Housing availability plays a central role for the mobility in the labour market and for the economic growth in a country. Housing construction in Sweden is now increasing strongly after a period of low construction during and after the financial crisis in 2008. Despite this, many of the Swedish municipalities indicate that there is a housing shortage, especially in the metropolitan regions. The main reason for this is that the population has grown at a faster pace compared to the number of homes. This thesis uses a regression analysis to analyse what fundamental economic factors that affected housing construction in Stockholm County between 1992 and 2016.  The result from the regression analysis shows that the repo rate, inflation, GDP, population, unemployment, housing prices, and construction cost, with a lag of seven, seven, zero, one, six, two, and three quarters respectively, have a significant effect on housing construction. Furthermore, the regression model showed a low significance level for income, thus this variable was excluded from the model. Moreover, a time trend was included in the regression model. The time trend shows statistically significance, and its β coefficient implies an approximate 3% increase in housing construction per year, on average. Moreover, the regression model, presented in this thesis, has an R-squared value of 0.73, which indicates that the model can explain 73% of the variation in housing construction in Stockholm County between 1992 and 2016. / Tillgängligheten av bostäder spelar en central roll för rörligheten på arbetsmarknaden och för den ekonomiska tillväxten i ett land. Bostadsbyggandet i Sverige ökar nu kraftigt efter en period av lågkonjunktur, under och efter finanskrisen 2008. Trots detta anser många kommuner i Sverige att bostadsbristen är stor, särskilt i storstadsregionerna. Den främsta orsaken till detta är att befolkningen har vuxit i en högre takt än antalet bostäder. Denna uppsats använder en regressionsanalys för att analysera vilka fundamentala ekonomiska faktorer som påverkat bostadsbyggandet i Stockholms län mellan 1992 och 2016. Resultatet av regressionsanalysen visar att reporäntan, inflationen, BNP, befolkningsmängd, arbetslöshet, bostadspriser och byggkostnader, med sju, sju, noll, en, sex, två, respektive tre kvartals förskjutning, hade en signifikant inverkan på bostadsbyggandet. Vidare visade regressionsmodellen en låg signifikansnivå för variabeln inkomst, vilket medförde att denna variabel uteslöts från modellen. Dessutom inkluderades en tidsvariabel i regressionsmodellen. Tidsvariabeln visar statistisk signifikans och dess koefficient indikerar att bostadsbyggandet i genomsnitt ökade med ca 3% per år. Regressionsmodellen som presenteras i denna uppsats har ett R2-värde på 0,73 vilket indikerar att modellen förklarar 73% av variationen i bostadsbyggande i Stockholms län mellan 1992 och 2016.

В современной экономике малое предпринимательство играет большую роль как в создании рабочих мест в регионах, так и в создании ВВП. Однако в России малое предпринимательство сталкивается со многими проблемами, поэтому необходимо понять, какие именно региональные факторы способствуют развитию малого бизнеса. Целью магистерской диссертации является разработка эконометрической модели для оценки влияния региональных факторов на развитие малого предпринимательства в регионах России. Анализ, проведенный в работе, основывается на изучении зарубежной и отечественной литературы по теме малого предпринимательства. В качестве источников информации использовались данные Федеральной службы государственной статистики, ФНС и Единой межведомственной информационно-статистической системы (ЕМИСС). В ходе написания магистерской диссертации была разработана и апробирована эконометрическая модель для оценки влияния региональных факторов на развитие малого предпринимательства в России и ее регионах, которая предназначена выявить, какие факторы являются основополагающими для развития малого предпринимательства в регионах России. Основываясь на полученные результаты исследования, были предложены рекомендации по совершенствованию государственной политики, направленной на стимулирование развития малого предпринимательства. / In nowadays economy small entrepreneurship play a huge role both in employment providing and contribution to GDP. However, small entrepreneurship in Russian economy faces many problems. That is why it is important to understand which regional factors particularly support small business development. The aim of the master thesis is to develop an econometric model for assessment of impact of regional factors on small entrepreneurship in Russian regions. The analysis, provided in the work, is based on Russian and foreign literature on the topic of small enterprises. As information sources Federal State Statistics Service, Federal Tax Service of Russia and Unified intra-departmental information-statistical system were used. During the work on master thesis an econometric model for assessment of regional factors influence on small entrepreneurship in Russia and its regions was developed and tested. The model is demanded to determine which factors are main for small entrepreneurship development in Russian regions. According to the results of research, recommendations on governmental policy improvement were suggested, which has to stimulate small business development.

