Marketing practices like Money-Back Guarantees (MBGs) and warranties are quite controversial in the health care market. Despite their professed intention to improve consumer welfare, MBGs are often decried for taking advantage of consumers who might not have the correct information. This concern is valid especially given the salient features of health care markets: a) customization, b) expert service, and c) difficulty in measuring service quality. For instance, in the context of in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-a medical procedure to assist infertile couples in having children-many health care and policy experts argue that MBGs offered by fertility clinics are nothing but marketing gimmicks and that these clinics either sort and treat only the more fertile patients or overtreat patients with more aggressive and risky treatment protocols. This concern, however, is in stark contrast with the signaling literature in marketing and economics. The central idea of the signaling theory is that the cost of offering MBGs can be so high that low-quality clinics are not able to afford mimicking the high-quality clinics' offering of MBGs. Essentially then, only high-quality clinics would be able to afford MBGs. Given these contrasting viewpoints, my dissertation aims to advance our understanding of the strategic MBG decisions in the health care market. Utilizing data from the U.S. IVF market, I investigate the relationship between MBGs and clinic capability, which contains two aspects: a) service quality, i.e., the effectiveness in transforming input to treatment outcome (or quality output), and b) service productivity, i.e., the efficiency in transforming input to production possibility (or quantity output). Considering the nature of the IVF market, my findings have natural extension to other health care and expert service markets. In chapter 2 (essay one), I empirically examine the underlying mechanism of MBGs-whether MBGs in the IVF market can act as credible signals of quality or simply marketing gimmicks-by investigating the relationship between MBG offers and treatment outcomes at the clinic level. The analysis is conducted on a large and unique longitudinal dataset that includes a) clinic-level treatment and outcome statistics for almost all IVF clinics in the U.S., b) fertility clinic characteristics and MBG decisions, c) information on state-level insurance mandates, and d) demographic characteristics. Using an instrument variable approach to account for the endogeneity of MBG decisions made by fertility clinics, I find that compared to clinics not offering MBGs, clinics offering MBGs secure better treatment outcomes (i.e., higher live birth rate) and use less aggressive treatment (i.e., transferring fewer embryos) without sorting higher fertility patients or imposing higher long-term risk (i.e., multiple birth rate). These results taken together suggest that MBGs can work as signals of quality despite the incentives for clinics to engage in opportunistic behaviors.In chapter 3 (essay two), I empirically examine the relationship between MBG decisions and clinic productivity. To quantify the unobserved productivity, I first incorporate the quantity-quality tradeoff into the production function and then estimate it using a non-parametric structural model approach recently developed in the economics literature. Empirically, to handle the endogeneity challenge caused by unobserved productivity, I use input change decision (i.e., hiring and investment) as a proxy for productivity. Then, I use an instrument variable approach to deal with the attenuation bias caused by measurement error in quality output. The results show that a) the quantity-quality tradeoff exists in the IVF market, b) expert labor plays a more important role than capital in determining the production quantity, and c) clinics with higher productivity are more likely to be offering MBGs, being non-profit, with longer experience, providing service to single woman, with higher competition, and in states with IVF insurance mandates. Compared to non-MBG clinics, MBG clinics have higher capability because they are not only more effective in transforming resource to successful outcome, but also more efficient in transforming capital and labor to production capacity. Shedding light on the public policy debate over MBG practice in the IVF industry, my study indicates that traditional marketing strategies deserve nuanced analysis in the health care and expert service markets.

The study was designed to examine the causal relationship between the Venezuelan inflation and the monetarist variables--money supply--and the structuralist variables-- exchange rate and balance of payments. The data (1964-1982) was gathered from the International Financial Statistic Yearbook, 1983 and the Statistical Yearbook, 1974, 1982. Chapter I is an introduction to the research problem. Chapter II does a review of the related literature. Chapter III deals with the methods and procedures for treating the data. Chapter IV presents an statistical analysis of the data. And, Chapter V contains a summary of the study and its findings, conclusions and recommendations. The study only found a significant relationship between inflation and the monetarist variables money supply and GNP, though supporting the monetarist theory. A similar investigation is suggested, but selecting a longer time period, other.variables, and more refined methodologies and analysis.

Suppressing the legalisation of the earnings of criminal activities along with the terrorism financing represent the essential aspect of terrorism and predicative crimes (from which the illegal earnings are obtained) prevention. Focusing on concealing the tracks of money transfers, the legalisation of the earnings of criminal activities and terrorism financing is being proceeded throughout a series of money transfers and with the help of other financial services. Therefore, it is crucial to mainly focus on the field of payment services providers when trying to supress these activities. For the purposes of supressing the legalisation of the earnings of criminal activities and terrorism financing the banks and other bodies on the financial market are relevant providers of the payment services. The key legal provision regulating the domain in question is the Act no. 253/2008 Coll. (regarding certain precautions against the legalisation of the earnings of criminal activities and terrorism financing) which puts the payment services providers in the role of liable subjects. The diploma theses analyses individual precautions against the legalisation of the earnings of criminal activities and terrorism financing, whose implementation is posed on the liable subjects by national legislation, as well as the...

