<p>This dissertation draws on a broad range of postcolonial literature in order to explore literary representations of environmentalism in the global South. Although this project draws heavily on the particular environmental histories of different nations and geographic regions, I am also interested in areas of overlap. In this study I do two interrlated and simultaneous things that I hope will refine postcolonial ecocriticism. The first involves a broadening of the definition of 'environment,' informed by the environmental justice movment, in ways that make it more applicable and accountable to people's lived lives. This expanded definition of the environment includes those spaces where people live and work. Such a redefinition, I argue, is a crucial counter-measure to ecocriticism's Anglo-American focus, where traditional American environmental values of conservation, preservation, and the cult of the wilderness prevail. The second intervention involves using ecocriticism alongside this expanded notion of the environment to unearth the everyday environmentalisms at work in postcolonial literature that may go unnoticed through traditional ecocritical approaches. I argue that this everyday approach successfully avoids some of the common hurdles in postcolonial ecocriticism. These hurdles include debates over the origins of environmental thought, questions about the link between affluence and environmental consciousness, and the contentious space of animals in postcolonial thought and literature. By beginning with an examination of the ways in which people interact with their own local environments, I am able to explore environmental thought and action on the ground and can begin theorizing there. What is revealed through these analyses is that this expanded definition of environmentalism and this new ecocritical approach open the door to viewing environmentality as a common and foundational feature of postcolonial literature. My chapters explore various facets of these everyday environmentalisms, including ecofeminist perspectives, anthropocentric versus biocentric representations of the environment, urban space, and finally the idea of going back to the land. The issues that I explore throughout these chapters include legacies of colonialism, globalization, racism and speceism, ecolocial/ecocritical imperialism, and postcoloniality.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This dissertation studies the pricing of Outside barrier call options, when their activation starts at a hitting time. The pricing of Outside barrier options when their activation starts at time zero, and the pricing of standard barrier options when their activation starts at a hitting time of a pre speci ed barrier level, have been studied previously (see [21], [24]). The new work that this dissertation will do is to price Outside barrier call options, where they will be activated when the triggering asset crosses or hits a pre speci ed barrier level, and also the pricing of Outside barrier call options where they will be activated when the triggering asset crosses or hits a sequence of two pre specifed barrier levels. Closed form solutions are derived using Girsanov's theorem and the re ection principle. Existing results are derived from the new results, and properties of the new results are illustrated numerically and discussed. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Applied Mathematics)

Seismic-resistant steel eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) are designed so that that yielding during earthquake loading is restricted primarily to the ductile links. To achieve this behavior, all members other than the link are designed to be stronger than the link, i.e. to develop the capacity of the link. However, satisfying these capacity design requirements for the beam segment outside of the link can be difficult in the overall design process of an EBF. In some cases, it may be necessary to make significant changes to the configuration of the EBF in order to satisfy beam design requirements. If this discovery is made late in the design process, such changes can be costly. The overall goal of this research was to develop guidelines for preliminary design of EBFs that will result in configurations where the beam is likely to satisfy capacity design requirements. Simplified approximate equations were developed to predict the axial force and moment in the beam segment outside of the link when link ultimate strength is developed. These equations, although approximate, provided significant insight into variables that affect capacity design of the beam. These equations were then used to conduct an extensive series of parametric studies on a wide variety of EBF configurations. The results of these studies show that the most important variables affecting beam design are 1) the nondimensional link length, 2) the ratio of web area to total area for the wide flange section used for the beam and link, 3) the angle between the brace and the beam, and 4) the flexural stiffness of the brace relative to the beam. Recommendations are provided for selection of values for these variables in preliminary design. / text

Embedded within various works of Eighteenth-Century literature lie themes regarding how the protagonists of these stories pursue their own versions of happiness. This thesis examines how characters from a wide variety of Eighteenth-Century novels engage with their surroundings, often resisting the dominant social structures of the time, to fashion more fulfilling lives for themselves. From Robinson Crusoe to Elizabeth Bennet to Frankenstein's monster, these characters come from a wide variety of backgrounds but all reveal several unifying themes. They seek out personal connections rather that striving to fulfill antiquated social expectations and they focus on their own agency, rather than circumstances out of their control. Their respective journeys are often fraught with peril, but each one is a journey worth embarking on.

