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Comparative analysis of current approaches to planting short rotation coppice in the Czech Republic and European Union countries
Pastýříková, Jana ; Macháč, Jan (advisor) ; Sunega, Petr (referee)
The short rotation coppice production presents an important renewable natural resource. With respect to growing interest of society in the environmental sustainability there is general importance of coppice plantation. The plantation establishment is investment with a long payback. Therefore, decision has to be made whether this reality is favou-rable for the farmers and does not discourage them from this kind of non-food produ-cing land usage. The assessment of this hypothesis is based on the comparative analysis of Czech, Germany and Swedish models of plantations profitability. As a result, taking advantage of the subsidies is in place considering the negative results of Czech Republic profit. Germany and Sweden produce a positive profit even without any subsidies con-sidered. The comparison would have to be extended by the costs of foregone oppor-tunities factor to be able to consider the need of subsidies in such countries
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Water management in small municipalities - are we thinking about the future?
Linc, Ondřej ; Vojáček, Ondřej (advisor) ; Macháč, Jan (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to analyse the water engineering industry from the vantage point of creating funds for the renewal of infrastructure with an emphasis on the situation in small municipalities that run their own water supply networks. On the basis of data analysis for the prices of water and sewer rates and the value of infrastructural facilities it is shown that the networks are underfinanced in a third of the municipalities with a self-reliant management model. There is a lack of finance for their reconstruction and the networks are becoming obsolete. Personal empirical research supported the surmise, that the reason for underfinancing is the mayors' attempt at appealing politics. The hypothesis that artificial decrease of prices indeed leads to higher election gains and a longer term for the mayors, was however not confirmed. The thesis concludes that to reach rectification of the situation and secure creation of funds for the renewal of infrastructure in the examined municipalities, it is necessary to increase awareness within the management of the municipalities regarding the legislative situation and secure consultations by experts.
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Cost effectiveness analysis of measures leading to the reduction of eutrophication in the catchment of the Orlik Reservoir
Macháč, Jan ; Slavíková, Lenka (advisor) ; Vojáček, Ondřej (referee)
The growing demand for clean water has led to the adoption of the EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60 EC). New legislation has a major impact on the water management and the national economy and provides numerous requirements, including "good status" of all water bodies. The Framework Directive also implies the need for an economic analysis of the optimal process to achieve good status by using the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). The application of this method in water management is struggling with a number of methodological complications. One of the affected areas in the Czech Republic is the catchment of the Orlik Reservoir that faces excessive eutrophication. Eutrophication is caused by excessive introduction of phosphorus. The main sources of phosphorus are municipal wastewater, aquaculture and agriculture. As illustrated by professional research mentioned in this work and the actual processing of CEA of the catchment of the Orlik Reservoir, a wide range of methodological problems can be avoided by using appropriate tools. This thesis also presents that achieving of good status of the catchment would require annual cost of CZK 602 million. The most significant cost bearers are according to the CEA fisheries and municipalities.
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Proposal of optimal regulation in the Czech water industry
Novotný, Jiří ; Macháč, Jan (advisor) ; Vebrová, Ludmila (referee)
This thesis deals with post-privatization development of the water industry and sewerage. It leads to problems that the current state of regulation has been unable to handle effectively. There is an outflow of money into private foreign companies rather than investing in the aging infrastructure of the Czech water system. Water has not been earning a financial gain for the state, even though its price over the years continues to grow. The state has been unable to allocate investments toward cities and municipalities that have a high incentive to establish a superior water infrastructure. Water companies often have the privileged position in this field and even though they are regulated by antitrust laws, their operation is not socially efficient. In compliance with the information asymmetry and the pressure of the groups of interest, the regulator is affected more by the preferences of the water system companies rather than the interests of society. The aim of the thesis is to suggest the adjustment of regulation in the Czech Republic on the basis of foreign experience. Comparative analysis of the approaches of chosen European countries was used for this purpose; and further, for a deeper comparison, the situation is presented at a much better mapped and described telecommunication market. From the discussed methods of regulation (following the example of the European experience), not only the recommendations regarding the changes of duties for operators to lease the water infrastructure are suggested, but also non-discrimination of the individual consumer groups, changes of legislation in favor of long-term sustainable development in the field of water supply, and suggestions for dealing with information asymmetry.
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Compensatory market mechanisms in the sphere of conservation of species diversity and their potential use in the Czech Republic
Martíšková, Kateřina ; Louda, Jiří (advisor) ; Macháč, Jan (referee)
Benefits that mankind obtains in connection with existence of the well-functioning ecosystems and biodiversity, are called ecosystem services. Although biodiversity is not an ecosystem service in itself, however it is one of the basic prerequisites for their function. The importance of this topic for society, directly depends on the importance of ecosystem services as a source of direct or indirect benefits that impact the well-being of the human population. The aim of the application of market mechanisms on this issue is to find the optimal level of environmental protection and human development, together with optimization of the allocation environmental goods. These market mechanisms are used by many countries around the world. The thesis analyzes several cases of use of compensatory market mechanisms, with a closer focus on the Australia, the Britain and the France. Costs and benefits of the system are recognized, together with the configuration of the operation in the various states. This thesis also provides views on the territorial structure of the Czech Republic, the value of their ecosystem services and they are also presented methods of biodiversity conservation on the basis of which the possibility of establishing a market-besed systém of biodiversity conservation in the Czech Republic has been discussed. Application of market mechanisms could bring a certain dynamism to the protection of biodiversity in the Czech Republic, which is currently provided by the system of national parks and other specially protected areas, which can act as barriers to economic development. On the contrary, the market system will allow the use of the landscape in places with the highest demand through the application of the price mechanism. However, due to administrative costs of this system so far, it seems that the application of biodiversity conservation is rather unlikely in the Czech Republic.
