The rise or demise of 'Social Europe' - A case law study in the context of worker protection

The European Union is facing several challenges of constitutional, democratic, political and social nature. One of these challenges is the EU’s ‘social deficit’. The European Commission has listened to the critique and committed itself to reorient the European integration project towards a ‘Social Europe’. The addition of social provisions to primary law through the Treaty of Lisbon, a promised revision of the Posted Workers Directive and the introduction of a European Pillar of Social Rights are the Commission’s primary solutions to ensure that the Union moves beyond economic integration and tackles social concerns, promotes social values and protects social rights. However, due to the Court of Justice’s interpretative power and prominent role in the institutional structure of the EU, it is crucial that the Court adjudicate cases in a socially sensitive manner if the EU is going to be successful in its endeavour to reorient the European integration project towards ‘Social Europe’. This thesis is primarily based on a study of benchmark cases in the ECJ’s jurisprudence, both before and after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. By conducting a case law study focused on cases in which worker protection conflicts with the interests of the European integration project, it has been possible to analyse the Court’s approach in such cases and to ascertain whether the Court’s adjudication reflects a commitment towards the realisation of Social Europe. Conclusively, the case law study show that the Court of Justice often decide cases in favour of economic interests even if this tendency has slightly shifted due to the introduction of social provisions in the Lisbon Treaty. Whether the change of approach should be interpreted as reflecting a commitment towards the realisation of ‘Social Europe’ is difficult to answer. The Court does seem to take social concerns into account to a greater extent in the post-Lisbon era but one may argue that this is done on a merely rhetorical level. The Court still applies a method of adjudication that was established in the pre-Lisbon era, which views worker protection as a restriction that needs to be justified rather than an interest at equal footing with economic interests. The use of the freedom to conduct business, protected by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, to safeguard the contractual freedom of employers is another development that makes the ECJ’s potential commitment to ‘Social Europe’ even more questionable

Is Private Education Worth it? Evidence from the Free Primary Education Reform in Kenya

In 2003, Kenya introduced a nationwide Free Primary Education (FPE) reform, abolishing school fees in all public primary schools. As a result, enrolment rates in public primary schools rose by 15 percent, putting significant pressure on the educational system. Overcrowding and lack of school material caused many parents to turn to private school alternatives. Using a nationally representative cross- sectional household survey, I exploit intra-household variation in terms of school enrolment to measure private versus public school effectiveness in terms of math, English and Swahili test scores. My findings suggest that, on average, private school students score 18, 23 and 21 percentage points of a standard deviation higher than public school students, respectively. As my results are likely to be exposed to a selection bias stemming from high-achieving students being sorted into fee-charging private schools, I include household fixed effects and an extensive set of household-related controls. Moreover, I prove that when attempting to control for such sorting effects, half of the effect disappears. I thus argue that the remaining effect can be interpreted as evidence of private schools being more effective than public schools

Oil and Development - A Formula for Sustained Economic Growth?

The purpose of our study is to determine the importance of oil exports in relation to GDP in countries located in Sub-Saharan Africa when it comes to promoting economic growth. Due to the fact that oil accounts for approximately 40 percent of the world’s total energy production, and is predicted to do so for at least 45 more years to come, we found this a highly relevant topic to look into. At the moment, Sub-Saharan Africa is in the middle of an oil-boom. Eastern and Western Africa have become promising exploration areas and thus attracted a lot of interest all around the globe. Therefore, we chose to include 14 Sub-Saharan African countries in our econometric study. We look at how the value of oil exports as a ratio of GDP affects economic growth in these countries during a time period of 27 years, stretching from 1983- 2010. Our hypothesis deals with the presence of a “Resource Curse”, stipulating that an economy which is overly dependent on oil tends to lead to none, or negative, economic growth. With this report, we conclude that an increase in the ratio of oil exports to GDP will generate higher economic growth in our chosen Sub-Saharan African countries. However, we find evidence against a “Resource Curse” taking place in the region. On the other hand, as it is a relatively under-developed region there is still a possibility that the oil sector has yet to gain enough influence in many economies to actually suffer the consequences of the phenomena. Perhaps this could be something for these countries to take into account as they become more reliant on oil as a means of production

