This thesis employs two new approaches to explain some of the important debates in two key economic fields: labour market economics and macroeconomic studies related to current account imbalances. Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 begin a new strand of research by introducing the normal inverse Gaussian (NIG) distribution to describe unobserved heterogeneity in the labour market. The NIG distribution can be represented as a normal variance-mean mixture with the inverse Gaussian (IG) distribution as the mixing distribution. A 0.01% subsample of the 1980 US Census, comprising all men between 18 and 65 who are in the labour force, as well as a comparable sample from Ghana, is used to show that the NIG distribution provides a better fit of the log earnings function than the normal distribution. The prediction of right skewness of the log earnings distribution arising from the log normal skill Roy selection model is rejected in favour of left skewness. The thesis then extends the model to describe the distribution of log earnings conditioned on education. The same two datasets (US males and Ghanaian males) are used for the empirical analysis. We find that, once the unobserved heterogeneity is accounted for, the return to education is almost flat for lower levels of education in Ghana, and then increases for education levels greater than ten years. One of the key differences between the two datasets is that skewness and unobserved heterogeneity is a function of education for Ghana but not for the US. The NIG framework is found to be a useful tool to model this heterogeneity. Chapter 4 uses a model that allows for a rich structure of age effects similar to those predicted by the life cycle theories to argue that the demographic shifts are partly responsible for the sustained rise in the US current account deficit and the rapid increase in China's current account surplus in the last decade. However, demographics do not have an impact on the long run equilibrium or level of current accounts. Rather, they are important determinants of the short run adjustment of current accounts to their equilibrium levels. In the next twenty years, the demographic shifts are likely to push towards further current account positive adjustments in China and current account negative adjustments in the US. Developing the infrastructure, financial markets, policy tools and regulatory settings to be able to cope with the excess capital flow remains an urgent task.

This doctoral thesis devotes itself to macro-finance models of the Czech yield curve that enable the modeling of the yield curve as a whole and belong to the group of multi-factors models. These factors are unobservable or latent variables, and are intuitively called level, slope and curvature. Macro-finance models not only fit the yield curve through the use of latent factors, but they also try to provide a macroeconomic interpretation. The macro part of the model uses a type of VAR model, where the macroeconomic variables are endogenous or exogenous, or some macroeconomic model based on e.g. a New Keynesian economy. Such a type of models can answer (1) how the macroeconomic variables affect the yield curve, and, on the other hand, (2) how these macroeconomic variables are affected by the yield curve. The EUR/CZK exchange rate and the external environment play an important role in the Czech small open economy (in particular, developments in the eurozone and the impact of global investors' sentiment toward risky assets). Thus, we should take this into consideration when applying to Czech data. It has been shown that temporary macroeconomic and financial shocks (to inflation, output gap, EUR/CZK exchange rate, external demand, etc.) strongly affect the short end of the yield curve; however, longer spot rates react only marginally. The longer end of the curve may move more significantly in the case of a longer duration of the above-mentioned shocks (thus affecting inflationary expectations) or in the case of shocks to the inflation target and real equilibrium interest rates.

Austria, Finland and Sweden - all small highly developed industrial and rich countries - entered the EU in 1995. Their macroeconomic performance since then was quite different. Real GDP in Finland und Sweden increased faster than in EU average, while those of Austria fell back. Austria lost its second rank in GDP per capita (at PPS) and is now the fourth richest EU country; Sweden fell back from the seventh to the eight rank, while Finland improved its position from rank 11 to nine. In a referendum in September 2003 Sweden refused to take over the Euro, whereas the other two countries are members of the Euro area. Ex post model simulations indicate that Finland appears to have profited most from EU membership (0.7 percentage point greater annual GDP growth since 1995), followed by Austria (+0.4 percent) and Sweden (+0.3 percent). / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

