Over the last few decades, numerous studies have adopted efficiency and productivity techniques to examine and evaluate the overall performance of banking industries to inform policy effect as well as identify the best practice. The majority of banking efficiency and productivity studies focus on the developed US and European countries. There are only limited studies in the Asian banking industries but no cross-country comparison in major Asian economies. To fill this literature gap, this thesis attempts to measure and compare the cost efficiency and total factor productivity change in ten Asian banking sectors using an unbalanced panel data set consisting of 280 commercial banks over the period of 1998 to 2005. It is widely agreed that cross-country differences play an important part in examining banks performance in international comparison. They can influence the frontier technology as additional explanatory variables or they can enter inefficiency directly as a measure of determinants or heteroscedasticity. Both cases are considered in the empirical sections of this thesis. In the former case, the empirical results from systematic comparisons of panel data stochastic frontier models with and without incorporating these cross-country heterogeneities suggests that cross-country differences are important sources to explain banks performances therefore they should not be neglected. The overall cost efficiency in these Asian banking industries is 0.5897 with a decreasing trend, despite positive technical progress and slight economies of scale. The total factor productivity change is measured by using a new cost-based total factor productivity index, an index number counterpart of Bauer's (1990) total differential approach. A five-way decomposition is also provided with the attempt to identify the main contributors to the productivity change. Overall, Asian banking industries have experienced positive but not substantial productivity change from 1998-05. In the latter case, a general model that considers exogenous influences in both inefficiency and random noise error term is constructed and compared against other alternative specifications. The empirical results favour this general model and the overall and country-specific cost efficiency and total factor productivity are then estimated and calculated.

Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka om relative age effect förekommer på svenska längdskidgymnasier bland antagna elever och hur eventuell förekomst ser ut bland flickor och pojkar samt hur det ser ut vid Riksidrottsgymnasierna och de Nationell Idrottsutbildningarna. Metod För att besvara syftet har statistisk data analyserats med hjälp av ett Pearson Chi2-test. Analysen har skett genom att undersöka födelsemånad, kön och inriktning bland antagna elever vid svenska längdskidgymnasier mellan åren 2010-2015. Resultat Resultatet visar att det finns signifikanta bevis på att relative age effect förkommer på svenska längdskidgymnasier (p= <0,05). Vid uppdelning av respektive utbildningsinriktning kunde det endast konstateras förekomst av relative age effect vid Riksidrottsgymnasierna, vid uppdelning av kön går det inte att säkerställa en signifikant förekomst av relative age effect. Slutsatser Studiens resultat visar att det förekommer relative age effect på svenska längdskidgymnasier, dock varierar den mellan de analyserade undervariablerna. Tydligast förekommer relative age effect vid Riksidrottsgymnasierna, medan det vid Nationell Idottsutbildning, kunde det inte konstateras bevis för en signifikant överrepresentation av elever födda under första kvartalet. När flickor och pojkar analyserades separat kunde ingen relative age effect konstateras. Det behövs mer forskning inom området för att få en överblick av konsekvenserna av relative age effect på längdskidgymnasier men även konsekvenserna för svensk längdskidåkning i stort. / Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate if relative age effect occurs at Swedish cross-country ski schools and if there were a differences in the presence among boys and girls, and between Riksidrottsgymnasier (Country-wide sport academy) and Nationell Idrottsutbildning (National sport academy). Method To answer the aim, statistical data were analyzed using a Pearson Chi2-test. The analysis has been done by examining birth month, sex and education among students at Swedish cross-country ski schools between 2010-2015. Results The result shows that there is a significant evidence of relative age effect at Swedish cross-country ski schools (p= <0,05). When the results were partial between Riksidrottsgymnasier and Nationell Idrottsutbildning, the relative age effect was only seen at Riksidrottsgymnasierna. There were no significant evidence for relative age effect when boys and girls where analyzed separately. Conclusion The results show that relative age effect appears on Swedish cross-country ski schools; however, there were some varies between analyzed variables. Strongest evidence for relative age effect was seen at Riksidrottsgymnaiserna. Further research is needed to get a overview of the consequences of relative age effect at cross-country ski schools, and the consequences it has in Swedish cross-country skiing overall, both for younger and older skiers.

