The purpose of this thesis is to test whether firms have target capital structure, and if so with what speed they adjust toward this target. Findings that support this purpose are also in line with the trade off theory. One of the key elements of this thesis is the method used, which successfully enables fulfilling the purpose. The panel data method captures the data characteristics of the cross sectional and time series dimension. By using this approach the dynamic effects of capital structure can be studied, thus if there actually is an adjustment towards a target the speed can be estimated.

Background: In 1998 it was stated that Swedish municipalities would report the pension liabilities according to the mixed model where the pension liabilities before 1998 was moved from the balance sheet. The mixed model has been criticized by economists for not showing the total pension liabilities. To remove some of the liabilities in the municipalities balance sheets means that the solvency improves. Some municipalities have decided to go against the municipal accounting law and recognize all of the pension liability as a liability according to the full funding model. When two accounting models are being used the comparison of the municipalities' financial statements is much harder.Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to study the reason why some municipalities apply full funding model rather than the mixed model.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om det föreligger ett positivt samband mellan frihandel och ekonomisk tillväxt, dels i afrikanska länder, dels i länder tagna från hela världen. Vad jag genom min uppsats främst vill söka svar på är om en ökad grad av frihandel i Afrika bidrar till en högre ekonomisk tillväxt. Genom att även inkludera andra länder i min undersökning, försöker jag dessutom ta reda på om sambandet mellan frihandel och tillväxt ser annorlunda ut ur ett globalt perspektiv.Som metod använder jag mig i uppsatsen av en regressionsanalys. Som mått på frihandel använder jag mig av ett index utvecklat av den amerikanska organisationen Fraser Institute, kallat Freedom to Trade Index.Mina regressionsresultat visar på att Freedom to Trade Index ej har något statistiskt signifikant samband med den ekonomiska tillväxttakten i de afrikanska länder jag undersöker. I min ?världsundersökning? visar sig däremot indexet ha ett positivt samband med den ekonomiska tillväxttakten.

The purpose of our essay is to examine if variation exists in the way that auditors try their independence, this so called analysis-model. We will suggest some factors that influence the way auditors practise the analysis-model. The institutional theory predicts no differencies since the normative pressure could be expected to be severe. But we found that among other things people?s qualifications, personalities and audit firm?s size and age influence the way auditors try their independence.

Corporate Social Responsibility, eller CSR har blivit något av en självklarhet hos företagenidag. Konsumenter accepterar inte barnarbete och de är miljömedvetna. Att ett företag haretiska och moraliska värderingar är inte bara viktigt ur just etiska och moraliska perspektivutan även för att kunna bygga och bevara ett starkt varumärke. Vi tycker att handeln med pälsär ett stort problem. Det finns allvarliga brister i den här branschen.

Export is a top priority for Sweden's economy but for Swedish companies it may involve uncomfortable risks of exporting without sincere consideration. When the United Nations Security Council puts an embargo against a country, this often mean an import and export restriction. The thought is to push undemocratic regimes into respecting human rights. When the embargo is in force, however, the parties are not able to fulfill their contractual obligations, which practically means that the agreement will be suspended. The problem is what happens when an embargo is in force for a longer period of time.

A new material model, for the FE-program ADINA, has been verified against twoexperiments. One unreinforced concrete beam and one reinforced concrete beam.The model, DF-concrete, has the possibility to estimate true concrete. However theresults indicate that in order to be sure that the estimations are true, there ought tobe data from the true concrete to verify against.Two FE-models have simulated the behavior of a ring-shaped part of the nuclearcontainment vessel. The results from the first, frictionless, model agree with similarsimulations and hand calculations for high pressures in the containment vessel. Thesimulations of the nuclear containment vessel show cracking in the concrete after10-11 bars of over pressurization.

