Rural Sweden Research Articles

Influence of Expert Advice on Expansion Goals of Small Businesses in Rural Sweden

A solution to the problem of rural regions experiencing decreasing populations and shortage of employment opportunities may be to stimulate the expansion of existing small businesses. Managers of small businesses are instrumental in this process. Knowledge of factors that make them expand their businesses therefore is essential for developing regional economic-growth policy. Attesting to this, Besser (1999) found that small business managers' high levels of commitment, leadership, and support for the community are important. We empirically test the hypothesis that adoption of expansion goals by small business managers is influenced by expert advice. A rural region on the west coast of Sweden located between two metropolitan areas is examined. The region, in which small businesses dominate, has a population of about 12,000 that is declining steadily. Expanding these businesses would be a way of stimulating economic growth. Many factors are likely to determine the success of a small business, such as available work force, business ideas, capital structure, potential markets, and infrastructure. However, the influence of such factors is filtered in general through the managers' perceptions. Such perceptions are likely to be affected by a host of factors including cognitive, motivational, and social/psychological. We focus here on the motivational factor of goal setting. One of the most influential approaches to understanding human motivation, particularly in work settings, is the theory of goal setting (Locke and Latham 1990). Yet it may be noted that other perspectives may be more appropriate to account for striving toward or maintaining goals that are established already (for instance, Austin and Vancouver 1996; Carver and Scheier 1998). Appropriate goals however are not sufficient, as some degree of knowledge also is required for successful performance (Locke 2000). We assume that the higher aspiration level entailed by expansion goals for a business in combination with adequate knowledge leads to better- performance measured as profit and turnover rates. Some research supports this contention. For instance, Baum er al. (2001) found a direct effect of aspiration levels on later success. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in knowledge management within organizations. A widespread belief exists in the potential for organizations to generate competitive advantages on the basis of their knowledge assets. Harvey and Denton (1999) identified several reasons for this, including the greater demands being placed on businesses by customers and the intensely competitive nature of global business. Locke et al. (1981) report that 99 of 110 studies found that specific or difficult goals lead to better work performance than medium, easy, do-your-best, or no goals. In this vein, Frese et al. (2000) found that the most successful strategy by small businesses is to combine goals and multidirectional plans, making the manager actively search for opportunities. Furthermore, Orser et al. (2000) showed that the use of business plans was correlated highly with firm size and propensity to increase revenues. By expansion goals we mean willingness to enlarge the firm by finding new markets. Defensive goals, the opposite, are characterized by satisfaction with status quo. In our survey, respondents were asked to indicate whether they pursue a number of specified goals assumed to define a continuum from expansion goals to defensive goals. Why do some small business managers adopt expansion goals for their businesses whereas others do not? Although many personal characteristics including aspirations are important, we focus on the role of expert advice. We hypothesize that the choice of an expert adviser is an essential determinant of adopting expansion goals. Harvey and Fischer (1997) found that advice tends to give novice decision-makers an opportunity to share responsibility. Advice also may increase confidence and risk taking. …

Peripheral Visions? A Cross-cultural Study of Rural Youths' Views on Migration

This study sets out to investigate anticipatory views concerning out-migration amongst rural youth. Utilising three age-group samples from rural Norway, Scotland and Sweden, young people were classified as prospective 'stayers', 'leavers' or 'returners'. Both qualitative and quantitative data show that 'stayers' see themselves as most contented with rurality. 'Leavers' are most negative to rural living. 'Returners', though also critical about rural living, are highly positive towards social relations in their communities. Furthermore, national and gender differences are evident. These varying adolescent constructions of rurality are discussed in relation to possible national policies.

A case-control study of childhood leukaemia and paternal occupational contact level in rural Sweden.

In a national case–control study in Sweden, we investigated whether in rural areas (where susceptible individuals are more prevalent than in urban areas) leukaemia risk was higher among the young children of fathers with many work contacts, as the infective hypothesis has predicted. A total of 1935 cases diagnosed in 1958–1998 together with 7736 age-matched (within 1 year) population controls (of whom 970 and 3880 respectively were aged 0–4) were linked to paternal occupational details as recorded in the census closest to the year of birth. Applying the two classifications of occupational contact level used in a study of rural Scotland, the odds ratios for children aged 0–4 years in the highest contact category (which includes teachers) in the most rural Swedish counties were 3.47 (95% CI 1.54, 7.85) and 1.59 (1.07, 2.38) respectively, relative to the medium and low (reference) category; no such excess was found in urban or intermediate counties. There was also a significant positive trend at ages 0–4 in the rural counties across the three levels of increasing occupational contact (P for trend 0.02 and 0.03, respectively), but again not in the urban or intermediate counties. No such effect or trend was found at ages 5–14 in any of the three county groupings. The findings confirm those of a recent study in rural Scotland, and also suggest that unusual population mixing (as occurred in Scotland as a result of the North Sea oil industry) is not a necessary requirement for the effect, since comparable mixing has not been a feature of rural Sweden.British Journal of Cancer (2002) 86, 732–737. DOI: 10.1038/sj/bjc/6600113 www.bjcancer.com© 2002 Cancer Research UK

Leisure transitions - a rural perspective

The paper examines leisure focal theory from a cross-cultural perspective by utilizing adolescent samples from rural Norway, Scotland and Sweden. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to explore the robustness of the model across countries. Results revealed effects of both culture and rurality on the patterns of adolescents' leisure transitions, and these were discussed in relation to the original theoretical framework.

