Food safety problems have gained national attention, and food recall is one of the most important indications of this concern. Third-party certifications have become a popular way to improve the safety and quality of products for consumers. Publications related to third-party certification usually focus on the motives and benefits of a particular certification. However, to date, no existing research investigates the effects of food recalls on certification adoption. This study uses Probit models with a binary endogenous explanatory variable to examine the relationship between food recalls and third-party certification, based on recalls occurring between January 1, 2015 and February 18, 2016. Marginal effects are used to interpret the impact of recalls and companies’ annual net sales on third-party certification adoption. Results reveal that past recalls significantly affect a firm’s likelihood of certification adoption.

本文主要目的在探討政府部門支出規模對經濟體系長期成長的影響，並且輔以實證分 析研究。 本文的特色著重於對內生成長(Endogenous Growth) 理論的評述，其主要總結為，當 廣義可累積資本為固定報酬時，換言之，資本的邊際報酬固定不變，使得經濟體系不 須依賴外在力量，即能夠穩定自發的成長。 本文結論證明了理論基礎的成立，對臺灣地區、韓國及日本之實證研究結果發現，政 府支出規模（政府總支出占國內生產總額比重）增加時對經濟成長造成不良的影響， 顯見此三國之政府部門規模似乎過度膨脹（若以追求經濟成長率最大為目標的話）， 另外政府投資性支出比率愈大其愈有利經濟成長率提高。

長久以來，經濟成長一直是各國努力追求的目標，而經濟成長模型則提供解釋經濟成 長過程的理論基礎。此外各國經濟成長率的差異亦是成長模型所關心的問題。以往， 新古典的成長理論解釋長期的經濟成長率是外生技術進步所造成，財政政策扮演無關 緊要的角色，僅僅影響過渡動態調整。直到近幾年，Romer(1986b)提出內生性成長模 型後，長期的經濟成長率決定於偏好與技術的參數。而Barro(1990) 利用此內生性成長模型的概念，導出政府財政政策是內生性經濟成長的主要因素。 本文擬介紹數種包含政府部門在內的內生性成長模型，首先假設在封閉經濟體系下， 單一資本累積的成長模型。透過以政府支出影響生產函數以及Cobb-Douglas型態生長 函數的假設，我們可以討論單調遞增，遞減以及固定成長率的經濟成長模型，因此本 文模型延伸了Romer)1986b),Barro(1190),Xie(1991),Rebelo(1991) 等人的內生性成 長模型。從這些模型中可看出政府支出對每人消費，資本及產出成長率的影響。由於 政府支出與租稅具有外部性，使得競爭經濟下所求出的投資報酬與經濟成長率低於社 會計劃經濟下所求得的結果。 / The conventional neoclassical growth models attribute the long-run steady-state growth to the exogenous technological progress, and government’s fiscal pol-icy can only affect the dynamic transitional path toward the steady state. In recent years, Romer (1986b)first proposed a growth model in which the long-runrate of growth is endogenized. Following Romer, Barro (1990) examined that the fiscal policy may be one of the major factors influencing the country’s long-runrate of growth. Building on Barro’s model, this thesis presents three models of endogenous growth. Each recognizes that government spending can influence the aggregate production function. The aggregate production function exhibits an overall de-creasing return to scale, constant return to scale, and increasing return to scale. These models show that the fiscal policy has effects on the growth paths of pre capita consumption, private capital stock, and output in a competitive eqilib-rium. Furthemore, the competitive rate of return of capital may be lower than that under the central planning economy, because the external effects of govern-ment spending are excluded from the individual household’s perspective.

