|
Speculation on oil markets and its impact on commodity's price
Melcher, Ota ; Taušer, Josef (advisor) ; Baláž, Peter (referee) ; Müller, Štěpán (referee)
This study aims to analyse the precrisis period on the oil markets with a primary objective of assessing the role of speculation in the commodity's price development and its volatility. First it depicts the rapidly increasing speculative activity on the futures market together with the parallel oil price surge. The speculation is initially proxied by non-commercial traders' positions and subsequently quantified by Working's T-index. The paper then uses speculative traders' positions and both spot and futures prices to test for Granger causality within the framework of VAR models. For the sake of consistency it also evaluates causal links between speculation and inventories level. Further the study investigates the speculation impact on volatility of oil prices by employing various approaches in volatility quantification including GARCH models. Contrary to expectations we find that the speculatio's impact on both prices and their volatility is rather insignificant. In the last chapter we therefore seek for an explanation of the oil price developments by examining the market fundamentals. The interaction of supply and demand finally gives substantial evidence for understanding the price developments in the precrisis period.
|
|
Determinants of Industrialization in sub-Saharan Africa and Possibilities for their Development
Sejkora, Jiří ; Jiránková, Martina (advisor) ; Šaroch, Stanislav (referee) ; Fárek, Jiří (referee) ; Adamcová, Lenka (referee)
Sub-Saharan economies need structural changes that would enhance their productivity, increase economic growth and development. In this regard, industrialization plays a key role. Using regression analysis, the aim of this dissertation thesis is to identify main factors (determinants) of industrialization in sub-Saharan Africa. The results indicate that infrastructure and economy size (measured by population size) represent main determinants of industrialization in the region. The thesis also deals with possibilities for development of those determinants. Case study of infrastructure development in Mauritius emphasizes privatization, cooperation with external subjects etc. Negative consequences of small economy size can be overcome by preferential trade agreements (under certain circumstances), as shown by analysis of the three smallest economies in the region.
|
|
Differences between men and women in the Czech labour market
Stroukal, Dominik ; Kadeřábková, Božena (advisor) ; Pavelka, Tomáš (referee) ; Němec, Otakar (referee)
This thesis consists of five articles that apply current world research on labor economics at the Czech Republic and confirms the significant differences between men and women in this market. It shows that gender has a significant influence on the preference on the labor market and, consequently, on employment and health. First, the thesis shows that preferences are relevant determinant of career and then we study the difference in preference of salary for men and women. Subsequently it shows that gender plays a significant role in explaining the relationship between homeownership, and unemployment, as well as unemployment and health. The first chapter was able to demonstrate that the preference for a career has a positive influence on the choice of career. The influence of higher education on prioritizing career proved to be positive and significant. Probability of a career choice is reduced by the presence of children, however, is not dependent on their number, which is contrary to the theory of preferences. The second chapter shows that Czech women prefer more non-monetary rewards than men. It has also been shown that people with university education are same in the preferences of non-monetary rewards regardless of the gender of the respondents, however, compared to the world's research, the Czech higher education increases this preference. It turned out that women prefer risk less than men. The third chapter demonstrates that although the housing market undermines labor mobility and employment in the Czech Republic at the regional level, therefore, that in regions with a higher rate of home ownership is higher unemployment, at the individual level, the owners of housing are unemployed are less likely. The estimates are significantly different for men and women. Men living in owner-occupied housing have a higher likelihood of employment than women. At regional level, however, this thesis shows that the high rate of home ownership increases unemployment for both men and women, in the long run only to women. The fourth chapter showed that men transition to homeownership reduces the likelihood of unemployment next year. For women, this relationship has proved to be insignificant. In addition, as insignificant showed the opposite relationship, the transition from unemployment to the newly acquired home ownership. The last chapter shows that the change in the working status to unemployment will increase in the future probability of worse health. Influence in less than two years, however, proved to be significant. An important conclusion is that men have a significantly stronger relationship between health and unemployment than women.
