Mobile money, transfers and social networks: A field study of the use of Tigo Money in Guatemala

This paper analyses the impact mobile money service Tigo Money has on households’ transfer behavior within social networks. To be precise, the paper investigates if household that use Tigo Money 1) send and receive more transfers, 2) if they do this with an expanded network, and 3) if they send and receive more transfers for emergency reasons, compared to non-using households. To answer these questions, a survey was conducted in two municipalities in Guatemala. The data was analyzed using OLS estimations. The results show a significant positive correlation between the use of Tigo Money and the dependent variables, resulting in increased transfer activity among these households. These findings are in line with previous research, and indicate that Tigo Money-using households should handle negative income shocks better. A sensitivity analysis was performed. The models perform worse for the rural subsample, but the results are robust across all estimations for urban and semi-rural subsamples

Skillnader i riskjusterad avkastning mellan konventionella och hållbara fonder : en studie på den svenska fondmarknaden

Sustainable investments have received increased interest all over the world amongst institutional and private investors. The number of funds investing in securities according to their ESG characteristics is a constantly growing part of the market. Because of this the in-flow of capital seem to be higher in sustainable funds which might help them counteract their limitations when it comes to risk-adjusted return. Previous studies on the subject have shown inconclusive results on how financial performance is affected by ESG factors. This study therefore aims to find differences between conventional and sustainable funds, in order to see what might affect the risk-adjusted return of funds on the Swedish fund market. The aim of the study is to analyse if it is a difference in yield between sustainable and conventional funds during the market crisis caused by the Coronavirus in order to see how different ESG factors might minimise the total and systematic risk in a portfolio. In total 40 funds were sampled by using a purposive sampling method. The analysis was conducted during a two-year period 2019 to 2020, whereas in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic started, which set off the market crisis. By using a quantitative study design the funds were analysed with different evaluation models such as Sharpe and Treynor ratios but also with a Wavelet Coherence Analysis. In the study the sustainable funds have experienced a lower systematic risk and a higher risk-adjusted return on average. The Wavelet Coherence Analysis also points to these results as there is a strong coherence between ESG and systematic risk with a negative correlation, i.e. a good Environmental Social Governance (ESG) score provide a lower beta (systematic risk). Differences in risk-adjusted return could be seen between funds profiled differently in the E, S and G segment. The sustainable funds profiled in “S” have performed the best risk-adjusted return, followed by the conventional funds profiled in “G”. The results also suggests that the spread in yield between conventional funds and sustainable funds increases throughout the sample period. Sustainable funds have recovered faster, leading to enhanced risk-adjusted returns both when measured through Sharpe and Treynor ratios. Seemingly, sustainable funds have managed this risk better, by utilising the information more efficiently and reacting to market changes. Therefore, investors can expect sustainable funds to provide a better risk-adjusted return than its conventional peers during a market crisis

The Situation and Prospects for Youth Policy in Lithuania in the Context of European Solidarity

The aim of the article is to give a social portrait of Lithuanian youth in the context of youth policy, and to consider such unsettled segments as unemployment, emigration (migration), the attitude towards family, social participation in societal possibilities, and the strengthening of intergenerational solidarity. These problematic segments cause the social exclusion of young people, thus requiring an appropriate strategy for training professionals who work with young people and who can develop models for the positive (skilful) socialisation of young people. The article evaluates Lithuanian and European youth policy guidelines and success in solving problems, as well as the response to public expectations regarding participation in future life. It provides an analysis of existing feasibility studies that reveal the current situation, and insights into the question. The results obtained foster the formulation of a strategy for training social professionals focused on youth work. The article concentrates on a new European Union programme, the ‘European Solidarity Corps’, which aims to give young people opportunities to contribute to local and global problem-solving within the framework of personal and professional career design for youth. It has been prepared within the framework of the project ‘Social Professions for Youth Education in the Context of European Solidarity’*, with the participation of Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Swedish universities that deliver programmes for training social professionals.Key words: youth, youth policy, positive (smart) youth socialisation, work with young people, social professions, problematic segments of youth life (unemployment, emigration (migration), attitude towards family, opportunities for social participation of young people in society, strengthening intergenerational solidarity).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/tbb.v83i2.206