<p>This master thesis in energy optimization was made during the autumn of 2006 at Käppala wastewater treatment plant in Lidingö, Stockholm. A preceding thesis, where all electricity consumption was mapped, showed that the aeration in the biological treatment is the single largest consumer in the plant, and it is therefore of interest to reduce this cost. The oxygen control strategy used at Käppala WWTP is working well from a nutrient removal point of view, but not from an economic one. The last aerobic zones have a very low oxygen consumption during low loading periods which give rise to enhanced dissolved oxygen concentrations with excessive costs and reduced denitrification as a result. But also during periods of normal loading unnecessary high oxygen concentration are sometimes given.</p><p>By modifying the aeration control strategy three full-scale experiments have been made, with the intention to reduce the air consumption. The experiments were carried out during week 37-50 in the autumn of 2006 and showed that savings could be made.</p><p>The regular oxygen control at Käppala WWTP controls the oxygen level in the aerobic compartment with two DO-setpoints; one in the first aerobic zone and one in the last. The zones in between are controlled by an airflow fractionation depending on the oxygen level in the first and last zone. In the first strategy to be evaluated, all four zones in the aerated part were individually controlled with its own setpoint. Two different setpoint combinations were tested. By using the fact that the efficiency in the oxygen transfer rate was higher at low airflows, savings of approximately 16 % were achieved. In the second strategy tested, an ammonia-feedback control combined with a DO-feedback controlled the DO-set point in the first aerobic zone. This strategy adjusted the DO- set points to the loading variations, and this gave a decreased airflow of approximately 9 %. Finally the two strategies were combined. All zones were then controlled individually with DO-set points set by an ammonium-feedback and a DO-feedback. The strategy gave savings in the airflow of approximately 18 %. In all three trials the aerated zones were more efficiently used, and the estimated savings are 550 000 SEK/year, and with a preserved nutrient removal efficiency.</p> / <p>Under hösten 2006 har ett examensarbete om energieffektivisering på Käppalaverket på Lidingö utförts. Ett föregående examensarbete där all elenergiförbrukning kartlades visade att blåsmaskinerna i biosteget står för den enskilt största förbrukningen i verket och det är därför av intresse att minska denna kostnad. Syrestyrningsstrategin som används på Käppalaverket fungerar mycket bra ur reningssynpunkt, men är inte optimal ur energisynpunkt. Dels luftas de första aeroba zonerna för mycket vid låg belastning vilket ger upphov till kraftigt förhöjda syrekoncentrationer i de sista aeroba zonerna med höga luftningskostnader och risk för försämrad denitrifikation, men även under normal belastning har det visat sig att onödigt höga syrekoncentrationer ibland ges.</p><p>Tre fullskaliga optimeringsförsök har utförts, med syfte att minska luftförbrukningen med bibehållen reningsgrad. Försöken pågick från vecka 37 till 50 hösten 2006, och visade att det finns möjlighet att spara energi genom att modifiera syrestyrningsstrategin.</p><p>Den reguljära syreregleringen i Käppalaverket styr syrehalten i den aeroba bassängen mot två syrebörvärden; ett i den första luftade zonen och ett i den sista. Luftflödet till de mellanliggande zonerna styrs av luftflödesandelar beroende på syrehalten i dessa två zoner. Den första strategin som utvärderades styrde istället samtliga zoner individuellt med egna börvärden, där två olika strukturer på de satta börvärdena användes. Genom att utnyttja en högre effektivitet i syreöverföringshastigheten vid låga luftflöden uppnåddes luftflödesbesparingar på ca 16 % i första försöket.</p><p>I den andra strategin styrdes syrebörvärdet i den första luftade zonen med hjälp av två återkopplingar, en från utgående ammoniumhalt och en från syrehalten i den sista luftade zonen.</p><p>Tack vare att strategin anpassade syrebörvärdena efter belastningen av syretärande ämnen erhölls luftflödesbesparingar på ca 9 %. Slutligen kombinerades de två strategierna; samtliga zoner styrdes individuellt med börvärden satta av en ammonium-återkoppling och en syre-återkoppling. Strategin medförde luftflödesbesparingar på ca 18 %. I samtliga försök utnyttjades de luftade zonerna bättre, och besparingspotentialen uträknad från 2005 års elpriser blev som mest 550 000 SEK/år, detta med en bibehållen reningsgrad.</p>

