Publikationer från Linköpings universitet
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En investering i arbetsmarknaden: Var Arbetshoppet samhällsekonomiskt lönsamt? : En kostnads-nyttoanalys av projektet Arbetshoppet i Region Östergötland.
No full textThe aim of this thesis has been to examine whether the labor market initiative Arbetshoppet can be considered cost-beneficial for society. The project was implemented in seven municipalities in Östergötland and aimed to facilitate the entry into the labour market for individuals who were far from employment, with a focus on the health and social care sector. To assess whether the project was cost-beneficial for society a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was implemented. In the analysis the benefits were quantified based on the number of participants who transitioned to employment or education, while qualitive outcomes such as improved integration and mental well-being were reported but not assigned monetary values. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to account for uncertainties in assumptions, including employment and time horizon. The thesis examines whether Arbetshoppet was cost-beneficial for society by considering both monetised outcomes and effects that are difficult to quantify. It also addresses limitations in evaluating labor market initiatives using cost-benefit analysis and discusses the finding in relation to CBA and the project’s stated objectives. The result in the baseline scenario indicate that Arbetshoppet was not economically profitablewithin a five-year period. The project may have a positive net present value if, for instance, theanalysis extends over a longer time frame or if the value of work contributions is increased. However, the result remains uncertain, as several variables has not been assigned monetary value
The Pharmacy Around the Corner or One Click Away? : An Analysis of Pricing and Product Range in Urban, Rural and Online Pharmacies
No full textThe Swedish pharmacy market has undergone significant changes during the 2000s. It transitioned from a state-owned monopoly to a market open to competition. Today, the competitive landscape is shaped not only by a larger number of physical actors but also by a growing presence of e-commerce. Access to pharmacies varies geographically, with differences in pharmacy density between rural areas and bigger cities. This raises questions about how competition is manifested in practice, especially regarding pricing, product range and the impact on consumers. The aim of this study is to examine the state of competition in the pharmacy market. To gain a deeper understanding, observations were conducted at pharmacies in Linköping and Åtvidaberg, representing both an urban and a rural area. Online pharmacy actors were also included to explore how their presence affects market competition. A strategic selection of pharmacies and products was made to ensure relevance. The theoretical framework is based on economic models and concepts related to competition and market structures, which served as the foundation for the analysis of the results. The observations yielded valuable results. It was found that online pharmacies consistently offered the lowest prices on the market. The results also indicated a degree of centralized pricing among the actors, particularly within physical pharmacies. Furthermore, the study showed that the rural pharmacy in Åtvidaberg, despite holding a local monopoly, did not demonstrate monopolistic behavior regarding pricing or product assortment. The study also revealed certain limitations in the range of products available at both physical and online pharmacies. The study shows that the Swedish pharmacy market, despite its high concentration and limited number of actors, displays clear signs of effective competition, especially through pricing. The market structure aligns well with the theory of Bertrand oligopoly, where a few firms offering homogeneous products compete primarily on price. The results suggest that individual actors possess limited market power, which helps keep prices low even in geographic areas with a local monopoly. Altogether, this indicates that the competition in practice functions relatively well, despite market concentration and the presence of structural entry barriers. Den svenska apoteksmarknaden har genomgått stora förändringar under 2000-talet. Den gick från att vara ett statligt ägt monopol till att öppnas för konkurrens. I dag präglas konkurrensläget