Thesis (M.U.R.P.) -- University of Adelaide, Department of Planning, 1977.

This study examined the location decisions of family physicians in Saskatchewan by determining the factors that influence family physicians’ location decisions, and identifying the major themes from the factors. The research employed a rational choice model as a basis to design the methodology and explain how Saskatchewan family physicians make their practice location and re-location decisions. A mixed method approach, including an on-line questionnaire survey and interviews with key health agencies, was used to collect and analyse data. Data from the survey were summarised using summary statistics and cross tabulation. Responses from stakeholder interviews were transcribed and analyzed using interpretive description method. The mixed method approach elicited a rich and detailed description of family physicians’ location decisions. Participants of the study ranked family concern, work-life balance and community influence as the most influential factors of family physicians’ location decisions. The fourth factor of locations decisions according the study was compensation. Although compensation was mentioned as a factor, it was recorded as the least influential factor among the participants of this research. Other factors that were identified as having some influence on practice location choices were respect and appreciation, and scope of practice. To conclude, the study found that location decisions are not only about identifying the major influential factors of practice location choices, but also involve finding a good match between family physicians and potential practice locations and communities. That is, family physicians’ preferences must match the characteristics of the potential communities. Based on the conclusion, the study made two policy recommendations regarding the matching between family physicians and communities. The first policy recommendation is strategic matching between family physicians and communities for more efficient and effective recruitment and retention. The second recommendation is providing strategic incentives to ensure access to family physician services for the population in communities that do not meet the requirements of the strategic matching.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2004. / Supervisor: George O. Wesolowsky. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-125). Also available online.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Hikaru H. Peterson / The geographic distribution and structure of the U.S. dairy industry have changed considerably during the last 30 years with larger herds representing an increasing proportion of the nation’s overall dairy cow inventory and producing a greater share of the milk. Geographically, the migration of dairies from traditional production regions to states formerly unfamiliar with dairy production has transpired with the greatest increases in Federal Milk Marketing Order marketings occurring in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and Southwest Kansas since the 1980’s. This study seeks to define the factors influencing the dairy location decision applying spatial econometric techniques. To examine the effects of county-specific demographic, environmental, and market factors as well as to test for the influence of spatial agglomeration economies on the geographic distribution of the U.S. dairy industry, a spatially explicit, county-level model of the dairy production sector was developed. Quantities of milk marketed through the Federal Milk Marketing Order during the month of May for counties in 45 states during 1997 and 2002 were specified as a function of natural endowments, business climate, production resource availability, milk price, and market access. The model was estimated according to spatial autoregressive (spatially lagged dependent variable) and spatial Durbin (lagged dependent and independent variables) specifications accounting for the censored nature of the dependent variable and heteroskedastic errors. Based on RMSE, the spatial error model was selected to make out of sample predictions for 2004. The change in milk marketings between 1997 and 2002 was regressed on the 1997 independent variables using non-Tobit versions of the same models with limited success. Results indicated a small but statistically significant presence of spatial agglomeration effects in the dairy industry in both 1997 and 2002 and revealed changes in the degrees of influence of several variables between the two periods examined. Population and the wages of agricultural workers became significant in 2002, while the elasticities of feed availability diminished, consistent with an increase in western-style dairy production. Interestingly, the spatial parameter decreased from 0.052 in 1997 to 0.028 in 2002 suggesting spatial agglomeration economies had a diminishing role in determining the amount of milk marketed in a county.

The study of location has a long and extensive history. As this area of study has evolved, there has been an increased recognition of the challenges and the many significant external factors, driven by the changes of trends and criteria on location decisions. Whether it is the world economy, technology and environment issues, and it has affected the existing models used in production location decision.    The primary aim of this thesis was to review the broad base of literature of production location decision, especially on models and factors concerning the manufacturing and supply chain area. The thesis also uncovers previous research that has examined the current status concerning models and factors used in production localisation decision.   Following a brief quantitative analysis of the research area development, the project applied mainly a qualitative approach to the study. Literature databases, literature reviews and case study reports were used as data sources. Literature reviews were used as base for the description, explanation, exploration and correlation analyses within the study.   Based on existing literature, this thesis presents a framework to categorise the existing location models and factors. The framework presents the used models and factors in production location decisions. Three industrial case study reports (from master thesis projects from Väderstad, Alfdex and IKEA) were gathered and used to examine the researchers’ own synthetic framework and further explore the research questions. The result is summarized in the framework that can lead users to understand the current status and the trend concerning the models and factors used in production location decision.     Keywords: Location decision, Production location, Location models and Location factors, Models and actors categorization.

