L’incertitude est présente dans toute innovation. Dans le domaine des nanotechnologies, l’incertitude qui entoure les risques sanitaires et environnementaux dont ces technologies pourraient être porteuses est si importante que la question de leur succès se pose.En partie du fait du manque de données cohérentes, il n’existe qu’une littérature empirique limitée sur les déterminants de la diffusion des nanotechnologies. Dans le cadre d’un programme de recherche sur les nanotechnologies, cette thèse a pour but d’investiguer les déterminants de l’adoption d’innovations dans une situation d’incertitude sur les risques environnementaux et sanitaires. Dans cette optique, nos travaux visent dans un premier temps à fournir une meilleure compréhension de la diffusion d’un produit qui est présent sur le marché depuis longtemps. Nous avons choisi une substance chimique très utilisée, le bisphénol A (BPA). Différentes méthodes économétriques sont appliquées afin de mieux comprendre la relation entre la consommation, la croissance économique, les nouvelles connaissances scientifiques concernant le risque et d’autres variables utilisant les données relatives au BPA. Les résultats illustrent un ensemble de facteurs qui influencent la consommation de BPA au niveau international.Dans un second temps, nous montrons dans quelle mesure cette étude permet d’éclairer la réflexion initiée sur la diffusion des nanotechnologies, notamment le nano-argent.Le comportement des différents acteurs en réponse à la production de connaissances scientifiques nouvelles sur les risques est étudié, ce qui nous permet d’aboutir à une compréhension approfondie de “développement nanoresponsable”. / Uncertainty is immanent in every innovation. Uncertainty about environmental and health risks that surround nanotechnology raises the questions of innovation success. Due in part to a lack of consistent data, there is limited empirical literature on determinants of the diffusion of nanotechnology. As part of a research program on nanotechnology, this research aims to investigate determinants of uptake of innovation in a situation of uncertainty about environmental and health risks. With this goal, as a first step, this work seeks to provide better understanding of the diffusion of a product that has been on the market for a long time. We have chosen a chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), because of the lack of historical data on nanomaterials. As a second step, we compare the results of the BPA study to nanosilver. We apply different econometric methods to gain insights into the relationship between consumption, economic growth, new scientific knowledge about risk and other variables using the data on BPA. The results illustrate a set of factors that influences the consumption of BPA at international level. The comparative study between BPA and nanosilver helps to refine the interpretation of main results and to obtain additional insights into the determinants of uptake of nanosilver. An explanatory analysis sheds light on the actions that different stakeholders undertake in response to new scientific knowledge about risk and deepens our understanding of “nanoresponsible development”.Keywords: Innovation, diffusion of innovation, product life cycle, nanotechnology, bisphenol A, risk, uncertainty, environment, health, precautionary principle, Safer by Design, responsible development

The green bond market offers investors the opportunity to take an explicit focus on sustainable investment projects. However, it is yet to be determined whether this novel asset class offers attractive yields compared to non-green bonds. To address this question, we study European green bonds and how they diverge from conventional bonds in terms of yields. Using a dataset of 88 matched pairs of European green bonds between 2015 and 2019, we document a significant negative green bond premium of -12 bps on average in the secondary market. The green bond premium is defined as the yield differential between a green and a conventional bond while controlling for liquidity. The results suggest that European investors accept a lower financial return in exchange for receiving non-pecuniary benefits and thus challenging the assumptions of classical asset pricing models. Furthermore, we use a matching method and two-step regression to control for liquidity and identify the determinants of the green bond premium. The results show that the negative green bond premium is less pronounced for lower-rated bonds. Moreover, we find support for variations in the green bond premium across different business sectors. Government-related green bonds experience a greater negative green bond premium than green bonds related to financials and industrial corporates.

