C35 - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models: Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; ProportionsReturn

Effective Corporate Governance is seen as a key factor in achieving economic performance. This article aims to define key performance indicators (KPIs) of Corporate Governance (CG). Defined indicators in a clear, understandable and measurable way reflect the performance of CG. To meet the objectives of the article, a literature search was performed. Approaches of international organizations (IFAC, DVFA, EABIS and UNCTAD) to measure the performance of CG were analysed. In addition, a questionnaire survey was carried out. The purpose of the questionnaire survey was to describe the current situation and approach of companies to the issue of CG. Based on a synthesis of the knowledge 14 KPIs divided into six areas are proposed: Strategy; Effectiveness of CG; Corruption & anti-competitive behaviour; Involvement in politics & payments to public officials and institutions; Relations with stakeholders; and Compliance.

The paper deals with the evolution of the retail sales in the Czech Republic and the European Union. Retail sales are a very important element of the total performance of a national economy. The aim of this article is to analyze the tendency of the retail sales and to compare their evolution in the Czech Republic with the results of the whole European Union. The paper presents graphical analysis studying relations between the retail sales and the macroeconomic development (GDP growth rate and unemployment rate) as well as the expectations of the households. As concerns the factors of the retail sales evolution, there is some positive correlation with the evolution of the general economic performance. However, there is no provable relation between the growth or decrease of the retail sales and the unemployment in both the EU and the Czech Republic.

Constructing models for predicting financial distress of small and medium enterprises requires its own treatment, because these firms differ from large campanies. The aim of this paper is to quantify the predictive power of selected ratios and to develop a statistical model for financial distress. We tested 16 financial ratios and the study relies on observations from 1563 firms. The model obtained by a methodology of conditional logit analysis includes quick liquidity ratio, average receivables collection period, leverage, solvency and interest coverage or debt coverage from current cash flow. The result confirmed that financial distress is closely related with the ability of a firm to pay its debts. Rentability wasn't found as so decive predictor in short period, there is a more complicated relation between rentability and payment capacity. As significant predictor was identified current cash flow (adjusted ordinary profit), which is much closely connected with cash.