Drivers of environmental change in one location can have profound effects on ecosystem services and human well-being in distant locations, often across international borders. The telecoupling provides a conceptual framework for describing these interactions-for example, locations can be defined as sending areas (sources of flows of ecosystem services, energy, or information) or receiving areas (recipients of flows). However, the ability to quantify feedbacks between ecosystem change in one area and societal benefits in other areas requires analytical approaches. We use spatial subsidies-an approach developed to measure the degree to which a migratory species' ability to provide services in one location depends on habitat in another location-as an example of how telecoupling can be operationalized. Using the cotton pest control and ecotourism services of Mexican free-tailed bats as an example, we determined that of the 16 states in the United States and Mexico where the species resides, three states (Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado) are receiving areas, while the rest of the states are sending areas. In addition, the magnitude of spatial subsidy can be used as an indicator of the degree to which different locations are telecoupled to other locations. In this example, the Mexican free-tailed bat ecosystem services to cotton production and ecotourism in Texas and New Mexico are heavily dependent on winter habitat in four states in central and southern Mexico. In sum, spatial subsidies can be used to operationalize the telecoupling conceptual framework by identifying sending and receiving areas, and by indicating the degree to which locations are telecoupled to other locations.

Doctor Legum - LLD / African countries are faced with the daunting task of providing a comprehensive regulatory framework for their natural resources. This is at both the international and domestic level. The statement is particularly true for emerging African oil producing countries. Related to the above, it can be argued that production quotas, subsidies, and corruption continue to hinder the full liberalisation of the oil sector globally, and in Africa. Also, these three areas are the genesis of some of the prominent issues in the discussions of trade in energy goods. Although Africa is substantially endowed with natural resources like crude oil, it remains at the bottom of the development pecking order; accordingly, it has to get centrally involved in the debate on the regulation of international trade in oil to encourage development and to benefit from the resource. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are the most relevant organisations in the collective regulation of production quotas, oil consumption subsidies and the control of corruption in the oil sector. Both organisations, directly for the former, and indirectly for the latter, deal with trade between nations. OPEC‘s mandate is established in the OPEC Statute, while the mandate of the WTO is found in various multilateral and plurilateral agreements. However, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1994) (GATT), the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), and the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) are the most relevant. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is only discussed where relevant. This is because the treaty is based on the WTO framework. Also, several provisions in the WTO agreements are not fully discussed in the ECT. OPEC which deals with regulation of oil production and to some extent oil prices in member countries has an effect on trade of the commodity. The role of the WTO however, is more direct as it regulates international trade of various vi goods and services. Thus this thesis investigates how the above legal frameworks regulate production quotas, subsidies, and corruption in the oil sector. The results of the foregoing investigation are then applied to African countries, such as, Nigeria, Angola (members of both the WTO and OPEC) and Ghana, an emerging African oil producing country, to assess the impact of these international rules on the countries‘ legal regimes. Ghana has recently developed its crude oil sector. The success of the nascent oil sector of this country may depend on the conception or improvement of a comprehensive legal framework, to regulate international trade in oil. It is apparent that without an effective legal framework to regulate international trade in oil, the discovery of oil in Ghana, may not make any long term positive impact on the current economic conditions. Ghana is a member of the WTO; however, it is yet to join OPEC, despite growing debate on its membership in the organisation.

The South African Automotive industry has been one that has enjoyed the subsidies schemes like the Motor Industry Development Program (MIDP), and in the near future the Automotive Production Development Program (APDP). There are however different schools of thought when it comes to subsidies for an industry. One is that there should be no incentives when others are for the schemes, which one is best for the growing economy of a young democratic and highly unemployed nation? Looking at the next planned incentive scheme to be introduced to replace the MIDP, the APDP is it better than the MIDP? How are these schemes going to benefit the country in the future and will they exist for as long as we have the Auto industry in South Africa? The objective is to prompt those in political power and positions capable of influencing infrastructure changes to think long term when making decisions today that will affect future generations. Future generations should be able to benefit from future technologies of the day and not be hindered by the lack of improved and capable infrastructure.

