The thesis studies the impact of the financial support of the Environmental and Rural Devel-opment Programme of 2000-2006 on farm diversification and other activities in the rural areas of the Västra Götaland County for the period 2000-2005. Furthermore, it analyses if diver-sification within the firms has improved efficiency due to economies of scope. The statistical data of this study is based on a telephone survey of a total population of 50 firms that have received financial support for diversification, within the County of Västra Götaland. The response rate of the telephone survey was 80 per cent of the total popula-tion. The statistical analysis is based on chi-square and logit models in combination with a descriptive analysis in order to test the hypothesis of the thesis. Therefore, the empirical analysis has both a quantitative and a qualitative character. The result of the study shows that about 87.7 per cent of the surveyed firms have diversi-fied their economic activities during the years 2000-2005. Firms owned by women tend to have diversified to a larger extent compared to men. Further, women show a tendency to be more successful with a higher degree of diversification within the service sector com-pared to men. The enterprises within the production and refinement sectors have, on the other hand, a propensity to focus on traditional agricultural production despite the diversi-fication. A majority of the interviewed firms have received benefits from scope economies, which imply that the firms utilise joint production with shared inputs. The scope econo-mies existed among studied firms previous to the support and there are no significant changes in the economies of scope due to the financial support. Overall, the financial sup-port seems to have had a positive impact on the firms’ economic situation since none of the studied firms has experienced a decline in employment, turnover or income.

No description available.

<p>The thesis studies the impact of the financial support of the Environmental and Rural Devel-opment Programme of 2000-2006 on farm diversification and other activities in the rural areas of the Västra Götaland County for the period 2000-2005. Furthermore, it analyses if diver-sification within the firms has improved efficiency due to economies of scope.</p><p>The statistical data of this study is based on a telephone survey of a total population of 50 firms that have received financial support for diversification, within the County of Västra Götaland. The response rate of the telephone survey was 80 per cent of the total popula-tion. The statistical analysis is based on chi-square and logit models in combination with a descriptive analysis in order to test the hypothesis of the thesis. Therefore, the empirical analysis has both a quantitative and a qualitative character.</p><p>The result of the study shows that about 87.7 per cent of the surveyed firms have diversi-fied their economic activities during the years 2000-2005. Firms owned by women tend to have diversified to a larger extent compared to men. Further, women show a tendency to be more successful with a higher degree of diversification within the service sector com-pared to men. The enterprises within the production and refinement sectors have, on the other hand, a propensity to focus on traditional agricultural production despite the diversi-fication. A majority of the interviewed firms have received benefits from scope economies, which imply that the firms utilise joint production with shared inputs. The scope econo-mies existed among studied firms previous to the support and there are no significant changes in the economies of scope due to the financial support. Overall, the financial sup-port seems to have had a positive impact on the firms’ economic situation since none of the studied firms has experienced a decline in employment, turnover or income.</p>

It is a human right to be treated equally and fairly no matter whom you are, what you like or where you are from. The United Nations addressed the important aspects of equally treatment in their declaration of the human rights. It is each conventions state’s responsibility to fulfil all the rights in the declaration. This study focuses on three Swedish county administrative organizational works with the human rights from their annual reports from 2014. The purpose of this study was to clarify each county administrative work with the human rights from an implementation perspective, and educe improvement potentials. The method which is used in this essay is a comparative study of the three organizations with a text analysis of their annual reports and a national report. This means that they initially were analysed separately and then compared in the end of the analysis. Factors such as the integration of the human rights and methods are of great importance in the presentation of each county administrative work. It is the government who is ultimately responsible for the human rights and that they are observed and worked with. To facilitate the work on a regional basis, the government have delegated the responsibility to the county administrative. Their main task is to ensure that the human rights-perspective is anchored in the organisation and that they work with the rights externally as well. The analysis compared the county administrative for what they have accomplished during the year, regardless of their geographical size and population. The results show that there are several steps left for the county administrative to use in their future work with the implementation of the human rights.

This study investigates the concept of regionalism in the context of the Swedish middle-level political arena. The used method is qualitative theory and two cases are studied: Västra Götaland and Norrbottens läns landsting. The aim of the study is to see what the politicans think about Swedens regionalization process by compare the views of politicans that function in a region and in a county council. Do they have the same vision about what constitutes a region and which advantages do they see in working in a region or in a county council? Also dimensions about territorially and sectorial autonomy on the regional level, presented by King and Pierre are investigated in order to explain the different regionala organs functioning accordingly to these dimensions. The empirical material that have been analyzed is taken from 17 interviews, from government writings and reports from the SKL association, Sveriges Kommuner och Landsting, about the topic of regionalization and the effects and goals in Sweden. The conclusion of the material is that there is common opinion among the politicans about the goals of a region and also about which areas that can benefit the most from the perspective of beeing a region instead of a county council. When it comes to explaining the dimensions of territorially and sectorial autonomy the results have shown that the region has the most both territorially and sectorial autonomy, which is due to the regions rightfullness to taxation right, which is high in the region and ensured by a strong catchment area. When the county council get lawful regional status, the abscense of a big catchment area will cause a weaker regional autonomy, caused to its dependence of both the territorially and sectorial dimensions for upholding the region’s financially resources.

