The thesis addresses the points of interest related to establishing the euro currency in the Czech Republic by 2020. What are the connected costs and benefits? Is euro going to be a contribution to the Czech economy? The theoretical part describes the creation process of European monetary union. The paper then works with advantages and risks associated with euro. The main cost of membership in the eurozone being the loss of independent monetary policy and the loss of the exchange rate mechanism is estimated in range of 0.59 to 2.34 % of GDP. Comparing the direct costs and benefits then leads to a net loss for the Czech Republic. Mutual comparison is conducted between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is shown that the difference in economic progress between these two countries is statistically insignificant. Thus the thesis concludes that establishing the euro in the Czech Republic by 2020 would be of no benefit.

The main goal of this thesis is to analyze the topic of the endogeneity of OCA criteria with the focus on the Euro area and simulate the adoption of Euro in Czech Republic. The paper is organized as follows. Firstly the theory of the Optimal Currency Area (OCA) and the comparison of the costs and benefits of currency union are explained. In next chapter the literature review is given. The most important and most recent studies dealing with the shock asymmetry and integration, eastern enlargement of European Union and the endogeneity hypothesis are presented. In the fourth chapter the Euro adoption in Czech Republic is simulated. According to studies handling with the Euro introduction the expectations of the impact of Euro adoption in the Czech economy are presented. The fourth chapter includes the description of the data, the model and results.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe išskirti pagrindiniai fiksuoto valiutos kurso privalumai ir trūkumai, nustatyta jų įtaka Lietuvos ekonomikai bei įvertinta ar Lietuvai yra naudinga bendra valiuta su euro zonos šalimis. Pirmoje darbo dalyje išskiriami pagrindinių valiutos kurso režimų privalumai ir trūkumai, apžvelgiama Lietuvos pinigų politikos raida ir optimalios valiutos zonos teorija. Antroje dalyje remiantis pirmoje dalyje išskirtais fiksuoto valiutos kurso privalumais ir trūkumais analizuojama kaip jie veikė infliaciją, investicijas, užsienio prekybą, einamosios sąskaitos balansą, ar nebuvo grėsmės devalvacijai, ar ECB vykdoma pinigų politika buvo palanki. Trečioje darbo dalyje remiantis optimalios valiutos zonos kriterijais analizuojama ar Lietuva yra OVZ su EU (17) ir ar bendra valiuta – euras būtų naudingas. / In the Master‘s thesis main advantages and disadvantages of Fixed Exchange Rate were distinguished, analyzed their impact on Lithuania‘s economy and evaluated whether a common currency with the euro-zone countries would be useful. In the first part of the paper the main Exchange Rate Regime advantages and disadvantages were identified, main developments of Lithuania’s monetary policy and optimum currency area were overviewed. The impact of fixed exchange rate advantages and disadvantages on indicators such as inflation, foreign direct investment, foreign trade, current account balance were analyzed in the second part of the paper including the analyses of litas devaluation possibility and ECB monetary policy. The third part of the paper aims at assessing whether Lithuania and EU (17) is an OCA and whether a common currency – euro is beneficial.

The master thesis focuses on the influence of common European currency in Slovakia. Slovakia represents small transitive economy with high degree of openness and long-term experience from participation in common monetary union. The aim of the thesis is to analyse observed and potential benefits and costs that are emerging from adoption of common European currency in Slovakia. The analysis is based not only on quantified determinants, but also on the basis of observed alternative evaluation criteria, which are providing complex picture of macroeconomic development and performance of Slovak economy in comparison with other countries of Eurozone and European Union. Analyses that are used in the thesis are based on theoretical findings that are described in the first chapter. This chapter deals with criteria defined by the theory of optimal monetary unions, real convergence, but also with the most significant benefits and costs defined by the European Commission and economic theory. The thesis deals with the monetary politics in Slovakia before and after 2009 with focus on loss of autonomous monetary policy as the most significant cost of entry to European Monetary Union and also with analysis of the nominal convergence criteria that are needed to accept in case of adopting common European currency.

