Modern investors are considering investments in sustainable companies more than ever and oneof the main metrics that are of use is ESG performance. This criterion provides a comprehensiveoverview over an organization’s ability to generate value for all stakeholders, including employees,customers and shareholders. As the use of ESG criterion increases, so does the amount ofstudies regarding ESG performance and a company’s profitability. Most of these studies showa non negative correlation between the two. This study will however aim to examine how ESGperformance impact the efficiency and productivity level of a company. This will be done bystudying the sales generated by each employee. Moreover, the project will focus on two industries,tech and industrial and will analyse their differences. The results will be of help to business ownersand decision makers with questions regarding if investing in the company’s ESG performancecan be a way of increasing the company’s internal performance. The results of this projectsuggest that there exist a statistically significant correlation between them for both industries.The project also presented an insight to which categories of ESG are most significant in theregression model in the two different industries. The adjusted R2 for the regression model forindustrials was higher than the tech industry, which means that it is a more extensive correlationbetween the regressors and the response variable for the industrial industry. / Moderna investerare överväger i allt större grad företag som är hållbara och ett av de främsta mätvärden som kommer till användning är ESG-prestanda. Dessa kriterier ger en omfattande överblick på ett företags förmåga att generera värde för dess intressenter. Då användandet av ESG-värden ökar, ökar även mängden av studier angående ESG och ett företags lönsamhet. Majoriteten av dessa studier tyder på att det finns en korrelation mellan dem. Denna rapport kommer däremot att analysera korrelationen mellan ESG och hur effektivt samt produktivt ett företag är. Som hjälp kommer ett företags försäljning per anställd användas som mätvärde. Förutom detta kommer projektet att fokusera på industriella företag och techindustrin samt skillnaden mellan dessa två. Resultaten kommer vara till användning för beslutsfattare då detta kommer visa om satsningar på ESG-faktorer kan öka ett företags produktivitet. Rapportens resultat tyder på det existerar en statistiskt signifikant korrelation, detta gäller för båda branscherna. Adjusted R2 för regressionsmodellen för industriella företag var högre än modellen för techindustrin. Detta betyder att korrelationen mellan oberoende och beroende variablerna för industriella företag är mer omfattande.

The paper examines Meta ads in the adult education field. The ads are selected based onfour main criteria, ads with creatives that show people in the profession of the intendededucation, ads that the audience can quickly identify as an educational program, creativeswith a high signal-to-noise ratio and creatives with only one point of focus in the pictures.The ads are analyzed through a semiotic analysis and then the subject of a survey todetermine how they score in regards to informativeness, entertainment, irritation and speedof processing. The paper finds a connection between ads with a high CTR (Clickthroughrate) and high scores in the survey in “informative” and “fast to process” ads. The mainlimitation of the paper is the low amount of partakers in the survey, coupled with the methodof scoring ads based on a survey instead of in their natural habitat, not accounting forbanner blindness and other phenomena related to social media and the web.