Interview with Håkan Hagegård

Swedish baritone Hakan Hagegard has had an extraordinary international career performing in opera, oratorio, and recitals. While his signature role may have been that of Papageno, in Ingmar Bergman’s famous film of The Magic Flute, Mr. Hagegard is equally at home and adept with contemporary repertoire. He is also widely known and respected for his interest in developing ways to help other artists survive the rigors of performance. An integral part of this was the building of an artists retreat and meeting place, HageGarden, in rural Sweden. Editor Alice Brandfonbrener, who is a friend of Hakan Hagegard, recently conducted this interview with the singer long distance with the help of e-mail.

Gaseous and particulate nitrate and ammonium compound in rural Sweden

Gaseous and particulate nitrate and ammonium compound in rural Sweden

Land and Debt: On the Process of Social Differentiation in Rural Sweden, circa 1750–1850

When writing his final report in 1823 on the current state of affairs in the county of Kopparberg in Sweden, its governor, Hans Järta, made a short digression to ponder upon the differences between England and Sweden. According to Järta, England had been unfortunate in that it had deprived a large proportion of its rural population of the land on which they could otherwise have supported themselves. They had now, Järta remarked, no other choice but to work in the factories, and were the first to suffer when these had to close down. In some parts of Sweden, efforts were at this time being made to organise agricultural production in accordance with similar ideas, that is, through the use of wage labour. Järta was deeply sceptical about these experiments however, claiming that they led to nothing but poverty and social problems.

Turmoil in the welfare system reshapes rural Sweden

The purpose of the article is to discuss rural change and the effects of policies on the spatial distribution of welfare in Sweden. It is argued that the Swedish welfare model has had a major redistributional effect in favour of peripheral regions. The outcome is largely unintentional as the welfare system is directed to individuals rather than to regions. When recession and political change put pressure on the welfare model, a corresponding unintentional negative effect will hit the periphery. Therefore, a spatial perspective on the changing state budget is needed in order to develop a new policy for rural areas. Finally, attention is drawn to the complex pattern of rural change in Sweden. A cluster of changes are operating at different levels, giving new prospects to some regions while others will have continuing and increasing problems.

Myocardial Infarction Risk Factors in a Semirural Area in Mid-Sweden: The population study “50-year-old people in Kungsör”

The mortality from ischaemic heart disease is higher in predominantly rural northern and western Sweden than in the more urban eastern and southern districts. This study was performed in a small semirural area in mid-Sweden with lower mortality from ischaemic heart disease in middle-aged men and higher mortality in middle-aged women than the national average. Smoking habits, serum cholesterol, and blood pressure were measured in all 50-year-old men and women in the community (n = 314) during a four-year period. In addition, the feasibility of using the local health care centre as a base for the study was tested. The health centre provided an excellent base for this population study. The non-response rate was less than 3%, indicating that using local facilities and staff well known to the population might be an advantage. The risk factor levels seemed to be higher in Kungsör than in Uppsala, a community with low mortality from ischaemic heart diseases. The differences in risk factor levels could explain some, but not all of the differences in mortality from ischaemic heart diseases. Thus, other risk factors appear to be operating as well.

Policy and planning for the urbanized rural areas—The case of Sweden

The rural areas in Sweden are now facing an inevitable situation caused by forces which have become increasingly strong over time. National and international influences have become more dominant in economic, social as well as cultural respects. Rapid expansion of employment and new technology within the information sector are also significant inputs. The traditional role of rural areas as producers of raw materials will be retained, but production will be further automated and demand less employees. In several respects we can identify growing urban characteristics in rural areas, which to a large extent are the outcome of market‐based adjustment processes which have been supported by governmental policy and planning. We shall identify two different visions concerning the future of rural Sweden. Within the Parliamentary Delegation for Development of Sparsely Populated Areas (connected to the Ministry of Industry) a decentralisation strategy has been formulated aiming at consolidating the existing settlemen...