Syftet är att undersöka om Sverige tillsammans med ett eller flera av de nordiska länderna kan utgöra en optimal valutaunion. Utifrån ett svenskt perspektiv visar resultaten att det är lämpligast för Sverige att ingå i en valutaunion med Norge och Danmark eftersom den ekonomiska integrationen mellan dessa länder har varit störst. Taylors ränteregel visar att Sverige och Norges räntebanor samvarier mest och Optimal currency area-index (OCA-index) visar att Sverige, Danmark och Norge präglas av störst ekonomisk integration. Vi har använt två olika metoder för att undersöka en optimal nordisk valutaunion utifrån ett svenskt perspektiv, OCA-index och Taylors ränteregel. De båda tillvägagångssätten fokuserar på hur ekonomiskt integrerade länderna är, men genom olika variabler och ekonomiska storheter. Ett OCA-index har skapats och skattningen visar att variabeln som beskriver konjunkturcykeln är den som har störst inverkan på den beroende variabeln, växelkursvolatilitet. För att undersöka hur de nordiska länderna har påverkats av chocker har taylor-räntor beräknats och skillnader i korrelation har analyserats. Analysen visar på svårigheter i att mäta ekonomisk integration, något som OCA-teorin hävdar är viktigt för en optimal valutaunion. Beroende på vilken utgångspunkt som väljs varierar resultatet för vilket land Sverige skulle kunna bilda en optimal valutaunion med. Resultaten skiljer sig från tidigare forskning, delvis i tolkningen av variabeln för exportsektorsammansättning och delvis på grund av den studerade tidsperioden. / The aim is to investigate if Sweden constitutes a possible optimal currency area with one or more of the Nordic countries. The results show that Norway and Denmark are the two most suitable partners to join Sweden in a currency union since the economic integration between these countries is the strongest. The Taylor interest rate rule indicates that the interest rate paths between Sweden and Norway correlate the most. The variables in the optimal currency area-index (OCA-index) show that it is Sweden, Denmark and Norway that enjoys the strongest economic integration and therefore constitutes a possible optimal currency area. Two different methods have been used to investigate the possibility of an optimal currency area; the OCA-index and the Taylor interest rate rule. Both methods focus on the level of economic integration between the countries but do this by assessing different economic variables. The OCA-index has been compiled and the estimation indicates that the variable describing the business cycle has the greatest impact on the dependent variable, exchange rate volatility. In order to examine how the Nordic countries have been affected by shocks, Taylor interest rates have been calculated and differences in correlation have been examined. The conducted analysis points toward difficulties measuring economic integration, which according to the OCA-theory is important for an optimal currency union. There are several consistencies between the results of the two methods but also important differences such as which country would be the best partner in a currency union with Sweden. The findings differ from earlier scientific results mostly regarding the interpretation of the variable describing the export sectorial composition and the considered time period.

In the 2003 Treaty of Accession, the signatories agreed that all New Member States (NMS) that joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, would adopt the euro, even if no timetable was provided. Why have some NMS not been able to join the euro area even if they made serious attempts at the outset? What are the circumstances and policies in these countries that have led them not yet to adopt the euro? Has it been lack of political will on the part of the government, a strong voice in the opposition, a euroskeptic president, insufficient administrative capacity, or lack of policy learning? Though there is no consensus among economists as to whether or not adopting the euro in the short run is a good idea, an economic cost-benefit analysis would suggest that in the long run euro adoption is positive for NMS. Yet, macroeconomic analyses cannot explain the change in government policies that may lead to euro adoption. Political scientists have typically focused on collective identity, policy learning, ideas and knowledge transfer among central bankers and other political elites, as well as adjustment to global pressures and Europeanization. This political science literature is unable to provide a satisfactory explanation as to why the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have not adopted the euro yet. I argue that the role of domestic politics is key to explaining the process of euro adoption in Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland: government policies, elections, electoral cycles as well as constitutional rules, veto points, central banks, public opinion and the media turn out to be crucial in explaining the lagging euro adoption process in these countries. / Graduate