Few critics have had a greater impact upon the theory of poetry than T.S. Eliot. His critical works, spanning the decades of his literary career, embody a theory of poetry and by a careful scrutiny of his many essays, reviews and interviews, it is possible to formulate definite requirements for works in the genre of poetry. Beginning with the essay “Tradition and the Individual Talent” in 1919, Eliot stresses certain aspects of poetry that must be carefully considered by the poet, and Eliot does not radically alter his attitudes throughout his career. Eliot insists in his earliest essays that the poet must recognize the value of tradition to his work. To Eliot, tradition represents not only a knowledge of the past, but an assimilation of this past into one’s life. The artist must have a definite sense of tradition and realize that his work does not stand apart from all other art. Rather, each new work of art will modify the old existing order. Another element of poetry that Eliot considers important is prosody. Eliot insists that free verse is impossible; the poet can only thoroughly master technique, then has he the freedom to depart from the standard forms. Eliot cautions the poet to not sacrifice the sense of a line for its sound, yet always be aware that the musicality reinforces the meaning of the poem. Perhaps the most familiar term Eliot uses is objective correlative. Although much has been written about his meaning, Eliot basically uses the term to signify the objectification of emotions and thoughts; it is a technique to elevate the subjective into the objective, while retaining a sense of immediacy. Eliot never concedes that poetry should only be a personal statement; the poet may begin with very personal feelings, but he must transform them into an impersonal statement. This demand by Eliot for impersonality includes his belief that the poet can best express the universal through the particular. He believes the imagery should be definite and specific. The poet should also use the vernacular speech of his era; he must avoid the appearance of artificiality of language. Finally Eliot comes to a clear position toward the role of philosophy in poetry. Early in his career he argued that no poet should sacrifice the quality of the poem artistically in order to employ it as a vehicle for a particular philosophy. Eliot, recognizing that a poet will incorporate personal beliefs into the poem, insists that these views should be there almost unconsciously. A too conscious striving to use poetry only as a statement of philosophy Eliot views as corrupting the role poetry should play. To Eliot, the function of poetry is to serve as an aesthetically satisfying expression of universal truths.

Enligt svensk lagstiftning måste aktiebolag ha en styrelse. Dock skiljer det sig på vilket sätt styrelsen involveras i företags strategiska arbete och hur företagsägare förhåller sig till dess funktion. I små och medelstora företag fyller styrelsen sällan någon reell funktion. När företaget växer blir det dock svårt för en person att ensam klara av att styra och kontrollera bolaget, vilket leder till ett ökat behov av en arbetande styrelse. Tidigare forskning visar att företagsägarens personliga mål ofta avgör den strategiska riktningen i små och medelstora företag. För att kunna bemöta de krav som existerar, behöver därför företagsägaren förstå styrelsens roll och nyttan av strategiskt arbete. Syftet med studien är att utifrån ett företagsekonomiskt perspektiv bidra med kunskap om styrelsearbete i små och medelstora företag, samt att undersöka vilka attityder företagsägare i dessa företag har till styrelsens funktion. Studiens empiri har inhämtats från en kvalitativ datainsamling, i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer med fyra företagsägare ur tre olika små och medelstora företag. Den teoretiska referensramen berör ämnet bolagsstyrning och de aspekter som anses vara viktiga för ett framgångsrikt styrelsearbete. Studien kommer fram till att kunskapen vad gäller styrelsearbete är relativt låg hos företagsägare i små och medelstora företag, vilket gör att styrelsen inte används på ett effektivt sätt. Kunskapsnivån hos företagsägaren styr också huruvida styrelsen anses som viktig i det egna företaget, samt hur styrelsen arbetar. En annan slutsats som dras är att företagsägarens personliga mål påverkar dennes attityd till styrelsen. Om de personliga målen innefattar tillväxt, har företagsägaren en mer positiv attityd till en arbetande styrelse. Vidare ökar en positiv inställning till en arbetande styrelse sannolikheten att företagsägaren även har en positiv attityd till externa styrelseledamöter. / According to Swedish law, limited companies must have a board. However, it differs in the extent to which the board is involved in a company´s strategic work and how business owners relate to its function. In small and medium-sized enterprises, the board