I denna rapport undersöks vilka problem det finns i samarbetet mellan JM Entreprenad AB och dess underentreprenörer. Med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer med arbetsledare och platschefer, från både underentreprenörer och JM Entrepren ad AB, har vi fått synpunkter på vilka dessa problem är, vad konsekvenserna blir och eventuella lösningar på problemen.  Åtta stycken punkter som vi kallar ”teman” i rapporten, har framförts från intervjukandidaterna. Det är punkter som påverkar samarbetet mellan parterna ute i produktionen. De lyder som följer:  -     Säkerhet (arbetsmiljösäkerhet -     Lagbas kontra arbetsledare   -     Arbetsberedningar   -     Samarbetet mellan olika underentreprenörer   -     Möten (byggmöte och basmöte)   -     Arbetslivserfarenhet   -     Ändrings- och tilläggsarbeten   -     Tidsplanering   Den insamlande informationen är analyserad och presenterad enligt ovanstående teman med en tematisk analys. På så sätt blir resultatet överskådligt och lättare att presentera för läsaren.  Vår slutsats är att samarbetet mellan JM Entreprenad A B och underentreprenörerna kan påverkas i positiv riktning om de åtta punkterna beaktas. Vi styrker denna slutsats med att samtliga teman är hämtade direkt från idag aktiva arbetsledare och platschefer. / In this report we investigate the problems in the cooperation between JM Entreprenad AB and its subcontractors.  With the aid of semi constructed interviews with supervisors and foremen, from both the subcontractors and JM Entreprenad AB, we have received point of views on what these problems are, what the consequences are and eventual solutions to solve the problems.  Eight points that we refer to as “themes” in the report, has been brought forth by interviewed supervisors and foremen. These are points that affect the cooperation between the two sides out in the production. They list as follows:   -     Safety   -     Foreman or Supervisor   -     Work preparations   -     The cooperation between different subcontractors   -     Meetings   -     Work experience   -     Change and added work   -     Planning   The information received is analyzed and presented according to themes derived with a thematic analysis. That ensures that the results become easier to present to the reader.  Our conclusion is that the cooperation between JM Entreprenad AB and its subcontractors can be influenced in a positive direction if these eight themes are considered. We underline this conclusion with the point that all these themes derive s directly from supervisors and site managers.

The present thesis tries to Czech readers familiar with the concepts of development cooperation and development education in Spain, focusing on the practical implementation of development education by NGOs in Valencia. In the theoretical part are gradually presented the basic historical and political bases of both concepts and the reader is acquainted with the institutional prerequisites for their implementation in Spain. The empirical part contains the results of the analysis of interviews with representatives of NGOs in Valencia, which realize the practical development educational activities in elementary and secondary schools. The text is supplemented with illustrative graphs and tables, and includes examples of typical responses of respondents which contribute to the understanding and interpretation of the text. The final section includes a discussion of applied research methods and critical evaluation of the results that were presented in the empirical part.

In my thesis, I have covered interviews with ten women - mothers who have decided to use for their babies a changing system of modern cloth diapers. For the topic I have used a qualitative sociological research strategy. The purpose of the received data from the interviews was to answer questions about motivations and reasons for the usage of this type of nappies and decide what benefits they see in them. As our society is used to disposable baby diapers and looks at them as a norm, I was interested in people's reactions, which these mothers have faced and how they have coped with. Finally, I have tried to find out the role of the internet and the social media in this matter. The theoretical part is devoted to the history of cloth and disposable diapers. There I have put into the context the issue of cloth diapers with the principles of sustainable development and responsible consumption. In the practical part I have carried out an analysis of ten semi-structured interviews with mothers who have been using cloth diapers for babies, along with examples of expressions of activities associated with cloth diapers in social media on the internet.

