Alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm among young people: studies of the recent experience in Sweden

Background: The starting point for this thesis was the unexpected development in recent trends in youth drinking and harm in Sweden which seemed to question some basic assumptions of the total consumption model. For example, rapidly falling youth consumption and rising non-drinking rates were seen despite higher availability and increasing population drinking. Furthermore, although drinking declined among young people, there were some indications that alcohol-related harm increased, at least in terms of alcohol-related hospitalisations. Objective: The overall aim of the thesis is to examine changes in alcohol consumption and harm among young people in Sweden with a focus on experiences during the last decades. In particular, the thesis has focus on the following main topics; (I) the association between consumption of illegal alcohol and alcohol-related harm (hospitalisations) among young people, (II) the association between population drinking, adolescents’ binge drinking and harm (violence), (III) the degree of collectivity of drinking among youth and (IV) determinants of non-drinking among young people in Sweden in a European comparative perspective. Method: The thesis is based on four articles. Articles I and II use aggregate time series analysis (ARIMA-modeling) to assess the association between consumption of illegal alcohol and alcohol-related hospitalizations (article I) and the association between binge drinking and violence among youth as well as the association between binge drinking and population drinking (article II). In the third article the respondents are divided into seven drinking groups based on their relative ranking on consumption to examine whether the decline in consumption was mirrored in all drinking groups during the period 2000-2012. In article IV logistic regression models were used to examine the association between non-drinking and demographic and social factors among six European countries. Results: No significant effect was found between consumption of smuggled alcohol and alcohol-related hospitalizations when the model was adjusted for average consumption (article I). This indicates that the amount of alcohol matters more for the risk of harm than where the alcohol comes from. In article II there was evidence for an association between binge drinking and violence among young people during a confined study period (1971-2000) but most of these estimates became non-significant during the full study period (1971-2009). Similar results were found for the association between per capita consumption and binge drinking among young people. In article III support for collectivity of drinking behavior among Swedish youth during the period 2000-2012 was found since the decline in consumption was mirrored in all seven drinking groups examined. Furthermore, there was a marked relation between overall consumption on the one hand and mean consumption and heavy episodic drinking on the other in each of the seven drinking groups. In article IV no clear pattern of national differences could be found with respect to which factors were associated with non-drinking among youth. However, having non-drinking friends was an important factor in all countries. Discussion and conclusion: A main conclusion of the thesis is that the total consumption model is in general a useful perspective for understanding aggregate level changes in youth drinking and harm in Sweden. Per capita consumption among young people was related to alcohol-related hospitalizations and there was strong evidence for collectivity in changes in drinking among Swedish youth during the recent decade. However, all results did not support the notion of collectivity; for instance, the aggregate link between alcohol and violence seems to have become weaker, suggesting that the assumptions of the model do not apply universally

Creative Destruction and Productive Preemption

We develop a theory of commercialization mode (entry or sale) of entrepreneurial inventions into oligopoly, and show that an invention of higher quality is more likely to be sold (or licensed) to an incumbent due to strategic product market effects on the sales price. Moreover, preemptive acquisitions by incumbents are shown to stimulate the process of creative destruction by increasing the entrepreneurial effort allocated to high-quality invention projects. Using detailed data on patents granted to small firms and individuals, we find evidence that high-quality inventions are often sold, and that they are sold under bidding competition.Acquisitions; Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Start-ups; Patent; Ownership; Quality

Sequential Monte Carlo Methods for System Identification

One of the key challenges in identifying nonlinear and possibly non-Gaussian state space models (SSMs) is the intractability of estimating the system state. Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) methods, such as the particle filter (introduced more than two decades ago), provide numerical solutions to the nonlinear state estimation problems arising in SSMs. When combined with additional identification techniques, these algorithms provide solid solutions to the nonlinear system identification problem. We describe two general strategies for creating such combinations and discuss why SMC is a natural tool for implementing these strategies.Comment: In proceedings of the 17th IFAC Symposium on System Identification (SYSID). Added cover pag

