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In this thesis we analyse the economic effects of a policy proposal in Sweden, which implies a removal of the sentence reduction for 18- to 20-year-old offenders. We use a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to systematically assess its effects. Our results indicate that the policy proposal is most likely beneficial to society, a conclusion which is strengthened by our sensitivity analysis. Our CBA builds upon Becker’s (1968) economic model of crime, and the extensive literature it has inspired which explores the effects of harsher punishment on crime. In order to assess how a harsher sentencing regime affects society, we use crime-punishment elasticities and costs of crime based on previous studies and own estimations. Our main contribution to the existing literature is twofold. First, we provide an economic dimension to a current political issue. Second, we employ a CBA to a research area in Sweden in which the method has been used sparingly. Knowing how an increase in punishment affects crime rates is of great importance for policy making. Hence, we encourage further analysis in this area, especially in Sweden.

Our aim in this thesis has been to look at the foreign citizens’ share of costs and benefits associated to the society in Sweden. We have compared Sweden on the national level to Jönköping County on the regional level to see if there are any deviations. We have conducted a new calculation approach in order to present the contributions given by immigrants and the associated costs. Figures are to a large extent viewed in relative terms in the thesis, and specified in concrete terms in the appendix. We have selected a series of four costs and one benefit in order to show how an estimation of the costs or benefits could be made. We have found that immigrants tend to work harder than the natives, but at a lower wage level. Even so they do not compensate for the costs to the society applied to immigrants. / Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att ta reda på hur stor del av kostnaderna för samhället som går att förknippa till invandrarna i Sverige. Sverige har jämförts med Jönköpings Län för att hitta eventuella avvikelser. Vi har försökt skapa ett beräkningssätt för att kunna visa hur mycket som går ut till invandrarna och hur mycket de ger tillbaka. Vi utrycker oss till största del i relativa termer i uppsatsen, för absoluta tal hänvisas till appendix. För att visa hur vårat beräkningssätt kan användas har vi gjort beräkningar på fyra kostnadsgrupper och en inkomstgrupp. Vi har kommit fram till att invandrare tenderar att arbeta mer än den inhemska befolkningen, men till en lägre lön. Trots detta så kompenseras inte kostnaderna för samhället av dess intäkter när man jämför de som är direkt kopplade till invandrarna.

With the increase of sensitive loads in industrial and commercial customers, more attention has been paid to the power quality problems. Voltage sag is among the major power quality problems that cause interruptions in production lines that result in significant losses. Power quality mitigation devices, that provide different protection levels, can be adopted to match individual customer¡¦s special needs. This thesis presents a cost-benefit assessment of various voltage sag mitigation options at locations with different types of distribution feeders and customers. Simulation results have revealed that using the assumed power quality cost data, the installation of small capacity and low cost UPS has the highest benefit/cost ratio in all the options tested.

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<p>Our aim in this thesis has been to look at the foreign citizens’ share of costs and benefits associated to the society in Sweden. We have compared Sweden on the national level to Jönköping County on the regional level to see if there are any deviations. We have conducted a new calculation approach in order to present the contributions given by immigrants and the associated costs. Figures are to a large extent viewed in relative terms in the thesis, and specified in concrete terms in the appendix. We have selected a series of four costs and one benefit in order to show how an estimation of the costs or benefits could be made. We have found that immigrants tend to work harder than the natives, but at a lower wage level. Even so they do not compensate for the costs to the society applied to immigrants.</p> / <p>Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att ta reda på hur stor del av kostnaderna för samhället som går att förknippa till invandrarna i Sverige. Sverige har jämförts med Jönköpings Län för att hitta eventuella avvikelser. Vi har försökt skapa ett beräkningssätt för att kunna visa hur mycket som går ut till invandrarna och hur mycket de ger tillbaka. Vi utrycker oss till största del i relativa termer i uppsatsen, för absoluta tal hänvisas till appendix. För att visa hur vårat beräkningssätt kan användas har vi gjort beräkningar på fyra kostnadsgrupper och en inkomstgrupp. Vi har kommit fram till att invandrare tenderar att arbeta mer än den inhemska befolkningen, men till en lägre lön. Trots detta så kompenseras inte kostnaderna för samhället av dess intäkter när man jämför de som är direkt kopplade till invandrarna.</p>

