Browsing by department "Department of Economics and Management"

This thesis studies the current level of environmental management in the Ship Power business division within Wärtsilä corporation and aims to identify the related development needs. Hitherto environmental management has been mainly coordinated at the corporate level and implemented in local companies distributed geographically. Due to the recent organizational changes, however, the significance of division level environmental management in Ship Power has increased. The research goal is approached by examining the central elements of corporate environmental management and the challenges that the organizational structure places for it. Based on the findings, suggestions for further actions are given in order to develop the environmental management in Ship Power. Empirical data was collected through 35 qualitative interviews with Wärtsilä employees from different functions, business lines, and local companies in order to get a comprehensive view of environmental management in the Ship Power related activities. The interviews were semi-structured in order to provide answers for certain areas of concern, but also to enable the disclosure of topics not defined by the interviewer. The data is categorized into themes according to the theoretical background, and its analysis is based on inductive reasoning. Based on the findings, the environmental management in Ship Power is divided into two dimensions. The product-related environmental questions are handled in the business lines and the operational issues in the local companies. This fragmentation of the environmental knowledge causes inconsistent environmental focus at different organizational levels, and creates challenges to information sharing across the organization. The lack of corporate instructions on the environmental management system implementation has led to diverse practices in the local companies, and the lack of standardized documentation makes the internal comparison between them difficult. Therefore the experience gained from the local management systems does not support organizational learning throughout the corporation. While the product-related environmental aspects are the core of the business strategy, more attention could be paid to operational environmental management in Ship Power. For instance, the sharing of environmental knowledge could be strengthened in order to enhance employee awareness of the corporate practices and to facilitate the discussion of the best practices between the local units. A standardized documentation system would facilitate internal benchmarking and provide a means for centralized environmental performance follow-up. Because the local management systems are not sufficient to cover the global business processes, it would also be important to identify the environmental aspects in the Ship Power division. Furthermore, visible communication of the common environmental targets would help to create consistent environmental focus in Ship Power.

The SAVE gypsum pilot project investigated the suitability of gypsum amendment as a new means of agricultural water protection in cooperation with local farmers. The participating farmers acted not only as testers of the method, but also as co-developers, whose expertise, observations and experience were used as part of the effort to produce a new cost-effective, widely accepted method of water protection from gypsum. The study investigated the factors that influenced the participation of farmers in the pilot project developing a new potential water protection method and, on the other hand, the factors that influenced their acceptance of gypsum amendment. The results tell about the acceptance of the method from the point of view of future users and about which factors in the method are relevant for farmers. The information helps in the evaluation, development, furthering and marketing of the method. The thesis was based on research related co-creation of innovations and acceptance of new agri-environmental methods. The material of the study was the answers of the farmers' surveys of the SAVE gypsum project. The surveys were conducted for three consecutive winters, beginning in December 2016 and ending in January 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, logistic regression analysis and cross-tabulation (χ² test and McNemar test). According to the results, the main reasons for participating in the pilot were related to the improvement of the environmental reputation of the Finnish agricultural sector, curiosity about the effects of gypsum and the opportunity to promote water protection and related research. These factors, as well as the desire to strengthen Finnish agriculture, the sense of responsibility and the sense of community of farmers, also best predicted the acceptance of the method for reasons of participation. Positive factors in approving the method were the perception of local people's positive attitude towards the method, the experience of gypsum as an easy method for water protection, and the fact that the farmer was not concerned about the effects of gypsum on field condition and productivity or the surrounding environment.

Fishing vessels run on fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases, which are harmful to the environment and costly to society. Since fuel use in fisheries is often subsidized through tax concessions, private fuel consumption will be higher than what is socially optimal. Furthermore,fuel tax concessions will lead to greater fishing effort, with overfishing as a possible consequence. This thesis deals with these negative externalities associated with fisheries. The aim of the study is to elicit the economic and environmental effects fromremoving fuel tax concessions, and to view these effects in relation to the results of current and optimal fisheries management.To this end, four different fuel costscenarios are introducedas basis for the analysis.The current situation of the fishery is compared to an optimized fishery with fuel tax concessions maintained andremoved, i.e. with fuel costs implemented. The target of the studyis thecommercial Baltic salmon fishery, which is a small-scale coastal fishery carried out with trapnets. The analysis employs a bioeconomic model, which accounts for the economic and biological features of this specific fishery. Results from the analysis conveyed that the fishery is currently unprofitable, and therefore not capable of coping withadditional costsimposed on it. However, results from the optimization suggest that economic performance can be improvedby managing the fishery in an optimal way, i.e. by adjustingthe fishing effort to an efficient level. Furthermore, amovement to optimal management is suggested to be an efficient way of gaining both economic and environmental benefits. An optimally managed fishery is thus better equipped to pay for the external costs fromtheCO2 emissions arising from its fishing operations.