Automatisk avstängning av sprutan

Use of non-sprayed buffer zones is a widely used method to protect sensitive objects within or adjacent to fields treated with pesticides. These buffer zones should protect the objects from pesticide residues caused by spray drift and leakage. The use of untreated buffer zones has been mandatory for Swedish farmers since 1997. E.g. recommended minimum safe distances to sensitive areas for spray situations are 12 m to wells, 6 m to streams, ponds or lakes, and 1 m to ditches and drainage wells. Studies have shown that buffer zones are not always respected and that there is a need to improve the protection of sensitive objects. On a typical sprayer, all nozzles on a section of the boom are either on or off. A higher resolution in sprayer control would reduce the untreated area but still be able to respect the buffer zones. German and Dutch research have shown how GNSS-controlled (Global Navigation Satellite System) application of pesticides can be targeted to defined areas in the field. GIS (Geographic Information System) was used to define the areas to be sprayed. The objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate a system that automatically could shut off single nozzles along the spray boom to avoid pre-defined areas in the field. Such a system could improve management of buffer zones, reduce the risk for mistakes and improve record keeping from spraying activities. At the time of project start, there were commercial controllers that could fulfil parts of the requirements involved in the project. A commercial spray controller, Legacy 6000 (Teejet), could consider pre-defined areas by using the field boundary features. During 2006 and 2007, the system was used in practice on a conventional trailed sprayer with a 24 m boom and 7 boom sections. Experiences from mapping and spraying were documented. Also accuracy of the system was studied in an experiment using video recorder and analysis of the video frame by frame. Results were communicated with several manufacturers of sprayer controllers to improve development of coming products. The following season, 2008, a small sprayer with a 6 m boom and individual nozzle control was constructed. This year, the study of accuracy focused on small circular buffer zones, e.g. close to drainage wells. Spraying was done on an asphalt surface during a sunny day, leaving wet and dark marks when nozzles were activated. The whole buffer zone was photographed directly after spraying, and the pictures were later analysed manually to determine the accuracy of the sprayer. Different controller settings, spray nozzles and GPS receivers were used. The accuracy of a conventional sprayer with DGPS was found to be about +/- 1 m. Accuracy of the sprayer with solenoid valves and RTK GPS was about half of this, i.e. +/- 0,5 m. This is probably better than the possibilities with manual control. Different methods for mapping fields and creation of boundary files were evaluated and compared. Mapping could be done through digitalisation of an aerial photograph or when spraying the field for the first time. Best accuracy is achieved if mapping could be done with a RTK GPS on e.g. an ATV. A method for calculation of double-sprayed area has been developed in the project. The mapped fields in the project have served as a base for a simplified tool that can be used by farmers and advisors to determine the advantages with more accurate sprayer control. In general terms, a farmer can save 1-5 % of the pesticide cost if a GNSS-controlled sprayer with individual nozzle control is used, instead of a conventional sprayer. The project sprayers have been demonstrated on several field shows and other activities with farmers. The number of controllers for automatic boom control on the Swedish market has increased during the project time

Public Arenas of the Humanities : The Circulation of Knowledge in the Postwar Period

The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate how a new history of thepostwar humanities could be written. Drawing on approaches from thehistory of knowledge, it outlines the conditions of the circulation ofknowledge in the public sphere during the 1960s and 1970s. By introducing“public arena of knowledge” as an analytical concept, the authors highlightcertain media platforms where circulation of knowledge occurred. As theirempirical examples, they focus on paperback series and the Christianpublic sphere. All in all, the chapter underlines the importance of thehumanities for a wider circulation of knowledge and thereby challengesa crisis narrative of the humanities of the postwar period that is prevalentin established historiography

Svensk skogsindustris framtida konkurrensfördelar

De senaste 20 åren har många nya marknads- och managementdicipliner dykt upp och alla har förebådat en ny era av effektivare ledning. Employer branding är en av dem och det finns goda skäl som talar för att den har kommit för att stanna. Fler och fler företag börjar inse att anställda, precis som kunder, gör medvetna val av arbetsgivare. Det går inte längre ta de anställdas engagemang och lojalitet för givet utan det krävs ett mer fokuserat och sammanhängande förhållningssätt för att attrahera rätt sorts människor. Svensk skogsindustri står inför en rad problem och utmaningar som, beroende på hur de tacklas, kommer att bli avgörande för industrins fortsatta utveckling. Till skillnad från vad många tror har svensk skogsindustri ingen uttalad kompetensfördel trots en del branschspecifika utbildningar. Syftet med examensarbetet är att definiera skogsindustrins framtida konkurrensfördelar ur ett medarbetarperspektiv genom att beskriva skogsindustrins employer value proposition (EVP). Studien har genomförts på branschnivå och innefattar delbranscherna massa/papper, trämekanisk industri och skogsbruk. Vidare omfattar studien de tre utbildningskategorierna civilingenjörer, jägmästare och KY-utbildade. Det krävs ett relativt omfattande empiriskt underlag för att kunna dra tillförlitliga slutsatser om skogsindustrins framtida konkurrensfördelar och av den anledningen genomfördes en kvantitativ enkätundersökning. Studien söker utröna skogsindustrins aggregerade employer brand men eftersom enskilda företag i branschen kan avvika mer eller mindre från helhetsbilden är employer branding på branschnivå riskabelt. Studien visar emellertid att skogsindustrins employer brand överlag ses som positivt ut medarbetarhänseende. Problemområden som studien tar upp inkluderar bland annat avsaknaden av introduktions- och karriärutvecklingsprogram men även när det gäller belöningar och erkännande påvisas brister. Med tanke på att miljöfrågor fått allt större tyngd på den politiska agendan samt skogens roll i kampen mot klimatförändringarna bör miljöaspekten tillmätas stor uppmärksamhet i skogsindustrins employer brand. Branschen är högteknologisk, något som gemene man förmodligen inte är medveten om. Studien visar även att innovation är intimt förknippat med branschen. På branschnivå kommer studien fram till att lämpliga brandingåtgärder berör miljö- och innovationsdimensionerna eftersom dessa delas av alla företag i branschen. Ansvar för rekryteringen till branschrelaterade utbildningar bör även det läggas på branschnivå samt även information och kunskapsförmedling inom de mer generella akademiska segmenten och för allmänheten i stort

