The human eye is a conspicuous and unique component of facial appearance. From other mammalian eyes it is set apart mainly by its unusual shape, visible white sclera, and a wide range of iris colours, which is something unique within a single species. Whether alone or in the context of the face as a whole, eye colour is an underexplored area within research into the perception of various personality traits. In this thesis, the author first reviews the physiological factors connected with eye colour and reported correlations between eye colour and different psychological and behavioural conditions. This is followed by an investigation of a possible relationship between eye colour and perceived dominance and attractiveness. The first and second study examines whether and to what extent eye colour is associated with facial morphology responsible for perceived dominance. The results are ambiguous. A cross-cultural comparison in the third study revealed that faces with blue eyes are judged as more attractive only in populations where individuals with darker eyes predominate. It is thus discussed whether this population-specific pattern is the consequence of a negative frequency-dependent selection that may have contributed to the present-day eye colour diversity. In short, the aim of this thesis was to...

Background: Influencer marketing is a rather new marketing strategy where companies use influencers to promote their products and services on their own social media platforms. Previous studies have shown that companies use influencer marketing for creating purchase intentions for the consumer, whereas other studies have indicated three different characteristics of an influencer, authenticity, attractiveness and trustworthiness, that are important to possess in order to be able to influence its followers, which is why this study wanted to do a combination of these types of studies. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explain the relationship between influencers’ characteristics and consumers’ purchase intentions. Methodology: This quantitative study used a deductive approach and had an explanatory purpose, along with a cross-sectional research design. This study also presented a new model, including three hypotheses that assumed a positive relationship between the characteristics of an influencer and consumers’ purchase intentions. In order to collect data, a questionnaire was shared online, both through a convenience sampling technique and a snowball sampling technique, which resulted in 195 responses that passed the qualification questions. Findings: Two of the hypotheses within the proposed model were rejected, which meant that Authenticity and Attractiveness of an influencer did not show to have a positive relationship with consumers’ purchase intentions. Hypothesis 3 (H3) was however accepted, and it was shown that 14,8 % of consumers’ purchase intentions is explained by influencers’ Trustworthiness.   Conclusion: This study contributes with the theoretical implications that there is a relationship between the characteristic Trustworthiness of an influencer and consumers’ purchase intentions, along with the managerial implications which helps companies and marketers to know what characteristics to look for in an influencer when they want to create purchase intentions for consumers. Keywords: Attractiveness of an influencer; authenticity of an influencer; influencer characteristics; influencer marketing; influencers; purchase intentions; social media; trustworthiness on an influencer.

Purpose: The study aims to explore the effects of social media influencers' credibilitydimensions (attractiveness, trustworthiness, and expertise) on consumer behavior (purchase intention and attitude towards the brand) while considering the followers' loyalty as the mediating variable in the fashion industry.Theoretical approach: The proposed conceptual model of the study is based on assumptions of source credibility theory and theoretical reasonings provided in the previous literature related to social media influencer marketing.Design/methodology: Quantitative research design is used and data is collected through selfreported questionnaires. The population of the study consists of social media users who follow social media influencers on different social media platforms. Findings – Based on data collection from 225 Pakistani respondents, the analysis of the study indicates a positive impact of the three social media influencer credibility dimensions on the purchase intention, and followers’ attitude towards the endorsed brands. Moreover, influencers’ credibility positively impacts followers’ loyalty to the influencers. In addition to the direct effects, followers’ loyalty towards the influencers partially mediated (1) the relationship between influencers’ credibility and purchase intention, as well as (2) the relationship betweeninfluencers’ credibility and followers’ attitude towards the brand. Practical implications – The findings of the thesis provide implications for businesses and marketers to understand the role of credible social media influencers in shaping consumer behavior and it also answers the question of how they influence it.Originality/value – This study adds to the influencer marketing literature by investigating the mediating role of followers’ loyalty in between the relationship of influencer’s credibility and purchase intention of followers as well as their attitude towards the brand.

