developing countries making financial decisions in line with their countries' level of development.

The article examines the factors of convergence of price levels among European countries, even regarding the time lag since previous research on the Czech Republic's accession to the EU. In addition to the factors included in the Balassa-Samuelson model, it has been found that certain structural factors contribute to price convergence, as could be expected especially in the transition economies after accessing the EU in 2004. It has also been confirmed that in the context of liberalization of the economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the enlarged internal market and harmonization from the EU level, it is not possible to clearly distinguish between "tradable" and "non-tradable" sectors. Contrary to expectations, however, it has been questioned that due to price deregulation in the Czech Republic, reduced price deviation would be reported for goods with regulated prices so the threat of Baumol's disease is still seen in this context. It is also relevant for the context of European integration that it is possible to doubt the risk of price jumps in the Czech Republic after the adoption of the euro, regarding the examination of the price convergence factors.

Despite the tax coordination and harmonisation, as the tax burden convergence processes, the corporate taxation systems differ among EU Member States, which can affect the development of economies to various degrees. The main objective of the paper is to assess whether the EU-27 countries are competitive in the field of corporate taxation and to verify whether "new Member States" are considered more competitive than the "old Member States". Empirical research from 2004 to 2014 used traditional quantitative indicators and specific quantitative methods in the form of tax rate relations, cluster analysis and constant market shares method, the application of which in the tax field is one of the main benefits of the research. Empirical results have highlighted the significant and positive impact of tax competitiveness on growth of corporate earnings growth. It has also shown that tax competition among countries is not clearly associated with a decrease in tax rates and will persist unless harmonization efforts are successful.

We analyze and quantify link between quality of the banking sector and sovereign risk in the states of the European Union (EU) using data over 1999-2014. We employ two market-based measures of the sovereign risk along with several empirically and theoretically motivated variables that characterize banking sector. We perform Bayesian estimations on several panels of countries. Our results show that higher ratio of the non-performing loans represents the most important industry-specific variable that is linked with a heightened rate of the sovereign risk. On the other hand, findings related to the size and depth of the banking sector, along with the capital adequacy ratio, are less clear-cut. Higher penetration of the foreign banks and higher degree of competition characterize a diversified structure of the banking industry that seems to be beneficial for the banking sector stability and is linked with lower sovereign risk.

The article analyses relationship between exports of goods and services of Slovakia and the development of economy of Germany as its major trading partner. On the basis of available data, it identifies the extent to which the export of SR depends on development of GDP in Germany, changes of its internal demand and also the extent to which there is a correlation between Slovak and German exports. Cointegration analysis, used to obtain relevant information about these links, verified on real data if there is a long-term equilibrium relationship between these variables and whether the intensity of dependence is really so high. Achieved results suggest that the Slovak exports and imports of goods to Germany, as well as the export of goods from Germany abroad, shows an intensive, long-term equilibrium relationship which largely determines the performance of Slovak economy and its competitiveness on international markets.

The main target of the paper is to identify the influences of the financial and trade liberalization in the EU and the functioning of the EMU on the realization of the cross-border mergers and acquisitions among the selected states of the European territory. We analyse in the paper, concerning the theoretical background of the foreign scientific studies on the influence of the integration processes in Europe on the realization of the cross-border mergers and acquisitions, the influence of the selected predictors on the cross-border mergers and acquisitions realized in 16 source countries and 25 target countries in the European territory from 1998 to 2012 (database data created by the authors) through the generalized linear model. Empirical results of several foreign studies (e.g. Bjortvan, 2004, Neary, 2007, Brouwer, Paap, Viaene, 2008, Coeurdacier, De Santos, Aviat, 2009 etc.) indicate that European integration had a positive impact on the development of cross-border mergers and acquisitions especially in manufacturing sector. We came to the same conclusion based on our analyses, while the integration into the EU has a critical influence, which is significantly higher in manufacturing sector. The influence of the integration into the EMU can be regarded as additional and it is identical for manufacturing sector and service sector. We can claim definitely that the institutional changes, such as the unified market of the European Union and the European Monetary Union were releasing factors of capital reallocation all over the world. The European Monetary Union encouraged the capital reallocation through the effects of unilateral financial liberalization (a decrease of marginal and fixed costs for execution of reallocation transactions) and thus facilitated the implementation of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in the European area.

The article is focused on the analysis of export performance of the German economy, including the model scenarios that illustrate the transmission of shocks to the external environment of the Germany into the Czech economy. The analysis is motivated by the fact that the German economy is by far the largest trading partner of the Czech Republic since its establishment in 1993 and that Germany plays the role of an economic "locomotive" in the broader European region.