Economic integration refers to the theoretical background which is based on the functioning of regional trade agree-ments (RTAs). Trade in context of economic integration embodies special characteristics in comparison to classical free trade. The special characteristics are contested whether they are welfare enhancing or diverting. RTAs are trade agree-ments between two or more countries and their number has been increasing during the last decades. Such agreements play an important role in international agro-food trade as already over 50% of agricultural products are traded within or between RTAs. The increase in number of RTAs and wider inclusion of agricultural trade in these agreements have revealed new agricultural trade policy measures which distort trade in agro-food products. These are so called non-tariff measures of which this study focuses on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. The legitimate intention of such measures is to protect plant, animal and human health and prevent the spreading of harmful pathogens through international trade. This study attempted to create a theoretical framework for analysis of trade effects caused by SPS measures. The ef-fects were found to depend first of all on the burden of compliance and the nature of a SPS measure. Burden of com-pliance was divided into three dimensions of specific, uniform or universal measures according to whom the costs are due. For the nature of the SPS measures three categories were identified: cost-increasing, quantity-restricting and combining SPS measures. The developed theoretical framework was applied to analyze the case of poultry meat trade between the EU and the US in a case where the SPS measure becomes ineffective. The SPS measure of pathogen reduction treatments (PRTs) applied by the EU was identified as a combining measure. After having analyzed the trade effects in partial equilibrium framework, the changes in economic welfare for the EU poultry meat market were quanti-fied. The quantification of the economic welfare measures was made by using partial equilibrium comparative static analysis combined with Marshallian economic surplus framework. Economic surplus measures were calculated by comparing the initial welfare levels with the corresponding levels after the policy change. The analysis concentrated on short-term effects and the base year used was 2013. The calculations proceeded by defining supply and demand equations to calculate equilibrium price and quantity in the present policy regime which enabled calculations of consumer and pro-ducer surpluses. Then, the new trade policy regime was introduced by manipulating producer price. Equations defined in the first stage were used to calculate new quantities for production and consumption in the EU. Then, consumer and producer surpluses were calculated in the new trade policy regime. Finally the obtained results were compared with each other. The results of the welfare analysis show that the SPS measure concerning the use of PRTs in poultry meat has impact on producer and consumer welfare in the EU. Consumer welfare increased after the SPS measure became ineffective. The explanation is the decrease in price which lead to increase in consumption. However, producer welfare decreased as a consequence of lower price. The production of poultry meat decreased which meant that the gap between the EU production and consumption increased. This indicated that the import demand for poultry meat increased for the EU. If the imports were not restricted from the US, consumers would be able to obtain the higher welfare level than before the change in policy regime.

The purpose of the thesis is to portray the attitude of a Finnish consumer towards ethical consumption. Ethical consumption is studied by dividing it into three different sectors. Ethical consumption is studied through consumers' attitudes, action and the information available from ethical products and companies. Data for the empirical part of the thesis was collected with an internet survey. A link for the survey was on the Finnish Consumers' Associations front webpage. Link was also posted on two different discussion forums in internet. The survey was also sent to my acquaintances. Target for this survey was hence hard to forecast in advance. As a result I got 247 respondents. The concept of ethical consumption is hard to define. Everyone's moral defines what is ethical and what is not. Ethical action aims for the well being of an individual and humankind. A consumer who acts ethically takes care of others wellbeing and does not concentrate on himself only. In this study ethical consumption takes into account the environmental problems and the social problems. Social problems are ethical problems which consider the wellbeing and rights of animals, human and nature. Ethical problems are for example animal testing, poor working and employment conditions, child labour and the environmental pollution. According to my findings people think really positively about ethical consumption. They are interested on ethical aspects but on the other hand they do not want to make any extra effort, for example finding information. Consumers are easily ready to abandon ethical aspects in their action. According to the research consumers think that their choices do matter in companies' action. Consumers are ready to boycott companies but they are also ready to buy ethically acting companies' products, even with a premium price. Consumers suffer from a lack of information and they do not trust on the information that companies deliver. On the other hand there is quite a lot of information available which might confuse some consumers. To consume ethically is complicated but it also gives pleasure for many consumers.

