Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T20:19:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Baltazar.pdf: 12348587 bytes, checksum: 62c8227228c6a07eedab0e1866fa84fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-31 / Fundação Ford / In the 1980s, several government-sponsored projects were directed at improving the relationship between the Terena people and the white population. The most recent of those projects the construction of a gas pipeline running from Bolivia to Brazil served as a test case in that relationship. The negotiations around the implementation of the project brought to the surface the contrast between the decision making process which is characteristic of the Terena people and that of the non-indigenous authorities and their organizations in question. Up until then, the Terena leadership had never been consulted or invited to participate in the planning stage of projects aimed at the indigenous population. As a consequence, most of those projects and public policies have failed, due to the fact that they had been decided in the offices of the bureaucrats without the input of the receptors. The highlight of the gas pipeline project negotiations happened during a meeting between the representatives of the national and international agencies involved in the project, on the one hand, and the Terena leadership, on the other, whose venue was in Campo Grande, the capital of the State. On that occasion, the Terena clashed with the white representatives who proposed using the geographical distance between the Terena settlements and the actual pipeline as the sole factor in the financial compensation for the impact which the project would have on the indigenous territory and population. The argument advanced by the Terena leadership, at the time, was that the criterion proposed was contrary to their traditional decision making process. The Terena make their group decisions on the basis of the interaction between the extended family groups as well as the reciprocity of interests within their communities. The present study describes and analyzes negotiation which took place around the gas pipeline project vis-à-vis the features of the decision-making process which is characteristic of the Terena people. The chronology of the negotiation process is given as well as the attending results which derived from the entire process itself / Na década de 1980 vários foram os projetos de políticas publicas destinados aos Terena no Distrito de Taunay, com objetivo de facilitar a relação dos povos indígenas com o mundo do branco. O projeto mais recente foi a construção do Gasoduto Bolivia-Brasil que passa nas proximidades das terras indígenas, servindo de marco revelador no processo de negociação e de decisão das lideranças Terena. Até então as lideranças Terena nunca foram convidadas e nem tão pouco consultadas para participar na elaboração dos projetos destinados as populações indígenas. Como conseqüência, a maioria dos projetos de políticas publica fracassaram em decorrência de serem construídos em gabinetes, sem a participação da parte interessada. O fator mais importante nesta construção do Gasoduto foi a reunião que aconteceu, em Campo Grande-MS, entre os representantes institucionais nacionais e internacionais envolvidos no projeto e as lideranças indígenas. As lideranças Terena reprovaram a metodologia apresentada na reunião que usava a distancia como critério empregado pela empresa responsável na construção do Gasbol. As lideranças Terena argumentaram que o critério de distancia não faz parte do processo decisório dos Terena, que se baseia na interação entre grupos familiares extensas, bem como a reciprocidade no interesse comum e que são povos unidos independente de distancia. Passados dez anos, a implantação do Gasoduto, os recursos aplicados nas aldeias em sua maior parte não trouxeram resultados desejados. A explicação de certos fracassos tem como matriz a desvalorização e desconhecimento do processo decisório do Terena

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:52:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Paulo Baltazar.pdf: 12348587 bytes, checksum: 62c8227228c6a07eedab0e1866fa84fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-31 / Fundação Ford / In the 1980s, several government-sponsored projects were directed at improving the relationship between the Terena people and the white population. The most recent of those projects the construction of a gas pipeline running from Bolivia to Brazil served as a test case in that relationship. The negotiations around the implementation of the project brought to the surface the contrast between the decision making process which is characteristic of the Terena people and that of the non-indigenous authorities and their organizations in question. Up until then, the Terena leadership had never been consulted or invited to participate in the planning stage of projects aimed at the indigenous population. As a consequence, most of those projects and public policies have failed, due to the fact that they had been decided in the offices of the bureaucrats without the input of the receptors. The highlight of the gas pipeline project negotiations happened during a meeting between the representatives of the national and international agencies involved in the project, on the one hand, and the Terena leadership, on the other, whose venue was in Campo Grande, the capital of the State. On that occasion, the Terena clashed with the white representatives who proposed using the geographical distance