seldom fills any real function. As the company grows, it becomes difficult for one person alone to manage and control the company, leading to an increasing need for a working board. Previous research shows that business owner's personal goals often determine the strategic direction of small and medium-sized enterprises. In order to meet existing demands, business owners need to understand the board´s role and the benefits of strategic work. The purpose of the study is, from a business perspective, to contribute knowledge about board work in small and medium-sized enterprises and to examine the business owners' attitudes toward the functioning of the board. The study's empirical data has been collected from a qualitative data collection, in the form of semi-structured interviews with four business owners from three different small and medium-sized enterprises. The theoretical framework involves the subject corporate governance and the aspects that are considered important for a successful board work. The study concludes that awareness regarding board work, is relatively low among business owners of small and medium-sized enterprises, which means that the board is not being used effectively. The level of knowledge of the business owner also controls whether the board is considered as important in their own company, and how the board works. Another conclusion drawn is that the business owner's personal goals affect his attitude towards the board. If personal goals include growth, the business owner has a more positive attitude towards a working board. Furthermore, a positive attitude towards a working board increases the probability that the business owner also has a positive attitude towards outside directors in the board.

Risk is a phenomenon that exist around us and affect us on a daily basis, in one way or another. Hence, it is important to try to make companies constant well-aware of risks. Companies must have a comprehension about occurrence in the area because it is important to ensure the risk that may arise in the industrial vehicle washing. Further, it is important to pay attention to risks that may arise in the industrial vehicle washing. Also, what type of risks the company are highlighted and structured by the employees and if the company’s risk management can be improved and how. The use of the social constructivist perspective has given an understanding of how individuals persuade the risks and why individuals have different perceptions of what is defined as a risk and what is significant about the risk. In industrial vehicle washing, there are many risks that may arise, for example, dying, explosion, fire and fall. The interviews showed that the staff from different departments in a company has different perception of a risk. Why they have other perception of a risk could be because the staff have different tasks, different departments and a lack of documentation of what a risk is. The best way to eliminate the lack of communication, documentation, risk and time is to hire a security manager. The Security managers task is to create a documentation of risks and risk management.  Further, the task is also to create a common understanding of how risks should be interpreted and perform risk analysis for different parts of the company. This way may create a view about what is happening in the company’s aria and also give the company’s nearby an understanding of what is pursued. / Risk är ett fenomen som finns runt omkring oss och är något som påverkar alla människor i vardagen och i arbetslivet på ett eller annat sätt. Därför är det viktigt att öka företagens medvetenhet om hur risker i deras verksamhet påverkar tillvaron i företaget. Viktiga frågor som bör svaras på är vilka risker företaget belyser, och vilka som konstrueras av personalen samt om det går att förbättra företagets riskhantering och i så fall hur. Genom ett socialkonstruktivistiskt förhållningssätt ges en förståelse av hur individer i företaget ser på risker och varför individer har olika uppfattningar om vad som definieras som en risk samt vad risken har för betydelse. Inom industriell fordonstvätt finns det många risker som kan uppstå, exempelvis dödsfall, explosion, brand och fallskador. Genom intervjuer av personal från olika avdelningar på ett företag visade det sig att synen på risk varierade, som bland annat beror på olika arbetsuppgifter, avdelningar och brist på dokumentation av risker. Det mest effektiva sättet att eliminera brist på tid, kommunikation och dokumentation av risker, är att anställa en säkerhetsansvarig. Säkerhetsansvarig har i uppgift att skapa en gemensam dokumentation kring risker och riskhantering, samt att skapa gemensamma begrepp för hur risker ska tolkas och utföra riskanalys för olika delar i företaget. På så sätt kan det skapa en tydlig tråd om vad som sker i verksamheten och ger de närliggande företag en förståelse kring vad som bedrivs.

