This thesis tests one of the approaches that analyzes the rise of right-wing populist parties, "the economic crisis" approach. The core idea of this theory is that during an economic crisis, there is a rise of electoral support for the right-wing populist parties. The two case studies which are studied are the (Northern) League in Italy and the National Front/Rally in France. These analyses include a brief history of the said parties, their political profile, and the results in elections after the 2008-2009 financial crisis. As well as data on the profile of supporters of these parties and the reasons why they support these parties, and their views on some of the main political and social issues. From the data confrontation it is shown that there is no correlation between times of economic hardship, and the electoral success of these parties. And what is more important supporters of these parties also emphasize reasons related with identity rather than economic problems for supporting these parties. For economic issues they have a similar perception to the rest of the population. Keywords Populism, right-wing populism, populist parties, economic crisis, elections, identity.

This dissertation examines how managers make cost decisions under significant economic events. The economic events of interests are the economic crisis from 2008 to 2010 and corporate loan financing. The economic crisis caused many firms to experience sales declines and created tremendous pessimism about prospects of sales rebounding in the future. I find that not all firms were affected equally. Sales-down firms exhibit anti-sticky cost behavior during this period; that is, costs are cut back more steeply as sales fall than they increase as sales rise. Such a behavior during the economic crisis is exactly the opposite of the average sticky cost behavior during normal economic periods documented in prior accounting research. This, in turn, implies that net income and cash flows from operations (as percentage of sales) may increase, rather than decrease for sales-down firms during an economic downturn. In the second study, I use a difference-in-difference research design to examine whether and how managers engage in cost management before and after loan financing. I find that managers significantly cut back operating expenses prior to loan financing. However, cost reduction is asymmetric with respect to the direction of sales changes. Compared with firms experiencing sales increases, firms experiencing sales declines reduce costs to a greater extent prior to financing and also exhibit a reversion in the cost level after financing. The reversion in cost level is negatively related to the percentage of financial covenants that are based on earnings. I do not find consistent evidence supporting that managers engage in accrual management, overproduction or asset sales. / Business Administration/Interdisciplinary

O presente trabalho examina as políticas econômicas adotadas pelo Brasil como medidas de enfrentamento à crise econômica mundial iniciada em 2007-2008. Para isso, apresenta-se a conceituação de crise econômica e suas flutuações, além de um breve histórico de crises econômicas em alguns países em determinados períodos. Em sequência, é apresentada a definição de política econômica, com ênfase na política fiscal e na política monetária e creditícia, bem como seus instrumentos de estabilização ou precaução às crises. Após essa etapa, o trabalho registra os principais efeitos da crise econômica no mundo, expondo os principais indicadores e os principais efeitos da crise econômica no Brasil. Para cumprir sua proposta, explora as principais medidas de políticas econômicas adotadas no Brasil como forma de conter a crise mundialmente instaurada. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados são: revisão bibliográfica e pesquisa empírica de dados secundários para apresentação da crise internacional; pesquisa teórica e empírica secundária sobre as medidas econômicas adotadas pelo Brasil e a análise do conteúdo apurado, estabelecendo a avaliação baseada no respectivo levantamento bibliográfico. / This paper examines the economic policies adopted by Brazil as measures to fight the global economic crisis that began in 2007-2008. In order to accomplish that, the concept of economic crisis and its fluctuations is presented, as well as a brief history of economic crises in s few countries over certain times. Then, the definition of economic policy, with an emphasis on tax policy and monetary and credit policy, highlighting their stabilization instruments or measures of precaution against crises are presented. After this step, the research reports the main effects of the economic crisis in the world economy, exposing the key indicators and the main effects of the economic crisis in Brazil. To fulfill its main proposal, the study explores the key measures of economic policies adopted in Brazil as a way to stem the worldwide crisis. The methodological procedures used are: literature review and empirical research of secondary data to present the international crisis; theoretical and secondary empirical research on economic measures adopted by Brazil, and the analysis of the discussed points, developing an assessment based on the respective literature.

