bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transnational political practices and the receiving state: Turks and Kurds in Germany and the Netherlands
Authors: Østergaard‐Nielsen Eva Kristine
Published: March 2003

This article examines how the social and political contexts in receiving countries affect the transnational political practices of migrants and refugees, such as their mobilization around political events in their homeland. The case study explores the political participation of Turks and Kurds in Germany and the Netherlands in its full complexity, that is in both the immigration country and in homeland politics. The findings suggest that transnational political practices should not be reduced to a function of the political opportunity structures of particular receiving countries for two main reasons: (a) more inclusive political structures, which provide for more participation and co‐operation on immigrant political issues, may at the same time, and for that very reason, serve to exclude dialogue on homeland politics; (b) homeland political movements may draw on a different range of resources than their immigrant political counterparts, including those outside the local political institutional context.
Transnational politics at the edges of sovereignty: social movements, crossings and the state at the US–Mexico border
Authors: Cunningham Hilary
Published: March 2003

This article documents the history of border crossings among a group of social movement activists located in southern Arizona. By comparing two types of US–Mexico border crossings separated ten years apart, the article explores how political groups become ‘transnationalized’ and in relation to what kinds of ‘states’. By contrasting the shift from a state‐centric movement to a transnational coalition, the case study analyses why, in the later period, political activists were no longer able to identify the same kind of state. In chronicling the disappearance of one kind of state formation and the emergence of a transnational one, this research argues that globalization—rather than simply reflecting a decline of the nation state—is a process entailing not only new forms of transnational political activism but also new forms of the state.
Transnational religion: Hindu and Muslim movements
Authors: Van Der Veer Peter
Published: March 2003

In this article I deal with transnational Hindu and Muslim movements. I reject the common assertion that migrant communities are conservative in religious and social matters by arguing that ‘traditionalism’ requires considerable ideological creativity and that this significantly transforms previous practices and discourses. I suggest that religious movements, active among migrants, develop cosmopolitan projects that can be viewed as alternatives to the cosmopolitanism of the European Enlightenment. This raises a number of challenges concerning citizenship, integration and political loyalty for governmentality in the nation‐states in which these cosmopolitan projects are carried out. I suggest that rather than looking at religious migrants as at best conservative and at worst terrorist one should perhaps pay some attention to the creative moments in human responses to new challenges and new environments.
Calling capital: call centre strategies in New Brunswick and New Zealand
Authors: Larner Wendy
Published: March 2003

This article compares government promoted call centre initiatives in New Zealand and New Brunswick, Canada, thereby identifying differing policies and practices associated with ‘globalization’. Both New Brunswick and New Zealand are small resource based economies in which policy makers aspire to attract foreign investment into call centres as a new means of economic growth and job creation. However there are significant differences between the two call centre strategies. In New Brunswick the provincial government plays a central role, most notably through the use of incentives to lure companies to the province but also through the coordination of education and training. In New Zealand an informal network made up of public and private sector actors drives the strategy, and the relevant government agency (Trade NZ) plays only a coordinating role. Despite these differences both call centre strategies aspire to link service sector activities into global flows and networks, and foster low wage and feminized forms of employment.
Cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitanisms? The Universal Races Congress of 1911
Authors: Holton Robert John
Published: March 2003

Recent discussions of cosmopolitanism have moved beyond the moral philosophy of Western liberal‐democratic universalism towards a newer sociology emphasizing plurality and embracing the world beyond Europe. The new cosmopolitanisms have also come to be seen in terms of a dialectic between general orientations toward humanity and the particular temporal and spatial contexts within which they emerge. After disentangling various meanings of the term cosmopolitanism, the article examines their relationship with notions of universalism and globalization. The idea of multiple rooted cosmopolitanisms is then explored empirically using data on the Universal Races Congress of 1911. This is seen as an example of multiple cosmopolitanisms, challenging both the Euro‐centricity of older unitary ideas of Western cosmopolitanism, and the over‐emphasis of theories of imperial dominance on mechanisms of discursive incorporation. The main difficulty with the new cosmopolitanism thesis is the difficulty of distinguishing between varieties of transnational identity, which vary in their openness and inclusivity.
Oceans of Need in the Desert: Ethical Issues Identified While Researching Humanitarian Agency Response in Afghanistan
Authors: Michael Markus , Zwi Anthony B.
Published: March 2003