between the Terena settlements and the actual pipeline as the sole factor in the financial compensation for the impact which the project would have on the indigenous territory and population. The argument advanced by the Terena leadership, at the time, was that the criterion proposed was contrary to their traditional decision making process. The Terena make their group decisions on the basis of the interaction between the extended family groups as well as the reciprocity of interests within their communities. The present study describes and analyzes negotiation which took place around the gas pipeline project vis-à-vis the features of the decision-making process which is characteristic of the Terena people. The chronology of the negotiation process is given as well as the attending results which derived from the entire process itself / Na década de 1980 vários foram os projetos de políticas publicas destinados aos Terena no Distrito de Taunay, com objetivo de facilitar a relação dos povos indígenas com o mundo do branco. O projeto mais recente foi a construção do Gasoduto Bolivia-Brasil que passa nas proximidades das terras indígenas, servindo de marco revelador no processo de negociação e de decisão das lideranças Terena. Até então as lideranças Terena nunca foram convidadas e nem tão pouco consultadas para participar na elaboração dos projetos destinados as populações indígenas. Como conseqüência, a maioria dos projetos de políticas publica fracassaram em decorrência de serem construídos em gabinetes, sem a participação da parte interessada. O fator mais importante nesta construção do Gasoduto foi a reunião que aconteceu, em Campo Grande-MS, entre os representantes institucionais nacionais e internacionais envolvidos no projeto e as lideranças indígenas. As lideranças Terena reprovaram a metodologia apresentada na reunião que usava a distancia como critério empregado pela empresa responsável na construção do Gasbol. As lideranças Terena argumentaram que o critério de distancia não faz parte do processo decisório dos Terena, que se baseia na interação entre grupos familiares extensas, bem como a reciprocidade no interesse comum e que são povos unidos independente de distancia. Passados dez anos, a implantação do Gasoduto, os recursos aplicados nas aldeias em sua maior parte não trouxeram resultados desejados. A explicação de certos fracassos tem como matriz a desvalorização e desconhecimento do processo decisório do Terena

Como ideia e como prática urbanística, o Rodoanel nasce muitas décadas antes de ser efetivamente iniciado, fruto da progressiva construção técnica e política de um modelo radioconcêntrico de circulação e expansão urbana que até hoje estrutura a RMSP, baseado numa cultura rodoviarista de priorização do transporte individual sobre pneus e na abertura de frentes de expansão e valorização imobiliária profundamente entrelaçados com interesses privados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desvendar, nesse contexto, os atores, arenas e processos responsáveis pela definição e implementação do projeto. A partir da análise de documentos, atos administrativos, matérias veiculadas na mídia e da realização de entrevistas, foi possível concluir que o ator central para o processo de definição e implementação do Rodoanel foi o Governo do Estado de São Paulo. Com a entrada de Mário Covas na gestão estadual em 1994, passa o estado a desenvolver ações e articulações no sentido de viabilizar o projeto com o objetivo de constituir uma marca de sua gestão, aquecer a economia estadual e satisfazer seu compromisso de realizar uma obra rodoviária. Outros atores (União, municípios da RMSP, sociedade civil organizada e empreiteiras) também participaram da trajetória de decisão e implementação do projeto, sob liderança do governo estadual. Para o relacionamento com cada um deles, são utilizados/mobilizados pelo estado espaços e estratégias diferentes, individualizando os tempos e objetos da negociação. Com alguns, principalmente União e Prefeitura de São Paulo, são travadas negociações diretas entre os chefes do executivo, tendo como objeto o aporte de recursos federais e municipais em troca da participação na execução do projeto, possível fonte de capital político. Com outros atores, especialmente no caso dos demais municípios afetados pelo Rodoanel e da sociedade civil organizada, a principal arena utilizada para negociações são os espaços propiciados pelo processo de licenciamento ambiental, constituindo as medidas de compensação ambiental as principais moedas de troca. Com a iniciativa privada, envolvida principalmente na fase de implementação, são detectados tanto espaços formais quanto informais de negociação, tendo por objetos de negociação os contratos das principais obras do empreendimento e possíveis doações de campanhas efetuadas pelas empreiteiras aos candidatos e partidos. O que se conclui, portanto, é que o Rodoanel Mário Covas, apesar de incidir significativamente na reestruturação da região metropolitana, não foi implementado nem a partir, nem levando em consideração um processo de planejamento metropolitano. Sua concretização representa uma significativa confluência de fatores institucionais, políticos, sociais e urbanísticos, todos conectados a partir de articulações promovidas pela ação do governo estadual junto a atores públicos e privados, realizadas em diferentes arenas e processos de negociação. / As an idea and urbanistic practice, the Rodoanel was born many decades before being actually initiated, fruit of the progressive technical and political construction