A B S T R A C T This diploma thesis deals with the issue of money laundering. This is a worldwide phenomenon, whose main aim is to disguise the true origin of the funds derived from criminal activity. It has strong potential to disrupt the functioning of the national economies of individual states, and at the same time undermine confidence in the financial and banking system as a whole. Therefore the efforts of the states and international organizations in preventing money laundering are not surprising. The first chapter is explaining the concept of money laundering with the most common semantic connotations including its legal definition. Then the thesis moves to the analysis of different stages and methods of money laundering with the focus on current trends as a virtual currency Bitcoin or trust funds. The third chapter is devoted to analysis of current legislation, both in the Czech Republic and also in the European Union and in the international arena in general. Chapter Four provides a comprehensive overview of the authorities responsible for combating money laundering as a Financial Analytical Unit, Czech National Bank or the Police of the Czech Republic. Following practical part is devoted to detail individual bank measures against money laundering. In this chapter I will try to capture how the...

"Legal aspects of currency and money circulation" represent a very original and specific area of monetary law. They are closely related to the economic and social issues, as the money as a phenomenon affects long-term visions as well as everyday life. The objective of my diploma thesis was a view on the current legislation of Czech currency and money circulation in the context of monetary theory and monetary law. Where required, there is a historical development of Czech legal currency and, in brief, issues related to the adoption of the common currency euro in the Czech Republic. This diploma thesis is divided into two parts each of them is subdivided into chapters and subchapters. The first part focused on selected legal aspects of the currency gives, at first, a brief overview of the relationship between the currency and the money. There are analyzed the parts of monetary sovereignty, including the relation between the monetary sovereignty and the monetary union. The comprehensive part is focused on the legal regulation of a legal currency, the historical development (including processes associated with the division of the common currency of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic) and the current status of the legal currency in the Czech Republic. With the similar structure, the second part...

Money laundering and terrorist financing are serious problems that may not only disrupt the stability and reputation of financial institutions, but also affect a wide range of individuals. Therefore, this kind of conduct can be punished as a crime, including the active involvement of banks in money laundering. However, the diploma thesis focuses mainly on preventive measures introduced by the provisions of administrative law. The role of a well-functioning banking system is essential for the effective suppression of money laundering and financing of terrorism. Banks are the most frequent reporters of suspicious transactions and the bank services are used by wide range of persons. The role of banks is mainly determined by their designation as obliged entities by the Act no. 253/2008 Coll., on certain measures against the legalization of proceeds of crime and terrorist financing. The obligations arising out of this act are put into context with the Czech Banking Act and with regulations governing payments and implementation of international sanctions, including directly applicable laws of the European Union. The importance of the bank services is also caused by the regulation of cash payments. In connection with the activities of banks, the thesis reflects selected changes that will be introduced by...

in English This thesis deals with the issue of counterfeiting, in terms of both criminal and criminological perspective. Its opening is devoted to the money, especially to their historical development. The following chapter, number three, continuously moves to the description of the most widely used security features of money, especially of banknotes. Although these security features are not the subject of my thesis, this part can look quite dominant. However, I am convinced that the technical protection of money plays the pivotal role it the whole issue, so I gave them enough space at the beginning of work. The following section deals with the valid legislation and focuses primarily on the enumeration and analysis of the actus reaus under the Criminal Code. In my opinion, the focus only on criminal legislation is inadequate, and therefore I consider it is necessary to mention also other legislation which is significantly related, ie Act No. 136/2011 Coll., on the circulation of banknotes and coins and amending Act No. 6/ 1993 Coll. on the Czech National Bank, as amended, which contains mainly the Czech National Bank's role in the issues mentioned above and responsibilities of defined group of persons handling the money suspected of counterfeiting. The procedure of the Police of the Czech Republic...

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Legal aspects of currency and money circulation - abstract "Legal aspects of currency and money circulation" is a very interesting matter that comprises a wide range of various issues. Issues related with currency and money circulation are not only issues of law - these are related to day-to-day life as well. The purpose of my diploma thesis is to deal with these issues, that are not usually in the centre of attention and also I would like to focus on relatively new legal regulation in the area of money circulation. This diploma thesis is concerned with relevant Czech legislation. Relevant European legislation is mentioned as well. This diploma thesis is divided into four parts, each of them is subdivided into chapters and subchapters. The first part briefly explains the terms of money, currency, legal tenders and related problems. Its aim is also to outline basic information about relevant Czech legislation and several activities of the Czech National Bank. The second part is concerned with circulation of money and related matters. At first it is necessary to define the term of money circulation. In the centre of attention in this part is the obligation to accept legal tenders and the related right to deny their acceptation. The second part is also dealing with imitations of money and money substitutes....

Title: Evolution of Prize Money for the 1st places in selected sports Objectives: The main aim of this Master Thesis is to analyse evolution of prize money for winners in selected competitions and disciplines of golf, tennis, athletics and figure skating and prognosis of their evolution until 2020. Another goal is to compare the results of this prognosis and try to determine what influences the evolution. Methods: Methods used for prognosis of the future evolution are prognostic functions FORECAST and LOGLINTREND. Quality of prognosis is based on the Theil Index of Inequality. Trendline is also used to determine future evolution of the data. The correct trendline is chosen based on its reliability value. Results: Result of this theses is the discovery that prize money in history was progressively growing especially in traditional tournaments in tennis and golf. In younger series of competitions in figure skating and athletics prize money remained constant within the years. Prognosis suggests further increase in prize money in Grand Slam and Major tournaments and stagnation in Diamond League and ISU Grand Prix. Keywords: prize money, prognosis, professional sport, golf, tennis, athletics, figure skating