The main goal of this thesis is to evaluate different machine learning models in order to classify buyers of an electric or a hybrid vehicle and to identify the characteristics of the buyers in the European Union. Machine learning algorithms and techniques were adopted to analyze the dataset and to create models that could predict, with a certain accuracy, the customer’s willingness to buy an EV. Identification of the characteristics of the buyers were based on the identified most important features from the machine learning models and statistical analysis. The research consisted of exploratory and explanatory methods (mixed method) with quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative technique was applied to convert categorical values to ordinal and nominal numeric values, to establish cause and effect relationship between the variables by using statistical analysis and to apply machine learning methods on the dataset. The quantitative results were then analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative techniques in order to identify the characteristics of the buyers. The data analytics part relied on a publicly available large dataset from the EU containing transport and mobility related data. From the experiments with logistics regression, support vector machine, random forest, gradient boosting classifier and the artificial neural network it was found that ANN is the best model to identify who won’t buy an EV and gradient boosting classifier is the best model to identify who would like to buy and EV. ML based feature importance identification methods (MDI, permutation feature importance) were used to analyze the characteristics of the buyers. The major buyer’s characteristics found in this thesis are environmental concern, knowledge on car sharing, country of residence, education, control traffic, gender, incentive, education and location of residence. Authors have recommended green marketing as the potential enablers towards a faster and larger adoption of electrical vehicles in the market as environmental impact was found as the most significant behavior of the buyer. Finally, for the future researchers, the authors have recommended fine-tuning the algorithms extensively in order to achieve better accuracy and to collect primary data based on the most important features identified in this thesis.

This research is intended to examine transportation suppliers coming up short due to participation in and response to bidding procedures. A mixed-methods approach is utilized to investigate the bid process and related outcomes for the transportation supplier. This study explores the bid process from the perspective of the transportation supplier. The first study is based on a quantitative approach, utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process methodology (AHP). The second study uses qualitative methodology, specifically utilizing semi-structured interview protocol. For the quantitative analysis, key factors related to the bidding process were studied, as the basis of the review. These factors were found through a systematic review of the literature, and are internal and external in nature. The results are that, of the factors studied, the Firm Related Internal Factor of Need for Work and Tender Related External Factor of Type of Bid are of the greatest significance when determining to bid. Key themes emerge from the semi-structured interviews, leading to the Assertation of Bid Submission Assessment, including a systematic review of relationships, current market conditions, and risk appraisal for the transportation supplier. This research explores economic, relational and strategic impacts on supplier performance aligned with the bid process, and how supply chain companies can build effective bid responses to enable practitioners to improve stability and financial performance, while avoiding supply chain disruptions. To better understand proposal response will aid the transportation supplier with restoring profitability levels lost, due to the bidding process (buyer to transportation supplier). / Business Administration/Strategic Management

In this research, we explore the impact of international buyer-supplier relationships on sustainability practices in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) industry, concentrating specifically on the context of Bangladesh. The root of this investigation centers around unpacking the influence of global business interconnectivity on operational approaches at the supplier juncture, with a specific emphasis on sustainability. Two core research queries were set as the guiding posts for this investigation: (1) What is the impact of international buyer-supplier relationships on sustainable practices in the RMG sector of Bangladesh? and (2) How do different types of buyer-supplier relationships influence this impact? Drawing from the theoretical discourse, the study ventured to hypothesize those certain elements of international buyer-supplier relationships - the relational dynamics, enduring alliances, and the commitment of international buyers to sustainability - have a positive bearing on sustainable practices within the Bangladeshi RMG industry. To provide empirical support to these assumptions, a quantitative study involving 66 managers working within Bangladesh's RMG industry was undertaken. Utilizing covariance-based descriptive statistics as our analytical tool, we proceeded to examine the validity of our hypotheses. The findings provided a resounding confirmation, highlighting that attributes like trust, commitment, open communication, and long-term partnerships favorably influence the incorporation of sustainable practices. Moreover, it was observed that the commitment of international buyers to sustainability, demonstrated through the enforcement of standards and initiatives to support suppliers, has a substantial influence on suppliers' operational strategies, elbowing them towards the adoption of sustainable and ethical business practices. These insights shed light on how international buyer-supplier relationships impact global trading dynamics and underscore the intensifying significance of sustainability in modern business ethics. This research extends the theoretical discourse on international business, supply chain management, and sustainability. Additionally, it offers pragmatic insights for managers operating within Bangladesh's RMG industry, accentuating the necessity to cultivate enduring, trust- centric relationships with international buyers and to align their operational strategies with the global shift towards sustainable business practices.

