Farmers will supply the raw ingredients for the emerging cellulosic ethanol industry. The long-term relationship between a farmer and a processing firm is expected to be contractual. A processing firm has an incentive to sign long-term contracts to ensure a cost-efficient level of raw ingredient supply. However, farmers generally prefer to operate with either no contract or a short-term contract in order to maintain options for adjustments in future acreage allocations due to changes in relative prices. Of interest in this research is to understand the incentives of farmers and calculating the efficient level of the “inflexibility premium”, which a processing firm must provide to a farmer when a long term contract is signed. A stochastic dynamic programming model is solved and with the help of Microsoft Excel numerically evaluated to illustrate the marginal inflexibility premium is increasing with contract length and the level of price variability, and is decreasing with the size of acreage adjustment costs.

Farmers will supply the raw ingredients for the emerging cellulosic ethanol industry. The long-term relationship between a farmer and a processing firm is expected to be contractual. A processing firm has an incentive to sign long-term contracts to ensure a cost-efficient level of raw ingredient supply. However, farmers generally prefer to operate with either no contract or a short-term contract in order to maintain options for adjustments in future acreage allocations due to changes in relative prices. Of interest in this research is to understand the incentives of farmers and calculating the efficient level of the “inflexibility premium”, which a processing firm must provide to a farmer when a long term contract is signed. A stochastic dynamic programming model is solved and with the help of Microsoft Excel numerically evaluated to illustrate the marginal inflexibility premium is increasing with contract length and the level of price variability, and is decreasing with the size of acreage adjustment costs.

Farmers will supply the raw ingredients for the emerging cellulosic ethanol industry. The long-term relationship between a farmer and a processing firm is expected to be contractual. A processing firm has an incentive to sign long-term contracts to ensure a cost-efficient level of raw ingredient supply. However, farmers generally prefer to operate with either no contract or a short-term contract in order to maintain options for adjustments in future acreage allocations due to changes in relative prices. Of interest in this research is to understand the incentives of farmers and calculating the efficient level of the “inflexibility premium”, which a processing firm must provide to a farmer when a long term contract is signed. A stochastic dynamic programming model is solved and with the help of Microsoft Excel numerically evaluated to illustrate the marginal inflexibility premium is increasing with contract length and the level of price variability, and is decreasing with the size of acreage adjustment costs. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

<p>I characterize optimal long term contracts offered by a monopolist to a buyer whose private valuation evolves according to a branching process with privately known transition probability. The optimal contract can be implemented in a simple way, and presents the buyer with a tradeoff between a high initial fixed fee and low future prices. In an interaction with a long time horizon, the relationship will terminate prematurely with probability close to one. Optimal mechanisms are quite different from models in which the transition probability is known, and the buyer's private information is his initial valuation. Optimal contracts resemble the structure of term life insurance contracts, and have features similar to actual interactions between retailers and suppliers.</p> / Dissertation