The aim of this thesis is to study Stadshuskällaren?s operational processe flow and identify their operational characteristics. The uniqueness of Stadshuskällaren is that they are breaking the law of trade-offs regarding volume/variety, much like Toyota managed to do ? which spawned the entire field of research of the ?Lean Philosophy?. In the thesis the characteristics we identify through analysis, which enables Stadshuskällaren to break the trade-off, are compared with the principles of Lean service theory, which ultimately stem from Toyota.

Background: There is no guarantee that products should be equitable produced. Many products in today's trade is produced by minors, resulting in poor working environment, and gives the workers low payment. Fairtrade is the only label on the market that ensures that farmers receive fair payment for their products. Aim: The central aim with our work is to see what the future consumers, in other words students from Lund's university, Malmö College and The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp, think about products labeled with Fairtrade, and what they consider is value creation for food products. Students are often relatively young; they educate themselves and have new thoughts and valuations about how the world should be.

Problems:How would a decision model that takes into account more aspects and dimensions than just the financial aspect look for smaller service compa-nies? What aspects are important to consider in such a decision model?Purpose:The purpose of this master thesis is to develop a decision model based on previous research, to improve decision making in smaller service com-panies ? by considering perspectives that traditional investment calcula-tions ignore.Method:The study was qualitative and was based on both primary and secondary data. As data collection method for the development of the model we used literature search on previous research. The study?s primary data consisted of responses from five smaller service companies.

Through geopolitical theory this thesis explores how conflicts within states can be read and understood according to an analytical model determining one or several possible causes for the conflict.  The model is created by the author and reflects geopolitical theory by giving three possible explanations to an intrastate conflict: culture, economy or territorial construction. The aim of the thesis is testing this model on two selectively chosen case studies ? i.e. two intrastate conflicts ? namely: the upcoming referendum in Scotland and the terror attack at Tiananmen Square in China.

The work with this report has been focused on developing a methodology model for control at purchase. The methodology model covers parts classification, dispatching systems, batch shaping and more. The aim with the methodology model is that it will be used as an aid for a cost effective material planning to increase the value for customer.The work covers also a description of the present situation and the purchase process at Company X. Six parts have been applied, two from each class (A, B and C), in the methodology/model. The parts that have been applied are included in the flow between Company X and their supplier Company Y.Data have been collected trough literature studies, interviews and the company?s business system.

This essay answers the question: How can a manufacturing business fulfill the information demand in the processes; purchasing, production, warehousing, order and delivery?The question has been answered through different kind of studies, such as literature, documents, Internet search, interviews and observations. The essay is written from a hermeneutic point of view and by using qualitative research. The result has been validated by two different manufacturing businesses.A simple information logistic model is the result of a comparison made between theory and empery. The aim of the model is to describe how a manufacturing business can fulfill the information demand by using different methods.

Finansieringslitteraturen tar upp betydelsen av att lägga upp sin kapitalstruktur på det sätt som gynnar företaget optimalt. Att finna den optimala kapitalstrukturen eftersträvas eftersom det sänker kapitalkostnaden och är en betydelsefull faktor i företagens framtida lönsamhet. Framförallt har två teorier, trade-offteorin och pecking orderteorin, nått allmän acceptans inom forskningen på detta område och ett flertal studier har genomförts på olika marknader runt omkring i världen för att undersöka teoriernas tillförlitlighet. Denna studie granskar dessa två teoriers tillämpbarhet på den svenska och finska marknadens företag, inför en stundande sammanslagning av de nordiska börslistorna. Slumpmässigt har 60 företag som är noterade på Stockholmsbörsen och 60 företag från Helsingforsbörsen valts ut som föremål för studien, där empirin är hämtad ur företagens årsredovisningar.

ABSTRACT?Crisis Management? New York Citys management of the terroristattack against World Trade Center?Essey in political science, C-level, at Karlstad University, by Sara Kringsberg.Spring 2006. Tutor: Susan MartonThe purpose of this essay is to study New York Citys management of a larger crisis and to see how states are coping with stress. It is important to study how states manage stress so that states can learn to cope with larger crisis. That is important for the survival of the state and the protection of its citizens.