of a radioconcentric model of circulation and urban expansion that still structuring the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, based in a rodoviarist culture of priorization of individual transport upon wheels and in the opening of expansion and real estate valorization fronts deeply interlaced with private interests. The objective of this work is to unveil, in this context, the actors, arenas and processes responsible for the definition and implementation of the project. Starting from the analysis of documentation, administrative acts, articles from newspapers and interviews; it was possible to conclude that the main actor in the definition and implementation of the project was the Government of the State of São Paulo. With the beginning of the Mário Covas administration in 1994, the state starts to develop actions and articulations in the sense of making feasible the project, with the aims of building a mark of the administration, heat up the state\'s economy and satisfy his commitment of building a new road. Other actors (federal government, municipalities of the SPMA, organized civil society and the construction companies) also participated in the trajectory of decision and implementation of the project, under the leadership of the State\'s Government. For the relationship with each one of them, the State uses/mobilizes different spaces and strategies, individualizing the time and the objects of the negotiation. With some, mainly the Federal Government and the São Paulo Municipality, direct negotiations are conducted between the heads of Executive, targeting the inclusion of federal and municipal funds in exchange of the participation in the execution of the project, a potential source of political capital. With the other actors, especially with other municipalities of the metropolitan area, the main arena used to the negotiating process were the spaces provided by the of environmental licensing process, constituting the environmental compensation measures the main trade currency. With the private sector, involved mainly in the phase of implementation, formal and informal moments of negotiation are detected, being the contracts negotiations of the major works of the project and the possibilities of campaign donations by the companies to the parties and candidates as the prime issue. The conclusion therefore is that the Rodoanel Mário Covas, despite of incur significantly in the restructuring of the metropolitan region was not implemented taking into account a process of metropolitan planning. The concretization of the project was a significant confluence of institutional, political, social and urbanistic factors, all connected from the articulations promoted by the actions of the State\'s Government with the public and private actors, conducted in different arenas and negotiation processes.

Como ideia e como prática urbanística, o Rodoanel nasce muitas décadas antes de ser efetivamente iniciado, fruto da progressiva construção técnica e política de um modelo radioconcêntrico de circulação e expansão urbana que até hoje estrutura a RMSP, baseado numa cultura rodoviarista de priorização do transporte individual sobre pneus e na abertura de frentes de expansão e valorização imobiliária profundamente entrelaçados com interesses privados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desvendar, nesse contexto, os atores, arenas e processos responsáveis pela definição e implementação do projeto. A partir da análise de documentos, atos administrativos, matérias veiculadas na mídia e da realização de entrevistas, foi possível concluir que o ator central para o processo de definição e implementação do Rodoanel foi o Governo do Estado de São Paulo. Com a entrada de Mário Covas na gestão estadual em 1994, passa o estado a desenvolver ações e articulações no sentido de viabilizar o projeto com o objetivo de constituir uma marca de sua gestão, aquecer a economia estadual e satisfazer seu compromisso de realizar uma obra rodoviária. Outros atores (União, municípios da RMSP, sociedade civil organizada e empreiteiras) também participaram da trajetória de decisão e implementação do projeto, sob liderança do governo estadual. Para o relacionamento com cada um deles, são utilizados/mobilizados pelo estado espaços e estratégias diferentes, individualizando os tempos e objetos da negociação. Com alguns, principalmente União e Prefeitura de São Paulo, são travadas negociações diretas entre os chefes do executivo, tendo como objeto o aporte de recursos federais e municipais em troca da participação na execução do projeto, possível fonte de capital político. Com outros atores, especialmente no caso dos demais municípios afetados pelo Rodoanel e da sociedade civil organizada, a principal arena utilizada para negociações são os espaços propiciados pelo processo de licenciamento ambiental, constituindo as medidas de compensação ambiental as principais moedas de troca. Com a iniciativa privada, envolvida principalmente na fase de implementação, são detectados tanto espaços formais quanto informais de negociação, tendo por objetos de negociação os contratos das principais obras do empreendimento e possíveis doações de campanhas efetuadas pelas empreiteiras aos candidatos e partidos. O que se conclui, portanto, é que o Rodoanel Mário Covas, apesar de incidir significativamente na reestruturação da região metropolitana, não foi implementado nem a partir, nem levando em consideração um processo de planejamento metropolitano. Sua concretização representa uma significativa confluência de