The market, economic and financial risks are the most important risks, which determine the quality and performance of small and medium sizes enterprises. The main objective of the article is to evaluate the most important sources of market, economic and financial risk between Slovak and Czech SMEs according gender and size of enterprise. The questionnaires of 895 entrepreneurs were collected and prepare on evaluating in the year 2018. The statistical hypotheses were accepted through the mathematical method as is Z-score. The gender of entrepreneur and size of enterprises between Slovak and Czech entrepreneurs is a significant factor of evaluating the sources of economic risk, as is development of the tax and insurance burden; weak availability of the financial resources (loans, foundations); development of the interest rates; growing prices of all types of energy. According to the evaluation of entrepreneurs, the intensity of sources of economic risk in Slovak business environment is higher than in Czech business environment.

Research background: The existence of new technologies and increase in the extensive usage of the internet by individuals, forces governments, local authorities and practitioners to create alternative payment methods such as digital currencies. However, some of the individuals are concerned about trusting these currencies since they negatively perceive their security. Moreover, some people with low income have the willingness to use these currencies in case of receiving some financial benefits. In this regard, security and benefits have been used as tools to increase the trustworthiness of digital currencies. Purpose of the article: The goal of this study is to investigate and to examine the influences of security and benefits of a local digital currency on potential users’ trust in this currency. This paper also considers the age and work experience of prospective users and investigate these variables’ effects on stated relationships. Methods: This paper is based on a case study that includes 413 respondents who are workers of a large company in Cieszyn Silesia region of the Czech Republic. A questionnaire survey was employed by researchers to determine the perceptions of potential local currency users. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between selected variables. Calculations were made using SPSS Statistics software. Findings & Value added: The results of this paper confirm the positive influences of security and provided benefits on the trust of a digital currency. Regarding characteristics of potential users, perceptions of younger and less experienced users regarding the security and financial benefits are more positive to trust this currency comparing to older and more experienced respondents. Trade freedom of a country, long term orientation and individualistic characteristics of potential users might be reasons for the positive relation-ships between security, benefits and trust in a local digital currency. On the other hand, the income of prospective users, new technology curiosity, and experience of users might be mounting pieces of evidence to explain the differences in the perceptions of potential users regarding security, benefits and trust to a local digital currency. This paper also proposes some policy implementations to users, practitioners, local authorities and governments to make them cope with the security and trust issues of these currencies.

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The paper presents the results of exploring the characteristics of trust cycle in the financial sector of the economy in general and across its main components (trust in banking and non-bank financial and credit systems) illustrated by the economy in transition-Ukraine-for the period 1st quarter 2009-1st quarter 2018. Determinants of nonlinear dynamics of public trust in the financial sector of the economy were also identified. For this purpose, an algorithm has been developed that enables studying the cyclical nature of public trust in the financial sector and testing the hypotheses about the determinants of its nonlinear dynamics. To highlight the cyclical component of the time series, harmonic analysis via Fourier transformations was used. In order to analyze public trust in the financial sector and its main components the following indicators were used: absolute volatility, relative volatility (in relation to financial and business cycles), the persistence of actual values and cyclic components, correlation with financial and business cycles. Our main

Research background: Preparation for retirement is a major concern for the people in the workforce as they have to encounter considerable difficulties in making the right investment decisions for their retirement. Purpose of the article: This research extends the literature on personal finance by investigating the impact of both financial literacy levels and pension knowledge on employees’ investment choice decision for their retirement, while in previous literature the role of these factors has mainly been explored separately.  Methods: To conduct the research, a survey questionnaire was applied to collect data in three main regions of Vietnam comprising Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam. Data collection was made in 2018, in which 427 valid questionnaires were used for data analysis from 700 questionnaires. Two estimation methods are employed for analysis in this study, including a linear probability model (LPM) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) model. The findings of this research remain significant after the Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression model is used as an estimation technique to eliminate potential bias caused by endogenous problems. Finding & Value added: The results show that basic financial literacy level and pension knowledge are principal factors which significantly increase the probability of exercising retirement investment choice of employees, while advanced financial literacy level factor has a significant effect on choosing growth investing options for their retirement. Further, this research finds that there is no correlation between employees’ financial risk tolerance and their retirement investment choice. Furthermore, the study proposes and offers new evidence that pension knowledge is a decisive factor providing employees with encouragement to exercise retirement investment choice and those who consult with financial advisors tend to take part in growth investing option.