Who Needs Agglomeration? Varying Agglomeration Externalities and the Industry Life Cycle

In this paper, the changing roles of agglomeration externalities during different stages of the industry life cycle are investigated. A central argument is that agglomeration externalities vary with mode of competition, innovation intensity, and characteristics of learning opportunities in industries. Following the Industry Life Cycle perspective, we distinguish between young and mature industries, and investigate how these benefit from MAR, Jacobs’ and Urbanization externalities. The empirical analysis builds on a Swedish plant level dataset that covers the period of 1974-2004.The outcomes of panel data regression models show that the benefits industries derive from their local environment are strongly associated with their stage in the industry life cycle. Whereas MAR externalities increase with the maturity of industries, Jacobs’ externalities decline when industries are more mature. This is in line with the hypothesis that young industries operate in an environment dominated by rapid product innovation and low levels of standardization. Hence, it pays off when knowledge can be sourced locally from many different sources, but there is still little scope for specialization benefits. Mature industries, in contrast, are associated with lower innovation intensities and a focus on cost saving process innovations. Therefore, there are major benefits to be derived from specialization, whereas knowledge spillovers from different industries are less relevant. The distinction between the product competition in young industries and price competition in mature industries is reflected in our finding that high regional factor costs are detrimental to mature industries, but not to young industries. This can also be related to the finding that high quality living environments, attractive for highly paid employees, are important to young industries. Overall, the outcomes stress that industrial life cycles have to be taken into account in the analysis of agglomeration externalities.agglomeration externalities, industry life cycle, urbanization, Sweden

Hotet mot husfriden. En kvalitativ innehållsanalys av makeoverprogrammen Sommar med Ernst och Äntligen Hemma ur ett queer- och heteronormativitetsperspektiv

I denna uppsats har jag studerat två populära svenska makeoverprogram som visats på TV4 under 2012. De två programmen är: Sommar med Ernst med huvudprogramledaren Ernst Kirschsteiger och Äntligen Hemma med huvudprogramledaren Martin Timell. I båda programmen har jag granskat könskonstruktionerna av både män och kvinnor utifrån hur de representeras, konstrueras och vilka reaktioner som konstruktionerna väckt på det sociala forumet Flashback. Då programmen utspelas inom den domestiska sfären, dvs. hemmiljön, är de extra intressanta då detta är en traditionell arena för ansvars- och arbetsfördelning mellan män och kvinnor. En fallstudie har genomförts och programmen har studerats genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med fokus på att belysa könskonstruktionerna ur ett queer- och heteronormativitetsperspektiv, dvs. hur en icke-normativ manskonstruktion ser ut och på vilket sätt den avviker vid jämförandet av traditionell heteronormativ maskulinitet. Studien ämnar därför främst till att undersöka konstruktionen av och reaktioner på framställningen av den icke-normativa mansbilden inom vårt samhälle. Vidare är uppsatsens främsta syfte att studera de reaktioner som uppstått kring båda manskonstruktionerna i programmen och vilka underliggande ideologiska uttryck som uppkommit till följd av programmens framställning. Studien resultat visar hur framställningen av icke-normativ maskulinitet i makeoverprogram möts av starka reaktioner i form av förminskning i feminin riktning, hat och hot, samt hur den heterosexuella makten elimineras när de ontologiska referenspunkterna utmanas av en stark gränsöverskridande manskonstruktion