Syfte: Studien ämnar undersöka bostadsrättsföreningars nivå av sparande för framtida kapitalunderhåll i Gävle kommun under räkenskapsåren 2018 och 2022 samt analysera vilka faktorer som kan förklara varför somliga bostadsrättsföreningar avsätter mer i sparande än andra. Metod: Vi har tillämpat en kvantitativ metod där data från årsredovisningar samlats in och använts för att beräkna och koda studiens variabler. För att testa hypoteserna analyserades data med multipel regressionsanalys. Resultat och slutsats: De flesta bostadsrättsföreningar avsätter adekvata medel, men en betydande minoritet riskerar framtida avgiftshöjningar för att täcka kommande kapitalunderhåll. Resultaten visar två statistiskt signifikanta samband med högre sparande och indikerar andra potentiella kumulativa effekter. Examensarbetets bidrag: Användning av en ny metod för empiriinsamling, ny strategi för fastställande av population och urval, undersökning av tidigare outredda oberoende variabler samt den första studien som specifikt granskar bostadsbeståndet i Gävleområdet. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Vi rekommenderar att framtida studier undersöker relationen mellan studiens beroende och oberoende variabler med ett större datamaterial. Ett större urval kan ge en tydligare bild av hur de oberoende variablerna påverkar bostadsrättsföreningars sparande. / Aim: This research aims to assess the savings levels for future capital maintenance by housing cooperatives in Gävle municipality during the fiscal years 2018 and 2022, and to identify the factors that contribute to higher savings in some cooperatives compared to others. Method: Using a quantitative approach, we gathered data from annual reports to calculate and code the study's variables. Multiple regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses. Results and conclusions: While the majority of housing cooperatives set aside adequate funds, a notable minority face the risk of future fee increases to cover necessary capital maintenance. The findings reveal two statistically significant correlations with higher savings and indicate other possible cumulative effects. Contribution of the thesis: Utilizing a novel approach for data collection, a new method for defining population and sampling, analysis of previously unexamined independent variables and the first study specifically assessing the housing stock in the Gävle region. Suggestions for future research: Future research should examine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables with a more extensive dataset. Increasing the sample size may yield a better understanding of how the independent variables influence the savings of housing cooperatives.

The biological characteristics of fisheries stocks that are assessed for management considerations are rarely homogeneous over time or space. However, stock assessment scientists largely ignore this heterogeneity in their models. This thesis addresses the effects of spatial and temporal heterogeneity on stock assessment models using Atlantic Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) as a case study. First, spatial and temporal variation was incorporated into length-, weight-, and maturity-at-age estimates using mixed-effects models (Chapter Two). The resulting heterogeneous weight and maturity parameters then were applied to per-recruit analyses to examine the sensitivity of biological reference points to spatial and temporal variation in life history attributes (Chapter Three). Mixed-effects life history models incorporating spatial and temporal variation revealed distinct regional and annual trends that were not visible from standard homogeneous models. In several instances, the homogeneous modelling approach produced life history estimates that varied significantly from the spatial and temporal means produced by the heterogeneous models. In some cases, this difference was so great that the homogeneous means were much higher or lower than the heterogeneous means for all regions or years. Minimized AIC statistics revealed that spatially and temporally integrated mixed-effects models were more robust and descriptive of Atlantic Weakfish life history than the standard homogeneous models. Per-recruit and biological reference points derived from these life history estimates in Chapter Three were found to be highly sensitive to spatial and temporal variations in weight parameters. In several cases, reference points used as management targets were so significantly different that ignoring spatial and temporal heterogeneity in Atlantic Weakfish life history would likely cause overfishing and decline of Weakfish in certain regions and years. / Master of Science / Many stocks of commercially and recreationally harvested marine fish have displayed a declining trend in recent years. Marine fisheries are a vital component of the global economy, and, as such, sophisticated management measures have been developed to reduce and reverse this trend. These management strategies are based on regular reports from fisheries stock assessment scientists, who evaluate the status of fish stocks by modelling life history and productivity trends. One of the greatest challenges to stock assessments is the identification and incorporation of variability in fish populations. There is an inherent variation in fish growth, maturity, and productivity among geographical locations and over time. To produce the most effective management strategies, stock assessments must incorporate this spatial (regional) and temporal (annual) variation. In this thesis, I used mixed effects models to integrate spatial and temporal variation in life history and productivity using Atlantic Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) as a case study. Distinct trends were observed in fishery-independent data for this species that were reflected in spatially and temporally incorporated models. However, these trends were masked in the standard models which incorporated neither spatial nor temporal variation. This oversight could cause weakfish to be overfished in certain regions and years and underfished in others. To maximize the effectiveness of management and the sustainable fisheries yield in all regions and years for Atlantic Weakfish and other harvested species, I highly recommend using spatially and temporally incorporated life history and productivity models such as the ones developed in this thesis.

