LAUSR

This paper examines the development and comparison of competition and concentration in the banking and insurance sector in the Czech Republic during the 2007-2019 period using the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HH index). In the empirical section we calculate the degree of concentration and indexes separately for the banking and insurance markets, where the main variable in relation to banks is the balance sheet and this variable is the gross written premium in relation to insurance companies. Subsequently, we compare the two examined sectors including the analysis of their long-term equilibrium. The result of this research confirms the determined hypotheses, whereas the oligopolic structure of both markets, which falls over time and aims towards a competitive market but does not achieve this goal during the monitored period. Throughout examination, the insurance market demonstrates higher HH index values and therefore lower competitiveness compared to the banking market.