Purpose: This study aims to advance the organizational buying literature, by examining buyer burnout and its consequences. Specifically, the sequencing of multi-faceted organizational buyer burnout is established and the impact of each dimension on job satisfaction, job performance, affective organizational commitment and turnover intentions is accessed. The current research is accomplished through the development and examination of competing models and hypothesis testing. Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 125 business-to-business buyers were surveyed using established scale items. The study examines a series of competing models and outcomes of the facets of burnout through the use of covariance-based structural equation modeling. In addition, indirect, direct and total effects were examined. Findings: First, this study supports that researchers should examine burnout, as a multi-faceted construct within the organizational buyer context, using the Lewin and Sager model. Second, findings strongly indicate that gaps exist in the current boundary spanner research, given that the majority of this research stream only examines a single aspect, emotional exhaustion, of burnout and fails to account for the impact of both the personal accomplishment and depersonalization facets of burnout. Further, the impact of personal accomplishment is highlighted, given its total effects on examined outcomes. Originality/value: This study extends the Lewin and Sager model beyond a sales context and finds that each facet of burnout impacts the outcome variables to varying degrees. The total impact of personal accomplishment is highlighted, given that researchers often omit this facet from their investigations.

<p>  </p> <p>Kentucky bluegrass is the most common cool-season turfgrass grown in the northern US. <br> The fact that Kentucky bluegrass requires s high quantity of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation to produce high quality turf has led to environmental concerns among policymakers, researchers, and consumers. To address this concern, turfgrass breeders have developed improved cultivars of low-input turfgrass species that aim to improve the sustainability of US lawns (Ghimire et al., 2019). For instance, tall fescue [(<em>Festuca arundinacea </em>Schreb.; syn. <em>Schedonorus arundinaceus</em> (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.] and fine fescues (<em>Festuca </em>spp.) may represent viable options for residential and commercial buildings due to their outstanding performance under lower amounts of inputs such as irrigation, pesticides, and fertilizers (Watkins et al., 2011). Thus, adopting improved cultivars of low-input species may be a step towards reducing the use of inputs in landscapes (Simmons et al., 2011; Pooya et al., 2013). Yet, the production of low-input turfgrasses in the northern US is slow and limited, which leads to marketing and education obstacles that support their adoption. Thus, understanding factors that influence sod buyers to purchase low-input turfgrasses is imperative to increase the market share and the adoption of these turfgrasses. </p> <p>This study investigated the factors influencing sod buyers to purchase low-input turfgrass in the northern US, using tall fescue and fine fescue as low-input sod species. Using a logistic regression model, we assessed the determinants of low-input turfgrass purchase among sod buyers (i.e., athletic facilities, landscape contractors, garden centers, general contractors, lawn care, golf courses, and municipal parks). The logit model assumed the adoption decision to be driven by the buyers’ perception of the utility of buying low-input turfgrass species. Thus, the dependent binary variable Y equals 1 if the firm purchased tall or fine fescue in 2020, and 0 otherwise. The adoption is then expressed as a function of determinants, including the firm’s characteristics, supplier characteristics, sod attributes, and buyer’s perceptions. </p> <p>Data for this study came from a 2021 web-based survey of sod buyers located in 19 states of the Northern US. A total of 200 buyers completed the survey, including landscape contractors, golf courses, general contractors, lawn care services, and landscape maintenance firms who have purchased sod in 2020. The significant mean comparisons between adopters and non-adopters showed that adopters of low-input turfgrasses purchased most of their sod through contract agreements. The main suppliers of adopters were located at a closer distance to on-site delivery than the non-adopters. The logit regression results showed that low-input turfgrass adoption was positively influenced by the number of sod suppliers and managerial experience of the sod buyer. Landscapers were more likely to purchase tall fescue and fine fescue compared to golf courses and municipal parks. We found that distance from sod supplier to on-site delivery negatively impacted the purchase of low-input turfgrasses. Similarly, Kentucky bluegrass buyers were less likely to purchase low-input turfgrass species.</p>