Enligt lagen om Kommunal energiplanering måste samtliga Sveriges kommuner ha en aktuell energiplan som beskriver kommunens planer för tillförsel, distribution och användning av energi inom kommunen. Många av kommunerna har problem med att skapa ett aktivt arbete med energifrågorna inom kommunen, utifrån energiplanen. Syftet med denna uppsats är att a) genom intervjustudie beskriva hur tre kommuner arbetar med kommunal energiplanering som ett verktyg för ett aktivt arbete med energifrågorna inom kommunen, b) utifrån Leavitts systemmodell skapa en ökad förståelse för vilka centrala komponenter, såväl statiska som dynamiska, som ligger till grund för kommunernas förändringsarbete samt vilket fokus detta arbete har inom kommunerna. Studien genomfördes med hjälp av gruppintervjuer med representanter från de tre utvalda kommunerna; Lidköping, Borås och Trollhättan. Representanterna från de valda kommunerna berättade om deras arbete med energifrågor utifrån tre utgångspunkter; synen på kommunal energiplanering, arbetsprocessen och framgångs/motivationsfaktorer. Resultatet från intervjuerna analyserades och sammanställdes i tre berättelser om kommunernas arbete med energifrågor. Utifrån intervjuerna implementerades kommunernas arbete på Leavitts systemmodell för att fördjupa förståelsen kring kommunernas arbete. Resultatet av detta visade att kommunerna har olika fokus i sitt arbete, men att de samtidigt tar hänsyn till samtliga delar som beskrivs i modellen. Utifrån berättelserna kunde bl.a. ses att det finns flera gemensamma framgångsfaktorer bland kommunerna t.ex. politisk förankring. Slutsatsen är att det inte finns en given mall för hur en kommun ska arbeta med energiplanering, utan varje kommun måste hitta sitt eget sätt att arbeta med dessa frågor och anpassat till den egna kommunens förutsättningar, men det finns vissa faktorer som bör tas hänsyn till i arbetet med kommunal energiplanering.

Contorta (Pinus contorta) är ett barrträdslag som naturligt finns i västra Nordamerika och är inplanterat främst i norra Sverige. Syftet med detta arbete är att utvärdera hur långt och i vilken omfattning contorta spridit sig från äldre bestånd i södra Sverige. Resultatet skulle kunna användas vid bedömning om det finns en spridningsrisk i södra Sverige. De tre bestånden som användes vid detta arbete ligger i södra Östergötland och norra Småland. Datainsamlingen utfördes i tre steg i respektive bestånd: 1. Bedömning om contorta kan spridas och etableras från bestånd i södra Sverige. 2. Inventering av contortaplantor i subjektivt valda ytor. 3. Kvantitativ inventering av contortaplantor i systematiskt utlagda linjer, 2 meter breda och 250 meter långa, i fyra riktningar utgående från beståndskant. I inventeringen av subjektivt utvalda ytor hittades contortaplantor 350 meter från contortabestånd och i den kvantitativa inventeringen 50 meter från contortabestånd. Totalt hittades 27 contortaplantor (motsvarande 450 st/ha) i subjektivt utlagda ytor och 18 contortaplantor (45 st/ha) hittades i den kvantitativa inventeringen. Alla funna contortaplantor hittades på störd mark och där trädkronans täckning var noll, dvs. där ljustillgången var högst. Det är däremot inte möjligt att, utifrån denna studie, säga vilken faktor som är primär för contortaplantornas etablering, markstörning eller ljustillgång. / Contorta (Pinus contorta) is a coniferous tree species from western North America that has been introduced mainly in northern Sweden. The purpose of this work was to evaluate how far and to what extent (number of self-dispersal seedlings/ha) Contorta has spread from older populations in southern Sweden. The result can be used in assessing the risk of spreading in southern Sweden. The three forest stands used for this work were located in southern Östergötland and northern Småland, Sweden. The data collection was done in three stages in each stand: 1. Assessment if contorta can be disseminated and established from stocks in southern Sweden. 2. Subjective inventory of Contorta plants in selected areas. 3. Quantitative inventory of contorta plants along defined corridors, 2 meters wide and 250 meters long, in four directions from the edge of the stock. In the inventory of subjectively selected areas, contorta plants were found 350 meters from a contorta stand and in the objective inventory 50 meters from a contorta stand. A total of 27 contorta plants (equivalent to 450 plants/ha) was found in subjectively inventory and 18 contorta plants (45 plants/ha) were found in the quantitative inventory. All Contorta seedlings were found on disturbed ground and where the canopy cover of trees was zero, i.e. where the access to light was highest. On the other hand, based on this study, it is not possible to say which factor is most important for the establishment, field disturbance or light supply.

