Leiv Opstad - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Leiv Opstad

Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance

There exist numerous published articles that examine the level of profit persistence across vario... more There exist numerous published articles that examine the level of profit persistence across various industries. Such analyses prove highly valuable in acquiring a deeper understanding of the market. This paper investigates how important business-specific factors are for businesses involved in construction industry. This sector is characterized by its high capital intensity and sensitivity to economic cycles. To investigate its dynamics, researchers commonly employ the dynamic panel data approach along with the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator, a widely used econometric technique. The approach is to estimate to what degree firms can make a profit and outperform the market. We split the sample of Norwegian construction firms from 2006 to 2019 by three criteria: segment, size, and debt. With a comprehensive dataset encompassing information from over 40,000 companies spanning a period of 14 years, there exists a solid foundation for generating accurate estimates. The findin...

Vikarbruk i helsepersonellkrisa

Praktisk økonomi & finans, Jun 26, 2024

Perspektiver på økonomistyring

Mathematical abilities and skills are useful knowledge for success in economic administrative stu... more Mathematical abilities and skills are useful knowledge for success in economic administrative studies. This article focuses on business students' attitudes towards mathematics, their mathematical pathway in upper secondary school, and achievement in the compulsory course in business mathematics. The sample is from a survey of 260 business students from a university in Norway. The analysis is based on the framework of the attitudes towards mathematic inventory (ATMI). By comparing mean values this paper displays a strong link between students' selection of mathematical level in secondary school and their performance in business mathematics. This result is confirmed by using a linear regression model. However, by bringing in ATMI in the model this article shows there is no longer any significant correlation between choices regarding mathematics in upper secondary school and achievement in business mathematics. Nor did gender or grade point average from high school have any significant effect. Only elements included in ATMI (self-confidence and motivation) had a significant effect. The reason is probably that it is not the students' selection of mathematical level in secondary school, but their attitudes towards mathematics, that can explain success in business mathematics.

The Impact of Take-home Open-book Examinations due to COVID-19 among Business Students. Do Gender, Age, and Academic Skills Matter?

Interdisciplinary journal of education research, May 18, 2022

Due to COVID-19, numerous universities and colleges have been forced to arrange home-based exams ... more Due to COVID-19, numerous universities and colleges have been forced to arrange home-based exams in many countries. We know relatively little about what consequences this might have for the ranking of students based on qualifications in the various subjects. This is an important issue for administrators, educators, and others involved in planning the design of higher education. The intention of this article is to get more insight into this issue. By analysing administrative data from a Norwegian Business School, we examined the impact of moving from traditional school exams to home-based exams in 2020 due to COVID-19. The chosen methodology is the comparison of means by using t-test and standard linear regression models. The results indicate a weaker link between high school performance and achievements in business administration courses. Furthermore, home-based exams might disadvantage older students. This is useful knowledge in the judgement as to whether or not to introduce home-based exams as a permanent arrangement.

International journal of applied economics, finance and accounting, Oct 26, 2022

The bakery industry has a rich history. Its modern forms involve both manufacturing products and ... more The bakery industry has a rich history. Its modern forms involve both manufacturing products and delivering them to customers. Both small bakers and large producers sell their products to the supermarket. The largest bakeries export a wide variety of baked foods. The sector is a large employer and it has been thoroughly studied internationally. However, only a small number of studies have analysed the baked goods sector, often due to the lack of categorization of bakeries in the data. In this article, we use public statistics on Norwegian bakeries to study their economies of scale. The profitability of large bakeries persistently exceeds the average rate. New bakeries are equally likely to succeed or fail in the long run. Many new bakeries enter the market as a result of tough competition and a long period of high sector probability but it is difficult for them to survive. Those that must leave the market are mostly new entrants. Despite their difficulties, small and medium-sized bakeries are more profitable than new start-up businesses. We investigate the nonlinear relationship between size and profitability as well as between and within bakeries.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jul 4, 2022