O tema desenvolvido guarda pertinência com a denúncia unilateral do contrato, a qual só deve produzir efeitos depois de transcorrido prazo compatível com eventuais investimentos consideráveis realizados pela contraparte, a teor do art. 473, par. ún., do Código Civil. Sendo assim, a pesquisa foi iniciada com premissas teóricas atinentes à liberdade contratual e suas vicissitudes em distintos momentos históricos. Esclarecido que a liberdade contratual deve ser sopesada com a intervenção Estatal para otimizar o desenvolvimento econômico e o bem-estar social, o trabalho demonstra, inicialmente, a coerência da mencionada norma em meio ao paradigma contemporâneo dominante. Em seguida, foram apresentadas reflexões para explicar a finalidade da inserção do dispositivo legal no ordenamento positivo. Com intuito de vedar o abuso de poder econômico, a norma foi introduzida especificamente para coibir o exercício abusivo do direito de resilição. Sendo este o escopo da norma, a primeira parte do trabalho ofereceu subsídios para justificar porque cabe ao juiz impor a prorrogação contratual, quando o denunciante não respeitar prazos compatíveis com os investimentos empreendidos pela outra parte. Já quanto à segunda parte, foram lançadas elucubrações sobre os distintos aspectos das relações contratuais duradouras. Nesse ponto, foram apontadas importantes contribuições doutrinárias a respeito da influência do aspecto temporal sobre as relações contínuas e, ainda, perspectivas da análise econômica do direito, além da abordagem relacional do contrato. Restando elucidado que a prorrogação do contrato pode (e deve) ser imposta pelo intérprete, na última e terceira parte deste trabalho, é proposta uma interpretação sistemática e axiológica da norma do art. 473, par. ún., do Código Civil. / The subject developed concerns the unilateral termination of the contract, which shall only take effect after certain length compatible with sizeable investments made by the counterparty, as set forth in Article 473, sole paragraph, of the Civil Code. Therefore, the research began with theoretical premises regarding the contractual freedom and its variations in different historical moments. Once clarified that the contractual freedom must be counterbalanced by governmental intervention in order to optimize economic development and social well-being, the study initially demonstrates the consistency of the aforesaid rule in the midst of the currently reigning paradigm. In addition, some reflections were presented to explain the purpose of the insertion of the provision in the written body of laws. Seeking to prevent the abuse of economic power, the ruling was created specifically to diminish abusive use of the right to terminate. Given the scope of the provision, the first part of the paper sustained why should the judge extent the length of the notice when the terminating party fails to comply with a compatible term taken into account the investments carried out by the other party. As for the second part, there are musings about different aspects of long-term contracts. Important contributions from legal doctrine were pointed out concerning the influence of time on long-term relationships, and furthermore on perspectives of the economic analysis of Law, besides the relational approach to the contract. As it becomes plain that the extension of a contract may be, or rather ought to be, imposed by the judge, on the third and last part of the dissertation, it is proposed a systematic and axiological interpretation of the ruling set forth by Article 473, sole paragraph, of the Civil Code.

The main goal of these thesis is : to carry out all organization process that must be computerized. There are some processes which man cannot carry out withuot special software. The main critical proces is financial control of contracts. Contract begins with signing between our handing organization and customers. Each contract consists of terms and good‘s that must be delivered at time. The name of thesis „long term... „ says that contract conditions are exercised in parts. Goods are been delivered in parts and payment is been getting in parts too. So there are many contracts, and the man is unable to control all its himself. So our software must do financial contract control : to mark parts of good of each contract, allow to see every condition of contracts, and allow to solve the problem of goods identification (BAR codes), because our organization is an agent in trading range. We made our software, theretofore did analysis of excisting software, software that can be partially useful for us and can be upgraded using our functional requirements. We used to modificate typical agreement data model by Len Silverston and use it to transform to DB schema (realationships). Our software (projecting and coding) is made using these tools : Rational Rose, MS Visio, Borland Delphi, MS Access and MS SQL Server.

