Publikationer från Södertörns Högskola
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Finansiella drivkrafters inflytande på svenska bankaktier : En kvantitativ analys av perioden 2015–2024
No full textThis thesis investigates the relationship between key macroeconomic drivers and the quarterly returns of Swedish bank stocks during the period 2015–2024. Using a quantitative research design and multiple linear regression analysis, the study examines the effects of five financial variables: GDP growth, inflation, policy rate, change in policy rate, and the OMX30 stock index. The results reveal that only GDP growth has a statistically significant (negative) correlation with bank stock returns, while the other variables show no significant effects. The study highlights the limited explanatory power of traditional macroeconomic indicators in predicting Swedish bank stock performance and suggests that other sector-specific or contextual factors may play a more decisive role. The findings have practical implications for investors and policymakers and contribute to the broader discussion on the applicability of models such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), and Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) in sector-specific analyses.
The Relationship Between ESG Scores and Market Return. : A Study of Large-Cap Companies in Stockholm (2020–2024)
No full textThis thesis investigates the relationship between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores and market returns among large-cap firms in Stockholm between 2020 and 2024. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the existing body of knowledge and provide insights for investors seeking to maximize returns through ESG. Guided by the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), the Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH), and the Risk–Return Tradeoff, the study uses both cross-sectional and panel data, applying multiple regression analysis to test whether ESG performance correlates with excess returns, varies across industries, or influences market sensitivity (beta). The results show no statistically significant relationship between ESG scores and market returns, nor any evidence that ESG performance reduces a firm’s systematic risk. These findings suggest that, in their current form, ESG factors may not provide added value for return-maximizing investors. The study also highlights challenges related to data availability and suggests that future research should investigate this relationship over longer time periods, across broader markets, and with consideration of investor behavior to gain deeper insight into the financial implications of ESG
Why Don't We Use Them? Understanding the Infrequent Use of Voice Assistants in Sweden
No full textThis study explores how Swedish users interact with voice assistants (VAs), and what hinders the adoption of VAs in Sweden. Combining a pilot study with qualitative interviews, the study indicates that while the awareness of VAs is high, regular use still remains limited. The use of VAs are mostly for simple, practical tasks like making phone calls, texting and navigation. Barriers to use include privacy concerns, lack of knowledge about the VAs capabilities, linguistic challenges and VAs inability to understand context. Users preferred to use the VA in private settings and avoided using them in public environments due to discomfort. The default female VA voice and interactions were often described as robotic, but were sometimes the preferred choice in order to avoid humanizing the technology. The study shows that addressing privacy concerns, improving onboarding, and enhancing conversational interactions and voice customization options could make them easier and more appealing to users
Effekten av styrräntan på aktiepriser i Large Cap banker och investmentbolag i Sverige : En kvantitativ studie av marknadsreaktioner på penningpolitiska besked bland svenska Large Cap-banker och investmentbolag
No full textResearch Question: How do changes in the Swedish central bank’s policy rate affect stock prices of banks compared to investment companies during the period 2018 to 2024? Purpose: The purpose is to explore short-term stock market reactions to monetary policy announcements with a specific focus on sectoral differences between banks and investment companies. The study also evaluates how these reactions align with theories of investment and market efficiency. Method: A quantitative research approach has been used, applying event study methodology and multiple regression analysis. The analysis includes three event windows, namely (–1 to +1), (–3 to +3) and (–5 to +5) trading days. Robustness checks and significance tests have been conducted using t-tests. The study is grounded in the investment theory of Modigliani and Miller and the Efficient Market Hypothesis by Fama. Behavioral finance provides a complementary explanation for possible irrational price reactions. Conclusion: The findings indicate that banks exhibit more immediate and pronounced price movements in response to interest rate changes, especially during hikes. Investment companies show weaker and more varied reactions, likely due to their diversified portfolios. The results emphasize that monetary policy effects are sector-specific and shaped by contextual factors such as macroeconomic conditions. These insights may guide both investors and policymakers.