COVID-19 gave universities and colleges no choice. They had to switch to digital teaching and int... more COVID-19 gave universities and colleges no choice. They had to switch to digital teaching and introduce home-based exams as a substitute for ordinary school exams. At the same time, the ambitions were to maintain the student's learning outcomes and ensure the exam grade measured the students' knowledge and skills. With data from a Norwegian business school, this paper will analyse if home based exams provide other results than traditional school exams with closed books. The chosen method is to compare achievements before and during the pandemic and link the performance to academic skills in other subjects and from upper secondary school. The results suggest that the measurement of grades changed under COVID-19. This applies to the quantitatively oriented subjects and the non-quantitative oriented subjects. This is useful knowledge since students' grades are used for ranking for further studies and professional careers.

Athens Journal of Education, Aug 26, 2021

The discussion of whether multiple-choice questions can replace the traditional exam with essays ... more The discussion of whether multiple-choice questions can replace the traditional exam with essays and constructed questions in introductory courses has just started in Norway. There is not an easy answer. The findings depend on the pattern of the questions. Therefore, one must be careful in drawing conclusions. In this research, one will explore a selected business course where 30 percent of the test is comprised of multiple-choice items. There obviously are some similarities between the two test methods. Students who perform well on writing essays tend also to achieve good results when answering multiple-choice questions. The result reveals a gender gap where multiple-choice based exam seems to favor the male students. There are some challenges in how to measure the different dimensions of knowledge. This study confirms this. Hence, it is too early to conclude that a multiple-choice score is a good predictor of the outcome of an essay exam. This paper will provide a beneficial contribution to the debate in Norway, but it needs to be followed up with more research.

Educational Process: International Journal, Mar 15, 2020

There is a considerable amount of focus on the grading systems applied in higher education, as it... more There is a considerable amount of focus on the grading systems applied in higher education, as it is an important tool for ranking undergraduate students' in terms of their academic success. Several studies have suggested that different grading practices exist among various colleges. This is also the case in Norway, even though the intention is to ensure that the same score is awarded independent of the individual institution. This study will explore the grading practices within a business school in Norway. Since the students can choose different pathways in their third year of undergraduate study, the academic composition of students can vary. Students with good grades mostly prefer Accounting or Finance, whilst those performing below average tend to select Marketing or Management. This composition variance causes differences in the grading pattern, as it is relative easier to achieve a good grade where the peer students are less qualified. This also has a gender effect, since females generally opt to study Marketing or Management, hence the average female student may benefit from a less rigorous grade assessment within these fields.

Sustainability, Jul 29, 2020

The purpose of this article was to investigate different variables, by combining mathematical ski... more The purpose of this article was to investigate different variables, by combining mathematical skills and personal traits using The Big Five Model, to see which have the most influence on business students' attitudes towards statistics. The Big Five personality traits make up a model for capturing various personal characteristics. Specifically, we aimed to understand why there is a gender difference in attitudes towards statistics. Statistical skills are a key factor for success in business studies. The chosen methods were pairwise comparisons (t-test) and a linear regression model, using a sample from a Norwegian business school. The finding was that there is a substantial gender gap towards attitudes towards statistics but taking mathematical skills and personal characteristics into consideration then results in this gap becoming much smaller. Furthermore, mathematical skills and personal traits were shown to have an impact on students' attitudes towards statistics.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Aug 31, 2021

Mathematics skills are key factors for success in business studies, and for access to business de... more Mathematics skills are key factors for success in business studies, and for access to business degrees. It is important, therefore, to understand the determinants of mathematics scores among business students. The aim of our study was to identify factors that can explain mathematics performance among a cohort of business school students in Norway. This paper used a linear regression to quantify statistical associations between mathematics performance and the following independent variables: gender, grade point average (GPA) from upper secondary school, background in mathematics education, Big Five personality traits, and attitudes towards mathematics (ATM). Two factorsmathematics background, and self-confidence in mathematicswere positively associated with performance, though the significant effect of mathematics background disappeared after controlling for ATM. Given the importance of mathematics for success 24 in business studies, we recommend that efforts are made to improve students' confidence in this topic.