Bostadspriserna har ökat signifikant under en lång period nu och på senare tid har en upplevd bostadsbrist blivit alltmer påtaglig. Medan prisutvecklingen har varit goda nyheter för många ägare har det samtidigt skapat en allt högre inträdesbarriär för förstagångsköparna, speciellt kombinerat med kreditrestriktionerna införda under 2010-talet. För att lösa detta problem har konceptet hyrköp introducerats i Sverige och det är denna studies syfte att undersöka dess egenskaper och potential. Hyrköp möjliggör för privatpersoner att skjuta upp delar eller hela förvärvet av en bostad till en avtalad tidpunkt eller intervall i framtiden och hyra fram till dess. Att äga är ekonomiskt fördelaktigt på längre sikt men i fall där intressenten inte har möjlighet att förvärva bostaden genom konventionell överlåtelse kan hyrköp appliceras. Medan det är grundtanken har många anpassningar av hyrköp utvecklats både i Sverige och utomlands. Därför är ett av målen med detta arbete att analysera och komma fram till hur en effektiv hyrköpsmodell bör vara utformad. En annan anledning till varför hyrköp är viktigt att undersöka är att det är ett nytt fenomen på den svenska bostadsmarknaden. Unik lagstiftning för hyrköp existerar inte, verksamheten befinner sig fortfarande på relativt småskalig nivå och den svenska forskningen inom området är begränsad. Metodiken för detta arbete har anpassats efter dessa förutsättningar och inneburit att fokus legat på det kvalitativa genom framför allt intervjuer med relevanta aktörer i Sverige, både inom den privata och politiska sfären. I och med att hyrköp är mer etablerat i andra länder har utövare i dessa också bidragit till arbetet. Genom att undersöka hyrköp och intervjua aktörerna som ligger bakom hyrköpsverksamheten i Sverige och sedan sätta det i dagens kontext har flera slutsatser kunnat dras. En analys av resultaten tyder på att receptet för en framgångsrik variant av hyrköp är att vara enhetlig, enkel för konsumenten att ta till sig och framför allt noggrant anpassad efter köparnas förutsättningar för sparande. Analys av resultaten indikerar dock starkt på att hyrköp i dagsläget har begränsningar i rollen som lösning till bostadsbristen för förstagångsköpare. Hyrköp som ett initiativ från de privata aktörerna kombinerat med justeringar bland kreditrestriktionerna från statligt håll framstår som ett mer effektivt tillvägagångssätt att sänka inträdeströskeln till bostadsmarknaden till en acceptabel nivå. / The housing prices have experienced a steady and significant incline during a long period and in recent times the housing shortage has turned into quite a tangible issue in the major Swedish cities. While the house price increase has made many wealthier, it has simultaneously caused an ever-rising threshold for first time home buyers, particularly when compounded with the credit regulations implemented during the last decade. With the intent of solving this issue, the concept Rent-to-Own has been introduced to Sweden and it is the purpose of this dissertation to investigate it’s properties and gauge it’s potential. Rent-to-Own allows individuals to partially or completely postpone their acquisition of a home until a predetermined interval or point in time while renting until then. Owning is financially more advantageous than renting in the mid- to long-term and it is in cases where a conventional outright purchase is not possible that Rent-to-Own is applicable. While this is the core notion, a number of adaptations have been developed both in Sweden and abroad. It is hence one of the objectives of this paper to deduce how an effective Rent-to-Own agreement should be structured. An additional reason for the relevance of this study is the fact that Rent-to-Own is a new and unfamiliar concept in Sweden. The current capacity is relatively low, specific regulations do not yet exist and Swedish research regarding the subject is finite. The methods employed for this paper have been adjusted based on these circumstances which has led to focus on a qualitative approach, primarily interviews with relevant parties, both in the private and political sphere. Considering that Rent-to-Own is a better-established matter abroad, information from providers of Rent-to-Own housing in such countries has complemented this work to a significant degree. Investigating the different forms of Rent-to-Own and interviewing real estate developers providing such acquisition options in Sweden has led to several conclusions. An analysis of the results implies that a successful variation of Rent-to-Own is uniform, comprehendible and most importantly adapted regarding the buyers’ saving capabilities. The results do also strongly indicate that Rent-to-Own in it’s current state is limited in it’s role as a mitigant of the housing shortage for first time home buyers. However, Rent-to-Own as an initiative by the corporations and companies combined with adjustments in credit regulations by the government resembles a more effective effort in lowering the entry barrier to the housing market to an adequate level.