Information practices for weeding : A qualitative study of criteria for weeding and processes in libraries
No full textProblemet som denna uppsats identifierat är att trots att det inte finns några enhetliga standarder för gallring vid bibliotek, så klarar bibliotekarierna att hantera sina gallringsprocesser. Syftet med uppsatsen är att beskriva och jämföra gallring vid olika typer av bibliotek och beskriva hur styrdokument och kriterier för gallring tillämpas i praktiken. Detta görs genom analys av fyra olika biblioteks styrdokument och genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med bibliotekarier vid dessa bibliotek. Resultaten visar det finns stora likheter när det gäller riktlinjer och hur de tillämpas i praktiken. Ofta hanterar bibliotekarierna flera kriterier parallellt och gör sammanvägda bedömningar. Vanligt förekommande kriterier är: skick, antal utlån och relevans. De intervjuade pekar på att gallring inte sällan nedprioriteras till förmån för andra uppgifter. Analysen visar hur gallringsprocesserna vid de undersökta biblioteken följer informationspraktikerna i Savolainen och Thomsons (2022) modell. Uppsatsens bidrag till befintlig forskning om gallring är att den dels redovisar en uppsättning gallringskriterier som tillämpas vid olika typer av bibliotek, dels beskriver och jämför hur gallringsprocessen ser ut i praktiken vid dessa bibliotek.The problem that this paper has identified is that different libraries use different weeding criteria, while there are no general standards that are in use and yet the librarians manage to successfully go through the weeding process. The purpose of this essay is to describe and compare weeding at different types of libraries and illustrate how guidelines and criteria for weeding are used by librarians in practice. This paper studies four libraries’ standards for weeding and through interviews with librarians at their libraries. The paper shows how similarities does exist when it comes to guidelines and how they are used in practice. Weeding is done according to routine and several criteria are managed at the same time. Commonly used criteria are condition, how often it is borrowed and relevancy. Those who have been interviewed point out that weeding is sometimes deprioritized in favor of more acute needs. The analysis shows that the process of weeding follows Savolainen and Thomson’s (2022) information-practice model. This paper’s contribution to existing weeding research is that it presents a set of criteria for weeding that are in use at different types of libraries, as well as describes and compares the process of weeding in practice at these libraries
Credibility And Verification In War Reporting : A Qualitative Study of How Swedish Newsrooms Handle Information from Syrian Citizen Journalists
No full textDenna studie undersöker hur svenska journalister bedömer trovärdigheten i material från syriska medborgarjournalister och vilka metoder de använder för att verifiera information i en konfliktpräglad mediekontext. Syftet är att bidra med kunskap om hur traditionell journalistik förhåller sig till icke-professionella aktörer i ett digitalt nyhetsflöde där gränserna mellan journalist, källa och publik blivit allt mer flytande. Studien bygger på sju kvalitativa intervjuer med yrkesverksamma svenska journalister med erfarenhet av att arbeta med innehåll från Syrien. Analysen är tematiskt strukturerad och utgår från tre centrala teman: professionalisering och gränsdragning, verifiering i praktiken samt språk och kulturell förståelse. Resultatet visar att journalisterna är tveksamma till medborgarjournalisters trovärdighet. De uppfattas som viktiga nyhetsförmedlare i områden där traditionella medier saknar tillgång, men också som potentiellt partiska och otillförlitliga. Verifieringsarbete beskrivs som en central yrkesprincip, där digitala verktyg kombineras med klassiska journalistiska metoder. Språk- och kulturkompetens framstår som avgörande för tolkning och källgranskning. Studien visar att journalistikens professionella normer består, men att de måste anpassas till nya villkor i en digital offentlighet där autenticitet, hastighet och källkritik ständigt står i konflikt
"Dirty local, green global" : A qualitative study on professional local journalism in a transitioning Swedish north
No full textThe aim of this study has been to investigate how the so-called green transition in the Swedish north shapes professional norms of local journalism in Norrbotten and Västerbotten. The study departs from theories on professional journalism, local journalism and journalistic roles. Particular attention is dedicated to the proximity dilemma and how the journalists maintain a professional distance to their audiences. The research is conducted through qualitative semistructured interviews with nine journalists working in Norrbotten and Västerbotten. The findings indicate that traditional professional values such as objectivity and neutrality, enacted through the watchdog and disseminator journalistic roles, are challenged by the so-called green transition due to the scope and complexity of it. The journalists’ professional roles serve as an armour against outside impact, and even if the journalists have personal opinions on the so-called green transition, they mostly do not consider themselves affected by them in their reporting. Furthermore, the local-global dimension of the transition indicates a re-negotiation of local community borders, which creates a dilemma of distance rather than proximity. This challenges professional local journalism, as it becomes more difficult to define the audience that local journalism is supposed to serve. The result of this study demonstrates that inherent aspects of professional journalism, such as autonomy and an ethics of public service, are worth examining in relation to societal changes. Moreover, it indicates a possible renegotiation of professional journalism, considering the challenges brought by the so-called green transition
Inherited Inequality and Democratic Justice : A Normative Analysis of Sweden’s Abolition of Inheritance Tax
No full textThis dissertation examines whether the 2004 abolition of inheritance and gift taxation in Sweden can be normatively justified when assessed against contemporary theories of justice. While there form was politically uncontroversial and justified on administrative and economic grounds—suchas efficiency, legal uncertainty, and support for family businesses—its broader ethical implications were left unexplored in the political discourse. Using Ingrid Robeyns’ theory of limitarianism and her comprehensive normative audit as the main theoretical framework, the study applies a two phase method: (1) a descriptive idea analysis of Swedish policy documents and parliamentary debates, and (2) a normative evaluation of these arguments through the lens of democratic justice. The empirical findings show that Sweden’s decision-makers framed inheritance taxation as obsolete and procedurally flawed, without considering values such as equality of opportunity, political equality, or intergenerational fairness. The normative audit confirms that the reform fails to meet core standards of justice, particularly in terms of fairness, autonomy, and legitimacy. The dissertation concludes that Robeyns’ Accessions Cap Proposal offers a feasible and ethically superior alternative, capable of regulating wealth transfers in line with democratic values. It calls for a re-politicization of inheritance policy as a matter not just of economics, but of justice.
