N10 - Economic History: Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations: General, International, or ComparativeReturn

The article discusses the approaches and options for identification of equilibrium exchange rate. It focuses mainly on the outcomes of behavioural (BEER) and fundamental (FEER) model of the equilibrium exchange rate of the Czech Koruna, which are presented in both nominal and real terms. The results of both models of equilibrium exchange rate (BEER and FEER) showed significant long-term appreciation trend, mainly due to faster growth in labour productivity in the Czech Republic compared to the euro area. The results also confirmed the estimates of exchange rate overvaluation by mid-1997 and in 1998, 2002 and 2008. Since 2009, the model suggests a significant slowdown in the appreciation of the equilibrium mainly due to slowing domestic growth rate of labor productivity compared to the euro area.

The article aims to show both the still very strong position of the USD in the global financial system and assess its likely future position. It illustrates that although the U.S. is no longer the dominant global economic power that it was when the dollar became the global reserve currency, the dollar so far is not in immediate danger of losing its privileged position. Despite the challenges facing the USD as the global reserve currency, it continues its dominant role since no other currency has shown itself strong and credible enough to replace it. Considerations on replacing dollar with other currency are no more than a speculation.

The article provides a general description of the world money development in both developed and developing countries during the second half of 20th century. We were primarily focusing on the long run trends in dollar gold prices, monetary aggregates (broad and narrow money), foreign exchange reserves, inflation and interest rates. We found that after relatively tranquil periods of fifties and sixties, next three decades witnessed dramatic changes in the world economy. The emphasis that was given to the analysis of the relation of the dollar gold prices to the world reserve currencies (EUR, CHF, GBP and JPY) by means of state-space model confirmed negative correlation between these variables. Subsequently we discussed a concept of neutrality and superneutrality of money in the light of GDP dynamics during monitored period and practical aspects of monetary policy. In spite of some recent empirical findings, we express our belief in the long-run neutrality and superneutrality of money and in relative non-activistic monetary policy with price stability as its primary goal.

The paper is concerned with the Czech privatization. According to the author, there was no economic theory of privatization in 1989. Therefore, decision makers in transition economies had to improvise and solve a dilemma: a fast, or slow privatization? The Czech literature on privatization as well as the strengths and weaknesses of privatization methods in the Czech Republic, including of the voucher one, are discussed. The paper argues against the pessimistic view on the Czech privatization, which predominated in the literature in the second half of the nineties.

This article is oriented on the analyses of the development of the mergers and acquisition process. The author shows the main reason and motivations of expansion MA and its influence on the globalization of the world economy. This activity is (in the time and the territory) very different and heterogeneous. The leading players of his process are the multinational corporations, however, the value of deals of SME's is going up, too. In the last years these activities concern to the change of strategy of MNC's, first of all to the supporting of cooperation among them. The latest period is under the increasing pressure of the development of the international production sharing and production cooperation. The final result of this process is creating to a new sharing of the economic power in the worldvide framework, as a whole and influencing all regions, the emerging markets not shows off.