Outsourcing is a trend that has penetrated many industries over the last years taking the form of offshore outsourcing in many cases. However the location decision that follows the offshore outsourcing or the offshoring decision is quite complex and almost impossible to be answered through a linear model. A series of frameworks have been developed attempting to facilitate the process above.The focus of this work is the analysis of the location decision making through the reflection of the existing literature and the example of a specific country, Greece. Greece is chosen as a dynamic environment where the recent economic crisis has provoked structural reforms at the country, affecting the attractiveness of the location. The analysis of country is based on an OECD recent survey while the comparison is made with the assistance of a specific location decision model.Based on the findings of this study, it can be claimed that the case of Greece is quite different compared to other countries at the past which have faced similar situations. Further the reforms that take place need more time in order to be projected and trigger the attractiveness of the location.

Studien undersöker de faktorer som ligger bakom spelutvecklingsföretagens val vid etablering i de centrala delarna av Malmö. Analys har gjorts på hur spelutvecklingsföretagen resonerar kring deras beslut samt vilka faktorer de grundar sin lokalisering på. Enligt tidigare studier är det vanligt att kontorssektorn lokaliserar sig centralt då företaget kan dra nytta av de agglomerationsfördelar som generellt skapas genom kluster. Vid en nyttomaximerad verksamhet blir betalningsviljan högre på dessa platser. Andra studier har däremot visat att spelutvecklingsföretag har möjligheten att placera sig utanför städerna eftersom de inte har samma karaktärsdrag som den karakteristiska kontorssektorn. Den här studien är avgränsad inom spelutvecklingsindustrin i Malmö, vilket inte inkluderar online gambling. Malmö är en välkänd spelhubb världen över och det sker många internationella rekryteringar. Staden erbjuder bra kommunikationer både regionalt men också internationellt då Köpenhamns flygplats bara ligger 20 minuter från Malmös centralstation. Det empiriska materialet är insamlat via semistrukturerade intervjuer gjorda med representanter från både Massive Entertainment och Avalanche Studios. Studien bygger på en kvalitativ ansats men också textanalys då vi granskat spelutvecklingsföretagens internethemsidor. Grunden för studien har byggts upp med hjälp av teoretiskt material. Resultatet av studien visar att spelföretag beaktar medarbetarnas närhet till arbetsplatsen som en av de viktigaste faktorerna vid placering av deras kontor. Det är viktigt att kontorsplaceringen förenklar gång- och cykelavstånd till och från de stora kommunikationspunkterna. En annan orsak till att både Massive och Avalanche etablerade sig i Malmö var att man ville vara en del i stadens gemenskap. De flesta spelutvecklingsföretagen i Malmö är beroende av varandra därför att de delar samma typ av arbetskraft, kompetens och genom närhet till varandra underlättas stora sammankomster och samarbeten. / The study examines the underlying factors behind game development companies choices when establishing in the central parts of Malmö. The analysis has been based on how game development companies reason about their decision as well as which factors they found their localisation on. According to previous studies it is common that the office sector often choose to localise centrally because the company can benefit from the agglomeration economies that are generally created through clusters. By having a utility maximized business the willingness-to-pay increases in these places. However previous studies have shown that game development companies have the opportunity to locate outside of the cities since they do not have the same characteristics as the common office sector.This study is limited to the game development industry in Malmo, which do not include online gambling. Malmo is a well-known gaming hub worldwide and there is frequent international recruitment. The city offers good communications both regionally and internationally, since Copenhagen Airport is only 20 minutes away from Malmo centralstation.The empirical material is gathered through semi-structured interviews made with representatives from both Massive Entertainment and Avalanche Studios. The study is founded on a qualitative approach but also text analysis by examining game development companies websites. The foundation of the study has been based on theoretical material. The results of the study show that the game development companies take their employees commute into consideration as one of the most important factors for the placement of their office. It is of importance that the office placement simplifies with easy access to and from the workplace by foot and cycling as well as the main commuting routes. Another reason why both Massive and Avalanche established themselves in Malmo was because they wanted to be part of the city's community. Most game development companies in Malmo are dependent on each other because they are sharing the same type of workforce and competence, and through proximity to each other, large gatherings and collaborations are facilitated.

