<p>Abstract</p><p>In order to address sustainable policies, communities need indicators that can tell them something about the larger social and ecological system, and the relationships between the two. This study attempts to apply an existing indicator of welfare and sustainability, the Genuine Progress Index (GPI), to the regional level in Sweden. The county of Östergötland is used as a case study and the thesis is written in collaboration with Regionförbundet Östsam. The aim of the study is to develop an application of GPI methodology to circumstances of data availability at the regional Swedish level. Developed methodology used to calculate a GPI of Östergötland in 2000-2006. GPI results are put in a context of the Regional Development Program of Östergötland in order to address policy implications regarding the very meaning of growth, development, welfare and sustainability. The results indicate that GPI has increased during the time period. However, a comparison with the Gross Regional Product (GRP) shows that GRP has increased faster than GPI. It is concluded that this could be a possible trend of decreased economic efficiency, where more economic output is not sustainable in the sense that an equivalent amount of welfare is not produced. This effect is mainly an effect of increasing income inequality. It is also suggested that the Regional Development Program should distinguish growth and development as different concepts. In doing so, more sustainable policies can be adopted in the future.</p>

In order to address sustainable policies, communities need indicators that can tell them something about the larger social and ecological system, and the relationships between the two. This study attempts to apply an existing indicator of welfare and sustainability, the Genuine Progress Index (GPI), to the regional level in Sweden. The county of Östergötland is used as a case study and the thesis is written in collaboration with Regionförbundet Östsam. The aim of the study is to develop an application of GPI methodology to circumstances of data availability at the regional Swedish level. Developed methodology used to calculate a GPI of Östergötland in 2000-2006. GPI results are put in a context of the Regional Development Program of Östergötland in order to address policy implications regarding the very meaning of growth, development, welfare and sustainability. The results indicate that GPI has increased during the time period. However, a comparison with the Gross Regional Product (GRP) shows that GRP has increased faster than GPI. It is concluded that this could be a possible trend of decreased economic efficiency, where more economic output is not sustainable in the sense that an equivalent amount of welfare is not produced. This effect is mainly an effect of increasing income inequality. It is also suggested that the Regional Development Program should distinguish growth and development as different concepts. In doing so, more sustainable policies can be adopted in the future.

This thesis is aimed to analyze the impact of economic crisis in Latvia which was carried out in 2008-2010. Concurentelly the first part of the study emhasizes on claryfying the causes of the emergence of the economic crisis. The following part is focused on description of the reasons why particularly the way out of crisis throuhg internal devaluation was chosen and used. The actual negotiations on assistance from IMF and implemented fiscal consolidation are incorporated in this section of the thesis as well. The final part of the study beyond analyzing impacts of economic crisis analyzes demographic trends in Latvia. The comparison of external devaluation, which took place in Iceland, and internal devaluation that was implemented in Latvia is essential. Implemented savings measures within the internal devaluation achieved their targets and Latvia quickly emerged from the crisis and since 2011 to 2014 its GDP was continually growing. However, the worst problem which negatively affected Latvia seemed to be adverse demographic development which causes the fact that the country has to face the high rate of emigration, low birth rate and population aging.

The aim of this master's thesis is elaborating energy audit within current notice 480/2012. The first part of master's thesis deals about history of distrit heating, methods of connection handover, advantages and disadvantages of district heating.The second part analyses consuption energy of assessing bulding. The third part is energy audit.

