bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unterentwickelter Risikokapitalmarkt und geringe Beschäftigungsdynamik: Zwei Seiten derselben Medaille im strukturellen Wandel?
Authors: Belke Ansgar , Fehn Rainer
Published: May 2016

Labor market performance has differed considerably between OECD countries over the last two decades. The focus of the literature so far has been to ask whether these differences can be explained by varying degrees of labor market rigidities and generosity of welfare states. This paper takes a different perspective and analyzes whether differences in venture capital investments have explanatory power with respect to labor market performance across countries and over time. In particular, the Anglo-Saxon countries have been relatively successful over the last two decades in producing employment growth and in reducing unemployment compared to most continental European OECD countries. As a rule they have also been and are still ahead in developing thriving venture capital markets that are often deemed crucial for the creation of new firms and for successfully managing the ongoing radical structural change away from traditional industrial production toward the so-called “new economy”.
Agrarpolitik der Europäischen Union vor der Osterweiterung
Authors: Eekhoff Johann , Eekhoff Tholen
Published: May 2016

There are three main reasons that call for substantial reforms in European Agricultural Policy: the financial burden on the European economy, development and trade-related issues, and the upcoming eastern enlargement of the European Union. All three factors exert pressure into the direction of abolishing interventions and following the path towards liberalized agricultural markets. However, the opposition against such policies is strong, primarily exercised by agricultural interest groups and member states of the European Union that mainly benefit from the current regulations. The abolishment of agricultural support in the European Union would be one of the most important measures to alleviate the problems for developing countries that have no fair chance to compete in European agricultural markets. Furthermore, by reducing the distortions that are caused by agricultural regulations, economic efficiency would be enhanced substantially. In this respect the European Union is on the right track with the reform based on the “Agenda 2000” and further changes in the “Midterm Review” that was adopted in July 2002. All support measures are supposed to be turned into direct payments. Yet, a great number of distortionary measures is reintroduced through the back-door under the title of rural development. Since these measures do not fall under the budget constraint that has been imposed on all other forms of support, they provide a vast playing field for politicians. The need to liberalize agricultural markets has become crucial due to the eastern enlargement of the European Union that will increase agriculturally utilized land by approximately one third. Granting the full support to the new member states would mean expanding a system that suffers from various illnesses. For these reasons there is an urgent need for substantial reforms that liberalize agricultural markets in the European Union.
Zu Reformoptionen der Gemeindefinanzen
Authors: Döring Thomas , Hansjürgens Bernd , Hey Johanna , Donges Juergen B.
Published: May 2016

In their paper Thomas Döring and Bernd Hansjürgens refer to the reform discussion of local public finance in Germany. Against the background of rising expenditures and lower revenues a fiscal reform on the local level is absolutely necessary. Such a reform should focus on both the expenditure and the revenue side of the local budget. With respect to expenditures a new division of functions between the upper governmental levels and the local level should be taken into account. With respect to revenues reforms are needed that facilitate communities’ ability to raise revenues from own sources. It becomes apparent that the current political discussion which focuses on the centralisation of the costs of unemployment and on the reform of the local business tax is much too narrow to solve the fiscal crisis on the local level.

Johanna Hey argues that the upcoming reform of the municipal finance system gives the chance to overcome the sufficiently well-known problems of the German local trade tax. Although the starting point of the discussion is the deficit of the municipal budgets the author calls for a conceptual framework. The sole goal of raising additional revenue will not lead to a rational tax system. As other taxes local taxes have to be designed in accordance to the ability-to-pay-principle, since it is impossible to define a tax base equivalent to the cost of public goods. The author compares the three recently discussed models. From a systematic and constitutional point of view the abolishment of the trade tax and implementation of a local surcharge to the personal and corporate income tax is the most favourable option for reform.

Juergen B. Donges recommends a complete overhaul of local taxation systems according to the principles of pay-as-you-go and of allocative neutrality. Ideally, local public revenues should be mainly based on charges levied directly on users of local public services. But the nature of some public services make taxes a better source of revenues for municipalities. The author suggests three kinds of taxes: First, the already existing real property tax (Grundsteuer) based on an assessment closer to market values. Second, a new local corporation tax (“allgemeine Betriebssteuer”) will be introduced; it would replace the existing trade tax on income (Gewerbesteuer) which is fundamentally deficient. Third, a new local personal income tax (“allgemeine Bürgersteuer”) will be imposed, intended to replace federal income tax transfers for local authorities and local shares of value added tax. In any case, a reform of local taxation should not lead to higher overall taxation. Each local government should freely choose its own levels of taxation, meaning efficiency gains from competition of public services at a local level.
Transformationsprozesse aus Sicht der evolutorischen Ökonomik
Authors: Wrobel Ralph Michael
Published: May 2016

The transformation of former socialist economies in Central and Eastern Europe is a still continuing long-term process. Since explanations and political recommendations by mainstream economics have not been sufficient, research on methodology and theory of transformation is necessary still today. In this paper an evolutionary approach will be introduced to explain the phenomenon of “transformation” as borderline case of long-term institutional evolution. In concrete it will be described as adaptive-imitative step within institutional competition caused by “exit” and “voice” in the Hirschman sense, initiated by political entrepreneurs, channelled by cultural restriction and path dependency and - as consequence of the evolutionary approach - independent of scientific valuation.
Zur Reform der EU-Agrarpolitik: Umbau statt Abbau von Subventionen
Authors: Schrader Jörg-Volker
Published: May 2016