Eurasian Journal of Social Sciences, 2021

Many students attend business and economics studies in Norway. Several skilled students with engi... more Many students attend business and economics studies in Norway. Several skilled students with engineering background choose specialization in economics and business administration. This education provides many opportunities. The aim of this paper is to learn more about what these students emphasize in choice of jobs and career opportunities. This article provides support for the assumption that gender and personality traits (the Big Five) are linked to salary and career opportunities for business and economics students. Personal characteristics matter in students' consideration of career possibilities, future wages, entrepreneurship, and contributions to society. Financial rewards are positively connected to the personality trait conscientiousness and negatively to agreeableness. Individuals with high score in the agreeableness want to help others. The trait openness is a good predictor for starting own business. There is still a gender gap. Women are not as concerned with high wages as men. Instead, the female students want to contribute more to society. The suggestions appear from a quasi-experiment involving 119 undergraduates from a university in Norway by asking them about their preferences and attitudes. The selected methods are factor analysis and linear regression modeling. The findings provide useful knowledge and information in the design and development of various study topics.

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Jun 14, 2018

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the type of mathematics skills develope... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the type of mathematics skills developed at secondary school matter for students' later success in business studies. At many business schools in Norway, more students are applying than there are places available. The ranking of applications depends on the grade point average (GPA) level, irrespective of the level or type of mathematics studied at secondary school, where the students are free to choose practically orientated or theoretical mathematics. Design/methodology/approach-A quantitative analysis (regression model) was applied using data for undergraduate students enrolled in business studies over a three-year period (2012-2014). Finding-Students with a non-theoretical background in mathematics obtain systematically lower grades on many courses, especially in core business school subjects. Ranking applicants to business studies courses based on their GPA scores irrespective of their level of mathematics may lead to the admission of less able students. Research limitations/implications-There is little information available concerning why students choose different paths in mathematics at upper secondary school, but the decision students make has an influence on their grades in business courses. Originality/value-By requiring more knowledge of theoretical mathematics, students' performance at business school will improve. Changing the admission criteria could improve the quality of graduates and reduce the dropout rate.

European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Mar 17, 2021

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that can explain the attitudes of business stude... more The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that can explain the attitudes of business students towards mathematics, using data from a business school in Norway. This article focusses on gender, personality traits (Big Five Model) and mathematical background. The independent variables were investigated simultaneously using a linear regression model. Mathematical abilities are important for success in business studies, and therefore, attitudes towards mathematics matter, since they will affect students' effort and their choice of further studies. It was found that mathematical background has the strongest effect on student attitudes towards mathematics. Personal characteristics also explain the variation in the attitudes towards mathematics to some degree. Gender has little or no impact on the dependent variable. If there is any gender difference it is in favour of female students.

International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, Dec 4, 2021

If the ranking of students is based on grade scores independent of the selected college or univer... more If the ranking of students is based on grade scores independent of the selected college or university, it is critical to have an equal national measurement standard. It is a challenge to ensure this if there is a substantial difference in the composition of the students and enrolment requirements among colleges. Based on three different types of colleges in Norway merged into one unit in 2019, this paper examines the grading practices before and after the fusion. By using a regression model to predict the grade depending upon students' academic skills, one can identify different grading practices for the three independent schools and compare the results after they become one unit with identical exams and a common evaluation. The results show significantly more lenient grading practices at small colleges with low entry criteria and that the evaluation is more random, depending upon the instructor. Furthermore, this paper confirms that the grade point average (GPA) from upper secondary school, mathematical abilities and gender are strongly correlated with success in business studies.