O tema desenvolvido guarda pertinência com a denúncia unilateral do contrato, a qual só deve produzir efeitos depois de transcorrido prazo compatível com eventuais investimentos consideráveis realizados pela contraparte, a teor do art. 473, par. ún., do Código Civil. Sendo assim, a pesquisa foi iniciada com premissas teóricas atinentes à liberdade contratual e suas vicissitudes em distintos momentos históricos. Esclarecido que a liberdade contratual deve ser sopesada com a intervenção Estatal para otimizar o desenvolvimento econômico e o bem-estar social, o trabalho demonstra, inicialmente, a coerência da mencionada norma em meio ao paradigma contemporâneo dominante. Em seguida, foram apresentadas reflexões para explicar a finalidade da inserção do dispositivo legal no ordenamento positivo. Com intuito de vedar o abuso de poder econômico, a norma foi introduzida especificamente para coibir o exercício abusivo do direito de resilição. Sendo este o escopo da norma, a primeira parte do trabalho ofereceu subsídios para justificar porque cabe ao juiz impor a prorrogação contratual, quando o denunciante não respeitar prazos compatíveis com os investimentos empreendidos pela outra parte. Já quanto à segunda parte, foram lançadas elucubrações sobre os distintos aspectos das relações contratuais duradouras. Nesse ponto, foram apontadas importantes contribuições doutrinárias a respeito da influência do aspecto temporal sobre as relações contínuas e, ainda, perspectivas da análise econômica do direito, além da abordagem relacional do contrato. Restando elucidado que a prorrogação do contrato pode (e deve) ser imposta pelo intérprete, na última e terceira parte deste trabalho, é proposta uma interpretação sistemática e axiológica da norma do art. 473, par. ún., do Código Civil. / The subject developed concerns the unilateral termination of the contract, which shall only take effect after certain length compatible with sizeable investments made by the counterparty, as set forth in Article 473, sole paragraph, of the Civil Code. Therefore, the research began with theoretical premises regarding the contractual freedom and its variations in different historical moments. Once clarified that the contractual freedom must be counterbalanced by governmental intervention in order to optimize economic development and social well-being, the study initially demonstrates the consistency of the aforesaid rule in the midst of the currently reigning paradigm. In addition, some reflections were presented to explain the purpose of the insertion of the provision in the written body of laws. Seeking to prevent the abuse of economic power, the ruling was created specifically to diminish abusive use of the right to terminate. Given the scope of the provision, the first part of the paper sustained why should the judge extent the length of the notice when the terminating party fails to comply with a compatible term taken into account the investments carried out by the other party. As for the second part, there are musings about different aspects of long-term contracts. Important contributions from legal doctrine were pointed out concerning the influence of time on long-term relationships, and furthermore on perspectives of the economic analysis of Law, besides the relational approach to the contract. As it becomes plain that the extension of a contract may be, or rather ought to be, imposed by the judge, on the third and last part of the dissertation, it is proposed a systematic and axiological interpretation of the ruling set forth by Article 473, sole paragraph, of the Civil Code.

O presente trabalho analisa as relações de consumo nos planos privados de assistência à saúde a partir dos princípios da vulnerabilidade e da confiança. Aborda o contexto pós-moderno no qual este pacto está inserido e os reflexos que o avançar da idade podem trazer aos serviços médico-ambulatoriais. Analisa o tema a partir da doutrina, legislação e jurisprudência, investigando qual a resposta dada pelos operadores do direito para enfrentar os desafios que o agravamento da vulnerabilidade do consumidor-idoso traz aos planos e seguros de saúde. Busca verificar quais os instrumentos necessários para a tutela da saúde do idoso e de sua confiança, permitindo que ingressem nestes pactos com padrões mínimos e inderrogáveis de proteção, para que haja um desenvolvimento social harmônico e um crescimento econômico equilibrado desta importante parcela do mercado de consumo. Aborda a vulnerabilidade inerente à relação de consumo e a imprescindibilidade de uma hermenêutica jurídica adequada à proteção dos idosos nos contratos de planos e seguros de assistência à saúde, bem como a importância do diálogo das fontes para reconstruir a confiança dos consumidores-idosos. Examina o fenômeno crescente da judicialização da saúde suplementar no Brasil para o controle de cláusulas e práticas abusivas neste importante setor do mercado de consumo. Por fim, ressalta a necessidade de ações afirmativas no campo dos serviços privados médico-assistenciais através do diálogo das instituições como forma de reconstruir e reforçar a confiança do consumidor. / The present work analyzes consumer relations in the healthcare plans and in the health insurance based on the principles of vulnerability and trust. It addresses the postmodern context in which this pact is inserted and the reflexes that advancing age can bring to the medical outpatient services. It analyzes this issue from the doctrine, legislation and jurisprudence, investigating the response given by legal operators to the challenges that the aggravation of the vulnerability of the elderly consumer can bring to health insurance and healthcare plans. It seeks to verify the necessary mechanisms to protect the health of the elderly and their confidence, allowing them to enter in these contracts with minimum and non-derogable standards of protection, so it can be had a harmonious social development and balanced economic growth of this important part of the consumer market. It discourses the vulnerability inherent in the relationship of consumption and the indispensability of proper legal interpretation to the protection of the elderly in healthcare plans and health insurance, and the importance of the dialogue of the sources to rebuild elderly consumer confidence. Examines the growing phenomenon of the development of the number of claims at the Judiciary, associated to matters related to health insurance and healthcare plans in Brazil and to the control of clauses and abusive practices in this important sector of the consumer market. Finally, it emphasizes the need for affirmative action in the field of private medical care services through institutional dialogue to rebuild consumer confidence and strengthen the principle of trust, contributing to a harmonious social development and balanced economic growth. Finally, it emphasizes the need for affirmative action in the field of private medical care services through institutional dialogue to rebuild consumer confidence and strengthen the principle of trust.

