The aim of the study is to investigate various aspects of child poverty related to the work at youth centers. The purpose of the study is also to investigate experiences of the area in which the youth center is located. In order to investigate the purpose and questions of the study, six individual interviews have been conducted with the staff at a youth center located in a suburb in Stockholm city. The empirical material has been analyzed based on theories of class and consumer society. The study answers three questions with the first one describing the staff’s view of the area in which the youth center is located, as well as what effects these descriptions may have on their clientele. The remaining issues deals with the social consequences of child poverty which the staff identify and work counteracting. The study's conclusions show that the relative child poverty can adversely affect the social life of youths. It can cause difficulties in the maintaining of social relationships with peers and create feelings such as shame, fear and exclusion. This is explained by the demands placed on individuals to achieve a desirable class and consumer level. The study also showsthat the area’s character has an impact on the clientele. Furthermore, the study concludes that the youth center is working actively against the social consequences via inclusion, health and care. / Syftet med studien är att undersöka olika aspekter av barnfattigdom kopplat till fritidsgårdars arbete. Syftet är även att undersöka upplevelser av det område som verksamheten ligger i. För att undersöka studiens syfte och frågeställningar har sex stycken enskilda intervjuer genomförts med personal på en fritidsgård belägen i en närförort till Stockholms stad. Empirin har sedan analyserats utifrån teorier om klass och konsumtionssamhället. Studien svarar på tre frågeställningar och den första beskriver personalens uppfattning av området som fritidsgården är belägen i, samt vad dessa kan ha för betydelse för deras klientel. Resterande frågeställningar behandlar de sociala konsekvenser av barnfattigdom som personalen på fritidsgården identifierar och arbetar mot. Studiens slutsatser visar på att den relativa barnfattigdomen kan påverka ungdomars sociala liv negativt. Det kan därmed medföra svårigheter att upprätthålla sociala relationer till jämnåriga samt känslor av skam, rädsla och utanförskap. Detta förklarat utifrån de krav som ställs på individer att uppnå en eftersträvad klass och konsumtionsnivå. Studien kommer även fram till att områdets karaktär påverkar vilka ungdomar som väljer att besöka fritidsgården. Till sist drar studien slutsatser om att fritidsgården aktivt arbetar mot de sociala konsekvenserna genom inkludering, hälsa och omsorg.

Ao final do século XIX, a riqueza resultante do crescimento da cafeicultura e a entrada de milhares de imigrantes europeus, provocou um crescimento inédito da cidade de São Paulo. Em paralelo, a escravidão ia se extinguindo e reforçando o contingente de negros livres, que se somavam a massa de pobres de outras etnias, motivo de preocupação da classe dominante. Disputando os espaços da cidade e os postos de trabalho, estes grupos sociais protagonizaram conflitos internos, entre outros grupos sociais e com o Estado, opressivo e discriminador. A crescente população de negros livres, no entanto, inseria-se no mercado de trabalho a medida que a escravidão ia acabando. Aquela inserção foi abortada com a consolidação do trabalho assalariado e o surgimento de teorias racistas, que empurra-os para fora do mercado formal, obrigando-os a sobreviverem nas franjas da sociedade, exercendo trabalhos informais, pouco valorizados econômica e socialmente ou a marginalizar-se. / By the end of the XIX century, the wealth produced by the expansion of coffee plantations and the arrival of thousands of European immigrants, brought about an unprecedented growth to the city of São Paulo. Simultaneously, as slavery became extinct and the ever-growing contingent of free blacks added to the masses of other poor ethnic groups, the dominant class\'s concern rose. Striving for space in the cities and for a place in the labor market, these social groups staged conflicts internally, against other social groups and against an oppressive and discriminatory State. The rising population of free blacks, however, joined the labor market as slavery declined. Such process is aborted with the consolidation of labor and the emergence of racist theories that push them out of the formal market, forcing them to survive on the fringes of society, either by performing informal jobs of little economic and social value or resorting to crime to make a living.