fatores institucionais, políticos, sociais e urbanísticos, todos conectados a partir de articulações promovidas pela ação do governo estadual junto a atores públicos e privados, realizadas em diferentes arenas e processos de negociação. / As an idea and urbanistic practice, the Rodoanel was born many decades before being actually initiated, fruit of the progressive technical and political construction of a radioconcentric model of circulation and urban expansion that still structuring the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, based in a rodoviarist culture of priorization of individual transport upon wheels and in the opening of expansion and real estate valorization fronts deeply interlaced with private interests. The objective of this work is to unveil, in this context, the actors, arenas and processes responsible for the definition and implementation of the project. Starting from the analysis of documentation, administrative acts, articles from newspapers and interviews; it was possible to conclude that the main actor in the definition and implementation of the project was the Government of the State of São Paulo. With the beginning of the Mário Covas administration in 1994, the state starts to develop actions and articulations in the sense of making feasible the project, with the aims of building a mark of the administration, heat up the state\'s economy and satisfy his commitment of building a new road. Other actors (federal government, municipalities of the SPMA, organized civil society and the construction companies) also participated in the trajectory of decision and implementation of the project, under the leadership of the State\'s Government. For the relationship with each one of them, the State uses/mobilizes different spaces and strategies, individualizing the time and the objects of the negotiation. With some, mainly the Federal Government and the São Paulo Municipality, direct negotiations are conducted between the heads of Executive, targeting the inclusion of federal and municipal funds in exchange of the participation in the execution of the project, a potential source of political capital. With the other actors, especially with other municipalities of the metropolitan area, the main arena used to the negotiating process were the spaces provided by the of environmental licensing process, constituting the environmental compensation measures the main trade currency. With the private sector, involved mainly in the phase of implementation, formal and informal moments of negotiation are detected, being the contracts negotiations of the major works of the project and the possibilities of campaign donations by the companies to the parties and candidates as the prime issue. The conclusion therefore is that the Rodoanel Mário Covas, despite of incur significantly in the restructuring of the metropolitan region was not implemented taking into account a process of metropolitan planning. The concretization of the project was a significant confluence of institutional, political, social and urbanistic factors, all connected from the articulations promoted by the actions of the State\'s Government with the public and private actors, conducted in different arenas and negotiation processes.

Esta tese explora as relações entre federalismo e partidos legislativos no sistema político brasileiro. Demonstra que os maiores partidos nacionais apresentam expressiva concentração regional de suas bancadas na Câmara dos Deputados, isto é, a maior parte de seus deputados federais provém de poucos estados. Em geral, de três a sete seções estaduais são suficientes para compor a maioria simples das maiores bancadas partidárias na Câmara dos Deputados. Conjuntamente, esses partidos somam entre 75% e 91% (em média 81%) do plenário da Câmara dos Deputados. PPB, PTB, PMDB, PSDB e PT são legendas cujos parlamentares estão altamente concentrados em poucos distritos das regiões estados do Sul e Sudeste, enquanto a representação do PFL se concentra no Sudeste. Como conseqüência, uma minoria (entre 25 e 30%) dos deputados é capaz de mobilizar, através da formação de maiorias no interior dos seus respectivos partidos, a maioria qualificada (60%) no plenário da Câmara dos Deputados. Esta maioria é suficiente para aprovar qualquer legislação. A concentração partidária em poucas seções estaduais se traduz na escolha dos líderes partidários, sendo que dois em cada três deles é oriundo das seções partidárias estaduais de alta concentração. A escolha da presidência da Mesa Diretora da Casa segue lógica similar, reforçando a relação entre composição regional dos grandes partidos nacionais e controle de postos-chave no sistema de representação política. Do mesmo modo, seções estaduais têm vantajosas condições de barganha, por intermédio de seus partidos, para indicar cargos ministeriais junto ao Executivo. Do governo Collor ao governo Lula, três em cada quatro ministros dos grandes partidos nacionais estudados tinha sua origem nos estados de alta concentração. Esta distribuição desproporcional dos cargos no interior dos partidos permite aos membros de poucas seções controlarem os principais cargos do processo decisório tanto no Legislativo quanto no Executivo. Estes resultados observados subvertem os resultados esperados por regras institucionais que visaram produzir um desenho federativo, que alavancasse a capacidade de vocalização dos estados do Norte, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste. A sobre-representação destes estados na Câmara dos Deputados (malapportionment), a conversão