This paper investigates the relationship between vacant job positions and unemployed workers, illustrated by the Beveridge curve, a tool for observing the matching process and the condition of a labour market. The Swedish case is studied together with its three largest labour market regions, i.e., Stockholm-, Västra Götaland- and Skåne county. A comparison opens up a discussion of whether local labour markets with similar characteristics located in different parts of the country behave similarly or in what way they distinguish. Furthermore, these three regions are expected to influence the Swedish Beveridge curve to a larger extent, which is also examined in the paper. In addition, the effect of an exogenous shock, such as the building of the Öresund Bridge, expanding the labour market of Skåne county by connection to another metropolitan area, Copenhagen, is studied. This is done by comparing the matching efficiency before and after the bridge is opened. Moreover, the effect in Skåne is then analysed in accordance with the same period for the other regions included, to get an indication of whether the bridge alone provides a change in matching efficiency or if changes are connected to national events that influence all regions similarly.  The analysis is based on monthly data from year 1996-2020, collected from the Swedish Public Employment service and Statistics Sweden, primarily. Graphical illustrations of the Beveridge curve in combination with OLS regressions provide concluding results that the Beveridge curves for the three regional labour markets observed are shaped rather similarly and experience shifts and movements during the same time points, generally. Skåne county is the exception and experience more horizontal and vertical movements compared to Stockholm- and Västra Götaland county and the Swedish average. Furthermore, there are statistically significant estimates ensuring the negative relationship between unemployment- and vacancy rate, i.e., a downward sloping Beveridge curve for all regions. Not enough evidence on the effect of the Öresund Bridge on the matching efficiency of Skåne county is provided to present a valid conclusion regarding this topic.

Arbetsrelaterad stress leder ofta till utmattningssyndrom och långa sjukskrivningar. Förskolan är starkt utsatt på detta område. Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS) är ett instrument som med 9 summerade items och hög intern konsistens mäter den rad faktorer som samverkar till utmattningssyndrom. Förskolepedagogerna i en kommun inom Trestadsområdet besvarade KEDS samt kontrollvariabler via en enkät. De summerade svaren ( =.89) jämfördes med den valideringsstudie som låg till grund för konstruktionen av KEDS. Informanternas medelålder var 46,5 år och 95 procent av dem var kvinnor. Informanterna utgjordes av förskollärare (n = 62), barnskötare (n = 39), samt ej kategoriserade pedagoger (n= 5), totalt 106. Ett One-Sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test visade studiens viktigaste resultat: det fanns ingen signifikant skillnad (z &lt; .001, p &gt;.999) mellan förskolepedagogernas medianpoäng på KEDS (Md = 29,5) och patienterna i valideringsgruppen för konstruktionen av KEDS (Md = 30). En multipel regressionsanalys visade dessutom att hög självskattad arbetsbelastning utgör en positiv prediktering av hög poäng på KEDS, med mycket hög effektstorlek (justerat R2 = .235, Cohen’s f2 &gt; .35). Variablerna utbildningsnivå, ålder, samt tid i tjänstpredicerade inte KEDS-poäng. Hela 89,7 procent av förskolepedagogerna rapporterade resultat som indikerar begynnande utmattningssyndrom. Utifrån tidigare forskning konstaterades att arbetsgivaren står inför stora utmaningar. Den åldersgrupp som flertalet medarbetare befinner sig i är den mest svårrehabiliterade vad gäller utmattningssyndrom. Detta kan komma att medföra stora kostnader om det lämnas utan åtgärd. Antalet medarbetare per chef bland de undersökta förskolepedagogerna är mycket högre än vad Arbetsmiljöverket och Statskontoret fastslagit är möjligt för ett nära ledarskap, vilket anses vara nödvändigt för att förutse utmattningssyndrom innan sjukskrivningen är ett faktum. / Work-related stress often leads to exhaustion disorder syndrome and long periods of sick leave. The Swedish preschool system is severely exposed to this phenomenon. Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS) is an instrument that, with 9 summed items and high internal consistency, measures the range of factors that interact with fatigue syndrome. Preschool educators in a municipality within the Trestad area answered KEDS and control variables via a questionnaire. The summarized responses ( =.89) were compared with the validation study that formed the basis for the construction of KEDS. The average age of informants was 46.5 years and 95 percent were women. The informants consisted of preschool teachers (n = 62), preschool child minders with 2 years vocational education (n = 39), and noncategorized care givers (n = 5), a total of 106. One-Sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed the most important results of this study: there was no significant difference (z &lt;.001, p&gt; .999) between the preschool employees median scores on 3KEDS (Md = 29.5) and the patients in the validation group for the construction of KEDS (Md = 30). In addition, a multiple regression analysis showed that high selfrated workload represents a positive prediction of high scores on KEDS, with very large effect size (adjusted R2 = .235, Cohen's f2 &gt; .35). The variables education level, age, and time in service did not significantly predict KEDS scores. A total of 89.7 percent of pre-school educators reported results indicating exhaustion disorder symptoms. Based on previous research, it was found that the employer faces major challenges. The age group that most employees are in is the most difficult to rehabilitate in terms of exhaustion disorder. This may result in high expences if left unanswered. The number of employees per manager among the preschool educators surveyed is much higher than what the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the State Treasury have established is possible for a close leadership, which is considered necessary for predicting fatigue syndromes before sick leave is a fact.