C'est en 1954 que les paysans de la commune rurale d’Imanan, située dans l’Ouest du Niger, ont commencé la pratique de la culture de pomme de terre. D’une simple culture d’appoint associée à d’autres spéculations, la production de pomme de terre fait partie intégrante des systèmes de productions locaux. C’est la principale stratégie adaptative des paysans de l’Imanan pour faire face aux crises alimentaires. Plusieurs facteurs d’ordres économique, social et politique, en lien étroit avec l’évolution et les événements locaux ont contribué à sa diffusion et à son expansion. Culture de rente tournée vers le marché, la pomme de terre permet aux exploitants d’accéder à des revenus contribuant fortement à la subsistance des ménages. Dans un contexte marqué par des différenciations économiques et sociales entre groupes sociaux, la production de pomme de terre, de par les revenus qu’elle procure aux paysans, favorisent l’autonomisation des groupes sociaux défavorisés dont les jeunes et les femmes. Mais seuls les exploitants qui peuvent mobiliser suffisamment de ressources financières peuvent rentabiliser la production. La différence des revenus que tirent les producteurs de la culture de la pomme de terre est notamment liée à l’accès de ceux-ci aux plants, à l’utilisation de la motopompe et à l’emploi d’une main d’œuvre agricole externe. Le manque d’organisation adéquate de la filière pomme de terre conjugué à la faiblesse des alternatives de financement ne permettent pas à certains producteurs de s’en passer des commerçants (Maï Gida) grossistes de la filière pomme de terre. Les producteurs sont contraints de vendre leurs produits aux commerçants du « Petit marché » de Niamey. / It is in 1954 when the farmers of the rural district of Imanan, situated in the West of Niger, began the practice of the culture of potato. Of a simple culture of supplement associated with other speculations, the production of potato is an integral part local systems of productions. It is the main adaptive strategy of the farmers of the Imanan to face food crises. Several factors of economic, social and political orders, in narrow link with the evolution and the local events contributed to his distribution and to its expansion. Culture of pension was turned (shot) to the market; the potato allows the developers to reach income contributing strongly to the subsistence of the households (house works). In a context marked by economic and social differentiations between social groups, the production of potato, due to the income which she (it) gets to the farmers, favor the empowerment of the disadvantaged social groups among which the young people and the women. But only the developers who can mobilize enough financial resources can make profitable the production. The difference of the income which pull the producers of the culture of the potato is bound in particular to the access of these to plants, to use of the motor-pump and to employment of an external agricultural workforce. The lack of adequate organization of the sector apple of earth conjugated to the weakness of the alternatives of financing does not allow certain producers to take place storekeeper (Maï Gida) wholesalers of the sector potato. The producers are forced to sell their products to the storekeepers of the " Small market " of Niamey.

Political and environmental chaos recently experienced in Haiti has damaged the economic sector and telecommunication infrastructure. Developmental data from Haiti show 3 major trends: inadequate social and economic development, insufficient benefits from the global economy, and poorly planned information technology infrastructure (ITI). The specific problem addressed in this study is a knowledge gap in the views of stakeholders within Haiti's national culture on how the country's ITI can be developed to better engage Haiti in 21st century global and digital economy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the views of 48 expert participants regarding ITI development within Haiti's national culture to better engage Haiti with the 21st century global and digital economy. To satisfy the goal of this exploratory research a case study research design was used, and data were collected from multiple sources including in-depth interviews of 48 participants, observational field notes, and archival documentation. The analysis of the archival data, online surveys, and semi-structured interviews of expert informants revealed that nationwide broadband internet availability has been achieved, which has resulted in internet usage increasing from 2% in 2002 to 12% in 2009. The study participants noted the lack of reliable access to electricity limits the implementation of ITI in the nation. Legislation and financial investment are needed to improve ITI in Haiti. The academic significance and social change implications of the study include filling the knowledge gap of the status of ITI in Haiti, helping the national development of a modernized ITI well-connected to the global economy, and a better quality of life for Haiti's people.