This paper describes the interventions by the International Committee of the Red Cross to support a hospital in Afghanistan during the mid–1990s. We present elements of the interventions introduced in Ghazni, Afghanistan, and consider a number of ethical issues stimulated by this analysis. Ethical challenges arise wherever humanitarian interventions to deal with complex political emergencies are undertaken: among those related to the case study presented are questions concerning: a) whether humanitarian support runs the risk of propping up repressive and irresponsible governments; b) whether humanitarian relief activities can legitimately focus on a narrow range of interventions, or need to broaden to address the range of challenges facing the health system; and c) whether sustainability and quality of care should be routinely considered in such settings. The paper concludes by highlighting the value of case studies, suggesting mechanisms for extending transparency and accountability in humanitarian health interventions, and highlighting the need for contextualising humanitarian work if the interventions are to be successful.
Brief Solution Focused Therapy
Authors: Lethem Jane
Published: March 2003

This paper introduces the development of, and the key assumptions and practices associated with, Brief Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). Therapist and client collaborate to clarify the best ways to build on existing strengths and resources in order to move toward a future that the client would prefer. The benefits of this approach for children, adolescents, their carers and teachers, are highlighted. Recent developments in the practice of SFT are outlined.
Variable Selection in Artefact Compositional Studies
Authors: Baxter M. J. , Jackson C. M.
Published: March 2003

In artefact compositional studies, the selection of variables to use in analysis is unavoidable. Given this ubiquity, surprisingly little attention has been paid to ways in which variables might be selected. After arguing the case for the importance of variable selection, two systematic approaches to making a choice, which have had little or no application in archaeometry, are discussed and illustrated. One, based on the use of principal components, is appropriate if structure in the data is not known. The other, based on the use of classification trees, is applicable when there are known or assumed groups in the data.
Assessing Ceramic Compositional Data: A Comparison of Total Reflection X‐ray Fluorescence and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis On Late Iron Age Spanish Celtiberian Ceramics
Authors: García‐Heras M. , Blackman M. J. , Fernández‐Ruiz R. , Bishop R. L.
Published: March 2003

A solid‐phase, non‐chemical processing protocol was recently developed as a means of chemically characterizing archaeological ceramics by total reflection X‐ray fluorescence (TXRF). Following this methodology, TXRF can provide semi‐quantitative determinations for 18 elements with comparable levels of precision and accuracy for the majority of them in comparison with a clay reference material analysed by instrumental neutron activation (INAA). In order critically to assess the analytical capabilities of TXRF, a large sample set of Late Iron Age Spanish Celtiberian ceramics and modern clays was analysed both by TXRF and INAA. Semi‐quantitative chemical data provided by TXRF and quantitative data provided by INAA were subjected to commonly used multivariate statistical methods as a way of evaluating the ability of the new technique to discriminate among different compositional groups. The comparison of the two data sets shows no significant discrepancies, thereby allowing support for the same archaeological interpretation. These results suggest that TXRF has potential applicability for compositional characterization of archaeological ceramics, providing data that are useful for provenance studies.
The Characterization of Biologically Available Strontium Isotope Ratios for the Study of Prehistoric Migration
Authors: Price T. D. , Burton J. H. , Bentley R. A.
Published: March 2003

Strontium isotope analysis of bone and tooth enamel from prehistoric human skeletons is an important new technique used to address questions regarding migration. Two problems arise in such investigations: (1) levels of strontium isotope ratios in local bedrock, soil, water, plants and animals are variable; and (2) a range of values in human bone and enamel data make it difficult to distinguish some migrants from locals. Analysis of the bones of small animals provides a robust measure of local strontium isotope ratios and a reliable, if conservative, means for determining confidence limits for distinguishing migrants. Data from various geographical areas are presented here in a discussion of variability in strontium isotope values. Examples are provided using modern and prehistoric materials. We conclude with the recommendation that studies involving strontium isotope analysis should incorporate small animal samples for comparative purposes whenever possible.
230Th/U dating of the Trojan ‘water quarries’
Authors: Frank N. , Mangini A. , Korfmann M.
Published: March 2003