Open Weight Large Language Models as a design material in RPGs
No full textWith the advance of Large Language Models in recent years, there has been a lot of interest in using them as a design material. Games with a large quantity of text, such as Role-playing Games, have been one area with a lot of interest in the gaming industry. This study aims to explore how open-weight models can perform as a design material, running locally on an end user’s machine. The exact use of the Large Language Model as a design material is as a personalization tool of a game’s dialogue scripot. This is explored through participant studies on a custom-made artefact, where participants provide data through semi-structured interviews and Likert scale metrics. Additionally, the outputs of the Large Language Model are evaluated with a simplified Natural Language Processing quality measurement protocol, allowing the researcher to also evaluate output quality, and explore links between participant data and output quality in the scope of text rewriting of game dialogue. The study’s results finds that different aspects of game dialogue benefit unequally from personalization, and that results for areas where they perform worse differ highly depending on what type of personalization the model is asked to perform. The results show that without further development or more constraints, the technology is not ready for deployment on a full game, but shows promise in specific parts of a game
Makten över litteraturen : Bibliotekariers engagemang och inflytande i beståndsutvecklingen
No full textThe study has investigated how librarians perceive their professional responsibility and influence in relation to collection development when purchasing decisions are influenced by external systems and commercial actors, and how they ensure that libraries' collections reflect diversity while, balancing the demand for current and popular literature. The empirical material consists of a semi-structured qualitative interview study with a selection of four public librarians. The empirical material was analyzed based on four theoretical frameworks based on the main concepts of amateurization and deprofessionalization from Administrationssamhället, as well as Pierre Bourdieu’s complementary theories on symbolic power and symbolic violence. The analysis shows that invisible administrative tasks gradually undermine librarians' professional skills, leading to a more mechanical and routinebased work environment. Symbolic capital, which deals with hierarchical, dominant norms and values, interacts with administrative tasks and highlights how librarians' influence and autonomy gradually lose their value, both through concrete administrative changes and through more invisible power relations. The study's central conclusions show that purchasing systems optimizes the process but reduce librarians’ influence. Despite the pursuit of a balanced collection, their influence is limited by commercial actors. Symbolic capital provides a professional foundation, but also risks marginalizing librarians’ values from other sides.Studien har undersökt hur bibliotekarier uppfattar sitt professionella ansvar och inflytande i relation till beståndsutvecklingen när inköpsbesluten påverkas av externa system och kommersiella aktörer, samt hur de säkerställer att bibliotekens samlingar speglar en mångfald, samtidigt som de balanserar efterfrågan på aktuell och populär litteratur. Det empiriska materialet består av en semistrukturerad kvalitativ intervjustudie med ett urval av fyra folkbibliotekarier. Empirin analyserades utifrån fyra teoretiska ramverk baserad på huvudbegreppen amatörisering och avprofessionalisering ur Administrationssamhället, samt Pierre Bourdieus kompletterande teorier om symbolisk makt och symboliskt våld. Analysen visar att osynliga administrativa uppgifterna gradvis urholkar bibliotekariernas yrkeskunskaper, vilket leder till en mer mekanisk och rutinmässig arbetsmiljö. De symboliska kapitalen, som handlar om hierarkiska, dominerande normer och värderingar, samverkar med de administrativa sysslorna och belyser hur bibliotekarierna inflytande och autonomi gradvist förlorar sitt värde, både genom konkreta administrativa förändringar och genom mer osynliga maktrelationer. Studiens centrala slutsatser visar att inköpssystem effektiviserar processen men minskar bibliotekariernas inflytande. Trots strävan efter en balanserad samling, begränsas deras inflytande av kommersiella aktörer. Det symboliska kapitalet ger en professionell grund, men riskerar också från andra håll att marginalisera bibliotekariernas värderingar.