The main goal of this paper is to analyse the process of price convergence (beta and sigma convergence) in new EU Member States towards the Euro area (EU-12). The theoretical part of the paper consists of a brief overview of methods that are employed for analyses of the process of price convergence. Both main concepts - sigma and beta convergence are covered including various tests that are described in greater detail. The empirical part of the paper is focused on testing hypotheses of sigma and beta convergence using macroeconomic data (comparative price levels for GDP) for twelve new EU Member States in the period 1995-2008. Various econometrical methods (OLS, 2SLS, and two dynamic methods) are utilised in order to deal with problems associated with this particular type of analyses. Our results show that both hypotheses (sigma and beta price convergence) do hold for the new EU Member States. The estimated time to close a half of the remaining gap of comparative price levels towards the Euro area average for the group consisting of all new EU Member States (NMS12) is estimated to be approximately 9.6 years, for the group of more advanced countries (NMS5) is approximately 7.1 years.

The economic development of the Czech Republic and Slovakia after the split of former Czechoslovakia in 1993 shows some important differences, caused by different economic policy and the starting level. The convergence of the Slovak economic level to the Czech one was very fast after the World War II, due to the massive reallocation of resources (the transfer of resources in favour of Slovakia represented 11 % of the Slovak GDP). The Slovak economy adjusted to the lower economic level after the split by sinking real wages and by depreciation of the Slovak koruna, so that the ULC are now the lowest among the Central European countries. Slovakia enjoyed very fast growth of GDP in recent years fluctuating from 7 to 10 %, while in the Czech Republic it reached from 6 to 7 %. The abundant inflow of FDI and economic reforms helped to speed the real convergence in Slovakia, which continued fluently after a deep fall accompanying the split of Czechoslovakia. In 2007, the Slovak GDP per capita measured in PPS reached 84 % of the Czech one. The common challenge for both economies is to overcome the one-sided orientation on cost/price competitiveness based on low wages and pass over to the qualitative competitive advantage, based on the innovations and production of high quality goods and services.

Paul de Grauwe and Paul Krugman are two of the most significant economists who are interested in single currency influence on the economic cycle. In our paper we try to show that a complex view of argumentation of both the economists i.e. (from both the views of the individual countries and the view of individual regions) reveals that the existence of the currency union will lead to the most frequent asymmetrical shocks in the currency union mentioned. To limit ourselves only to the view of the individual countries, as the authors mentioned do, will lead to unacceptable simplification of the whole problem. Further we try finding out if after introducing single currency, economic cycles became synchronized in the eurozone. For the determination of the harmony between economic cycles use is made of the real GDP in the individual countries of the eurozone. We deal with time series from the years 1994 to 2005. With the help of the correlation coefficients we finding out if the rise of real GDP the individual countries of eurozone developed similarly as after rise of the eurozone then before. We come to the conclusion that on the basis of the result achieved it will not be possible to speak about grater harmonization of economic cycle after the rise of the eurozone. But with a view of short time series and a short period of accommodation of economies this result is in no way unacceptable.

Slovak Republic entered the ERM II in the end of 2005 whereby it came nearer to its strategic objective - joining the euro area. In this paper we try to answer two questions. Section 1 examines the features and risks of the EMU. Is EMU an optimum currency area and what is the OCA scorecard of euro area? We conclude that euro area - in spite of its indisputable benefits - is rather a premature monetary union with asymmetric monetary policy effects and other policy asymmetries. Section 2 analyzes possible effects of the EMU on the Slovak economy. We examine the experience of other countries and compare their real convergence to average level of euro area before and after joining the EMU. The readiness of Slovak economy for euro adoption, possible obstacles on this uneasy way and the connection between income level, price level and real convergence are analysed at the end of the paper.