inte bara av fler fysiska aktörer, utan också av en växande e-handel. Tillgängligheten till apotek varierar geografiskt, med skillnader i apotekstäthet mellan glesbygd och storstad. Detta väcker ett intresse kring hur konkurrensen på apoteksmarknaden faktiskt uttrycker sig, särskilt gällande prissättning och produktutbud samt hur detta påverkar konsumenterna. Studien syftar till att undersöka konkurrenssituationen på apoteksmarknaden. För att skapa en djupare förståelse genomfördes observationer på apotek i Linköping och Åtvidaberg i syfte att representera en storstad och en glesbygd. Även nätaktörer inkluderades i undersökningen för att få insyn i hur konkurrensen från dessa påverkar marknaden. Genom ett strategiskt urval har ett antal apotek samt produkter valts ut för studiens relevans. Den teoretiska referensramen omfattar nationalekonomiska modeller och begrepp kopplade till konkurrens och marknadsformer, vilket utgjort grunden för analysen av resultaten. Den egna observationen genererade värdefulla resultat. Det framkom att nätapoteken erbjöd genomgående de lägsta priserna på marknaden. Resultaten indikerade även en viss centralisering av prissättning bland aktörerna, särskilt inom de fysiska apoteken. Vidare visade undersökningen att glesbygdsapoteket i Åtvidaberg, trots sitt lokala monopol, inte uppvisade monopolistiska tendenser i sin prissättning eller produktutbud. Studien påvisade även att det förekom vissa begränsningar i utbudet för såväl fysiska apotek som nätapotek. Studien visar att den svenska apoteksmarknaden, trots sin höga koncentration och begränsade antal aktörer, uppvisar tydliga tecken på fungerande konkurrens, framför allt genom prissättningen. Marknadens struktur stämmer väl överens med teorin om Bertrand-oligopol, där ett fåtal företag med homogena produkter konkurrerar med pris. Resultaten tyder på begränsad marknadsmakt bland enskilda aktörer vilket håller ned prisnivåerna, även i geografiska områden där lokalt monopol förekommer. Sammantaget indikerar detta att konkurrensen i praktiken fungerar relativt väl, trots marknadskoncentrationen och förekomsten av strukturella inträdeshinder.
Estimering av restid för utryckningsfordon
No full textA large part of the total response time in case of an emergency is the travel time between the location where the emergency vehicle is stationed and the emergency location. Having a reliable estimate of travel time will give good conditions for the planning of emergency calls, which in turn can help to reduce total response time and reduce operating costs. This thesis investigates what factors influence emergency vehicle travel time using historical vehicle data and publicly available information such as road characteristics and weather. The vehicle position data available for this thesis span across all regions of Sweden. The positions were made into routes that were map matched to the existing road network from the national road database. An automatic route validation algorithm was implemented to remove poorly map matched routes. Routes were given a variety of properties describing them, for example, time of day, average speed limit, and precipitation. With the routes and their properties, a variety of speed estimation models were developed using methods such as linear regression and decision trees with different variable selections, which were then used for travel time estimation. The models were evaluated with mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and root mean squared error (RMSE). A baseline model consisting only of the average speed limit was used for reference, the performance was 21.82% MAPE and 202.07 seconds RMSE with a decision tree. The thesis concluded that some of the most important variables for emergency vehicle travel time estimation were total distance, average speed limit, and response status. One of the best-performing models included a decision tree with variables that included total distance, average speed limit, hour of day, response status, visibility, and more, which had MAPE 16.21% and RMSE 181.81 seconds. A regression-based model with only four input variables in use with interaction terms and variable transformations also showed a relatively high prediction accuracy of 17.40% MAPE and 187.65 seconds RMSE.En stor del av den totala responstiden vid en nödsituation är restiden mellan den plats där utryckningsfordonet är stationerat och olycksplatsen. Att ha en tillförlitlig estimering av restid ger goda förutsättningar för planering vid nödsamtal, vilket