|
|
Freedom of Expression and Censorship on the Internet and Social Networks
Reindl, Jan ; Čermák, Radim (advisor) ; Sova, Martin (referee)
This thesis is focused on freedom of expression and censorship on the internet and social networks. Its goal is to evaluate current situation of censorship of the internet, to describe the most often used methods of censorship and suppressing free speech, as well as methods of its circumvention. The thesis is focused on the progress of internet censorship in its shift from a tool of governmental domestic network control into a tool in the hands of multinational organizations. Some focus is also given to the importance of anonymity as a way to freedom of speech, and to the analysis of current situation and possible future outcomes. This thesis is divided into five chapters. The first one serves as an introduction into the problematics. Second chapter describes methods of internet censorship, the third one describes its circumvention. The fourth chapter looks into the current situation regarding the role of social media in terms of internet censorship and possible results of censorship as well as future evolvement. Fifth and last chapter is dedicated to research of anonymous parts of internet community that could otherwise face censorship.
|
|
Strategy of Corporate Social Responsibility in Hilton Worlwide company and its application in local conditions
Švábová, Kateřina ; Mokrejšová, Veronika (advisor) ; Filipová, Alena (referee)
This bachelor thesis focuses on strategy of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in company Hilton Worldwide. The bachelor thesis is divided into two parts. The theoretical part deals with concept of corporate social responsibility, with the philosophy of CSR, its history and the present. This part also defines key words related to corporate social responsibility like CSR, stakeholders, corporate philanthropy, sustainable development, business ethics and corporate citizenship. It also focuses on the important role of communication in general and also in CSR. The practical part introduces the concept and strategy of CSR in the company Hilton Worldwide. This part also presents hotels Hilton Prague and Hilton Prague Old Town and their activities within the CSR. SWOT analysis as strategy tool was used to evaluate the concept and communication of CSR in both hotels. The final results of analyses showed problems in internal and external communication. Based on results of SWOT analysis are suggested solutions and recommendations that should improve understanding and perception of CSR concept in both hotels, improve internal communication for employees, and use all modern communication tools and channels for communicating information about CSR activities. These measures will lead to increased loyalty and strengthening the company's competitiveness.
|
|
Role of UNHCR in case of asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons – the case study of Turkey
Unzeitigová, Klára ; Novotná, Markéta (advisor) ; Kuchařová, Alžběta (referee)
Inspired by the Kratochvíl, Cibulková and Beník´s model of actorness, the thesis explores the framing power of UNHCR. The critical discourse analysis introduced by Norman Fairclough is applied in order to analyze the textual, contextual and sociocultural dimension of the UNHCR framing power. The case of Turkey was chosen for this study due to the current situation and the fact that Turkey is one of the biggest hosting country in the refugees´ crisis. Through the critical discourse analysis, the thesis explores whether UNHCR is considered as a framing actor in the case of asylum seekers, refugees and stateless people in Turkey. The analysis shows that UNHCR is globally respected and takes important part in the issue. However, not all of the international organizations refer to UNHCR as the lawmaker and the initiator of debates in the issues mentioned above.
|
|
International involvement in the peacebuilding process on Sri Lanka
Mojžíš, Michal ; Havlová, Radka (advisor) ; Burešová, Jana (referee)
The final months of Sri Lankan civil war, the 26 year military campaign between the Government of Sri Lanka and the insurgent separatist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, are marked by allegations of war crimes committed by both parties of the conflict, including attacks on civilians, summary executions of prisoners, enforced disappearances, restrictions on humanitarian assistance and recruitment of children. Since the attempts to put the Sri Lankan issue on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council failed on the unwillingness of China and Russia, the UN bodies in Geneva have taken a leading role in promoting the peacebuilding process on the island. The thesis aims to analyse the impact of the Geneva-based human rights bodies, in particular of the United Nations Human Rights Council, on the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka, for which is crucial that the alleged violations of human rights in the last months of the civil war would be properly investigated and that the perpetrators would be held accountable. In order to put the activity of the UN Human Rights Council into broader context, the paper will examine the political development in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war in 2009 as well as the failed efforts of Sri Lankan governments to launch the process of reconciliation.
|
|
Policy development and implementation: case study of social housing
Hradecká, Tereza ; Vymětal, Petr (advisor) ; Kučera, František (referee)
The diploma thesis focuses on the process of creation and implementation of public policy which is examined on the social housing policy. The aim of this thesis is to explore how is a certain policy prepared and put into use, considering the social housing policy as an example. Therefore, the key research question inquires how the process of creation and implementation of public policy looks like. The first chapter of the thesis deals with theoretical background of the public policy process, stressing the role of public policy documents. The second chapter describes the area of Czech social politics and policy as a cover for social housing policy development. The third chapter examines the history of Czech housing policies. The final chapter focuses on the development of social housing policy and examines its connections with certain public policy documents.
|
|
Specifics of nursing care of a child patiens with oncological pain.