We determined the 230Th/U ages of individual calcite layers that grew on the walls of artificial water‐supply tunnels (‘water quarries’) at Troy/Ilios by using thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The oldest age of overgrowth being 4350 ± 570 years, the tunnels must have been built a short time earlier, during the archaeological period Troy I–II. The tunnels were also used during Troy VI–VII (1700–1150 bce, a period that includes the date of the supposed ‘Trojan War’), in Homeric times (c. 720 bce) and in the Roman period. These findings add strong support to the identification of the water quarries with a natural phenomenon and Anatolian deity known in Hittite texts of the second millennium bce as KASKAL.KUR, a term denoting subsurface water systems. Consequently, they reinforce the view that Troy in the second millennium bce was Anatolian in character. In this way, the findings are also consistent with the identification of (W)Ilios with Wilusa, a city attested to in Hittite historical texts.
The diversity of diversity: a critique of geodemographic classification
Authors: Voas David , Williamson Paul
Published: March 2003

We report on an examination of two geodemographic classification systems based on an analysis of 1991 census variables, for districts, wards and census enumeration districts in England and Wales. We also review the associations among the variables examined, the extent to which certain underlying components might account for the overall variation and the types of areas that are least typical. The results show that small areas are different in many different ways; a few dimensions cannot provide enough information to describe an area fully. Diversity on most scales remains even after geodemographicclassification, emphasizing the advantages of task‐specific classification.
Power, politics and networks: shaping partnerships for sustainable communities
Authors: Davies Anna
Published: March 2003

The emergence of environmental governance for sustainable development as a field of inquiry has stimulated a plethora of research into new formations for governing the environment. Partnerships hold an exalted status in these formations, but there has been surprisingly little evaluative work of their activities. This paper extends that embryonic analysis through empirical consideration of a partnership established to foster the development of sustainable communities, specifically by stimulating greater public participation in positive environmental activities. Theoretical insights about patterns of power, perceived authority and legitimacy in the partnership are developed through a consideration of ‘actor–spaces’ and the ‘sociology of translation’ that emerge from actor–network theory.
The RGS, exploration and Empire and the contested nature of surveying
Authors: Collier Peter , Inkpen Rob
Published: March 2003

In 1879, the RGS started courses in practical surveying based on the methods used by navigators. Subsequently, RGS courses, increasingly under the influence of former members of the Survey of India, changed in character. At the same time as the nature of appropriate surveying was being negotiated within the RGS, the debate over the academic nature of geography also took shape. The development of the ‘new’ geography reflected the conflicts within the RGS Council over the meaning of scientific geography.
Excavating geography’s hidden spaces
Authors: Lorimer Hayden , Spedding Nick
Published: March 2003

This paper considers alternative ways to approach teaching and researching the history and philosophy of geography. While exploring the geography department as a previously marginalized space in accounts of disciplinary change, three different types of source are identified: first, less formal kinds of documentation; second, material sites; and third, a bodily archive of action, gesture and movement. In combination, these are shown to open up new possibilities for localized, grass–roots versions of geography’s pasts and presents.
Trends and Cycles in Australian State and Territory Unemployment Rates
Authors: Dixon Robert , Shepherd David
Published: March 2003

In this paper we test for the presence of common trends and cycles in the state unemployment rates, and examine the relative dispersion of unemployment rates across the states and their relationship with the business cycle. Importantly, the results suggest that, contrary to widely held opinion, there is a case for regional unemployment policy (i.e. policy of a kind that discriminates between states and territories) in Australia. In particular: in the case of Tasmania and the two territories, regional policy is needed to counter both temporary and permanent shocks; and in the case of the mainland states – and especially mainland states with above‐average unemployment rates – regional policy is needed to counter permanent shocks but not temporary shocks.
A new mapping of the world for the new millennium
Authors: Taylor Peter J. , Hoyler Michael , Walker David R.F. , Szegner Mark J.
Published: March 2003

A new mapping of the world derived from connections between cities is presented as a complement to the traditional world map of countries. Under conditions of contemporary globalization world cities have emerged as global service centres. These have been created by the location strategies of leading corporate service firms (e.g. in accountancy) in setting up their global office networks. Data on the offices of 46 global service firms in 55 world cities are used to define service connections between cities. Connections are converted into measures of network proximity and a multidimensional scaling is applied to these ‘distances’ to create a ‘global service space’ of cities. This new mapping of the world shows a distinctive centric structure with the major world cities (e.g. London) at the core. Investigation of this general structure reveals more subtle patterns of interacting regional and hierarchical tendencies.
History and necessity: the evolution of soil conservation technology in a Jamaican farming system
Authors: Kent Rebecca J.
Published: March 2003