The Swedish homeownership market has had its ups and downs over the years with rising and falling prices and supply. What has remained unchanged is the difficulty of entering the market and buying a home, especially as a young adult. Therefore, proposals for measures aimed at improving the challenges surrounding market entry have been put forward, but despite that, the situation has not improved. Thus, the aim of the study was to explore what measures and solutions have been developed in Sweden between the years of 2000 and 2024 that make it easier for young adults who are first-time homebuyers to enter the homeownership market. The consequences of the proposed measures were then clarified in order to determine their effects in the housing market if implemented. Based on this, the study identified potential gaps and suggested additional measures that are needed to better support market entry for this group. The existing literature highlights the increasing difficulty that young adults face when trying to enter the homeownership market, which is due to factors such as limited supply, high housing prices, low incomes, and stringent loan requirements. Prospect theory, housing economics, and moral hazard provided a framework for understanding the decision-making processes of first-time buyers and the potential risks associated with government interventions. The chosen method was semi-structured interviews, conducted with experts from relevant authorities and companies, as well as with first-time homebuyers. This approach allowed for an in-depth exploration of the participants' perspectives on the proposed measures, their effects, and the need for additional ones. The conclusions were that between 2000 and 2024 the proposed measures consisted of the start loan, raising the mortgage cap, adjusting the amortization requirements, co-ownership, acquisition guarantee, and subsidized housing savings. The findings suggested that measures aimed at easing loan requirements are likely to increase demand for housing, potentially leading to higher housing prices if there is no corresponding increase in supply. Also, measures that increase the accessibility to loans may lead to higher indebtedness and financial vulnerability, but at the same time may act as short-term solutions and enable first-time buyers to enter the market by reducing upfront costs. Hence, there is a need for policies that increase housing supply and, in turn, lower the housing prices and increase access to the market. There is also a demand for individualized amortization requirements and flexible credit assessments for first-time buyers, as well as long-term solutions like subsidized savings. / Den svenska bostadsmarknaden har haft sina upp- och nedgångar genom åren med stigande och fallande priser och utbud. Det som har förblivit oförändrat är svårigheten att komma in på marknaden och köpa sin första bostad, särskilt som ung vuxen. Därför har förslag på åtgärder som syftar till att förbättra utmaningarna kring marknadsinträde lagts fram, men trots detta har situationen inte förbättrats. Syftet med studien var därför att undersöka vilka åtgärder och lösningar som har tagits fram i Sverige mellan åren 2000 och 2024 som syftar till att göra det enklare för unga vuxna som är förstagångsköpare att ta sig in på bostadsmarknaden. Sedan klargjordes konsekvenserna av de föreslagna åtgärderna för att kunna avgöra deras effekter på bostadsmarknaden om de implementeras. Baserat på detta identifierade studien potentiella luckor och föreslog ytterligare åtgärder som behövs för att bättre stödja marknadsinträde för denna grupp. Den befintliga litteraturen belyser den ökande svårigheten som unga vuxna möter när de försöker ta sig in på bostadsmarknaden, vilket beror på faktorer som begränsat utbud, höga bostadspriser, låga inkomster och strikta lånekrav. Prospektteori, bostadsekonomi och moralisk risk gav ett ramverk för att förstå förstagångsköparnas beslutsprocesser och de potentiella riskerna med statliga ingripanden. Den valda metoden var semistrukturerade intervjuer som genomfördes med experter från relevanta myndigheter och företag, samt med förstagångsköpare. Detta tillvägagångssätt möjliggjorde en djupgående utforskning av deltagarnas perspektiv på de föreslagna åtgärderna, deras effekter och behovet av ytterligare åtgärder. Slutsatserna var att de föreslagna åtgärderna mellan 2000 och 2024 bestod av startlånet, höjning av bolånetaket, justering av amorteringskraven, samägande, förvärvsgarantin och subventionerat bosparande. Resultaten tyder på att åtgärder som syftar till att lätta på lånekraven sannolikt kommer att öka efterfrågan på bostäder, vilket potentiellt kan leda till högre bostadspriser om det inte sker en motsvarande ökning av utbudet. Åtgärder som ökar tillgängligheten till lån kan också leda till högre skuldsättning och finansiell sårbarhet, men kan samtidigt fungera som kortsiktiga lösningar och möjliggöra för förstagångsköpare att komma in på marknaden genom att sänka de initiala kostnaderna. Därav behövs en politik som ökar bostadsutbudet och i sin tur sänker bostadspriserna och ökar tillgången till marknaden. Det finns också efterfrågan för individbaserade amorteringskrav och flexibla kreditbedömningar för förstagångsköpare, samt långsiktiga lösningar som subventionerat sparande.