The seafood industry is of considerable importance to both the New Zealand and global economies and therefore tissue preservation technologies that increase product quality and/or prolong shelf life have the potential to add significant value. Technologies for maintaining the viability of isolated tissues also have a wide range of other medical and industrial applications. This thesis examines the relationship between metabolic function, oxidation and cell death and the resulting stability of the non-viable tissues during long term storage in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) red and white skeletal muscle tissue. This research also looks at the role of the aquatic anaesthetic AQUI-S™, in which the active ingredient is isoeugenol (a lipid soluble antioxidant), and other antioxidant compounds in preserving metabolic function in viable tissues and tissue stability in nonviable tissues. Perfusion of salmon tails at 15℃ over 5 or 10 hours with oxygen saturated saline resulted in significant increases in protein and lipid oxidation (protein carbonyl and TBARS concentrations respectively) in the red muscle, but not the white muscle. The introduction of ascorbic acid and uric acid into the saline did not reduce the oxidation in the red muscle despite significantly increasing their respective concentrations in the tissue. This indicates the difficulties associated with attempting to extend tissue viability by delivering free oxygen to the tissue and also highlights the difference in susceptibility of the two muscle types to oxidation. Tail fillets from salmon harvested in both rested and exhausted physiological states using AQUI-S™, and fillets from exhausted salmon harvested without AQUI-S™, were exposed to air at 15℃ for up to 96 hours. Protein carbonyls increased in a roughly linear fashion over the entire 96 hours in all three groups. Both lipid peroxides (TBARS) and uric acid concentrations began to increase in the exhausted group after 30 hours. In contrast, no significant increases in lipid peroxides or uric acid was seen in the fillets from either group harvested using AQUI-S™. Vitamin E concentrations reduced slowly but did not change significantly despite the oxidation that was evident in the tissue. These processes also occurred in salmon tail fillets during storage at 6℃. The measurement of ATP related compounds provides an effective indicator of both the metabolic state of the tissue post-harvest and the quality. The breakdown of these compounds is also associated with the production of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Fresh rested salmon fillets had high concentrations of ATP and creatine phosphate, which were both depleted after 12 hours storage at 15℃. This indicates that cell viability lasted a number of hours following harvesting. These metabolites were depleted in exhausted fillets and metabolic potential appeared to be immediately compromised. The concentration of the taste enhancing compound IMP was significantly reduced in fresh rested tissue, but increased during storage, and was significantly higher than in exhausted tissues following 12 hours of storage at 15℃. This indicates that some properties of rested tissues may improve with limited storage times. The accumulation of uric acid - the metabolic end point for ATP related compounds - was also significantly reduced in rested tissue and increases in K-value were slowed. AQUI-S™ showed an ability to preserve tissue function through its anaesthetic action allowing tissue to be harvested in a rested state, and to reduce late stage lipid oxidation in stored salmon tail fillets. The antioxidant action of isoeugenol in salmon fillets may be mediated through its ability to chelate transition metals released during tissue degradation. This research shows that during reperfusion and during fillet storage there is a significant level of oxidative stress, which needs to be minimized while maintaining basic tissue metabolism to prolong tissue and cellular viability. The development of future technologies to preserve tissue viability may depend on the development of a synthetic oxygen carrying compound with properties similar to red blood cells. This may allow more control over oxygen delivery, potentially reducing the oxidative stress associated with high concentrations of free oxygen in solution. However, preserving cell viability will also require the maintenance of endogenous antioxidant function and there is also the potential to use iron chelating compounds including plant derived flavonoids to preserve non-viable tissues. Future research in these areas is necessary.

本論文試圖在一個內生成長的理論架構下，去探討分紅制度所扮演的角色。在第二章中，我們設立一個商品市場不完全競爭的內生成長模型。在分紅比率為外生給定的情況下，我們發現分紅比率越高，對於就業越有利，但對經濟成長的效果則是不確定。此外，我們也探討在規範分析下的最適稅率。在第三章，分紅比率經由廠商與工會協商談判決定，藉著這樣的設定，我們成功的解釋為何失業與經濟成長率之間存在正向的關係。並且，在一個分紅制度的經濟體系之下，工會化的程度與經濟成長之間並不存在一個單調的關係，而是取決於談判的方式。為了解釋廠商為何會有動機去採行分紅制度，第四章我們將效率工資引進一個採行分紅制度的成長模型中。經由分紅制度的採行，我們發現，效率工資可視為一個使經濟成長的動力。並且，我們發現，資本使用與經濟成長率之間存在一同向關係，但勞工的努力程度和經濟成長之間的關係則是不確定的。 / This dissertation is a theoretical attempt to examine the role played by share-based schemes in an endogenous economic growth model. In Chapter 2 we set up an endogenous growth model with monopolistic competition in the goods market. Given an exogenously-determined worker share, we show that while a higher revenue-sharing ratio attributable to workers will promote employment, it will have an ambiguous effect on the balanced-growth rate. In addition, we investigate the optimal tax policy response to a revenue-sharing scheme and market imperfections, which are two market distortions. In Chapter 3, the worker’s share is determined via the negotiation between a trade union and an employer federation. By shedding light on the role of revenue sharing and the bargaining institution, we successfully provide a theoretical explanation as to why unemployment can be quite compatible with high economic growth. In addition, in a share economy, unionization does not exhibit a monotonic relationship with growth. It also depends on the presence of revenue sharing and the bargaining institution. To explain why firms themselves could be motivated to accept revenue sharing, we introduce the efficiency wage into our analytical framework and focus on the incentive effects of revenue sharing and their consequences on economic growth in Chapter 4. Specifically, our model comprises work effort and capital utilization. By virtue of the characteristics of modeling, we show that work effort can serve as an engine of economic growth. Of interest, we find that the balanced-growth rate is procyclical in relation to capital utilization, but it may be countercyclical in relation to work effort.