Future of the European Union and its future directions should be the most important subject of the European Studies, which combine studies of Economy, Political Science, International Relations and other disciplines to study the European Integration Process in its complexity. This applies especially today, when the EU faces a huge amount of internal and external pressures. In stead, the European Studies, often focus on studying and analysing the current stage of European Integration Process and its historical development; they take it as it is, and as if its future depended only on the interaction between particular levels of it multi-level governance. Debate on Europe's future is, thus, rather simplified at the academic level, and a public discussion about the future of "our" European Integration thus often lacks important academic stimuli. The cause of this situation might be seen in seeking for the strong theoretical instrument, which could embrace the European Integration Process in its broadness and complexity and, simultaneously, connect it with the development of Global (or Gloablized) Economy and Society. In this paper, the authors will try to outline and emphasize that International (or Global, if the effects of globalisation should be especially stressed) Political Economy and its views on the theory of Regionalism might be the proper theoretical instrument to deepen the European Studies by the issues of EU's future in Global Economy. Their research of New Regionalism and especially of its current wave done so far, namely suggests that in spite of its marked specificity, the European Union can be examined in the New Regionalism perspective and that this analysis can bring valuable outcomes for the EU's future. Explanations of the current wave of regionalism offered by the Global Political Economy, together with the empirical study of regionalism, especially bring a systemic approach to the Global Economic Order, to the balance between market and state as well as to the political aspects of economic processes; all these are necessary for the EU's future directions' research.

This paper deals with the narrowing the income gap between the Central and East European New Member States (NMS-5) and the EU-25 and with the trade-off between the real and nominal convergence. The methodology is based on international standards enabling comparisons of macroeconomic indicators, especially of GDP per capita in purchasing power parity and alternative indicators of real gross domestic income, which comprises gains or losses from the terms of trade changes. In the chapter 1 the changes in catching-up and in the position of the NMS-5 economy within the framework of EU-25 are analysed. Chapter 2 deals with the trade-off between the real and nominal convergence. The regression analysis of the comparative price and wage level in relation to the economic level reveals deviations from the theoretical values, especially in the Czech Republic. The unit labour cost's level comparisons examine the cost/price competitiveness. The perspective of real convergence is analysed in the conclusion.

This paper deals with regional integration in general and examines the intra-regional trade of selected regional groups and trade blocks as a comparative analysis. We pay particular attention to the periods after the founding of regional integration ( NAFTA and MERCOSUR) and after the signing of the AFTA (regards ASEAN) as well as the crucial years prior to and following the Asian crisis and since 1990 to 2003 for EU as a result of processes of trade liberalization in the mentioned regional groups. Using the statistical analysis, we found that the ratio of intra-EU trade has decreased from 66 per cent in 1993 to 60 per cent in 2003. In terms of the ratio of intra-NAFTA trade, this has signed increasingly trend during the period 1994-2003 and reached about 7 per cent growth. Similar trend has signed the ratio of intra-ASEAN trade, which increased more speed than the whole ASEAN trade, particularly after the signing of AFTA. Different trend was noticed on intra-MERCOSUR trade, which registered an increase up to 1998 and then it was sharply reversed.

Empirical research on the differences between unit values in the EU's trade with the Czech Republic and the intra-EU average has shown a significant changes. The comparative level of manufacturing products imported from the Czech republic has increased, the comparative level of products exported to the Czech republic has decreased. The price-gaps, inherited from the communist regime have been substantially reduced. Most remarkable changes of the comparative prices took place in trade with products of metalworking industries. The favourable development of price relations in the Czech foreign trade has been an important element underlying balance of payments performance, it has contributed to the nominal and real improvements of Czech krown and shoud play an importent role in the process of convergence. The analysis is based on Eurostat Comext Database.

The objective of this article is to provide a survey of basic facts about process of globalization. We can define globalization as the international economic integration through particular markets. Globalization is largely continual and objective process that began approximately in the middle of nineteenth century. Main factors determining globalization are technology and liberalization and also "desire of people to participate in globalization". On the other hand globalization reinforces these factors. Within globalization we can also see two following processes. The essence of the first one is centralization and concentration of production and capital and in the centre of second one stands a process of transnationalization. The results of these tendences are creation and action of transnational corporations. Today these firms are major entities forming present globalization. It is also necessary to give certain attention to the role of state in current world.

As a consequence of the new regionalism a marked increase in the number of regional groupings can be observed which makes the preferential relations between states even more complicated and complex. One of such complex relationships, which did not come to being during the third wave of regionalism but was strongly supported by it, is subregionalism - simply said, overlapping of regional integrations. The aim of this comparative study is to analyze a current state and development of subregionalism within two region-wide integrations - the European Union (EU) and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) - and on the basis of this analysis to compare the effects of this phenomenon in both regions. Some general conclusions enabling an assessment of future development of subregionalism and its impact on regionalism in Europe and Asia are the main outcomes of the comparison.

