Purpose: The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of how a bank’s features and internal factors have affected its choice of method in calculating the capital requirement. Theoretical and Empirical Method: The research strategy of this study has been of a qualitative nature with a deductive approach. The choice of method was depth interviews with respondents from a targeted sample of Swedish banks. These respondents were chosen based on the knowledge they possess as key employees in the capital requirement process and their involvement in choosing their banks’ method for calculating the capital requirement. The interviews were semi-structured, with open questions that allowed a dialogue with the respondents in which they could express their opinions and knowledge regarding the factors affecting their banks’ choice of method. Theoretical Approach: The study is based on the new institutional economics theory of how institutions affect organizational behavior. It’s also based on earlier research within the regulation Basel II by, among others, Hakenes and Schabel (2011), Rime (2005) and Wahlström (2009). Conclusions: The results of this study show that banks have identified different factors that affect their choice of calculation method for the capital requirement. The choice the banks are facing is to keep the standardized method, develop an advanced internal based method, create partnerships with other banks or focus on alternative clientele portfolios. The two factors that were considered to be have the greatest significant for the choice of calculation method were resources associated with the implementation of the IRB approach models and how the banks’ clientele portfolio was designed. How these were distributed and to what extent they influenced the choice was highly individual for the chosen banks. / Syfte: Syftet med den här studien är att öka förståelsen om hur en banks förutsättningar och interna faktorer har påverkat dess val av beräkningsmetod för kapitalkravet. Teoretisk och empirisk metod: Forskningsstrategin för studien har varit av den kvalitativa typen med en deduktiv ansats. Valet av metod var djupintervjuer med respondenter från ett målinriktat urval av svenska banker. Respondenterna valdes utifrån de kunskaper som de besitter genom sin position på respektive bank, där deras deltagande i metodvalsprocessen påverkade valet av beräkningsmetod. Intervjuerna var av typen semistrukturerade, med öppna intervjufrågor för att få till en dialog med respondenterna och ta del av deras åsikter och kunskaper gällande de olika faktorerna till metodvalet. Teoretisk referensram: Studien utgick från den nyinstitutionella teorin, om hur institutioner påverkar organisationers beteenden. Den har baserats på tidigare forskning inom regelverket Basel II av bland annat Hakenes och Schnabel (2011), Rime (2005) samt Wahlström (2009). Slutsats: Resultatet av denna studie visar på att bankerna har identifierat olika faktorer som påverkar valet av beräkningsmetod för kapitalkravet. Valet som bankerna står inför är att behålla Schablonmetoden, utveckla en IRK-metod, skapa samarbeten med andra banker eller fokusera på alternativa klientelportföljer. De två faktorer som ansågs ha störst signifikans för valet av beräkningsmetod var resurserna som förknippades med implementeringen av modellerna i IRKmetoden och hur bankens klientelportfölj var utformad. Hur dessa var fördelade och i vilken grad de påverkade valet var högst individuellt för de utvalda bankerna.

This dissertation proposes stress testing of a bank’s corporate credit portfolio in a Basel Internal Ratings Based (IRB) framework, using publicly available macroeconomic variables. Corporate insolvencies are used to derive a credit cycle index, which is linked to macroeconomic variables through a multiple regression model. Probability of default (PD) and loss given default (LGD) that are conditional on the worst state of the credit cycle are derived from through-the-cycle PDs and LGDs. These are then used as stressed inputs into the Basel regulatory and Economic capital calculation for credit risk. Contrary to the usual expert judgement stress testing approaches, where management apply their subjective view to stress the portfolio, this approach allows macroeconomic variables to guide the severity of selected stress testing scenarios. The result is a robust stress testing framework using Rösch and Scheule (2008) conditional LGD that is correlated to the stressed PD. The downturn LGD used here is an alternative to the widely used Federal Reserve downturn LGD which assumes no correlation between PDs and LGDs. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Mathematics and Applied Mathematics / Unrestricted

