The aim of the Geopolitics of Oil is to find a theoretical conceptualization of oil trade regime evolution and its changes during the period between the end of the World War II and 2011. This thesis builds on the two major theories of international relations: neorealism and interdependence theory. The theoretical part of the paper analyzes their main contributions and weaknesses. This enables to formulate the new approach to political economy of oil with a special emphasis on geo-economics. This thesis seeks to answer two main research questions: 1) "Under which conditions do oil exporters consolidate their energy sector?" and 1) "What is the reason for engagement of foreign powers in the oil regions?" This thesis examines relations between exporters from the Persian Gulf and the United States. Interdependence theory is tested by a calculation of symmetry or asymmetry in interdependent relationship between importers and exporters, which is done by a comparison of the market shares between the two during the period of changes in the oil trade regimes. Neorealist theory and political economy of oil approach are examined through detailed case studies that inquire how oil importers and exporters have tried to use oil to pursue their own power interests. This thesis concludes that the geopolitics of oil...

The accepted scientific opinion is that anthropogenic activities and correlated greenhouse gases are the main cause of climate change, with carbon dioxide releases from fossil fuels being one of the main culprits. In South Africa, the main sources of energy have always been coal and other fossil fuels. Society and the economy alike are heavily reliant on energy consumption. In light of the above, it is clear that drastic steps need to be taken to "clean up" the nation's energy sector and usage patterns. There is an international tendency towards a so-called "green economy," which finds the relation between economic development, social upliftment and conservation of the natural environment. A green economy relies less on carbon inputs, and utilises resources efficiently, whilst taking a "socially inclusive" approach. It therefore makes sense to draw on renewable natural resources in greening the economy. Some of the advantages of renewable energy are that they result in limited or no emissions, the creation of sustainable jobs, improved health of consumers and enhanced energy security. A shift to a green economy cannot take place in a vacuum. The laws and policies regulating the various sectors of the environment; energy generation, distribution and use; investment opportunities and economic factors must stimulate and drive this move, and must create an optimal atmosphere to this end. This study determines how suitable the current South African legal framework is for a shift towards a green economy based on renewable energy, and whether it can successfully catalyse and drive such a shift. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The accepted scientific opinion is that anthropogenic activities and correlated greenhouse gases are the main cause of climate change, with carbon dioxide releases from fossil fuels being one of the main culprits. In South Africa, the main sources of energy have always been coal and other fossil fuels. Society and the economy alike are heavily reliant on energy consumption. In light of the above, it is clear that drastic steps need to be taken to "clean up" the nation's energy sector and usage patterns. There is an international tendency towards a so-called "green economy," which finds the relation between economic development, social upliftment and conservation of the natural environment. A green economy relies less on carbon inputs, and utilises resources efficiently, whilst taking a "socially inclusive" approach. It therefore makes sense to draw on renewable natural resources in greening the economy. Some of the advantages of renewable energy are that they result in limited or no emissions, the creation of sustainable jobs, improved health of consumers and enhanced energy security. A shift to a green economy cannot take place in a vacuum. The laws and policies regulating the various sectors of the environment; energy generation, distribution and use; investment opportunities and economic factors must stimulate and drive this move, and must create an optimal atmosphere to this end. This study determines how suitable the current South African legal framework is for a shift towards a green economy based on renewable energy, and whether it can successfully catalyse and drive such a shift. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The main goal in this paper is to make an in-depth analysis of the regulatory situations that can arise during mergers when political involvement takes place. The research is based on four controversial merger cases of undertakings within the same country (E.On-Ruhrgas), European Union countries (E.On-Endesa, Unicredit-Hypoverein) and between companies from the USA (Boeing-McDonnell Douglas) that have effect on the European market. We analyze the four mergers using Michele Ruta and Massimo Motta models from the paper "A Political Economy of Merger Policy in International Markets" (2008). By the end of the research we reached the conclusion that due to some lapses in the European Commission Merger regulation at the time of the mergers, as well as due to government involvement in the mergers, they are not always cleared in the benefit of the market competition or consumer welfare, but due to nationalistic interests of governments to have big players on the market or to keep governmental power in certain industries, even with the risk of harming competition. Along with this, from the mergers analyzed here, it becomes clear that local or union authorities scrutinize the foreign acquirers more.

