Evropská hospodářská a měnová unie: Základy teorie OCA versus Maastrichtská kritéria

In my diploma thesis, I study optimality of the European Economic and Monetary Union on basis of principles of the Theory of Optimum Currency Areas -- OCA, with special attention to the criterion defined by R.A.Mundell. I point out some rigidities of the European labor market because of which this criterion is not met. On basis of an assumption that the more countries meet these criteria, the more suitable candidates for an entry of the monetary union they are, I reach a conclusion that EMU is not an optimal monetary zone. Nonetheless, the thesis does not ignore a hypothesis of the endogenous character of the OCA theory criteria, i.e. that they can be met even after an entry of the monetary union. Furthermore, with respect to the OCA theory criteria, I study appropriateness of the set Maastricht Convergence Criteria for evaluation of preparedness of countries for an entry of the EMU. The thesis also deals with potential revenues and costs of the introduction of euro in the Czech Republic. At the end of the thesis, I suggest potential alternatives of future development of EMU with respect to the current problems of the monetary union.