High Dimensional Classification with combined Adaptive Sparse PLS and Logistic Regression

Motivation: The high dimensionality of genomic data calls for the development of specific classification methodologies, especially to prevent over-optimistic predictions. This challenge can be tackled by compression and variable selection, which combined constitute a powerful framework for classification, as well as data visualization and interpretation. However, current proposed combinations lead to instable and non convergent methods due to inappropriate computational frameworks. We hereby propose a stable and convergent approach for classification in high dimensional based on sparse Partial Least Squares (sparse PLS). Results: We start by proposing a new solution for the sparse PLS problem that is based on proximal operators for the case of univariate responses. Then we develop an adaptive version of the sparse PLS for classification, which combines iterative optimization of logistic regression and sparse PLS to ensure convergence and stability. Our results are confirmed on synthetic and experimental data. In particular we show how crucial convergence and stability can be when cross-validation is involved for calibration purposes. Using gene expression data we explore the prediction of breast cancer relapse. We also propose a multicategorial version of our method on the prediction of cell-types based on single-cell expression data. Availability: Our approach is implemented in the plsgenomics R-package.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables + Supplementary Materials 8 pages, 3 figures, 10 table

Smoking and stroke: A mendelian randomization study

Whether smoking is causally associated with risk of ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage is unknown. We used the Mendelian randomization design to explore the associations of genetic predisposition to smoking with ischemic stroke and its subtypes as well as intracerebral hemorrhage. Up to 372 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were used as instrumental variables for smoking initiation. We used summary statistics data for 438 847 individuals in the analyses of ischemic stroke (34 217 cases and 404 630 non-cases) and 3026 individuals in analyses of intracerebral hemorrhage (1545 cases and 1481 non-cases). Genetic predisposition to smoking initiation was statistically significantly positively associated with any ischemic stroke, large artery stroke, and small vessel stroke but not cardioembolic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage. The odds ratios per one standard deviation higher log-odds of ever smoking regularly (smoking initiation) were 1.24 (95% CI 1.16-1.32; p = 1.310-10) for any ischemic stroke, 1.64 (95% CI 1.40-1.91; p = 2.810-10) for large artery stroke, 1.47 (95% CI 1.26-1.71; p = 1.110-6) for small vessel stroke, 1.12 (95% CI 0.99-1.27; p = 0.08) for cardioembolic stroke, and 1.13 (95% CI 0.81-1.58; p = 0.47) for intracerebral hemorrhage. This study provides genetic support for a causal association of smoking with ischemic stroke, particularly large artery and small vessel stroke.his work was supported by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forskningsrådet för hälsa, arbetsliv och välfärd) and the Swedish Research Council. S.B. is supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (grant number 204623/Z/16/Z)

Privat rikedom i utvecklingens tjänst: En kritisk diskursanalys av Gates Foundations syn på utveckling

The purpose with the thesis is to critically analyze the Gates Foundation’s understanding of development. The author uses a critical discourse analysis inspired by Norman Fairclough, and the material is collected from the foundation’s website. The theory consists of four parts. First, the linguistic aspects of the material are examined. Second, the discursive practice of the foundation is understood. Next, the discursive practice is compared to the overarching discourse order, which consists of six discourses on development. Finally the discursive practice is compared to society’s social structure, which is based on theories of globalization, governance and neoliberal markets. The analysis shows that the Gates Foundation has a tendency to describe development as a process without any conflicts. Their discursive practice is mostly influenced by the discourses of modernization and neoliberalism, with certain influences from human development and alternative theory. In relation to society’s overarching structure, Gates Foundation reproduces its structure as the texts advocate governance and neoliberalism. Hence, the conclusion can be made that the foundation represents an uncritical understanding of development, as the radical discourses are missing and no form of conflict is portrayed