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää millainen merkitys eettisyydestä kertovilla sertifiointimerkeillä on ostopäätöksissä Alkon myymälässä. Erityisesti oltiin kiinnostuneita selvittämään mitkä ja millaiset merkit kannustavat tai eivät kannusta valitsemaan tuotetta myymälässä. Tutkittiin myös sitä, kuinka mielipiteet merkkien selkeydestä ja eettisyyssertifioitujen tuotteiden hinnoista ja laadusta vaikuttavat tuotteiden suosimisen määrään. Myös taustamuuttujien, kuten esimerkiksi sukupuolen, iän ja koulutuksen vaikutusta tuotteiden suosimisen määrään selvitettiin. Työn teoriaosiossa tarkasteltiin alkoholimarkkinoita maailmalla yleensä ja eettisyyssertifioitujen alkoholituotteiden kulutusta ja myyntiä erityisesti Suomessa. Käsiteltiin myös alkoholituotteisiin liittyviä eettisyyssertifiointeja ja niihin liittyviä merkkejä. Lisäksi käsiteltiin eettisyydestä kertovia sertifiointimerkkejä osana ostopäätöksen tekoa myymälässä. Myös eettisyyssertifioitujen alkoholituotteiden hinnat olivat osana keskustelua. Tutkimus suoritettiin kvantitatiivisin tutkimusmenetelmin survey-tyyppisellä kyselylomakkeella. Empiirinen tutkimus rakentui aiheista, joita käsiteltiin työn teoriaosiossa. Aineiston keruu suoritettiin Alkon Arkadian myymälän sertifioitujen tuotteiden puodissa ja lomakkeella kysyttiin vastaajien mielipiteitä Alkon sertifioiduista tuotteista ja eettisyysmerkeistä. Kyselylomakkeita kertyi lopulta yht. 125 kpl. Tutkimustulosten mukaan naiset, muut kuin nuorimmat vastaajat ja korkeasti kouluttautuneet henkilöt suosivat eettisyyssertifioituja alkoholituotteita useammin kuin muut vastaajat. Eettisyydestä kertovista sertifiointimerkeistä vain Luomu- ja Reilun Kaupan merkit tunnistettiin hyvin ja myös ne kannustivat useimmiten valitsemaan sertifioidun tuotteen. Merkit yleensä koetaan usein vähintäänkin melko epäselvinä: vajaa puolet vastaajista oli sitä mieltä. Sertifioitujen tuotteiden hintoihin suhtautuminen vaikutti tässä tutkimuksessa tuotteiden suosimisen määrään. Yli puolet vastaajista koki eettisen- tai luomusertifioinnin nostavan tuotteen laatua vähintäänkin hieman. Tuotteiden eettisyydestä kertovien sertifiointimerkkien avulla tapahtuvaa viestintää tulisi kehittää ymmärrettävämpään ja yksinkertaisempaan suuntaan. Siihen voidaan vaikuttaa lisäämällä merkkien tunnettuutta yleensä ja kehittämällä merkkien eri ominaisuuksia, kuten esimerkiksi ulkoasua ja informatiivisuutta.

