Ydre 2.0: An alternative time-spatial approach towards post-monetarism

The post-industrial information society leads to new patterns of societal change. Despite the changes, the conventional monetary market oriented economic view of development is still dominant. However, essential values are often concealed or even excluded in conventional monetary analyses. Rural areas have a possibility to be in the forefront of new alternative routes to achieve sustainable integrated ecological, social and economic development processes that reaches beyond the conventional monetary market. The ambition of this article is thus to reach beyond the conventional urbanized economic norms and monetary values. This article aims to launch the concept of post-monetarism by elaborating and discuss a conceptual model that can contribute to alternative development approaches. The article enhance new alternative political-economic analytical tools and strategies to achieve a sustainable sound integrated socio-, economic-, and ecological development process. Using a time-spatial perspective, building on Hägerstrand's time-geography, the exploration of an alternative post-monetary norm takes off from an in-depth case study in Ydre municipality, Sweden. The empirical work is conducted through a combination of quantitative data collection, and qualitative methods primarily consisting of in-depth field studies/interviews with households. The analysis reveals the interplay between actors and structures in the interaction between people's daily life, and aggregated data of population, economic activities and political structures. Thereby we aim to reach beyond conventional economic rationale and thereby reduce (or even remove) the mismatch between (economic) micro- and macro analyses. The political implications of these potential conceptual tools could be to analyze and value people's everyday norms and activity patterns in different ways, and thereby avoid inadequate stereotyped standard policies towards development

Role playing African development : an international comparison

The African Development Game is a role playing simulation developed to demonstrate the difficulties six African countries face in reaching the Millennium Development Goals. The game has been played in three different countries, South Africa, Sweden and Finland, to examine its utility as a learning tool for students who are unfamiliar both with the Millennium Development Goals and the problems of African development. Analysis of the games played in South Africa and Sweden. is based on a comparison of student reflections supplemented by participant observation and spreadsheet information of economic performances. Marked differences in the types of learning and success in repaying debt were observed between the two groups of students. They all commented, however, on the effectiveness of the role play as a learning tool

Public Services Choices When There Are No Alternatives? – A Paradox of New Public Management in Rural Areas

There is a common decrease in services in rural areas around the world. This is not at least the case regarding public services, since the decreasing population also decreases the resources available for local public services. The aim of this article is to critically analyse challenges of New Public Management in a rural area community in Sweden to discuss the complex double management role (as employer and as service provider) of the rural municipality. The core of NPM is based on a private sector ethos and is thus also heavily influenced by corporate sector techniques and management. In this paradigm cost effectiveness and efficiency become the dominant considerations for how the state is run. It becomes even more problematic in rural areas without a critical mass of customers (former citizens) and additional costs for transportation. This is illustrated by a discussion of local schools. The analysis shows that even non-monetary resources should be taken into account to reach legitimate policy changes in rural communities. This opens for a creative discussion on time-spatial localized policy-making including extending the interpretations of local resources. Keywords: Rural Municipalities, education, New Public Management (NPM), Swede

Exploring barriers and facilitators to knowledge transfer and learning processes through a cross-departmental collaborative project in a municipal organization

This study aims to explore barriers and facilitators for knowledge transfer and learning processes by examining a cross-departmental collaborative project in the municipal organization. It is based on a R&D collaboration between University West and a Swedish municipality. Design/methodology/approach: To explore the barriers and facilitators, the data collection was made through observation of the project implementation process, as well as 20 interviews with public servants and external actors. To conduct a systematic qualitative-oriented content analysis, the article constructs and applies a theoretical analytical framework consisting of different factors influencing knowledge transfer and learning processes within a municipal organizational setting

Creative Industry Cluster Growth for Regional Development : Illustrations from Sweden

To survive and thrive in market economy, actors seek for continuous increased productivity and effectiveness. To do so, there is a dominant argument that concentration or clustering of economic activities might enhance economic performance and growth. In an increasingly global market, knowledge and creativity are often highlighted as increasingly important factors for economic growth in post-industrial societies. Changes in the economic landscape mean that the location of human capacity becomees a key aspect for knowledge creation and regional economic growth, especially for the development of the creative industry. In many EU countries, political institutions at various levels strive to assist the growth of, or even develop creative economic clusters. But is it possible, through political means, to actually construct a flourishing and sustainable creative industry clusters? And if so, is it possible to attract and/or develop the creative capital, the essential element for the development and growth of the creative industry. The article aims to critically discuss and further develop the conceptual discussion of creative capital, its relation in time and space, and thereby impact on regional economic growth. In an attempt to take the theoretical discussion a step forward, the creative capital theory will be critically analysed, where the author apply comparative studies to examine the impact of creative capital at national, regional and local level in a time-spatial context.  </p

Creative Industrial Development for Regional Economic Growth : The Example of Regional Film Centres in Sweden

Knowledge and creativity are increasingsly important factors for economic growth. Changes in the economic landscape mean that the location of human capacity becomes a key aspect for knowledge creation and regional economic growth. This article discusses the influence of political-economic structures and the importance of the creative human capital, in relation to the development and localisation of a government supported regional film industry in Sweden. The overall aim for initialising these regional film production centres is to enhance regional economic growth in new creative industrial sectors that can replace and/or supplement the traditional industry in the respective region. This article argues that this kind of creative industry is generally most likely to be mor successful in locations that can provide financial support and attract the key creative human capital. Regions with high population density and diversified economy will thereby be the best suited.</p

Development of international collaborations in WIL for post-graduate and PhD programmes

This presentation discuss the development a long term collaboration between University West and universities in South Africa. With a focus on developing the field of WIL in research and higher education, University West is developing two main components.Together with University of the Western Cape (UWC) we develop an International Master Programme in Work Integrated Political Studies. The programme will provide a Master degree in work Integrated Learning, and the programme will be implemented through jointly organised teaching and supervision, conducted in a combined campus/on-line mode, and working closely with the civil society in both countries.Furthermore, together with Central University of technology (CUT) we embark on a collaboration on a third party agreement for PhD students from CUT to study and receive a PhD degree in WIL from University West.</p