The soil conservation campaigns that have been a prominent feature of Jamaican agricultural policy since the 1950s are frequently presented as having failed to ameliorate the problem of soil erosion in hillside agriculture. A case study of a small farming community in the Blue Mountains explores the development of the soil conservation practices currently employed by farmers. The use of trash barriers in carrot farming is described and the origins of this technology and its subsequent adaptation are considered. The study concludes that extension interventions and government policy have influenced the development of current soil conservation practices; practices which have their roots in indigenous techniques. Other factors such as the adaptation of trash barriers to suit local conditions and their importance in soil fertility management also play a role in their widespread use in the study area. The study demonstrates that to understand the process of technical change in farming communities, it is necessary to consider a range of factors, external and internal, technical and social, that have over time influenced farmers’ decision making.
Private property restitution: the geographical consequences of official government policies in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Blacksell Mark , Born Karl Martin
Published: March 2003

The restitution of private property has been a widespread and controversial part of the post‐socialist transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, raising issues about social justice and the responsibilities of national governments for the actions of their predecessors. This paper reviews the implementation of the restitution process in the countries of the region and assesses the impact on the social and economic landscape. The policy has been most extensive in Germany and most controversial in Poland, and the impacts in these two countries are considered in detail. The results show that everywhere restitution has resulted in winners and losers, with some claimants having long‐lost property returned, but too often at the cost of residents losing their homes. However, an important benefit, notably in Germany's New Bundesländer, has been the introduction of much‐needed new investment into the urban fabric of towns and cities, although the landscape impacts elsewhere have been less significant. Nevertheless, throughout Central and Eastern Europe restitution policies have helped governments to come to terms with a difficult aspect of the past and move forward.
Developing new measures of welfare state change and reform
Authors: Castles Francis G.
Published: March 2003

Abstract. Since the publication of Gøsta Esping–Andersen's The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism (Esping–Andersen 1990), which built its typologies on a rich database of detailed programme characteristics, it has been generally accepted that measures of social expenditure are an inferior, and even a misleading, source of information concerning the character of welfare state development. The problem is, however, that the kinds of detailed programme data Esping–Andersen used are not routinely available, while the quality of social expenditure data has been improving rapidly, culminating in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) now regularly updated and highly disaggregated Social Expenditure Database (SOCX). This article explores the possibility of using SOCX to devise measures of the extent, structure and trajectory of welfare state change and reform in 21 OECD countries over the period 1984 to 1997. On the basis of these measures, it suggests that there has been almost no sign of systematic welfare retrenchment in recent years and only limited evidence of major structural transformation or programmatic reorientation.
Public choice in political markets: The absence of quid pro quo
Authors: JONES PHILIP
Published: March 2003

Abstract.  Public choice analysts argue that, while incentive mechanisms in competitive markets ensure consumer sovereignty, decisions in political processes conflict with voters’ preferences. Voters are vulnerable because they are rationally apathetic. Yet, if this is so, how can high participation rates be explained? Evidence reveals that, in the absence of effective quid pro quo, behaviour differs systematically from that predicted of homo economicus. Here it is argued that, while participation cannot be explained in terms of an instrumental act (to affect outcome), it can be explained in terms of individuals’ perceptions of the intrinsic value of the process itself. It follows that inherent mechanisms within representative democracy are capable of mitigating the more ‘dismal’ predictions of public choice analysis.
Referenda voting in Portugal, 1998: The effects of party sympathies, social structure and pressure groups1
Authors: FREIRE ANDRÉ , BAUM MICHAEL A.
Published: March 2003

Abstract.  According to numerous recent cross‐national studies of public support for democracy, citizens of both well‐established and newer democracies continue to share a strong commitment to the ideals and principles of representative democracy. Paradoxically, however, these same citizens are increasingly ‘critical’ of and ‘dissatisfied’ with the performance of their national democratic institutions. One response has been to call for the ‘re‐invention of government’ through the use of referendums and ballot initiatives. This article explores what happens when the national referendum was introduced in Portugal in 1998 – a polity that only recently consolidated its transition to democracy. We examine in some depth the context under which the referendum was introduced and its results in terms of electoral behaviour. The main goals are to explain both abstention and vote choice in the 1998 Portuguese referendums, analysing the role of political parties, social structural factors and pressure groups on those phenomena.
Challenges to established parties: The effects of party system features on the electoral fortunes of anti‐political‐establishment parties
Authors: Abedi Arim
Published: March 2003