Occupational social work and corporate social responsibility share commonalities which could provide significant avenues for occupational social worker practice, especially at a macro level of intervention, the area most lacking in their service delivery. The engagement of occupational social workers in corporate social responsibility in South Africa seems to have been misunderstood, with consequent limited involvement of the profession in this field. The main aim of this qualitative exploratory study was to explore the perceptions of occupational social workers in Gauteng regarding their definition and envisaged engagement in corporate social responsibility interventions in order to motivate for the incorporation of corporate social responsibility into their practice. To achieve the aim of the study, semi-structured interviews were held with seven occupational social workers and three social workers with five years practical experience in occupational social work. Sampling was not necessary given the small size of the research population. Data analysis took the form of thematic content analysis. The main findings were that the participants’ primarily defined corporate social responsibility as the contribution made by companies to the community outside the workplace however, they subsequently identified internal stakeholders, such as employees, as legitimate recipients of corporate social responsibility services. The data analysis revealed a clear perception that occupational social workers were well-suited to play roles in corporate social responsibility, utilising a full range of their micro, meso and macro skills. The identification of avenues for macro practice with internal and external company stakeholders was particularly significant, given that this is the area of intervention which has been most lacking in occupational social work service delivery. It was also established that the objectives of developmental social welfare could be incorporated into occupational social work roles in corporate social responsibility. The conclusion was reached that occupational social workers could play valuable roles in the social responsibility endeavours of companies to contribute towards change efforts to address the social problems and transformation challenges which plague South African society. The support of company leadership, who are open to the ideas of occupational social workers and champion an increased mandate for them, would be facilitative to the development of an occupational social work domain in the field of corporate social responsibility.

Les nuages jouent un rôle important dans le cycle de l'eau et de l'énergie au sein de l'atmosphère. De plus, ils représentent l'une des principales sources d'incertitudes dans les projections des modèles de climat en raison notamment de la difficulté à paramétrer les processus qui leurs sont associés ainsi que leurs interactions avec l'environnement. Dans cette thèse nous étudions les nuages de mi-niveau qui ont été beaucoup moins étudiés que les nuages bas et les nuages hauts, en se focalisant sur l’Afrique de l'Ouest. L'Afrique de l'Ouest se caractérise par une forte saisonnalité des précipitations survenant au Sahel de juin à septembre durant la période dite de mousson. Cette période coïncide également avec le maximum annuel de la couverture nuageuse. Au travers du déploiement de la station mobile ARM (Atmospheric Radiation Measurement) durant une année en 2006 à Niamey (Niger), Bouniol et al. (2012) ont documenté les différents types de nuages observés pendant la mousson et ont montré la présence récurrente de nuages vers 6 km d'altitude dont l’impact radiatif est important dans les domaines du visible et de l'infrarouge. Dans le prolongement de cette étude, l'objectif de cette thèse est donc d'analyser plus en détails ces nuages de mi-niveau en documentant leur occurrence, leur cycle diurne et leurs caractéristiques macro- et microphysiques. Nous analysons également l'environnement thermodynamique dans lequel ces nuages sont observés ainsi que leurs effets radiatifs. D’autre part, en analysant les simulations effectuées dans le cadre du projet CMIP5, Roehrig et al. (2013) ont montré une sous-estimation de ce type de nuages dans les modèles de climat. Nous documentons plus précisément ici comment les modèles de climat et les modèles à aire limitée simulent ces nuages de mi-niveau. Afin de documenter ces nuages, des observations obtenues à partir d'instruments de télédétection active déployés sur deux sites sols : Niamey au Sahel et Bordj Badji Mokhtar au Sahara ont été combinées avec les données satellites de CloudSat et CALIPSO. Ces observations ont révélé une occurrence de ces nuages tout au long de l'année avec une prédominance durant la période de mousson. Ces nuages sont majoritairement observés dans le Sud et l'Ouest de l'Afrique de l'Ouest mais s’étendent jusqu’au cœur du Sahara. Leur présence dans cette zone désertique pourrait s’expliquer par la dynamique de la dépression thermique saharienne (Saharan Heat Low). Ces nuages sont généralement fins (la plupart ont une épaisseur inférieure à 1000 m) et sont principalement composés d'eau liquide. Une méthode de clustering appliquée à ces données nous a permis d'identifier trois types de nuages : le premier avec des bases plus basses, le deuxième avec des bases plus hautes et le dernier avec de plus fortes épaisseurs. Les radiosondages et les mesures de rayonnement nous ont permis de déterminer la stratification thermodynamique dans laquelle ces nuages sont observés ainsi que d’estimer leur impact radiatif. On observe généralement des inversions de température potentielle au sommet des nuages des deux premières familles. Dans les modèles de climat, nous avons mis en évidence une forte dispersion des occurrences des nuages de mi-niveau en termes de fréquence, de position et d’extension sur la verticale et de cycle saisonnier. L'analyse des simulations régionales indique aussi une influence de la résolution spatiale et de la paramétrisation de la convection sur la modélisation des nuages de mi-niveau simulés au Sahel et sur le Sahara.