The paper discusses the decisions on the reform of the CAP from June 2003. The decisions focus on the decoupling of the direct payments to farmers from production. This will reduce production incentives and thereby improve the allocation of resources. However, payments to farmers will hardly be reduced in total but rather partly be redirected towards rural development policies, environmental policies and animal health measures. Since a consistent rationale for permanent payments to farmers is missing, payments should be stopped completely. The increase of financial support for rural development is the wrong way, since most measures, again, are interventions in favour of farmers. The latest WTO-Agreement on the continuation of the Doha-Round will put additional reform pressure on the EU.
Vorschläge für eine konstitutionell begründete Rentenreform
Authors: Voigtländer Michael , Henman Barbara
Published: May 2016

For decades, economists have been urging politicians to reform pension systems, but in many cases the proposals have been rejected by referring to unresolved distributional aspects. This dilemma can be avoided by using the concept of constitutional economics, which allows us to address the issues of efficiency and justice at the same time. We conclude that a society behind a veil of uncertainty would settle for a compulsory pay-as-you-go pension system which provides a minimum pension. However, to avoid the system being undermined by free-riding (due to wrong expectations regarding the returns to investments on human capital), such a benefit would be granted according to the individual contribution to the accumulation of human capital. In addition, everyone would be obliged to save individually to secure a minimum pension.
Hinaus aus der Selbstblockade – Ziele und Wege zur Reform des Förderalismus
Authors: Hrbek Rudolf , Rosenfeld Martin T.W. , Schick Gerhard
Published: May 2016

Rudolf Hrbek summarizes the arguments for the project of reforming German federalism. He describes the positions adopted at the beginning of the work of the Reform Commission set up in fall 2003 by the federal government and the state governments respectively. The Commission ended with a failure; there were some reform proposals in single issues, but no comprehensive reform proposal. His article tries to identify reasons explaining the failure. Hrbek recommends a new procedural approach: instead of the Reform Commission composed by members who as office or mandate holders would be affected directly by reform measures, a Convention should be established composed of a smaller number of members (representing a broader range of actors: e.g. local level, Land-Parliaments, elder statesmen). A broad mandate should enable the Convention to elaborate a reform proposal as package deal which the two houses of Parliament would then have to decide on finally. A major political function of the Convention would be to generate a broad debate on basic features of a federal system and in the meaning of “unity in diversity”, as a prerequisite for modernizing German federalism.

Martin T. W. Rosenfeld states that for more than fifty years, there had been many attempts to reform the German system of cooperative federalism and to reduce the power of the federal level of government. But, so far, no one of these attempts had been successful. In 2004, the “Commission on the Modernization of Cooperative Federalism” had worked out a proposal for reforming intergovernmental relations in Germany. Rosenfeld points out that from the view of the theory of fiscal federalism, this proposal may be regarded as a step in the direction of more efficiency – but just as a very small step. Unfortunately, the decision-makers of the federal and the state level of government did not come to an agreement on the proposed reform. With regard to the current distribution of costs and benefits which arise for the decision-makers from the existing institutions of cooperative federalism in Germany, this result is not surprising for him. In his opinion an agreement on reforming intergovernmental relations is only likely to be achieved if relevant external changes will take place.

Gerhard Schick emphasizes that one of the weaknesses of the commission was that excessive debt of jurisdictions was not seen as one of the core problems of German federalism, even though the debt burden might endanger the very existence of at least some of the states. This omission reflects both individual interests of participants in the commission and the fact that neither proponents nor opponents of competitive federalism put forward convincing and politically viable solutions. According to him, a new reform will need proposals to overcome the debt problem that avoid raising fears of tax competition and that reflect the asymmetrical character of German federalism.
Das Europäische Emissionshandelssystem und seine Umsetzung in Deutschland: Eine kritische Betrachtung
Authors: Jasper Jörg , Twelemann Sven
Published: May 2016

The European carbon emissions trading system has become operative on January 1st, 2005. By its decision to implement the world′s largest system for tradable emissions permits the EU started an impressive experiment. While emissions trading systems already exist elsewhere (cf. Ellerman et al., 2000), the EUsystem′s dimensions and complexity are unique in the world. European policy makers deserve respect for their willingness to find a market solution to the EU′s problem of having to comply with its emissions reduction obligation within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, the European Emissions Trading Scheme is also an example for the implementation of an excellent textbook-idea being hampered by obstacles occuring in real-life politics. In this paper we discuss major problems of the European Emissions Trading Scheme both from a theoretic and a practical point of view.
Thema: Zur Einbindung der Kapitalbesteuerung in ein rationales Steuersystem
Authors: Homburg Stefan , Rose Manfred , Zöller Daniel , Genser Bernd
Published: May 2016

In the paper of Stefan Homburg recent proposals for capital income tax reform are considered. The analysis focusses on German taxes, but experiences from abroad as well as the European Savings Directive are also taken into account. Given the present complexity of capital income taxation, the crucial question is whether or not Germany should adopt a dual income tax. After considering questions of distributive justice, tax yield, efficiency, and compliance, the article advocates in favour of a comprehensive income tax, combined with a strengthening of tax audit, and rejects the idea of a dual income tax.