Since the implementation of the Basel II framework in 2007, banks have been given the  opportunity to apply for the option to develop intern models for calculating their required capital. The purpose with this opportunity is that the capital requirements will correspond to the real risk exposure. This has been criticized, since there are incentives for the bank to do  an incorrect risk assessment intentionally and through that get a lower capital requirement. In this report we study how this opportunity affects the banks’ capitalization and if stricter capital requirements in fact leads to that the Swedish banks are better prepared for a financial crisis. The report also describes the risks that this opportunity to internal rating  causes. The study has been done by qualitative method where seven people, with different interests in the market, have been interviewed. By the answers given by the respondents and by earlier publications this report reveals that stronger capitalization is positive, but that  the Basel framework causes a risk that the banks intentionally underestimates  their risks. Nor is it possible to conclude that the banks are better prepared for a crisis afterthe implementation. This is because the IRB approach is something new and therefore  not optimized and yet balanced.

Graphical information presented as pictures, graphs, maps, and the like are an important media for relaying knowledge and are a fundamental means of education rarely experienced by people who are blind or have a severe visual impairment. This thesis presents the design, development and testing of a multiple finger, haptic matrix dynamic display device capable of relaying graphical information through simulated textures. The design is based on user perception studies that determined which hand constraints provided the best tradeoff between simplicity of design, accuracy and time to answer. The best design was one that incorporated multiple fingers in close proximity to each other and restricted wrist rotation. Upon further testing after the development of the device, evidence was gathered to show its effectiveness. Although subjects could determine key information from the simulated textures, there is a clear mismatch between the simulated representations of the objects and their tactile or embossed counterparts. There is some evidence that shows that the spatial resolution of the actuators may be a source of this error and also some evidence to state that it is the inability to track the edges that causes the difference between determining the physical diagrams and the simulated. On the other hand, results on determining locations using simulated maps were far closer to the control texture maps used than the results for object diagrams. Further studies could be done to determine the effect of higher actuator spatial resolution on object identification and edge tracking.

This thesis analyzes the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)’s treatment of culture in recent family sponsorship decisions. Drawing upon theories of cultural difference, identity construction, and Critical Race Theory, it examines IRB decision-makers’ assessments of cultural factors and their influence on the evaluation of parties’ credibility. This thesis argues that appellants and applicants before the Immigration Appeal Division often had to demonstrate that their family class relationships were “performed” in accordance with the norms of their culture. Many IRB Members relied on essentialist conceptions of culture, and thus generated problematic images of both cultural minorities and Canadian society. Further, the identity of parties was often constructed in terms of defined categories such as ethnic background, religion, marital status, age, and disability. In conclusion, this thesis offers reflections on how issues of cultural identity can be more fairly and sensitively addressed by administrative tribunals such as the IRB.

This thesis analyzes the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)’s treatment of culture in recent family sponsorship decisions. Drawing upon theories of cultural difference, identity construction, and Critical Race Theory, it examines IRB decision-makers’ assessments of cultural factors and their influence on the evaluation of parties’ credibility. This thesis argues that appellants and applicants before the Immigration Appeal Division often had to demonstrate that their family class relationships were “performed” in accordance with the norms of their culture. Many IRB Members relied on essentialist conceptions of culture, and thus generated problematic images of both cultural minorities and Canadian society. Further, the identity of parties was often constructed in terms of defined categories such as ethnic background, religion, marital status, age, and disability. In conclusion, this thesis offers reflections on how issues of cultural identity can be more fairly and sensitively addressed by administrative tribunals such as the IRB.

