The main topic of the thesis is the Common Commercial Policy of European Union that began with the liberalization of internal trade and the integration of the foreign trade of the member states. It describes historical process of trade policy's development along with the actual problems. This part is explaining why the Common Commercial Policy is so meaningful nowadays. Very important part of the thesis is dedicated to the common rules, which EU uses not only in its internal trade, but also in foreign trade with third states. Next part describes trade relations of EU based on agreements between the Community and other non-EU countries or international organizations. The agreement can be based on bilateral relations between the EU and trade partners or in form of multilateral relations under WTO. Special attention must be paid to the actual trade relations between the Community and Russia, while the importance of Russian Federation in international relations constantly rises. Before understanding the role of Russia for the EU is very important to look at the position of Russian in the world economy and its perspectives in the future. The thesis describes economic, political and trade relations between the EU and Russian federation from the period of its rise up to date. The main advantages from the Common Commercial Policy can be found at the end of the thesis.

The purpose of the electricity market liberalization is disruption of the rigid market structure, in which monopoly from regulation abuses its position at the expense of consumers. Rigid market structure was characteristical for the czech electricity market from 1990 to 2001, when the "energetics act" came into force. This act caused gradual liberalization of the market entrance until nowadays situation, when consumers can freely choose their electricity provider. The aim of this thesis is based on comparison of non-price and price competition advantages of alternative and traditional electricity providers to find out, if the main electricity producer ČEZ is able to hold its dominant market share. The analysis showed that, thanks to liberalized market entrance, ČEZ has no longer so stable position on the market and that its market share e.g. on market of wholesale electricity supplies is not due to competition dominant. Its market share from the point of view of number of points of supply remains major.

Since South Africa entered the international markets and opened its borders to international trade, the economy has undergone a gradual process of trade reforms ensuring that the South African economy becomes competitive. It is recognized globally that trade liberalization is a key factor to enhancing economic welfare, trade, and efficiency. Trade liberalization aims to reduce import protection and enable easy flow of resources from sectors that are less competitive to sectors with a comparative advantage. Hence, trade liberalization is believed to play an important role in spurring growth and improving household welfare through various channels. This study analyses the impact of South Africa's trade liberalization on household poverty between 1996 and 2001 at a local level using regional level indicators of trade exposure. The study uses household income as a proxy for household poverty. The results using the simple OLS estimator leads to some interesting findings. We find that there is a positive relationship between household income and sectorial weighted average tariff in region, that is, trade liberalization led to a reduction in household income in the region. We also find that increased exposure to tariff reductions translates to an increase in the number of individuals employed in a household. However, this does not appear to be the case with employment in the manufacturing sector. We find that tariffs reductions reduced employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector, leading to reductions in individuals employed in the manufacturing sector. Lastly, we find that household income of households that have a high share of family in the manufacturing sector are negatively affected by tariff exposure. These results illustrate structural changes in response to tariff liberalization led to varied impacts across households and regions in South Africa.

The extent to which labour market are affected by trade liberalization depends crucially on their ease of reallocating labour and factors of production across regions and sectors of the economy. However, previous literature has provided little insight on the role of migration and labour market frictions in shaping the effects of trade reform across regions in South Africa (SA). This paper considers this key question by observing the effect of tariff reform on the spatial reallocation of labour across sectors and regions over the period, 1996 to 2011. Overall, tariff reductions on imports in SA has induced spatial reallocation of labour in SA with a dominant flow of labour from regions/sectors with characteristically high tariff reductions towards regions/sectors of low tariff reductions. Critically, the paper finds that pull factors assimilated through the import competition channel have a positive significant effect on the migration rate, while the opposing push effect is insignificant.

Since the conclusion of world War II, Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC), has developed into an industrialized country following a long period of severe inflation. Taiwan has produced a successful example of economic development through export expansion. Exports and imports of Taiwan increased from approximately 10 percent of the gross national product (GNP) in the 1950s to more than 45 percent in the 1980s. The role of Taiwan's foreign exchange rates and traderelated policies on exports and imports was examined in this study. Trade-related policies implemented by the government of ROC were documented from 1950 to 1980 by categorizing the past 30 years into import substitution, export promotion, external shocks, and the 1980s trade liberalization periods. In addition, this study analyzed quarterly import and export data from 21 sectors between 1981 and 1991 to measure the effects of changes on the exchange rate. variables included in the regression analysis were GNP of Taiwan and exchange rate for import demand functions and GNP of the U.S. , export price index in Taiwan and Korea, and exchange rate for the export demand function. Partial auto- correlation functions were estimated and examined for 21 export and import commodity groups to determine the appropriate number of lags in the demand function. In sectors in which regressions were found to be significant, an econometric partial adjustment model was used for estimating short- and long-run exchange rate elasticities.