Abstract. The rise of parties that challenge the political establishment has recently sparked the interest of political scientists. Scholars have identified several factors that lie behind the success of such anti‐political‐establishment parties. Most empirical studies, however, have concentrated their attention either on the importance of electoral system features or on the effects of socioeconomic conditions. This article focuses instead on the role that party system factors play in the electoral success of these parties. Using three data sets from studies conducted in three different time periods it tests two seemingly contradictory hypotheses. On the one hand, the claim that where the established parties have converged toward centrist positions and thus fail to present voters with an identity that is noticeably different from their established competitors, the electorate will be more susceptible to the markedly different policies put forward by anti‐political‐establishment parties. On the other hand, there is the argument that these parties profit more from increasing polarization and the subsequent enlargement of the political space than from a convergence toward the median. The results of the analyses show that anti‐political‐establishment parties generally profit from a close positioning of the establishment parties on the left‐right scale. However, there is no consistent support for the notion that party system polarization by itself is associated with an increase in the support for parties that challenge the political establishment.
Geographic Variation in the Use of Post‐acute Care
Authors: Kane Robert L. , Lin Wen‐Chieh , Blewett Lynn A.
Published: March 2003

Objective. To assess the extent and consistency of geographic differences in the use of post‐acute care (PAC), and the stability of this pattern of variation.

Data Sources. The 5 percent Medicare data sample for 1996, 1997, and the first eight months of 1998 were used.

Study Design. Patterns of PAC use for various Diagnosis‐related Groups (DRGs) across states (33 with enough cases per year) and census divisions were examined. The consistency of relative rankings for overall PAC use and use within defined DRGs was compared.

Principal Findings. PAC use varied substantially across regions. For example, the extent of any PAC use for stroke patients varied by 12 percentage points among census regions in 1998. The pattern of PAC use was quite consistent across years; 30 of the 36 possible Spearman rank order correlations were statistically significant with coefficients ranging from 0.35 to 0.95 among the DRGs studied. The correlations among DRGs were generally high. For skilled nursing facility use, all the correlations were above 0.5 and were statistically significant; in general the patterns were highest within medical DRGs (0.65–0.93).

Conclusions. The variation in PAC use is not a statistical artifact. It is likely the result of several forces: practice styles, supply of services, and local regulatory practices.
Quality Improvement Implementation in the Nursing Home
Authors: Berlowitz Dan R. , Young Gary J. , Hickey Elaine C. , Saliba Debra , Mittman Brian S. , Czarnowski Elaine , Simon Barbara , Anderson Jennifer J. , Ash Arlene S. , Rubenstein Lisa V. , Moskowitz Mark A.
Published: March 2003

Objective. To examine quality improvement (QI) implementation in nursing homes, its association with organizational culture, and its effects on pressure ulcer care.

Data Sources/Study Settings. Primary data were collected from staff at 35 nursing homes maintained by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on measures related to QI implementation and organizational culture. These data were combined with information obtained from abstractions of medical records and analyses of an existing database.

Study Design. A cross‐sectional analysis of the association among the different measures was performed.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Completed surveys containing information on QI implementation, organizational culture, employee satisfaction, and perceived adoption of guidelines were obtained from 1,065 nursing home staff. Adherence to best practices related to pressure ulcer prevention was abstracted from medical records. Risk‐adjusted rates of pressure ulcer development were calculated from an administrative database.

Principal Findings. Nursing homes differed significantly (p<.001) in their extent of QI implementation with scores on this 1 to 5 scale ranging from 2.98 to 4.08. Quality improvement implementation was greater in those nursing homes with an organizational culture that emphasizes innovation and teamwork. Employees of nursing homes with a greater degree of QI implementation were more satisfied with their jobs (a 1‐point increase in QI score was associated with a 0.83 increase on the 5‐point satisfaction scale, p<.001) and were more likely to report adoption of pressure ulcer clinical guidelines (a 1‐point increase in QI score was associated with a 28 percent increase in number of staff reporting adoption, p<.001). No significant association was found, though, between QI implementation and either adherence to guideline recommendations as abstracted from records or the rate of pressure ulcer development.