Purpose of my thesis was to survey consumers views about the factors influencing how to choose eco-products. I analyzed the purchase of eco-products through three themes. They were greenery, responsibility and purity in product selection and so called everyday luxury. Empirical part of my research consists of 10 theme interviews. Research targets were customers of eco market Ruohonjuuri. I searched the interviewees by billboard announcements and through Ruohojuuri Facebook web site. In addition an interview day in Ruohonjuuri gave more interviewees to this project. I wrote summaries of the interviews and analyzed the information by themes. Current environmental issues affect how we experience our everyday lives in the future. Green and responsible consumer pays respect how his consumer decisions affect to the environment. Green consumer decisions mean sustainable consuming ways like recycling garbage, flea market recycling and choosing eco-friendly eco-products. According to this research material it can be said that eco-friendliness of eco-products are closely connected to organic production and organic products. Helping to influence on well-being of others, eco-products are also seen as ethical and moral choices. Therefore many expectations and doubts focus on eco-products. According to my material the product was not necessarily experienced as eco-product if there had been used a lot of resources in the process of making it. Consumers are interested in the origin of the food and from it's authencity. Unlike other products the eco-products are experienced as pure alternatives. Purity in eco-products is perceived as safe by quality and healthy and they are also tasteful. On the basis of my interview material it can be said that eco-products were experienced as specialities to everyday purchases. Everyday luxury gives pleasure to it's user. By purchasing eco-products you can also build your own lifestyle and differentiate from others. Based on the research material people go to eco markets to circle around, to buy impulse purchases and to search for new products. Shopping in eco market can be both pleasant and enjoyable even if only considering about buying something without actually buying anything. Eco-product as a present tells something about its giver and brings a piece of luxury to its receiver for example in form of organic chocolate.

Aim of this master's thesis paper for consumer economics, is to research gambling advertisements in Finland over a period of 35 years, from 1970 to 2006. Veikkaus Oy (later Veikkaus), was founded in 1940, as one of the three licensed gambling organizations in Finland. Material for the current research comprised 1494 advertisements published by Veikkaus in newspapers and magazines at that time. Veikkaus has the exclusive licence to organize lotto games, sport games, instant games and other draw games in Finland. The other two operators, The Finnish Slot Machine Association RAY and Fintoto (on-track horse betting), were not included in the current analysis. This study has been completed according to research contract and grand by the Finnish Foundation for Gaming Research (Pelitoiminnan tutkimussäätiö). In general, advertisements reflect surrounding culture and time, and their message is built on stratified meanings, symbols and codes. Advertising draws the viewer's attention, introduces the advertised subject, and finally, affects the individual's consumption habits. However, advertisements not only work on individual level, but also influence public perception of the advertised product. Firstly, in order to assess gambling as a phenomenon, this paper discusses gambling as consumer behaviour, and also reviews history of gambling in Finland. Winning is a major feature of gambling, and dreaming about positive change of life is a centre of most gambling ads. However, perceived excitement through risk of losing can also be featured in gambling ads. Secondly, this study utilizes Veikkaus’ large advertising archives, were advertising data is analyzed by content analysis and the semiotic analysis. Two methods have been employed to support analyzing outcome in a synergistic way. Content analysis helps to achieve accuracy and comprehensiveness. Semiotic analysis allows deeper and more sensitive analysis to emerged findings and occurrences. It is important to understand the advertised product, as advertising is bound to the culture and time. Hence, to analyze advertising, it is important to understand the environment where the ads appear. Content analysis of Veikkaus data discovered the main gambling and principal advertisement style for each.period. Interestingly, nearly half of Veikkaus’ advertisements promoted topic other than “just winning the bet”. Games of change, like Lotto, typically advertised indirectly represented dreams about winning. In the category of skill gambling, features were represented as investment, and the excitement of sporting expertise was emphasized. In addition, there were a number of gambling ads that emphasize social responsibility of Veikkaus as a government guided organization. Semiotic methods were employed to further elaborate on findings of content analysis. Dreaming in the advertisements was represented by the product of symbols, (e.g. cars and homes) that were found to have significance connection with each other. Thus, advertising represents change of life obtained by the winning. Interestingly, gambling ads promoting jackpots were often representing religious symbolisms. Ads promoting social responsibility were found to be the most common during economical depression of the 90’s. Deeper analysis showed that at that time, advertisements frequently represented depression-related meanings, such as unemployment and bank loans. Skill gaming ads were often represented by sports expertise – late 90’s, their number started sky rocketing, and continued increasing until 2006 (when this study ended). One may conclude that sport betting draws its meanings from the relevant consumer culture, and from the rules and features of the betted sport.