This diploma thesis deals with the changes of toll taxes and their implication in the Czech Republic between years 2007 -- 2015. The research was done using a dynamic regression analysis of monthly data provided by the web portal MYTO CZ. Based on the available data it was shown that the increase in average prices of toll transactions of ecologically unfavorable EURO groups leads to a decline in the share of total realized transactions. As a result carriers are most likely motivated to vehicle fleet renewal, which is reflected in the increase in the share of cars with lower environmental load.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze what was the influence of corporate tax rate and total paid amount on corporate income tax on GDP and unemployment in the Czech Republic. The essay also describes the impact of European subsidies given to Czech corporates as primary receivers on GDP and unemployment in the Czech Republic. A comparison of these two macroeconomic factors is provided. Conclusions show that there are some impacts which are not supposed to be transferred to a concrete comparable numbers. The thesis provides detailed overview of main impact of derivation of European subsidies given to Czech companies as primary receivers and changing corporate income tax on GDP and unemployment. The comparison of above influences is provided both on theoretical basis and the real one in the period of 1993-2013 for the Czech Republic. Conclusions and author's ideas are supported by professional publications. The thesis provides information on how the problematic is width and deep within these impacts. Any reader can create his/her own opinion on the problematic based on provided information and data.

The thesis deals with the sources of funding of regional investments. Financing the investments by own resources is very difficult and maybe even impossible. Regions gained the opportunity to co-finance investments using European subsidies after the accession to the European Union. This thesis tries to find out what is the meaning of these subsidies to finance regional investments. The primary objective of this work is to determine the share of European subsidies on regional investments. Furthermore the thesis focuses on finding the common features of these investments and subsidies. The results of the analysis shows that proportion of European subsidies on capital expenditure is significantly different between regions. The amount of share is between 23-99%. European subsidies are mainly used for large investments, especially in investments in transport infrastructure. Regions usually utilize subsidies only from the regional operational programs. The conclusions of this work can be used in determining goals of EU regional policy.

In the first part of the thesis, the present state of the Prague theatre network is introduced and the preconditions and possibilities of its further development are discussed. The introduction is followed by the analysis of the funding of the Prague theatres and cultural policy focusing on the system of subsidies and grants, transformation of the theatre network and other means of support. In the second part of the thesis, a thorough analysis of the six theatre venues that have emerged in the last six years, namely Studio Hrdinů, Company.cz in Divadlo Komedie, Venuše ve Švehlovce, Vila Štvanice, Jatka 78 and Panoptikon Barikáda, is provided. The analysis focuses on various factors influencing the venues: their location, relationship with the lawful owner of the property, legal form, their relationship with the audience, and last but not least the way they are funded. In the conclusion, the comparison of the situation of the six venues is provided.

This thesis analyzes implementation of support for rural tourism and agritourism in Czech Republic. The aim of the thesis is evaluation of existing financial support of rural tourism and agritourism in LAU 2 units (municipalities) from Rural Development Programme and Regional Operational Programmes. Theoretical part regards rural development in context of Common Agricultural Policy, and tourism, which is one of the factor of development in rural areas. Practical part evaluates subsidies to rural tourism and agritourism and their micro-regional allocation by categories of projects, like accomodation and catering, sport, multifunctional, and other facilities and trails. Primary data are received from the State Agricultural Intervention Fund and internet portal risy.cz. In this thesis descriptive, comparative, analytical and statistical methods are used.

The thesis is devoted to assessing the effectiveness of subsidies spent on improving energy efficiency in the business sector. It analyzes the use of energy resources, international development in energy consumption and legislation focused on energy efficiency. Further, it analyzes two possibilities of obtaining funds for measures improving energy efficiency, subsidies and bank loans. There are given characteristics of the subsidy program Eco-Energy from the Operational program Enterprise and Innovation 2007 - 2013. In the practical part, the effectiveness of subsidies from this program is assessed by comparison of the supported and unsupported companies.

This thesis is dedicated to the financing of public community and voluntary association of municipalities. The theoretical part is focused on Public procurement, public administration, the cooperation of municipalities, the functioning of voluntary unions of municipalities and ways of financing public investments. The aim of the thesis was to analyze voluntary unions of municipalities in the Moravian-Silesian Region and to assess the financing of a specific project built within the voluntary union of municipalities.