Στην παρούσα εργασία επιχειρούμε να διερευνήσουμε το βαθμό στον οποίο οι οικονομικοί κύκλοι μεταξύ των χωρών-μελών στη διευρυμένη Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση των 25 χωρών εμφανίζονται ή όχι συγχρονισμένοι και επιπλέον εξετάζουμε την πιθανότητα ύπαρξης ασυμμετριών. Το θεωρητικό πλαίσιο της ανάλυσής μας στηρίζεται στη Θεωρία της Άριστης Νομισματικής Περιοχής, στην οποία αναφερόμαστε εκτενώς, παρουσιάζοντας τόσο την παραδοσιακή όσο και τη σύγχρονη προσέγγισή της, ενώ παράλληλα θίγουμε και το ζήτημα της ενδογένειας των κριτηρίων. Στη συνέχεια, παραθέτουμε αναλυτικά ένα σημαντικό μέρος της σύγχρονης εμπειρικής βιβλιογραφίας που εξετάζει το ζήτημα που μας απασχολεί, ενώ παρουσιάζουμε και ορισμένες από τις μεθοδολογικές προσεγγίσεις που έχουν υιοθετηθεί από τους ερευνητές. Στο υπόδειγμα που αναπτύσσουμε, χρησιμοποιούμε στοιχεία χρονολογικών σειρών που αφορούν σε δυο μακροοικονομικές μεταβλητές, το πραγματικό ΑΕΠ και το επίπεδο τιμών και διερευνούμε σε πρώτη φάση το βαθμό συγχρονισμού των οικονομικών κύκλων στην ΕΕ-25. Ως σημείο αναφοράς ορίζουμε τις 15 χώρες-μέλη της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (ΕΕ-15), ενώ στο δείγμα μας μεταξύ των υπόλοιπων χωρών συμπεριλαμβάνουμε και τις υποψήφιες για ένταξη στην ΕΕ χώρες. Στόχος μας είναι να προσδιορίσουμε την έκταση στην οποία η πραγματική οικονομική δραστηριότητα σε κάθε μία από τις χώρες αυτές κινείται ή όχι προς την ίδια κατεύθυνση με την ΕΕ-15. Αναλογιζόμενοι τους μηχανισμούς μέσω των οποίων μπορεί να προκαλείται αυτή η κυκλική συσχέτιση, προχωρούμε την ανάλυσή μας ένα βήμα πιο πέρα και εξετάζουμε την πιθανότητα ύπαρξης ασυμμετριών στις διαταραχές. Ακολουθώντας τη μεθοδολογία SVAR, εκτιμούμε για κάθε μία χώρα τα σχετικά υποδείγματα, επιδιώκοντας αρχικά να αναγνωρίσουμε τις διαρθρωτικές διαταραχές με τις οποίες έρχονται αντιμέτωπες οι εξεταζόμενες οικονομίες. Στη συνέχεια, υπολογίζουμε το βαθμό της συμμετρίας που παρουσιάζουν οι διαταραχές συνολικής ζήτησης και συνολικής προσφοράς ξεχωριστά για κάθε μία χώρα σε σχέση με τις αντίστοιχες διαταραχές στην ΕΕ-15. Όσον αφορά στα αποτελέσματα της ανάλυσής μας, εστιάζουμε κυρίως στη συμπεριφορά που επιδεικνύουν τόσο τα νέα κράτη-μέλη όσο και οι υποψήφιες χώρες, ενώ επιχειρούμε και μια πρόβλεψη για το τι μέλλει γενέσθαι σε σχέση με την πολυσυζητημένη ευρωπαϊκή διεύρυνση. / This paper seeks to explore the extent to which economic cycles between member states in the enlarged European Union of 25 countries appear or not synchronized and further examines the possible existence of asymmetries. The theoretical framework of our analysis is based on the Theory of Optimum Currency Area, to which we refer extensively, presenting both traditional and modern approach, while addressing the question of endogeneity criteria. Then, we present in detail an important part of modern empirical literature examining the issue before us, while also highlighting some of the methodological approaches adopted by researchers. In our model we use time-series data related to two macroeconomic variables, real GDP and price level and explore initially the degree of synchronization between business cycles in EU-25. As a point of reference we define the 15 member countries of the European Union (EU-15), whereas in our sample among the remaining countries we include the candidate countries for EU membership. Our goal is to determine the extent to which real economic activity in each of these countries is moving or not in the same direction with the EU-15. Considering the mechanisms by which this cyclic correlation can be caused, we proceed our analysis a step further and examine the possible existence of asymmetries in shocks. Following the SVAR methodology, we estimate for each country relevant models, seeking initially to identify the structural shocks experienced by the economies concerned. Then, we calculate the degree of symmetry of aggregate demand and aggregate supply shocks separately for each country in relation to the respective shocks in the EU-15. Regarding the results of our analysis, we focus mainly on the behaviour shown by both the new member states and candidate countries, while attempting a prediction about what happens next in relation to the much-discussed EU enlargement.

This graduation theses seeks to analyse expected gains arising from adoption of Europe's single common currency,costs of such adoption and potentional risks.Conception of this analysis is based on the Theory of Optimal Currency Areas alongside empirical studies regarding the same matter. The first chapter summarizes the historical development of european monetary integration and the position of euro in the world monetary system. The second chapter is devoted to the principles of the Theory of Optimal Currency Areas and the asymmetric shocks. The requirements of the Theory of Optimal Currency Areas are tested on the example of the current member states in eurozone. The following two chapters describe expected economic gains and costs connected with the membership of the Czech Republic in eurozone. The last chapter considers possible ways of determining the most suitable timeframe for entrance of the Czech Republic into eurozone.

The diploma thesis focuses on the current economic problems of the eurozone, which are caused by the existence of independent monetary policy and seventeen fiscal policies. The theoretical part describes the complex relationship of fiscal and monetary policies as well as the optimum currency area criteria. The practical part analyzing monetary policy in terms of inflation, inflation differentials, development of the real effective exchange rate, credit expansion and the impact of low interest rates on the creation of housing bubbles. Analysis of fiscal policy focuses on the criteria of the Stability and Growth Pact in terms of the fiscal deficit and government debt development. At the end, the diploma thesis provides a brief description of the new fiscal agreement and the European Stability Mechanism treaty.

The thesis evaluates the ECB's monetary policy during the past decade by using policy rules and compares the suitability to particular members of the Eurozone. It examines the central bank's reaction function regarding the output and inflation. The work is divided into two main parts. First, gives the theoretical introduction of monetary policy and evaluation of the Eurozone regarding the theory of optimal currency area. In the second part it provides the econometric models and estimates. As a conclusion the results of two different OLS models show that, we cannot precisely decide to which variable the ECB reacted, as obtained two statistically significant models but with different results. For two models is used different variables GDP gap and IPI gap. The results have also shown that the ECB's monetary policy mostly suits to biggest economies within the Eurozone.