Supply Chain Due Diligence (SCDD) is conducted by companies to minimise or even eliminate risks of being involved directly or indirectly in human rights violations. It is part of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) requirement. Through their suppliers companies may be exposed to irresponsible business practices. Considering this, companies should be able to systematically formulate concise demand from their suppliers that they practice responsible business practices which respect human rights. Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) as management tool commonly assist companies to direct suppliers methodically in achieving their financial goals. This research attempts to repurpose SRM concepts to enable companies to conduct SCDD methodically. Defining human rights requirements into practical supplier’s evaluation system is a challenging task. Possible criteria and their indicators are discussed. The structure and processes to implement SRM framework for SCDD purposes are also described.:1. INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM DESCRIPTION 2. INTENSIFICATION OF PURCHASING FUNCTION AND SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT FOR IMPROVED COOPERATION WITH SUPPLIERS 2.1. Procurement and Purchasing Function in Integrative Supply Chain Management 2.2. Supplier Relationship Management and Purchasing Function 2.2.1. Supplier Relationship Management Framework 2.2.2. Strategy Development 2.2.3. Supplier Observation 2.2.4. Supplier Selection 2.2.5. Classification of Suppliers and Performance Assessment 2.2.6. Cooperation and Collaborating with Suppliers 2.2.7. Development of Suppliers 2.2.8. Disturbance and Dissolution Management 3. RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUPPLY CHAIN DUE DILIGENCE THROUGH IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING 3.1. Relation between Business and Human Rights 3.2. Human Rights Due Diligence for Companies 3.2.1. Basic Concept of Human Rights Due Diligence 3.2.2. Relating Human Rights Due Diligence to Common Commercial Due Diligence 3.2.3. Business Case for Human Rights Due Diligence from Legal and Other Perspectives 3.3. Human Rights Due Diligence with Focus on Impact Assessment 3.3.1. Approaches and Guidelines to Conduct Human Rights Impact Assessment 3.3.2. Relevance of Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) Approaches to Practical Implementation within Procurement Activities 3.4. Human Rights Reporting 3.5. Supply Chain Due Diligence Activities as Instrument to Conduct Human Rights Due Diligence 4. EVALUATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SUPPLIERS’ PROSPECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION RISKS: DETERMINING CRITERIA AND THEIR INDICATORS 4.1. Performance Evaluation and Indicators Development 4.2. Rationalization in Grouping Human Rights Performance Criteria into Three groups of Criteria and Weighing/Scaling/Calculation System 4.3. Sourcing and Regulation 4.3.1. General Standards and Regulations 4.3.2. Specific Product Standards and Requirements 4.3.3. Supplier’s Code of Conduct and Industry Initiatives 4.4. Political and Social Circumstances 4.4.1. Political Condition in Country of Supplier 4.4.2. Risks of Corruption 4.4.3. Social Circumstance and Civil Society 4.5. Suppliers’ Internal Condition 4.5.1. Supplier’s Human Rights Policy 4.5.2. Supplier’s Human Rights Record and Reputation 4.5.3. Supplier’s Corporate Governance and Political Connections 4.6. General Remarks on Groups of Performance Criteria and Framework for Suppliers’ Classification 5. RESULTS INTERPRETATION OF SUPPLIERS’ CLASSIFICATION FOLLOWING EVALUATION OF SUPPLIERS’ PROSPECTIVE HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION RISK 5.1. 5.1.1. Understanding and Using the Assessment Framework 5.1.2. Determining Indicators’ Scaling Complexity, Weighing System and Cut-off Points 5.1.3. Interaction Model of the Framework in Determining Overall Performance and Classification of Suppliers 5.2. Suppliers with Low-Level of Prospective Human Rights Performance 5.3. Suppliers with Medium-Level of Prospective Human Rights Performance 5.4. Suppliers with High-Level of Prospective Human Rights Performance 6. INTRODUCING SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR SUPPLY CHAIN DUE DILIGENCE 6.1. Building the Supplier Relationship Management Framework for Supply Chain Due Diligence Framework: Laying Out the Foundation 6.2. Supply Chain Due Diligence Using an Approach of Supplier Relationship Management: How to Implement the Framework 6.2.1. Purchasing Strategy Development 6.2.2. Observation of Potential Suppliers 6.2.3. Suppliers Selection 6.2.4. Performance Assessment and Classification of Suppliers 6.2.5. Disturbance and Dissolution Management 6.2.6. Cooperation and Collaboration with Suppliers 6.2.7. Development of Suppliers 7. CONCLUSION REFERENCES

No description available.

According to Skolverket, the Swedish school has two missions: conveying knowledge and teaching values. These values are taught through the common principles (värdegrund) and instruct students about democratic values and human rights. However, Skolverket also reports that students lack such knowledge. Therefore, this essay aims to create a module with the main purpose of formulating and teaching the common principles, by using Phaswane Mpe's Welcome to Our Hillbrow, a text with the ability of presenting ethical issues whilst also making the reader respond to them. To achieve this, the values of the common principles will be extracted with the help of virtue ethics, which creates a conjunction with the book, where three topics are selected: sexism, gender identity and societal transformation. Virtue ethics, representing the common principles, together with Adichie’s definition of African feminism inform the analysis of sexism and gender inequality in the book and show how they are prevalent and extensive. Societal transformation is conceptualised and investigated through the use of narratology. Sexism and gender inequality are located in the horizontal plane of an arena, where the vertical expansion of narrative levels creates the urge for societal transformation. Such an expansion is made possible by an implied author, which provides the effect needed for reader inclusion. As such, Welcome to Our Hillbrow is described to entail an ethical challenge, that forces a responsible reader to emerge. Issues of sexism and gender inequality are then used together with the arena of societal transformation to construct a module in English 7, where students may themselves become reasonable readers through a process of critical self-reflection, a vital part of virtue ethics. This is done by employing Socratic and deliberative dialogue and an affective-humanistic approach, which together promote democratic values and human rights.