O presente trabalho examina as políticas econômicas adotadas pelo Brasil como medidas de enfrentamento à crise econômica mundial iniciada em 2007-2008. Para isso, apresenta-se a conceituação de crise econômica e suas flutuações, além de um breve histórico de crises econômicas em alguns países em determinados períodos. Em sequência, é apresentada a definição de política econômica, com ênfase na política fiscal e na política monetária e creditícia, bem como seus instrumentos de estabilização ou precaução às crises. Após essa etapa, o trabalho registra os principais efeitos da crise econômica no mundo, expondo os principais indicadores e os principais efeitos da crise econômica no Brasil. Para cumprir sua proposta, explora as principais medidas de políticas econômicas adotadas no Brasil como forma de conter a crise mundialmente instaurada. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados são: revisão bibliográfica e pesquisa empírica de dados secundários para apresentação da crise internacional; pesquisa teórica e empírica secundária sobre as medidas econômicas adotadas pelo Brasil e a análise do conteúdo apurado, estabelecendo a avaliação baseada no respectivo levantamento bibliográfico. / This paper examines the economic policies adopted by Brazil as measures to fight the global economic crisis that began in 2007-2008. In order to accomplish that, the concept of economic crisis and its fluctuations is presented, as well as a brief history of economic crises in s few countries over certain times. Then, the definition of economic policy, with an emphasis on tax policy and monetary and credit policy, highlighting their stabilization instruments or measures of precaution against crises are presented. After this step, the research reports the main effects of the economic crisis in the world economy, exposing the key indicators and the main effects of the economic crisis in Brazil. To fulfill its main proposal, the study explores the key measures of economic policies adopted in Brazil as a way to stem the worldwide crisis. The methodological procedures used are: literature review and empirical research of secondary data to present the international crisis; theoretical and secondary empirical research on economic measures adopted by Brazil, and the analysis of the discussed points, developing an assessment based on the respective literature.

O presente trabalho examina as políticas econômicas adotadas pelo Brasil como medidas de enfrentamento à crise econômica mundial iniciada em 2007-2008. Para isso, apresenta-se a conceituação de crise econômica e suas flutuações, além de um breve histórico de crises econômicas em alguns países em determinados períodos. Em sequência, é apresentada a definição de política econômica, com ênfase na política fiscal e na política monetária e creditícia, bem como seus instrumentos de estabilização ou precaução às crises. Após essa etapa, o trabalho registra os principais efeitos da crise econômica no mundo, expondo os principais indicadores e os principais efeitos da crise econômica no Brasil. Para cumprir sua proposta, explora as principais medidas de políticas econômicas adotadas no Brasil como forma de conter a crise mundialmente instaurada. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados são: revisão bibliográfica e pesquisa empírica de dados secundários para apresentação da crise internacional; pesquisa teórica e empírica secundária sobre as medidas econômicas adotadas pelo Brasil e a análise do conteúdo apurado, estabelecendo a avaliação baseada no respectivo levantamento bibliográfico. / This paper examines the economic policies adopted by Brazil as measures to fight the global economic crisis that began in 2007-2008. In order to accomplish that, the concept of economic crisis and its fluctuations is presented, as well as a brief history of economic crises in s few countries over certain times. Then, the definition of economic policy, with an emphasis on tax policy and monetary and credit policy, highlighting their stabilization instruments or measures of precaution against crises are presented. After this step, the research reports the main effects of the economic crisis in the world economy, exposing the key indicators and the main effects of the economic crisis in Brazil. To fulfill its main proposal, the study explores the key measures of economic policies adopted in Brazil as a way to stem the worldwide crisis. The methodological procedures used are: literature review and empirical research of secondary data to present the international crisis; theoretical and secondary empirical research on economic measures adopted by Brazil, and the analysis of the discussed points, developing an assessment based on the respective literature.

