Journal of Economics - Obsahy ročníkov

The aim of this paper is to estimate the equilibrium real interest rate in Slovakia by means of a semi-structural unobserved components model. The equilibrium real interest rate is understood here as a short-term, risk-free real interest rate consistent with output at its potential level, and inflation at its target level after the effect of all cyclical shock have disappeared. Contribution to the literature is in two ways: (i) development of a modelling framework for small, open, and converging economies which can be used for other transition economies, and (ii) assessment of the adoption of the euro and its effect on the equilibrium real interest rate. Based on the estimates, the equilibrium real interest rate fell from the positive pre-euro (also pre-crisis) level into to the negative territory. Keywords: equilibrium real interest rate, unobserved components model, transition economy, monetary policy; JEL Classification: E43, E52, E58

This paper tries to determine how growth of money supply affects inflation in different time-horizons and under different inflation levels in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Russia. The research is done by using two innovative methodologies – the wavelet approach and Bayesian quantile regression. By observing these four countries, we can assess whether inflation targeting (IT) plays significant role in curbing inflation, because three Visegrad group countries adopted IT almost two decades ago, while Russia started to conduct IT relatively recently. Estimated quantiles suggest that money supply growth does not influence inflation in the Czech Republic and Hungary, whatsoever. We find that money growth impacts inflation in Poland, but very modestly. On the other hand, in the case of Russia, the transmission effect from money to inflation is much higher, and it goes around 40% in low inflation conditions, when M1 aggregate is observed, and around 78% in low inflation conditions, when M3 aggregate is analysed. The overall results clearly indicate that the adoption of the IT framework as a disinflation strategy proved to be successful in the Visegrad group countries, since excessive money growth has little or no effect at all on inflation in these countries. Keywords: money, inflation, wavelet, Bayesian quantiles, Central and Eastern European countries; JEL Classification: C11, C21, E31, E51

This article investigates the relationship between several behavioural biases and stock market reactions. We analyse six post-communist countries (Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic) for the January 2012 – September 2019’ time period. We test for any effect of different measures used in behavioural finance literature (investors’ optimism, respectively pessimism, spontaneous behaviour and the anchoring effect) on stock market’s trading volume. Our empirical findings suggest that judgement and emotions are a significant driver of the stock market, not all market players acting rationally when investing. Investors are susceptible to behavioural biases which influence significantly their decision making process. Polish investors are pessimistic individuals, while in Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic the optimistic sentiment exercises a greater influence on the trading activity. Spontaneous behaviour characterizes the Romanian, Hungarian and Slovak investors. Lastly, the anchoring effect is found significant in 5 out of 6 countries analysed, no effect being observed in the Czech Republic. Keywords: behavioural biases, trading volume, stock market behaviour; JEL Classification: G12, G14, G41

This paper deals with private equity determinants within the European Union, based on data covering 11 years and 20 countries. We investigate driving forces of private equity activity in terms of the level of country maturity. The cluster analysis using Ward’s method is performed suggesting three different clusters of countries with similar properties, to provide better country assessment than geographical distribution. We use panel data techniques to study 26 possible determinants of private equity activity. The study reveals the macroeconomic factors, labour market, and business environment have a significant impact on investment activity in countries, but the expected positive effect of the stock market was not confirmed. Furthermore, the differences between private equity determinants in individual clusters have been observed. While the positive impact of innovation prevails in the more developed countries, there is also a negative effect of the interest rate. The less developed countries tend to be more endangered by the crowding-out effect of government expenditures and strong property rights protection rather than socio-political stability and tax burden. Keywords: private equity, panel data analysis; JEL Classification: C23, C52, E22, G24

The premature death of a breadwinner, serious injuries or an insufficient level of income during retirement can decrease the living standard of households substantially. Life insurance represents a tool for managing such kinds of uncertainties, however, individuals do not adequately consider this need for security. Papers focusing on factors determining life-related insurance consumption identified many variations in the effect of these factors. The reasons are not clear, but one of the explanations is the aggregated nature of life insurance without focus on the type of covered risks. Based on survey data, we confirm the differences in the determinants of various risks covered by life insurance. In the general life insurance model, we confirmed the following as significant determinants: gender, head of household status, combination of marital status and dependent children, saving behaviour and employment status. In the private pension insurance coverage, significant determinants are age, education, saving behaviour and employment status. The willingness to buy accident cover with life insurance is determined by the saving behaviour and employment status. Marginal effect has the status of head of household. Keywords: consumer behaviour, life insurance, insurance demand, logistic regression; JEL Classification: G22, G52