The phenomenon of renting out your own home is a trend that has been spread worldwide. From a spatial behavior, human territory has opened in society by making the power over its geographical area accessible to people which the landlord does not need to have any relation to. A business site, based on the sharing economy, which has gained ground today, is Airbnb. This study aims to map out experiences and opinions of the sharing economy and Airbnb from two perspectives, central social actors and the population. A mix of qualitative and quantitative research is made. The study shows that there are differences in experiences and opinions, which have consequences for the population, such as precarious regulations and income declaration. Our research also shows that there is a change in social behavior through the sharing economy, which at best can become a creative development for the population who want to be part of the sharing economy. / Fenomenet att hyra ut sitt eget hem till andra är en trend som gjort succé världen över. Ur ett rumsligt beteende öppnas människans territorialitet upp i samhället genom att makten över sitt geografiska område tillgängliggörs för personer som uthyraren inte behöver ha någon relation till sedan tidigare. En affärsidé, med utgångspunkt ur delningsekonomi, som fått fäste i dagens samhälle är Airbnb. Denna studie syftar till att kartlägga erfarenheter och åsikter av delningsekonomi och Airbnb utifrån den två perspektiven samhällsaktörer och befolkningen. En blandning av kvalitativ och kvantitativ forskning görs. Studien visar att det finns skillnader i erfarenheter och åsikter som har konsekvenser för befolkningen, exempelvis osäkra förordningar och inkomstdeklaration. Vår forskning visar på att det finns en förändring av socialt beteende genom delningsekonomin, som i bästa fall kan bli en kreativ utveckling för befolkningen som vill vara en del av delningsekonomin.

<p>The purpose with this essay is to explore the social changes in relation to changes in mortality for the two largest ethnic groups in Estonia; ethnic Estonians and the Russian minority. Since this is a geographical essay, my purpose is also to explore these changes in relation to the country’s internal geography. As these changes appear over time in space, the content is partly rooted in a time geographical point of view. It is also rooted in a regional geographical point of view, since I have been comparing the mentioned changes between different areas in Estonia (with considerations on developments abroad).</p><p>Two different development lines can be seen as a consequence of the social changes taking place in the 1990s. While the ethnic Estonians situation has improved, the Russian minority’s situation has instead declined regarding to social existence and health. As a result the mortality has increased enormously for the Russian minority. The ethnic Estonians had also a mortality increase in practically all studied causes of death in all studied areas, but this increase wasn’t as high as for the Russian minority. Nevertheless, when comparing two different counties with each other as well as with the country as whole, the pattern seems to be more complicated. The Russians living in the western county of Läänemaa, have been affected more favourably by the social change than those living in the north-eastern county of Ida-Virumaa. Except for mortality by alcohol poisoning, the Russians living in Läänemaa had a much lower mortality increase than those living in Ida-Viruma and even compared with the country as whole.</p><p>It seems as those Russians living in the western parts of Estonia have been affected more favourably than those living in the north-eastern parts. These structures are very much depending on the history, since most of the Russians living in the north-eastern area immigrated during the Soviet era, while the western parts had a much earlier immigration of Russians. Considering the time and place of the Russian immigration, one can divide the Russian minority in two groups; those in the west, and those in the east.</p>

<p>This thesis deals with the causes and effects of spatial clustering of similar and related economic activity. The relationship between spatial clustering and industrial competitive-ness is analysed in a series of empirical studies, revolving around four research questions: How useful is an institutional approach in analyses of spatial clustering? Can the link between spatial clustering and industrial performance be empirically validated and measured by quantitative methods? In what sense does spatial clustering promote localised processes of learning and innovation? What role can industrial and regional policies play in promoting the type of localised processes emphasised in spatial clustering research?</p><p>It proves to be a rather complicated matter to measure the impact of spatial clustering on firm performance. In the case of export-oriented manufacturing firms in Sweden, the co-location of firms in a particular industry appears to have only a modest impact on export performance. However, when a more qualitative approach is applied, there is some evidence that spatial clustering can have a positive impact. A study of the Swedish music industry indicates that there is indeed a link between the concentration of music-related businesses in the Stockholm region and localised processes of learning and innovation. Such localised processes appear, in turn, to be linked to the ability to create and sustain industrial competitiveness. Finally, the thesis examines how the cluster concept has been put into practice in Swedish industrial and regional policies.</p>