Resilience, in an organizational sense meaning the ability to withstand crises and disturbances, has become a keyword during the last ten years. It is associated with established activities like risk and crisis management and business continuity planning or with strategic management, but it allows for new perspectives and insights into the conditions for doing business. Applied to the whole supply chain it also provides tools for managing and aligning the logistics flows in an appropriate way. But why is resilience essential for success or survival? In context to the Swedish textile and clothing (T&amp;C) industry, the average number of firms that went bankrupt during the recent crisis (2007-09) escalated twofold compared to the average over 2000-10 due to tremendous pressure on the Swedish credit system. The structural industrial statistics also plummeted in these crisis years aggravating other inherent or internal problems as a ’ripple effect’. The small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were the most affected of all, facing major threats to their financial performance and ultimately to their survival, at times of economic crises. In such a context, study of organizational resilience (ORes), to survive and thrive becomes increasingly significant. To address this issue the thesis concentrates on understanding the resilience development process through crisis strategic planning in context to Swedish textile-related SMEs amidst economic crises. It investigates and answers how resilience development can be considered as a precursor for business success, how to develop and monitor resilience, and identifies its antecedents and key strategic initiatives and their differential degrees of influence. No prior studies describing organizational resilience and crisis strategic planning in an integrated processual approach using both short-term and long-term strategies through planning and adaptation were found in the literature. The thesis adopts a critical realist-grounded theory (CR-GT) approach along the metaphysical level as the structure for the resilience development process follows a causal relationship between the object (the organization), its structure (competences and strategies), the causal power (crisis strategic planning) for attaining an event/outcome (resilience) in a particular context (economic crisis). For addressing this issue of devising an outcome-based processual approach, a multivariate financial indicator called the Altman’s Z-score (used basically for calculating bankruptcy potential in firms) was used for quantifying resilience. For investigating the causal mechanism epistemological relativism along the grounded theory approach was chosen for theory generation. A mixed methodology was adopted based on quantitative statistical analyses, at first, followed by a detailed qualitative work based on surveys, interviews, case studies and secondary data for data triangulation. Analysis of data was conducted through certain thematic coding principles. A four-step hermeneutic spiral was followed by systematically combining the pre-understanding, empirics and extant literature to develop a theoretical framework through constant modification. Overall, the resilience development was highlighted along a processual framework adopted along the CR-GT view of causation. The findings are manifold. Firstly there is a need to develop economic resilience in SMEs to shift from just component-view to a more holistic systemic view of organizations, upheld by an integrated crisis strategic planning (CSP) approach, for facing dynamic environments. Secondly, the CSP process prescribed in the thesis is quite integrated and holistic, taking a view from all angles, viz. organizational structure (capabilities and strategies), processual approach etc. Such a resilience development process through CSP is based on a six-step process: (i) identification of environmental context, (ii) impact analysis, (iii) leadership analysis, (iv) capability analysis, (v) formulation/selection and implementation of strategies, and (vi) evaluation and review of strategic options, utilizing a suite of strategic tools and techniques and is particularly simple for application in an SME setting. Third, operationalization of such a causal mechanism based upon implementation of strategic tools is based upon using a multivariate financial indicator like Altman’s Z-score to outline the relation between ORes and business ‘health’, thus quantifying it. Finally, in order to develop a resilient organization it is important to engage and utilize effectively the key resources and assets (financial, material, social, networks) by developing dynamic capabilities (strategic and operational flexibilities, redundancy, robustness) and organizational learning (culture, employee wellbeing, attentive leadership and decision-making). These competences must be employed for the appropriate strategy development (selection, implementation, and evaluation) framed on both growth and continuity strategies, both planned and adaptive in nature. The research develops a holistic analytical framework of organizational structure for resilience development based on these two criteria. It also tests this framework for Swedish textile-related SMEs amidst economic crises. The findings in this contextual delimitation suggest that the resilient SMEs possess better financial resources, relational networks, operational &amp; strategic flexibilities. The economically resilient firms mostly showed planned resilience in economic crises based on long-term strategies through business continuity planning (BCP) and in terms of growth strategies through market penetration, diversification and transformational initiatives. These firms also showed better short-term crisis management (CM) through higher operational flexibility while the less resilient ones lacked in strategic readiness due to resource scarcity. This is beneficial for firms to understand the key areas in which to invest and develop a multistrategic CSP model, categorizing firms along different resilience types – planned or adaptive. / <p>Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology to be presented with due</p><p>permission for public examination and criticism in Festia Building, Auditorium Pieni Sali 1, at Tampere University of Technology, on the 11th of October 2013, at 12 noon.</p>

