The aim of this paper is to identify the factors influencing efficiency of urban public transport (UPT) systems and to benchmark Czech UPT systems according to their efficiency. Methods: The analysis was carried out on a sample of 19 UPT systems in the Czech Republic during 2010-2015. Efficiency was evaluated through a two-stage analysis. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used in the first stage. It was based on three inputs (employees, rolling stock and energy) and one output (passengers). DEA efficiency scores were computed for all 19 systems for each year and under two different assumptions regarding returns to scale. In the second stage of the analysis, DEA scores were used in Tobit regression with a set of operational, socioeconomic , and demographic explanatory variables in order to find determinants of efficiency. Results: Several variables were identified as factors increasing efficiency-proportion of drivers, average vehicle age, the presence of tramlines in the city, total vehicle kilometres, and population density. Some variables were identified as decreasing efficiencyticket price, proportion of subsidies in revenues, and presence of a two-city system. Czech cities with most efficient transport systems were Prague, Brno, Mariánské Lázně, Olomouc, and Pilsen. The least efficient cities were Chomutov-Jirkov, Ostrava, and Děčín. Conclusions: The principal lesson from this study is that bigger cities with greater population densities are more efficient than smaller cities, and the key efficiency factors that local authorities have under their control are the ticket price, rate of subsidies, and structure of the city transport system. The paper contributes to current debate about the efficiency of the urban transport systems and their determinants. There was not much difference between the constant and variable returns to scale results. The results from the second stage could help policy makers make the public transport systems more efficient. Future research could be devoted to gaining data on additional operators which would also enable using additional inputs and outputs for DEA analysis.

ABSTRACT. This paper examines the relationship between trade and economic growth in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The situation after the Velvet revolution in 1989 is discussed at first. The change of the structure of the trade and the orientation of the trade in both republics are explained and illustrated on available data. The empirical part proved an analysis of the relationship between trade and GDP growth, using econometric analysis. Theory of cointegration, the vector error correction model and Granger causalities are employed. A long-term equilibrium among the investigated variables is identified in both countries. The empirical findings also indicate important role of exports in the economic growth in both republics. We conclude that economic growth in both of the countries can be identified as export-led.

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Abstract:The objective of the European railway reforms which started in the 1990s was to enable the entry of competition to raise the efficiency of railway transport. This was undertaken because the level of services, particularly in former Eastern Bloc countries, was very low due to neglected investment, and so railway transport market share was in decline. The primary goal of this text is to determine based on available empirical studies whether the reforms affected the efficiency of the railway sector positively, and the secondary aim is to identify the factors which complicate evaluation of the reforms' impact. According to empirical studies, the effect of competition on efficiency is unclear. The reforms have brought the most benefit to consumers, but their overall effect depends on many other factors. Competition for the market appeared to be a better way of implementing competition than competition in the market. In addition, comprehension of the problems complicating the analysis and their inclusion in the evaluation process constitutes an important point in evaluating the reforms' effects and could be inspiring for countries that have not yet implemented all reforms.

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