This study was about the elite sport environment in a city in the north of Sweden. The purpose of the study was to understand what support and resources that already exists and also are needed for the athletes in floorball and cross-country skiing to proceed to the absolute elite in their sports. The purpose was also to get knowledge about what economic, human and material resources that are deeming to have in order to create a good elite sport environment and finally, when an organization or athlete are successful. The study analyzed the current situation and how an organization can create an even greater environment that produces top athletes. To answer the purpose of the study, interviews were conducted with representatives from special sport districts federation, sport clubs and athletes from the chosen sports in the study. The result showed many similarities and differences between the two sports. The two sport clubs does not make enough money to fully support their athletes as in football for example. Differences in the chosen sports were mainly in the cooperation were floorball had far better cooperation between special sport districts federation and sport clubs in comparison to cross country-skiing.

This study applies the cross-country growth accounting regressions derived from the augmented Solow-Swan model to ascertain the growth effects of education in CEE and Balkan countries. We firstly test whether the total stock or accumulation of education matters more for corresponding countries' growth and afterwards we decompose the total stock into educational stocks at primary, secondary and tertiary levels to test whether the disaggregated educational levels have different growth effects. We do so by applying the panel fixed effects technique on 17 CEE countries during the 1990-2010 period. In addition, we address the endogeneity of education by using the lags of different educational proxies as instruments. The results suggest that the average stock of education is significantly contributing to economic growth of CEE countries with the biggest growth effect of tertiary education. Regarding the Balkan countries only, the growth effect of education is almost a null. We conclude that one cannot have economic growth without a good educational system and efficient usage of human capital. Thus, the policy implications should be related to the proper identification of the quality of educational governance, problem of mismatch on labor market and better utilization of human capital. Keywords:...

Title: Comparison of Cross-Country Skiing Training in the Czech Republic and in Norway Objectives: The aim of the diploma thesis was to gain information about Norwegian nordic skiers' training and to compare it with the preparation of nordic skiers in the Czech Republic. The possibility of applying Norwegian training methods to the Czech Republic was considered with relation to local conditions. Methods: The methods of questionnaire, observation and content analysis were used in the diploma thesis. Results: The evaluation and comparison of the questionnaire data were illustrated in tables and charts. The evaluation of observations and training documentation in the Czech team Olfin Car - Vella Trutnov and the Norwegian team Holmen IF Langrenn. Key words: Cross-country skiing, system of training preparation, training methodics

Heading: Injuries during doing winter sports on the ski slopes in the Czech Republic Objectives: The main objective of the diploma theses was to determine the incidence of accidents in the Czech mountains during the winter seasons from 2000 - 2001 to 2009 - 2010. Methods: We focused on gathering data and information regarding the number of injuries on the ski slopes. The main source of information was the database of Mountain Rescue Service of the Czech Republic that provided us with sets of injuries that happened during skiing and snowboarding within the winter seasons 2000 - 2010. Results: The results of this diploma thesis were statistics of injuries that happened during doing the winter sports for the years 2000 - 2010 and their processing. Keywords: injury, skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing

Title: Accomplishments of our cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympic Games Abstract: This thesis is focus on history of Czech and Czechoslovak cross-counrty skiing at the Winter Olympic Games from the first competition at WOG Chamonix 1924 to Vancouver 2010. Using the direct method and the method of content analysis it documents and summarizes the accomplishments of our cross-country representatives. It finds out that representatives of such a small country reached splendid results. But the available literature doesn't mention them as far as they didn't win a medal. Very interesting is the comparison between two skiing generations using the interview with their representatives Kveta Jeriova and Katerina Neumannova. The resulting comparison between their answers reaches a conclusion: the first of them had much harder conditions and worse facilities. In spite of this fact, she proved to be successful but her career was shorter and the number of medals smaller. Keywords: Winter olympic games, history, cross-country skiing, accomplishment