The purpose of this study was to identify and determine the risk factors for malnutrition among children under the age of 5 years in Kweneng West District of Botswana. A case control study was conducted. The cases consisted of 37 underweight children under the age of 5 (n=37), and the controls consisted of 76 children less than 5 years of age (n=76) recruited concurrently among the under-five children attending Letlhakeng Child Welfare Clinic on a monthly basis. The controls were of good nutritional status. Data collection was done using a combination of a review of records (child welfare clinic registers, and child welfare clinic cards) and structured questionnaires. Following placement of the data in regression models, the factors that were found to be significantly associated with child malnutrition were small number of daily meals taken by the child (Adjusted OR=19.04, 95% CI 3.24-112.13), lack of knowledge of methods of prevention of child malnutrition by the parent (Adjusted OR=4.71, 95% CI 1.41-15.82), parent’s unemployment (Adjusted OR=50.3, 95% CI 4.86-52.1), low birth weight (Adjusted OR=12.34, 95% CI 2.76-55.02), inadequate Vitamin A supplementation (Adjusted OR=13.27, 95% CI 1.94-90.46), child illness (OR=20.95, 95% CI 7.55-58.10), and child raised by a guardian (Adjusted OR=5.67, 95% CI 1.30-24.73). The findings from this study suggest that Socio-economic factors such as unemployment, a lack of knowledge about recommended infant and child feeding practices, the child raised by a guardian, and health-related factors such as low birth weight, inadequate Vitamin A supplementation, and child illness are predictors of malnutrition in under five. Therefore, increasing household food security and reinforcing educational interventions could contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of child malnutrition in the district / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The United States cheese consumption has grown considerably over the years. Using Nielsen Homescan panel data for calendar years 2005 and 2006, this dissertation examines the effect of economic and socio-demographic factors on the demand for disaggregated cheese varieties and on the cheese industry in general. In the first essay, we estimated the censored demand for 14 cheese varieties and identified the respective own-price and cross-price elasticities. Also, non-price factors were determined affecting the purchase of each variety as well as the impact of generic dairy advertising. Results revealed that most of the natural cheese varieties have an elastic demand while the processed cheese products exhibited inelastic demands. Strong substitution and complementarity relationships were identified as well, and a two quarter carry-over effect of advertising was observed for most of cheese demands. Results also showed that household demographics affected the demands differently, depending on the nature of the cheese varieties. The second essay examined the impact of retail promotion on the decision to purchase private label processed cheese products using a probit model. A strong negative relationship was found between national brand manufacturer couponing activity and the private label purchase decision. Therefore, national brand couponing appears to be an effective strategy for manufacturers to deter private label growth. This analysis also shows that the decision of purchasing a private label cheese product is influenced by socio-demographic characteristics of the household, namely household income and size, age and education level of the household head, race, ethnicity, and location. In the third study, the feasibility of fortifying processed cheese with omega-3 is investigated. This ex-ante analysis took into account the market conditions and evaluates the increase in the demand for processed cheese needed to offset the costs of fortification in order to maintain the profitability of manufacturers like Kraft. Initially, the censored demand for processed cheese products is estimated using panel data; subsequently, the profitability of manufacturing such product is determined.This analysis shows that, within reasonable market conditions and reasonable marginal costs, the fortification of processed cheese products with omega-3 fatty acids indeed is feasible from a profitability standpoint to manufacturers.

