As the pandemic of COVID-19 is still affecting peoples’ lives in various ways, it is not surprising that it affects consumer behaviour as well. This paper focuses on the changes in consumer behaviour, more specifically on the changes in consumer shopping channel preferences due to the pandemic. Furthermore, it was of interest whether these changes are likely to be long-term, and influence consumer shopping behaviour in the corona-free future. To answer the research question: “How did the pandemic affect consumers’ preferred shopping channels, and are those changes long-term?” a qualitative study was conducted. The study consisted of ten interviews, five of which were with consumers who spent most of the pandemic in Sweden, and five with respondents who spent most of the pandemic in Slovakia. This way, the study compares the responses and thus changes in consumer shopping behaviour and channel preferences of consumers who have experienced different levels of restrictions and recommendations as a response to the pandemic. Indeed, Slovakia’s response to the corona pandemic was much more severe and included much more, longer-lasting, restrictions affecting/restricting consumer shopping.   The study showed that despite the countries adopting very different responses to the pandemic, the consumers changed their shopping behaviour in a rather similar way. Most of the respondents stated that they started shopping less due to the pandemic and that they shopped more online. The main reasons for these developments were (1) reduced need for new clothing during the corona pandemic, (2) stores being closed, and/or (3) consumers trying to reduce their contact with others and keep their distance. However, when asked whether these changes in their behaviour are going to persist into the far future, the responses differed. A portion of respondents stated they will continue to shop online more than prior to the pandemic, while still shopping in traditional, offline, stores as well. Some other respondents, however, stated that they will return to in-store shopping as soon as possible. From these findings, it is clear that shopping for clothes via offline channels will still be important and preferred by many, despite the rise of technologies and online shopping possibilities.   The study contributes to the literature on the corona pandemic and its effects on consumer behaviour, the field of consumer behaviour in general, consumer shopping channel preferences, channel switching intentions, omnichannel literature, and the online shopping literature.

The aim of this study was to explore how homecare services work to support the elderly people during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gävle, Sweden. This study has been done by using qualitative methods to get a deeper understanding and knowledge about how homecare services are supporting elderly people at their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, to collect the data for this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with four participants who have been working with homecare services. Empowerment theory has been chosen to explain and analyse how elderly people receive the support from the homecare services to continue their daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the result the data that was collected for this study was arranged in two different themes: Support Strategy and Challenges. The results showed that the homecare services continue to provide the support and services to the elderly even in the time of pandemic. The finding also shows the different strategies that Homecare services apply to cope with challenges that they face while supporting their client as well as their workers during the time of Pandemic.

The covid-19 pandemic has hit every part of life hard. From visiting the supermarket to halting world trade. One of the most obvious effects of the pandemic has been the political one. All across the world political parties have been competing for power during these unusual times.  This paper will analyze whether populistic parties around Europe have changed their views on the covid-19 pandemic restrictions. In order to analyze this a comparative idea analysis will be used in order to compare and analyze political parties views on this subject. In order to conduct this analysis the studie compare four different populistic parties around europé. These parties are as followed, AFD and Die Linke in germany, PVV in the Netherlands followed by Syriza in Greece. The study will be using material from the four different parties to conduct the analysis and compare the material. The analysis shows that only one out of four parties has had a change in their views on the pandemic restrictions. This study is an important contribution the field of populism. It will grant a unique opportunity to study such a unique time of our the world that the covid-19 pandemis really is.