Research questions: Do surprising disclosures of earnings per share determine price reactions in the corresponding direction as the aspect of the surprise?Is the effect of quarterly reports detectable in the stock price immediately following the date of information disclosure? Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the connection between stock prices and quarterly reports among the 30 most actively traded stocks on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Method: The study was conducted with a deductive approach based on previous research and theories to answer the research questions. Stock data from the 30 most actively traded stocks on the Stockholm Stock Exchange was collected and compared with quarterly reports from the corresponding companies. Conclusion: The research findings confirm corresponding direction between stock price reactions and the aspect of earnings per share surprise. A connection between quarterly reports and stock price was discovered immediately following the date of information disclosure. However, the evidence was unable to be proven statistically and could therefore not be generalized. / Forskningsfrågor: Leder oförväntad EPS (vinst per aktie) till avvikelser i aktiekursen i motsvarande riktning?Är effekten av kvartalsrapporter möjlig att upptäcka i aktiepriset omedelbart efter offentliggörandet av rapporten? Syfte: Syftet med studien är att studera sambandet mellan aktiepriser och kvartalsrapporter hos börsnoterade företag vars aktier tillhör de 30 mest omsatta på Stockholmsbörsen. Metod: Studien grundas på ett deduktivt tillvägagångssätt som baseras på tidigare forskning och teorier i syfte att besvara forskningsfrågorna. Aktiedata från de 30 mest omsatta aktierna på Stockholmsbörsen insamlades och jämfördes med kvartalsrapporter för dem motsvarande företagen. Slutsats: Studien bevisar att oförväntad EPS leder till avvikelser i aktiekursen i motsvarande riktning. Ett samband mellan kvartalsrapporter och aktiepriser upptäcktes omedelbart efter offentliggörandet av rapporten som dock var ej statistiskt signifikant och därmed inte generaliserbar.

Aquest treball analitza la conceptualització i representació de la sepat dels dos ceptres-uas en el context de la Geografia sagrada d'Egipte des d'una perspectiva diacrònica a partir de la documentació papirològica i epigràfica relativa a aquesta regió, des del Regne Antic fins a època grecoromana. Durant més de 2500 anys, aquest territori de l'Alt Egipte es representà als temples del país en un intent de reactualització constant de la seva hipòstasi i dels textos que l'acompanyen. Les fonts analitzades són el reflex d'una geografia simbòlica i selectiva, validada a través de mites i arquetips que, en la mentalitat egípcia antiga, contituïa ritualment la més eficaç. Un dels principals eixos del treball el constitueix l'estudi textual, iconogràfic i espacial de les representacions de la sepat i dels seus components topogràfics en cada una de les processons geogràfiques dels temples que han pogut ser constrastades in situ. La caracterització i anàlisi de l'evolució dels cultes locals en aquest territori d'orígen sethià ha esta l'altre pol de la recerca. El mètode d'anàlisi emprat ha tingut en compte les regles de sintaxi naològica i la "Gramàtica del temple" que regeixen el programa "decoratiu" de cada temple en particular. / The principal aim of this research is to characterise the conceptualisation and representation of the double was-scepter sepat and its place in Egypt's ritual topography. A diachronic approach has been adopted, based on epigraphic sources of this region dating from the Old Kingdom to the Graeco-Roman period. Through more than 2500 years this territory in Upper Egypt was depicted in temples in order to update its hypostasis and its accompanying texts. The sources articulate a sacred topography expressed in myths and archetypes considered by the ancient Egyptians as the most valid and efficacious. One of the main research axis is the study of textual, iconographical and spatial analysis of the representations of this territory and its topographical components in geographical processions laid out in temple contexts that had been verified in situ. This is complemented by the characterisation and the analysis of local cults dynamics in this sethian region. The methodology involves the study of the rules of the naological syntax and the "Grammar of the temple" that govern a temple's decoration, revealing that the representation of Egypt's sacred landscape varies from temple to temple.