La existencia de desigualdades socio-económicas en el estado de salud dentalde los ancianos no institucionalizados de la ciudad de Barcelona, sumado a labaja utilización de servicios odontológicos, indican un problema de acceso aeste tipo de servicios. Este tipo de hallazgos son especialmente relevantespara países como España, que aunque cuentan con un Sistema Nacional deSalud para toda la población, poseen una limitada cobertura de tratamientosodontológicos para adultos, que sólo incluye las extracciones dentales.Si bien durante la década de los años 90 se ha registrado un aumento en elporcentaje de utilización de servicios de salud odontológicos en Cataluña, esteindicador aún es bajo si se compara con el resto de países de Europa. Por otrolado, a pesar de que se han producido reducciones de las desigualdades en lautilización de servicios de salud odontológicos según ciertas característicasestudiadas como el tipo cobertura sanitaria y el grupo de ancianos, lasdesigualdades en la utilización persisten para las clases sociales másdesaventajadas y para las personas con bajo nivel de educación. Por todo ello,son necesarios futuros estudios que ayuden a conocer la evolución futura deesta tendencia

INTRODUCTION. Quality of life (QOL) – and individual’s perception of his or her own health – has become the subject of great interest in Lithuania. THE AIM OF THE STUDY. The aim of the study was to assess the determinants of the quality of life and self-rated health and to clarify the importance of perceived health in determining the risk of death among middle-aged Kaunas population. MAIN RESULTS. Quality of life in middle-aged Kaunas women was found to be lower than in men, except for the spirituality domain. Older age showed worse quality of life. Low income and lower educational level, manual work, living alone, unemployment, disability and retirement were associated with worse QOL in middle-aged Kaunas population. Overweight and obese men had lower probability of rating their overall QOL worse as compared to men with normal body mass. Diabetes, coronary heart disease and smoking were associated with worse QOL in men. Moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption was associated with lower risk of having worse QOL as compared to light alcohol consumption group among men. Obesity for women increased the odds of having worse QOL as compared to women with normal body mass. Moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption was associated with better QOL in the physical and independence domains and with worse QOL in the social relationships domain among women. Smoking and inadequate physical activity were associated with worse QOL among women. CHD increased women’s probability of scoring lower in... [to full text]

This thesis provides more precise characterisation of patterns, causes and consequences of takeover activity in Australia over three decades spanning from 1972 to 2004. The first contribution of the thesis is to characterise the time series behaviour of takeover activity. It is found that linear models do not adequately capture the structure of merger activity; a non-linear two-state Markov switching model works better. A key contribution of the thesis is, therefore, to propose an approach of combining a State-Space model with the Markov switching regime model in describing takeover activity. Experimental results based on our approach show an improvement over other existing approaches. We find four waves, one in the 1980s, two in the 1990s, and one in the 2000s, with an expected duration of each wave state of approximately two years. The second contribution is an investigation of the extent to which financial and macro-economic factors predict takeover activity after controlling for the probability of takeover waves. A main finding is that while stock market boom periods are empirically associated with takeover waves, the underlying driver is interest rate level. A low interest rate environment is associated with higher aggregate takeover activity. This relationship is consistent with Shleifer and Vishny (1992)'s liquidity argument that takeover waves are symptoms of lower cost of capital. Replicating the analysis to the biggest takeover market in the world, the US, reveals a remarkable consistency of results. In short, the Australian findings are not idiosyncratic. Finally, the implications for target and bidder firm shareholders are explored via investigation of takeover bid premiums and long-term abnormal returns separately between the wave and non-wave periods. This represents the third contribution to the literature of takeover waves. Findings reveal that target shareholders earn abnormally positive returns in takeover bids and bid premiums are slightly lower in the wave periods. Analysis of the returns to bidding firm shareholders suggests that the lower premiums earned by target shareholders in the wave periods may simply reflect lower total economic gains, at the margin, to takeovers made in the wave periods. It is found that bidding firms earn normal post-takeover returns (relative to a portfolio of firms matched in size and survival) if their bids are made in the non-wave periods. However, bidders who announce their takeover bids during the wave periods exhibit significant under-performance. For mergers that took place within waves, there is no difference in bid premiums and nor is there a difference in the long-run returns of bidders involved in the first half and second half of the waves. We find that none of theories of merger waves (managerial, mis-valuation and neoclassical) can fully account for the Australian takeover waves and their effects. Instead, our results suggest that a combination of these theories may provide better explanation. Given that normal returns are observed for acquiring firms, taken as a whole, we are more likely to uphold the neoclassical argument for merger activity. However, the evidence is not entirely consistent with neo-classical rational models, the under-performance effect during the wave states is consistent with the herding behaviour by firms.