The intent of this study was to assess low-income parents knowledge and beliefs regarding child development and appropriate classroom practice and to compare their responses with those obtained from a previous survey of upper-income parents (Grebe, 1998). This study group (N=21) consisted of parents or guardians with children in a federally subsidized child-care center. Results indicated a high level of knowledge regarding developmentally appropriate practice and child development. Overall, there were no significant differences in the knowledge between the two income-levels, however, responses to several questions revealed slight differences in beliefs.

[pt] Estudei a transmissão da política monetária via canal de crédito com uma base mensal dos balanços dos bancos brasileiros de 2003 a 2017. Concluí que bancos que ofertam mais crédito subsidiado pelo governo e proveniente de captações compulsórias são menos sensíveis a variações da política monetária. Dessa forma, ao manter uma política de incentivo econômico via expansão do crédito, o governo está obstruindo esse canal de transmissão e consequentemente reduzindo a potência da política monetária. Adicionalmente, concluo que os bancos continuam rebalanceando sua carteira de crédito meses após o choque monetário, o que corrobora a visão de Bernanke e Blinder (1992) de que os bancos não desfazem seus contratos de crédito vigentes, mas apenas se recusam a fazer novos. Por fim, verifico um efeito de flight-to-quality em períodos de aperto monetário e menos liquidez na economia. Bancos tendem a reduzir mais seus créditos de alto risco do que os créditos de baixo risco. Entretanto, ao manter um alto volume de crédito subsidiado e proveniente de depósitos compulsórios esse efeito é mitigado. / [en] I have studied monetary policy transmission through the credit channel based on monthly financial statements of Brazilian banks from 2003 to 2017. I have come to the conclusion that banks which offer a higher amount of government subsidized credit originated from compulsory fund raising are less likely to be affected by changes in interest rates. Consequently, by keeping an economic growth policy through credit expansion the government is obstructing this channel of transmission and thus reducing the power of the monetary policy. Additionally, I concluded that banks continue to adjust their loan portfolios until months after the monetary shock, corroborating Bernanke and Blinder (1992), who observed that banks do not cancel existing contracts, but just refuse to create new ones. To finish, I observe a fly-to-quality effect in periods of tight monetary policy and a less liquid economy. Banks tend to cut down on high-risk loans rather than low-risk ones. Nevertheless, by keeping a high amount of government subsidized credit originated from compulsory fund raising, this effect is mitigated.

Este trabalho faz uso de um modelo DSGE com fricções financeiras para analisar as consequências da existência de uma modalidade subsidiada de crédito para a recuperação da economia frente a choques. Os resultados indicam que o crédito subsidiado auxilia a mitigar os efeitos de choques que incidem especificamente sobre o mercado de crédito, como é o caso de choques financeiros ou de política macroprudencial. As respostas das principais variáveis da economia a esses choques se tornam menos intensas e duradouras. Para o caso de choque de política monetária, entretanto, a presença do crédito subsidiado não altera de forma significativa as respostas de variáveis reais, como consumo e investimento. / This paper uses a DSGE model with financial frictions to analyze the consequences of the existence of a subsidized credit line for the recovery of the economy against shocks. The results indicate that the subsidized credit helps to mitigate the effects of shocks that are specifically related to the credit market, as in the case of financial shocks or macroprudential policy shocks. The responses of the main variables of the economy to these shocks become shorter and less intense. In the case of monetary policy shock, however, the presence of subsidized credit does not change significantly the responses of real variables, such as consumption and investment.

This thesis consists of a summary and four self-contained papers. Paper [I] examines whether fathers influence the time their children spend in subsidized child care. Two non-nested models of family child care demand are estimated. The parameter estimates indicate that several characteristics of the father are associated with the time his child spends in child care. J-tests and bootstrapped J-tests also show that a model where the father’s characteristics are excluded can be rejected in favour of a model where his characteristics are included. Paper [II] considers the effects of the Swedish child care fee reform on public expenditures and taxation in the municipalities. A difference-in-difference approach is employed where outcomes are compared with respect to the municipalities’ pre-reform fee systems. The results show that pre-reform characteristics determine taxes and child care expenditures in the post-reform period. It is also found that changes in child care quality were not connected to the pre-reform systems characteristics. Paper [III] provides evidence of the effect of college quality on earnings in Sweden. The results suggest that the link between college quality and earnings is weak. A small positive effect is found for individuals that are likely to work full time. Controlling for region of work affects the estimated effects, indicating a correlation between choice of college quality and choice of labour market region. In Paper [IV], earnings differences between transfer and non-transfer students are analysed. The results show that earnings, during the first years after leaving the university, are significantly lower for students who change universities compared to students who do not change. The earnings differences decrease significantly over time and over the earnings distribution.