Conclusions. Quality improvement implementation is most likely to be successful in those VA nursing homes with an underlying culture that promotes innovation. While QI implementation may result in staff who are more satisfied with their jobs and who believe they are providing better care, associations with improved care are uncertain.
Quality of Cardiac Surgeons and Managed Care Contracting Practices
Authors: Mukamel Dana B , Weimer David L , Zwanziger Jack , Mushlin Alvin I
Published: March 2003

Objective. To evaluate the association between contracting practices of managed care organizations (MCOs) with cardiac surgeons and the quality of the cardiac surgeons.

Data Sources/Study Setting. The study included all cardiac surgeons offering coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and 78 percent of MCOs in New York State in 1998. Primary data: The MCOs' panel composition with respect to hospitals and cardiac surgeons. Secondary data: New York State (NYS) Cardiac Surgery Reports.

Study Design. Statistical analyses of the probability of a contract between cardiac surgeons and MCOs conditional on the surgeon's risk‐adjusted mortality rates (RAMR), outlier and low volume status, and controlling for other confounding variables, were performed.

Principal Findings. Contract probability exhibited a tendency to decrease with RAMR, low volume and low‐quality outlier status and to increase with high‐quality outlier status. These effects were statistically significant for RAMR and high‐quality outliers in Downstate and for low volume in Downstate and Upstate.

Conclusions. In some, but not all cases, MCOs are seeking higher‐quality providers. Further research is required to understand regional variability and the effect of market structure on the quality profile of MCOs.
September 11, Anti-Terror Laws and Civil Liberties: Britain, France and Germany Compared
Authors: Haubrich Dirk
Published: March 2003

The attacks on the United States of America in September 2001 have spurred a rapid implementation of new Anti-Terrorism legislation around the world. In an effort to, ostensibly, safeguard against the repetition of similar events on their own territories, many democracies have taken far-reaching legislative steps that might threaten the ideal of liberty on which their societies have traditionally been built. This article examines the laws introduced in Britain, France and Germany to establish the extent to which civil liberties in eight different categories have been curtailed. It concludes that, despite the otherwise similar characteristics of the countries studied, the legal provisions differ significantly in scope and depth, a fact that might be explained by: the different levels of threat perception; Britain's history of anti-terror legislation; and the respective power balances between judiciaries and legislatures.
Economists in the Next Millennium: One Voice or Many?
Authors: Mote Jonathon
Published: March 2003

This comment is in response to Frederic L. Pryor (2000). “The Millennium Survey: How Economists View the U.S. Economy in the 21st Century.”The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. 59 (January), pp. 3‐33.
Economy and Society: The Future
Authors: Wrong Dennis
Published: March 2003

This comment is in response to Frederic L. Pryor (2000). “The Millennium Survey: How Economists View the U.S. Economy in the 21st Century.7rdquo; The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. 59 (January), pp. 3‐33.
An Analysis of Kin‐Provided Child Care in the Context of Intrafamily Exchanges
Authors: Brandon Peter
Published: March 2003

Little is known about why parents choose kin‐provided child care and less is known about how kin‐provided child care is related to other forms of in‐kind support from relatives close‐at‐hand. Previous models of the choice of kin‐provided child care assumed that the presence of other forms of in‐kind support from relatives nearby was inconsequential to estimating effects of economic and demographic factors on the decision to use kin‐provided child care. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of the Class of 1972, this study shows that this assumption is incorrect because use of kin‐provided child care and intrafamily in‐kind resource exchanges are interrelated. When the association between use of kin‐provided child care and the presence of other family in‐kind exchanges is ignored, the study shows that estimated effects for income, the price of child care, and maternal characteristics are underestimated. The findings provide a better understanding of why parents choose kin‐provided child care by confirming that this decision is a part of a larger set of parental decisions about involvement in resource exchanges within extended families. My findings support recent child care bills aiming to increase parental choice of child care provider, broaden the definition of a provider to include non‐coresident relatives, and expand price subsidies for kin‐provided child care.
Complexity, Governance and Constitutional Craftsmanship
Authors: Wagner Richard E.
Published: March 2003