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:07:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JULIANA SONAGLIO.pdf: 1315348 bytes, checksum: b79349bc19b60abfc0520b76febd7202 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-04-24 / The Economic Commission for Latin American and Caribean (ECLAC) has spread widely from 90 s, the propose of Productive Transformation with Equity, as basis for the consolidation of economic development able to ally progress with the reduction of poverty. Being the labour the central axis of this propose, the conciliation between productivity and social cohesion understood as the people access to a minimum of well-being, as the insertion in the job , gain strength in the ECLAC that his thinking is assumed as object of reflection of this proposed study. To the ECLAC, the structural heterogeneity the debility of the diffusion of the technical progress, the unemployment and informality has inhibited the growth of economy, contributing for the worsening of poverty in Latin America. In view of this confront of such heterogeneity, the ECLAC emphasize the importance of work for the process of growth by defining it as a determinant of significant economy and stimulating the diffusion of the technical progress, and at the same time, conceiving it as the pillar of the social cohesion in Latin America, for being the mark of income distribution that allows people to actively participate in economic development. Understand the paper of work in the ECLAC s context is the aim of this exploratory study, that search to evidence that, over his thinking, the ECLAC has hidden the exploitation in which the work is submitted in this capitalist mode of production, and deny it as a mechanism of poverty and reproductive existing relations of domination in contemporary times. / A Comissão Econômica para a América Latina e o Caribe (CEPAL) tem difundido amplamente, a partir dos anos 1990, a proposta da Transformação Produtiva com Equidade, como base para a consolidação de um desenvolvimento econômico capaz de aliar crescimento com a redução da pobreza. Sendo o trabalho o eixo central de tal proposta, a conciliação entre produtividade e coesão social entendida como o acesso das pessoas a um nível mínimo de bem-estar, como a inserção no emprego , ganha força na CEPAL cujo pensamento assume-se como objeto de reflexão desse estudo proposto. Para a CEPAL, a heterogeneidade estrutural debilidade da difusão do progresso técnico, o desemprego e a informalidade tem inibido o crescimento da economia, contribuindo para o agravamento da pobreza na América Latina. Tendo em vista o enfrentamento de tal heterogeneidade, a CEPAL enfatiza a importância do trabalho para o processo de crescimento, definindo-o como determinante de uma economia significativa e impulsionador da difusão do progresso técnico, ao mesmo tempo, concebendo-o como o pilar da coesão social na América Latina, por ser o marco da distribuição de renda que permite à população participar ativamente no desenvolvimento econômico. Compreender o papel do trabalho no contexto da CEPAL é o objetivo desse estudo exploratório, que busca evidenciar que, ao longo de seu pensamento, a CEPAL tem ocultado a exploração na qual o trabalho é submetido no modo de produção capitalista, ao negá-lo como mecanismo reprodutor da pobreza e das relações de dominação vigentes na contemporaneidade.

The purpose of this study was to identify and determine the risk factors for malnutrition among children under the age of 5 years in Kweneng West District of Botswana. A case control study was conducted. The cases consisted of 37 underweight children under the age of 5 (n=37), and the controls consisted of 76 children less than 5 years of age (n=76) recruited concurrently among the under-five children attending Letlhakeng Child Welfare Clinic on a monthly basis. The controls were of good nutritional status. Data collection was done using a combination of a review of records (child welfare clinic registers, and child welfare clinic cards) and structured questionnaires. Following placement of the data in regression models, the factors that were found to be significantly associated with child malnutrition were small number of daily meals taken by the child (Adjusted OR=19.04, 95% CI 3.24-112.13), lack of knowledge of methods of prevention of child malnutrition by the parent (Adjusted OR=4.71, 95% CI 1.41-15.82), parent’s unemployment (Adjusted OR=50.3, 95% CI 4.86-52.1), low birth weight (Adjusted OR=12.34, 95% CI 2.76-55.02), inadequate Vitamin A supplementation (Adjusted