<p>Since the demise of central planning, post-Soviet cities have found themselves operating in a radically different economic climate. Contrary to the situation during the Soviet époque, market relations and the urban economy's adjustment thereto constitute the reality which urbanites face in their daily lives. For the vast majority, this reality has been harsh. Even so, market agency in post-Soviet cities is circumscribed by a physical infrastructure composed to foster its rejection, leading to an inevitable tension between Soviet legacy and the reality of the market economy. An overarching task of this dissertation is to contribute to a greater understanding of the new urban form which is emerging out of this tension. For this purpose, eight papers, using case studies from urban Kazakhstan, are brought together in order to shed light on recent urban developments in the former Soviet Union.Two broad themes are subject to particular attention: urbanisation and regional migration processes, and urban socio-spatial differentiation. Urbanisation is studied through the comparative analysis of census data from 1989 and 1999, from which a "closed city effect" pattern emerges. Sovietand post-Soviet era urban-bounf migrant characteristics are compared using survey data (N=3,136) collected by the author, demonstrating the existence of a significant ethnic transition within the migrant flow. Socio-spatial differentiation patterns are mapped and analysed for three Kazakh military-industrial case study cities (Ust'-Kamenogorsk, Leninogorsk and Zyryanovsk), revealing significant spatial disparities which are principally explainable in light of the workings of the Soviet economy, and its built-in priority system. Market forces tend to accentuate them.</p>

<p>This thesis is concerned with the efforts to bring about a greater degree of local community participation in the use and management of Sri Lanka's coastal land and natural resources. Through the application of the Special Area Management (SAM) strategy in geographically distinct areas along the coast, the aim is to create collaborative arrangements - partnerships - that will enable coastal communities and local governments to work together with the Sri Lankan state and share responsibility and authority over the management of coastal land and natural resources. </p><p>Using a political-geographical perspective that highlights the political and spatial dimensions of this shift in forms for governing the coast, the thesis seeks to identify and discuss factors that can have a bearing on the participatory dimension of collaborative coastal management in Sri Lanka. The thesis focuses particularly on factors influencing the role played by the local communities and the degree to which they actually come to share authority with respect to the use and management of coastal natural resources as envisioned in the SAM strategy. </p><p>The thesis illustrates that, despite an ambition to bring about a sharing of authority and control in costal management, this has not quite worked out in practice. Due to circumstances relating both to the SAM strategy itself and to the context in which it is implemented, the degree to which coastal communities have gained any degree of influence with respect to the management of coastal land and resources remains questionable. </p><p>The study is carried out prior to the tsunami that hit the Sri Lankan shores in December 2004. However, given the major reconstruction of Sri Lanka's coast that currently is ongoing and the controversy that surrounds it, the issues raised in this thesis are highly relevant.</p>

This thesis deals with the causes and effects of spatial clustering of similar and related economic activity. The relationship between spatial clustering and industrial competitive-ness is analysed in a series of empirical studies, revolving around four research questions: How useful is an institutional approach in analyses of spatial clustering? Can the link between spatial clustering and industrial performance be empirically validated and measured by quantitative methods? In what sense does spatial clustering promote localised processes of learning and innovation? What role can industrial and regional policies play in promoting the type of localised processes emphasised in spatial clustering research? It proves to be a rather complicated matter to measure the impact of spatial clustering on firm performance. In the case of export-oriented manufacturing firms in Sweden, the co-location of firms in a particular industry appears to have only a modest impact on export performance. However, when a more qualitative approach is applied, there is some evidence that spatial clustering can have a positive impact. A study of the Swedish music industry indicates that there is indeed a link between the concentration of music-related businesses in the Stockholm region and localised processes of learning and innovation. Such localised processes appear, in turn, to be linked to the ability to create and sustain industrial competitiveness. Finally, the thesis examines how the cluster concept has been put into practice in Swedish industrial and regional policies.