The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population in the United States requires interpreters in order to receive appropriate medical care. However, interpreters are not used consistently in clinical encounters. This study aims to identify the barriers that interfere with providing this service, as well as to propose some possible ways of overcoming these barriers. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Medline, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycINFO. Twenty articles that presented barriers to interpreter use were identified. These barriers referred to either professional interpreters or ad hoc interpreters, or were general barriers. The barriers to professional interpreter use most frequently identified related to cost. Most of the cost-related barrier citations were found in studies conducted in the U.S. The barriers to ad hoc interpreter use most frequently identified related to concern about the interpreters ability to interpret. I determined that appropriate provision of interpreters to the LEP community would require four elements: 1) The consistent use of professional interpreters, and the elimination of ad hoc interpreter use. 2) Research into the possible financial benefits that may arise from increased interpreter use, and how the cost of providing interpreters may be offset by the widespread benefits of using them. 3) Professionalization of interpreter services, with quality assurance and standardized training and evaluation of interpreters. 4) Increased education and training for patients and providers about the language services that are available and how to access them, and about how to work with an interpreter efficiently and effectively. One possible solution that would allow the implementation of all of the above elements is a national interpretation service.

The purpose of this thesis was to explore the use of cost effectiveness for interventions in orthopaedics. This was done through three cost effectiveness articles that have been published by the author. In each of these articles, similar methodologies were used. Decision models were constructed for cost-effectiveness analyses of competing orthopaedic interventions. Outcome probabilities and effectiveness values were derived from the literature. Effectiveness was expressed in quality adjusted life years gained. Cost data were compiled and verified from either hospital cost data or from Medicare data. Costs and utilities were discounted in accord with the United States Panel on Cost Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. Principal outcome measures were average incremental costs, incremental effectiveness, incremental quality-adjusted life years, and, in the case of one article, net health benefits. In particular the articles compared the following: 1. Core decompression versus conservative management for osteonecrosis of the hip as a way to delay hip replacement; 2. Total knee arthroplasty versus unicompartmental knee arthroplasty; and 3. Periacetabular osteotomy versus total hip arthroplasty for a young adult with developmental dysplasia of the hip. The more cost effective intervention was identified in each case, along with implications of the results for clinical and operative decision-making. Cost effectiveness was found to be a useful tool in orthopaedic surgery under limited circumstances of either scarce data on new interventions or the need to use more resources to achieve greater effectiveness. It also can provide excellent insight into ways to direct future clinical research.

The purpose of this study was to perform a cost-benefit analysis of an intervention to treat all the children in Bolivia (under 15 years of age) who are infected with Chagas disease. This research was carried out in La Paz, Bolivia where the author lived for a year collecting data in collaboration with the National Chagas Control Program, Bolivian Ministry of Health. Operational costs were based on current prices for laboratory testing and pharmaceuticals, average hourly wages for health care workers, and the number of children who would be treated. The benefit of the program was estimated as the sum of direct and indirect costs associated with chronic cardiac disease caused by Chagas infection. Direct costs were calculated as the minimum amount needed for adequate medical treatment summed over the patients life span. Indirect costs were measured in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) multiplied by average yearly salary to more fully account for the true burden of disease. Implementation cost was estimated to be approximately $35 million. This intervention would prevent over 279,000 DALYs and alleviate $123 million in direct and $632 million in indirect costs. Clearly, such a program would be extremely cost-effective. Thus, with an initial investment of less than $135 per infected child, approximately $2,900 worth of future costs would be prevented, in addition to improvements in quality of life not captured by DALYs. A sensitivity analysis showed that even while assuming a high variability of the data, the cost and benefit of this intervention were significantly different (p-value < 0.001).

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of eco-labelling, the sense of the phenomenon itself is lost when studied in isolation. With this consideration, a balance of research between practical and theoretical approaches, between environmental sociology, environmental economics, international trade relations, consumer society, sustainability and marketing theory was explored. Eco-labelling has far-reaching ramifications in society, not just in the commercial relationship between producer and consumer, but in socio-cultural norms and values. It combines economic and social forces via the marketplace. The research of this paper focuses on 1) the socio-cultural aspects of eco-labelling, 2) the economic incentive which drives eco-labelling and 3) the global institutional structures which influence the eco-labelling dimension. Chapter 1 provides an overview of eco-labelling and introduces ecological modernization, the theoretical foundation of this paper. Chapter 2 is a summary of interviews which were conducted with eco-labelling managers around the world. Chapter 3 analyses the economic impact of eco-labelling, the effects on international trade and the environment, and how eco-labelling affects consumers and producers. Chapter 4 deals with the social context of eco-labelling, and the social paradigms of consumer society and sustainability, merging in the case of ecological modernization. Chapter 5 looks at opportunities and challenges to eco-labelling, and concrete recommendations with respect to the design of eco-labelling programmes are made. Eco-labelling is the only tool which functions within the conflicting social forces of consumer society and sustainability. As a market-based instrument for environmental management that functions within the producer - consumer relationship, eco-labelling can be seen as the ecological marketisation of consumer society. Best practices in eco-labelling rely on accepting the fundamental market principles combined with social trends. (author´s abstract)