Investeringar i transportinfrastruktur är dyra och kräver god planering, även då blir det inte alltidsom tänkt. Denna studie ämnar att se relationen mellan en investering i transportinfrastruktur iÖresundsregionen och regional attraktionskraft samt ekonomisk tillväxt. Öresundsmetron ärännu en vision som planeras och diskuteras av Malmö Stad och Köpenhamns Kommun. Sedan1800-talet har företagen i västvärlden förändrats vilket har ökat behovet och efterfrågan på bratransportinfrastruktur i regionen. Tidigare studier visar att investeringar i transportinfrastrukturenkan öka den ekonomiska tillväxten och attraktionskraften genom lokalisering- ochurbaniseringsekonomier. De visar även att företag fortfarande resonerar på samma sätt som detidigare gjort när det kommer till lokalisering men efter att företag och samhälle utvecklats harval av lokalisering förändrats eftersom behoven har förändrats. Eftersom västvärlden inte kankonkurrera med produktionseffektiviteten som utvecklats i Asien har västvärlden gått från enfabriksindustri till kunskapsintensiva innovationsföretag. Innan den industriella revolutionen varråvaran och transportkostnader företagets högsta kostnad, när industriproduktionen ersattes medkompetent arbetskraft blev lönen företags högsta kostnad. Företag vill lokaliseras där de har lägstkostnad, här har Öresundsregionen chans att locka företag genom att öka attraktionskraftengenom bland annat en god infrastruktur som möjliggör för företag att ha tillgång till högutbildadpersonal, det vill säga den kreativa klassen. Studien är byggd på en kvalitativ metod där empirinbestår av artiklar från dagstidningar, en motion i Sveriges Riksdag, en undersökning avDemoskop samt en intervju gjord med Projektledaren för Öresundsmetron. Empiri haranalyserats utifrån tidigare forskning och de teoretiska modellerna. Resultatet visar att enÖresundsmetro kan leda till ökad attraktionskraft för Öresundsregionen och ekonomisk tillväxtgenom att företag och arbetskraft attraheras till regionen, med förutsättningen att den befintligainfrastrukturen fungerar som förväntat där Öresundsmetron kompletterar snarare än ersätter. / Investments in transport infrastructure are expensive and require planning, even then it does notalways work as intended. This study aims to see the relationship between an investment intransport infrastructure in the Öresund region and regional attractiveness as well as economicgrowth. The Öresundsmetro is still a vision which is planned and discussed in Malmö City andCopenhagen City. Since the 19th century companies in the western world have changed theirproduction which has increased the demand for good transport infrastructure. Previous studieshave shown that investments in transport infrastructure can increase the economic growth andattractiveness through localization- and urbanization economies. Previous studies have alsoshown that companies have a similar mindset as they have had historically when choosinglocalization, but as companies and society change, the demand and choice of localization haschanged. When the western world could not compete with the production efficiency which wasdeveloped in Asia, the western world’s companies developed from an industry toknowledge-intensive companies. Before the industrial revolution, raw materials andtransportation costs were the company's highest cost, when replacing the industrial productionwith skilled labor the salaries became companies highest cost. Companies want to be locatedwhere they have the lowest costs. Here, the Öresund region has a chance to attract companies byincreasing its attractiveness through, among other things, a good infrastructure that enablescompanies to have access to a higher educated workforce, the creative class. We have used aqualitative method where the empirical data consists of articles in newspapers, a motion in theSwedish Parliament, a survey of Demoskop and an interview with the Project Manager for theÖresundmetro. This empiric data has been analyzed based on previous research and theoreticalmodels. The results shows that the Öresundmetro can lead to increased attractiveness andeconomic growth, for the region in Öresund, by attracting companies and labor to the region,with the conditions that existing infrastructure works as it should where the Öresundsmetrocomplements rather than replaces.

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This research aims to investigate the impact of social media influencer’s credibility dimensions (Trustworthiness, Attractiveness, and Expertise), in shaping consumer's behaviour (Purchasing intention of customers and customer's attitude towards the brand). This proposed theoretical framework is based on social learning theory and the theoretical implications of the previous literature which is related to social media influencer marketing. For this empirical study, the data has been collected from Pakistani consumers who are following social media influencers who share and endorse products related to the fashion industry. Data is collected from 149 individuals out of which 135 were valid respondents.  Results reveal that social media influencer's credibility dimension (Trustworthiness, Attractiveness, and Expertise) positively influence the customer’s attitude towards the brands as well as the purchase intentions of the customers. In addition, the study has significance for social media influencers in the fashion and style sector in terms of understanding the factors of followers' devotion to them and the noticeable effects of followers' allegiance on their behaviour. This study adds to the literature on social media influencer marketing by demonstrating the importance of follower’s perspective towards the social media influencers. Previous studies lack in providing the Pakistan perspective related to social media influencermarketing and this research attempts to fulfill that gap. Another important aspect of this study is that the pictures of influencers have been used to conduct this research.

