Government Communication: How to succeed with the economic reforms among the public

This diploma thesis deals with the communication of state substantial economic reforms. Methodology is a case study that examines the governmental communication of the pension reform in 2013. The introduction of the thesis briefly outlines the socioeconomic situation in the Czech Republic after 2008. The theoretical part sets out the necessary basis in the fields of media and communication, public relations, political communication, psychology and public choice theory and it also provides an overview of pension system reforms development in the Czech Republic area from the time of Austro-Hungarian Empire. It notes that this issue is one of the constant governmental agenda, especially after 1989, and its enforcement is depends on the political settlement. Practical part of the thesis analyzes the communication discourse of governmental pension reform effective from 1 January 2013. For this purpose it uses structured interviews with stakeholders, quantitative content media analysis and public opinion polls. It concludes that there was no communication strategy for the pension reform and governmental information activities were insufficient and time inadequate. The thesis results in a set of recommendations for the government and its future economic reforms communication. It includes political consensus, clear message and target group identification, detailed timeline plan and the principle of simplicity in the reform explaining.