Economic policy is commonly treated as a vehicle for selecting among possible allocative outcomes within an economy. An economy, however, is a complex network of relationships whose patterns can be understood but whose details can be neither predicted nor controlled. Because of this complexity, allocative outcomes are not direct objects of choice. They are simply emergent consequences of human interaction that takes place within some framework of governing rules and conventions. All economic policy can do is modify some of the rules that govern this interaction. Economic policy is thus constitutive and not allocative in character, being centrally involved in shaping the character of the regime that governs our relationships with each other.
Comments on E. Schlicht’s On Custom in the Economy (1998)
Authors: Blaug Mark
Published: March 2003

This comment is part of a symposium on Ekkehart Schlicht, On Custom in the Economy (1998)
Adolph Lowe's Plea for Cooperation and Constructive Synthesis in the Social Sciences
Authors: Forstater Mathew
Published: March 2003

Adolph Lowe and his mentor Franz Oppenheimer were founding members of the Editorial Board of the The American Journal of Economics and Sociology in 1941. Both this journal's name and its mission were inspired by Lowe's greatly underappreciated 1935 book, Economics and Sociology. There, Lowe issued his “plea for cooperation” and “constructive synthesis” in the social sciences. Lowe was committed to interdisciplinary teaching and research for the entirety of his long and interesting career. When celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Journal, it is worthwhile to recall Lowe's enduring contributions. His expression “constructive synthesis” still remains part of the mission of the AJES as inscribed on the back cover of the journal itself.
Collective Intentions and Collective Intentionality
Authors: Zaibert L.A.
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT . John Searle believes that collective intentions are crucial to his philosophy, but he is yet to present a coherent account of these entities. No account whatsoever of collective intentions is presented in the book where Searle needs them the most (The Construction of Social Reality), or, for that matter, in any other of Searle's major books. The only account, and a defective one at that (so I argue), is found in a short, somewhat obscure article entitled “Collective Intentions and Actions,” but in fact what Searle presents there is, at best, an account of collective actions, not of collective intentions. In light of Searle own ground‐breaking work in the philosophy of mind, and in particular in light of his far‐reaching analyses showing how intentions differ from related mental states, I argue that collective intentions are not consistent with Searle's philosophy of mind.
How Does Voting Equipment Affect the Racial Gap in Voided Ballots?
Authors: Tomz Michael , Houweling Robert P. Van
Published: March 2003

An accumulating body of research suggests that African Americans cast invalid ballots at a higher rate than whites. Our analysis of a unique precinct‐level dataset from South Carolina and Louisiana shows that the black‐white gap in voided ballots depends crucially on the voting equipment people use. In areas with punch cards or optically scanned ballots, the black‐white gap ranged from four to six percentage points. Lever and electronic machines, which prohibit overvoting and make undervoting more transparent and correctible, cut the discrepancy by a factor of ten. Judging from exit polls and opinion surveys, much of the remaining difference could be due to intentional undervoting, which African Americans profess to practice at a slightly higher rate than whites. In any case, the use of appropriate voting technologies can virtually eliminate the black‐white disparity in invalid ballots.
Corruption, Political Allegiances, and Attitudes Toward Government in Contemporary Democracies
Authors: Anderson Christopher J. , Tverdova Yuliya V.
Published: March 2003

Using surveys conducted in sixteen mature and newly established democracies around the globe, this study examines the effect of corruption on people's attitudes toward government. The analysis demonstrates that citizens in countries with higher levels of corruption express more negative evaluations of the performance of the political system and exhibit lower levels of trust in civil servants. However, the results also show that the negative effect of corruption on evaluations of the political system is significantly attenuated among supporters of the incumbent political authorities. These findings provide strong and systematic evidence that informal political practices, especially those that compromise important democratic principles, should be considered important indicators of political system performance. Moreover, they imply that, while corruption is a powerful determinant of political support across widely varying political, cultural, and economic contexts, it does not uniformly diminish support for political institutions across all segments of the electorate.
Is the AK model still alive? The long‐run relation between growth and investment re‐examined
Authors: Li Dajin
Published: March 2003