[pt] Baseado na Teoria Cumulativa da Perspectiva, três ensaios são apresentados nessa tese. Todos os três trabalhos estão conectados pelo entendimento aprofundado da Função de Ponderação de Probabilidade e suas conexões cenários de decisão sob risco. O primeiro ensaio é um trabalho empírico utilizando a teoria da perspectiva para analisar o viés do efeito de enquadramento em decisões de investimentos em certos países emergentes: Brasil, China, Russia, México e África do Sul. Em todos os casos, identificamos empiricamente o poder preditivo da teoria da perspectiva para os retornos dos ativos. Também encontramos que a função de ponderação de probabilidade é o fator mais importante para o poder preditivo. O segundo ensaio é um trbalho teórico propondo uma axiomatização da função de ponderação de Goldstein-Einhorn. Desde 1987, a conhecida função de ponderação de Goldstein-Einhorn é largamente utilizada em trabalhos em muitos artigos empíricos e teóricos. Richard Gonzalez e GeorgeWu propuseram uma axiomatização para esta função em 1999. O trabalho que apresentamos analisa a condição de preferência dos autores e encontra uma família maior de funções de ponderação. Fornecemos exemplos úteis e sugerimos uma nova condição de preferência que é necessária e suficiente para a função de Goldstein- Einhorn. Esta nova condição de prefer6encia simula o comportamento das pessoas em situações que envolvem atitutes arriscadas. O terceiro ensaio propõe uma medida para as características psicológicas chamadas de atratividade e discriminabilidade, no contexto das funções de ponderação de probabilidades. Esse conceitos são importantes para nos ajudar a entender como algumas emoções influenciam nosso comportamento. Propomos medidas no sentido absoluto e relativo e as comparamos com alguns exemplos particulares encontrados na literatura. Nossos resultados são consistentes com o entendimento qualitativo encontrado na literatura e fornece um entendimento quantitativo para ele. / [en] Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory, three essays are presented in this thesis. All three works are linked by a deeper understanding of Probability Weighting Functions and its connection with decisions in a risk scenario. The first essay is an empirical work using prospect theory to analyze the narrow framing bias in investment decisions in certain emerging countries: Brazil, China, Russia, Mexico and South Africa. In all cases, we empirically identified the predictive power of prospect theory for stock returns. We also found that the probability weighting function is the most important factor in this predictive power. The second essay is a theoretical work proposing an axiomatization for the Goldstein-Einhorn weighting function. Since 1987, the well known Goldstein- Einhorn Weighting Function is widely used in many empirical and theoretical papers. Richard Gonzalez and George Wu proposed an axiomatization for it in 1999. The present work analyses their preference condition and finds a bigger family of weighting functions. We provide useful examples and suggest a new preference condition which is necessary and sufficient for Goldstein-Einhorn function. This new preference condition simulates the behavior of people in risky attitudes. The third essay propose a measure to evaluate the psychological features of attractiveness and discriminability in the context of probability weighting functions. These concepts are important to help us understand how some emotions drive our behavior. We propose measures in absolute and in the relative sense and compare with some particular cases found in the literature. Our findings are consistent with the qualitative understanding widespread in the literature and provide a quantitative analysis for it.

As the need for similar skills across various industries has increased throughout the years, itis not mandatory to stay within the same industry or organization as you once started. Whennew opportunities take shape, people have come to compare their situation with what it couldbe like in another organization, in another industry, making the attractiveness of anorganization increasingly important, both to keep and to attract new talented employees. Thetourism & hospitality industry has long been perceived as an industry where there is poorwork-life balance, and lower compensation for the employees than other industries whencompared. Because of this, the tourism & hospitality industry have to reconsider theirpractices and evaluate what can be changed to increase the attractiveness, to ensure the futuregrowth of the industry. There are aspects of the tourism & hospitality industry that influence the intention to staywithin an organization, and in the industry as well, including the work-life balance andcompensation. However, there has been an emphasis on what influences the employees toleave rather than the aspects that could be changed to increase the attractiveness, reduce theportion of employees leaving, and attract new ones. There are also proven effects that criseshave on organizations within the tourism & hospitality industry, which influence some of thefactors, previously stated as reasons for employees considering leaving. Hence, there is aresearch gap on how to increase the attractiveness of organizations within the tourism &hospitality industry, after a crisis. The purpose of this study is to examine the key factors that explain why employees in thetourism & hospitality industry find other industries more attractive and identify howorganizations within tourism & hospitality must adapt to increase their attractiveness. Toaddress the research gap, this study used an inductive approach and conducted qualitative,semi-structured interviews to gather the data. When choosing a sample technique, it first tooka stance in the snowball technique, using the network of the authors to get in touch with theappropriate respondents. After this a purposive sampling technique was used to select themost appropriate respondents, with the ability to contribute to the study. The empirical datawas analyzed through a thematic analysis to review and present the relevant findings of the empirical data. From the thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: What creates the talentshortage, How do crises affect talent shortage and What can be done to prevent talentshortage. Within the three main themes, nine sub-themes were found, which assisted infinalizing a conceptual model, showing how organizations within the tourism & hospitalityindustry can change to become more attractive toward talented employees. The findings ofthis study shows that opportunities for personal development and career growth, continuouscommunication between employee and employer, involvement of employees in decisions,improved work-life balance, normal workloads, reduction of unhealthy stress, brand image,and compensation can increase the attractiveness of organization in the tourism & hospitalityindustry after a crisis, such as Covid-19.