消費是現代人最常進行的日常行為之一，在追求淨利益最大化的前提下，廠商分析消費者行為，利用行銷概念探討並創造足以滿足消費者的行銷組合，檢視何時、何地、以何方式可滿足消費者最大需求。考慮到消費者行為特性，廠商選擇在商業、服務業發展繁盛地區提供服務，不同的廠商作出相同的商業區位選擇後，同質性(homogeneous)或是異質性(Heterogeneous)的商業設施不斷地群聚在一起，而群聚形成的商業核心區或是商圈，則又再度吸引消費者到此地進行消費行為。本文認為消費者行為與消費空間結構是互依的，對廠商而言，知覺並預測消費者的行為特性，並作出區位選擇行為是重要的。廠商藉此達成其區位決策，而重複性的區位決策造成空間上的聚集現象，又成為消費者再度前往該地的吸引力，從宏觀的角度同時分析「消費者行為、廠商區位與廠商空間聚集」之間的關係，不但使消費空間結構的解釋更為合理，對照消費者行為的變遷，便更能說明消費空間形式或其分佈上的改變。 本研究試圖從一個統整的分析角度探討需求面的消費者行為與供給面的廠商兩方，利用現況調查法、問卷調查法等研究方法，以台北市三大商圈作為實證範圍，對商業設施之經營者進行調查，以充分瞭解供給面廠商對於消費者行為與廠商區位決策之間關係的實際看法，並實證「消費者行為與廠商區位決策之關係」；另針對商圈內的消費者作消費者問卷調查，以瞭解需求面消費者的屬性與行為特性情形、消費行為的偏好分析，並分析廠商空間聚集與消費者行為兩類因素的關係，作為本文實證「消費者行為與廠商空間聚集現象二者關係」的依據。依上述的實證結果建構出「消費者行為、廠商區位與廠商空間聚集」之間影響關係的架構，所獲得的成果希望可為私部門廠商區位決策亦或是公部門制訂相關商業政策的參考。

Infrastructure—communications, energy, transport, waste, and water networks—is critical for economic activity and social well-being. Practitioners, politicians, and economists advocate high levels of investment in infrastructure under the rubric of 'planning for growth' (or the 'push' paradigm). This paradigm relies on complex public-private arrangements in the name of public interest. These seemingly reasonable arrangements are, however, not delivering their promise. Evidence shows that the needs of infrastructure users in rich and poor countries are not being met, many private providers of infrastructure earn rich returns, assets are rarely built in time or on budget, and there is tremendous waste in the operation of many infrastructure industries. No other sector could survive the profligacy and slack common in infrastructure. I distil the following primary propositions of the accepted wisdom, which is inspired by mainstream economics: First, infrastructure assets necessarily entail high sunk costs and large economies of scale. Consequently, assets last for very long periods of time, and they cannot be readily moved. Second, infrastructure outputs are homogeneous. Third, one network fits all users (large and small). Fourth, infrastructure users, even large ones, are likely to have weak bargaining power in procurement of infrastructure outputs. I challenge these four propositions of the conventional wisdom by putting forward alternative hypotheses. First, instead of being monolithic and costly, infrastructures can be assembled (and disassembled) as flexible modules for specific users in specific places. Drawing on option pricing theory in quantitative finance, I recast infrastructures as 'portfolios of real options'. Second, infrastructure outputs are, in fact, heterogeneous and differentiated services. Third, one infrastructure network cannot fit all users, either today or in the future. Users are remarkably heterogeneous, not only in terms of unique user preferences but also in terms of spatial location. Infrastructure networks need to evolve in tandem with user needs or risk spatial, temporal, and relational obsolescence. Finally, users, large and small, are adept at exerting strong bargaining power in procuring infrastructure both prior to and after rendering durable and immobile investments. Users also strategically deploy intermediaries, e.g. futures and Over-the-Counter (OTC) exchanges, and real estate developers, to negotiate private contracts for infrastructure services. These findings are supported by two case studies. The first case study details the process by which ThyssenKrupp, a large steel company, bargained for its infrastructure by locating to a manufacturing site in the U.S. The second case study focuses on residents of Lavasa, one of the largest property developments in India. Here, small users of infrastructure exert strong bargaining power with the aid of intermediaries—the real estate developer and the property asset manager. New departures in infrastructure provision are urgently needed at a practical level. Poor investments rendered today—particularly if costly, inflexible, and durable—will suffocate tomorrow’s possibilities. The spatial, temporal, and relational approach proposed in this dissertation begins to offer an alternative account of how tomorrow can be modularly shaped.