Att analysera och rapportera ekonomi handlar om vanliga arbetsuppgifter för en ekonom: att bygga modeller, genomföra analyser samt skriva och presentera rapporter. Boken består av två delar: Ekonomiska modeller och rapporter samt Laborationer.

Del ett handlar om hur du bygger modeller, skriver och presenterar rapporter. Här förklaras alla moment som gör att du kan komma från idé till rapport. Förutom rena färdigheter beskrivs förhållningssättet till att skriva och presentera. Till varje kapitel finns övningar och i slutet av boken ett facit. Del två består av laborationer där du övar på att komma från idé till rapport. Här presenteras även en beskrivning av hur en idé kan uppkomma och det kan hjälpa dig att själv få ett uppslag till en rapport. Bokens andra del fungerar även som underlag för seminariediskussioner om uppsatsskrivande och ekonomisk analys.

Boken förklarar tydligt och enkelt praktiska färdigheter som en ekonom behöver i sitt dagliga arbete. Den vänder sig till dig som vill kunna bygga modeller för att analysera problem, skriva rapporter och skapa presentationer med Excel, Word och PowerPoint och kan användas som komplement i introduktionskurser i ekonomi, men även i kurser mer inriktade på modellering eller skrivande t.ex. uppsatskurser på fördjupnings- och avancerad nivå. Boken kan läsas på flera sätt beroende på läsarens färdighetsnivå, såväl som en komplett guide från idé till rapport som en uppslagsbok för den som vill ha snabba tips. Att analysera och rapportera ekonomi ger läsaren de verktyg som behövs för att lyckas med ekonomisk uppsats eller rapport.

Accessibility measures are useful for studies in Economic Geography. For example, accessibility to potential customers can be used in a study of firm behaviour. In such a study, it would be relevant to consider where potential customers live. This can be accomplished by splitting the accessibility measure into three parts: accessibility within the municipality, in other municipalities within the functional region, and in other regions. Many studies have proved this to be a very useful way to incorporate the spatial structure of the economy into economic studies. This paper deals with the issue of finding the distance-friction parameters needed to calculate such accessibility measures. There is a particular distance-friction parameter for interaction within the municipality, between municipalities within the functional region, and between regions. One way to find the distance-friction parameters is to solve a constrained gravity model, in which the functional regions are used as constraints. Both the models and the optimisation procedures in matrix form, and the Matlab programs used in the research are presented. The spatial constraints are gradually introduced into the models, which empowers the researcher to make such adjustments on their own. The data set used is available for downloading, and the reader can then try the models before creating a data set of their own. 

We calculate aggregate economic-milieu variables and use them as explanatory variables to study the Swedish commuting pattern. The variables are of accessibility type (i.e. spatially discounted) and are logarithmic ratios. We start from the assumption of utility maximizing individuals. The probability to commute using a link increases with expected utility. We apply two models: the quantity model and the wage model. The explanatory power is high and the results are as expected. Labor demand is positively related to utility. Worker competition is negatively related to utility. Wage is positively related to utility. A municipality, which isnot a regional center, can strive to increase the number of jobs within the municipality. The second best, for such a municipality, is that jobs are available in the municipality that is the regional center. Otherwise, the municipality and region will economically decline.

In this paper, we first present how one can create functional economic regions. Then, we elaborate on the economic activity and spatial interaction, which forms functional regions, and the development of the system of functional regions. Our presentation shows that the economy is structured in functional regions, and hence it is important to use functional regions in economic studies, in order to produce correct results, and for regional policy, in order for the policy to be effective. We observe, that the often used NUTS-regions are very large compared to the functional regions. We argue, therefore, that the use of NUTS-regions ought to be replaced by the use of functional regions. This would lead to more reliable results and better policy outcomes.

This paper deals with the theoretical and empirical relations between living standard, quality of life, globalization and international competitiveness of countries. While economists are not convinced that competitiveness of countries is a useful concept, because firms and industries compete economically and not countries, the general public, journalists and politicians seem to feel that competitiveness is important. E.g., one of the goals of the European Union is to become the most competitive economy in the world. Furthermore, economists argue, that economic globalization has the potential of increasing economic welfare for all. In this case, the general public is more sceptical. Finally, the general public but even other scientists than economists, seem to believe that living standard and the quality of life are only weakly related to each other. The following results can be mentioned. We found strong positive correlations between our main variables. Our hypotheses are with other words supported.