Attitude towards mathematics among economics and business students in Norway. Is there any gender difference

The purpose of this study is to find out if there is any gender difference in attitudes to mathem... more The purpose of this study is to find out if there is any gender difference in attitudes to mathematics among students at the Faculty of Economics and Management, NTNU. More than 200 students from the three departments: (1) Industrial Economics and Technology Management, (2) Economics and (3) Business school were questioned about their attitudes towards mathematics. Using factor analysis, an instrument for measuring attitudes towards mathematics, was constructed. The method chosen was pairwise comparisons using an independent samples t-test. Research on the gender gap is mixed. Some studies show a sex difference when it comes to attitude to mathematics, while others do not find any significant gap between male and female students. Norway is one of the highest-ranking countries in terms of overall gender equality, and female students outperform their male peers at upper secondary school. Nevertheless, women are under-represented in fields like science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This is a gender equality paradox. About 50 per cent of the students at the Faculty of Economics and Management are females. The data suggest there is a significant gender difference in attitudes towards mathematics among the students. The females have substantially lower values in terms of selfconfidence, enjoyment and value in mathematics. The students can choose between practical and theoretical mathematics at upper secondary school, but even if we adjust for that, there is still a significant gender gap. This finding can explain why female students tend to select less quantitative fields and business courses that require fewer mathematical skills

International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning, Jun 1, 2020

The purpose of this article is to explore the heterogeneity among undergraduate Norwegian busines... more The purpose of this article is to explore the heterogeneity among undergraduate Norwegian business students. This is made visible by the students' choice of subjects in their third year. The chosen methodology is the ordinary least square (OLS) regression model. By using dummy variables depending on the preferred discipline, we can analyse what impact the composition of students will have on their performance in the compulsory courses during the two first years. The students who are highest ranked by letter grades tend to select further studies in finance and accounting subjects. One should be aware of this in the design of study programmes.

International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, Jul 30, 2019

This study will focus on students' attitude towards mathematics. A negative attitude might be one... more This study will focus on students' attitude towards mathematics. A negative attitude might be one reason for choosing practical mathematics in upper secondary school. The sample includes 230 students from 3 business schools in Norway in their first half-year, when business mathematics was on their schedule. The data were collected through surveys. Then, using a factor analysis, a measurement instrument for 'attitude towards mathematics' was constructed. The chosen methods were the independent-samples t-test and a binary logistic regression. A substantial difference was found among the students depending on their choice of the mathematical level at uppersecondary school. The findings suggest that students with practical mathematics have substantially lower self-confidence, value and enjoyment in mathematics than those who chose the other levels of mathematics. Should Norwegian universities consider changing their requirements to a qualification level of skills within mathematics for degrees in economics and business administration? Changing the enrolment rules-requiring theoretical mathematics from uppersecondary school-would perhaps lead students with low selfconfidence and enjoyment in mathematics to choose courses that involve less use of mathematics.

The purpose of this study is to find out how undergraduate students perform in selected courses a... more The purpose of this study is to find out how undergraduate students perform in selected courses at a business school. Management and communication oriented courses require different skills to those of core business courses. There are many studies on students' success in economics, accounting, and finance, but not in management and marketing. The data in this study are from a business school in Norway. Undergraduate business students can choose different pathways in their third year. We compare students' performance in different selected majors. The methods chosen were the independent samples test and a linear regression model. It appears that the most notable indicator of success in the chosen major is performance in the introductory course within the same field. Mathematics is another important element, while grade point average (GPA) scores have a minor impact. There is obviously some gender effect. The males perform well in quantitative subjects, while women outperform men in marketing.

