The concept of resource nexus is an acknowledgement of the interconnections between the uses of natural resources. This research will further the work done on the resource nexus by examining the multiple effects of measures taken in the Indian textile industry to lower the costs incurred due to the implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). ZLD combines a variety of technologies to cease the discharge of untreated water from production processes to the surrounding area. The paper will, based on surveys answered by an IKEA supplier and four of IKEA’s sub-suppliers of textile in India, present a multiple case study of possible multiple effects of projects undertaken to lower the increased cost of manufacturing with ZLD. Building on the multiple case study, and marrying it with the knowledge of the multiple benefits of energy efficiency improvements, the Value Added Water (VAW) tool, and the rebound effect, this paper constructs and offers a Multiple Effects Framework (MEF) for measures taken in factories as a response to the increased cost of manufacturing with ZLD. The framework handles both quantifiable and non-quantifiable multiple effects of measures taken, such as changes in resource use (water, energy, chemicals, materials), productivity and work environment. The MEF aggregates a more comprehensive picture of the overall effects of measures taken to adapt to the increased costs associated with ZLD in the textile supply chain, and can to a certain extent be applied to other factories facing a future mandate for ZLD. When changed accordingly, the framework can also be applied to other situations and industries as a decision-making and evaluation tool. In order to deepen the understanding of customer expectations and future trends, interviews were made with IKEA co-workers and a consultant involved with the factories investigated. Lessons learnt by IKEA and the consultant regarding ZLD implementation and the resource nexus are presented for internalization by factories, customers and authorities.

The use of online personalized advertisements has drawn attention among firms, in efforts of acquiring and maintaining competitive advantage. By collecting individual consumer information, firms are able to personalize advertisements to specific individuals in online contexts. The collection and use of individuals’ personal information have given rise to privacy concerns among consumers. However, contemporary research displays disparate conclusions regarding the extent to which these privacy concerns influence the effectiveness of online personalized advertisements. In order to provide insights regarding this discrepancy, this study explored the theoretical foundations of consumer perceived benefits and risks, upon which contemporary research was based. Two focus groups were conducted to explore how consumers perceive benefits and risks of online personalized advertisements. Using pattern matching, the interpretation of the empirically gathered material implied that consumer perceived benefits, in form of perceived relevance, appears to be insufficient in appealing to the interests and preferences of consumers. Instead, consumers’ perceptions of relevance appear to be dependent on several elements. Furthermore, the findings imply that consumers are aware of the risks through personal information disclosure, yet appear to be unconcerned by them. Instead, consumers seem to possess a sense of hopelessness in online environments, that attempts to restrict the availability of their personal information are pointless.

Between 250.000 and  300.000 people live with psoriasis in Sweden today. 50% develop psoriasis before they are 25 years old. When living with psoriasis, one have an increased risk of developing comorbidities, which include overweight, joint problems, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and depression, among others. Based on recent findings, people living with psoriasis can achieve health benefits and improve the symptoms of the condition through living and good life style. I have developed a lifestyle system named "núna", which will empower the patient, encourage a good lifestyle, prevent comorbidities and improve the healthcare personnel and patient communication. The system includes an application which consists of five different main categories (Activity, diet, quit smoking, photography documentation and administrating issues related to ones healthcare providers), and an activity tracker with two different portable docks and a charging station.

Data on the managerial and professional specialty occupations that were specified by the United States Census of the Population for the years 1950 through 1980 were used to analyze the influence of occupational sex ratios, growth rates, and male and female salary levels on the ability of females to move into those occupations. An analysis of the change in the Standardized Occupational Sex Ratio (SSR) showed that, over the thirty year period studied, growth rates became more important than salary levels in influencing movement toward parity in high status occupations. Before the 1980 census year, occupational growth rates were found to interact with both male and female salary levels. During all four census years, slowly growing occupations experienced the smallest movement toward parity regardless of salary level. The lack of movement toward parity in slowly growing occupations shows evidence of gender division. In rapidly growing fields, lower salary levels for both males and females led to greater movement toward parity for females. Movement toward parity in rapidly growing fields that offered lower salaries was taken as evidence of less sheltering. In declining fields, occupations with above median female salaries allowed greater female entry than did those with below median female salaries. The opportunity for women to move into declining fields showed evidence of chain mobility. By 1980, females were moving into managerial and professional specialty occupations at every salary level and growth rate; however, the greatest movement toward parity occurred in those occupations that were rapidly growing. Movement toward parity in rapidly growing occupations provided evidence of structural mobility. By 1980, rapidly growing occupations were experiencing fair sharing of occupational opportunity. The slowly growing occupations, though experiencing some female growth, still showed evidence of male sheltering.

