Analysis of the possible implementation of fare free transport in the subway in Prague based on data for the period 2011-2021

The goal of the work is primarily to evaluate whether the possible introduction of free subway transportation would not require an increase in prices in other areas due to the need to cover newly incurred costs. The partial goal of the work is to determine whether this measure would achieve the goal of the proposal and provide financial relief to the residents of Prague. In the theoretical part of the work, the legal framework is defined, which must be followed by institutions ensuring the operation of mass transport, which also includes the subway. Furthermore, in this section it is possible to find a basic description of the fare system or financing. In the practical part, the revenue from the sale of fares during the examined period, the revenue part of Prague's budget are analyzed and, above all, the possible variants of the subsequent development after the eventual introduction of the free subway are analyzed. The results of the analysis show that, with exceptions in some years, it would be possible to finance newly incurred costs from surpluses in the Prague budget. Therefore, it would not be necessary to increase the price of some items that make up the revenue part of the budget, and in years when the surpluses would not be sufficient, the city can be provided with a higher transfer from the state budget, which the city would compensate from the surpluses in the following years. However, after comparing this amount of costs with fare revenue, the conclusion is reached that the goal of the proposal, which is the the effort to financially help the residents of Prague, could be achieved more easily and with greater certainty by introducing the entire city public transport free of charge.