This thesis is concerned with a function of local political leaders as the actors of regional development in model areas. The primary aim is to select the appropriate model areas in Carlsbad region. The main aim of this thesis is on example of three appropriate selected model areas to analyze role and attitude of local politician in development of model areas. The theoretical part deals with analyze of attitudes in local development and analyze of selected ideas key for needs of thesis. The results of the thesis correspond to the stated aims and assumptions. Local political leaders are important actors of local development, but their role is evident only to a limited extent. The biggest differences in the approach to local development can be found between opposition and coalition politics. Keywords: Borders, local politicians, actors of local development, social capital

The thesis deals with the topic of corporate social responsibility emphasizing especially its spatial aspects and the impact on regional development. It aims to discover the spatial pattern of the so-called socially responsible firm activities in Czechia including the motivations for choosing this pattern, and to assess the importance of these activities for regional development. Particularly, it aims to present the concept of corporate social responsibility from a geographical point of view. The empirical research using the case of Czechia is structured into two phases. The first phase, based on an extensive research of internet-based sources and a questionnaire survey among selected corporations, explores the institutional context of corporate social responsibility in Czechia and follows the activities of particular firms including their spatial strategies. The second phase, using intensive research in two Czech micro- regions (Broumovsko and Červenokostelecko), particularly in-depth interviews with representatives of selected firms, provides deeper insight into the topic, reveals the motivations of firm behavior regarding social responsibility and sheds light upon the importance of these activities for development of the respective region. The thesis proved direct connection between geography and...

High capacity transport infrastructure is often referred to as a one of key factors in regional development. The aim of this study is specify effects of capacity transport infrastructure in relation with accessibility to Prague on possible municipalities development in the Central Bohemia region. Basis of this research is identify indicators, that are significantly affected existence of transport infrastructure and accessibility strong core and then to formulate future development of concerned areas. We used spatial analysis methods with demarcation time accessibility zones for accessibility research. Long term development is monitored using index changes of relevant indicators between 2001 and 2011 and their significance are evaluated by analysis of variance. Key factors in municipalities on transport infrastructure were compared with SO ORP. Characteristic of significant effects in area has provide identification different values in development. In spite problematic data base this research confirmed development effects of high capacity roads, especially in demographic terms, but they are significantly influenced by the time accessibility to region core and area economic base. The results can be used as a document for deciding on territorial investment and to prediction effects for the planned transport...

L’application des concepts de la biologie évolutionnaire (BE) à la problématique de la réalité socioéconomique n’est pas un sujet nouveau dans certaines disciplines socioéconomiques, même si cette inspiration pour la problématique de la géographie socioéconomique, ou plutôt du développement régional, est plus récente et en général se fonde sur les applications réalisées notamment en économie. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est d’identifier de nouveaux concepts de la BE et de tenter de les appliquer aux sujets sélectionnés du développement régional directement, sans le rôle d’intermédiaire d’autres disciplines. L’attention est dans un premier temps prêtée à la recherche du cadre théorique convenable et d’un aperçu des concepts de la BE déjà appliqués aux sciences sociales. La seconde partie présente certains concepts de la BE pour lesquels les applications potentielles (par l’intermédiaire des analogies et des métaphores) aux thèmes choisis du développement régional ont été identifiées. Les concepts appliqués ont été divisés en quatre ensembles thématiques biologiques plus larges – l’adaptation, la coévolution, la sélection et la spéciation. L’application de la spéciation peut être probablement perçue comme la contribution la plus précieuse de la thèse. Elle s’appuie sur l’hypothèse qu’il est possible d’identifier certains traits analogues entre les concepts socioéconomiques path dependence et lock-in et les concepts de la BE concernant la spéciation et d’identifier et de classifier les mécanismes / structures qui fonctionnent comme des barrières socioéconomiques. / Application of the evolutionary biology concepts to socio-economic reality issues is not any new theme, even if this inspiration in socio-economic geography and especially in regional development is more recent and is based, in general, on already realized applications, mainly in economics. The main objective of the PhD thesis is thus an identification of hitherto non-applied evolutionary concepts, or to this time neglected biological aspects of already applied concepts and an attempt of their application to the selected themes of regional development without the intermediary role of other disciplines. In the first place, the attention is paid to the search of an appropriate theoretical approach and of the summary of already applied evolutionary concepts to the social sciences. Second part presents some evolutionary biology concepts where a potential for applications (based on the mediator role of analogies and metaphors) to the selected regional development issues was identified. Individual applied concepts were divided into four more complex thematic units – adaptation, co-evolution, selection and speciation. The application of the last concept could probably be considered as the most valuable contribution of the PhD thesis. It is based on the hypothesis that some analogical traits can be identified among socio-economic concepts of path dependence and lock-in and biological concepts linked with speciation and that the biological concepts can provide the general inspiration for identification of certain types of socio-economic barriers of development of regions and for an attempt to classify them.