Manfred Rose und Daniel Zöller state that the taxation of interest-adjusted income from capital means that tax is levied only on the part of income generated by the investment of savings capital that exceeds a normal market rate of interest. As enterprise profits also constitute capital income, interest adjustment (i.e. allowance for corporate equity) here means that a normal market rate of interest on equity capital can be deducted as a business expense. In the following article Rose and Zöller assess the future prospects for such a form of taxation of income from capital by considering its advantages over the comprehensive taxation of capital income in accordance with the traditional concept of income taxation. Furthermore, in order to create as quickly as possible a favourable tax environment for investments at locations in Germany, they present the outlines of a transitional model for the taxation of interest-adjusted income from capital.

From Joachim Genser’s point of view the main problem is that taxing capital income at a flat rate contrasts with progressive income taxation of comprehensive income under the ability-to-pay principle. He argues that the dual-income-tax principle is well founded in the theory of taxation and thereby provides a justification for schedular taxation of capital and labor income as well as for combining proportional capital taxation and progressive labor taxation. Finally, besides the attractive features of a dual income tax, he also addresses the problems of dual income tax administration and its social acceptance.
Die Ursachen der transatlantischen Produktivitätswachstumsunterschiede
Authors: Besch Rudolf , Zimmermann Guido
Published: May 2016

This paper gives a survey on the causes of the divergence in productivity growth rates between the U.S. and Europe in the last 15 years. It is shown that Europe’s lag in productivity growth can be traced to relative lower productivity growth in the service sector. This is due to over-regulated goods, capital, land, and labor markets. Although there is a consensus that in the long run no relationship exists between productivity growth and labor market performance, in terms of policy, well-specified labor market reforms are recommended to increase productivity growth in Europe. For labor market reforms are a necessary complement for productivity-enhancing product market reforms.
Ausgestaltungsvarianten und ökonomische Konsequenzen einer 4. Hürde für die Erstattung von Arzneimitteln
Authors: Sundmacher Torsten , Jasper Jörg
Published: May 2016

In this paper we examine different forms of a 4th hurdle for the reimbursement of pharmaceuticals, i.e. an economic evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of pharmaceuticals. This instrument is aimed to organize the decision on the reimbursement of pharmaceuticals more efficiently than it is currently the case in the German health care system where the market authorization of the product is normally sufficient for a product to be included into the benefits catalogue. Also the arrangement of the reimbursement price is economically problematic. Obviously, the way the instrument is designed is of paramount importance for the efficiency of a 4th hurdle. There are a lot of variations imaginable which yield very different results. In addition, the usefulness of the 4th hurdle must be assessed before the background of relevant politically enforceable alternatives. In this respect a properly arranged 4th hurdle is an improvement compared to the status quo. Indeed, it is for sure not the best conceivable regulation design for a liberalized pharmaceutical market in a statutory health insurance system.
Institutionelle Alternativen in der Europäischen Union: Das Beispiel des Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspaktes
Authors: Ohr Renate , Schmidt André
Published: May 2016

The Stability and Growth Pact is one of the constituent pillars of the European Monetary Union. Though, meanwhile it is obvious that it will not be able to limit fiscal deficits of the member states. For this reason in this paper Coase′s thinking in institutional alternatives is applied to find a better way to increase the incentives for more fiscal stability. We present and discuss tradable deficit permits comprising market-orientated incentives for fiscal stability. It is shown that tradable deficit permits are superior from a politico-economical view as well as with regard to allocative efficiency.
Vom Umlage- zum Kapitaldeckungsverfahren in der Krankenversicherung
Authors: Eekhoff Johann
Published: May 2016

Health care systems desperately need efficiency and demographic stability. Otherwise contributions will increase rapidly and health services will deteriorate. A promising way is to transform the pay-as-you-go insurance system into a capital-funded system. Capital-funded systems are robust towards demographic changes, and they employ competition to increase efficiency on the basis of market prices and risk-adjusted premiums. The critical question whether a transition of the system is feasible can be answered positively.

The transition to a capital-funded system is feasible within a very short period of time and without additional costs.
Implizite Staatsverschuldung, Strukturreformen und Europäischer Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt
Authors: Fuest Clemens
Published: May 2016

The public debt rules of the European Stability and Growth Pact limit explicit debt but neglect the implicit debt embodied in pay as you go social insurance systems. This does not only imply that the pact fails to take into account the consequences of implicit debt for the sustainability of public finances. It is also possible that a member state violates the pact by transforming implicit into explicit debt in the context of social security reforms, without changing the overall sustainability of its public finances. The pact does include special rules for taking into account reforms of social insurance systems. But these rules are only partly appropriate.
Eine effiziente vertikale Verteilung der Exekutivkompetenzen bei der Regulierung von Telekommunikationsmärkten in Europa
Authors: Haucap Justus , Kühling Jürgen
Published: May 2016

