This doctoral thesis contains three essays on the economics of climate change and the electricity sector. The first essay deals with the subject of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic growth. The second essay addresses the issues of climate change policies, especially the role of the emergent innovative technologies, and the restructuring of the electricity sector. The third essay presents a model of transmission investments in electric power networks. Chapter One studies the impacts of climate change on economic growth in the world economies. The paper contains explicit formalization of the depletion process of exhaustible fossil fuels and the phase of technology substitution. The impacts of climate change on capital flows and welfare across countries are also investigated. The restructuring of the electricity sector is studied in Chapter Two. It also analyzes how climate change policies can benefit from emergent innovative technologies and how emergent innovative technologies can lower GHG emissions. It is shown that the price of electricity is strictly rising before emergent innovative firms with zero GHG emissions enter the market, but strictly declining as the entry begins. In Chapter Three, a model of electricity transmission investments from the perspective of the regulatory approach is formulated. The Mid-West region of Western Australia, a sub-system of the South West Interconnected System is considered. In contrast with most models in the literature that deal only with network deepening, this model deals with both network deepening and network widening. Moreover, unlike the conventional investment models which are static and deal only with the long run, this model is dynamic and focuses on the timing of the infrastructure investments. The paper is a study of an optimal transmission investment program which is part of the optimal investment program for an integrated model in which investments in transmission and investments in generation are made at the same time.

International regulations target a global reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through the allocation of national reduction targets and the definition of mechanisms to achieve these targets. One of these mechanisms is international emissions trading, these trading programs have been the targets of widespread criticism since they were introduced into the policy-making arena. The point of departure in this study has been that the trading raises questions about morality, since it implies signals, which legitimates pollution. The main purpose with this study has been to find out if emissions trading systems can be morally justified with the method of wide reflective equilibrium. From the study it was found that the moral intuition; it is wrong to pollute the environment, and perform activities, which legitimates pollution, finds support from the different theories within environmental ethics and Kantian ethics. But, it was also found that there are a number of background theories, such as neo-classical economic thinking, liberalism, and utilitarianism, that supports the notion of emissions trading. The paper argues that even though the concept of CO2-emissions trading raises moral questions it can be morally defended on the basis of rationality. When the theory about specification is applied to the concept of emissions trading it is possible to reach a situation were a wide reflective equilibrium is achieved.

This doctoral thesis contains three essays on the economics of climate change and the electricity sector. The first essay deals with the subject of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic growth. The second essay addresses the issues of climate change policies, especially the role of the emergent innovative technologies, and the restructuring of the electricity sector. The third essay presents a model of transmission investments in electric power networks. Chapter One studies the impacts of climate change on economic growth in the world economies. The paper contains explicit formalization of the depletion process of exhaustible fossil fuels and the phase of technology substitution. The impacts of climate change on capital flows and welfare across countries are also investigated. The restructuring of the electricity sector is studied in Chapter Two. It also analyzes how climate change policies can benefit from emergent innovative technologies and how emergent innovative technologies can lower GHG emissions. It is shown that the price of electricity is strictly rising before emergent innovative firms with zero GHG emissions enter the market, but strictly declining as the entry begins. In Chapter Three, a model of electricity transmission investments from the perspective of the regulatory approach is formulated. The Mid-West region of Western Australia, a sub-system of the South West Interconnected System is considered. In contrast with most models in the literature that deal only with network deepening, this model deals with both network deepening and network widening. Moreover, unlike the conventional investment models which are static and deal only with the long run, this model is dynamic and focuses on the timing of the infrastructure investments. The paper is a study of an optimal transmission investment program which is part of the optimal investment program for an integrated model in which investments in transmission and investments in generation are made at the same time.

This paper surveys the insider opinions and awareness’s of swedish bank loan officers, managers and board members on their view of the new capital requirements in light of the European Sovereign Debt Crisis, less than optimal rules and the opaqueness of state issued sovereigns. The paper will try to find the rationale in the reasoning of bank insiders and discuss their views in relation to current research. The ground breaking inside perspective will give researchers insight into the bank insiders’ view, which is previously not known in current research.