The concentration of the population and socioeconomic activities in the Metropolitan Area of Port au Prince (MAPAP) in Haiti has a negative impact within MAPAP and on the socioeconomic development of the entire country. This phenomenon, known as urban primacy, is increasing at an unprecedented rate in developing countries. Urban primacy in the Third World is explained by scholars studying the phenomenon and by dependency theorists. Economic decentralization, based on growth pole theory, is one of the most frequently used policies for slowing the growth of primate cities by focusing on development poles. In Haiti, the potential growth poles are the regional capitals that have a constitutional mandate to promote and manage the development of their region. I have tested some of the assumptions of dependency and growth pole theories on Haiti, using the eight regional capitals as units of analysis. Using migration, geographic, and socioeconomic data, I have identified the strongest poles and explained their attraction power and formulated policy recommendations that will increase the chances of successfully implementing economic decentralization. The research design is the case study. The data show that MAPAP overshadows the regional capitals at the national level and within the capitals' own region, except for Cap Haïtien. However, the regional capitals are the primary destinations for migrants within their regions. The strongest poles are Cap Haïtien, Gonaives, and Port de Paix. Their attraction power is explained primarily by their population size and by their connections to the international market. Due to the selection criteria of the units of analysis and the limitations of the data used, the support and rejection of the growth pole and dependency theories hypotheses are not conclusive for the testing of these theories in Haiti or the Third World. The Haitian government needs to be more aggressive in addressing the consequences of urban primacy by implementing a comprehensive economic decentralization. The January 12, 2010, earthquake brought light on the issues raised by this study. Fortunately, the Haitian government has expressed its vision for the rebuilding of Haiti with an emphasis on decentralizing socioeconomic activities outside of MAPAP.

The thesis is focused on the possibilities of municipal cooperation in the Czech Republic, specifically on voluntary groups of municipalities. The aim is to analyse their activities and the advantages they bring to the involved municipalities. In the theoretical part, the various possibilities of municipal cooperation are generally outlined. Further, some important terms and aspects of regional development and municipal cooperation are explained, including the most important preconditions for such cooperation. In the practical part two examples of municipal cooperation are shown - The group of municipalities of the river Desná valley and Jesenicko Micro-region. Basic information about those subjects, their formation and activities including their most important projects can be found in here. The last two chapters deal with comparison of both micro-regions, especially in the fields of fundraising and management. They include also the results of the structured interviews with some of the representatives of involved municipalities and the data gained from a survey carried out among the citizens of some of those municipalities.

The aim of thesis is to identify factors for future tourism development in Decin region. The theoretical part deals with general definition of tourism its position in the national economy and also outlines the importance of tourism for the regional and microregional development in Czech Republic. The practical part is focused on tourism in Decin region. Firstly, the basic and supporting infrastructure of tourism is defined by description, the areas of possible further development of the region are identified and the economic impact of tourism on the selected area is hypothesized. Consequently, the range of accommodation facilities and services for tourists in Decin region are evaluated by the questionnaire survey. The representative sample of 13 facilities, ie 10% of total, is randomly selected of the 131 providers of accommodation services. The structure of facilities and the quality of its services is identified by the synthesis of the data. In conclusion, the results may help us to determinate the temporary situation in accommodation services, to indentify the main barriers of the tourist development and to suggest possible improvements and funding for further tourism development in Decin region.

This thesis is focused on people migration in the Czech republic. It is concentrated on important migration flows in terms of territory units of this country and is referred to recently general trends of migration. There is analysed migration in terms of individual demografic indicators such as age, sex or marital status. The essential part of this thesis is attended to migration in Středočeský kraj. There is described the main migration flows in this territory unit. It explains the suburbanization process between this unit and the capital of the Czech republic. At the conclusion of this work migration is assessed in terms of long- term regional development.

This diploma thesis focuses on development of tourism in terms of regional development on example of region of Slovacko. The primary objective of my thesis is to identify main challenges and barriers of further development and to provide recommendation and suggestions for development of tourism in the region of Slovacko. The first part of my thesis introduces the general role of tourism in regional development. Here, I describe conditions and background of tourist development both in the Czech Republic and in the European Union. As tourism is a significant part of national economics I pay attention to relation between development of tourism and national economy. Furthermore, there is a definition of the Concept of national tourism policy which specifies different authorities dealing with the management of tourism at various levels. The second part of the thesis deals with the region of Slovacko, its definition and basic characteristics with specific emphasis on the region's high tourism potential. The practical part analyses a role of the Association of entrepreneurs of tourism in the Hodonin district. There is a characterization and evaluation of the association's activities and projects that have been approved and implemented in the region of Slovacko. Based on my questionnaire survey given to the members of this association I try to find out what the major barriers of the tourism development are and how to reduce the obstacles. The conclusion summarizes the main barriers and limits and on the basis of the analysis I formulate recommendations and suggestions for further activities in the region.

The diploma thesis is focused on the problems of financial engineering instruments and specific methods for the use of credit instruments in the theories of regional development with special reference to initiative JESSICA. Analytical part contains theoretical and methodological context of the implementation of JESSICA in the UK and Poland. On the basis of the comparison of urban structures and experience with the initiative are assess the backgrounds, conditions and barriers of JESSICA implementation in the Czech Republic. The key added value of the thesis is the estimation of the critical issues for the implementation of JESSICA on a basis of a case study of Moravia-Silesia cohesion region.