Sourcing of low-tech omponents in high-tech environments

Problemställning: Low tech-komponenter anses enligt teoretiska rekommendationer ofta som icke kritiska. Dock har de egenskaper som en gång ansågs synnerligen low tech förmodligen förändrats och blivit mer komplexa i takt med att underliggande krav inom high tech-miljöer har ökat. Det är befogat att diskutera och kanske omdefiniera de eventuellt senare omprioriterade komponenterna, vilka i aggregerad form representerar en produkt på systemnivå. Hur borde processen för den eventuella omprioriteringen genomföras och vilka krav kommer att påverka företaget? Den ökade komplexiteten kring produktegenskaperna kan också innebära att leverantörer försöker bli unika, vilket implicit påverkar Sony Ericsson. Det vore därför synnerligen intressant att fastställa hur Sony Ericsson borde förhålla sig till leverantörsimplementerade strategier för low tech-komponenter samt hur sourcing som en funktion i ett high tech-bolag borde reagera till dessa förändrade förutsättningar och skiftade affärskontext. Syfte: Syftet med detta examensarbete är att ge förslag på hur sourcing av low-tech-komponenter kan förbättras för företag i dynamiska high-tech-miljöer. Metod: En case study-ansats har tillämpats för att möjliggöra undersökningen enligt det fastställda syftet. Metoden har anpassats för att kunna erhålla en undersökning på såväl komponent- som leverantörsnivå. Det valda case-företaget är Sony Ericsson då det verkar i en utpräglad high tech-kontext och strävar efter best practice inom sourcing. Både kvalitativa och kvantitativa undersökningsmetoder har använts för att säkerställa validitet och reliabilitet. Kvalitativa intervjuer hölls med flertalet anställda på Sony Ericsson inom olika divisioner för att skapa förståelse för komplexiteten i frågeställningen. Slutsatser: Portföljmodeller för inköp används i stor utsträckning och ses ofta som ett centralt verktyg för förbättrande av inköp eftersom effektivt differentierade inköps- och leverantörsstrategier kan implementeras. Dock är teoretiska komponentklassificeringar vanskliga då mycket har hänt sedan vedertagna modeller togs fram, i synnerhet inom high tech-miljöer. Till viss del är high tech-komponenter, såsom skruvar, på grund av sin produktutveckling och sina mer komplexa egenskaper felaktigt definierade. Vid förlitning på vedertagna teoretiska klassificeringar kan implementerade inköpsstrategier få förödande sourcing-konsekvenser. Vi hävdar att vissa sourcing-komponenter trots att de är teoretiskt klassificerade som icke kritiska de facto kan vara kritiska på en systemnivå och därför har stor vinstinverkan på företag. COMPASS-ramverket har framtagits som ett hjälpverktyg vid utvärdering och klassificering av komponenter men även vid bedömning av de tillhandahållande leverantörerna. I high tech-bolag är inköpsavdelningen ofta något mindre prioriterad relativt forsknings- och utvecklingsavdelningen. COMPASS-ramverket är designat för att skapa objectivitet eftersom ekonomiska och tekniska kompetenser är polariserade mellan de olika divisionerna. Som ett hjälpverktyg tillsammans med Kraljics portföljmodell tillåts företag säkerställa att sina begränsade resurser kan få en adekvat fördelning samt förbättra förutsättningarna för effektiv sourcing. Genom att applicera COMPASS-ramverket på Sony Ericsson har inte bara leverantörsberoendet minskat, utan validiteten och applicerbarheten av ramverket har även säkerställts

