For a given pair of maps f, g : X → M from an arbitrary topological space to an n-manifold, the Lefschetz homomorphism is a certain graded homomorphism Λfg : H(X) → H(M) of degree (−n). We prove a Lefschetztype coincidence theorem: if the Lefschetz homomorphism is nontrivial then there is an x ∈ X such that f(x) = g(x).

We survey known results about the complexity of surjective homomorphism problems, studied in the context of related problems in the literature such as list homomorphism, retraction and compaction. In comparison with these problems, surjective homomorphism problems seem to be harder to classify and we examine especially three concrete problems that have arisen from the literature, two of which r...