Awards for this year’s best Master’s theses
At this year’s graduation ceremony for the Master’s programmes, students who had distinguished themselves through particularly strong degree projects were recognised. Nine theses, one from each Master’s programme, were awarded The Malmsten Award for Best Master’s Thesis 2026.
On 11 June, students, teachers and staff gathered at the School of Business, Economics and Law to celebrate this year’s graduating cohort from the Master’s programmes at the Graduate School. A total of 365 students from around the world took part – a reminder of the international character of the Master’s programmes and the breadth of perspectives that shape the learning environment.
The Malmsten Award for Best Master’s Thesis 2026 was also presented during the ceremony. The award is presented each year to the best thesis in each of the School’s nine Master’s programmes. It recognises students’ academic excellence, independent analytical ability and capacity to contribute new knowledge within their respective fields.
In addition to the honour, the authors each receive SEK 15,000. The award is presented by the Richard C. Malmsten Memorial Foundation and has existed since the School introduced its English-language Master’s programmes almost 30 years ago.
Winners of The Malmsten Award for Best Master’s Thesis 2026
Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management
Bobby Hedin and Isac Asserståhl: When Insider Signals Meet Uncertainty: PDMR Disclosures, Abnormal Returns, and Economic Policy Uncertainty in the Swedish Stock Market
Master of Science in Economics
Ernesto Luis Fuentes: Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Effect of a Centralized Admission System on School Switching
Master of Science in Finance
Alia Rezai and Anastasia-Gabriela Grauntanu: Do U.S. Firms Trade at a Valuation Premium? A Comparison with European Firms
Master of Science in Innovation and Industrial Management
Alma Bonander and Klara Edblad: Empowering Leadership as an Indirect Driver of AI Use: A Structural Equation Modeling Study of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use as Mediators
Master of Science in International Business and Trade
Eirin Anti and Dilki Jayaweera: A Mixed-Methods Study on Psychic Distance, Perceived Value, and the Moderating Role of Product-Origin Image
Master of Science in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship
Michelle Hruska and Edvin Larsson: Living with the Paradox: Growth and Regeneration within Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Master of Science in Logistics and Transport Management
Asma Emrane and Ester Zaheri: Reorganising Logistics Operations Under Automation: A Case Study on Autonomous Truck Implementation in Road Freight
Master of Science in Management
Kristoffer Gregenäs and Alfons Oddhammar: Producing Player Value: How Elite Football Clubs Assess, Justify and Stabilize Players as Strategic Assets
Master of Science in Marketing and Consumption
Aleksander Chmielowiec and Ana Paula Dominguez Calderon: Shaping Sustainable Consumer Choices Through Agentic Commerce in the Grocery Retail Sector
The winners from the Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management programma were not present.