This study aims to investigate if an outside investor can gain positive return from investing in company stocks on the Swedish stock market following published announcements of insider stock purchases done through the Swedish financial regulatory authority Finansinspektionen’s public insider transaction registry. Studying a total of 5 966 announced stock purchases during the period 2014 – 2018, the study finds significant positive abnormal return over all studied time periods following the announcement date, regardless of differences in company size. Highest return was found in smaller companies, at the cost of accepting a higher degree of risk. Despite significant results showing informational value of the announced purchases, economic gain from following insider behavior could be inhibited by the cost of investment and would require the outside investor to pick the right stock, which could prove difficult.

As mudanças na eficiência relativa de setores produtivos ao longo do tempo direcionam a reorganização de atividades econômicas entre países desenvolvidos e emergentes. Essas mudanças resultam de dois movimentos complementares. Primeiro, o desenvolvimento setorial autônomo, decorrente da combinação de acumulação de capital físico e humano, eficiência transacional e curva de aprendizagem. O segundo movimento refere-se a choques exógenos, produzidos por inovações tecnológicas ou por intervenções autônomas do setor público. Tais intervenções, que alteram de forma planejada a dinâmica das trajetórias setoriais, são denominadas de política industrial. Por sua importância para o crescimento e desenvolvimento econômico, constituem o objeto de análise deste trabalho. A análise de investimentos em infraestrutura como instrumento de política industrial é desenvolvida em três etapas. Na primeira etapa propomos a estruturação de um modelo de organização epistemológica em política industrial a partir das relações instrumentoobjetivo. Com base na sistematização das principais linhas de pesquisa, utilizamos este modelo para estabelecer a vinculação normativa entre investimentos em infraestrutura e instrumentos de política industrial. Em complemento, o modelo permite posicionar a metodologia de pesquisa por meio da combinação entre modelos teóricos positivos e testes econométricos. Na segunda etapa desenvolvemos o vínculo teórico, fundamentado em um arcabouço hipotético-dedutivo, para estabelecer as condições nas quais investimentos em infraestrutura influenciam as trajetórias de crescimento e de comércio exterior de diferentes setores. Este arcabouço combina duas categorias de modelos. Seguindo a metodologia de Aschauer (1989), utilizamos variações de modelos de crescimento de Solow (1956), considerando investimentos em infraestrutura tanto como acúmulo de capital quanto como choque tecnológico, para avaliar seus impactos sobre dinâmicas setoriais. Combinamos esses modelos com os de Frankel e Romer (1999) para avaliar esses investimentos sob a ótica teórica do comércio internacional, desta forma criando o vínculo entre investimentos em infraestrutura e competitividade setorial. A terceira etapa estabelece o vínculo empírico entre investimentos em infraestrutura e objetivos da política industrial, testando as predições teóricas por meio de diferentes especificações de modelos de dados em painel aplicados a uma amostra de 85 países no período de 1960 a 2005. No plano do crescimento econômico, a produção per capita em diferentes setores é regredida em relação a investimentos em infraestrutura, mediante o uso de variáveis de controle tradicionais. No plano do comércio internacional, a variável dependente é a participação setorial na balança comercial; no plano tecnológico, a variável dependente é a produtividade do trabalho; e no plano social, a variável dependente é a equidade na distribuição de renda. Os testes empíricos indicam que investimentos em infraestrutura produzem um impacto positivo e estatisticamente relevante no crescimento de longo prazo do produto interno per capita, especialmente em economias em desenvolvimento. Avaliando setorialmente os resultados, esses investimentos geram aceleração expressiva e robusta no setor de serviços e menor aceleração no setor industrial. No setor agrícola, investimentos em infraestrutura auxiliam na sustentação do padrão histórico de crescimento. No plano tecnológico, investimentos em infraestrutura apresentaram efeitos expressivos sobre a produtividade marginal do trabalho na indústria, efeitos menores sobre a produtividade marginal do trabalho no setor de serviços, não indicando efeitos sobre a produtividade marginal do setor agrícola. Dentre os segmentos que compõem o setor de infraestrutura, verificamos que as telecomunicações atuam mais fortemente como instrumento indutor de crescimento econômico, indicando que esse segmento representa um instrumento de política industrial. Não foram encontradas evidências de que os segmentos de rodovias e geração de energia elétrica exerçam o mesmo papel do setor de