隨著知識經濟的崛起以及許多社會現象與研究文獻的證實，人力資本對一國的經濟成長而言，已是不可或缺的動力；因此，本文沿用Barro (1990)模型，將人力資本要素引進生產函數，並設定政府部門對私部門的人力資本投資有特定比例的補貼，據此探討加入人力資本要素後，Barro (1990)模型是否有不同的結果？而人力資本與其補貼對於經濟成長的影響又為何？ 本文分析的結果發現，租稅政策對經濟體系的影響大致與Barro (1990)模型的結論相同，分別為：一、所得稅率的變動，為經濟成長率帶來的影響仍是不確定的；二、在給定特定的人力資本補貼率，如果政府所課徵的所得稅率能夠達成經濟成長率的極大，就能夠使社會福利水準達到極大。但與Barro (1990)不同的是，因為本模型的體系中存在著人力資本的補貼，因此在極大化經濟成長率的水準下，所得稅率會較Barro (1990)模型下的所得稅率大。 此外，由於人力資本與補貼的加入，使得本文有所突破之處：一、和一般認知不同的是，政府對於人力資本投資的補貼增加，在其他條件不變下，使得對於經濟成長率的影響並非正向，而是不確定的。二、給定特定的所得稅率，當政府決定的人力資本補貼率能使經濟成長達極大時，亦會使社會福利水準達到極大。

Cette thèse portait sur l'attention visuelle sélective, dans le domaine non-spatial, c'est-à-dire la capacité à favoriser le traitement perceptif de certains objets de la scène visuelle au détriment des autres. En particulier, l'objectif était d'étudier, à l'aide de tâches de recherche visuelle, les différentes interactions possibles entre les processus endogènes (liés aux intentions et connaissances du sujet) et les processus exogènes (liés aux caractéristiques perceptives des objets). Une première série d'expériences démontrait que la saillance pouvait présenter des effets relativement durables. Cependant, ces effets de saillance pouvaient être favorisés ou contrecarrés par des processus endogènes (induits par indiçage portant sur la taille), et modulés par l'amorçage perceptif. Une seconde série d'expériences démontrait que la résistance à l'interférence induite par un distracteur saillant dépendait de ressources attentionnelles centrales, et était modulée par la charge perceptive. Enfin, la troisième série d'expériences validait l'hypothèse d'une intégration entre des signaux endogènes et exogènes compatibles mais strictement distincts. La falsification de l'inégalité de Miller (1982) précisait que cette intégration reposait sur une coactivation effective, non sur une simple facilitation statistique entre signaux strictement indépendants. Le locus cognitif de cette intégration semble être le système perceptif. L'ensemble des données présentées souligne la flexibilité du contrôle attentionnel, et invite à développer un modèle général de l'attention visuelle sélective basé sur l'hypothèse de compétition biaisée (Desimone & Duncan, 1995). / This thesis was about visual selective attention, toward non-spatial features, that is, the ability to favour the perceptual processing of some objects in the visual scene, at the expense of others. In particular, the aim was to study, through visual search experiments, the various possible interactions between endogenous (linked with incentives and knowledge of subjects) and exogenous (linked with perceptual properties of the objects) processes. The first series of experiments showed long-lived salience effects. These salience effects could, hewever, be favoured or overriden by endogenous processes (induced by cueing the target size), and modulated by perceptual priming. The second series evidenced that resisting the interference induced by a salient distractor depended on central attentional resources, and was modulatted by perceptual load. Finally, the third series demonstrated that separate endogenous and exogenous signals could genuinely integrate. This integration could not be accounted for by a race between strictly independant signals, as evidenced by the falsification of the Miller's (1982) inequality. This integration might occur in the perceptual system. Theglobal set of data highlighted the flexibility of endogenous attentional control, and invited developping a general model of visual selective attention, on the basis of the biased competition hypothesis.

