This thesis examines the applicability of Google Econometrics - the use of search volume data of particular queries as explanatory variables in time se- ries modeling - in the case of the Czech Republic. We analyze the contribu- tion of Google data by comparing out-of-sample nowcasting performance and in-sample fit with control variables in three related areas: using an auto- regressive model for unemployment, vector autoregression and logit models for GDP and household consumption, and Granger causality test for consum- er confidence. The improvement in quality of unemployment nowcasting is modest but statistically significant; sentiment index based on Google queries shows reciprocal relationship with the official Consumer Confidence Indicator, and it also provides superior nowcasts for household consumption as well as in- sample fit in logit models; its performance in GDP nowcasting is average among control variables. In overall, the results suggest that Google Econometrics is applicable also to the Czech Republic, despite the fact that the internet penetration rate and Google popularity was lower over the analyzed period compared with developed economies where these methods were usually tested. In the future, Google data may be used together with other leading and coincident indica- tors to...

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-05-08T11:32:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Manuela Prey Pereira Nunes.pdf: 4323622 bytes, checksum: 0cf141f061efd98119e9401d8ed34e99 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-08T11:32:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Manuela Prey Pereira Nunes.pdf: 4323622 bytes, checksum: 0cf141f061efd98119e9401d8ed34e99 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-24 / The purpose of this research is to do evolutionary analysis through a timeline about internet evolution and to understand how this technology gained strength over the years and transformed the society. We develop knowledge on the subject of qualitative research. This technological revolution made possible the dissemination of information. Internet evolved to be ubiquitous in modern life. This converging set of technologies, computing (hardware and software) and telecommunications developed different platforms. The recent migration from desktops and notebooks to smartphones has transformed habits of a whole society through the app’s / O objetivo dessa pesquisa é fazer análise evolutiva através de uma linha do tempo sobre a evolução da Internet e entender como chegamos ao universo informacional de hoje. Desenvolvemos conhecimento suficiente sobre o funcionamento das ferramentas de busca e o comportamento do usuário, através de uma pesquisa qualitativa. Levando em conta os objetivos foi feito, um estudo de caso. Esta revolução tecnológica possibilitou a difusão da informação e a medida que a internet evoluiu para ser onipresente da vida moderna, as transformações psicológicas, econômicas e sociais associadas à chamada revolução das tecnologias de informação e comunicação trouxeram um crescimento de uma série de transformações no comportamento dos seres humanos. Este conjunto convergente de tecnologias, computação (software e hardware) e telecomunicações evoluem para diferentes plataformas e a recente migração dos desktops e notebooks para os smartphones vem transformando hábitos de toda uma sociedade através dos aplicativos