<p>The transformed municipality – Economic and social growth in Örnsköldsvik 1997-2007</p><p>Author: Kristina Hansson</p><p>This thesis focuses on the economic and social growth in the municipality of Örnsköldsvik. It is a single case study and the municipality is studied through economic theories concerning regional growth in the period of 1997-2007. The aim is to analyse whether these theories, such as Åke E. Anderssons and Ulf Strömquists K-society, and other more or less microeconomic assumptions, also are applicable in smaller local contexts. The aim is fulfilled through a mix of text analyses, interviews with leading politicians, civil servants and executives, together with definitions of several quantitative characteristics of economic and social growth. Alternative theories in the thesis concern identity, trust and social capital. Seven independent variables are studied: infrastructure, economic and commercial policy, steering by goals, streamlining, public purchase, marketing and higher education. The results show that while Örnsköldsvik has experienced an extraordinary economic growth, the social growth lags behind. The conclusion is therefore, that economic theories are not enough to explain both economic and social growth at the municipality level. This strengthens the assumption that the explanation to municipal growth in reality lays in the local forces.</p><p>Keywords: structural change, local growth, municipal taxes, public- private cooperation, state-subsidized stimulating measures</p>

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The mainstream accounts on local growth politics, which generally conceptualize the current context around the globalization of investments and the prominent role of local entrepreneuralism, argue for the tendency towards local coalitions. In opposition, the main argument of the thesis is that an increasingly fragmented and conflictual local growth politics is the defining feature of the contemporary localities. Defining the current context around the increased involvement of the business actors in directing the path of local economic growth and of the local state institutions in entrepreneurial activities, it was shown in Manisa case that intra-local conflicts are likely to deepen under conditions of increased inter-urban competition. By critically employing the concept of local dependence, it was shown that different local dependence factors result in the differentiation of the local actors&rsquo / priorities and preferences with regard to the utilization of local resources. Thus, it is concluded that a common local interest is not possible and that conflicts and contentions (between different-fractions of capital and between local labor and capital) stemming from the existence of different local dependence factors mark the process of local growth politics. As a special dependence factor in terms of local politics, the generation of land-rent was identified to be a potential basis for local collaborations whereas it was also found out that such coalitions are likely to be temporary and open to political contention. On the other hand, the supra-local relations of actors, which are essential for the pursuasion of local interests, are observed to have a determinant effect on local conflicts.

The transformed municipality – Economic and social growth in Örnsköldsvik 1997-2007 Author: Kristina Hansson This thesis focuses on the economic and social growth in the municipality of Örnsköldsvik. It is a single case study and the municipality is studied through economic theories concerning regional growth in the period of 1997-2007. The aim is to analyse whether these theories, such as Åke E. Anderssons and Ulf Strömquists K-society, and other more or less microeconomic assumptions, also are applicable in smaller local contexts. The aim is fulfilled through a mix of text analyses, interviews with leading politicians, civil servants and executives, together with definitions of several quantitative characteristics of economic and social growth. Alternative theories in the thesis concern identity, trust and social capital. Seven independent variables are studied: infrastructure, economic and commercial policy, steering by goals, streamlining, public purchase, marketing and higher education. The results show that while Örnsköldsvik has experienced an extraordinary economic growth, the social growth lags behind. The conclusion is therefore, that economic theories are not enough to explain both economic and social growth at the municipality level. This strengthens the assumption that the explanation to municipal growth in reality lays in the local forces. Keywords: structural change, local growth, municipal taxes, public- private cooperation, state-subsidized stimulating measures

Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit traitent des mécanismes de croissance associés au dépôt de nanofils d’oxyde de zinc (ZnO) en bain chimique. Cette technique de croissance, attractive de par sa facilité de mise en œuvre et son coût limité, consiste à immerger un substrat dans une solution de précurseurs portée à basse température (typiquement 90°) pendant quelques heures. Le dépôt préalable d’une fine couche de ZnO fortement texturée est nécessaire à l’obtention de la morphologie nanofils et il est donc nécessaire de maîtriser le processus de croissance associé. Dans un souci de cohérence, la méthode sol-gel dite de trempage consistant à immerger le substrat dans une solution de précurseurs avant de recuire la couche ainsi déposée est ici adoptée. Le ZnO, sous sa morphologie nanofils, est actuellement fortement étudié du fait de son fort potentiel applicatif. Typiquement, il peut être utilisé en tant que brique de basse dans la réalisation de cellules solaires de types Grätzel ou à absorbeur extrêmement fin. Dans ce contexte, il est nécessaire que les nanostructures élaborées présentent des propriétés physiques attractives et ces dernières doivent donc être finement caractérisées. Dans un premier temps, l’influence des paramètres expérimentaux associés au processus de trempage sur les propriétés morphologiques et structurales de films minces de ZnO déposés via ce processus est quantifiée. Il est montré à cette occasion que dans des conditions extrêmes de recuits, les couches évoluent vers une morphologie de type fil. Fort des conclusions obtenues, les mécanismes régissant la croissance de nanofils de ZnO en bain chimique, et plus particulièrement l’influence de la surface de nucléation sur ces derniers, sont étudiés. La possibilité d’obtenir des nanofils localisés et parfaitement alignés à travers la réalisation de masques est démontrée. L’ensemble des nanostructures élaborées (couches et nanofils) sont caractérisées par photoluminescence afin de pouvoir estimer leur qualité structurelle et d’étudier les défauts en présence. Pour finir, une étude plus fondamentale consistant à suivre in situ l’évolution des nanofils au cours de la croissance par rayonnement synchrotron est proposée avec une attention toute particulière aux phénomènes de polarité. / ZnO nanowires are of strong interest in the realization of solar cells based on type-II band alignment. They can be grown by chemical bath deposition, a technique in which the substrate is seeded with ZnO nanoparticles by dip-coating and then placed in a precursor solution heated at 90°C for a couple of hours. In this document, we will discuss the nucleation and growth mechanisms associated with this low cost technique. In particular, we will see how the seed layer morphology can drive the one of the nanowires. Also, advanced characterization by photoluminescence and synchrotron radiation will be performed on the grown nanostructures.