ABSTRACT   Title: Gender Equality in Higher Education- Comparative study in Sweden and India Level: Final assignment for Master’s Degree in Business Administration Authors: Dhiviya Janoris and Paula Prela Supervisor: Maria Fregidou-Malama Examiner: Daniella Fjellström Date: May 2019   Aim: The aim of this study is to understand gender equality in higher education in two different countries, Sweden and India. Method: The study uses a qualitative study method and a constructivism approach. We conducted 11 semi-structured interviews and document experiences regarding gender equality. We had 6 interviews from the University of Gävle, Sweden and 5 interviews from Patrician College, India. Result and Conclusions: The results have shown that there is gender equality within the University of Gävle and Patrician college. However, there can be improvements made regarding the vertical and horizontal segregation in both universities. Additionally, when examining Patrician College on a macro level, it is shown that the parental leave policies and the gender wage gap has a large impact on gender equality. Suggestions for future study: It can be suggested that future study in this topic concentrate on to understand why there is a majority of male professors rather than female professors. Additionally, the reasons as to why there is a wider gender wage gap in India and poor parental leave policies should be examined. Contribution of the thesis: The theories are used to understand gender equality in different dimensions and its relationship with the different levels of the construct of gender as a social structure with the help of different theories.   Keywords: Gender Equality, Individual level, Interactional level, Macro level, University of Gävle, Patrician College.

A magnetohidrodinâmica, ou simplesmente MHD, é um campo da ciência que estuda os movimentos de fluidos condutores submetidos a forças eletromagnéticas e une conceitos da fluidodinâmica e eletromagnetismo. Nos últimos anos, a MHD vem sendo aplicada em diversas áreas tecnológicas, desde a propulsão eletromagnética até dispositivos biológicos. Neste trabalho, são mostradas a construção e a operação de um dispositivo MHD, um canal retangular preenchido com um fluido eletrolítico conhecido como macrobomba, isento de partes mecânicas móveis. Os imãs geram um campo magnético externo e os eletrodos criam um campo elétrico, perpendicular ao escoamento, que move o fluido. O modelo MHD é calculado a partir das equações de Navier Stokes acopladas às equações de Maxwell para um fluido incompressível newtoniano. As forças eletromagnéticas que surgem resultam do produto vetorial da densidade de corrente e da densidade de fluxo magnético - essa é a força de Lorentz. Os resultados são apresentados em simulações 3D numéricas, assim como em dados experimentais. O objetivo é relacionar o campo magnético com o elétrico e com a quantidade de movimento produzida, e calcular a densidade de corrente e o perfil de pressão e de velocidade. Um perfil U e M de pressões e velocidades é esperado no experimento. Dados experimentais e computacionais são comparados para validação e posterior uso para futuros trabalhos. / Magnetohydrodynamics or simply (MHD) is a field of science that studies the movement of conductive fluids subjected to electromagnetic forces. Such a phenomenon brings together concepts of fluid dynamics and electromagnetism. Over the years, MHD has been encountered in a wide area of technological applications electromagnetic propulsion to biological devices. The present work didactically shows the construction (materials and equipment) and operation of an MHD device; a rectangular closed circuit filled with an electrolyte fluid, known as macro pumps, where a permanent magnet generates a magnetic field and electrodes generate the electric field, perpendicular to the flow, moving the fluid. The MHD model has been derived from the Navier-Stokes equation and coupled with the Maxwell equations for Newtonian incompressible fluid. Electric and magnetic components engaged in the test chamber assist in creating the propulsion of the electrolyte fluid. The electromagnetic forces that arise are due to the cross product between the vector density of current and the vector density of magnetic field applied. This is the Lorentz force. Results are present of 3D numerical MHD simulation for Newtonian fluid as well as experimental data. The goal is to relate the magnetic field with the electric field and the amounts of movement produced, and calculate de current density and fluid´s pressure and velocity. An u-shaped and m-shaped velocity and pressure profiles are expected in the experiment. Computational and experimental data are compared for validation and future analysis.