Factors of importance for labor induction

Background What initiates the onset of labor is still not clarified, and it is debated whether expectant or active management is the best for the woman and the fetus. Active management means induction of labor (IOL) which is a very common obstetric intervention and is used in several situations. During the last five years, 17 % of all singleton pregnancies in Sweden were induced. There are large variations worldwide from less than five percent in some African countries such as Kenya, to extreme cases like for example Iran where IOL is performed in up to 80% of the labors. Both maternal and fetal complications are related to IOL, for instance prolonged labor, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and instrumental interventions as vacuum extraction/forceps or Cesarean section (CS). The increasing rate of CS continues to cause global concerns. The ideal management of the subsequent labor for women who have undergone one previous CS has been intensely debated. The two available options are Trial of Labor after Cesarean section (TOLAC) or an elective CS. Previous CS is the most important risk factor for Uterine rupture (UR). UR is a wellknown but unusual complication in vaginal deliveries with a previous CS in the history. The risk of UR is at least two-fold when labor is induced. In Sweden, women are allowed to deliver vaginally after one previous CS, regardless if labor starts spontaneously or is induced. Aim The overall aim of the thesis is to identify factors of importance for the decision of IOL, and to find out which method for IOL is the most effective and safe for women with or without a previous CS. Study I, a prospective observational study of 52 healthy women with mixed parity examined at their post-term control in gestational week 41+3. CTG, ultrasound assessment of amniotic fluid, a vaginal examination for cervical status and a five-minute skin conductance measurement, including a ‘cold pressor test’ was performed. The aim of the study was to evaluate if altered skin conductance activity could predict spontaneous onset of labor in post-term pregnancies. The probability of having a spontaneous onset of labor increased 4.0 times if the skin conductance score was negative and increased 6,8 times to start within 48 h if the cervix was open ≥2 cm. Study II, a retrospective cohort study of 4002 women induced to labor with mixed parity. Inclusion criteria were viable singleton fetus in cephalic presentation, gestational age of ≥34 weeks. The women were divided into six groups according to method of IOL; Cytotec®, Minprostin®, Propess®, balloon catheter, amniotomy, or oxytocin. Methods of induction, baseline data, and delivery outcomes were compared. The primary endpoint of the study was the frequency of CS in each method of IOL. The lowest rate of CS overall, for both primi- and multiparous women with an unfavorable cervix Bishop Score (BS) ≤5, was found in the group where Cytotec® was administrated as an oral solution. Study III, a retrospective cohort study for evaluating the proportion of UR in 208 women with IOL after one previous CS. The women were divided into two subgroups regarding the method of IOL. Group 1 (n=121) was the unexposed group, meaning that the women did not receive Cytotec® as the method of IOL. Group 2 (n=87) serves as the exposed group meaning that most of the women (89%) received Cytotec® as an oral solution. Method of induction, baseline data, and delivery outcomes were recorded. The primary outcome of the study was the frequency of UR in each group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of UR between group 1 and 2 (4.1 vs 4.6%, p=0.9) despite a more favorable cervix in group 1. Study IV, a retrospective cohort study of 910 women with one previous CS, unfavorable cervix, and IOL. The study was performed at the four largest hospitals in Stockholm, the women were divided into three subgroups according method of IOL (Cytotec®, balloon catheter and Minprostin). The aim of the study was to compare the difference in the proportion of UR between the three methods There was no significant difference in the proportion of UR between Cytotec® and balloon catheter (p=0.64) for IOL after one previous CS. Orally administrated Cytotec® and balloon catheter resulted in a high success rate of vaginal deliveries of almost 70% compared to Minprostin® with the proportion of vaginal deliveries of 57% and which also had more than doubled rate of UR (5%). Study V, an open label randomized controlled trial of 196 women induced to labor, BS ≤4 and no previous CS divided into two subgroups. Participating women were randomized to receive an oral solution of misoprostol (Cytotec®) or vaginal slow release misoprostol (Misodel®) for IOL. The primary outcome was the induction-to-vaginal-delivery time. Vaginal delivery after IOL with slow release misoprostol resulted in a shorter induction-to-vaginal-delivery time compared with oral misoprostol solution but was associated with a higher risk of hyperstimulation, and fetal distress. There were no differences in mode of delivery or neonatal outcome. Conclusion Spontaneous onset of labor is usually preferred, because it generally means lower risk of complications compared to IOL. An oral solution of misoprostol for IOL in women with an unfavourable cervix is safe, cheap, easy to control and can be used in all settings as it gives a high success rate of vaginal deliveries without hyperstimulation. It is also a good method for IOL among women with one previous CS and is as safe as balloon catheter. Both methods give a high success rate of Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section almost 70% despite an unfavorable cervix. These studies give further support to the feasibility of an oral solution of misoprostol for IOL which is in line with the recommendations from International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The occurrence of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (Cyanophyceae) in a nutrient gradient in the Baltic