<p>Abstract</p><p>Background & Problem</p><p>The author believes that there are important lessons to be learned from the states in Africa that have managed to achieve successful transitions from one-party regimes to multy-party regimes. However, Africa today displays countries that suffer from enormous problems and many of them are mired in political and economical development. A main theme of this thesis is the search for the differences, how can we explain the transitions and the outcomes of them?</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to describe the nature of transitions as Bratton & de Walle explain them and to see if their suggested explanations hold true in Ghana & Zambia. A secondary purpose also includes a comparison between the two cases and the differences between them.</p><p>Method</p><p>A combination of a traditional literature study and a focused comparative study has been used in order to fulfil the purpose.</p><p>Theoretical Framework</p><p>The second, third, fourth and fifth chapter represent the bulk of the theoretical framework. The theories stem from Bratton & de Walle and will be weighted against the empirical information found in the two cases.</p><p>Analysis & Conclusions</p><p>The latter chapters of this thesis summarize the results from the comparison and include a discussion and comment chapter. The conclusion argues that the causes and results of a transition to a large extent can be found in the political. The phases that Bratton & de Walle describe are also accurate in relation to the two cases. An important feature that Ghana has been successful with is that they have managed to withhold a higher political activity throughout their democratization. This has in turn resulted in a better outcome.</p> / <p>Sammanfattning</p><p>Bakgrund & Problem</p><p>Författaren anser att det finns viktiga lärdomar att inhämta från de afrikanska stater som har genomgått en lyckad övergång från enpartistyre till flerpartistyre. I Afrika finns det idag länder som lider av enorma problem och många utav dem är stillastående både politiskt och ekonomiskt. Det huvudsakliga temat för denna uppsats är att leta efter skillnaderna, hur kan vi förklara skillnaderna i övergångar och vad orsakar dem?</p><p>Syfte</p><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva övergångsfaserna så som Bratton & de Walle förklarar dem och sedan undersöka om dessa teorier håller i fallet Ghana & Zambia.</p><p>Ett andra syfte inkluderar också en jämförelse mellan de två fallen där skillnader och likheter lyfts fram</p><p>Metod</p><p>I uppsatsen används en kombination av en traditionell litteraturstudie och en fokuserad jämförelse.</p><p>Teoretisk Referensram</p><p>Det andra, tredje, fjärde och femte kapitlet representerar den teoretiska referensramen. Dessa teorier härstammar från Bratton & de Walle och kommer att vägas mot empirin som beskrivs i de två fallen.</p><p>Analys & Slutsats</p><p>De sista kapitlen i uppsatsen innehåller analysen och resultat från jämförelsen. I slutsatsen argumenteras det för att orsaker och utgångar i övergångsstater till stor del beror på och är bundna av politiska orsaker. Även de faser som ingår i Bratton & de Walles teorier återfinns till stor del i fallen. Skillnaden mellan Ghana & Zambia är främst att Ghana lyckats med att bibehålla en högre politisk aktivitet i sin demokratisering vilket har gett bättre resultat för landet.</p>

<p>Background & Problem</p><p>The author believes that there are important lessons to be</p><p>learned from the states in Africa that have managed to achieve successful transitions from</p><p>one-party regimes to multy-party regimes. However, Africa today displays countries that</p><p>suffer from enormous problems and many of them are mired in political and economical</p><p>development. A main theme of this thesis is the search for the differences, how can we</p><p>explain the transitions and the outcomes of them?</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to describe the nature of transitions as Bratton</p><p>& de Walle explain them and to see if their suggested explanations hold true in Ghana &</p><p>Zambia. A secondary purpose also includes a comparison between the two cases and the</p><p>differences between them.</p><p>Method</p><p>A combination of a traditional literature study and a focused comparative</p><p>study has been used in order to fulfil the purpose.</p><p>Theoretical Framework</p><p>The second, third, fourth and fifth chapter represent the</p><p>bulk of the theoretical framework. The theories stem from Bratton & de Walle and will be</p><p>weighted against the empirical information found in the two cases.</p><p>Analysis & Conclusions</p><p>The latter chapters of this thesis summarize the results from</p><p>the comparison and include a discussion and comment chapter. The conclusion argues that</p><p>the causes and results of a transition to a large extent can be found in the political. The</p><p>phases that Bratton & de Walle describe are also accurate in relation to the two cases. An</p><p>important feature that Ghana has been successful with is that they have managed to</p><p>withhold a higher political activity throughout their democratization. This has in turn</p><p>resulted in a better outcome.</p>

The aim of this study is to analyze the current readiness of Russia to become a member of WTO and to analyze how this membership will impact the russian economy generally.That is why this work set out the following tasks: In the first chapter - to explore the specific activities of the World Trade Organization, to determine its objectives and functions. In the second chapter - to explore the various stages of the Russia's accession to WTO and define the emerging results and complications. In the third chapter, I consider it necessary to examine the current status of Russia in international trade. Some attention will be paid to attitude of Russia's largest trading partners to accession. In the fourth chapter - to explore how Russian accession to the WTO will impact its main sectors and analyze the impact of economic liberalization on the overall economic situation in the country. In the final chapter - to explore possible ways of reforming the economy

The aim of this thesis is to display the problematic areas where greater coordination and cooperation could occur between all energy market players in order to fulfill a vision of a Central and Eastern European regional market place.

Legal aspects of Energy business Summary The aim of this master thesis is to give an overview of the development of the energy market. The first big changes occurred in 1990s when it became necessary to make energy sector owned by the state more efficient. The main reasons for its restructuring were an incompatible infrastructure, standardised services and high prices. State with the lack of financial resources leave the monopolistic system and open the market for new potential investors. Some another changes are connected with the accession to the European Union. The process of liberalization was used like an instrument for changes which impose requirements not only on market participants but also on state, which is obliged to provide an independent supervisor. Currently the main legislative source is an act No. 436/2008 Coll., Energy Act. It provides information about basic rights and obligations of the market participants, their relationships and the ways of regulations of their activities. The energy sector is regulated on national level. But recently an Energy union has been formed on international level. To ensure energy independence is the main goal of the Energy union. Member states will have to abandon their authority and give way to this newly established community. This master thesis analyse the...