Esta pesquisa está inserida no âmbito do planejamento estratégico governamental orientado para a esfera municipal, sob a perspectiva analítica do Plano Plurianual (PPA) como um instrumento estratégico de gestão pública. Recentemente, alguns municípios se destacaram durante o processo de elaboração de seus PPAs, despertando interesse na agenda de pesquisa de planejamento governamental, sobre o processo metodológico utilizado, e se estes municípios possuem características da densidade macroestratégica conceito recentemente estudado por grupos de pesquisadores. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma análise teórico-empírica do planejamento governamental municipal, que será construída a partir das principais teorias normativas e explicativas do planejamento, e do conceito de densidade macroestratégica, aplicados em municípios outliers na elaboração de PPAs. Para atingir tal objetivo, foi desenvolvido, em profundidade, um estudo de caso em dois municípios Niterói, RJ e Osasco, SP elencados como outliers em planejamento governamental, no qual foram propostas oito (8) categorias de análise, fundamentadas nas principais teorias sobre planejamento governamental e estratégia, propondo um modelo analítico de Planos Plurianuais municipais com densidade macroestratégica. Os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa, poderá contribuir desde o aspecto gerencial da administração pública, no que se refere ao processo de elaboração de PPA, quanto ao aprofundamento teórico no campo do planejamento governamental municipal, que aos poucos vem ganhando maior destaque nas agendas de pesquisas / This research is part of the scope of the governmental strategic planning oriented to the municipal sphere, under the analytical perspective of the Plurianual Plan (PPA) as a strategic instrument of public management. Recently, some municipalities have stood out during the process of elaborating their PPAs, arousing interest in the governmental planning research agenda, on the methodological process used, and if these municipalities have characteristics of macro-strategic density - a concept recently studied by groups of researchers. The objective of this work is to perform a theoretical-empirical analysis of municipal government planning, which will be built from the main normative and explanatory theories of planning, and from the concept of macro-strategic density, applied in outliers municipalities in the elaboration of PPAs. In order to reach this objective, a case study was developed in depth in two municipalities - Niterói, RJ and Osasco, SP - listed as outliers in governmental planning, in which eight (8) analysis categories were proposed, based on the main theories on government planning and strategy, proposing an analytical model of municipal Pluriannual Plans with macro-strategic density. The results obtained in this research may contribute from the managerial aspect of public administration, as far as the PPA elaboration process is concerned, as to the theoretical deepening in the field of municipal government planning, which has gradually gained greater prominence in research agendas