It is increasingly acknowledged that the proper objective of government efforts towards economic development should be aimed at improvements beyond simple measures of growth, poverty and inequality towards richer measures of human well-being. Herein, the economic and non-economic quality of life, as well as the quantity of life, becomes important indicators. Economists and other social planners therefore need to develop more meaningful indicators of the quality of life. Objective and subjective indicators of the quality of life can be distinguished. For various reasons, this thesis will focus on the search for more meaningful objective indicators of the quality of life. One of the most wellknown objective indicators of quality of life is the Human Development Index (HDI). There is, however, a growing dissatisfaction with the HDI. In this thesis, two recent methodological advances in the measurement of quality of life are applied and combined and, in particular, in the measurement of the non-economic quality of life, to the sub-national quality of life in South Africa. As such, this thesis’ contribution is twofold. First, it investigates the extent to which the quality of life differs within a developing country, as opposed to most studies that focus on either inter-country differences in quality of life, or studies that focus only on spatial inequalities within countries using a restricted set of measures such as per capita income or poverty rates and headcounts. Secondly, this thesis applies a recent methodology proposed by McGillivray (2005) to isolate the non-economic (non-monetary) quality of life in various composite indices and to focus on the non-economic quality of life across 351 South African magisterial districts Indices for the non-economic quality of life are compiled for geographical quality, for demographic quality, and based on the human development index. Furthermore, given that composite indices used in the construction of measures of quality of life consist of weightings of multiple proxies, this thesis implements the method of Lubotsky and Wittenberg (2006) which proposed a new estimator for the case where multiple proxies are to be used for a single, unobserved variable such as quality of life. This thesis establishes that when the non-economic quality of life of the demographic index is considered, the top ten regions in 1001 were as follows: Pretoria, Johannesburg, Soweto, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Inanda, Pietermaritzburg, Wynberg, Mitchellsplain and Vanderbijlpark. It is important to note that, when interpreting these results, one should take caution since variables such as the number of people, number of households etc. is included in this index and as a region grows in population size the more negative consequences such as a higher crime rate can be associated with the particular region. The top ten regions in which to reside in 1004 as determined by the geography quality of life index were: Calvinia, Gordonia, Namaqualand, Kenhardt, Carnarvon, Ubombo, Williston, Hlabisa, Ceres and Ingwavuma. This geography index measures a region's natural beauty which, according to Wey (2000), contributes positively to one's perceived quality of life. Considering changes in non-economic quality of life indices between 1996 and 2004, the conclusion can he drawn that the South African government has been successful to a certain degree in addressing non-economic quality of life. Social policies such as health care, education, housing, water and sanitation appear to have had a positive effect on people's perceived non-economic quality of life in areas that were relatively deprived in 1996. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Thesis (Ph.D. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

It is increasingly acknowledged that the proper objective of government efforts towards economic development should be aimed at improvements beyond simple measures of growth, poverty and inequality towards richer measures of human well-being. Herein, the economic and non-economic quality of life, as well as the quantity of life, becomes important indicators. Economists and other social planners therefore need to develop more meaningful indicators of the quality of life. Objective and subjective indicators of the quality of life can be distinguished. For various reasons, this thesis will focus on the search for more meaningful objective indicators of the quality of life. One of the most wellknown objective indicators of quality of life is the Human Development Index (HDI). There is, however, a growing dissatisfaction with the HDI. In this thesis, two recent methodological advances in the measurement of quality of life are applied and combined and, in particular, in the measurement of the non-economic quality of life, to the sub-national quality of life in South Africa. As such, this thesis’ contribution is twofold. First, it investigates the extent to which the quality of life differs within a developing country, as opposed to most studies that focus on either inter-country differences in quality of life, or studies that focus only on spatial inequalities within countries using a restricted set of measures such as per capita income or poverty rates and headcounts. Secondly, this thesis applies a recent methodology proposed by McGillivray (2005) to isolate the non-economic (non-monetary) quality of life in various composite indices and to focus on the non-economic quality of life across 351 South African magisterial districts Indices for the non-economic quality of life are compiled for geographical quality, for demographic quality, and based on the human development index. Furthermore, given that composite indices used in the construction of measures of quality of life consist of weightings of multiple proxies, this thesis implements the method of Lubotsky and Wittenberg (2006) which proposed a new estimator for the case where multiple proxies are to be used for a single, unobserved variable such as quality of life. This thesis establishes that when the non-economic quality of life of the demographic index is considered, the top ten regions in 1001 were as follows: Pretoria, Johannesburg, Soweto, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Inanda, Pietermaritzburg, Wynberg, Mitchellsplain and Vanderbijlpark. It is important to note that, when interpreting these results, one should take caution since variables such as the number of people, number of households etc. is included in this index and as a region grows in population size the more negative consequences such as a higher crime rate can be associated with the particular region. The top ten regions in which to reside in 1004 as determined by the geography quality of life index were: Calvinia, Gordonia, Namaqualand, Kenhardt, Carnarvon, Ubombo, Williston, Hlabisa, Ceres and Ingwavuma. This geography index measures a region's natural beauty which, according to Wey (2000), contributes positively to one's perceived quality of life. Considering changes in non-economic quality of life indices between 1996 and 2004, the conclusion can he drawn that the South African government has been successful to a certain degree in addressing non-economic quality of life. Social policies such as health care, education, housing, water and sanitation appear to have had a positive effect on people's perceived non-economic quality of life in areas that were relatively deprived in 1996. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:33:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BOTTREL_Mariana_2014.pdf: 2435524 bytes, checksum: 7cc3845ff767003b15f1d3e00d7dbf1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-28 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / It is essential that the financial intermediaries operate well in order to offer financial products to attend the society s needs efficiently, providing economic growth. Besides, a healthy banking system is extremely important for the solidity of the financial system of a country and the social welfare. Therefore, it is necessary to study the market structure, with their concentration rates and the possibility to exercise market power of the firms. Also, it is possible to relate the impacts of this market structure to the risks taken by the banks. In order to measure the concentration, it has been used the following techniques: (i) Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI); (ii) Concentration Rates ( CR). To watch the possibility of market power exercising and rivalry, two methods were used: (i) unit root tests; and (ii) unit root tests with panel data. The results show that there has been a large increase in concentration, especially during the beginning of the global financial crisis in 2008. Moreover, it shows that there is possibility of effective rivalry. For the relationship between structure and risk, it has been used a model with panel data, according to Araújo e Jorge Neto (2007). The result was that the relationship between risk and concentration is positive. On conclusion, effective rivalry in the markets studied is possible, which reduces the possibility of the exercise of market power due to an increase in concentration. The concentration may also not have contributed to reduce the risks taken by banks. Keywords: Economic Measures. Econometrics. Commercial Bank. Financial Crisis. / O bom funcionamento dos intermediários financeiros é essencial para oferta de produtos financeiros que atendam às necessidades da sociedade com eficiência, propiciando o crescimento econômico. Além disso, um sistema bancário hígido é extremamente importante para a solidez do sistema financeiro de um país e para o bem-estar social. Por isso, é preciso estudar a estrutura de mercado, com seus níveis de concentração e com a possibilidade de exercício de poder de mercado das firmas. Pode-se, ainda, relacionar quais os impactos dessa estrutura no risco tomados pelos bancos. Para a mensuração da concentração foram usadas as medidas de concentração: (i) Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI); e (ii) Concentration Rates ( ). Para a observação da possibilidade de exercício de poder de mercado, rivalidade, foram usados dois métodos: (i) testes de raiz unitária; e (ii) testes de raiz unitária em painel. Os resultados obtidos mostram que houve um grande aumento da concentração, principalmente no período de estopim da crise financeira mundial, em 2008. Ademais, mostram que há possibilidade de rivalidade efetiva. Para a relação entre estrutura e risco foi usado um modelo com dados em painel, com base no trabalho de Araújo e Jorge Neto (2007). O resultado obtido foi que a relação entre risco e concentração é positiva. Conclui-se que existe possível rivalidade efetiva nos mercados estudados, o que reduz a possibilidade do exercício de poder de mercado devido a um aumento da concentração. A concentração também pode não ter contribuído para reduzir os riscos tomados pelos bancos.