Kiinnostus verkkokauppaa kohtaan ja sieltä ostaminen on kasvanut jatkuvasti, mikä on myös vaikuttanut yritysten mielenkiintoon tarjota elintarvikkeita kuluttajille verkkokauppakanavan kautta. Ruoan ostaminen verkkokaupasta pitää sisällään monia erityispiirteitä, joita ruoan verkkokaupan toimijan pitää pystyä tunnistamaan ja ottamaan huomioon, jotta kuluttajille pystytään tarjoamaan heidän tarpeitaan tyydyttävä kokonaisuus Tutkimuksen tarkoitus oli kartoittaa ruoan verkkokaupan ominaisuuksien ja elämäntyyli-tekijöiden vaikutuksia todennäköisyyteen ostaa ruokaa internetin kautta. Verkkokaupan ominaisuuksia, hyötyjä ja haittoja tarkasteltiin useiden eri tutkimusten pohjalta, sekä yrityksen että kuluttajan näkökulmista. Näiden ostamiseen vaikuttavien ominaisuuksien lisäksi kartoitettiin muuan muassa Wilson-Jeanselmen ja Reynoldsin (2006) tutkimuksessa esille tuotuja ruoan verkkokaupan sisältötekijöitä ja pyrittiin selvittämään näiden vaikutuksia ruoan verkko-ostamiseen vaikuttavina tekijöinä. Kaikki nämä ominaisuudet ja tekijät vaikuttavat yhdessä Balasubramanianin ym. (2005) esittelemän hyötyperusteisen kanavavalinnan mallin sekä ostopäätöksentekoprosessin (Kotler & Armstrong 2013; Solomon ym. 2014) kanssa verkkokauppa-kanavan valintaan, ostokäyttäytymiseen että todennäköisyyteen ostaa ruokaa internetistä. Verkko-ostamiseen vaikuttavien tekijöiden lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin yleisesti ruoan ostamiseen ja kulutukseen vaikuttavia tekijöitä (mm. Luomala 2005; Roos 1998) sekä alun perin Grunertin ym. (1993) esittelemää ruokaan liittyvää elämäntyyliä. Ruokaan liittyvää elämäntyyliä (Food Related Lifestyle, FRL) mitattiin tutkimuksessa Sholdererin ym. (2004) kehittämän FRL-instrumentin avulla, jota tätä tutkimusta varten supistettiin ja muokattiin vastaamaan paremmin ruoan verkko-ostamisen tutkimista. Tutkimusnäytteen 175 vastaajasta, joista suurin osa oli nuoria korkeakouluopiskelijoita, pystyttiin tunnistamaan viisi ruokaan liittyvältä elämäntyyliltään sisäisesti homogeenista, mutta toisistaan poikkeavaa ryhmää. Näitä ryhmiä verrattiin muihin tutkimuskohteisiin, kuten internetin käyttöön, aikaisempiin kokemuksiin ruoan verkkokaupasta, sekä ruoan verkkokaupan ominaisuuksiin ja sisältötekijöihin. Tutkimuksen avulla pyrittiinkin selvittämään sekä koko vastaajajoukon että tunnistettujen FRL-elämäntyyliryhmien käyttäytymistä ja arvostuksia ruoan verkkokaupassa.