This report is founded in lack of knowledge concerning the design and layout procedureduring a new engine room construction.The prime question is how the engine room takes its form from idea to construction and whathappens in between. We want to give the reader a better understanding in how the work isdone and why it is designed the way it is concerning layout, ergonomics and safety. Duringthis report we will enhance the knowledge concerning regulations and rules that are of greatsubstance such as SOLAS, Swedish Sjöfartsverket and IMO.By contacting the parties involved in the process in newly designing a vessel and its engineroom, we will assume their approaches and experiences. We will study the work progressfrom planning to construction of a vessels machinery spaces. We will with the help ofinterviews with interested parties get an idea of the approach and also compare the finishedproduct a bit depending on company size and resources.The investigation resulted in a good basis for how a ship engine room design takes shape andwhich aspects are taken into account, however, we found that the existing rules concerningengine room layout was very vague and was seen as the most recommendations. For thecontrol room, there were however some points to consider. We believe that it would facilitatea more comprehensive legal framework relating to engine room design. / Denna studie grundar sig i en okunskap gällande maskinrums design och layout. Frågan viställde oss var hur ett fartygs maskinrum kom till från idé till ritning och slutligen beställning.Syftet med arbetet är att ge läsaren grundläggande kunskaper gällande maskinrums design,layout samt ergonomiska aspekter då detta är relevant gällande säkerhet och avhjälpandekring det dagliga arbetet ombord på ett fartyg. Vi kommer även ta upp information som rörregelverk så som (SOLAS, Sjöfartsverket och arbetsmiljöverket),riktlinjer (IMO) standarder (ISO).Genom att kontakta de parter som är inblandade i ett nykonstruerande av ett fartyg och dessmaskinrum kommer vi utgå ifrån deras tillvägagångssätt och erfarenheter. Vi kommer studeravägen från beställning och planering till konstruering. Vi kommer med hjälp av intervjuermed berörda parter skaffa oss en uppfattning om tillvägagångssättet vid planering avmaskinrums designen och även jämföra resultatet beroende på rederiets storlek och resurser.Undersökningen resulterade i ett bra underlag för hur ett fartygs maskinrums konstruktion tarform och vilka aspekter som det tas hänsyn till, dock upptäckte vi att reglerna gällandemaskinrummets utformning var mycket vaga och sågs mest som rekommendationer. Förkontrollrummet fanns det däremot en del punkter att ta hänsyn till. Vi anser att det skulleunderlätta med ett mer utförligt regelverk som rör maskinrummets utformning.

The large accounting scandals in the early 21st century had large impact on the future discussion regarding the importance of auditor independence. This led to stricter auditor independence rules in Sweden as well as internationally. Small and medium-sized enterprises frequently hire their auditor for consulting services. A long and close audit-client relationship is common for small and medium sized enterprises. This is considered to be a threat towards the auditor independence. The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether Swedish small and medium sized enterprises, who are required to be audited, are aware of the auditor independence regulations. The thesis further aims analyze if the regulation of audit independence is as necessary for small companies as for large companies with additional number of shareholders. A qualitative study has been performed where data has been collected through 102 telephone interviews with small and medium-sized companies. A questionnaire consisting of both multiple choice and open questions has been used for the interviews. The collected data were compiled in SPSS which generated graphs and tables that then were analyzed. Small and medium-sized companies believe it is important that the auditor is independent towards their company. On the other hand, management in Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises has no direct knowledge of what the auditor independence regulation implies. / De stora redovisningsskandalerna i början av 2000-talet fick stor betydelse för den kommande diskussionen angående vikten av revisorns oberoende. Detta ledde till strängare regler för revisorerna i Sverige såväl som internationellt. Revisorn fungerar i många små och medelstora företag som en ekonomisk rådgivare. Små företag har ofta en lång och nära relation med sin revisor. Detta anses vara ett hot mot revisorns oberoende. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om revisionspliktiga små och medelstora företag är medvetna om reglerna gällande revisorns oberoende. Uppsatsen avser vidare att analysera om reglerna för revisorns oberoende är lika nödvändiga för små företag som för stora företag med en stor andel aktieägare. En kvalitativ undersökning har utförts där data från 102 telefonintervjuer med små och medelstora företag har samlats in. Ett frågeformulär med både flersvarsfrågor och öppna frågor har legat som grund för undersökningen. Den insamlade datan sammanställdes i SPSS vilket genererade grafer och tabeller som sedan analyserades. Små och medelstora företag anser att det är viktigt att revisorn är oberoende gentemot deras företag. Å andra sidan har ledningen i svenska små och medelstora företag ingen direkt kunskap om vad revisorns oberoende reglering innebär.

