The energy sector of Ukraine is of strategic importance not only within the national economy, but is also significant from a European perspective, because it includes transit energy networks that are essential for a large part of Europe. The fundamental problem still remains low energy efficiency of the economy, obsolete infrastructure, dysfunctional system and the absence of major reforms. At the moment, another round of reforms is taking place under the influence of a rapprochement with the European Union, to modernize the sector and adapt it to European standards. This work describes the development of the sector and the reform efforts since independence until today with a particular focus on the gas sector and the period 2014 to 2017. This is particularly the developments in the energy market, pricing policies, availability, security and decentralization of the system. In addition, the work also focuses on the development of energy efficiency, the environment and renewable energy sources. Following on the theoretical basis (especially the theory of institutional economics) through analysis of described facts assesses developments in the reforms and their impact on the whole sector including evaluation of the role and influence of oligarchs in these reform attempts. In terms of reforms, four...

Denna studie undersöker huruvida studier på fristående gymnasieskola påverkar sannolikheten att påbörja vidareutbildning på högskola eller universitet. Detta studeras genom användande av paneldata över åren 2008-2021 för samtliga 290 kommuner i Sverige. För att analysera datan används metoden multipel regressionsanalys både med och utan fixa effekter för år och kommuner. De prediktorer som hålls konstanta i studien för att mäta effekten av andel elever i friskola på övergång till vidare studier är grundskolebetyg, unga i ekonomiskt utsatta hushåll, utländsk bakgrund och lågutbildade föräldrar. Resultatet visar inledningsvis, vid både enkel linjär regression och vid hänsyn till årsfixa effekter, en statistisk signifikant positiv effekt på övergång till högskola och universitet. Med det sagt försvinner både det positiva sambandet och den statistiska signifikansen när även kommunfixa effekter inkluderas. / This study examines whether the proportion of students in private upper secondary school affects the proportion of students at college or university. This is studied using panel data over the years 2008-2021 regarding all 290 municipalities in Sweden. The data is used for the multiple regression analysis method, both with and without fixed effects regarding years and municipalities. The predictors used in the study to measure the effect of the proportion of students in independent schools are primary school grades, youth in economically disadvantaged households, foreign backgrounds, and low-educated parents. The results show that the proportion of students in private upper secondary schools initially, using simple linear regression and yearly fixed effects, has a statistically significant positive effect on further studies. With that said, the positive effect fades away when the fixed effects for municipalities are added. In addition, the result is no longer statistically significant.

The aim of the thesis is to analyse and assess discussions related to the implementation of the direct election of mayors, both in the Czech Republic and in selected European countries. The thesis compares the evolution and course of the discussions that precede the anchoring of direct election of mayors in five European countries, such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Croatia, and Belgium-Walloon. It is particularly focused on the central motives leading towards the launch of discussion, main arguments included in the discussion, key actors, and the levels of the discussion. The crucial part of the thesis is devoted to the analysis of the discussion of possible implementation of directly elected mayors in the Czech Republic. The emphasis is put on the identification of individual platforms of the Czech political scene that intervene into the discussion. The thesis also highlights the attitude of key political parties, interest groups, and mayors, towards the question of the direct election. The Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic represents the principal mediator of the ongoing discussion. The thesis targets to answer the following questions. At which platforms the discussion about the eventual implementation of direct...

The thesis deals with contemporary problems of anti-terrorist financial sanctions imposed by the EU on the basis of its Anti-terrorist Strategy. The EU nowadays faces harsh criticism over problems with lacking efficiency and violation of human rights standards while exercising sanction instruments. Current shape of this system helped to create distinctively European judicial bodies. Due to this fact, the most important case rulings on the imposed financial sanctions against individuals suspected of terrorism are in focus of the thesis. Author states, that current conception of sanction mechanism within the EU comes to an end and will be soon replaced or abandoned or radically changed in compliance with the courts' statements and practice of the courts. This proposition answers the research question: Does the current construction of EU sanctions measures represent the very last and flawless form of its development? Or is it the case that the whole system will have to be replaced or radically changed? The author analysis objection articulated by the EU judiciary and proposes possibilities of further development and assesses these options.

This thesis analyses whether China tries to gain more power in the IMF staying within the current international U.S.-dominated system. The analysis focuses on China's behavior in the IMF during the reform process of the last decade. The thesis examines the ways in which China can gain more power staying in the IMF. However, current power structures make it difficult to implement changes and China might therefore use political groups such as the BRICS and their New Development Bank to exert pressure. But the intention of the BRICS is not to overthrow the system but to reform it. Using official statements and speeches delivered by Chinese, U.S. or IMF staff in the IMF as well as articles published in newspapers Chinese claims and US reactions were analyzed. The results suggest that China stays within the international system and does not try to overthrow it. Nevertheless, pressure is created through the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB). The intention of this thesis is to give a current account of Chinese behavior in the international community, supporting the understanding of underlying dynamics. Keywords IMF, China, Reforms, BRICS, New Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, international system, challenge