The thesis examines herding behavior of investors towards the market average in 10 CEE stock markets during the period 2000-2018. Least squares and quantile regression methods provide evidence of herding inside the majority of the countries. During the global financial crisis and the Eurozone crisis, the herding mentality was more intense only in Slovenia and Croatia. The thesis finds mixed results in asymmetric herding during days of positive and negative market returns. The main finding, and a contribution to the literature, is that the domestic cross-sectional dispersion of returns in the CEE is affected by the dispersion of returns of the foreign stock markets in the USA, the UK, and Germany. In addition, empirical results suggest that extreme market conditions in the U.K. market have an impact on the formation of herding forces within the CEE stock markets. Short-run arbitrageurs can benefit from collective decisions of investors that in turn drive stock prices away from their fair value, but the presence of herding undermines benefits of portfolio diversification. In the long-run, the contagious international effects may result in a severe instability of the whole region and in market inefficiency.

This thesis deals with cross-country ski clothing for non-competitive women. Women in this category look for different clothing features in comfort and aesthetics than male top athletes, for whom cross-country skiwear today often seems to be designed. In this thesis the demands of these women have been mapped out by an interview with a reference group of users. The ergonomics of exercising in the winter outdoors are naturally a base for the collection. The collection consists of three functional layers of garments. Each layer has its own purpose and its specific style that reflects its function for the user. Knit materials are developed for thermal underwear and an insulating middle layer. The protecting outer garments were tested in real outdoor conditions. The spirit of the collection can be summarized as to mature femininity. The collection allows each skier to enjoy skiing as she best feels. The aim is to inspire more beautiful women to dust off their skis and enjoy nature. / <p>Program: Konstnärligt masterprogram i mode- och textildesign</p><p>Uppsatsnivå: D</p>

The main objective of this study is to determine how individuals involved in the accounting process view the role of accounting information in an economic environment where capital markets are dominant. The study also attempts to determine whether International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) play a part in fulfilling this role. To this end, we compare the perceptions of financial officers, financial analysts and auditors from two distinctly market environments, using Europe as a proxy for a highly developed capital market environment and Brazil as a proxy for a less developed capital market environment. By means of a survey, we investigate whether producers of accounting data (financial officers), users of that data (financial analysts), and controllers of accounting information (auditors) share the same views on the usefulness and goals of the financial accounting process. Extending the study to several countries is a useful means for determining whether and how the economic environment affects the respondents\' views of accounting information. We use descriptive statistics, univariate tests and multiple correspondence analyses (MCA) to analyze the responses to our multiple-choice questions. Results suggest that respondents\' activity has less influence on their answers than the country where they are located. / O principal objetivo dessa pesquisa é determinar como os indivíduos envolvidos no processo contábil veem o papel da informação contábil em um ambiente econômico, onde os mercados de capitais são dominantes. A pesquisa também tenta determinar se os International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) desempenham uma parte no cumprimento desse papel. Para este fim, comparam-se as percepções dos diretores financeiros, dos analistas financeiros e dos auditores em dois ambientes de mercado diferentes, usando a Europa como uma variável para mercados de capitais bem desenvolvidos e o Brasil como uma variável para um mercado de capitais menos desenvolvidos. Através de um questionário, identificam-se os produtores das informações contábeis (diretores financeiros), os usuários dessas informações (os analistas financeiros) e os verificadores da informação contábil (auditores) compartilham a mesma opinião sobre a utilidade e os objetivos do processo de contabilidade financeira. Ao estender a pesquisa para vários países, pode-se observar/determinar se e como o ambiente econômico afeta as opiniões dos usuários das informações contábeis. Foram utilizadas as estatísticas descritiva, análise univariada e análise de correspondência múltipla (ACM) para a análise e interpretação dos resultados. Os resultados sugerem que a atividade dos nossos participantes (analista financeiro, auditor ou diretor financeiro) produz menos interferência em seu comportamento ou opinião do que o país em que eles trabalham.