de territórios em Unidades Federadas (reforçando sua presença no Legislativo), a extensa gama de poderes do Senado brasileiro; a exigência de partidos nacionais, medidas originadas em 1946 e/ou reiteradas pelas constituições federais posteriores, parecem não ter sido suficientes para alterar os padrões de distribuição de poder entre os entes federados. O controle de postos-chave do processo decisório ainda parece garantir um papel protagônico às seções partidárias estaduais que, supostamente, estariam sub-representadas no sistema politico brasileiro. / This thesis explores the relationship between federalism and legislative parties in the Brazilian political system. It shows how the biggest national parties demonstrate expressive regional concentration of its delegation in the Chamber of Deputies, which means that the most part of the federal representants come from a few states. In general, from three to seven state sections are enough to compose the biggest parties delegations simple majority in the Chamber of Deputies. Putting them together, those parties add between 75% and 91% (average 81%) of the Chamber of Deputies. PPB, PTB, PMDB, PSDB e PT are parties whose representants are highly concentrated in a few districts from South and Southeast regions, while PFL`s representation is concentrated in Northeast. As a consequence, a minority (between 25% and 30%) of the representants is capable to mobilize, through majoritys formation inside their own parties, qualified majority (60%) of the plenary assembly in the Chamber of Deputies. This majority is enough to approve any legislation. Partisan concentration in a few state sections is translated in the choice of partys leaders, since two in three of them came from partys sections in states with high concentration. The President of the Chamber of Deputies choice follows similar logic what reinforces the relationship between regional composition of big national parties and key-jobs control in the political representation system. In the same way state sections have advantages conditions of bargaining, through their parties, to indicate ministerial jobs in the Executive. From Collor (1990-1992) to Lula`s (2003-2007) government three in every four ministers who belonged to big national parties are originated from high concentration states. This disproportional distribution of jobs inside the parties allows their members from few state sections have the control of the main jobs in the decision-making process in the Legislative and Executive. Those (real) results subvert (expected) institutional rules` results that draw a federative picture that evidenced the capacity of north, northeast and middle-west states. Super representation that states from these regions have in the Chamber of Deputies (malapportionment), the conversion of territories in federal unities (which reinforce these regions presence in the Federal Legislative), Brazilian Senates extended group of powers, national parties exigency, procedures originated in 1946 and/or reinforced by later constitutions, they seem to being insufficient to change distribution of powers pattern between federative states. Key-jobs control in the decision-making process still seems to guarantee a protagonist place to state party sections who are supposed sub represented in the Brazilian political system.

Le but de cette thèse était d’étudier les mécanismes cérébraux sous-tendant la prise de décision sociale chez des sujets sains, l’influence des hormones stéroïdiennes gonadiques sur la flexibilité cognitive et les dysfonctionnements cérébraux sous-tendant la dévaluation de récompenses dans la maladie de Parkinson. Lors de notre premier protocole, nous avons étudié comment le fait de prendre une décision pour soi ou pour un groupe auquel nous appartenons, et lorsque nous faisons face à un seul individu ou à un groupe, influence notre aversion à l’iniquité et les régions cérébrales engagées. Nos résultats ont montré l’influence de deux réseaux cérébraux distincts dans l’aversion à l’iniquité lors de ces interactions sociales, définissant une signature cérébrale à l’effet de « discontinuité interpersonnelle/intergroupe». Notre seconde étude visait à déterminer l’influence d’un traitement hormonal substitutif sur la flexibilité cognitive, chez les femmes récemment ménopausées. De nombreuses études ont montré un effet délétère d’une supplémentation hormonale sur les fonctions cognitives, si celle-ci débute tardivement après la ménopause. Cependant, une récente hypothèse a proposé que le traitement hormonal puisse être bénéfique et neuroprotecteur contre des maladies psychiatriques, s‘il débute lors d’une courte durée à la suite du début de ménopause. Dans une étude combinant pharmacologie et IRMf, nous avons démontré une modulation par traitement hormonal sur les régions impliquées dans le contrôle cognitif chez des femmes récemment ménopausées. Notre dernière étude évalue l’effet d’un traitement dopaminergique et la présence d’un trouble du contrôle des impulsions particulier (i.e., l’hypersexualité) chez des patients atteints par la maladie de Parkinson. Nos résultats préliminaires ont montré l’influence de ces facteurs sur des régions frontales et sous-corticales spécifiques impliquées dans des choix, nécessitant l’évaluation de différents coûts (i.e., effort/attente) menant à des récompenses plus ou moins importantes. Notre thèse démontre l’intérêt de combiner les études de pharmacologie et d’IRMf pour comprendre comment les traitements hormonaux et dopaminergiques influencent les mécanismes cérébraux