The thesis "Anti-alcohol Campaigh in the Soviet Union in the years 1985 - 1988" analyzes the various aspects of development and measures used to combat alcoholism , which were adopted in May 1985. This included, for example, significant reduction of the production and sale of alcoholic beverages and a variety of promotional tools. Chronologically, the main emphasis is on the period when the campaign took place. To clarify the context of the issue is also included a brief excursion to the roots of Russian alcoholism, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The situation after the introduction of the campaign is tracked within the Soviet Union, emphasis is placed on development of the policy within the nation's center. Concerning the severe economic impact of the measures adopted and the high level of public discontent alcohol program was eventually canceled. For these reasons, it is often interpreted as a failure. The main goal of the thesis is to assess the possibility of some successes and campaign evaluation, provided that the leaders of the Soviet Union, who prepared it, might have been aware of the contradiction between the stated objectives and actual results subsequent campaigns.

Cette thèse présente une analyse du mode de production chinois depuis les réformes économiques de 1978. Notre recherche prend la forme d’une analyse comparative de la structure économique et sociale de la NEP soviétique et des réformes chinoises en utilisant un cadre théorique marxiste. Notre thèse postule que le mode de production chinois moderne suit une logique semblable au mode de production soviétique à l’époque de la NEP. À la lumière de l’expérience de la NEP, notre recherche montre que la stratégie de développement chinoise ne doit pas être comprise comme étant vers une évolution néolibérale, mais plutôt comme une évolution originale du marxisme, s’inscrivant dans la tradition du marxisme-léninisme, adapté à la cohabitation à un système capitaliste mondialisé. Le modèle de la NEP est l’un des premiers exemples d’un type de socialisme basé en partie sur les relations de marchés. En URSS comme en Chine, les structures critiques de l’économie, une grande régulation et un certain niveau de planification économique sont à la base de ce modèle de marché socialiste. Le socialisme de marché soviétique est basé sur une accommodation avec la paysannerie ainsi que sur les relations de marchés entre paysans et entre petites et moyennes firmes publiques. Le socialisme de marché chinois est lui basé sur l’extraversion de l’économie dans un cadre de modernisation technologique. Les relations de marchés sont aussi importantes en Chine dans l’allocation des ressources aux entreprises. La planification économique est le modèle chinois, mais s’opère dans une optique de coordination économique. Le modèle économique de la NEP et chinois partageant tous deux les mêmes objectifs qui sont théorisés dans le courant marxiste comme étant les bases d’une société socialiste : une modernisation technologique, la construction d’une classe ouvrière, une industrialisation et une amélioration de la qualité de vie de la population. À travers l’étude de la présente structure économique et sociale chinoise, il est possible de vérifier qu’un très grand progrès s’est effectué dans la réalisation de ces objectifs. / This thesis presents an analysis of the Chinese mode of production since the economic reforms of 1978. Our research takes the form of a comparative analysis of the economic and social structure of the Soviet NEP and Chinese reforms using a Marxist theoretical framework. Our thesis postulates that the modern Chinese mode of production follows a logic similar to the Soviet mode of production during the NEP era. In the light of the NEP experience, our research shows that the Chinese development strategy should not be understood as a neoliberal evolution, but rather as an original evolution of Marxism, in line with the tradition of Marxism-Leninism, adapted to the cohabitation with a globalized capitalist system. The NEP model is one of the earliest examples of a type of socialism based in part on market relations. In the USSR as in China, the critical structures of the economy, strong regulations and a certain level of economic planning are the basis of this socialist market model. Soviet market socialism is based on peaceful compromise with the peasantry as well as on market relations between peasants and between small and medium public firms. Chinese market socialism is based on the extraversion of the economy within a framework of technological modernization. Market relations are also important in China in the allocation of resources to companies. Economic planning is at the basis of the Chinese model but is carried out within the context of economic coordination. The economic model of the NEP and the Chinese reforms both share the same objectives which are theorized in the Marxist current as being the foundations of a socialist society: technological modernization, the construction of a working-class, industrialization and improvement of the quality of life of the population. Through the study of the present Chinese economic and social structure, it is possible to verify that great progress has been made in achieving these goals.

The thesis investigates corruption and the anti-corruption strategies. Focusing on the case study of Ukraine, it is shown how corruption can affect society and what particular measures can be undertaken for tackling this phenomenon. It is illustrated that the current level of corruption in Ukraine is high in all fields of public management: the customs and taxation systems, law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, business, and so on. The analysis of the Ukrainian government's anti-corruption strategies reveals that they are based primarily on deregulation, demonopolization, the creation of a strong institutional environment, and digitalization. In recent years, Ukraine has been able to achieve institutional advancements through the creation of new anti-corruption bodies and has initiated digitalization as a new strategic direction against corruption. However, none of these activities have brought tangible results so far. The thesis analyzes why the government's anti-corruption strategies have been fruitless to date and how the situation might develop in the future. Keywords anti-corruption strategies, bribery, corruption, European Union, institutional reforms, public officials, Ukraine. Abstrakt Práce zkoumá korupci a protikorupční strategie se zaměřením na případovou studii Ukrajiny. Je...