The present paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of centralising regulatory competencies in the European telecommunications sector. As we demonstrate, political economy suggests that an over- rather than an under-regulation of telecommunications markets has to be expected. This tendency has been strengthened by the allocation of competencies under the new regulatory framework which endows the European Commission with far reaching veto rights under the so-called article 7 procedure. In order to delimit the risk of over-regulation through institutional safeguards, it should be easier for regulators to deregulate than to regulate a market. Current suggestions and ambitions by the Commission to extend its veto right or to even establish a European regulator for telecommunications should be dismissed. Instead, we suggest limiting the Commission’s veto rights to (a) markets, in which regulation creates significant international externalities and (b) cases, where national regulators do not move into the direction of deregulation. If, however, a national regulator decides to deregulate a market, the Commission’s ex ante veto right should be abandoned (but ex post intervention by the Commission still be possible) in order not to hamper deregulation which tends to be the desired result, in principle.
Kleine Bundesländer – Achillesferse des Föderalismus?
Authors: Berthold Norbert , Fricke Holger , Müller Andreas
Published: May 2016

In this article we examine whether or not the small size (in terms of population) of some German Laender (states) is harmful. The economic theory of federalism forms the ground on which we present empirical evidence, focusing on our own results for the German Laender. We find evidence that political decisions on federal level instead of Laender level cause preference costs, and so do decisions in big or merged Laender. On the other hand, economies of scale as an assumed advantage of big jurisdictions obviously do not influence the economic outcome very much. We do not find indications for strategic behaviour due to external effects either. Nonetheless, if external effects are regarded as a problem concerning “Stadtstaaten”, they should rather be internalised by horizontal negotiations than by other instruments such as vertical payments or mergers between Laender. Hence, mergers of Laender do not seem to be a necessary precondition for decentralisation, which in turn is advisable as our results show.
Gouvernementalität der Partnerschaft – Eigenschaften einer sozialpolitischen Regierungskunst
Authors: Sack Detlef
Published: May 2016

Im Beitrag werden die Governance-Debatte, ihre Konkretisierung durch das Leitbild des „aktivierenden Staates” und die konkrete Form kooperierender Leistungserbringung mit Hilfe des Foucaultschen Konzepts der Gouvernementalität als eine Regierungskunst der Partnerschaft untersucht. Auf Grundlage von Ratgeberliteratur zu öffentlich-privaten Partnerschaften werden die entsprechenden Deutungen der Wirklichkeit und Machtverhältnisse, die Anrufungen zur Selbst-Führung, die Neuvermessung der Grenzen zwischen Staat, Markt und Gesellschaft sowie die Reflexion über das Regieren vorgestellt. Im Rahmen einer Kontextualisierung werden eine kooperationsorientierte Subjektivierung die Herstellung politischer Loyalität durch Kollaborationsangebote und die räumlich begrenzte Integration sozialpolitischer Akteure als entsprechende Charakteristika identifiziert. Damit verhält sich eine Regierungskunst der Partnerschaft zu neoliberaler Subjektivierung zugleich komplementär wie eigenständig und markiert eine besondere Form sozialpolitischen Regierens.
Aktivierungspädagogik statt wohlfahrtsstaatlicher Dienstleistung?
Authors: Kessl Fabian
Published: May 2016

Aktivierungspolitische Strategien bestimmen seit einigen Jahren die bundesrepublikanische Sozialpolitik. Eine zentrale 'Rolle spielt dabei die pädagogogische Re-Formatierung bisheriger Vorgehensweisen: Staatliche Unterstützung wird pädagogisiert. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird diese Entwicklung am Beispiel der bundesrepublikanischen Kinder- und Jugendhilfe illustriert. Damit wird deutlich, dass aktivierungspolitische Strategien keineswegs, wie oft angenommen, auf den Bereich der Arbeitsmarktpolitik und der damit verbundenen (Jugend-)Berufshilfe beschränkt bleiben. Vielmehr durchziehen aktivierungspädagogische Strategien verschiedenste sozialpolitische Felder. Betrachtet man insbesondere die Soziale Arbeit, so fällt auf, dass sie aktivierungspolitischen Strategien nicht nur ausgesetzt ist, sondern vielmehr selbst aktiv solche veränderten sozialpolitischen Maßnahmen vorantreibt. Eine kritische Soziale Arbeit als Alternative z» einer solchen „Aktivierenden Sozialen Arbeit“ müsste sich dagegen als Teil einer kritischen Sozialpolitik explizit politisch positionieren.
Familienpolitische Reformen und ihre Wirkungen auf die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Eltern
Authors: Steiner Viktor , Wrohlich Katharina
Published: May 2016

In diesem Beitrag beschreiben wir die Wirkungen familienpolitischer Maßnahmen auf die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Eltern. Unsere Untersuchung bezieht sich auf familienpolitische Reformen bzw. Reformvorschläge, die in letzter Zeit häufig diskutiert wurden, wie z.Β. auf den „Karlsruher Entwurf“, den „Kinderzuschlag“ oder das „Familiensplitting“, sowie auf Reformen im Bereich der außerhäusigen Kinderbetreuung. Wir erläutern die erwartenden Effekte dieser Reformen aus Sicht der ökonomischen Theorie und stellen empirische Forschungsergebnisse für Deutschland dar. Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten, dass eine Erhöhung der Erwerbsbeteiligung beider Elternteile eher durch eine Förderung der Kinderbetreuung als durch die Gewährung universeller Transfers oder Steuervergünstigungen erreicht werden kann.
Die Bildungsausgaben der Bundesländer: Bestimmungsfaktoren und sozialpolitische Relevanz
Authors: Wolf Frieder
Published: May 2016

