<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 resurgence and increased use of the total defense concept in the political landscape of Sweden comes in a time of global geopolitical uncertainties and multifaceted security crises. Despite its stated importance, how the private sector should be incorporated into this structure remains somewhat unclear. As such, the aim of this thesis was to analyze the interconnection between organizational and human behavior from the perspective of public-private cooperation in today’s Swedish total defense. To achieve this aim, six interviews were conducted with representatives from government agencies and business organizations in the civil preparedness sector of food supply and drinking water. The study sought to identify key factors defining this public-private relationship, use a theoretical framework based on rationalist organizational and social-psychological perspectives, and discern what combined impact they have on contemporary inter-organizational crisis cooperation.  The analysis indicates that the preparedness sector of food supply and drinking water is inherently robust, with a great deal of trust between individual agencies and private actors. However, there is a needfor greater organizational clarity and clear expectations, while a general lack of personnel and resources means that the risk of economic loss often takes precedence over further investments in civil preparedness. Furthermore, the establishment of the preparedness sector entailed a greater capacity for coordinating inter-organizational preparedness efforts but may have created an uncertain hierarchy with informational blind spots. Also, it is argued that government agencies have clearer expectations and goals within the total defense in general due to their identity in crisis and preparedness being firmly established, something that private actors lack

The diploma thesis evaluates the topical situation regarding PPP projects (Public Private Partnership) in the Czech Republic. The definition of the PPP project together with advantages and disadvantages of this concept and the explanation of the PPP process can be found in the first chapter. Second part is mostly focused on the description of the transport infrastructure in Czech and its possible expansion determined by the usage of PPP projects. The crucial part of the third section is the analysis of the already executed PPP projects -- both on the governmental and municipal level. The implementation of PPP projects in the Czech Republic is also confronted with the situation in the Visegrad countries and Russia.

The understanding of the role of the contracting authority in public procurement is important to understand the underused potential of public procurement to contribute to the sustainable development of society. In particular, the concept of public-private cooperation was suggested to increase this potential, but not enough is known about how the interaction has to take place in order to address the behavioural factors that cause the barriers to sustainable public procurement. The results of this research showed that the leading role of the contracting authority could facilitate sustainable procurement by increasing engagement, interaction and collaboration. A strategic planning approach to support the public-private cooperation in the procurement process is needed. Based on the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, a support for the contracting authority was designed to guide the strategic planning of the procurement process. The suggested design of Support for Strategic Sustainable Procurement was evaluated and found likely to support the contracting authority in strategically leading the public procurement process to leverage the potential of public procurement on the transition towards a sustainable society.

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

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