OR=13.27, 95% CI 1.94-90.46), child illness (OR=20.95, 95% CI 7.55-58.10), and child raised by a guardian (Adjusted OR=5.67, 95% CI 1.30-24.73). The findings from this study suggest that Socio-economic factors such as unemployment, a lack of knowledge about recommended infant and child feeding practices, the child raised by a guardian, and health-related factors such as low birth weight, inadequate Vitamin A supplementation, and child illness are predictors of malnutrition in under five. Therefore, increasing household food security and reinforcing educational interventions could contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of child malnutrition in the district / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Detta är en fördjupande studie baserat på en kvantitativ folkhälsoundersökning som visade samband i särskilt utsatthet bland förekomst av vilka som allvarligt övervägt självmord och demografiska faktorer hos folkbokförda i Umeå. Byggt på premissen av det pågående suicidpreventiva arbetet i Umeå tar denna studie i anspråk att utforska vilka livsomständigheter som skiljer sig åt mellan den generella populationen i Umeå jämfört med de som allvarligt övervägt självmord, samt föreslå suicidpreventiva åtgärdsförslag utifrån resultaten.    Data som omsattes i denna studie var ursprungligen insamlat av Övergripande planering Umeå kommun genom ett stratifierat urval som svarade mot olika demografiska områden av Umeå som resulterade i 2588 svaranden, med en svarsfrekvens av 37% som deltog i en folkhälsoundersökning som omfattade 102 frågor vilka var kvalitetskontrollerade av SCB.  Studieförfattarna utformade en metod för att skala ner urvalet av livsomständigheter till 15 variabler som skulle överensstämma med studiens teman: demografi, ekonomiska förutsättningar, vanor, mående och stöd som alla ställdes mot frågan: “Har du allvarligt övervägt självmord?”, där 10,7% av de tillfrågade svarade affirmativt. Slutsatser av denna studie är att undersökta livsomständigheter såsom socioekonomiska faktorer, vanor, demografiska faktorer, mående och stöd indikeras vara relaterade till en högre förekomst av att ha allvarligt övervägt självmord för folkbokförda i Umeå. Bland annat visas fulltidsanställda vara 22,9% mindre sannolika- där studerande är mer än dubbelt så sannolika- där personer som har sjuk- eller aktivitetsersättning var 444,9% mer sannolika att allvarligt ha övervägt självmord. Svaranden anger oftare sämre sömn (42,9% jämfört med 70,7%) hos de som allvarligt övervägt självmord. 77,4% av svaranden med ångestrelaterade svårigheter- 43,0% av svaranden med behov av psykisk vård som inte sökt- och 56,4% av svaranden med psykiska funktionshinder uppger att de allvarligt övervägt självmord jämfört med 10,7% hos generella svaranden. Utifrån studiens resultat föreslår studieförfattarna kompletterande lokala suicidpreventiva åtgärder, men finner behov av åtgärder med nationellt omfång för att svara mot de bredare socioekonomiska- och sociala problem som premissen och resultatet av denna studie belyser. / This is an in-depth study based on a quantitative public health survey which raised cause for concern about sociodemographic differences in occurrence of who has seriously considered suicide in the municipality of Umeå. Following the premise built on the current suicide prevention work in Umeå this study aims to give insight on which living circumstances differ regarding those with suicidal ideation in Umeå compared to the general population and what proposed actions might be indicated from the results.   The data used in this study was originally sampled by Övergripande planering, Umeå municipality using a stratified selection of different demographics in Umeå resulting in 2588 participants, an answer rate of 37% who answered a public health survey consisting of 102 questions, which was quality checked by SCB.   By process of elimination finding relevant living circumstances the authors designed a method of selection resulting in 15 variables consistent with the subtypes: demographics, economical circumstances, habits, health and support, all of which to correlate with the question translated to: “Have you seriously considered suicide?” where 10,7% of respondents answered positively.   Conclusions from this study are that certain life circumstances such as socioeconomic factors, habits, demographic factors, well-being and support is indicated being related to a higher prevalence of having seriously considered suicide amongst habitants of Umeå. Key findings include full-time employed was 22,9% less likely-, where students were more than two times more likely- and people on welfare or sick leave were 444,9% more likely to have seriously considered suicide. Respondents are less likely to have a good nights sleep (42,9% compared to 70,7%) if they have seriously considered suicide. 77,4% of those with anxiety-related issues, 43,0% of those in need of medical care for psychological health and 56,4% of respondents with psychological disability responds to have seriously considered suicide compared to the average of 10,7%. The authors provide examples of local implementations based on the findings but arrive at the need for a national scope to come to terms with the wider socio-economic and social issues that is suggested by the premise and result of this study.