This thesis investigates the effect of individual countries' cultural character- istics on macroeconomic stability. Macroeconomic stability is a general con- cept that comprises the stable development of several economic parameters - inflation, government budget, external debt, gross domestic product, and oth- ers. The mainstream economics investigates these indicators usually as being shaped only by wealth, political stability and institutions. However recently, the economic literature reveals the relationship between some of the individ- ual cultural characteristics - mainly trust - and macroeconomic (in)stability. This thesis is the first attempt to analyze the effect of complex set of cultural characteristics on macroeconomic stability. Through the lens of panel data re- gression it is shown that the macroeconomic stability is significantly affected by cultural characteristics. In particular, more individualistic countries tend to have lower macroeconomic stability. Furthermore, in countries where people feel stronger fear about uncertainty the macroeconomic stability is also weaker. On the contrary from the previous studies, the positive effect of higher trust on macroeconomic stability is not confirmed. JEL Classification C33, E03, Z10, Z19 Keywords Macroeconomic stability, Cultural economics,...

Imperfect patient adherence to treatment leads to adverse individual and social outcomes: it has negative effect on patient health and, consequently, it increases health care costs. The adherence is low particularly in chronically ill patients with complex regimen, such as hemodialysis. This thesis provides an in-depth study of the phenomenon and presents a survey targeted at hemodialysis patients in the Czech Republic. The survey assesses prevalence of nonadherence, identifies predictors of nonadherence, and analyzes patients' attitude to a hypothetical incentive program to promote adherence. Then, an optimal design of an intervention to promote adherence is discussed. Results show that 72% of patients do not adhere to one or more areas of hemodialysis treatment. Prevalence of nonadherence is highest for following fluid restrictions (62.8%) and diet guidelines (55.7%). On the contrary, medication and appointment nonadherence is not frequent. Strongest predictors for nonadherence are: young age, male sex, treatment for depression, number of prescribed pills, and length of dialysis treatment. Most of patients (83%) indicated that they would change their behavior when involved in an incentive program to promote adherence. With regard to broad prevalence of nonadherence, an intervention targeted at...

The diploma thesis deals with the issues related to capital market regulation from a more complex point of view. The capital markets represent a significant part of market mechanisms in the developed market-economy countries. They act as a significant means of transfer as well as material artifacts re-allocation. Understanding of capital market in the quality of an interdisciplinary phenomenon is the point of departure. The individual approaches that we have chosen in order to grasp the subject of capital market regulation are the following: law, economics, ethics, and on a limited basis, psychology. The intention is to catch legal regulation (reactive) on the one hand - executed institutionally (provided by the authority of state), and on the other hand a form of regulation represented by the proactive self-regulation approach based on ethical values - the approach of psychology representing a transitional mechanism - with this all set in the context of economic reality and its specific approaches to regulation. The diploma thesis reflects the recent years developments - partly the financial crisis, then the financial market globalisation and internationalisation as well as the Czech Republic integration into European structures. The analytical and descriptive focus prevails in the diploma thesis....

Master thesis concerns itself with Czech edition Forbes magazine. Regarding the global media market today, journal Forbes without a doubt belongs to the fully respected periodical. Magazine Forbes has gained its reputation thru regular publishing business charts. Concept of this magazine was established on the stories of successful people. Thesis examines introduction of the journal on the Czech market and its first year of existence in the conditions of domestic media market. This view is based on political economical communication. The emphasis, in the Czech issue Forbes magazine, is put on the rise of success and identities thru political economical communication and its confrontation with cultural studies. In the frame of wider politico-economic context is part of the thesis dedicated to original American edition of the magazine, whose publisher owns the rights for publishing the magazine in Czech Republic. The main research on the political economical bases related to Forbes magazine is characterised by the production of this magazine, its position and goals on the market, strategy to achieve and target audience. Thesis contains quantitative analysis of the magazine contents and qualitative analysis editorials editor in chief. That should have provided deeper view into the meanings and identities in...

The thesis deals with the possibilities of employment of persons who face special barriers to entering the labour market. In the theoretical part it introduces a model of the welfare state as a solution to current social issues in most European countries. It refers to the crisis the existing forms of the welfare state is passing through and emphasizes the need for its reform. The the author's initial idea considers cooperation between the state, private profi and non-profit organizations and households in the field of so called third sector. The thesis also presents the theoretical foundations of the labour market functioning, defínes unemployment and provides a list of economic and social consequences of unemployment. In the practical part the author characterizes vulnerable groups in the labour market, names existing forms of support to these groups and offers the concept of social firms as a promising partner for the state government, local authorities and communities and unemployed people in solving their adverse social situation.

Present work describes two ways of application of psychological findings to economic theory of advertisement. Psychological findings may help with evaluation of different economic approaches of the study of advertisement. Evidence from psychology of persuasion is applied to the question, whether advertisement is used as a source of information. The work then inquires into the possibility, that advertisement can enhance utility. Summarized studies indicate, that it may indeed be so. During the inquiry, neuroeconomics is applied and it's basic methods are presented. The concluding part describes ramifications of chosen approach.