telecomunicações. No plano do comércio internacional, os investimentos em infraestrutura não se mostraram relevantes na identificação de tendências de longo prazo. No plano social, investimentos em infraestrutura apresentaram efeitos relevantes na redução das desigualdades de renda. A composição das três etapas normativa, teórica e empírica, sugere que investimentos em infraestrutura podem produzir resultados relevantes de acordo com os objetivos propostos pela política econômica, materializando-se em importante instrumento a ser considerado no âmbito da administração pública. / The changes in the relative efficiency of economic sectors are drivers of the redistribution of economic activities between developing and developed countries. These changes are the result of two complementary factors. The first factor is the autonomous development of industry efficiency as a result of physical and human capital accumulation, transactional efficiency and learning curve. The second factor accounts for exogenous impacts produced by disruptive technologies and, mainly, by public sector interventions. Those interventions are, in a broad sense, denominated industrial policy and constitute the focus of the research. Such interventions, that change in a planned manner the dynamics of the sectors, are called industrial policy. For their importance for growth and economic development, they constitute the focus of this work. The analysis of investments in infrastructure as a tool of industrial policy is developed in three stages. In the first stage we structure an epistemological model of organization in industrial policy from the instrument-objectives relationships. Based on the systematization of the main fields of research, we use this model to establish the normative link between investments in infrastructure and industrial policy instruments. In addition, the model allows positioning the research methodology through the combination of positive models and generalizable empirical tests. In the second stage we develop the theoretical link, based on a hypothetical-deductive framework in order to establish the conditions under which investments in infrastructure affect the growth and foreign trade trajectories in different sectors. This framework combines two categories of models. Following the methodology of Aschauer (1989), we use variations of models of growth of Solow (1956), considering investments in infrastructure as much as accumulation of capital and technological shocks to assess its impacts on sectors dynamics. Further, we combine this effort with models by Frankel and Romer (1999) to evaluate these investments from the perspective of international trade theory, thus creating the link between investments in infrastructure and sector competitiveness. The third stage provides the empirical link between investments in infrastructure and industrial policy objectives, testing the theoretical predictions by using different specifications of data panel models applied to a sample of 85 countries covering period from 1960 to 2005. In terms of economic growth, the per capita production in different sectors is regressed against investments in infrastructure, using traditional control variables. In terms of international trade, the dependent variable used in the model is the participation of each sector in trade balance of a country. On the technological framework, the dependent variable is labor productivity and finally, the social objectives are tested using the fairness in the income distribution as the dependent variable. The empirical tests suggest that the infrastructure projects have a positive and statistically significant impact on long-term growth of GDP per capita, what is especially relevant for developing economies. Evaluating the results for different sectors, these investments generate significant and robust acceleration in the services sector and smaller acceleration in the industrial sector. In agriculture, investments in infrastructure help support the historical growth pattern. Considering technology, investment in infrastructure had significant effects on the marginal productivity of labor in industry, weaker effects on the labor marginal productivity in the service sector and indicated no effects on the labor marginal productivity of the agricultural sector. Among the components of the infrastructure sector, telecommunications act more strongly as an inducer of economic growth, indicating that this is an instrument of industrial policy. In terms of international trade, investments in infrastructure were not relevant to identify long run trends. In the social framework, investment in infrastructure had relevant effects in reducing income inequalities. The composition of the three stages - normative, theoretical and empirical, suggests that investments in infrastructure can produce relevant results, according to the objectives proposed by the economic policy. Investments in infrastructure can also be materialized in an important public policy instrument.