Der Artikel beschreibt die beträchtliche Variation der Bildungsausgaben der Bundesländer und analysiert ihre Bestimmungsfaktoren auf der Basis einer Diskussion ihrer sozialpolitischen Relevant Unter der Annahme, dass mit den Bildungsausgaben die Bildungs- und damit die Lebenschancen steigen, sind die Bestimmungsfaktoren der Bildungsausgaben zugleich Determinanten der relativen Chancengerechtigkeit nach Bundesländern. Während der bundesstaatliche Finanzausgleich wirtschaftlich schwächeren Ländern ihrer Leistungskraft überproportionale Anstrengungen (und mit wohlhabenderen Ländern vergleichbare Pro-Kopf-Bildungsausgaben) ermöglicht und so zur Angleichung der Lebenschancen in der Bundesrepublik beiträgt, wirken sich andere Größen wie die parteipolitische Färbung der Regierung gegenläufig aus.
Die Krankenversicherung in den Niederlanden zwei Jahre nach der Reform
Authors: Agasi Susanne
Published: May 2016

Zum 1. Januar 2006 haben die Niederländer in einer viel beachteten Reform ihr Krankenversicherungssystem neu gestaltet. Die niederländische Krankenversicherungsreform fand in Deutschland große Aufmerksamkeit, insbesondere das neue Finanzierungsmodell der niederländischen Krankversicherung. Das niederländische Modell der Mischfinanzierung über einkommensabhängige Beiträge und nominale Prämien erschien aus der deutschen Perspektive als mögliche Kompromisslösung zwischen den beiden Extremen der „Bürgerversicherung“ und der „Kopfpauschale“ und als Vorbild für die zukünftige Finanzierung der GKV. Der Beitrag setzt sich vor diesem Hintergrund mit der Finanzentwicklung der niederländischen Krankenversicherung in den vergangenen zwei Jahren auseinander und fragt nach den Auswirkungen der Reform auf den Krankenversicherungsmarkt.
Steuerungsprobleme im regulierenden Wohlfahrtsstaat
Authors: Berner Frank
Published: May 2016

Je stärker gewinnorientierte private Akteure an der Erfüllung sozialpolitischer Aufgaben beteiligt werden und je größer dabei die Rolle von Märkten ist, desto weniger ist die Wohlfahrtsproduktion für den Staat steuerbar. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird die Entwicklung der betrieblichen Altersversorgung in der Privatwirtschaft seit der Rentenreform 2001 untersucht. Die zentrale These ist, dass sich in der betrieblichen Altersversorgung ein Differenzierungsprozess vollzieht: Neben die klassische, kollektivistische Betriebsrente tritt eine individualisierte, stärker marktformig organisierte Form der betrieblichen Altersversorgung. Die Rentenreformen der letzten Jahre haben - wie politisch beabsichtigt - zu einer Ausbreitung der betrieblichen Altersversorgung geführt, ausgebreitet hat sich jedoch vor allem ihre individualisierte und marktbasierte Form.
Sozialpolitik in der deutschen Wiedervereinigung
Authors: Ritter Gerhard A.
Published: May 2016

Der Beitrag untersucht die Rolle, die die Sozialpolitik sowohl im Vorfeld als auch nach der deutsch-deutschen Wiedervereinigung gespielt hat. Die Herstellung der deutschen Einheit wurde insbesondere durch einen umfassenden sozialrechtlichen und sozialpolitischen Institutionentransfer von West nach Ost bewältigt. Dabei kam es zu gravierenden und möglicherweise auch vermeidbaren Fehlern. Zu nennen sind hier insbesondere die Finanzierung der Einheitskosten mit den Mitteln der Sozialversicherung sowie Fehleinschätzungen in Bezug auf die Produktivität der DDR-Ökonomie bzw. hinsichtlich des notwendigen Sanierungsbedarfs. Gleichwohl war der Institutionentransfer im Grundsatz alternativlos und die Absicherung der deutschen Einheit durch die Übertragung des bundesdeutschen Sozialsystems zählt zu den großen Leistungen der politischen Kräfte, der staatlichen Verwaltung und vor allem auch der Selbstverwaltungsorgane des deutschen Sozialstaats.
Die Evolution marktregulativer Politik
Authors: Leisering Lutz , Vitić Ines
Published: May 2016

Mit der Riester-Reform von 2001 ist auch in Deutschland die Regulierung privater 'Vorsorgemärkte einem integralen Teil der Alterssicherungspolitik geworden. Der Beitrag untersucht anhand selbst erhobener Daten die Entwicklung marktregulativer Politik nach der Riester-Reform am Beispiel der 2006 in Kraft getretenen Unisex-Tarife für die Riester-Rente. Wir fragen, wie die neue geschlechtliche Gleichheitsnorm in den Debatten begründet wurde und wie sich die Forderung nach Unisex-Tarifen im politischen Prozess 2003/2004 durchsetzten konnte. Wir identifizieren drei Faktoren, die für die Begründung und Durchsetzung von Unisex-Tarifen wesentlich waren: die politische Definition privater Vorsorgemärkte als sozialstaatlichen Zielen verpflichtete „Wohlfahrtsmärkte“; die Flankierung sozialpolitischer Argumente durch weitere Argumente (rechts-, frauen- und wirtschaftspolitische), die die Unisex-Forderung breit gesellschaftlich verankerten; und neue Akteurskonstellationen, mit einer fraktionsübergreifenden Koalition pro Unisex-Tarife. Das Beispiel der Unisex-Tarife zeigt, dass die Etablierung eines Wohlfahrtsmarktes eine Evolution regulativer Politik in Gang setzt.
Wohnungsnot, Wohnungslosigkeit und Wohnungslosenhilfe im Wohlfahrtsstaat Schweden
Authors: Schwarze Uwe
Published: May 2016