International Journal of Teaching and Education, May 2, 2023

Although mathematical skills are an important component for business students, many students stru... more Although mathematical skills are an important component for business students, many students struggle to understand and meet the demands in different subjects. There is a considerable heterogeneity among the different subjects and the need for good mathematical skills varies from subject to subject. To analyse this, we apply the Attitudes Towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) framework. The data are collected by asking students at a business school in Norway. The results are linked to the exam grades in the various subjects. The sample consists of approximately 150 students. As a research method, the standard linear regression model is used. The results show that there is a strong positive correlation between ATMI and success in the various subjects. This applies specifically to the dimension of self-confidence in mathematics. However, there is a considerable variation between the subjects, and in some non-quantitative subjects such as marketing, no correlation was found in this study between ATMI and exam grades. As control variables in the model, gender and Grade Point Average (GPA) from the upper secondary school were included. These variables had a rather small influence on the results for the subjects, but with significant statistical effects on some subjects. This article provides insight into a key factor that can help explain how students are performing in the various business subjects

Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance

Vikarbruk i helsepersonellkrisa

Praktisk økonomi & finans, Jun 26, 2024

Perspektiver på økonomistyring

The Impact of Take-home Open-book Examinations due to COVID-19 among Business Students. Do Gender, Age, and Academic Skills Matter?

Interdisciplinary journal of education research, May 18, 2022

International journal of applied economics, finance and accounting, Oct 26, 2022

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jul 4, 2022

Athens Journal of Education, Aug 26, 2021

Educational Process: International Journal, Mar 15, 2020

Sustainability, Jul 29, 2020

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Aug 31, 2021

Eurasian Journal of Social Sciences, 2021

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Jun 14, 2018

European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Mar 17, 2021

International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, Dec 4, 2021

Attitude towards mathematics among economics and business students in Norway. Is there any gender difference

International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning, Jun 1, 2020

International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, Jul 30, 2019

International Journal of Teaching and Education, May 2, 2023

The Future of Education , July, Florence, Italy, 2021

Self-study and attendance rates are important factors in terms of academic outcomes. There is con... more Self-study and attendance rates are important factors in terms of academic outcomes. There is considerable variation in students’ efforts. This is probably due to many factors. In the literature, there is a considerable focus on the link between academic success and personality traits (Big Five). However, few studies have investigated the relationship between study time, presence at lectures and personality traits. The purpose of this article is to find out more about how gender and personal characteristics can affect students' efforts (attendance and study time) by questioning 380 students at a business school in Norway. Results indicate significant and positive correlation between some of the personality traits (openness and conscientiousness) and study time. Females tend to study more, but the impact was not significant. None of the variables were significantly linked to attendance. The finding is useful information when designing various educational schemes. The chosen method for this study is ordinary linear regression model.

Global Conference on Business and Finance Proceedings 2021 ;Volum 16.(2) 109-119, 2021

The price level in Norway is very high and this has put limits on the number of visitors. However... more The price level in Norway is very high and this has put limits on the number of visitors. However, the last decade there has been significant fluctuations in the exchange rate, and this has probably affected the travel pattern. This article will examine this by focus on camping tourism the last twenty years. Furthermore, we want to see how increased income has affected its use, especially tents and caravans. The analysis is based on aggregated annual data. This limits the ability of advanced quantitative methods. This research shows that the use of campsites is sensitive to the fluctuations of the exchange rate. Taking into account the time lags in the planning, this study suggests the elasticity with regard to the exchange rate is above 1.0. Furthermore, a trend is recorded where tents and caravans have become less popular especially among domestic users. One explanation may be income development. The results are relevant for the planning of campsites

Global Conference on Business and Finance Proceedings, 2020

The purpose of this study is to find out how undergraduate students perform in selected courses a... more The purpose of this study is to find out how undergraduate students perform in selected courses at a business
school. Management and communication oriented courses require different skills to those of core business
courses. There are many studies on students’ success in economics, accounting, and finance, but not in
management and marketing. The data in this study are from a business school in Norway. Undergraduate
business students can choose different pathways in their third year. We compare students’ performance in
different selected majors. The methods chosen were the independent samples test and a linear regression
model. It appears that the most notable indicator of success in the chosen major is performance in the
introductory course within the same field. Mathematics is another important element, while grade point
average (GPA) scores have a minor impact. There is obviously some gender effect. The males perform well
in quantitative subjects, while women outperform men in marketing.