Esta tesis estudia tres óperas: Motezuma (1733) de Antonio Vivaldi; Montezuma (1755) de Carl Heinrich Graun y Fernand Cortez ou la conquête du Mexique (1809) de Gaspare Spontini. La finalidad es establecer la fuente exacta de sus libretti. El estudio comprueba si esa fuente es la Historia de la conquista de México (1684) de Antonio de Solís. La tesis analiza las tradiciones en las que esta obra se inserta: la historiografía sobre la Conquista de México y la crónica de Indias. Por último, estudia el contexto en el cual surgieron las tres óperas así como sus implicaciones artísticas, políticas e ideológicas. / This thesis studies three operas: Motezuma (1733) by Antonio Vivaldi; Montezuma (1755) by Carl Heinrich Graun and Fernand Cortez ou la conquête ou du Mexique (1809) by Gaspare Spontini . The aim is to establish the exact source of their libretti. The study tests whether that source is the History of the Conquest of Mexico (1684) by Antonio Solis. The thesis examines the traditions in which this work is inserted: the historiography of the Conquest of Mexico and Spanish chronicles of the Indies. Finally it, studies the context in which these three operas arose as well as their artistic, political and ideological implications.

The purpose of this thesis is to formulate a coherent history of Roussillon in the nineteenth century in an attempt to explain the causes for the weaknesses underpinning its Catalan cultural revival. In order to do so, I will commence by broaching the subject of the French process of nation-building, to illustrate how the initial Roussillonese studies were stimulated by research and inquiries into “national antiquities”. Such studies were indeed promoted by consecutive French governments with the aim of classifying, documenting and preserving all the artistic, linguistic and architectural “monuments” of the French nation. My research then proceeds to examine the Occitan-Catalan cultural context, within which the Roussillonese linguistic and cultural revival should be inserted and analysed. Moreover, I shall attempt to quantify the contribution made by Roussillonese scholars to the reflection on the Catalan language during the nineteenth century, as well as the extent and type of knowledge they possessed of Catalan and how they investigated it. / El objetivo de esta tesis es establecer una historia coherente del Rosellón en el siglo XIX con el objetivo de explicar las causas de la “debilidad” del renacimiento cultural en catalán. Para ello, empezaré planteando la cuestión del proceso francés de construcción de la nación con el fin de ilustrar cómo los primeros estudios roselloneses fueron estimulados por las investigaciones y estudios sobre las “antigüedades nacionales”. Estos estudios fueron promovidos por varios gobiernos franceses con el objetivo de clasificar, documentar y preservar todos los “monumentos” artísticos, lingüísticos y arquitectónicos de la nación francesa. A continuación, mi investigación procederá a examinar el contexto cultural Occitano-Catalán, dentro del cual debe inserirse y analizarse el renacimiento lingüístico y cultural rosellonés. Además, pretendo valorar la contribución hecha por los eruditos roselloneses a la reflexión sobre la lengua catalana durante el siglo XIX, así como el alcance y el tipo de conocimiento sobre el catalán que poseían y cómo la investigaban.

After Independence and during the 19th century, the government of Buenos Aires faced the challenge of expanding the territory dedicated to livestock over aborigine's lands in the inner Pampas and organizing a vast space, mostly unknown. The research focuses on the current territory of the province of Buenos Aires, in the period between 1810 and 1916. This territory was built during this phase and was the scenario of remarkable transformations due to its close relationship with the capital and the huge fertility of its land. The aim of the research is to prove three fundamental hypotheses. The first one is related to the existence of a territorial project for the province of Buenos Aires, an ideological project that can be spatially read in multiple ways. Therefore, we pretend to understand the spatial strategies as a result of political, social and economic ideas about how the new country should be. To do so, we identify nine strategies for the organization of the territory that develop different spatial patterns. The second hypothesis is that the city is the axis of the colonization process, where the idea of settling a population is transformed in the leitmotif of spatial strategies. This idea represents also the desired ideal of civilization, in opposition to the countryside, considered in those times as uncultured and barbarian. Consequently, this city has an urban form that follows this idea and constitutes civilization and modernization's tool of the territory. To prove this hypothesis, we analyse the original plans of all the settlements and redraw them in the form of an atlas, which allows identifying and studying