ČAŇKOVÁ, Helena
The topic of the thesis is: Specifics of nursing care of a child patient with oncologic pain. Children{\crq}s pain is a phenomenon surrounded by many myths and false information. It is also not sufficiently assessed and treated and often bagatelized by both nurses and doctors. Nurses play irreplaceable role in pain treatment, they are with the child patient more frequently then the doctor and are in close touch with the child{\crq}s parents. The care of a suffering child is a serious task in nursing. Treatment of a patient in pains requires a complex, holistic approach. Nurses, even if they diagnose pain properly, do not set an adequate nursing care plan and do not carry it out. Nurses have to defend interests of the sick child and must not let him/her suffer. The data was obtained by quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative research was carried out by the technique of anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire was made for the parents of children with oncologic disease. The qualitative research was carried out by the technique of semi-structured in-depth interview. The research sample consisted of nurses working at the Department of children{\crq}s oncology One of the aims of this thesis was to outline the problems in nursing care of a child patient with oncologic pain from the point of view of the parents. We observed if the parents had been informed about their child{\crq}s pain, if they know what symptoms they should watch in their child, if they know all the aspects of pain to be assessed and treatment methods to relieve the pain and also how nurses respond to their child{\crq}s pain. For this aim, a following hypothesis has been set forth: The parents of children patients with oncologic pain are educated about the possibilities of nursing care focused on relieving the pain. This hypothesis was confirmed by statistic testing. Another aim of this thesis was to find out the specifics of nursing care of a child patient with oncologic pain. Nurses think that the specifics of nursing care of a child patient with oncologic pain are not different from any other care of a child in pains. They just state that an oncologic disease is associated with pains caused by the disease itself or by diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Therefore they consider a specific feature the fact that the pain is observed more intensively and the staff is more precise in relieving the pain. It is obvious from the research that it would be effective for both parties, both for the nurses and the parents, to use educational materials on pain intended for them. I suppose that if there were such materials available, the parents would not need to contact nurses repeatedly. There was also a positive finding in the research that 92.5% of parents stated that nurses respond to children{\crq}s pain within 10 minutes. Further, that nurses believe that the child has pains, which was stated by 98.2% of the parents.
|
|
Výběr a implementace open source nástroje pro řízení portfolia projektů
Marek, Jan ; Chlapek, Dušan (advisor) ; Kučera, Jan (referee)
Methods and ways of implementation of changes and innovations in companies through project management are in today's society very well established. There exists methodologies, techniques and tools for the management of individual projects. However in a role of project manager, I very often faced the fact that companies are performing the project portfolio management in very intuitive way. This in itself leads to failed and prematurely terminated projects, initiation of the wrong projects or realisation of correct projects, but at the wrong time. Very often I have also recognized, that there is lack of awareness of fact, that there are also Open Source applications that can help with the organization's portfolio. This thesis deals with the definition of requirements, search and selection of proper OSS application and subsequent implementation. In the first part of this thesis I prepare a theoretical framework about PPM, and on that basis then identify and verify a set of requirements for selection of right OSS PPM application. The next section of thesis describes searching for suitable applications from a variety of sources, assessment against the requirements and the final selection. In the last part the implementation project is drafted, which aims to serve other colleagues in project management as one of the possible implementation paths. The outputs are then continuously confronted with experts in matter of projects and project management in the field of IT in order to maximize symbiosis between theory and real life experiences. Virtually every project management methodology defines the collection of already-proven techniques, best practices or lessons learned from the previous similar implementations. The main contribution of this thesis I see in fact that it contains not only the design of the project implementation, but also describes a logical path, what leads to the result. Therefore this thesis could be used as a base or discussed best practice, when a project of implementation of PPM application in place.
|
guest ::