Der folgende Beitrag beinhaltet neben einer kurzen historischen Rückschau auf die Entwicklung von Wohnungsnot und Wohnungslosenhilfe in Schweden aktuelle empirische Daten zum Problemfeld. Es werden sowohl Befunde der schwedischen Regierung als auch der kommunalen Ebene vorgestellt. Neben definitorischen Problemen und den Ursachen und Strukturmerkmalen von Wohnungslosigkeit werden das Hilfesystem und gegenwärtige Reformbestrebungen untersucht. Der Beitrag basiert auf Experteninterviews, die im Rahmen eines Austauschprojekts 2007 und 2008 in verschiedenen Sozialen Diensten, überwiegend jedoch in Göteborg und Malmö, geführt wurden. Auch Dokumente der Städte, Sozialer Dienste und der Regierung wurden analysiert. Im Ergebnis zeigt der Beitrag, dass Wohnungslosigkeit in Schweden seit den 1990er Jahren als ein wachsendes soziales Problem anerkannt ist. Gleichzeitig war in Schweden seit dem Ende der 1990er Jahre ein ökonomisches Wachstum und eine rückläufige Arbeitslosigkeit zu verzeichnen. Sozialpolitisch wird auf die neue Wohnungsnot aber offenbar weniger strukturell, etwa über sozialen Wohnungsbau, sondern eher individualisierend mit sozialarbeiterischen Maßnahmen reagiert, insbesondere mit einem sozialarbeiterischen Stufenmodell. Hinsichtlich des Ausmaßes von Wohnungsnot und Wohnungslosigkeit nähert sich dieses Problem in Schweden dabei der aktuellen Situation in Deutschland an. Unterschiede finden sich jedoch in der Struktur des Hilfesystems. Die Analyse zeigt schließlich, dass der schwedische Wohlfahrtsstaat im Bereich bedürftigkeitsgeprüfter Leistungen der Grundsicherung und der Sozialen Dienste eben doch nicht so „armutsfest“ ist wie im Fachdiskurs häufig angenommen wird.
Vom Können und Wollen der privaten Altersvorsorge
Authors: Lamping Wolfram , Tepe Markus
Published: May 2016

Auf Basis der Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels 2007 untersucht dieser Beitrag, welche individuellen Faktoren die Entscheidung, einen Riester-Vertrag abzuschließen, beeinflussen. Dabei unterscheiden wir zwischen dem faktischen Können, d.h. dem finanziellen Vermögen, und dem tatsächlichen Wollen der Inanspruchnahme einer Riester-Rente. Die Ergebnisse der interaktiven logistischen Regression zeigen, dass im Rahmen der komplexen Entscheidungssituation neben den aus anderen Untersuchungen bekannten Faktoren „Alter“ und „Einkommen“ gerade auch subjektive Risikobewertungen (Perzeption der Gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung/Risiko der Arbeitslosigkeit) relevant werden. Sozialpolitische Reformmaßnahmen, deren Ziel die Erhöhung der Inanspruchnahme einer Riester-Rente ist, sollten demnach gleichermaßen die Vorsorgefähigkeit und die Vorsorgebereitschaft in den Blick nehmen.
Ausschreibungen und personengebundene Budgets als neue Steuerungsmodelle in der Sozialwirtschaft
Authors: Meyer Dirk
Published: May 2016

Vor dem Hintergrund der hohen volkswirtschaftlichen Bedeutung des Sozialsektors hinsichtlich seiner sozialpolitischen Funktion, der Bereitstellung von Arbeitsplätzen und seinem Beitrag zur Wertschöpfung steht die Forderung nach einer effizienten und bedarfsgerechten Versorgung. Der Beitrag stellt dem vielfach noch vorherrschenden korporatistischen System mit Sachleistungsprinzip, Bedarfsplanung und Objektforderung eine wettbewerblich-marktliche Steuerung gegenüber. Ein personengebundenes Budget und die Vergabe durch Ausschreibungen werden als alternative Steuerungsformen diskutiert sowie deren flexible Ausgestaltung und Grenzen anhand von Fallbeispielen illustriert.
Theorising Global Social Policy
Authors: Deacon Bob
Published: May 2016

In diesem Beitrag wird gefragt, wie globale Sozialpolitikforschung und Weltgesellschaftforschung zum Verständnis der Globalisierung von Sozialpolitik beigetragen haben. Die beiden Forschungsrichtungen werden vorgestellt und miteinander verglichen. Dies mündet in Überlegungen, wie die beiden Pachtungen sinnvoll miteinander in Einklang gebracht werden können, um die Analyse globaler Sozialpolitik zu verbessern. Der vorgeschlagene theoretische Rahmen beinhaltet eine Verbindung der Kategorien agency, Struktur, Institution und Diskurs.
Globale Wissensdiffusion in der Sozialpolitik
Authors: Leisering Lutz , Tao Liu
Published: May 2016