Milk and milk products are irreplaceable in the children´s nutrition. Substances which milk contains assist children to the proper growth and development. The most important substances are for example proteins or calcium and therefore it´s necessary to feed children with milk. Children consume milk practically since birth. However, milk consumption may be associated with health problems, such as milk allergy or lactose intolerance. In order to increase the consumption of milk was introduced subsidized program "School Milk", which can be used by all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic. The research was based on a quantitative approach. The research tool has become a questionnaire given out to three grades of selected elementary school. Research shows that the selected students consume milk in sufficient amounts, especially cow's milk, which has chosen the 93.8% of respondents. It is primarily milk skimmed and not flavoured. Respondents prefer the most milk itself, then yogurt (56.9%), cheese (55.1%) and butter (50.2%), regardless of age or gender. Among the most popular cheeses include semi-hard cheese, which prefers the 82 respondents from a total of 225. Dislikes are then other fermented products such as sour buttermilk, which is preferred only by 7.6% of respondents, or kefir. Some of the products are completely unknown to the pupils. For example sour milk never tasted more than 71% of respondents. In the health effects and milk production pupils have very limited knowledge; especially pupils in lower grades have very limited knowledge. To name at least one important substance for human health was able to do less than half of the respondents. The most commonly mentioned was calcium and protein, and other substances only sporadically. Also knowledge of milk production has proven to be very tricky. A total of 56.9% of respondents said they do not know any dairy. Percentage using a subsidized program "School Milk" is very low. This program uses only 32.9% of pupils, especially in the lower grades. The research showed that 17.3% of students are overweight or obese, especially the girls in the 5th grade.

Este trabalho faz uso de um modelo DSGE com fricções financeiras para analisar as consequências da existência de uma modalidade subsidiada de crédito para a recuperação da economia frente a choques. Os resultados indicam que o crédito subsidiado auxilia a mitigar os efeitos de choques que incidem especificamente sobre o mercado de crédito, como é o caso de choques financeiros ou de política macroprudencial. As respostas das principais variáveis da economia a esses choques se tornam menos intensas e duradouras. Para o caso de choque de política monetária, entretanto, a presença do crédito subsidiado não altera de forma significativa as respostas de variáveis reais, como consumo e investimento. / This paper uses a DSGE model with financial frictions to analyze the consequences of the existence of a subsidized credit line for the recovery of the economy against shocks. The results indicate that the subsidized credit helps to mitigate the effects of shocks that are specifically related to the credit market, as in the case of financial shocks or macroprudential policy shocks. The responses of the main variables of the economy to these shocks become shorter and less intense. In the case of monetary policy shock, however, the presence of subsidized credit does not change significantly the responses of real variables, such as consumption and investment.

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

This thesis consists of two self-contained empirical essays. Essay I investigates the impact of labor subsidies on TFP, and profit per employee is included as a second outcome. Coarsened exact matching (CEM) is performed on the key variables. After matching, a difference-in-difference (DID) model is applied. The study shows that firms employing workers with wage subsidies experience negative and significant effects on both TFP and profit per employee. Heterogeneity is, however, observed; the only sector to show a deficit in both TFP and profit per employee is wholesale. During the second year with a subsidy, a negative impact can be observed on the profit per employee but not on TFP. The policy conclusion from the analysis is that subsidizing individuals from particular groups is necessary to induce firms to hire workers from these groups. However, the time period for which a single firm is subsidized should be considered. Essay II (with Jonas Månsson from Linnaeus University and the Swedish National Audit Office (SNAO), Christian Andersson from SNAO and Fredrik Bonander from SNAO) measures TFP of the Swedish district courts by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) to calculate the Malmquist productivity index for 48 Swedish district courts from 2012 to 2015. This study uses a fully decomposed Malmquist index. A bootstrapping approach is further applied to compute confidence intervals for each decomposed factor of TFP as well as for TFP. The study shows an average annual of TFP by 0.7%. However, a substantial variation between years is observed both with regards to the number of statistically significant courts below and above unity. The negative impact is mainly driven by pure technical regress. Large variations are also observed over time where the small courts have the largest volatility. The TFP change is positively correlated with the rate of change in the caseload. Two recommendations are: 1) that district courts with negative TFP growth could learn from those with positive TFP growth and 2) that a back-up force could be developed to enhance flexibility.

Social enterprises are hybrid organizations that tackle societal challenges by using conventional business models. Being hybrid organizations means that social enterprises pursue dual objectives: social (developmental) and financial. By taking performance, subsidization and internationalization perspectives, this thesis contributes to understanding the hybridity of social enterprises and how this hybridity drives their general operations and key decisions such as foreign market selection and targeting strategy. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This study investigates the interplay between institutional structures, organizational culture, and the efficacy of employment initiatives, focusing on the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) and its implementation of subsidized employment programs known as "nystartsjobb."  Through qualitative interviews and analysis of existing literature, the study examines how external institutional pressures shape Arbetsförmedlingen's approach to addressing potential exploitation within “nystartsjobb” placements. Findings reveal a complex dynamic wherein the organization navigates formal and informal norms of the labor market while striving to maintain legitimacy and public trust.  Despite acknowledging the risk of employer exploitation, respondents note a lack of proactive measures to prevent exploitation, with interventions typically triggered by specific complaints or suspicions. Furthermore, the study highlights internal organizational attitudes, with nystartsjobb often viewed as a short-term support mechanism rather than a pathway to sustainable employment. The absence of systematic follow-up exacerbates this issue, hindering the program's ability to fulfill long-term employment goals.  Ultimately, the study underscores the significance of both institutional structures and organizational culture in shaping the implementation and outcomes of employment policies, while also prompting considerations for future research on program effectiveness and sustainability.