Osteoporosis : the emperor has no clothes

Current prevention strategies for low-trauma fractures amongst older persons depend on the notions that fractures are mainly caused by osteoporosis (pathophysiology), that patients at high risk can be identified (screening) and that the risk is amenable to bone-targeted pharmacotherapy (treatment). However, all these three notions can be disputed. PathophysiologyMost fracture patients have fallen, but actually do not have osteoporosis. A high likelihood of falling, in turn, is attributable to an ageing-related decline in physical functioning and general frailty. ScreeningCurrently available fracture risk prediction strategies including bone densitometry and multifactorial prediction tools are unable to identify a large proportion of patients who will sustain a fracture, whereas many of those with a high fracture risk score will not sustain a fracture. TreatmentThe evidence for the viability of bone-targeted pharmacotherapy in preventing hip fracture and other clinical fragility fractures is mainly limited to women aged 65-80years with osteoporosis, whereas the proof of hip fracture-preventing efficacy in women over 80years of age and in men at all ages is meagre or absent. Further, the antihip fracture efficacy shown in clinical trials is absent in real-life studies. Many drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis have also been associated with increased risks of serious adverse events. There are also considerable uncertainties related to the efficacy of drug therapy in preventing clinical vertebral fractures, whereas the efficacy for preventing other fractures (relative risk reductions of 20-25%) remains moderate, particularly in terms of the low absolute risk reduction in fractures with this treatment.Peer reviewe

Motiverande kommunikation i organisationers arbete med ISO 14001

Under de senaste 10 åren har organisationers användning av olika miljöledningssystem ökat markant och år 2017 var över 300 000 organisationer certifierade enligt ISO 14001 runt om i världen, vilket kan jämföras med EMAS där enbart 12 000 certifikat delats ut. Miljöledningssystem används för att vägleda och utveckla organisationer åt en riktning som ska främja både miljön och organisationen. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur intern kommunikationen används för att motivera medarbetare att arbeta med ISO 14001, genom att identifiera vilka skillnader och likheter det finns mellan två olika organisationer som båda arbetar med systemet. De två undersökta organisationerna är Gamla Uppsala Buss och Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet. Studien som har en induktiv ansats och bygger på intervjuer med både chefer och medarbetare för att ge en så verklig bild som möjligt. Den teoretiska synstes som ligger till grund för studien bygger på både teorier inom motivation och kommunikation. Motivationen beskrivs främst utifrån Alvesson och Kärremans (2007) uppdelning av inre, interaktiv och instrumentell motivation och kommunikation beskrivs genom Jacobsen och Thorsviks (1998) forskning om kommunikationskanaler- och processer. Studiens fann tre kommunikationstyper som fungerar för att motivera medarbetarna i fallorganisationernas arbeta med ISO 14001. Dessa är statiska kanaler som förstärks av ett incitament, involvering i utformandet av miljömål och miljöarbetet samt nudging. Kommunikationen måste utföras på ett givande och tydligt sätt. Studiens resultat styrker tidigare forskning som visar att ledning ska erbjuda ett incitament och involvera medarbetarna i arbetet med ISO 14001.Over the past 10 years, organizations use of various environmental management systems has increased significantly and in 2017, more than 300,000 organizations were certified by ISO 14001 around the world, which can be compared with EMAS where only 12,000 organizations were certified. Environmental management systems help organizations minimize their environmental impacts caused by their products, services and activities and improve the overall organizational wellbeing. This study aims to investigate how internal communication is used to motivate employees to work with ISO 14001, by identifying what differences and similarities there are between two different organizations that both work with the system. The two investigated organizations are Gamla Uppsala Buss and the Swedish Agricultural University. The study has an inductive approach and is based on interviews with both managers and employees, to give as real a picture as possible. The theoretical framework is based on both theories in motivation and communication. The motivation is described primarily by Alvesson and Kärreman’s (2007) views on internal, interactive and instrumental motivation and communication is described by Jacobsen and Thorsvik's (1998) research on communication channels and processes. The study found three types of communication that work to motivate employees in the case organizations work with ISO 14001. These are static channels that are reinforced by an incentive, involvement in the design of environmental goals and the environmental work as well as nudging. Communication must be carried out in a rewarding and clear manner. The result of this study strengthens previous research showing that management should offer an incentive and involve employees in their work with ISO 14001