This thesis provides an original contribution to ongoing debates within scholarly Political Economy and Area Studies literatures on the (neoliberal) transformation of the Hungarian political economy. Within this literature, the ‘transition’ to a (free) market economy and democracy is commonly dated to the annus mirabilis of 1989. The development of the Hungarian political economy since then has widely been considered as a ‘success story’ of (neoliberal) transformation and presented as model to be emulated by other countries in Central and Eastern Europe and elsewhere in the world. This thesis challenges this consensus. Drawing on central concepts in Marxist political economy, in particular state capitalism theory, and primary sources in Hungary, we argue that neoliberalism was not simply an ‘imported project’, which arrived ‘from the West’ on eve of the regime change in 1989. Rather, it emerged ‘organically’ in Hungarian society in the 1980s, as a response by domestic political and economic elites to the deepening economic and political crisis of the Kádár regime. The essential aim of the ‘neoliberal turn’ was thus to reconfigure the Hungarian political economy in line with exigencies of the capitalist world economy, while at the same time ensuring that the ‘transition’ went as smoothly as possible. As such, while at one level obviously a repudiation of past policy, policymakers in Budapest pursued the same objectives as central planners under ‘actually existing socialism’. For much of the 1990s and the early 2000s, this Faustian bargain proved relatively successful, as the Hungarian political economy became a model of (neoliberal) transformation in the region. However, since the mid-2000s, the inherent contradictions and limitations of Hungary’s neoliberal regime of accumulation have become increasingly evident. This has been confirmed by events since the onset of the global economic crisis, as Hungary has rapidly moved from being an erstwhile ‘poster boy’ of (neoliberal) transformation to a ‘basket case'.

Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να μελετηθεί ο βαθμός επίδρασης της οικονομικής κρίσης στην επίδοση των ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων. Πιο αναλυτικά, το θεωρητικό μέρος επιχειρεί να δώσει μια εικόνα του τρόπου με τον οποίο επηρέασε η οικονομική κρίση τις επιχειρήσεις αλλά και του τρόπου με τον οποίο αυτές αντέδρασαν προκειμένου να επιβιώσουν. Στο εμπειρικό μέρος της εργασίας γίνεται, με τη βοήθεια επιλεγμένων αριθμοδεικτών, χρηματοοικονομική ανάλυση των οικονομικών καταστάσεων 18 ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων που ανήκουν σε διαφορετικούς κλάδους για χρονικό διάστημα 5 ετών και συγκεκριμένα την περίοδο 2006-2010 που περιλαμβάνει δύο έτη πριν την εμφάνιση της οικονομικής κρίσης και δύο έτη μετά την εμφάνιση αυτής. / --

We study the effects of the recent economic crisis on firms' bidding behavior and markups in sealed bid auctions. Using data from Austrian construction procurements, we estimate bidders' construction costs within a private value auction model. We find that markups of all bids submitted decrease by 1.5 percentage points in the recent economic crisis, markups of winning bids decrease by 3.3 percentage points. We also find that without the government stimulus package this decrease would have been larger. These two pieces of evidence point to pro-cyclical markups. (authors' abstract)

Economic crisis are time periods that significantly contribute to the development of protectionism. It was the same during the current crisis that began in July 2007. The aim of this thesis is to determine whether the current national responses to the economic crisis hide the risk of protectionism. The thesis focuses mainly on the People's Republic of China.