<p>This dissertation examines the variation in the choice of FDI regulations. Why do some countries restrict the entry and operations of foreign MNEs while others permit and even seek inward FDI? What factors determine the choice of FDI regulations and what conditions are likely to bring about their reform? This study identifies the political dynamics leading to the improvement or deterioration of investment climates in transition economies and beyond. </p> <p> I argue that FDI policies depend on the level of political competition and the anticipated distributional implications of FDI liberalization for the main constituencies that back the government in office. Democratic governments, which derive political power from domestic workers who benefit from investments by foreign firms, liberalize FDI regulations. By contrast, non-democratic leaders, who fear that FDI would upset the balance of domestic economic power and undermine the privileged position of domestic industrialists who support the regime, continue to restrict foreign investment. </p> <p> I examine the choice of FDI regulations using a newly constructed database of FDI regulations in 28 transition economies between 1989 and 2008, an index of investment freedom available for a worldwide sample starting in 1994, and changes over time in three complementary case studies. The statistical analysis reveals that higher levels of political competition are associated with greater openness to FDI and the case study research shows that both increases and decreases in the level of political competition lead to the revision of the FDI legislation. While democratization has brought about more liberal FDI policies, the consolidation of authoritarian regimes has been followed by stricter FDI regulations.</p> / Dissertation

Since Taiwan's inroad into the WTO and the drafting and actual implementation of the Government Procurement Act, the whole epoch and context including politics, social situation, economy and culture, etc. have changed dramatically. As the 21st century is a time for the prosperity of e-businesses, procurement cases processed by government agencies within a country may be promptly and easily communicated anywhere in the global village. True as it is, the establishment of a comprehensive set of procurement regulations is deemed more important, so that the government procurement work can be carried out in an even more open, just and impartial manner. School procurement, in particular, plays an important role in the whole segment of government procurement. The study started off with an eye on the traditional procurement system¡DThe old procurement regulations prior to May 27th¡A1999 were discussed to shed light on the predicament of ambiguous delineation of rights and responsibilities in regulations, undefined competent authority in charge of procurement, and scattered and unconsolidated procurement regulations and rules, etc. As Taiwan went with the global economic trend and joined the WTO, and out of political consideration, as well as the hope of showcasing her administrative success in the international arena, the Government Procurement Act was then drafted and implemented to overcome the aforesaid problems, and professionalize the procurement work.The procurement regulations and system of the Hou Jia Junior High School werediscussed with reference to the five frameworks of administrative law ¡V basic principle, administrative organization, administrative competence, administrative remedy and administrative supervision. At the same time, literature review, historical statement, comparative analysis and inductive analysis were adopted as the research methods. This is to find out whether there is room for improvement in the ¡§procurement regulations and system of the national junior high schools¡¨ in light of the five frameworks of administrative law. Hence, the research results were concluded on the future provisions and actions relating to the procurement regulations and system of national junior high schools. Specific recommendations were then proposed as a reference for the competent authority, schools, procurement staff and future studies.

Past discussions about paradigm shift mostly put emphasis on evolution, exploiting paradigm shift or not and exist or not. Existence or not problem basically fall into block logic and expire the possibility of recombination. The dissertation explore the happening of paradigm shift according to the loading on China shipping forwarder market from 1987-2001 for Taiwan shipping forwarders, focus on exploring happening than evolution. In the second chapter about literature reviews, the dissertation explore merchant economy context analysis approach instead of usual industrial economy analysis more fit with the specialty of service industry about shipping forwarder industry. And make definition about paradigm and paradigm shift analysis in the merchant economy context. This dissertation build the methodology in oral history and action research. The third chapter introduce a case study to describe the 15 years loading on China shipping market process with the view of Taiwan shipping forwarders. The forth chapter explore the pre-loading on paradigm in Taiwan and the fifth one the post-loading on paradigm in China market. The opposite paradigm appreciate the difference and content. Then, according to merchant economy context analysis approach to create four propositions to present the happening of paradigm shift including the inspiration of paradigm shift, the progress of paradigm shift, the development of paradigm shift, and the fulfilling of paradigm shift. New findings take much look the inspiration of paradigm shift with truly recombination happened, secondly, entrepreneurial make the progress of paradigm shift as positive adjustment and adoption to fit with local law regulations instead of abidance. Keeping with competition and cooperation relationship apply further the new resources in the development of paradigm shift. Finally, entrepreneurial concentration the ownership and control will fulfill paradigm shift.

In health services, it is a necessity to keep the records of the patients. Although paper-based records are commonly used for this aim, they are not as convenient as computerized records. Therefore, many of the health facilities have recently started keeping patients&rsquo / health records in electronic databases. However, new questions about confidentiality and privacy of these records were raised with this new system.This study aims to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the people who use the health services of Turkey about the privacy and confidentiality of health information in electronic environment. In the survey, there are 596 participants from 64 different cities in six geographical regions of Turkey. The findings show that people feel comfortable about computer usage in health-care but they are concerned about the privacy and confidentiality of their information and also they are not sure if their medical information is safe and secure now. Moreover, they are mostly unaware about current regulations related to information privacy in Turkey. The study also shows that people trust in their doctors, health researchers in universities, pharmacist, nurses and other hospital staff but do not trust in insurance companies, government, private sector health researchers, information technology specialists and government health researchers for the privacy of their medical records.