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Economic analysis of energy storage devices contained in EFSI 2015-2017
Kůt, Petr ; Macháč, Jan (advisor) ; Vojáček, Ondřej (referee)
As a result of support of renewable energy sources in Europe the fluctuations in electricity production occurs and threaten the stability of the electrification network. For this reason, we can monitor growing demand for technology solutions that are able to effectively eliminate these fluctuations. Devices for storing electrical energy appears suitable. This thesis deals with the economic analysis of the projected facilities in the Czech Republic that have applied for support from the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), compared to other model devices. As part of the work there was used method of cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate various technology solutions based on the ability to provide ancillary services. Consequently on the results of thesis we can say the most cost-effective project is under current conditions, construction equipment storage technology using compressed air CAES located at Dolní Rožinka included in EFSI 2015-2017. Keywords:
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Analysis of environmental investments in Moravia-Silesian region in period 2012-2015
Štěpán, Jaroslav ; Macháč, Jan (advisor) ; Čermáková, Klára (referee)
Moravian-Silesian region belongs in long term to areas with high level of air pollution. Since the government support to deal with this problem, significant amount of environmental investments are there allocated. Their influence on economy of the region is crucial to evaluate. Goal of thesis is to confirmate a hypothesis about zero change of multiplication effect from chosen environmental investments on net profit and net taxes. Regional static Input-Output model, which had been extended by household consuption, was developed for purpose of evaluation.The model results in positive net profit multiplication worth 8,24 % and net taxes worth 5,82 % of the whole value of investments in all examined periods. According to performed calculation the initial hypothesis is disproved and on the basis of multiplication effects the environmental investments can be subsidized not only by subjective reasons (reduction of air polution) but also by objective economic arguments.
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Game theory in the current flood protection
Pokorná, Veronika ; Macháč, Jan (advisor) ; Louda, Jiří (referee)
In recent years a considerable attention has been devoted to flood protection measures because of great damages caused by floods. While planning measures the consideration is based on costs and benefits associated with their implementation, i.e. the application of cost-benefit analysis (CBA). In most cases the relation of upstream and downstream in river catchments is neglected, therefore in the practice a potential for a retention of upstream remains unused. This bachelor thesis deals with a projection of this upstream/downstream relation into the current flood protection. Mathematic method of the game theory is used for the analysis of the optimal allocation of flood protection measures between the upstream/downstream areas. The upstream/downstream relation is defined by the specific assumptions and conditions. On the basis of these specific assumptions and conditions a payoff 2x2 matrix is modelled. The thesis constructs individual scenarios of mutual positions of these two parts. Possible outcomes are analysed by using game theory, while taking into account liability for damages, negotiation options and transaction costs. Presented results of individual scenarios indicate that the game theory is a suitable tool for the assessment of an optimal allocation of flood protection measures and its application in practice is appropriate in conjunction with other tools.
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A suggestion of methodology for assessment of cost proportionality to achieve good status of water bodies
Hekrle, Marek ; Vojáček, Ondřej (advisor) ; Macháč, Jan (referee)
The EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60 EC) provides numerous requirements, including achievement of good status of all water bodies by 2015. However, meeting this environmental target brings substantial costs. In justified cases, member states may request an extension of the deadline based on disproportionality of costs of meeting the WFD requirements. Definition of disproportionate costs must be based on economic analysis and on the WFD general requirements. This thesis provides a review of proportionate costs in the context of the WFD, identifies main requirements for its practical definition as an exemption and provides a review of foreign methodical approaches to define cost proportionality. It is clear that the Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and the Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) are most commonly used methods to determine the cost proportionality treshold. This thesis discuss the relevance of these methods to define cost proportionality to reach good status of water bodies. The thesis also provides methodology to assess cost proportionality based on modified CBA and analyses ecosystem services of water bodies. In addition, the thesis points out the methodological complications and uncertainties of suggested methodology. Main methodological issues are connected with definition of right scale of analysis and synergy effects of measures, analysis of costs and definition of suitable measures and analysis of benefits and quantification of ecosystem services of water bodies.
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Comparative analysis of approaches to regulatory impact assessment (RIA) with an emphasis on the regulation proportionality concept
Macháč, Jan ; Louda, Jiří (advisor) ; Říhová, Vladimíra (referee)
The process of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is a globally widespread tool to avoid excessive regulation. One of its basic principles is the proportionality of regulation. It is a modern concept, which is not in the literature devoted too much attention. The proportionality of regulation is mainly based on three requirements. Control should be adequate to the problem addressed, it should not lead to excessive regulation and the net social impact should be positive. Based on comparative analysis of two specific (Czech and British) RIAs, the application of the principle of proportionality is not sufficient in practice. Most adequacy requirements are not met or the process is not satisfactorily evaluated by RIA. Depth evaluation of the impacts in both RIAs is very different. The main recommendation arising from the whole paper is the need to evaluate not only economic but also social and environmental impacts.
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