its elements. This project, however, has an important component in its representation. In both an urban and a rural scope, the land production registers had a fundamental role in the construction of the territory, not only from the physical or tangible point of view, but also from the imaginary. Therefore, the third hypothesis attempts to confirm the central role of measurement techniques and the construction of urban and territorial cartography as a fundamental tool for the implementation of the project. We are interested in the maps and the agents that produced these cartographies as relevant actors in the process of understanding and apprehending the space. We have studied the production of the Department of Topography, quantified their achievements and analysed the operation of this institution over this period. With these ideas' project, city and representation, we studied the strategies that the government used to organize its territory with the intention of moving away from its colonial past and building up a modern country. This research covers for the first time the whole formative period of the provincial territory and the town's settlement that resulted from that process. In this sense, the province of Buenos Aires constitutes a research laboratory for the spatial strategies used in the 19th century, whose patterns still exist today. / Después de la Independencia y durante gran parte del siglo XIX, el gobierno de Buenos Aires se enfrenta a la necesidad de expandir el territorio dedicado a la ganadería sobre tierras ocupadas por indígenas en el interior de la pampa y a organizar un espacio en gran medida desconocido y de vastas dimensiones. La presente investigación se centra en el territorio de la actual provincia de Buenos Aires en el periodo entre 1810 y 1916, un ámbito que se construye en esta etapa y es escenario de notables transformaciones, debido a la estrecha relación con la capital y a la alta fertilidad de sus tierras. Se busca comprobar tres hipótesis fundamentales. La primera está relacionada con la existencia de un proyecto territorial para el espacio bonaerense, un proyecto ideológico que puede leerse en el espacio de múltiples maneras. Pretendemos así entender las estrategias espaciales como resultado de ideas políticas, sociales y económicas acerca de cómo debía ser el nuevo país. Para ello se han identificado nueve estrategias de organización del territorio, que desarrollan diferentes patrones espaciales. La segunda hipótesis es la de la ciudad como eje del proceso de colonización, donde la idea de población se transforma en el leitmotiv de las estrategias espaciales, y representa la civilización que se quiere alcanzar frente al campo, considerado en la época como “inculto y bárbaro”. Por tanto esta ciudad tiene una forma urbana que responde a esa idea y constituye una herramienta de civilización y modernización del territorio. Para comprobarlo, se han estudiado los planos originales de todas las poblaciones, y se han redibujado en forma de atlas, que permite identificar y estudiar sus elementos constitutivos. Este proyecto tiene, no obstante, una importante componente en su representación. Tanto en el ámbito rural como en el urbano, la producción de registros de tierras, tiene un rol esencial en la construcción del territorio, no sólo desde el punto de vista físico o tangible, sino también sobre su imaginario. Por lo tanto, la tercera hipótesis busca afirmar el rol central del las técnicas de medición y construcción de cartografía urbana y territorial como herramienta fundamental para la construcción del proyecto. Aquí entran en escena los mapas y los agentes que realizan esas cartografías, como actores relevantes en el proceso de entender y aprehender el espacio. Se ha estudiado la producción del Departamento Topográfico, cuantificando las realizaciones y analizado el funcionamiento de la institución a lo largo del periodo de estudio. Con estas tres ideas –proyecto, ciudad y representación–, abordamos el estudio de las estrategias de que se sirve el gobierno independiente para organizar su territorio en una voluntad de apartarse de su pasado colonial y transformarse en un país moderno, en un trabajo que por primera vez abarca todo el periodo formativo del territorio provincial y el conjunto de ciudades producto de este proceso. Así, la Provincia de Buenos Aires constituye un laboratorio de investigación de las estrategias espaciales utilizadas en el siglo XIX, cuyos patrones perduran aún hoy en día. / Després de la Independència i durant la major part del segle XIX, el govern de Buenos Aires s’enfronta a la necessitat d’expandir el territori dedicat a la ramaderia sobre les terres indígenes en l’interior de la pampa i a organitzar un espai en gran mesura desconegut i d’àmplies dimensions. La recerca es centra en el territori de l’actual província de Buenos Aires, en el període independent entre 1810 i 1916, un àmbit que es construí en aquesta etapa i es l’escenari central de notables transformacions, degut