Finland and Sweden share a common history that dates back to the 12thcentury, when the two countries were one. Sweden has throughout time, for numerous reasons, been a more well-developed country and has had a larger economy than Finland, which has made moving and travelling to Sweden amongst Finns a rather common demographic feature. The effects of this historical relationship, and of these events, still to this day influencethe travel patterns between the two countries; More Finns visit Sweden than Swedes visit Finland.Throughout this thesis I analyse and describe the uneven passenger transportation patterns between the Swedish city of Umeå and the Finnish city Vaasa. By analysing inhabitants personal background together with the motives for travelling to-, the knowledge about-, and the perceived mental distance between Umeå and Vaasa of inhabitants in both cities, I strive to find answers to the Bothnian disparity routes. The results of the study points towards social bonds, various cultural factors, possession of knowledge, and perceived mental distance playing asignificant role in shaping the travel patterns between the two cities. Furthermore, the result of the study also provides a perspective on how geography is not just a physical structure but also a significant factor in understanding human mobility and interaction in cross-border contexts.

The internationalization process is a well-researched and explored topic. However, many older models do not consider digitization as a phenomenon. Nor is any further consideration given to the smaller companies. The aim of this study is to investigate how small businesses feel that they are affected by digitalization during an internationalization process. In order to find an answer to this, a qualitative study has been done where a total of three people have been interviewed from three different companies. Based on these interviews, an analysis has been made which has then been analyzed in the context of the theoretical background. Theories used in the study to be able to fulfill the aim includes theories about Mental distance, Liability of Foreignness, Liability of Outsidership and other theories about growth, internationalization and digitalization. The conclusion drawn is that digitalization has simplified the internationalization process, mainly through progress in how knowledge can be collected and shared over greater distances. Digitalization has facilitated contact with the contact network through simpler and alternative contact channels. / Internationaliseringsprocessen är ett välundersökt och utforskat ämne. Många äldre modeller beaktar dock inte digitaliseringen som fenomen. Man tar inte heller någon vidare hänsyn till de mindre bolagen. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur småföretag upplever att de påverkas av digitalisering under en internationaliseringsprocess. För att kunna besvara detta har en kvalitativ studie gjorts där totalt tre personer har intervjuats från tre olika företag. Utifrån dessa intervjuer har analyser gjorts som sedan har analyserats i kontexten av den teoretiska bakgrunden. Teorier som använts i studien för att kunna uppfylla syftet är bland annat teorier om Psykiskt avstånd, Liability of Foreignness, Liability of Outsidership samt andra teorier kring tillväxt, internationalisering och digitalisering.  Slutsatsen som dras är att digitaliseringen har förenklat internationaliseringsprocessen främst genom framsteg i hur kunskap kan insamlas men även delas över större avstånd. Digitaliseringen har underlättat kontakten med kontaktnätet genom enklare och alternativa kontaktkanaler.