Differences in price levels as well as inflation rates among countries have been subject of discussion for a long time. More than the actual levels, however, the question of determinants of price levels in time and a possible convergence is key for the new member states with respect to the Maastricht criteria. The dynamics of price levels is crucial, and many suggestions have been put forward to explain the observed trends and changes. This thesis focuses on the determinants of relative price level, and hence real exchange rate, developments in the new member states of the EU and employs a regression analysis to examine their change in time. As most of the countries in focus are transition economies, structural variables are also included among the independent variables. We find that the Balassa- Samuelson effect is key to explaining real exchange rate developments as the effect of productivity differential has been significant over the whole period examined. However, in the recent years, marked by the onset of the crisis, other factors, such as the structure of trade and Euro area membership, have become more prominent.

The trap of local optima is one of the main challenges of stochastic optimization methods from machine learning. The aim of this thesis is to develop an optimization algorithm that is inspired by users interacting with Picbreeder, which is an online service that allows users to collaboratively evolve images via an artificial evolution. The idea is that their behaviours depict creative processes. We propose a general framework on the top of a common optimization technique called inspiration-triggered search, which mimics these processes. Instead of a fixed objective function the search algorithm is free to change the objective within certain constraints. The overall optimization task is to generate complex artefacts that cannot be generated by a greedy and direct optimization approach. The proposed method is tested in the domain of images, that is to find complex and aesthetically pleasant images for humans, and compared with the direct optimization. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Thesis called "Monetary policy of Czech National Bank and the perspectives of acceptance of euro" is mainly focused on convergence process in Czech Republic. First part of the work consists of current monetary policy of Czech National Bank and characteristics of monetary cooperation development needed for Economic and monetary union establishment. Real convergence state evaluation and maastricht criteria discharging in Czech Republic are the main goals of the thesis. Current global financial crisis is shown in readiness of Czech Republic of EMU entering conclusions.

The main aim of the thesis is to give a complex overview of different types of financial sources, from which new federated states can take benefits, and to give an opinion on the created effectiveness. Additional aims are to sum up the situation of the East German economy after WW2 and also the progress in its reforming during the 90s. Different historical development of the both former divided parts of nowadays Germany is essential because of understanding the economic situation of East Germany in 1990 and the nowadays problems. The first chapter sums up the economic consequences of the post war period, the influence of reparations, demontages and their dimension. In the second chapter follows an evaluation of the main topics of the beginning in the 90s - monetary reform and privatization. The third chapter goes on with the topic of economic reforms in the 90s and defines basic financial programs which are a long-term support to new federated states. Fourth chapter compares main chosen macroeconomic indicators of Germany and EU-27 and then of the old and new federated states. First, economic level of the whole Germany is being analysed and then its regional disparities. The last, fifth, chapter monitors the situation of Germany and its new federated states in the point of structural funds of the European Union.

The objective of the thesis is to assess business cycle correlation and convergence in the European Union. The thesis also examines the effect of structural conver-gence, intra-industry trade intensity and other factors upon the above mentioned convergence of economic activities. For this purpose, the correlation analysis and panel data regression analysis are implemented. The results show positive influence of intra-industry trade intensity, whereas structural convergence indices report ra-ther unstable and heterogeneous outcomes.

The submitted diploma thesis describes and evaluates selected aspects of adopting the euro in the Czech Republic that membership in the Euro area brings. The analytical part focuses on history which preceded the formation of the euro up to its introduction. Following is a description of the European Central Bank and its activities and organs. This part focuses on the relationship between Czech Republic and the euro which includes the historical events associated with the adoption of the euro in the Czech Republic and especially the National euro changeover plan. The practical part analyses the document entitled Study of the euro introduction impact on the economy of the Czech republic published in 2007, which involves applying the then ideas and opinions of authors to current time, which is greatly influenced by the economic recession, comparing these opinions and thoughts not only with their opponents but especially with the situation in the Slovak Republic, which is already for more than 7 years a member of the Euro area and therefore has a lot of experience with the euro. The second part of the practical part is dedicated to selected aspects of adopting the euro in the Czech Republic which appeared after 2007, after the study was published. The chapter Results and Discussion contains a personal opinion and recommendations of the author. The conclusion is dedicated to a summary of the collected information and the evaluation of these information

Synchronizace inflačních cyklů je jednou z podmínek teorie optimální měnové unie, a jelikož bude jednoho dne valná většina členských států EU používat euro, zdá se analýza konvergence jejich inflačních měr jako rozumná i z dnešního pohledu. Používáme data měřítka harmonizovaného indexu spotřebitelských cen, jakož i velmi flexibilní model zdánlivě nesouvisejících regresních modelů a podáváme důkaz o všeobecně rozšířeném, setrvalém a robustním výskytu konvergence inflace v celé EU mezi lety 1999 a 2016. Navíc nám naše metodologie umožňuje zahrnout do modelu řadu dummy proměnných indikujících konkrétní období s možným dopadem na konvergenci inflace. V tomto smyslu ukazujeme, že měnové režimy zaměřené na cenovou stabilitu (inflační cílování, opatření omezující pohyb měnového kurzu) mají příznivý dopad, období globální finanční krize a nulové dolní meze se obecně nejeví jako rušivé, zatímco efekt zavádění společného evropského práva zůstává nejistý. Naše hlavní závěry implikují, že synchronizace inflace zřejmě nepředstavuje problém pro další rozšíření Eurozóny.

This diploma thesis deals with the preparation of the two EU Member States, namely Czech Republic and Slovakia, for joining the euro area. The first part briefly describes the formation of the Economic and Monetary Union. The core part lies in the assessment and in the comparison of both states regarding the fulfillment of the criteria for adoption of the single currency. The detailed analysis is focused mostly on the nominal and the real convergence.

The work analyses macroeconomic development of the Baltic States from the beginning of the 1990s until today and their position in the European Union evaluated on the basis of nominal and real convergence indicators. A significant part of the text is dedicated to the current economic crisis and to its impacts on the Baltic region. In this context, possible solutions and perspectives for future progress are suggested.

Whatever country gives up its currency and adopts the currency of the common union, has to count on some impacts. The country loses its exchange rate convergential channel and the convergency is running throught the inflation. The level of the inflation pain depends on the difference in the economic level between those two areas, i.e. Hungary and the European Union. If Hungary adopts euro, it would lead to high inflation and numerous shocks due to Hungarian low level of convergency and different monetary policy transmission mechanism. Hungary has no chance to avoid adoption of euro in the log run, but if it keeps forint for at least a few years, Hungary can expect a tolerable inflation, more natural convergential process and the possibility to use its own monetary policy, which in Hungary is based right on the exchange rate channel of monetary transmission.