Health has long been referred to as a contributing development factor for economic growth, and health investments have been implemented as a strategy for achieving economic development. However, several countries have reached economic growth before improving health status, which raises questions of the significance of public health related to economic growth. The economic inequalities between countries tend to increase along with enlarged differences in health status, is there possibly a correlation between these occurrences? The purpose of this essay is to make a theoretical contribution by examining the impact of health on economic growth based on the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). This relationship has not been studied within these countries before and the essay intends to find out if basic health is a prerequisite for economic growth. The hypothesis of the study is a positive correlation between improvement of health status in a population within a country and its economic growth. Quantitative approach through a cross-sectional study of the independent variables health investments, initial GDP per capita, life expectancy and HIV along with the dependent variable of GDP per capita growth. Data from 48 LDCs during the period 1995 – 2015 was obtained. A regression analysis of Ordinary Least Squares, VIF-test and QQ-plot was performed through the computer program Gretl 2016c.  The variation in GDP per capita growth can be explained to 75 % by changes in the health-related variables. Previous theories regarding the positive effect on economic growth from increased health investments, lower initial GDP per capita and increased life expectancy were supported in this study. Health investments and initial GDP per capita showed a statistically significant correlation to economic growth. Life expectancy lacked significance, but was supported by previous research. The variable for HIV showed a positive correlation to economic growth, contrary to previous theories. The relationship can although be explained by insufficient data and low significance. / Hälsa har länge benämnts som en bidragande utvecklingsfaktor för ekonomisk tillväxt och hälsoinvesteringar har använts som en strategi för att uppnå ekonomisk utveckling. Samtidigt har flera länder uppnått ekonomisk tillväxt innan förbättrad hälsostatus vilket leder till funderingar kring vilken roll befolkningens hälsa egentligen spelar för landets ekonomiska tillväxt. De ekonomiska ojämlikheterna länder emellan tenderar att öka och skillnaden i hälsostatusen likaså, finns det möjligtvis ett samband kring detta? Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att bringa ett teoretiskt bidrag genom att undersöka hälsans inverkan på ekonomisk tillväxt med utgångspunkt i världens minst utvecklade länder (MUL-länder). Detta samband har tidigare inte studerats inom dessa länder och uppsatsen avser att ta reda på om en grundläggande god hälsa förefaller vara en förutsättning för ekonomisk tillväxt. Hypotesen för uppsatsen är ett positivt samband mellan ett förbättrat hälsotillstånd hos ett lands befolkning och dess ekonomiska tillväxt. Frågeställning: Leder en förbättrad hälsa till ökad ekonomisk tillväxt i världens minst utvecklade länder? Metod: Kvantitativt tillvägagångssätt genom en tvärsnittsstudie av de oberoende variablerna statens hälsoinvesteringar, initial BNP per capita, förväntad livslängd och HIV samt den beroende variabeln tillväxt i BNP per capita. Data från 48 MUL-länder under perioden 1995 – 2015 inhämtades. I dataprogrammet Gretl 2016c utfördes en regressionsanalys av typen Minsta kvadratmetoden, VIF-test samt QQ-plot. Slutsats: Variationen i tillväxten i BNP per capita kan till 75 % förklaras av förändringar i de hälsorelaterade variablerna. Tidigare teorier kring positiva effekter på den ekonomiska tillväxten från ökade hälsoinvesteringar, lägre initialt BNP per capita och ökad livslängd förstärktes i denna undersökning. Hälsoinvesteringar och initialt BNP per capita visade ett statistiskt säkerställt samband till den ekonomiska tillväxten. Förväntad livslängd saknade signifikans, men stöds av tidigare forskning. Variabeln för HIV visade ett positivt samband på ekonomisk tillväxt vilket strider mot tidigare teorier. Sambandet kan dock förklaras av bristfällig data och låg signifikansnivå.

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