This study was exploratory in nature, with the purpose of examining the relationships between working Baby Boomers’ knowledge of retirement health benefits and health costs and actions they have taken to prepare for retirement. An online survey was completed by 209 Baby Boomers who are employed by three city governments in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The research showed that health benefits knowledge does not predict retirement preparation but that Baby Boomers who demonstrate higher levels of knowledge-seeking behavior are more likely to undertake retirement preparation, specifically by purchasing an annuity. Among public sector working Baby Boomers, retirement preparation activities are found to be minimal. Age was found to predict knowledge-seeking behavior, in that older vs. younger Baby Boomers are more likely to engage in knowledge-seeking behavior related to retirement preparation. Current knowledge about health benefits does not predict retirement preparation.

The problem of this study was the relative value and importance of perceived benefits of active foundations of public community colleges. The purposes were to identify a list of benefits; determine the importance of these benefits as perceived by presidents and foundation executive directors; assess the degree to which the level of importance of the benefits was affected by college or foundation demographics or foundation executive director characteristics; and to determine if presidents and foundation executive directors differ in their perceptions of the importance of the benefits. Survey instruments were mailed to presidents and foundation executive directors of colleges determined to have active foundations. Both instruments contained seven categories listing potential benefits to the community colleges of an active foundation. The foundation executive directors' instruments also requested college and foundation demographic data. Respondents were asked to rate the benefits according to their level of importance. Analysis of variance tests were performed to determine whether the categories of benefits were affected by any of the demographic data, when a level of significance emerged, a Scheffe' test was performed to determine the source of significance. Major findings were that the most important single benefit to the community colleges of active foundations is the provision of student scholarships. The "Public Relations/Political Influence" role of the active foundation is the most important category of benefits. The more fund-raising activities held and the greater the amount of contributions, the more positively community college administrators felt about the role of their active foundations in terms of external relations. Highly experienced foundation executive directors were more positive about the importance of the public relations role of their active foundations than were their inexperienced counterparts. The major conclusion of this study was that community colleges benefit from having active foundations, both monetarily and through the role of the foundation in enhancing the college's image.

This study was to determine if the importance assigned by health educators (judges) to components of corporate health promotion programs is the same as or different from program components most frequently offered by corporations for employees. This involved establishing a list of program components that judges felt were important for wellness programs and comparing this list with programs actually existing in polled corporations. A literature review was used to establish an initial list of program components. Thirty-eight judges returned questionnaires incorporating the list. A Spearman's rho and scattergram were used to test for correlations between judges' opinions and corporate practices. The report concludes that no correlation exists but that there is agreement among the judges polled that corporations should promote employee wellness programs.

LEGAL REGULATIONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN CZECH REPUBLIC AND IN SELECTED COUNTRIES This graduation thesis describes and analyzes legal regulations of unemployment benefits in Czech Republic and in Sweden. Main reason why I have chosen that topic could be seen in the fact that in both countries exist two different systems. In Czech Republic we have compulsory state system of unemployment benefits but Sweden is one of four European countries where we can find so-called Ghent system. Sweden is also known as typical example of welfare state, so I came to conclusion it could be interesting to focus attention also to this matter and its influence to the topic. The aim of the thesis is to compare both systems, individual institutes of this problematic, focus on main differences and also point out common rules and principles. The thesis involves an introduction, main part and conclusion. The main part is divided into seven chapters. The first one presents explanation of unemployment, its different types and consequences. Following two chapters concern development of legal regulations of this problematic both in Czech Republic (also in Czechoslovakia) and in Sweden. Because some of the mentioned acts are very extensive, I focused only on legal rules concerning the unemployment benefits. The main part of...

This diploma thesis is dealing with income from dependent activities and perquisites. We might often see disputes in terms of delimitation of dependent activities. Accordingly, the aim of this thesis is, in the first stage, to delineate dependent activities based on analysis of valid legislation, relevant judicial decisions and approach of particular state institutions. Fringe benefits are subject to analysis of the second chapter from the personal income tax perspective. Taxation of the most common incentive plans, which is not explicitly stipulated in the income taxes act, is deeply analyzed in this chapter. Moreover, taxation of particular fringe benefits, which are stipulated in the income taxes act and could be exempted from taxation under certain circumstances, is subject to my analysis in the second chapter.

The thesis aims at quantifying the potential fiscal gains of an extra investment into Roma education. From the budgetary point of view, it would pay off to invest extra money into Roma children, if it increased future net contributions to the budget. The extra investment into one child could take values up to the average discounted value of future net benefits per person. The net benefits represent the increased net contributions due to a higher level of education. The contribution of the thesis is the estimation of different net contributions of Roma with various educational levels to the national budget in order to encourage the investment into Roma children. Secondly, we estimated the yearly loss of the national budget due to lower education among the Roma. And thirdly, we conducted a survey among the clients of the endowment fund Verda to find the relationship between their education, employment status and other variables.