Trafikverket ansvarar för det statliga vägnätet i Sverige. Vägnätet består av cirka 15 500 broar som ständigt utsätts för olika former av nedbrytning. Broarna behöver därför underhållas med jämna mellanrum både för att hålla broarna i ett bra skick och för att motverka att nedbrytningen påskyndas. Under de senare åren har Trafikverket utformat en ny upphandlingsmetod av brounderhåll. Den går ut på att allt brounderhåll för en region paketeras, i ett s.k. brounderhållspaket, som en entreprenör sköter i en femårig period. I brounderhållspaketen ingår förebyggande underhåll, avhjälpande underhåll och akut underhåll. Syftet med det här arbetet är att följa upp den nya formen att upphandla brounderhåll i paket. Målet är att tydliggöra vilka vinster, eller förluster, som gjorts i effektivitet i hela kedjan sedan införandet av brounderhåll i paket.   De metoder som använts vid skapandet av examensarbetet är litteraturstudier, möten och intervjuer samt analyser, beräkningar och jämförelser. Resultatet visar hur beställare, entreprenör och konsult arbetar i brounderhållspaket och vad som har förändrats jämfört med hur de arbetade med brounderhåll tidigare. De största effektivitetsvinsterna är administrativa. Genom att brounderhållspaketen är en totalentreprenad läggs mycket av ansvaret över från beställaren till entreprenören och därmed får beställaren tid till andra arbetsuppgifter. Eftersom brounderhållet numera ligger i eget kontrakt som löper under en längre tid får beställaren också en kunnig entreprenör till arbetet vilket minskar antalet grundläggande frågor och frigör tid. Entreprenören får mer frihet när arbetena skall utföras och samtidigt mer tid till att planera underhållsarbetet. Genom en tät kommunikation mellan beställare och entreprenör blir beslutsvägarna kortare vilket effektiviserar hela kedjan. Skaraborgspaketet var ett av de första brounderhållspaketen och det skiljer sig mycket från de senare underhållspaketen. Den största förändringen ligger i förfrågningsunderlagen. Skaraborgspaketet utgick från en fiktiv bro medan förfrågningsunderlagen i de nyare paketen behandlar verkliga åtgärder som entreprenören kommer att utföra under den kontrakterade tiden. / Trafikverket is responsible for the public traffic network in Sweden. The traffic network contains around 15 500 bridges that constantly are exposed of different kinds of degradation. The bridges must therefore be maintained at regular intervals both to keep bridges in good condition and to prevent the degradation accelerated. During the last years Trafikverket has developed a new procurement method of bridge maintenance. The method involves that all bridges maintenance of a region is being bundled to one contract that an entrepreneur handles for five years, a socalled bridge maintenance package. A bridge maintenance package exists of preventive maintenance, remedial maintenance and emergency maintenance. The purpose of this paper is to follow up the new form to procure bridge maintenance in package. The goal is to clarify the gains or losses made in efficiency since the introduction of bridge maintenance in package. Methods used in the creating of this thesis are literary studies, meetings and interviews along with analysis, calculations and comparisons. The result lays the foundation for the client, contractor and consultant working in the bridge maintenance package and further what has changed from the way they were working on bridge maintenance earlier. The largest efficiency gains are administrative. Because a bridge maintenance package is a turnkey contract the majority of responsibility is put on the contractor, instead of the client, which gives the client time for other tasks. Nowadays the bridge maintenance is in a separate contract which lasts for a longer time which gives the client a more qualified contractor for that kind of work which is reducing the number of fundamental questions and gives the client extra time. The contractor will get more operating freedom and at the same time more time to plan maintenance work. Through frequent communication between client and contractor decision-making paths becomes shorter which gives more efficiency throughout the entire process. The package in the region Skaraborg was one of the first bridge maintenance packages and it differs a lot from later maintenance packages. The biggest difference is in the contract documents. The package in Skaraborg was based on a fictional bridge while the more recent maintenance packages documents addresses the real action which the contractor will perform during the contracted period.

