The aim of the work is to analyze the convergence in the Czech Republic for the period of 1996- 2006. The paper is based primarily on the Barro and Sala-i-Martin's theories of convergence of sub-national territorial units. The regression results proved assumptions to be realistic. The main model concentrates on a panel data approach that captures the extent to which new transport infrastructure influences within-nation regional convergence. This paper developed a regional approach to evaluate the impact of transport infrastructure, human capital and migration in four Central and Eastern European countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the Slovak Republic. The aim is to present an overview of the convergence process of the Czech regions between 1996 and 2006. A neoclassical growth model is used as a framework to study convergence across the 14 administrative units of the Czech Republic. Data on gross value added per capita are exploited. 1

A Produtividade Total dos Fatores da agropecuária brasileira cresceu a uma taxa média de 2,2% ao ano entre 1975 e 2006, entretanto esse crescimento não ocorreu de forma homogênea entre os estados que compõem o país. Enquanto alguns estados além de terem taxas consistentes de crescimento, por vezes acima da média nacional, outros tiveram um trajetória que oscilava entre momentos de crescimento e estagnação. Tendo em vista essas diferenças na trajetória estadual da produtividade, o objetivo do trabalho é compreender a dinâmica do crescimento da PTF agropecuária brasileira e testar a hipótese das convergências sigma e beta - absoluta e condicional - a um nível geográfico interestadual entre os anos censitários de 1975 e 2006. Para atingir tal objetivo foi utilizado um modelo de regressão linear simples, para o teste da convergência sigma, e um modelo de dados em painel para os casos da convergência beta. Os resultados obtidos não identificaram convergência sigma, indicando um aumento da dispersão da produtividade interestadual, mas há evidências de convergência beta, tanto absoluta quanto condicional, sendo que o tempo de meia-vida para convergência variou entre 168 anos, no caso absoluto, e 172 anos, no caso condicional. A partir dos resultados argumenta-se que o longo período temporal necessário para a convergência beta não consegue ser compreendido sem que se leve em consideração o aumento da dispersão do nível da PTF, evidenciada pela não convergência sigma, pela própria dinâmica da produtividade interestadual e por fatores exógenos, como a condução da política agrícola durante o período em análise. / Brazilian farming total factor productivity grew at an average rate of 2.2% per year from 1975 to 2006, however this growth did not occur in a homogeneous way among the states. While some states besides having consistent rates of growth, sometimes above the national average, others had a trajectory that oscillated between moments of growth and stagnation. In view of these differences in the state productivity trajectory, the objective of this work is to understand the dynamics of the growth of Brazilian agricultural TFP and testing the hypothesis of sigma and beta - absolute and conditional - convergences at a geographical interstate level between. To achieve this objective, a simple linear regression model was used for the sigma convergence test and a panel data model for the cases of beta convergence. The results obtained did not identify sigma convergence, indicating an increase in the dispersion of interstate productivity, but there is evidence of beta convergence, both absolute and conditional, and the half-life for convergence varied between 168 years in the absolute case and 172 years, in the conditional case. From the results it is argued that the long time period required for the beta convergence can\'t be understood without taking into account the increased dispersion of the TFP level, evidenced by sigma non convergence, by the interstate productivity dynamics itself and by exogenous factors such as the conduct of agricultural policy during the period under review.

In 1993 the internal market within the European Union was formed and ensured free movement of goods, services, capital and people. This led to the removal of trade barriers between members of the European Union. When opening up for competition, price differences between countries decreased and more jobs were created. A single currency was introduced by eleven countries in 1999 with the goal of reducing transaction costs, eliminating exchange rate risk and to further simplify trade. In 2001 Greece joined the collaboration and introduced the euro. With a single currency, price differences are expected to decrease. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a common currency has had a significant effect on reducing price dispersion or not. Two types of convergence are tested, beta and sigma convergence. 21 different product groups are included in this study and are sorted after the speed of convergence. All of the 27 EU member states are included and divided into two groups, one euro group and one non-euro group. We also examine if differences in productivity can explain price convergence. The results indicate that the introduction of a common currency did not decrease price dispersion within the majority of product groups. For the product groups in which price convergence are evident, only one product group within the euro countries and one product group within the non-euro countries have proven to be significantly positive in terms of differences in productivity.

This dissertation poses the question of whether there is a relationship between the speed of convergence of globalisation and the speed of convergence of GDP per capita. Firstly, the concepts of globalisation and real convergence and their relationship are thoroughly explained from both the theoretical and empirical point of view. And secondly, the answer to the question comes in the form of beta and sigma convergence analysis of this relationship. Thirdly, the analysis splits the countries into two groups (developed and developing countries) and finds interesting but ambiguous results in their comparison. Finally, in order to correctly interpret the results of absolute and conditional beta and sigma convergence, their theoretical and empirical overview is discussed in depth. The dissertation concludes by providing some answers to the initial question for every particular analysis. Namely, it shows that this relationship is indeed very ambiguous.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to cover the catching up with the economic level among the countries of middle and eastern Europe. More accurately it analyses GDP per capita and household income per capita as one of the key economic indicators. The thesis concretely focuses on analysis of beta and sigma convergence and cluster analysis of the mentioned regions and concurrently at the background of the analysis explains some theoretical terms from areas of economics, econometrics and statistics. The analysis was concluded in IBM SPSS programme which belongs to the most complex, user friendly and professionally often used expert tools. The data for the analysis were used from Eurostat.