de la décision individuelle et sociale / The aim core of this thesis is to investigate different aspects of decision-making and flexibility in healthy and clinical populations. Specifically, we investigated the neural correlates of social decision-making in young healthy individuals, the influence of steroid hormones on cognitive flexibility in early menopausal women and cerebral dysfunctions involved in reward devaluation during decision-making process in individuals suffering of Parkinson disease. First, we studied the neural correlates of iniquity aversion when making a decision for oneself or on behalf of his own group and when facing a single individual or another group. Our results highlight influence of two distinct neural network involved in iniquity aversion during complex social exchange, outlining a neuronal explanation to interindividualintergroup discontinuity effect. Our second study, described the influence of hormone replacement therapy (i.e., HRT) on cognitive flexibility in early menopausal women. Many studies described a deleterious effect of steroid supplementation on executive cognitive functions, if it delayed after the onset of the menopause. However, “windows of opportunity” hypothesis suggests a benefic and neuroprotective effect against psychiatric disorders, if hormonal replacement therapy starts close to the beginning of menopause. Combining pharmacological and neuroimaging approaches, we showed a neuroprotective effect in brain structures involved in cognitive flexibility, in young menopausal women. Finally, our last study highlights the effect of dopaminergic treatment in Parkinsonians patients developing impulsive control disorder (i.e., hypersexuality). Preliminary results showed influence of these two factors on distinct subsystems involved in evaluation of different types of costs (i.e., effort/delay) associated with subsequent rewards. This thesis demonstrates the value of combining pharmacology studies and fMRI in order to better understand to which extent hormonal and dopaminergic treatments affect the brain mechanisms during individual and social decision-making

Hedge funds and China’s stock market: a study on factors influencing investment decisions by fund managersThe research was conducted using a web-based questionnaire sent to all Asia-related hedge funds, worldwide. Analysis of the collected data revealed that the factors influencing the portfolio investments made in China by fund managers differed from the factors which influence investment in global and emerging markets. While market conditions, market timing and changes in earning estimates are the top three influencing factors on investment decisions on global stock exchanges, fund managers are more influenced by global trend, potential growth and company size when dealing with China’s stock market. Research results also support the hypotheses that there are relationships between size of fund, trading style and personal expertise of managers and the factors influencing investment decisions.The international hedge fund industry and China’s stock market are two fast-growing entities of global capital markets. Stronger interaction between these two institutions in the future would create important implications for the financial world. The objective of this research is to identify factors that influence investment decisions by hedge fund managers in relation to China’s stock market.The following implications can be extracted from this research:(1) If China’s stock market is classified within the Emerging Markets Index, adjustments are necessary and provision should be made reflecting investor criteria for China.(2) Global trends and the potential growth of China were the two most attractive factors influencing investment decisions, suggesting a ‘herding’ tendency and ‘attention-grabbing’ bias of hedge fund managers.(3) Company evaluation remains important to hedge fund managers, suggesting that Chinese government regulators should implement reforms to improve quality of listed firms.(4) Gaps in the research on China’s stock market as well as the outcomes of this research indicate that further studies on the international hedge fund industry and China’s stock market could reveal new perspectives and enhancements to the current body of knowledge on these subjects. This thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the research context and research justification. The research problem and questions are identified, and the theoretical framework and hypotheses are constructed. Chapter 2 presents an overview of the hedge fund industry and China’s stock market. Chapter 3 examines the literature: factors that influence investment decisions in global, emerging markets and in particular, China’s stock market. A framework of an 8-step decision-making process was developed. Chapter 4 researches alternative methodologies and presents a justification for the selection of the research methodology. Chapter 5 summarises the results of the data analysis and interpretation. Chapter 6 discusses the conclusions, implications, contributions and limitations of the research. Recommendations for further research are also included.The outcomes of this research are expected to benefit all participants of the global financial industry, including institutional and individual investors; executives in banking, insurance and securities businesses; financiers of listed firms and multinational corporations; government regulators and independent research analysts. Other beneficiaries will be academics and the media.