This study investigated the potential for development of station catchment areas around the proposed California High-Speed Rail System. The study was prompted by a review of practices of Japanese railway company groups that engage not only in train operations, but also in business diversification and property development within the station areas of their lines. These actions allow the company groups to diversify their revenues streams, increase ridership on their lines, and operate as a whole with net profits. This is in contrast to transit agencies in the United States, which only focus on transporting passengers along their lines and do not engage in other commercial activities. This situation limits the potential for transit in the United States to play a larger role in urban transportation. With the implementation of the California High-Speed Rail System, an opportunity exists to introduce the commercial transit model seen in Japan to the United States. Since the California High-Speed Rail System is a brand-new system with few entrenched interests to impede change, it has the potential to lead as an example of transit operating with net profits and providing additional benefits to the station areas it serves. However, since planning for station areas to turn into commercially successful activity centers is still a new concept and practice in the United States, a methodology has to be developed to assess the potential for development of station areas. This study set out to answer the two questions: 1) To what extent are the locations of the California High-Speed Rail System’s planned stations currently attractive to development within their respective contexts? 2) Given the information gathered from the study, what policies should be taken to enhance the future development potential of the California High-Speed Rail System’s planned stations as activity centers within their respective station areas? The potential for development was quantified by calculating accessibility indices for each station catchment area using the inputs of number of jobs, population size, and number of housing units within a gravity model. The results of the analysis indicate that the station areas at the ends of the alignment in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area will benefit the most. The next biggest beneficiaries are the major population centers in the San Joaquin Valley, which are Fresno and Bakersfield. Other stations that are not likely enjoy the benefits of a high-speed rail connection as much as other stations are those that have very little development around them currently, such as Kings Tulare and Madera. However, the potential exists for all stations to enjoy substantial development opportunities if the proper plans, policies, and business strategies are implemented early on and at the corridor level to make the station areas attractive for development. The study makes the following recommendations: Promote the commercialization of train operations and station areas to capitalize on their long-term economic value; Integrate the planning, construction, ownership, and management of train operations and station area development and services to reduce transaction costs; Develop plans or business strategies for each station area to create roadmaps and timelines for their development; And plan for land use activities at station areas on a corridor level to capitalize on specific synergies between station origin-destination pairs (e.g., land use activities that accommodate long-distance travelers between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, or those that accommodate commuter needs between up-and-coming station areas in the San Joaquin Valley with major job centers).

Научная новизна исследования заключается в формулировке методических положений по совершенствованию привлекательности территории, которые могут применяться градообразующим предприятием при разработке коммуникационной политики. Практическая значимость исследования заключается в возможности использования разработанной концепции коммуникационной политики и предложенных мероприятий по повышению привлекательности территории. Для совершения будущей оценки эффективности предложенных мероприятий запланированы показатели достижения цели и задач коммуникационной политики компании «Газпром Добыча Надым» по повышению привлекательности города на 3 года. / The scientific novelty of the research lies in the formulation of methodological provisions for improving the attractiveness of the territory, which can be applied by the city-forming enterprise in the development of communication policy. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the developed concept of communication policy and the proposed measures to increase the attractiveness of the territory. In order to make a future assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed measures, indicators of achieving the goals and objectives of the communication policy of Gazprom Dobycha Nadym to increase the attractiveness of the city for 3 years are planned.