I summarize different methods of potential output and output gap estimation including advantages and disadvantages in this thesis. I also applied two published models on real data for Czech Republic. Concerned models are Hodrick-Prescott filter and so called Production Approach. Both approaches are simultaneously used by ČNB. This thesis offers comparison between HP filter and production approach and comparison of Czech, Austrian and common EU-15 potential output and output gap. Potential output of Austria and EU-15 was obtained from OECD database. Comparison result refers to very similar progress of estimate obtained by univariate and multivariate method. It also shows different trend behavior of domestic economy against more developed EU countries, which is starting to be similar at the end of observed period.

The aim of this diploma thesis, which is entitled "Media Education in schools - critical-analytic or production approach", is to map the current state of practice of media education in a sample of secondary schools (gymnasiums) in central Bohemia. Our goal is to provide readers with broader theoretical insight into the concept of media literacy (as a goal of any media education), to capture a brief history of development of the perspective on the role of media education, as well as to examine how media education is incorporated within the Czech system of secondary education, and also to reflect on its possible forms of implementation. Last but not least, the intent of the thesis is to describe two basic approaches to media education, both of which are directed to development of media literacy. Our research led by a combination of questionnaires and interviews with educators suppose to be used as a tool that should help us to bridge the theory with an image of factual practice. The research part primarily aims to provide insight into framework of the current practice of teaching media education in secondary schools in central Bohemia, and through interpretation of the main remarks points to (at least) basic issues which teachers of media education must deal with.

The greater competition and concentration in South Africa's financial sector has put South African banks under more constraints and led to questioning of their present performance. With a greater demand for financial services and more complains about the low quality of financial services and charges being too high, there has been increasing debate about how efficient South African banks really are. This study discusses performance evaluation, the traditional financial and non-financial measures used, and their limitations. The concept of bank efficiency is also briefly discussed, including scale efficiency, scope efficiency, X-efficiency, cost efficiency, standard profit efficiency, alternative profit efficiency and the risk component of bank efficiency. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was chosen as the most appropriate method to estimate the scale efficiency and technical efficiency of 37 districts (and 10 provinces) of one of the largest banks in South Africa. 'DEA involves solving linear programming problems that generate a non-parametric, piecewise linear convex frontier that envelops the input and output data relative to which cost is minimized' (Fare et al., 1985b:193). The intermediation approach was used incorporating both the input- and output-orientated approach under variable returns to scale. The analyses indicated that 19 districts out of the 37 districts were not at least once fully technically efficient during the 22 months (input- and output-orientated). The same results were found with regard to scale efficiency: 17 districts out of the 37 districts were not at least once fully scale efficient (input-orientated) and 19 districts out of the 37 districts were not at least once fully scale efficient (output-orientated), during the 22 months. Synergy was found in 6 provinces out of the 10 provinces (input- and output-orientated). / Thesis (M.Com. (Risk Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The greater competition and concentration in South Africa's financial sector has put South African banks under more constraints and led to questioning of their present performance. With a greater demand for financial services and more complains about the low quality of financial services and charges being too high, there has been increasing debate about how efficient South African banks really are. This study discusses performance evaluation, the traditional financial and non-financial measures used, and their limitations. The concept of bank efficiency is also briefly discussed, including scale efficiency, scope efficiency, X-efficiency, cost efficiency, standard profit efficiency, alternative profit efficiency and the risk component of bank efficiency. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was chosen as the most appropriate method to estimate the scale efficiency and technical efficiency of 37 districts (and 10 provinces) of one of the largest banks in South Africa. 'DEA involves solving linear programming problems that generate a non-parametric, piecewise linear convex frontier that envelops the input and output data relative to which cost is minimized' (Fare et al., 1985b:193). The intermediation approach was used incorporating both the input- and output-orientated approach under variable returns to scale. The analyses indicated that 19 districts out of the 37 districts were not at least once fully technically efficient during the 22 months (input- and output-orientated). The same results were found with regard to scale efficiency: 17 districts out of the 37 districts were not at least once fully scale efficient (input-orientated) and 19 districts out of the 37 districts were not at least once fully scale efficient (output-orientated), during the 22 months. Synergy was found in 6 provinces out of the 10 provinces (input- and output-orientated). / Thesis (M.Com. (Risk Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.