The regulatory measures - the degree of economic action to solve the economic recession. In this thesis the author presents the basic view of the regulatory system of the measures as a degree of economic action to deal with the economic recession. The introductory part of the thesis is addressed to become familiar with the current state of the issue of the control measures, the types of regulatory measures and their application when there is an emergency situation. There is also an outline of the use of control measures in this area of activity. The thesis further contains an analysis of available documentation of regulatory measures for economic recession situation and the authentication of the hypothesis whether municipalities with extended authority in the Czech Republic have sufficiently prepared documentation dealing with the regulatory measures for these type of situations. As a part of this thesis, a research was conducted through questionnaires. The research was focused on the level of processed documentation of municipalities with extended authority in the Czech Republic and the readiness of these communities in an economical critical situation. Based on the evaluation of these questionnaires the hypothesis was confirmed. The author has pointed out the inconsistencies (disunity) in the quality of processed documentation of municipalities with extended authority and a lack of uniformity among the financial management personnel to deal with an economic crisis. As a result of this thesis training aids and materials for the decision making and management to solve an economic crisis and on the use of specific regulatory measures have been prepared.

In his diploma work the author provided the basic picture of the system of economic measures for states of crisis and the role of municipalities with extended competence and municipalities allocated in that area. At the same time he described the competence of the Administration of state material reserves in the area of economic measures for states of crisis. A hypothesis has been set up that the municipalities with extended competence or municipalities allocated, dispose of documentation concerning the economic measures for states of crisis. As a part of the work there was a research, carried out by means of questionnaires. The research focused at the level of the processed documentation in the area of economic measures for states of crisis. The questionnaires were sent per electronic mail to the crisis management of municipalities with extended competence within the total Czech Republic. Based on their assessment the set up hypothesis has been confirmed. The author however pointed to the quality of that documentation, which has not been dealt with uniformly. The individual municipalities prepare it independently. At the same time the author stressed the disunity in the working ranks of the crisis management. He proposed changes in the area of regulatory measures in the system of economic measures for states of crisis and in the personnel area of the crisis management. An ancillary tool has been prepared, how to keep and handle the documentation in the area of regulatory measures in the system of economic measures for states of crisis, intended for mayors of municipalities with extended competence or municipalities allocated in the area of economic measures for states of crisis. The planned target of the work has been accomplished.