<p><strong>Sammanfattning</strong></p><p><strong>Seminariedatum:</strong> 2009-01-08</p><p><strong>Lärosäte:</strong> Mälardalens Högskola, Västerås<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Nivå:</strong> Kandidatuppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 hp</p><p><strong>Titel:</strong> ”Mycket snack, lite verkstad – En studie om varför konsumenten inte köper ekologiska livsmedel”</p><p><strong>Författare:</strong> Helene Kaspersson 850325                 Jennie Spångberg 860813                 Stefan Sjöblom 871231</p><p><strong>Handledare:</strong> Claes Jonsson</p><p><strong>Problemformulering:</strong> Varför köper inte konsumenten ekologiska livsmedel?</p><p><strong>Syfte:</strong> Vi har för avsikt att beskriva hur konsumenten påverkas av individuella influenser och gruppinfluenser till att inte köpa ekologiska livsmedel. I en förlängning skall denna uppsats kunna vara till hjälp i processen att öka försäljningen av ekologiska livsmedel.</p><p><strong>Metod:</strong> För att kunna ge en generell bild av beteendet utförs en kvantitativ undersökning i form av en enkätundersökning.</p><p><strong>Teoretiskt perspektiv:</strong> Studien har köpbeslutsprocessen som utgångspunkt med fokus i hur konsumenten påverkas av individuella influenser och gruppinfluenser.</p><p><strong>Slutsats:</strong> Vi har kommit fram till slutsatserna att kunden agerar utifrån ett vanebaserat beteende vid köp av livsmedel. Det finns en stereotyp som symboliserar den ekologiska konsumenten. Kunden påverkas av sin referensgrupp till att inte vilja sticka ut.</p><p><strong>Nyckelord:</strong> Konsumentbeteende, Köpbeslutsprocessen, Influenser, Ekologiska livsmedel</p> / <p><strong>Abstract<strong></strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>Seminar date:</strong> 2009-01-08</strong></p><p><strong>University:</strong> Mälardalens Högskola, Västerås</p><p><strong>Level:</strong> Bachelor thesis in Business administration, 15 credits</p><p><strong>Title:</strong> ”Mycket snack, lite verkstad – En studie om varför konsumenten inte köper ekologiska livsmedel”</p><p><strong>Authors:</strong> Helene Kaspersson 850325             Jennie Spångberg 860813             Stefan Sjöblom 871231<strong>Tutor:</strong> Claes Jonsson<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Problem formulation:</strong> Why does not the consumer buy organic food?</p><p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Our purpose is to describe how the consumer is affected by individual influences and group influences not to buy organic food. Our study shall later on be helpful in the process of increasing the sales of organic food.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> To be able to create a general view of the behavior, we use a quantitative approach with an inquiry.</p><p><strong>Theoretical perspective:</strong> The theoretical framework consists of the buying decision-making process with focus on how individual influences and group influences affect the customer.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> We have reached the conclusions that the customer is affected by his/her habits when it comes to the buying decision of food. The “organic food customer” is associated with a stereotype. The customer is affected by its reference group not to be different.</p><p><strong>Key words:</strong> Consumer behavior, Buying decision-making process, Influences, Organic food</p>

Sammanfattning Seminariedatum: 2009-01-08 Lärosäte: Mälardalens Högskola, Västerås Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 hp Titel: ”Mycket snack, lite verkstad – En studie om varför konsumenten inte köper ekologiska livsmedel” Författare: Helene Kaspersson 850325                 Jennie Spångberg 860813                 Stefan Sjöblom 871231 Handledare: Claes Jonsson Problemformulering: Varför köper inte konsumenten ekologiska livsmedel? Syfte: Vi har för avsikt att beskriva hur konsumenten påverkas av individuella influenser och gruppinfluenser till att inte köpa ekologiska livsmedel. I en förlängning skall denna uppsats kunna vara till hjälp i processen att öka försäljningen av ekologiska livsmedel. Metod: För att kunna ge en generell bild av beteendet utförs en kvantitativ undersökning i form av en enkätundersökning. Teoretiskt perspektiv: Studien har köpbeslutsprocessen som utgångspunkt med fokus i hur konsumenten påverkas av individuella influenser och gruppinfluenser. Slutsats: Vi har kommit fram till slutsatserna att