Current research shows that water-related disasters are the most common natural disaster worldwide and these disasters are increasing in numbers. Water-related disasters cause negative consequences through damage to infrastructure and human health.  This thesis aims to provide an overview of the water-related disasters, floods, and landslides in Sweden by displaying the spatial distribution. Furthermore, the purpose is to analyze the consequences of occurred water-related disasters. By answering the following research questions:  How has landslides and floods been spatially distributed over time in Sweden?  How severe has the consequences of floods and landslides been in Sweden?  To answer these research questions a data study was conducted in ArcGIS and Excel to analyze the spatial distribution and the consequences of landslides and floods. The result shows that the three counties in Sweden with the highest number of affected areas by floods are: Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Örebro. These counties constitute 36% of the affected areas. These affected areas have occurred periodically with an increase since 1970. A detailed study over the years 2011–2017 showed that most floods in Sweden lead to consequences with a small extent and limited damages.  Furthermore, the counties Västra Götaland, Västernorrland and Värmland had the highest number of occurred landslides. In total, 83.7% of all landslides have occurred within these three counties. This means that the distribution of floods is more evenly distributed between different counties compared to landslides. Within these counties, the areas that have had notable high numbers of landslides are Ångermanälven, Norsälven, Klarälven and the areas nearby Göta älv. Overall, it has been most common that landslides have an extent in the range between 1000–10000 m2 and that an extent over 100000 m2 are rare. / Aktuell forskning visar att vattenrelaterade naturkatastrofer är de vanligaste naturkatastroferna över hela världen samt att dessa ökar i antal. Vattenrelaterade naturkatastrofer orsakar till negativa konsekvenser till följd av skador på infrastruktur och människors hälsa. Denna kandidatuppsats syftar till att ge en översikt av den geografiska utbredningen av inträffade vattenrelaterade naturkatastroferna skred och översvämningar i Sverige. Vidare, är syftet att analysera konsekvenserna av inträffade vattenrelaterade naturkatastrofer, genom att svara på följande frågeställningar:  Hur har skred och översvämningar varit utspridda över tid i Sverige? Hur allvarliga har konsekvenserna av översvämningar och jordskred varit i Sverige? För att besvara dessa frågeställningar utfördes en analys i ArcGIS och Excel för att undersöka den geografiska utbredningen och konsekvenserna av skred och översvämningar. Resultatet visar att de tre län med flest områden som blivit påverkade av översvämningar är: Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Örebro. Dessa län utgör 36% av de drabbade områdena. Antalet påverkade områden av översvämningar har inträffat periodvis med en ökning sedan 1970. En detaljerad analys över åren 2011–2017 visade att de flesta översvämningar i Sverige resulterade i konsekvenser med liten utbredning och små skador.  Vidare, hade Västra Götaland, Västernorrland och Värmlands län högst antal inträffade skred. Totalt har 83.7% av alla skred inträffat inom dessa tre län. Detta innebär att fördelningen av områden påverkade av översvämningar har varit jämnare fördelade mellan olika län jämfört med skred. Inom dessa län är de områden som har haft anmärkningsvärt högt antal skred: Ångermanälven, Norsälven, Klarälven och områdena i närheten av Göta älv. Överlag har det varit vanligast att jordskred har en utbredning mellan 1000–10000 m2 och att en utbredning över 100000 m2 är ovanlig.