Derzeit wird die 1884 geschaffene deutsche Arbeitsunfallversicherung in Grundlagen nach China exportiert. Damit findet auch die Idee individueller sozialer Rechte in China Eingang, obwohl sie weder in der konfuzianischen noch der sinokommunistischen Tradition verankert ist. Der Beitrag zielt darauf diesen unwahrscheinlichen Policy Transfer im Lichte des Konzepts globaler Wissensdiffusion zu beschreiben und zu erklären. Allgemeiner wollen wir zu der Frage beitragen, wieweit Sozialpolitik heute bereits globalisiert ist. Auf der Basis eigener Erhebungen, darunter Interviews mit den Hauptakteuren, zeigen wir, dass das Konzept der Unfallversicherung Teil der Weltpolitik und der Weltkultur geworden ist; dass die Einführung der Unfallversicherung in China tatsächlich ein wesentlich von außen konstruierter Prozess, also Ergebnis globaler Wissensdiffusion ist; und dass einzelne Felder der Sozialpolitik (wie Unfall, Alter und Gesundheit in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß und auf unterschiedliche Weise ‚globalisiert’ sind. Der Fall der Unfallversicherung bestätigt also Deacons These der Entstehung globaler Sozialpolitik und differenziert sie zugleich.
Turner syndrome: don't forget the vulva
Authors: Haidopoulos Dimitrios , Bakolas George , Michala Lina
Published: May 2016

Turner syndrome (TS) has been linked to a number of autoimmune conditions, including lichen sclerosus (LS), at an estimated prevalence of 17%. LS is a known precursor to vulvar cancer. We present a case of vulvar cancer in a 44-year-old woman, who had previously complained of pruritus in the area, a known symptom of LS. Histology confirmed a squamous cell carcinoma with underlying LS. Vulvar assessment for the presence of LS should be undertaken regularly as part of the routine assessments proposed for adult TS women. If LS is identified, then the patient should be warned of the increased risk of vulvar cancer progression and should be monitored closely for signs of the condition.

Learning points

Patients with TS are at increased risk of developing LS.

LS is a known precursor to vulvar cancer.

TS women with LS may be at risk of developing vulvar cancer and should be offered annual vulvar screening and also be aware of signs and symptoms of early vulvar cancer.
Polymorphisms in MEN1 and DRD2 genes are associated with the occurrence and characteristics of pituitary adenomas
Authors: Peculis Raitis , Balcere Inga , Rovite Vita , Megnis Kaspars , Valtere Andra , Stukens Janis , Arnicane Ligita , Nikitina-Zake Liene , Lejnieks Aivars , Pirags Valdis , Klovins Janis
Published: May 2016

Objective

Although pituitary adenomas (PAs) affect a significant proportion of the population, only a fraction have the potential to become clinically relevant during an individual’s lifetime, causing hormonal imbalance or complications due to mass effect. The overwhelming majority of cases are sporadic and without a clear familial history, and the genotype–phenotype correlation in PA patients is poorly understood. Our aim was to investigate the involvement of genes known for their role in familial cases on drug response and tumor suppression in the development and pathology of PAs in a patient group from Latvia.

Design

The study included 143 cases and 354 controls, we investigated the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven genes (SSTR2, SSTR5, DRD2, MEN1, AIP, GNAS, and PRKAR1A) associated with pituitary tumor occurrence, phenotype, and clinical symptoms.

Methods

Genotyping of 96 tag and nonsynonymous SNPs was performed in the genomic regions of interest.

Results

We discovered a significant association (OR=17.8, CI 0.95=2.18–145.5, P=0.0002) between a rare MEN1 mutation (rs2959656) and clinically active adenoma in our patients. Additionally, rs7131056 at DRD2 was associated with a higher occurrence of extrasellar growth in patients with prolactinoma and somatotropinoma (OR=2.79, CI 0.95=1.58–4.95, P=0.0004).

Conclusions

rs2959656, a nonsynonymous variant in MEN1, is associated with the development of clinically active PA. Furthermore, rs7131056 in DRD2 contributes to either faster growth of the adenoma or reduced symptomatic presentation, allowing PAs to become larger before detection.
Roles for the Histone Modifying and Exchange Complex NuA4 in Cell Cycle Progression in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Flegel Kerry , Grushko Olga , Bolin Kelsey , Griggs Ellen , Buttitta Laura
Published: May 2016

Robust and synchronous repression of E2F-dependent gene expression is critical to the proper timing of cell cycle exit when cells transition to a postmitotic state. Previously NuA4 was suggested to act as a barrier to proliferation in Drosophila by repressing E2F-dependent gene expression. Here we show that NuA4 activity is required for proper cell cycle exit and the repression of cell cycle genes during the transition to a postmitotic state in vivo. However, the delay of cell cycle exit caused by compromising NuA4 is not due to additional proliferation or effects on E2F activity. Instead NuA4 inhibition results in slowed cell cycle progression through late S and G2 phases due to aberrant activation of an intrinsic p53-independent DNA damage response. A reduction in NuA4 function ultimately produces a paradoxical cell cycle gene expression program, where certain cell cycle genes become derepressed in cells that are delayed during the G2 phase of the final cell cycle. Bypassing the G2 delay when NuA4 is inhibited leads to abnormal mitoses and results in severe tissue defects. NuA4 physically and genetically interacts with components of the E2F complex termed Drosophila, Rbf, E2F and Myb/Multi-vulva class B (DREAM/MMB), and modulates a DREAM/MMB-dependent ectopic neuron phenotype in the posterior wing margin. However, this effect is also likely due to the cell cycle delay, as simply reducing Cdk1 is sufficient to generate a similar phenotype. Our work reveals that the major requirement for NuA4 in the cell cycle in vivo is to suppress an endogenous DNA damage response, which is required to coordinate proper S and G2 cell cycle progression with differentiation and cell cycle gene expression.
Molecular Epidemiology of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Complex Isolates from Patients that were Injured during the Eastern Ukrainian Conflict
Authors: Granzer Heike , Hagen Ralf Matthias , Warnke Philipp , Bock Wolfgang , Baumann Tobias , Schwarz Norbert Georg , Podbielski Andreas , Frickmann Hagen , Koeller Thomas
Published: May 2016