The investigation area, Himmerfjarden Bay situated at the Swedish coast of the northern Baltic Proper, receives waste water from a sewage treatment plant. Phosphorus is efficiently reduced in the sewage treatment resulting in a high N : P ratio (≈ 65 : 1) in the discharge. In the near future also the nitrogen discharge will be reduced, and it is teared that a lowered N : P ratio in the receiving waters may favour an undesired increase of nitrogen fixing blue-green algae. This study is focussed on the development of a common nitrogen fixing species in the area, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, at varied nutrient loadings in 1983-85. The biomass as well as the number of heterocysts was low near the treatment plant and increased with increasing distance from the sewage discharge. The low biomass and number of heterocysts in Himmerfjarden Bay is interpreted as an effect of competition with other algae and of low level of phosphorus relative to nitrogen, i.e. unfavourable conditions for nitrogen fixation. The abundance of Aphanizomenon was highest in 1984 when the phosphorus load was higher than in the other years of investigation. As a tentative conclusion it is suggested that nitrogen fixing algae may increase as a result of reduction in the nitrogen discharge to Himmerfjarden Bay in the future. At the reference station outside the Bay, nutrient conditions favoured nitrogen fixing algae, as interpreted from an inorganic N:P ratio less than 10:1 during the summers of the investigation period. Here the variation in biomass between the years was mainly due to the variaton in water temperature; Aphanizomenon was most abundant during the warm summer of 1984 and less abundant during the cold summer of 1985. A significant correlation was obtained between the heterocyst frequency and concentration of inorganic phosphorus in the trophogenic layer at the reference station

Trädvårdsplanen som styrdokument i kyrkogårdsförvaltningar

I detta arbete har trädvårdsplanen funktion och innehåll studerats både i teorin och i praktiken. Kyrkogårdens träd har stor betydelse för kyrkogårdens karaktär och upplevelse. Träden har ofta flera höga värden som anses vara viktiga att bevara varav flera av dem kan vara lagskyddade. Det är viktigt att förvaltaren är medveten om vilka värden som existerar och vilka lagar som är aktuella för att kunna vården träden på ett bra sätt. Förvaltaren måste också vara medveten om vilka risker som är förknippade med träden och upprätta rutiner för riskhantering. Det är därför nödvändigt att upprätta långsiktiga mål och planer för hur träden ska vårdas för att kunna bevara träden i framtiden och se till så att de är säkra. Ett verktyg som redan används i stor utsträckning i kyrkogårdsförvaltningarna är trädvårdsplanen. En trädvårdsplan är ett styrdokument för trädvård som ska innehålla information om hur varje enskilt träd ska vårdas på kort och lång sikt. Den ska användas till budgetering, planering, tillstånds- och dispensansökningar samt som ett praktiskt stöd i skötselutförandet. Syftet med studien har varit att ta reda på vad en trädvårdsplan bör innehålla och om det är ett lämpligt styrdokument för kyrkogårdsförvaltningar att använda sig av i vården av deras träd. Målet med studien har varit att beskriva hur sex olika kyrkogårdsförvaltningar använder sina trädvårdsplaner och vad som ingår i dem för att kunna jämföra med vad som anges i litteraturen. Studien består av en litteraturstudie och en studie av hur trädvårdsplanen fungerar och innehåller i praktiken. I studien har sex olika kyrkogårdsförvaltningar i Skara Stift medverkat. Resultatet av studien har visat att det är stor skillnad mellan teori och praktik. Studien tyder på att trädvårdsplanerna inte används i tillräcklig utsträckning som ett styrdokument i flertalet av de tillfrågade förvaltningarna. Resultatet visar också att innehållet i förvaltningarnas trädvårdsplaner inte matchar mer än 50 % av vad litteraturen rekommenderar ska vara med i en trädvårdsplan. Kunskapen om träd, trädvård och trädvårdsplaner i förvaltningarna är ofta väldigt låg och behöver förbättras för att möjliggöra en god trädvård. Trädvårdsplanerna måste också förankras i hela förvaltningen för att kunna användas som ett styrdokument. Studien har visat på att det eventuellt finns behov av allmänna råd när en kyrkogårdsförvaltning upprättar en trädvårdsplan på grund av den låga kunskapen. För att kunna fastställa ett säkrare resultat behöver dock en undersökning i större skala genomföras. Studien går i nuläget inte att generalisera på grund av det låga antal deltagare

Two tales of one city: Image versus identity

By applying the concepts of brand personality and attitudinal loyalty of a city as a brand, the objective of this study is to investigate the perceived place brand identity versus image and to empirically examine and compare their relationships with loyalty toward a city as a brand. This is to make a comparison between two groups of internal stakeholders; namely, residents of a city (image) and city officials (identity). The results indicate that there exists a great difference in the components of loyalty between city officials and the residents of the city. The results also reveal that how brand personality of the studied city is perceived varies between the two groups of internal stakeholders evaluated in this study. As the results of this study shift the focus from tourist (external) stakeholder to the internal ones representing two different internal perspectives of a city, they constitute a significant contribution to the process of city brand personality creation. This is of importance since the starting point in communicating the attractiveness of a city to the external stakeholders is how the city is perceived as a brand from its internal stakeholders’ perspectives