The aim of this study was to shed light on the phenomenon of sex purchase amongst men from the perspective of professionals working at KAST*. Our main research questions concerned who the sex-purchasing men are, what their incentives are and furthermore how the professionals depict their work with these clients. In order to examine this we conducted three qualitative research interviews. The theoretical framework used to examine our results consisted of social constructivism and professional acting space. Main results show, contrary to research, that the “typical” sex buyer does not exist, nor do specific motives. Instead, our interviewees prefer to speak of a mutual pattern amongst the sex buyers, referred to as an obsessive-compulsive sexual behaviour. In addition, our interviewees emphasize the importance of distinguishing between the act and the individual. Other findings show that although none of the units use evidence-based practice, all interviewees claim their methods are effective and moreover they all describe their professional acting space as almost unlimited. With our interviewees’ testimonies differing in several ways from the image of sex buyers common amongst the public and some researchers, we hope our findings can contribute to a more nuanced view of sex buyers.   * Abbreviation for the unit within the social services working with sex buyers

The thesis purpose is to show that small time frame discretionary e-mini market trading does not mean only blind betting without long term success. Carefully built trading plan, risk management optimization and self-control mastering are the key elements for successful financial market speculation. The first part of the thesis focuses on basics of market mechanism, price activity and order flow. Practical part summarizes findings of theoretical part of the thesis to comprehensive concept, trading plan which is tested through one month demo account trading e-mini Dow market.

Abstract Master Thesis in Business Finance, School of Economics, Linnaeus University Authors: Adis Cikotic and Eric Hörnell Supervisor: Magnus Willesson Examiner: Andreas Jansson   Title: "Liquidity is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that"   Background: One of the biggest concerns for Swedish small and medium businesses is their lack of capital, which might lead to lower profitability. A significant reason behind this is said to be the buyer's long payment terms contrary to the supplier's payment terms for their own expenses, which increases the risk of an imbalance between the inflows and outflows of money. This situation occurs due to, for example, power relations and institutional factors, which might affect a firm's Cash Conversion Cycle and furthermore the firm's profitability.    Purpose: The primary purpose of the thesis is to examine whether the length of a firm's Cash Conversion Cycle has an impact on the profitability of Swedish SMEs. Moreover, the purpose is to determine if the presence of Buyers Power affects a firm's profitability.    Method: The thesis has a deductive research approach where the theories applied, Cash Conversion Cycle and Buyers Power, lead to the formulated hypotheses. The quantitative research methodology is based on a data set of approximately 38 000 Swedish SME's between the years 2015-2018.    Conclusions: It could be seen that there is a concave relationship between firm's Cash Conversion Cycle and a firm's profitability for Swedish SMEs. The interpretation is therefore that both too short and too long Cash Conversion Cycle is not optimal, and the optimal length of the Cash Conversion Cycle is 36 days for Swedish SMEs. Moreover, the result showed that a presence of Buyers Power has a positive relationship with profitability, meaning that a larger ratio between a firm's accounts receivables and accounts payables increases the firm's profitability.