i sin tur kan bidra till att minska den totala responstiden och även minska driftskostnader. Detta arbete undersöker vilka faktorer som påverkar utryckningsfordons restid med hjälp av historiska fordonspositionsdata och offentligt tillgänglig information som vägegenskaper och väder. Fordonspositionsdata som är tillgänglig för detta arbete finns i alla Sveriges regioner. Positionerna gjordes till rutter som kartmatchades med det befintliga vägnätet från den nationella vägdatabasen. En automatisk ruttvalideringsalgoritm implementerades för att ta bort dåligt kartmatchade rutter. Rutter tilldelades beskrivande egenskaper, till exempel tid på dagen, genomsnittlig hastighetsbegränsning och nederbörd. Från rutterna och deras egenskaper utvecklades olika hastighetsestimeringsmodeller med metoder som linjär regression och beslutsträd med olika variabelselektioner, vilka sedan användes för restidsestimering. Modellerna utvärderades med procentuellt medelabsolutfel (MAPE) och kvadratiskt medelfel (RMSE). Som referens användes ett beslutsträd som basmodell bestående endast av medelhastighetsbegränsning som variabel, resultatet var då 21,82% MAPE och 202,07 sekunder RMSE. Slutsatsen var att några av de viktigaste variablerna för estimering av restid för utryckningsfordon var total sträcka, medelhastighetsbegränsning och ärendestatus. En av de bäst presterande modellerna inkluderade ett beslutsträd med bland annat total sträcka, medelhastighetsbegränsning, tid på dagen, ärendestatus och sikt som variabler, och hade 16,21% MAPE och 181,81 sekunder RMSE. En regressionsbaserad modell med endast fyra variabler, med interaktionstermer och variabeltransformationer, visade också relativt högt MAPE och RMSE på 17,40% respektive 187,65 sekunder
En guide för partssamverkan vid kriser och osäkerheter
No full textDet du nu läser är en guide tänkt att användas som ett stöd och en vägledning för att stödja och förbättra facklig partssamverkan i arbetsplatsers förnyelse och arbetsmiljöarbete vid snabba förändringar i verksamheter. Den syftar till att stödja ledare och medarbetare i att skapa förändringsberedskap och hållbar utveckling i organisationer när omständigheter snabbt förändras. Guiden bygger på resultat från flera forskningsprojekt som studerat möjligheter och utmaningar när organisationer utmanas av kriser och snabb utvecklingstakt. En viktig del av guiden är att belysa hur partssamverkan förändras under krissituationer, baserat på konkreta exempel från COVID-19 pandemin. Detta är särskilt viktigt eftersom oväntade situationer såsom kriser stör normala arbetssätt och rutiner. Nya problem uppstår och det ställs nya krav på arbetet och förutsättningar förändras på arbetsplatser. Samtidigt uppstår nya situationer som skapar potential för lärande och förnyelseförmåga. Guiden innehåller scenarier som illustrerar förändrade förutsättningar och kan användas som ett dialogverktyg med diskussionsfrågor på arbetsplatser för att förbereda sig för oväntade situationer. Guiden vänder sig i första hand till ledare och medarbetare som arbetar partsgemensamt med verksamhetsutveckling, förbättringsarbete och arbetsmiljöarbete. Guiden kan ses som en palett av scenarier med utmaningar och angreppssätt som underlag för diskussion i syfte att ta fram egna, skräddarsydda arbetssätt. Använd den som inspiration och hjälpmedel för att utveckla det egna lokala förbättringsarbetet
Migration and climate justice in times of planetary crises
No full textAddressing the climate crisis becomes more urgent with every passing year. Scientists, politicians, and the public all debate the influence of global warming on the daily lives of people around the world. In such discussions, it is often assumed that climate change will create a ’climate refugee crises’ that elicits a range of responses, from empathetic concern to alarmism. While it is important it is to talk about climate displacement, especially in relation to climate justice, this narrative often overlooks the complexities of climate-related mobility. This report, written by students in the Ethnic and Migration Studies Masters Programme at Linköping University, is an attempt to shed light on the nexus of the climate crisis and migration, deconstruct the often-oversimplified climate migration problem and discuss how the impacts of climate change are variegated and contextual across the different cases profiled. While we focus on contemporary situations of escalating climate threats and their adverse effects on global livelihoods, the report also hints