1999年國際清算銀行巴塞爾銀行監督管理委員會發布了新巴塞爾資本協定架構，歷經多次討論修改後，於2004年6月公告新版巴塞爾資本協定(Basel Accord II)，並將於2006年底開始施行。我國金管會於93年9月亦發函銀行業者並公佈因應新制協定相關措施，期能在2006年底與國際同步正式實施,這不僅是國際金融史上重要的大事,也是我國金融史上重要的里程碑,因為它的象徵意義顯示出我國金融業風險管理制度的提升跨向國際同步的企圖心。 本研究從探討新舊版巴塞爾資本協定內涵的差異到我國金管會與銀行業者 因應新制的準備概況,繼而以C銀行為例說明,並聚焦在執行信用風險管理內部 評等模型法(IRB法)之前與之後銀行對服務業的中型與中小型企業授信融資之影響進行實證研究,本研究隨機抽取96家企業授信案件並假設了11項參考變數 分別為: 信評等級、額度、期間、授信產品項目數、擔保比率、風險成本率、台幣放款利率、權限核章人數、申貸流程所需天數、授信主力銀行、授信控管條件項目數等,作為銀行執行新舊不同信用風險評等模型制度對企業授信融資的差異 研究重點。 實證研究結果:(1)各假設變數中僅風險成本率與授信產品項目數兩項在新 舊不同制度中具顯著差異的。(2)較佳的信評等級所具有的融資優勢程度在新制度執行後更顯相對重要。(3)面對中、小型企業,銀行徵提擔保品、增加擔保率是最快速有效降低風險成本率的方法。(4)新制施行初期難敵市場壓力反應成本利率價格。(5)從有無內外帳企業的信評等級結果發現其對融資條件的影響有顯著差異。(6)是否為家族企業，不因新制施行受到差別影響。 本研究並提出建議:(1)政府應繼續並擴大對於中小企業信用基金保證規模 ,尤其應考慮修改服務業產業之中小型企業規模定義。(2)銀行應審慎面對信用評等與融資報價條件之間的兩難。(3)中小企業應加強經營制度透明化,尤其在財務會計制度方面。(4)銀行應加強對企業之產業瞭解深度以利授信金融商品創新與包裝架構。(5)銀行應重新審視績效考核管理機制。(6)銀行實施新制後應每年檢核模型歷史資料,把景氣變動因子列入修正參考。

At present, cardiovascular diseases cause ca. 30 of deaths worldwide, and are the most common cause of death and disability (The World Health Report 2002; Pearson 1999). Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for nearly 50 of all deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases. In 2002, 7.2 million people died of CAD worldwide, and 5.8 million new cases were diagnosed. In 2000, the number of people with CAD around the world amounted to ca. 40 millions (Mackay 2004). The modern understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and the concept of “cardiovascular risk factors” started forming in 1950s, when the first findings of the Framingham study were published (Wilson et al. 1998, D’Agostino et al. 2000). Information accumulated during scientific research on atherosclerosis allowed for a significant reduction of CAD-related mortality in the developed countries during the last 20 years, but a more profound analysis showed that the mortality mostly decreased in males, whereas in females it continues to grow. Nearly two-thirds of suddenly deceased women previously showed no clinical symptoms of CAD (AHA 2002). This most probably was influenced by a still predominant erroneous opinion that women, especially of younger age, very rarely have CAD and atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries. Epidemiological studies showed that cardiovascular diseases induced by atherosclerosis are equally frequent cause of death in both males and females. Of all patients who in 2000 in the U.S. died... [to full text]

This master’s thesis deals with programming of control system for an automatic assembly line rear seats of passenger cars. The theoretical part describes assembly line, PLC, robot, electric nutrunner and intelligent camera Sick. Practical part of the thesis characterizes created programs of assembly workplace control system. This part also explains creating a model of station and subsequent formal verification of basic safety and functional properties.

The thesis "Credit risk from Basel II point of view" deals with new capital concept with main focus on the credit risk. The particular emphasis is laid on the chief issue of Basel II concept i.e. internal models. The thesis quite in detail describes the usage of basel parameters - LGD particularly - in various day-to-day business processes of credit institutions. An individual part of the thesis is devoted to credit risk mitigants and their impacts on the amount of capital requirements. The analysis carried out precedent Basel II implementation indicated the launching of Basel II should imply risk weighted assests to credit risk decline. This documents the last chapter.