Utifrån den tidigare forskningen har det varit skiljaktigheter angående hur hållbara investeringar presterar i förhållande till avkastning och risk jämfört med konventionella investeringar. Samtidigt har intresset för hållbara investeringarna ökat vilket medför att det finns ett intresse att analysera hur hållbara investeringar förhåller sig inom avkastning och risk.Denna studie avser att beskriva och analysera hur hållbara aktiefonder förhåller sig i avkastning och risk jämfört med konventionella aktiefonder. Vidare studeras om det råder ett samband mellan hållbarhet och avkastning. I denna kvantitativa studie analyseras den svenska och irländska aktiefondmarknaden under 2016–2022 med totalt 310 slumpmässigt valda aktiefonder, både hållbara och konventionella, med måttet Jensens Alpha. Studiens resultat visade att ett statistiskt signifikant samband mellan hållbarhet och avkastning inte kan fastställas. Följaktligen visade det ingen statistisk signifikant skillnad i avkastning för det svenska aktiefonderna medan irländska hållbara aktiefonder hade en statistisk signifikant lägre avkastning jämfört med de konventionella motsvarigheterna. Vidare visade irländska hållbaraaktiefonder en lägre risk medan svenska hållbara aktiefonder innehade en högre risk jämfört med marknadernas konventionella aktiefonder. / There have been conflicting results from previous research regarding sustainable investing and its financial return compared to regular investment alternatives. Simultaneously, the trend towards sustainable investing has grown significantly in recent times, prompting a keen interest in understanding the effect of sustainable investing on investors, specifically in terms of returns and risks. This study aims to provide insights into sustainable investments in equity funds, specifically in terms of returns and risks, when compared to conventional equity funds. Using Jensen's Alpha methodology, a quantitative study was conducted on 310 randomly selectedequity funds, from both sustainable and conventional categories in Sweden and Ireland during the period of 2016-2022. The main findings showed that there is no strong statistical correlation between sustainability and financial returns. Furthermore, the study revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in returns for Swedish equity funds, whereas Irish sustainable equity funds exhibited statistically significantly lower returns in comparison to their conventional counterparts. Regarding risk, the study demonstrates that Irish sustainable equity funds carried lower risk, while Swedish sustainable equity funds performed with a higher risk when compared to their conventional counterparts.

<p>This dissertation argues for a number of theses related to responsibility, norm psychology, and personhood. Although most of the papers argue for “standalone” theses, in the sense that their truth does not depend the truth of the others, the five papers collectively illustrate a broader view of humans as (a) responsible agents who are (b) self-governing and (c) equipped with a capacity for norms, and whose agency (d) centers on dynamic responsiveness to corrective feedback. Drawing on this broader picture, the dissertation sheds light on ethical questions about our social practices and technologies, as well as descriptive questions about the nature of substance use disorder. </p> <p>Most centrally, the dissertation argues that forward-looking considerations are relevant for responsibility, not merely because the consequences of our responsibility practices are desirable, but primarily because of a connection which I argue exists between relationships, norms, and learning. On the view I defend, an agent is a responsible agent only if she can learn from being held responsible, so as to regulate herself according to norms of which she presently falls short. I argue that, if it were not for the capacity of humans to learn from <i>social corrective feedback</i>, such as normative responses like praise and blame, humans would be unable to participate in norm-governed relationships and communities. It is in virtue of their participation in these relationships and communities that humans are subject to interpersonal norms, such that they can fulfill or violate these norms and be praiseworthy or blameworthy for doing so. So, without the kind of learning that makes participation in these relationships a possibility, humans could never be praiseworthy or blameworthy for anything that they do. </p> <p>The dissertation also argues that human norm psychology has implications for how we should relate to “social robots”—artificial agents designed to participate in relationships with humans. I argue that, like humans, social robots should be equipped with a capacity to recognize and respond to normative feedback. Lastly, the dissertation resists a common narrative about addiction as being a form of akrasia in which agents act against their own better judgment. While this is certainly a central aspect of many cases of addiction, I argue that it fails to appreciate the ways in which addiction sometimes interacts with a person’s identity and goals, especially in cases where the agent believes that the things she values would not be feasible if she did not continue to engage in addictive behavior.</p>