Background: In 1946, a proposal was made for a law on national pensions with the aim of reforming the pension system and giving pensioners better finances, which later was implemented at 1948. The theory of the social determinants of health suggests that income is an important factor that has an impact on health. The study aim was therefore to investigate whether the general pension reform implemented in 1948 could account for any differences in death rates for those aged 67 and older, and the research question was to examine if there was change in death rates for those aged 67 and older after 1948 that could be explained by an increase in income from the pension reform  Method: The study design was a quantitative inductive method. Data used in the study was death rates for those aged 67-90 years in Sweden between 1933-1962, as well as statistics from the Statistical Yearbook for Sweden to obtain data on income from the pension system. To investigate whether the pension reform has had any significant effects on the health of people of old ages, an interrupted time series analysis was used to measure changes in death rates for those aged 67-90 years between 1933 and 1962 in Sweden.  Results and conclusion: The results showed that there was an increase in the average pension by 461% for men and 442% for women between the years of 1947 and 1948. The study suggests that for women there was a significant change in death rates since the reform started, but that the reform of 1948 might not have had a significant effect on men’s death rates. Overall my study indicates that the changes in death rates for women in the pension age in 1948 and after could be explained by an increase in income from the pension reform, and that the pension reform seems to be a sustained policy effect that have accumulated over time.

Les travaux en administration publique ont jusqu’à ce jour principalement abordé la question de la gestion de la diversité au travers de la thématique des représentations bureaucratiques (Mosher, 1968; Krislov et Rosenbloom, 1981; Dobbin, 2009; Peters et al., 2015). Cette littérature qui émerge dans le sillage de l’administration publique américaine des années 1960-70 a cherché à comprendre et à analyser les dispositifs de politiques publiques mis en place par les gouvernements afin d’accroitre la représentativité de la fonction publique. Ces précédents travaux ont ainsi le mérite d’avoir permis de souligner l’importance et l’efficacité de ces dispositifs mais il en reste que trop peu d’études se sont penchées sur leur institutionnalisation et leur application aux systèmes de gestion des organisations. De plus, à différentes générations de débats et de littératures sur la diversité s’ajoute aujourd’hui la question de l’EDI (équité, diversité et inclusion) en tant que nouvel espace de gestion dans le secteur public. La présente thèse de Doctorat porte sur la structuration historique du champ de la gestion de la diversité dans les ministères et les agences du gouvernement central du Canada, et plus particulièrement sur le tournant qui a fait en sorte de voir émerger (et s’institutionnaliser) l’EDI dans le secteur public. À partir des archives gouvernementales, des plans stratégiques ministériels et d’une enquête de terrain conduite auprès d’une trentaine de gestionnaires fédéraux, elle documente les processus de gestion dans les organisations sélectionnées. Alors que la plupart des travaux néo-institutionnalistes en théorie des organisations s’intéressent à l’émergence et à l’influence de nouveaux champs de normes et de pratiques en mettant l’emphase sur les organisations, la contribution de cette étude est de souligner que les dynamiques de formation, d’évolution et de mise sous tension des champs organisationnels peuvent aussi conduire à la constitution de nouveaux « métiers ». En s’intéressant au cas des gestionnaires fédéraux de l’équité en emploi, l’étude souligne une évolution incrémentale dans l’institutionnalisation de nouvelles normes, pratiques et fonctions managériales depuis la mise en œuvre de la loi sur l'équité en matière d’emploi dans la fonction publique fédérale à compter de 1995. Cette progressive mutation de l’administration publique fédérale, d’une approche unique et réactive vis-à-vis du concept d’équité en emploi à une approche multidimensionnelle et proactive intégrant dorénavant à tous les niveaux les notions d’équité, de diversité et d’inclusion se reflète dans l’exploration des processus administratifs existants ainsi que des processus émergents. Cette exploration vient donc confirmer la constitution d’un nouveau corps de gestionnaires qui agissent en qualité d’acteurs du changement institutionnel. À l’issue de cette étude de 17 organisations du gouvernement central du Canada, nous soulignons que les champs organisationnels peuvent entrevoir différentes formes de dynamiques ou de tensions institutionnelles : des dynamiques de professionnalisation qui coïncident avec la formation d’un nouveau corps de gestionnaires de l’EDI; des dynamiques d’autonomisation qui mettent en évidence qu’en dépit de mêmes arrangements institutionnels entre les organisations étudiées, celles-ci ont tout de même une propension à pouvoir traduire et adapter les cadres de l’EDI à leur propre réalité organisationnelle; des dynamiques de rationalisation qui mettent en lumière une fonction performative de l’EDI à l’échelle de la fonction publique via la mise en place d’indicateurs et la révision au fil du temps des outils et des procédures du contrôle de gestion et enfin, des dynamiques de politisation qui viennent dans le contexte de l’agenda gouvernemental reconfigurer les lignes de partage des responsabilités entre les acteurs politiques et les professionnels de la gestion publique.