O presente trabalho analisa as relações de consumo nos planos privados de assistência à saúde a partir dos princípios da vulnerabilidade e da confiança. Aborda o contexto pós-moderno no qual este pacto está inserido e os reflexos que o avançar da idade podem trazer aos serviços médico-ambulatoriais. Analisa o tema a partir da doutrina, legislação e jurisprudência, investigando qual a resposta dada pelos operadores do direito para enfrentar os desafios que o agravamento da vulnerabilidade do consumidor-idoso traz aos planos e seguros de saúde. Busca verificar quais os instrumentos necessários para a tutela da saúde do idoso e de sua confiança, permitindo que ingressem nestes pactos com padrões mínimos e inderrogáveis de proteção, para que haja um desenvolvimento social harmônico e um crescimento econômico equilibrado desta importante parcela do mercado de consumo. Aborda a vulnerabilidade inerente à relação de consumo e a imprescindibilidade de uma hermenêutica jurídica adequada à proteção dos idosos nos contratos de planos e seguros de assistência à saúde, bem como a importância do diálogo das fontes para reconstruir a confiança dos consumidores-idosos. Examina o fenômeno crescente da judicialização da saúde suplementar no Brasil para o controle de cláusulas e práticas abusivas neste importante setor do mercado de consumo. Por fim, ressalta a necessidade de ações afirmativas no campo dos serviços privados médico-assistenciais através do diálogo das instituições como forma de reconstruir e reforçar a confiança do consumidor. / The present work analyzes consumer relations in the healthcare plans and in the health insurance based on the principles of vulnerability and trust. It addresses the postmodern context in which this pact is inserted and the reflexes that advancing age can bring to the medical outpatient services. It analyzes this issue from the doctrine, legislation and jurisprudence, investigating the response given by legal operators to the challenges that the aggravation of the vulnerability of the elderly consumer can bring to health insurance and healthcare plans. It seeks to verify the necessary mechanisms to protect the health of the elderly and their confidence, allowing them to enter in these contracts with minimum and non-derogable standards of protection, so it can be had a harmonious social development and balanced economic growth of this important part of the consumer market. It discourses the vulnerability inherent in the relationship of consumption and the indispensability of proper legal interpretation to the protection of the elderly in healthcare plans and health insurance, and the importance of the dialogue of the sources to rebuild elderly consumer confidence. Examines the growing phenomenon of the development of the number of claims at the Judiciary, associated to matters related to health insurance and healthcare plans in Brazil and to the control of clauses and abusive practices in this important sector of the consumer market. Finally, it emphasizes the need for affirmative action in the field of private medical care services through institutional dialogue to rebuild consumer confidence and strengthen the principle of trust, contributing to a harmonious social development and balanced economic growth. Finally, it emphasizes the need for affirmative action in the field of private medical care services through institutional dialogue to rebuild consumer confidence and strengthen the principle of trust.