Pine forest: a negligible sink for atmospheric NOxin rural Sweden

Pine forest: a negligible sink for atmospheric NO_xin rural Sweden

Pine forest: a negligible sink for atmospheric NO<sub>x</sub> in rural Sweden

A chamber technique was used to study the uptake of NO and NO 2 by branches of Scots Pine trees at concentrations ranging from about I ppbv (ambient levels) up to about 50 ppbv. The measurements were performed under field conditions of light intensity and temperature. Rates of photosynthesis and transpiration were determined from continuous measurements of CO 2 and water vapour. The uptake of NO was small at all concentrations. The deposition rate per projected needle area was less than 0.1 mm s -l . For NO 2 , the uptake varied linearly with concentration. At high levels, the uptake was limited both by a stomata1 and an internal resistance and a marked diurnal variation was observed. Typical deposition rates per projected needle area at concentrations larger than 10 ppbv were 1-2 mm s -l during the day and 0.05-0.2 mm s -l during the night. The internal resistance constituted between 3% and 60% of the total resistance to NO 2 uptake. Contrary to observations made at high concentrations, no uptake of NO 2 could be detected when the concentration was decreased to 1 to 3 ppbv. Using a leaf area index of 3 m 2 m -2 , which is a typical value for a pine forest in Sweden, a deposition velocity per ground area of < 1 mm s -l is obtained. This is significantly lower than other values reported in the literature. Since the NO 2 concentration in the atmosphere of large rural areas covered with coniferous forest is of the same order of magnitude as that where no uptake of NO 2 was observed, this finding is of great importance for modelling of atmospheric chemistry and transport in the boundary layer. A comparison with the uptake of SO 2 and O 3 shows that daytime deposition velocities for these gases are a factor 10 larger than those for NO 2 . DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1987.tb00204.x

Herbicide Exposure and Cancer

The case-control study in Kansas reported by Hoar et al1in this issue has importance beyond its population of agriculture workers to the highly controversial and adversarial issue of health effects associated with herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The well-designed and carefully executed Kansas study adds substantially to the cumulating body of evidence concerning the following question: Does human exposure to phenoxyacetic acid herbicides increase the risk of soft-tissue sarcomas (STS), Hodgkin's disease (HD), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)? The findings among Kansas farmers are in accord with "no" answers to the first two malignancies and a "yes" answer to the third. Most relevant to the Kansas study are the series of case-control investigations undertaken by Hardell and colleagues2-4in rural Sweden in the mid- and late 1970s. Hardell's studies found highly significant relative risks, of magnitude fivefold and sixfold, for exposure to phenoxyacid herbicides in association with STS, HD,

A mathematical model for the epidemiologic study of infectious diseases.

Many infectious diseases have been hypothesized to represent common virus infections in which only small proportions of cases result in clinically recognizable disease. In order to find a method of studying this class of diseases, a mathematical model of the age distribution of clinical disease was developed using poliomyelitis as a prototype. The model is shown to fit the age distribution of reported poliomyelitis in a variety of localities before the use of artificial immunization. The true yearly rate of infection is easily estimated and ranges from .11 in rural Sweden to 1.20 in Chile. The model accounts for several major features of poliomyelitis epidemiology, including the shift to older ages and the high rate of clinically apparent disease which were frequently observed in populations which could be expected to have a comparatively low rate of spread. An examination of the age distribution of other diseases by these methods may provide a method of identifying other common infections which only occasionally result in clinically apparent disease.

Indicators of social change in rural Sweden in the late nineteenth century

Parish registers offer the student of history a wealth of information about the everyday lives of ordinary people in the past. Historical demographers in particular have made extensive use of these materials, and our understanding of the dynamics of local populations in pre-industrial Europe has increased greatly during the last twenty-five years. In addition to the basic demographic data on marriages, baptisms and burials, however, parish registers commonly contain other information which can shed light on social behaviour. Using the exceptionally rich Swedish records, this paper explores some ways in which material of this kind may be used to assess the extent and rate of social change in particular localities at particular times.

The long range transport of sulphur dioxide

The annual deposition of sulphur by dry deposition and precipitation scavenging is estimated using data on the emission of sulphur dioxide in Europe. Sulphur travels, on average, hundreds of kilometres from its source being removed from the atmosphere. At such distances the annual deposition of sulphur per unit area is much reduced because of the variations in wind direction over a year. An attempt is made to compare the deposition of sulphur over the U.K., Sweden and the rest of Europe. The deposition of sulphur over the U.K. is found to be mainly of British origin and, per unit area, the mean annual deposition over rural England is about three times the mean annual deposition over rural Sweden. The British contribution to deposition over rural Sweden is found to be about one half of the Swedish contribution and ca. 10 per cent of the total deposition. At long distances from its source the annual deposition of sulphur is not too sensitive to assumptions about meteorological and physical conditions. This is not the case near to the source. When a choice of assumptions or conditions proves difficult the near field contribution to deposition, rather than the far field contribution, has been under-estimated. The annual deposition in urban areas has been neglected and is much higher than the highest deposition rates found in this paper.