This paper investigates the effects of the composition of public spending together with the impact of fiscal decentralization on growth for a set of four Central European countries over the period from 1995 to 2010. The main contribution to the current literature arises from the fact that for the first time, this paper examines a possible common trend of the variables which may lead to misleading results if left untreated. Indeed, most variables suffered from this problem. The interpretation of obtained results must therefore take this issue into account. We found that expenditure on education and defence seems to have positive and significant impact on economic growth. On the contrary, economic affairs consistently exhibit a negative and significant impact on the growth rate. In addition, fiscal decentralization seems to be beneficial for economic growth of the concerned countries. Furthermore, the implication of a strong negative impact of economic affairs is robust regarding different specifications, and especially with respect to the common trend issue.

Les pays membres de l’UEMOA (Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine) ont décidé, en 1994, de coordonner leurs actions dans les secteurs de l’environnement et de l’énergie. En s’inspirant de la théorie des Zones Monétaires Optimales (ZMO), qui fonde la formation d’une union monétaire, la thèse examine l’homogénéité des pays en terme de croissance et environnement afin d’établir si les pays de l’union doivent adopter des politiques communes. La première partie étudie la relation croissance – environnement dans des cadres statique et dynamique. Ensuite la seconde partie analyse le lien de causalité entre les variables PIB – énergie - CO2 pour chaque pays, d’une part et la symétrie des chocs entre pays d’autre part. Les résultats montrent que la relation croissance-environnement est plutôt positive et que les chocs sont asymétriques. En définitive, la thèse conclut à une forte hétérogénéité des pays de la zone et qu’il est donc plus approprié pour le moment de mettre en place une stratégie en termes d’objectifs pour la croissance et la limitation de la pollution. / The member countries of the WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union) decided in 1994 to coordinate their actions in the areas of environment and energy. Inspired by the theory of Optimal Monetary Area (OMA), which contemplates the formation of a monetary union, the thesis examines the homogeneity of the countries in terms of growth and environment in order to establish whether the WAEMU countries must adopt common policies. The first part examines the relationship between growth and environment in static and dynamic frameworks. Then the second part analyzes the causal relationship between the variables GDP - energy - CO2 for each country on the one hand and the symmetry of shocks between countries on the other. The results show that the growth - environment relationship is quite positive and that the shocks are asymmetric. Ultimately, the thesis concludes with a strong heterogeneity of the countries of the area and it is therefore more appropriate at this time to develop a strategy in terms of objectives for growth and limiting pollution.

The purpose of this study is to investigate if growth in ICT investments affects output growth differently across four income groups. Our panel data analysis is based on a sample of 101 countries in the period 1995-2015, where we conduct an augmented Cobb-Douglas production function with GDP growth as dependent variable. We divide the regression sample into high-, upper middle-, lower middle- and low-income countries to account for income disparities across countries. The outcomes are measured by estimating both ordinary least square and a fixed effects model. The impact of capital investments is measured by using two variables; growth of ICT capital services and non-ICT capital services. In addition, we control for exports and the growth in labor quality. Our major findings show that there are only significant contributions to growth in the top-three richest countries, with exception for the middle-income countries when controlling for fixed effects.

The diploma thesis is focused on the current economic situation of Mexico and its position in the international tourism market. The main objective of this thesis is to evaluate the relation between the economy and tourism of Mexico. The analysis is carried out through the comparison of generating gross domestic product and employment in both sectors. The diploma thesis is divided into three chapters; the first one is devoted to theoretical definitions of basic concepts. The second chapter covers the actual development of the Mexican economy, as well as detailed analysis of macroeconomic indicators (GDP, unemployment, inflation, balance of payments). The third chapter reflects the evolution in the international tourism of Mexico and through the analysis of country competitiveness it also displays the position of Mexico's international tourism market.

The aim of this thesis is analysis and assessment of macroeconomic development of France depending upon setup of particular segments of economic policy between year 2000 and 2012, eventually 2013. Recommendations for setup of economic policy will be made based on particular findings. Theoretical part, consisting of section one to five, consists of description of economic policy and its particular segments, economic growth and cycle, macroeconomic analysis and particular examined variables. Practical part, which is fractionated to four sections, consists of description of starting position and analysis of particular variables and economic policy within core examined period. Last section of practical part consists of particular recommendations for economic policy.

Information and telecommunication technologies are always joint with economic growth in modern economies, because they participate on reduction of transaction costs and increase production factors productivity and competitiveness. Benefits from ICT had been obvious untill 2001, but right after the investmens and expenditure in ICT started to decrease rapidly. There are studies capturing this drop in developed economies, whereas there are not many works considering the situation in center and eastern Europe. This master thesis brings an analysis of impact of ICT capital and production factors productivity on gross value added by growth accounting methodology in Czech Republic between 1996-2007. It also provides econometric testing of the impact of investments in ICT equipment and software on gross value added in Czech Republic between 1993-2013 by fixed effects model. The output of the master thesis demonstrates the empirical evidence of significant negative impact year-by-year change investment in ICT equipment and software on a change of growth pace of gross value added.

The diploma thesis main goal is to show how cultural values are associated with economic growth. The thesis approaches the goal on theoretical and practical grounds. The theoretical part describes three economic growth models and perspectives to culture. The practical part relates to statistical analyses.

The main approach to the solution of the debt crisis, which started in EU in 2010, was the adoption of measures focusing on fiscal consolidation. But despite them it is still not possible to claim that the debt crisis has been resolved, and the economic stagnation of EU continues. This thesis follows alternative approach to the solution of debt crisis, specifically the measures revolving around fostering of economic growth. It looks into how different extent of implementation of competitiveness strategies, whose goal together with the improvement of country competitiveness is to also improve economic growth, influenced the impact of debt crisis on selected countries. Based on this analysis we draw a conclusion whether or not measures focused on the economic growth could be a more effective solution of the debt crisis.

The aim of this diploma thesis is comparison and analysis of chosen macroeconomic indicators of the Czech republic and Japan and illustration of the difference between them before and after the 2008 world economic crisis. This text deals especially with gross domestic product and development of the economic growth. Next, the thesis deals with international trade which means comparison of export and import of various products. The last part describes the difference in development of unemployment in the Czech republic and Japan.

The dissertation thesis deals with the relationship between military expenditures and economic growth. The data sample contains European countries and there are three growth models used in the thesis (the Feder-Ram model, the Augmented Solow-Swan model and the Barro model). Two hypothesis and one research question are set in the dissertation. The first hypothesis says that there is a relationship between military expenditures and economic growth. Consequently, the second hypothesis says that the relationship is positive in case of relatively richer countries and negative for relatively poorer countries. Turning to research question, it asks which model better describes the relationship (if it exists) between military expenditures and economic growth.