a la estreta relació amb la capital i a l’alta fertilitat de les seves terres. Es busca comprovar tres hipòtesis fonamentals. La primera està relacionada amb l’existència d’un projecte territorial per a la província, un projecte ideològic que es pot llegir a l’espai de múltiples maneres. Pretenem així entendre les estratègies espacials com a resultat d’idees polítiques, socials i econòmiques de com havia de ser el nou país. Per a comprovar-ho s’han identificat nou estratègies d’organització del territori que desenvolupen diferents patrons espacials. La segona hipòtesi és la de la ciutat com a eix del procés de colonització, on l’idea de població es transforma en el leitmotiv de les estratègies espacials, i representa la civilització a la que es vol arribar, davant del camp, considerat a l’època com a “inculte i bàrbar”. Per tant, aquesta ciutat té una forma urbana que respon a aquesta idea i constitueix una eina de civilització i modernització del territori. Per a verificar-ho, s’han estudiat els plànols originals de totes les poblacions, i s’han redibuixat en forma d’atles, que permet identificar i estudiar els seus elements constitutius. Aquest projecte té, no obstant, un important component en la seva representació. Tant a l’àmbit rural com urbà, la producció de registres de terres té un rol primordial en la construcció del territori, no tan sols des del punt de vista físic o tangible, ans també sobre el seu imaginari. Per tant, la tercera hipòtesi busca afirmar el rol central de les tècniques de mesurament i construcció de la cartografia urbana i territorial com a eina fonamental per a la construcció del projecte. Aquí entren en escena els mapes i els agents que realitzen aquestes cartografies, com a actores rellevants en el procés de entendre i aprehendre l’espai. S’ha estudiat la producció del Departament Topogràfic, tot quantificant les seves realitzacions i analitzant el funcionament de la institució al llarg del període de estudi. Amb aquestes tres idees –projecte, ciutat i representació–, abordem l’estudi de les estratègies que utilitza el govern independent per a organitzar el seu territori, amb la voluntat d’apartar-se del seu passat colonial i transformar-se en un país modern, en un treball que per primera vegada inclou tot el període formatiu del territori provincial i el conjunt de ciutats producte d’aquest procés. Així, la província de Buenos Aires constituí un laboratori de recerca sobre les estratègies espacials utilitzades durant el segle XIX, els quals seus patrons perduren encara avui en dia.

The focus of my PhD research has been on the acquisition of computational modeling and simulation methods used in both theoretical and applied Economics. My first chapter provides an interactive review of finite-difference methods for solving systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) commonly encountered in economic applications using Python. The methods surveyed in this chapter, as well as the accompanying code and IPython lab notebooks should be of interest to any researcher interested in applying finite-difference methods for solving ODEs to economic problems. My second chapter is an empirical analysis of the evolution of the distribution of bank size in the U.S. This paper assesses the statistical support for Zipf's Law (i.e., a power law, or Pareto, distribution with a scaling exponent of α = 2) as an appropriate model for the upper tail of the distribution of U.S. banks. Using detailed balance sheet data for all FDIC regulated banks for the years 1992 through 2011, I find significant departures from Zipf's Law for most measures of bank size inmost years. Although Zipf's Law can be statistically rejected, a power law distribution with α of roughly 1.9 statistically outperforms other plausible heavy-tailed alternative distributions. In my final chapter, which is based on joint work with Dr. David Comerford, I apply computational methods to model the relationship between per capita income and city size. A well-known result from the urban economics literature is that a monopolistically competitive market structure combined with internal increasing returns to scale can be used to generate log-linear relations between income and population. I extend this theoretical framework to allow for a variable elasticity of substitution between factors of production in a manner similar to Zhelobodko et al. (2012). Using data on Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S. I find evidence that supports what Zhelobodko et al. (2012) refer to as "increasing relative love for variety (RLV)." Increasing RLV generates procompetitive effects as market size increases which means that IRS, whilst important for small to medium sized cities, are exhausted as cities become large. This has important policy implications as it suggests that focusing intervention on creating scale for small populations is potentially much more valuable than further investments to increase market size in the largest population centers.