kunden agerar utifrån ett vanebaserat beteende vid köp av livsmedel. Det finns en stereotyp som symboliserar den ekologiska konsumenten. Kunden påverkas av sin referensgrupp till att inte vilja sticka ut. Nyckelord: Konsumentbeteende, Köpbeslutsprocessen, Influenser, Ekologiska livsmedel / Abstract Seminar date: 2009-01-08 University: Mälardalens Högskola, Västerås Level: Bachelor thesis in Business administration, 15 credits Title: ”Mycket snack, lite verkstad – En studie om varför konsumenten inte köper ekologiska livsmedel” Authors: Helene Kaspersson 850325             Jennie Spångberg 860813             Stefan Sjöblom 871231Tutor: Claes Jonsson Problem formulation: Why does not the consumer buy organic food? Purpose: Our purpose is to describe how the consumer is affected by individual influences and group influences not to buy organic food. Our study shall later on be helpful in the process of increasing the sales of organic food. Method: To be able to create a general view of the behavior, we use a quantitative approach with an inquiry. Theoretical perspective: The theoretical framework consists of the buying decision-making process with focus on how individual influences and group influences affect the customer. Conclusions: We have reached the conclusions that the customer is affected by his/her habits when it comes to the buying decision of food. The “organic food customer” is associated with a stereotype. The customer is affected by its reference group not to be different. Key words: Consumer behavior, Buying decision-making process, Influences, Organic food

Ett mycket debatterat ämne är pensionsområdet. IASB har genom IAS19 gjort ett försök att harmonisera redovisningen inom detta område, trots detta uppkommer det nationella så väl som internationella skillnader. Det huvudsakliga problemet för bolag är att framställa en rättvis diskonteringsränta vid nuvärdesberäkning av deras pensionsskuld. Detta har medfört att de flesta bolag, på grund av kunskapsbrist i ämnet, valt att hyra in denna expertis från en aktuariekonsult. Syftet med denna uppsats är att ur ett beslutsteoretiskt perspektiv beskriva hur aktuariekonsulten resonerar och agerar kring valet avföretags aktuariella antaganden. Det som legat till grund för denna studie är teori och regler utifrån IFRS/IAS 19 samtidigt som valda delar utifrån beslutsteori varit i fokus. För att få svar på vår frågeställning har vi valt att utföra sex intervjuer, fyra med aktuariekonsulter och två med redovisningsansvariga på börsnoterade bolag. Utgångspunkten för ansatsen har tagits från det abduktiva synsättet eftersom en växelverkan mellan teori och empiri genomförts. Denna uppsats har påvisat att konsulterna inte såg sig själva sombeslutsfattare utan intog en mer stöttande roll. Dialogen och förhållningssättet från aktuariekonsult till kund om nödvändig data varen viktig del i beslutsprocessen. Det visade sig även att yrkesheder har en vital betydelse för aktuariekonsulten i deras arbete och i beslutsprocessen. / A much debated topic is the area of pensions. IASB has by IAS 19 made an attempt to harmonize the accounting, although this raises national as well as international differences. The main problem for companies is to produce a fair discount rate in calculating the present value of a pension liability. This has resulted that most companies, due to lack of knowledge on the subject, has decided to hire this expertise from an actuary consultant. The purpose of this paper is within a decision theory perspective, describing how actuary consultant reasons and acts on the choice of corporate actuarial assumptions. To get an answer to our question, we have chosen to perform six interviews, four with actuary consultants and two with the chief accountants for listed companies. The starting point of the approach has been taken by an abductive approach as it is an interaction between theory and empirical implementation. The basis for this study is the theory and rules based on IFRS/IAS 19, while selected parts have been based on decision theory which has been in focus. This thesis has proven the consultants did not see themselves as decisionmakers but took a more supportive role. The data was an important part in the decision process, therefore dialogue and the approach actuary consultants made towards the client played a significant role. This thesis has also shown professional integrity has a vital influence on actuary consultants in their work and in the decision-making process.