Paper deals with the European Monetary Union from perspective of Post Keynesian school of economic thought. It discusses separately arguments often proposed by mainstream economists. After the brief introduction, which highlights main differences between mainstream and Post Keynesian economic theory, work deals in sequence with trade argument often found in discussion about monetary unification, monetary issues mainly with the role of European Central Bank and lastly, work appraises European Monetary Union from international monetary arrangement perspective proposed by Post Keynesian economists. Based on this evaluation, work concludes stating that Post Keynesian economists are more likely not to be overenthusiastic with European monetary unification.

The article is concerned with analysis of independence of central banks of the EU Member States within the framework of the ESCB, as well as independence and responsibility of the ECB, and suggests an alternative institutional embodiment of its position, reflecting the specific framework of the EMU. The system of selection of members of the ECB's Executive Board blurs a real collective responsibility towards Member States, which opens possibilities for nontransparent lobbyism. Modified system is suggested so that national bank's governors have a symbolic relationship to the political representation, i.e. that they reflect a national economic policy in some way, without being bound and restricted by its formation whatsoever.

The aim of the article is to outline the theoretical grounds of regionalism and, in particular, to explain the basis of this new phenomenon, its forms (stages) and historical development. The core of the explanation is a "new" regionalism as the third wave of regionalism in the world economy: its interpretation, causes, diversity and cases of regional integration. Furthermore, trends in regional development of trade initiatives have been outlined (from the "old" to "new" regionalism, from a "looser" to "deeper" integration, from individual cases to "global" regionalism.) In the conclusion, areas requiring further examination in connection with the impact of regionalism on the Czech economy have been defined.

New members of the EU will not form an optimum currency area with the present eurozone member states. The article discusses some costs and benefits of an early EMU entry for the Czech Republic (and other Central-European economies). The authors concentrate on the consequences of loss of country-specific monetary policy, and of exchange-rate flexibility. They also stress the problem of finding the appropriate level at which to fix the exchange rate for both ERM-II and eurozone entry. The importance of both nominal and real convergence is underlined for a successful catch-up. The conclusion is that a "no hurry" policy for euro would be beneficial for a long-term catch-up process of the Czech Republic. Use of country-specific monetary policy is indispensable for real convergence.

The paper deals with some aspects of foreign trade impact of EU's custom union accession of Slovakia. It issues from the Jacob Viner's hypothesis on trade creation and trade diversion, and proves this hypothesis through chosen instrumentarium. Analysis leads to conclusion that due to gradual removing of tariff trade barriers mainly of non-agricultural commodities in the framework of free trade area can lead not only to tendency of inter-industry, as Viner assumed, but still in more extent towards intra-industry trade tendency based on international technological specialization. This was the Slovakia's case. After the EU accession it is expected trade creation with non-preferential third countries in non-agricultural commodities and with trade diversion in agricultural commodities. Jacob Viner's hypothesis should be completed and wider interpreted.

The paper provides a comprehensive survey of the theories of consumption functions. The Keynesian consumption function is examined in more detail under a condition of a small open economy. The paper explains the variety of consumption expenditures in the Czech Republic between 1993 - 2001. In this paper an enlarged version of the Czech consumption function, also tests Ricardian equivalence. Empirical results imply that consumer behaviour reacts rationally to an external imbalance and the economy heads to equilibrium by itself. However, the consumption reaction seems to be irrational under an internal balance. Consumers do not voluntarily reduce their consumption when deficit of public finance appears but they are forced to do so when interest rates increase as a result of the internal imbalance.

In the second half of the year 2000 the intensity of the economic integration of the country with EU economies was on a very high level. Czech law system has already absorbed and transposed major part of the acquis and has advanced also in building adequate administrative capacities to implement it. In spite of this several problems and barriers have blocked the road to accession, both on the EU side and on the Czech side as well. In the end the outlooks of the real convergence of the Czech economy to the EU average based on Czech, EU and Austrian calculations are commented.

The study is an empirical investigation of inflation convergence between CEFTA and EU countries. The question of both groups convergence as well as convergence of each individual countries within those groups is particularly discussed in the paper. Detailed analysis was carried out by use of panel estimation in the individual and in the time setup. The study reveals an unambiguous convergence of all CEFTA inflations towards the EU levels between 1993 and 2000.

The aim of the article is a systemic summarization of processes, ways and main determinants influencing the relation between costs and benefits connected with the CR accession to the European Union. Author attempts to find out and to classify moments on macroeconomic both microeconomic level which are relevant for maximization of the realized economic effect. New conditions of the EU single market and importance of quick adaptation of enterprises' activities to them are being discussed.