Regional disparities and spatial inequality are typical topics studied by geography. Sweden is one of the most homogeneous and egalitarian countries in the world. Simultaneously, it is characteristic for its very low regional disparities and thus it is an important and interesting subject for studying. The main goal of this thesis is to examine changes in a regional pattern from the beginning of the 1990s and to analyse an impact of structural changes (deindustrialization and tertiarization) and globalization (through activities of transnational corporations) on regional disparities. In the thesis socioeconomic and demographic indicators and quantitative statistics are used to analyse a development of regional disparities in Sweden and to examine a broader context of this development. The main finding of the thesis is a disproportional growth of metropolitan regions (mainly Stockholm). Share of metropolitan regions on population and socioeconomic activities is increasing and it is characterized by dynamic development which is intensified by high specialisation, major valued-adding activities, knowledge-based economy and localisation of transnational corporations. Regional variability is slowly increasing and disproportional growth of metropolitan regions contributes to this development. Thus the...

Yes / Consumers have the multiple options to choose their products and services, which have a significant impact on the pattern of consumer decision making in digital market and further increases the challenges for the service providers to predict their buying pattern. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to propose a structural hierarchy model for analyzing the changing pattern of consumer decision making in digital market by taking an Indian context. Design/methodology/approach: To accomplish the objectives, the research is conducted in two phases. An extensive literature review is performed in the first phase to list the factors related to the changing pattern of consumer decision making in digital market and then fuzzy Delphi method is applied to finalize the factors. In the second phase, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is employed to find the priority weights of finalized factors. The fuzzy set theory allows capturing the vagueness in the data. Findings: The findings obtained in this study shows that consumers are much conscious about innovative and trendy products as well as brand and quality; therefore, the service providers must think about these two most important factors so that they can able to retain their consumer in their online portal. Practical implications: The analysis shows that “innovative and trendy” is the first priority factor for the consumers followed by “brand and quality” and “fulfilment and time energy.” The proposed model can help the marketers and service providers in predicting customers’ preferences and their changing pattern efficiently under vague surroundings. The outcomes of this research work not only help the service provider to update their products and services according to consumers’ needs but can also help them to increase profit and minimize their risk. Originality/value: This work contributes to consumer research literature focusing on problem evaluation in the context of changing pattern of consumer decision making in digital era.

The survival of vernacular architecture in the world, and particularly in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, is under threat due to rapid modernization, urbanization, socioeconomic transformation, loss of its characteristics resulting from changes and development, and misinterpretation of its typology as well as serious issues of abandonment. Most Negeri Sembilan traditional Malay houses (NSTMH), in some cases over one hundred years old, are unprotected and are becoming derelict. The vernacular value of these houses and their preservation for future generations are therefore threatened. To date, little research has been undertaken into the challenges posed in the conservation of NSTMH from the perspectives of house owners and professionals, and how the changing patterns of their form, fabric, and function have shaped the challenges of preserving them. To explore this from a more holistic approach, existing local heritage legislation that protects traditional Malay houses in particular or timber vernacular architecture in general, and international charters were reviewed, as also successful cases of preservation of similar heritage. This research employs a multi-method qualitative approach by examining as a purposive sample selected 19th-century long-roof-type NSTMHs. The research methods consisted of semi-structured interviews with house owners and conservation experts, on-site survey of the houses’ changing patterns of form, fabric, and function, as well as reviews of the conservation heritage legislation context (national/ local) and international charters. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis, while the accepted concept model of cultural heritage was used for analysis of the patterns of changes in the cases examined. Documents were reviewed using template analysis. Findings from the research outline the main challenges that include a lack of appreciation and understanding of heritage among house owners, lack of traditional building skills, lack of government support as well as insufficient documentation. Nonetheless, there is no legislation in place at either a national or local level to protect the traditional Malay house. All of the findings were triangulated prior to the development of the initial framework and further expert validation was obtained to establish the final framework. This research makes a significant contribution in expanding the existing body of knowledge, through exploration of how the house owners understand, value, and appreciate heritage within their environment, in addition to including conservation experts’ perspectives in this regard. Moreover, the main contribution of this study is the provision of a Conservation Principles Framework for the NSTMH that may be used by house owners, conservation experts, officials, the Village Security & Development Committee, academics, and students as a form of guidance to the implementation of conservation works. It is also hoped that it may act as a starting point for the Negeri Sembilan state government to develop guidance aimed to safeguard this valuable Malaysian heritage.

This study is a replication of Canning's 1955 survey of family life in Provo, Utah. The original sample consisted of 239 couples who were married and currently living there. The replication was a 1983 mail survey that used many of Canning's original questions and included a sample of 255 Provo families. This study measured changes in several courtship and family variables using the companionship family as an ideal type. Findings included increases in the emphasis on the role of romantic love in mate selection, handsomeness as an attractive quality that women seek in a spouse, family members seeking recreation outside the home, and wives in the labor force. There was no change in the incidence of chaperonage. Results also indicated decreases in religiousness as an attractive qualtiy that women seek in a spouse, and the incidence of couples asking the girl's father's permission to marry.