at potential futures and strategies to overcome ecological emergencies. In the articles that follow, we explore how climate change is a form of colonial power, producing displacement and shattering traditional ways of living. As we see globally, the production of gas emissions and the repercussions of the climate crisis are disproportionately shared: the Global South largely shoulders the environmental cost of global consumption and emissions, while often contributing the least. Related to this, indigenous knowledges and ways of connection to the earth are also under threat. We observe these dynamics all around the globe, from Sweden to Brazil, from Japan to Colombia, but also domestically and in local ecosystems. While the climate emergency accelerates, the solutions offered by nation states and corporations are mostly of a rhetorical nature. Consequently, this volume also dives into how civil societies, which often carry the primary responsibility for coping with climate change, organize themselves to resist. The articles mirror the diverse geographical and educational backgrounds of our class. You will find pieces that are closely linked to the personal biographies and migration journeys of the authors, while other groups engaged in exploratory writing, learning about their subject throughout the research process. Selected articles draw on the expertise of interviewees, including contributions from the cohort of EMS graduates. The versatility of our class shows in the broad range of aesthetic choices that distinguish the individual articles. This report is the fruit of the work of first year students in the Ethnic and Migration Studies Masters Programme (EMS), run by the Research Institute on Migration, Ethnicity and Society (REMESO), at Linköping University, based in campus Norrköping. It was written during the course Critical Cases in Ethnic and Migration Studies, with the precious help and guidance from our teachers Erik Berggren and Kenna Sim-Sarka. Thanks to them, we were able to put together this pluralistic report that sheds light on aspects of climate migration that you may not have encountered before
AI-Assisted Administration in the Construction Industry: A Study of Microsoft 365 Copilot
No full textThis master's thesis has explored the opportunities and challenges associated with using Microsoft 365 Copilot to automate and streamline administrative processes within the Swedish construction industry. In a sector long characterized by low productivity and limited digitalization, the focus has been on how an AI-powered virtual assistant can contribute to more structured and efficient workflows. The study aimed to answer three central questions: which administrative areas Copilot can support, what effects the tool may have on workflows and what challenges may arise during implementation and use. To address these questions, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was applied. A digital survey was distributed to professionals across various types of construction companies to provide a broad overview of how Copilot is perceived and used. In addition, five semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who had varying levels of experience with AI and Copilot, including daily users. Through methodological triangulation, both general trends and individual perspectives were analyzed. The findings show that Microsoft 365 Copilot is perceived as particularly useful in document management, reporting and communication. Respondents highlighted increased productivity, improved quality in written work, easier access to information and clear time savings as key benefits. At the same time, challenges such as legal uncertainty, data security issues, poor data quality, organizational resistance and limited training were identified. The study concludes that Microsoft 365 Copilot holds significant potential to improve administrative workflows in the construction sector, especially in information-intensive environments. However, realizing this potential requires active efforts in organizational support, technical readiness, and continuous skills development. As Copilot is still in the early stages of adoption within the construction sector, further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed. Follow up studies could provide insight into how the tool’s use and impact evolve over time. The generalizability of the results should therefore be interpreted with caution.Detta examensarbete har undersökt möjligheter och utmaningar med att använda