A presente tese parte do pressuposto teórico-epistemológico de que os consumidores são \"seres sociais\", portanto, eles sofrem influência de uma série de aspectos da dimensão social do ambiente interno de varejo ao longo de uma determinada experiência de consumo. Em suma, entende-se que a dimensão social do ambiente interno dos estabelecimentos de varejo é composta por três grupos de \"atores\": os outros consumidores que também estão no ambiente (mas que não interagem verbalmente com o consumidor focal), a companhia que está junto do consumidor focal ao longo da experiência (com a qual ele estabelece interação verbal), além dos colaboradores da organização. Assim sendo, tendo isto em perspectiva, a presente tese teve como objetivo geral analisar a influência da dimensão social (outros consumidores, companhia e colaboradores) nas experiências do consumidor focal. Como locus analítico para a realização das reflexões da tese, optou-se por enfocar as experiências de consumo de alimentos fora do lar, uma vez que o ato de ir à um restaurante, por exemplo, é algo socialmente determinado, com um contexto social evidente, passível ser explorado no âmbito do objetivo geral delineado para o presente trabalho. Do ponto de vista metodológico, a pesquisa que foi conduzida classificou-se como exploratória e qualitativa, em que foram realizadas 43 entrevistas em profundidade com consumidores de diferentes perfis sociodemográficos que se dirigiram à estabelecimentos de alimentação do tipo fast-food. As entrevistas em profundidade, que ocorreram a partir do uso de um protocolo com questões norteadoras, foram gravadas, transcritas e submetidas à técnicas de análise de conteúdo. Em suma, os principais resultados encontrados na tese dão conta de que os outros consumidores, em específico, induzem o consumidor focal a empreender determinados tipos de reações afetivas, emocionais e comportamentais muitas vezes de modo heurístico e não intencional. Já as companhias, além de fazerem com que a experiência dure mais tempo, também induzem o consumidor focal a \"enxergar\" a sua experiência de consumo numa perspectiva mais hedônica, de tal modo que o consumidor focal não raro acaba negligenciando, em função da importância atribuída à companhia, eventuais problemas que tenham ocorrido ao longo de sua experiência. Por fim, os colaboradores têm como papel fundamental auxiliar o consumidor quando da ocorrência de algum problema, ou mesmo quando o consumidor apresenta algum tipo de dúvida, sempre de modo atencioso, demonstrando segurança e proatividade (já que estes são aspectos valorizados pelos consumidores). Em resumo, pode-se dizer que a principal implicação da tese é lançar luz no fato de que a dimensão social do ambiente interno de varejo é algo que impacta significativamente as experiências dos consumidores, numa dinâmica em que os gestores das empresas de varejo devem atentar-se com cuidado para esses aspectos. / This thesis starts from theoretical and epistemological assumptions that consumers are \"social beings,\" therefore, they are influenced by several aspects of the social dimension of retail internal environment during a given consumer experience. In sum, we understood that the social dimension of the retail internal environment is composed by three groups of \"actors\": (a) the other consumers who are also in the store (but who do not interact verbally with the focal consumer); (b) the companion that were with the focal consumer throughout the experience (with which he establishes verbal interaction) and; (c) the employees of the organization. Thus, this thesis aimed to analyze the influence of the social dimension (other consumers, companion and employees) in the consumer experience. As an analytical locus, we decided to focus on experiences of food consumption outside the home, since the act of going to a restaurant, for example, is socially determined, with a clear social context. From the methodological perspective, the research was classified as exploratory and qualitative, in which 43 in-depth interviews were conducted with consumers of different sociodemographic profiles who went to fast food restaurants. The in-depth interviews, which occurred from the use of a protocol with guiding questions, were recorded, transcribed and submitted to content analysis techniques. In summary, the main results found suggest that other consumers induce the focal consumer to undertake certain types of affective, emotional and behavioral reactions, often in a heuristic and unintentional way. The companion, besides to making the experience last longer, also induce the focal consumer to \"see\" their consumer experience in a more hedonic perspective; the focal consumer often neglects problems that have occurred during its experience due to the importance attributed to the companion. Finally, employees have a fundamental role to assist the consumer when a problem occurs, or even when the consumer presents some type of doubt, always in a caring way, demonstrating safety and proactivity (since these are aspects valued by consumers). In summary, we can be said that the main implication of this thesis is to shed light on the fact that the social dimension of the retail internal environment is something that impacts the consumer experiences. Therefore, the managers of the retail companies should be careful about these aspects.