Abstract Title: Positive and negative consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on SMEs in Sweden   Purpose The aim of this study is to identify the positive and negative consequences due to the covid-19 on SMEs in Sweden and further specify strategies Swedish SMEs used to manage the influences.    Methodology This study tends to show data, tables and figures based on Qualitative study and Semi-structured interviews and analysis of various related articles.    Finding & Conclusion We find out that small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) face different challenges during Covid-19. Such as failed projects, temporary closure, financial consequences, reduction of job opportunities and challenges of implementing new strategies. We surveyed eight companies during the pandemic crisis and found out how those companies are overcoming the pandemic crisis. Various strategies such as flexibility among SMEs, innovation, investment, digitalization, and other management practices have been implemented by Swedish SMEs to solve the challenges.   Contribution of the study The theoretical contribution is that we have enhanced the knowledge around the Covid-19 influences on SMEs and introduced the company's solutions regarding the impact of the pandemic. The theoretical contribution also showed that the Covid-19 have negative consequences. Another theoretical contribution is that the pandemic has a positive effect to some SMEs. Besides, the practical contribution is that we have provided new data from eight SMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic.   Reflections and suggestions for future research The study focused on understanding the challenges and positive negative influences of the Covid-19 pandemic on only eight SMEs operating in Stockholm city of Sweden. Future studies can focus on finding challenges from Covid-19 pandemic on SMEs and large firms in different countries as well as regions. It could be also interesting to compare the strategies followed by the Swedish SMEs with SMEs from other countries to safeguard from the influences of Covid-19.

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In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic mandated closures of thousands of schools across the United States. Students dependent upon the support, guidance, and community of their schools became disconnected from these resources while encountering the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study represents a time capsule of the school community of one Los Angeles County public middle school from March 16 to May 28, 2020. Semi-structured interviews of school staff and parents grounded the study’s analysis. Public documents and participant researcher protocol responses collaborated the participants’ narratives. Results provide a snapshot of the school community before emergency mandated COVID-19 closure, participants’ recollections of the school community during the closure, and their reflections and reactions to the closures. Data analysis utilized a conceptual framework developed to capture e-school community access and engagement. Outcomes from this study illustrate the need for additional supports for student mental health, investment in universal access to reliable internet service, and the importance of physical school outreach during times of crisis.

In the COVID-19 stock market industries reacted and were affected in different ways. This paper will use Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes to look at how sectors and selected industries fared after a whole year in a pandemic. This will be accomplished by comparing 2019 stock returns to 2020 stock returns with a t-test and estimating the effect of COVID-19 positive case and death increases using a pooled OLS regression. All SIC sectors A-J were analyzed as well as 18 selected industries such as food stores, real estate, oil and gas extraction, health services, and communications. Results show a significant variation in the monthly returns of 2019 and 2020. Regression results show that there is a small but positive correlation of sector and industry returns to COVID-19 positive case and death increases. This contrary result can confirm the short influential window of COVID-19 outcomes on the stock market as shown in related research. This also confirms that regardless of the continued escalation of the pandemic, the stock market follows sentiment, not substance. This paper will contribute to the existing literature by conducting a yearlong event study of the United States' sectors and industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A contagious virus appeared in late 2019 and later led to the COVID-19 pandemic being declared in March 2020. The pandemic has since seen detrimental socioeconomic effects worldwide which led to a halt in the global tourism industries. Sweden has used a different and criticized approach to combating the pandemic compared to other countries. The country has relied on the individual responsibility and the civic liability of its population.Meanwhile, the biggest island in the country, Gotland, has recovered itsvisitation figures during the pandemic and has been voted the most popular destination in Sweden in 2021. This recovery was, however, not without consequences. Residents of the island have voiced their opinions on the topic of the pandemic and tourism online and in newspapers. Residents have expressed fear of the virus spreading further, imposing health risks as restrictions on social distancing have not been kept by tourists. Tourismrelated research on Swedish island destinations to this end is scarce in addition to there being limited research on residents’ attitudes during a pandemic and limited qualitative research on residents’ attitudes in general.This is a qualitative case study that studies the islanders’ perceptions of tourism impacts with the help of semi-structured interviews and letters to the editors. The study uses Social Exchange Theory as the conceptual framework,a theory described as the most logical framework to explain residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts. The results from this study show that the residents perceive more negative impacts than positive impacts. Perceptions of positive impacts are mainly related to the contributions to rural areas. Negative impacts related to water scarcity, littering, the disappearance of natural areas, over-crowding, gentrification, seasonality, the economic interest of the tourism industry during the pandemic, and more.

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