This study addressed carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC) isolates from patients that were injured during the military conflict in the Eastern Ukraine and treated at German Armed Forces Hospitals in 2014 and 2015. Clonal diversity of the strains and potential ways of transmission were analyzed.

Patients with one or several isolation events of carbapenem-resistant ABC were included. Isolates were characterized by VITEK II-based identification and resistance testing, molecular screening for frequent carbapenemase genes, and DiversiLab rep-PCRbased typing. Available clinical information of the patients was assessed.

From 21 young male Ukrainian patients with battle injuries, 32 carbapenem- and fluoroquinolone-resistant ABC strains were isolated. Four major clonal clusters were detected. From four patients (19%), ABC isolates from more than one clonal cluster were isolated. The composition of the clusters suggested transmission events prior to the admission to the German hospitals.

The infection and colonization pressure in the conflict regions of the Eastern Ukraine with ABC of low clonal diversity is considerable. Respective infection risks have to be considered in case of battle-related injuries in these regions. The low number of local clones makes any molecular exclusion of transmission events difficult.
Sorafenib Effectiveness in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Sanoff Hanna K. , Chang YunKyung , Lund Jennifer L. , O'Neil Bert H. , Dusetzina Stacie B.
Published: May 2016

Background.

Phase III trials show sorafenib improves survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because of narrow trial eligibility, results may not be generalizable to a broader HCC population. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of initial sorafenib versus no treatment among Medicare beneficiaries with advanced HCC.

Materials and Methods.

Patients with advanced HCC diagnosed from 2008 to 2011 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database. Eligible patients received initial sorafenib or no therapy and were covered by Medicare parts A, B, and D. Sorafenib use and outcomes were described in this population. Using a propensity score (PS)-matched sample, we compared the effectiveness of sorafenib versus no treatment by Cox proportional hazards and binomial regression, using a landmark requiring all patients to survive ≥60 days after diagnosis.

Results.

Of 1,532 patients, 27% received initial sorafenib. Median duration of sorafenib use was 60 days (interquartile range [IQR], 30–107 days), and median survival from first prescription was 3 months (IQR, 1–8 months). In the PS-matched cohort, median survival was 3 months from the 60-day landmark in sorafenib-treated (n = 223) and 2 months in untreated (n = 223) patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.95 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.78–1.16]). Sorafenib was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in mortality at 3 months (44% versus 51%; adjusted risk ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.72–1.07]), but no reduction thereafter.

Conclusion.

Survival after sorafenib initiation in newly diagnosed Medicare beneficiaries with HCC is exceptionally short, suggesting trial results are not generalizable to all HCC patients. The downsides of sorafenib use—high drug-related symptom burden and high drug cost—must be considered in light of this minimal benefit.
Firm Entry and Macroeconomic Dynamics: A State-level Analysis
Authors: Gourio Francois , Messer Todd , Siemer Michael
Published: May 2016

Using an annual panel of US states over the period 1982-2014, we estimate the response of macroeconomic variables to a shock to the number of new firms (startups). We find that these shocks have significant effects that persist for many years on real GDP, productivity, and population. This result is consistent with simple models of firm dynamics where a “missing generation” of firms affects productivity persistently.
The Creative Poetry Translation Method from the Perspective of the Cultural Turn — Longfellow’s A Psalm of Life as a Case Study
Authors: Li Ming
Published: May 2016

A Psalm of Life is a well-known poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and it has been translated into many different versions since the Qing Dynasty. From the 1980s, translation studies have focused on the cultural aspects rather than the literal equivalence. The new perspective takes into account how the translated version is adapted and accepted and influences the target culture. This paper, based on the cultural turn perspective, examines the theoretical background of translation research and analyzes a translated version of A Psalm of Life in light of the target language and culture. This paper concludes that the creative translation method in English-Chinese poetry translation is reasonable and innovative.
A Study on Lexical Sense Relations from the Perspective of Vocabulary Breadth and Word Frequency
Authors: Cheng Xiaoli
Published: May 2016

In second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition, breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge are two indispensable components that interrelate with each other to a substantial extent. Breadth of vocabulary is actually vocabulary size. Lexical sense relations, part and parcel of depth of vocabulary, are reported to be able to facilitate the mastery of L2 words. Word frequency concerns the familiarity of words. The present research intends to make a synthetical analysis of the development of L2 word meaning under the influence of vocabulary size and word frequency in classroom settings. The merging of qualitative and quantitative aspects of words is to describe exhaustively how students fit the words into their mind, and to provide some pedagogical implications to L2 vocabulary teaching and learning.