Este trabalho apresenta o macrozoneamento como instrumento de gestão ambiental que visa compatibilizar, em bases permanentes, o desenvolvimento econômico de uma região à manutenção da qualidade ambiental. Neste contexto, o Sistema de Informações Geográficas se apresenta como ferramenta necessária à síntese da dinâmica econômica-ecológica, a fim de que as rápidas mudanças, inerentes ao modelo de desenvolvimento global, não inviabilizem um processo que deve contemplar a visão sistêmica do meio ambiente. No desenvolvimento desta pesquisa foi utilizado o software Idrisi para o processamento dos mapas da área de estudo, que constitui a base do banco de dados. Fundamentando-a, foram abordados os conceitos de gestão e planejamento ambiental e de sistema de informações geográficas, relacionando-os ao macrozoneamento e aos aspectos jurídicos observados no país e, particularmente, no Estado de São Paulo. Como resultado final, o banco de dados digitais e a abordagem do macrozoneamento da região de Ribeirão Preto, através da apresentação e análise de cenários de potenciais usos e conflitos, entre outros, deverão subsidiar a implementação de atividades e diagnósticos regionais. Além disto, o trabalho poderá contribuir para a consolidação e para o direcionamento da inserção do macrozoneamento no sistema de gestão ambiental. / This work presents macro-zonning as an instrument of environmental management which intends to permanently put together economical development and environmental quality maintainance in a determined region. In such a way, the Geographic Information System (GIS) is a necessary tool for the economical/ecological dynamic synthesis, so that the quick changes - which are inherent to the global development model- do not make impossible the process that should have as an aim systemic environmental care. The Idrisi software was used in the development of the research to process the maps of the considered area. In order to supporting data, the concepts of environmental management and planning and GIS were used and they were related to the macro-zonning and the legal aspects which are currently in use in the country and, particularly, in the State of São Paulo. As a result, digital data and the evaluation of the Ribeirão Preto region zonning shall be of great value to help in regional activity and problem identification. Moreover, this work may be important to consolidate and to guide the use of macro-zonning as an instrument in the environmental management system.

A magnetohidrodinâmica, ou simplesmente MHD, é um campo da ciência que estuda os movimentos de fluidos condutores submetidos a forças eletromagnéticas e une conceitos da fluidodinâmica e eletromagnetismo. Nos últimos anos, a MHD vem sendo aplicada em diversas áreas tecnológicas, desde a propulsão eletromagnética até dispositivos biológicos. Neste trabalho, são mostradas a construção e a operação de um dispositivo MHD, um canal retangular preenchido com um fluido eletrolítico conhecido como macrobomba, isento de partes mecânicas móveis. Os imãs geram um campo magnético externo e os eletrodos criam um campo elétrico, perpendicular ao escoamento, que move o fluido. O modelo MHD é calculado a partir das equações de Navier Stokes acopladas às equações de Maxwell para um fluido incompressível newtoniano. As forças eletromagnéticas que surgem resultam do produto vetorial da densidade de corrente e da densidade de fluxo magnético - essa é a força de Lorentz. Os resultados são apresentados em simulações 3D numéricas, assim como em dados experimentais. O objetivo é relacionar o campo magnético com o elétrico e com a quantidade de movimento produzida, e calcular a densidade de corrente e o perfil de pressão e de velocidade. Um perfil U e M de pressões e velocidades é esperado no experimento. Dados experimentais e computacionais são comparados para validação e posterior uso para futuros trabalhos. / Magnetohydrodynamics or simply (MHD) is a field of science that studies the movement of conductive fluids subjected to electromagnetic forces. Such a phenomenon brings together concepts of fluid dynamics and electromagnetism. Over the years, MHD has been encountered in a wide area of technological applications electromagnetic propulsion to biological devices. The present work didactically shows the construction (materials and equipment) and operation of an MHD device; a rectangular closed circuit filled with an electrolyte fluid, known as macro pumps, where a permanent magnet generates a magnetic field and electrodes generate the electric field, perpendicular to the flow, moving the fluid. The MHD model has been derived from the Navier-Stokes equation and coupled with the Maxwell equations for Newtonian incompressible fluid. Electric and magnetic components engaged in the test chamber assist in creating the propulsion of the electrolyte fluid. The electromagnetic forces that arise are due to the cross product between the vector density of current and the vector density of magnetic field applied. This is the Lorentz force. Results are present of 3D numerical MHD simulation for Newtonian fluid as well as experimental data. The goal is to relate the magnetic field with the electric field and the amounts of movement produced, and calculate de current density and fluid´s pressure and velocity. An u-shaped and m-shaped velocity and pressure profiles are expected in the experiment. Computational and experimental data are compared for validation and future analysis.