Microsoft 365 Copilot för att automatisera och effektivisera administrativa processer inom byggbranschen. I en sektor som länge präglats av låg produktivitet och begränsad digitalisering har fokus legat på hur en AI-baserad virtuell assistent, kan bidra till mer strukturerade och effektiva arbetsflöden. Studien har syftat till att besvara tre centrala frågor: vilka administrativa arbetsområden Copilot kan stödja, vilka effekter verktyget kan ha på arbetsflöden samt vilka hinder och utmaningar som kan uppstå vid implementering och användning. För att besvara forskningsfrågorna tillämpades en kombination av kvantitativa och kvalitativa metoder. En digital enkät riktades till yrkesverksamma inom olika typer av byggföretag för att ge en bred översikt av hur Copilot uppfattas och används. Fem semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med personer med varierande erfarenhet av AI och Copilot, inklusive dagliga användare. Genom metodtriangulering kunde både övergripande trender och individuella perspektiv analyseras. Resultaten visar att Microsoft 365 Copilot upplevs som särskilt användbar inom dokumenthantering, rapportering och kommunikation. Respondenterna lyfte fram ökad produktivitet, förbättrad kvalitet i textarbete, enklare informationsåtkomst och tydliga tidsbesparingar som centrala fördelar. Samtidigt identifierades hinder såsom juridisk osäkerhet, brister i datasäkerhet, låg datakvalitet, organisatoriskt motstånd och begränsad utbildning. Studien drar slutsatsen att Microsoft 365 Copilot har stor potential att effektivisera administrativa arbetsflöden inom byggbranschen, särskilt i informationsintensiva miljöer. För att realisera denna potential krävs dock ett aktivt arbete med organisatoriskt stöd, teknisk förberedelse och kontinuerlig kompetensutveckling. Eftersom Copilot ännu är i ett tidigt användningsskede inom byggsektorn, behövs vidare studier med större och mer varierade urval. Uppföljande forskning kan ge insikter om hur verktygets användning och effekt förändras över tid. Resultatens generaliserbarhet bör tolkas med försiktighet
Demografisk dividend eller demografisk utmaning? Försörjningskvotens roll för regional tillväxt : En paneldatastudie av svenska läns ekonomiska utveckling 2000–2023
No full textThis study examined the relationship between demographic dependency ratios and regional economic growth in Sweden during 2000-2023. Using panel data from 21 counties, the analysis employed fixed effects models to investigate how child and elderly dependency ratios affected both gross regional product (GRP) per capita growth and average real income growth rates. The theoretical framework was built on the Solow-Swan growth model and demographic dividend theory to understand how age structure influences regional economic performance. The empirical analysis revealed nuanced relationships that challenge conventional assumptions about demographic burden. Child dependency ratios showed mixed effects on economic growth across model specifications, with limited consistent negative associations. Elderly dependency ratios demonstrated a surprising positive correlation with income growth when regional fixed effects were controlled for. This finding suggested that in the Swedish context, regions with higher elderly dependency ratios benefited from factors such as pension income flows, intergenerational transfers, and accumulated wealth effects that supported local economic activity. The study employed both one-way and two-way fixed effects models, with instrumental variables to address potential endogeneity concerns. Robustness tests, including variance inflation factor analysis confirmed the stability of the main findings. However, the relatively low explanatory power of the models (R² ranging from 0.06 to 0.21) indicated that demographic factors, while statistically significant in some specifications, explained only a modest portion of regional growth variation. These results contributed to the understanding of demographic-economic relationships at the regional level and suggested that the economic impact of population aging may be more complex than aggregate national studies indicate. The findings have implications for regional policy discussions regarding demographic change and highlight the importance of considering regional heterogeneity in demographic dividend effects
” You can't solve everything with pills" : A qualitative study on nurses' experiences of workingwith mental health issues related to involuntaryloneliness among the elderly.