Ruoan tuotannolla on merkittävä vaikutus luonnonvarojen käyttöön, ympäristöön ja talouteen. Ruoan tuotannon ekotehokkuuden kehittämisen olisi hyvä saada käyntiin yhteistoiminnallisesti läpi koko elintarvikejärjestelmän. Elinkaariarvioinnilla (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA) pystytään tarkastelemaan elintarvikeketjua kokonaisvaltaisemmin ja kehittämään sitä vuorovaikutteisesti. Alkutuotannolla on elintarvikeketjun toimijoista merkittävin rooli resurssien käytössä ja siten ympäristövaikutusten muodostumisessa mistä syystä parannustoimenpiteiden tulisi kohdistua erityisesti alkutuotantoon. Elinkaariarviointi tulisi perustua todelliseen lähtötietoon, jotta se pystyisi tuomaan esille juuri kyseisessä tuotantoketjussa syntyvät ympäristövaikutukset ja parannusmahdollisuudet. Todellista ketjua kuvaavaa tietoa ei ole kuitenkaan juurikaan nyt saatavilla. Edellytykset laadukkaan tiedon tuottamiseksi ja parannustoimenpiteiden suorittamiseksi alkutuotannossa on se, että maatalousyrittäjien tulisi itse lähteä tuota työtä tekemään ja saatava siitä taloudellista hyötyä ainakin työstä koituvat kustannukset kattaakseen.Tämän pro gradu –työn tavoitteena oli selvittää, ovatko maatalousyrittäjät halukkaita tuottamaan ja jakamaan tuotekohtaista ympäristövaikutustietoaan elintarvikeketjussa eteenpäin ja mitkä tekijät selittävät parhaiten halukkuuden todennäköisyyttä. Tavoitteena oli myös pystyä näin määrittämään alustavaa potentiaalista asiakaskohderyhmää MTT:n kehittämälle tiedonhallintajärjestelmälle. Aineisto kerättiin kyselylomakkeella johon vastasi lopulta 128 maatalousyrittäjää. Aineistoa analysoitaessa kävi ilmi, että kannattavinta oli tarkastella vain jakamisen halukkuutta vastauksissa esiintyvien mahdollisten tulkintavirheiden takia sekä sen takia, että jakaminen on myös oleellista, jotta elintarvikeketjun lopputuotteen elinkaarinen ympäristövaikutustieto olisi muodostettavissa. Vielä tarkemmin tässä tutkimuksessa päädyttiin tarkastelemaan maatalousyrittäjien halukkuutta jakaa ilmastovaikutusta kuvaavaa tunnuslukua ketjussa eteenpäin. Ilmastovaikutusta kuvaavan tunnusluvun jakamisen halukkuutta tarkasteltiin binäärisen logistisen regressioanalyysin avulla. Analyysin perusajatuksena on tässä tutkimuksessa löytää malli, joka kuvaa parhaiten maatalousyrittäjän halukkuuden jakaa tietoa ja sitä selittävien tekijöiden välistä suhdetta. Analyysi pyrkii ennustamaan, millä todennäköisyydellä maatalousyrittäjä on halukas jakamaan tietoa eteenpäin ja mitkä tekijät vaikuttavat tähän todennäköisyyteen ja miten suuri niiden vaikutus on. Tuloksista kävi ilmi, että 24 % vastaajista ovat halukkaita jakamaan ilmastovaikutusta kuvaavaa tuotekohtaista tietoaan eteenpäin. Binäärisen logistisen regressiomallin mukaan maatalousyrittäjän todennäköisyyteen olla halukas jakamaan tuotekohtaista ilmastovaikutustietoa ketjussa eteenpäin vaikuttaa useampikin tekijä. Todennäköisyyttä kasvattaa se, että maatalousyrittäjä on luomutuottaja, hänellä on maa- ja metsäalan korkeakoulututkinto ja että hänellä on tilallaan automaattiseen tiedonsiirtoon perustuva tuotannon seuranta. Todennäköisyys halukkuuteen kasvaa myös hänen ympäristöasenteiden myötä ja mitä enemmän hän odottaa saavansa hyötyä elinkaarisesta ympäristövaikutustiedosta tilansa johtamisessa (tuotantonsa tehostamisessa, kustannusten vähentämisessä ja tuotteiden markkinoinnissa). Myös maatalousyrittäjän halukkuus tietää tuotantonsa ja panostensa ympäristövaikutuksista, sekä seurata parannustoimenpiteidensä vaikutuksia ketjun lopputuotteen elinkaarisessa tiedossa, kasvattaa hänen todennäköisyyttään olla halukas jakamaan tuotekohtaista ympäristövaikutustietoa eteenpäin ketjussa. Näiden muuttujien lisäksi myös tähänastiset kokemukset siitä, että tiedon dokumentointi on auttanut tilan liiketoiminnan kehittämisessä, vaikuttaa positiivisesti todennäköisyyteen olla halukas jakamisen tuotekohtaista ympäristövaikutustietoa. Muuttujista vielä positiiviset kokemukset tiedon roolista liiketoiminnan kehittämisessä kasvattaa tilallisen todennäköisyyttä olla halukas jakamaan tuotekohtaista ympäristövaikutustietoaan ketjussa eteenpäin.