No full textBakgrund: Ofrivillig ensamhet hos äldre är ett aktuellt problem, där forskning visar att ofrivilligt ensamma äldre har ökad risk att utveckla besvär som ångest, oro och depressioner. Ensamhet i sig är ett komplext begrepp som innefattar sociala, emotionella och existentiella delar. Dessa kan existera enskilt och i kombination med varandra. Äldre som bor på Vård- och omsorgsboenden tenderar att skatta sin ensamhet som ett större problem jämfört med de äldre som bor kvar i hemmet. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva sjuksköterskor erfarenhet av att arbeta med äldre personer på kommunal vård- och omsorgsboende som upplever psykisk ohälsa i samband med ofrivillig ensamhet. Metod: Studien är en kvalitativ intervjustudie med beskrivande ansats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med tio sjuksköterskor från fyra olika boenden i Mellansverige. Intervjuerna transkiberades och analyserades enligt tematisk analysmetod. Resultat: Tre centrala teman framträdde i resultatet: Att förstå och bemöta ensamhetens många ansikten, En vardag med organisatoriska och emotionella barriärer och Att bygga och bevara mänskliga band i vården av äldre, med nio tillhörande subteaman, Slutsats: Fynd visar att ensamhetens orsaker varierar och att den inte alltid går att åtgärda, exempelvis vid förlust av anhörig. Mätbara arbetsuppgifter prioriteras ofta framför mellanmänskliga interaktion, vilket begränsar möjligheten att skapa personliga relationer. Sjuksköterskorna betonar vikten av engagemang, kontinuitet och personkännedom för att minska ensamhetens negativa inverkan på psykisk hälsa
Introduktion av Homomorfisk Kryptering för Säkerheten av Digitala Tvillingar
No full textDigital Twins (DT) are proving to be a promising new technology to further improve productivity in a multitude of industries. It can also help improve cybersecurity by allowing the testing and monitoring of anomalies. However, it is also exposed to a number ofcybersecurity threats. If an adversary gains access to an organization’s DT, they can extract valuable information, mislead, and misdirect DT-related operations such as maintenance and analytics, and perhaps even gain control over the physical system itself. In this project, we evaluate and implement how homomorphic encryption might beusable in a simulated cloud-based DT environment to ensure sensor values remain secret, thereby maintaining a zero trust posture towards the cloud provider. This means that despite a compromised cloud service provider, the DT (and factory) owner’s sensitive data remains uncompromised. We map a simulated industrial network topology, including a factory simulation inFactoryIO, a PLC in OpenPLC, and three additional nodes acting as an untrusted cloudand two trusted proxies. With the simulated industrial network established, we outline how homomorphic encryption theoretically can protect the factory’s sensor values from being revealed outside the trusted nodes. Afterward, we recreate the network topology in practice, using a number of virtual machines to simulate the different nodes. Using Python scripts and the Pymodbus, socket, and TenSEAL libraries, we were able to achieve the expected functionality, all on a single physical device. We then ran all parts simultaneously and captured the network traffic using Tshark. After viewing the traffic captures in wireshark and prints from the Pythonscripts, we could discern that all nodes communicated with each other as expected and that the unsecure node never got access to the sensor values in plaintext while still beingable to perform operations on them correctly
Enrichment evaluation for rescued lions taking into account welfare and cognitive priorities
No full textMaximising animal welfare in captivity requires understanding and addressing a species' behavioural and cognitive needs, particularly for wide-ranging predators like lions. The Animal Welfare Priority Identification System (AWPIS®) provides a framework for evaluating these priorities, which can be used to help design enrichment strategies that effectively support the welfare of the species. In this study, three rescued lions in a FOUR PAWS International sanctuary were assessed for the behavioural effects of relocation to bigger and more complex enclosures and the implementation of an enrichment plan considering the behavioural and cognitive needs of lions. Resting and watching were the most frequently observed behaviours, but both decreased following the interventions, suggesting increased engagement with the environment. Stereotypic behaviours varied among the animals since pacing increased for two lions following enrichment but decreased for another after the move to the new enclosure. Explorative behaviours, particularly investigating and head butting, increased in two animals with the implementation of enrichment, suggesting heightened engagement with the environment. Active behaviours varied among the animals, with one exhibiting a significant increase in play and the other a decrease in play. Maintenance behaviours, including eating and grooming, varied among the animals as well, with eating increasing slightly for some animals but remaining stable for others, while grooming significantly decreased in two animals with the new enrichment plan. The findings highlight the complexity of behavioural responses to environmental and enrichment changes, emphasising the need for tailored strategies that consider both welfare priorities and individual preferences