To explore the empirical validity of AK‐type endogenous growth models, the long‐run relation between growth and investment is examined. Contrary to Jones’s (1995) findings, the broadly measured rate of investment exerts a long‐run positive effect on the growth rate. This result is supported by evidence from twenty‐four OECD countries, 1950–92, and five major industrialized countries, 1870–1987. The panel‐data evidence from OECD countries also supports an extended AK model based on the Uzawa (1965) / Lucas (1988) two‐sector model with transitional dynamics. These findings suggest that the long‐run relation between growth and investment is consistent the AK model. JEL Classification: O4

Est‐ce que le modèle AK est encore en vie? Un autre coup d’œil sur la relation à long terme entre croissance et investissement. Pour explorer la validité empirique des modèles de croissance endogène de type AK, l’auteur jette un autre coup d’œil sur la relation à long terme entre croissance et investissement. Contrairement à ce que suggèrent les résultats de l’étude de Jones (1995), le taux d’investissement mesuré d’une manière assez compréhensive exerce un effet positif sur le taux de croissance à long terme. Ce résultat est supporté par les données récoltées pour vingt‐quatre pays de l’OCDE entre 1950 et 1992, et pour cinq pays industrialisés importants entre 1870 et 1987. Les résultats tirés des études longitudinales des pays de l’OCDE supportent aussi une version générale du modèle AK fondée sur le modèle à deux secteurs à la Uzawa (1965) / Lucas (1988) avec dynamique de transition. Ces résultats suggèrent que la relation en longue période entre croissance et investissement est consistante avec le modèle AK.
Tax–preferred savings accounts and marginal tax rates: evidence on RRSP participation
Authors: Milligan Kevin
Published: March 2003

The effect of taxes on participation in Registered Retirement Savings Plans between 1982 and 1996 is studied. Interprovincial changes in the tax structure over this period provide identifying variation. Using this variation, I find that taxes influence households’ participation decisions, but more weakly than previously estimated. A 10 percentage point increase in the marginal tax rate is estimated to increase the probability of participation by 8 per cent. This explains only 5.1 per cent of the trend in participation. I also find suggestive evidence that the carryforward mechanism may be used as an instrument for tax base smoothing. JEL Classification: H24

Comptes d’épargne fiscalement privilégiés et taux marginaux d’imposition : résultats sur la participation aux régimes enregistrés d’épargne retraite (REER). Ce mémoire étudie les effets du régime d’imposition sur la participation aux régimes enregistrés d’épargne retraite (REER) entre 1982 et 1996. Les changements dans la structure d’imposition d’une province à l’autre au cours de la période fournissent un éventail de possibilités. Utilisant cet éventail, l’auteur découvre que le régime fiscal influence les décisions de participer des ménages, mais plus faiblement qu’on l’avait estimé précédemment. Un accroissement de 10 pour cent dans le taux marginal d’imposition accroît la probabilité de participation de 8 pour cent. Voilà qui explique seulement 5,1 pour cent de la tendance dans la participation. L’auteur découvre aussi que le mécanisme de report dans le temps de la portion inutilisée de la contribution aux REER peut être utilisé comme instrument de lissage de la base de revenus imposables.
Price rigidity, the mark–up, and the dynamics of the current account
Authors: Lombardo Giovanni
Published: March 2003

The degree of competition affects the current account response to nominal shocks. The mechanism hinges on the relationship between the mark–up and the degree of real rigidity of prices. In a model with intermediate goods, the degree of real rigidity increases in the mark–up. A weaker response of prices to nominal shocks strengthens the ‘expenditure switching’ effect of the devaluation to the benefit of the current account. We analyse the relationship between the mark–up and the real rigidity in a simple closed economy model and show numerically how the mark–up can affect the response of the current account to monetary shocks in an open economy. JEL Classification: F32, E32

Rigidité des prix, marges bénéficiaires et la dynamique du compte courant. Ce mémoire montre que le degré de concurrence affecte la réaction du compte courant aux chocs nominaux. Le mécanisme dépend de la relation entre la marge beńéficiaire et le degré de rigidité réelle des prix. Dans un modèle qui prend en compte les biens intermédiaires, le degré de rigidité réelle des prix s’accroît avec la marge bénéficiaire. Une réponse plus faible des prix aux chocs nominaux renforce l’effet de « déplacement de la dépense » de la dévaluation au bénéfice du compte courant. On analyse d’abord la relation entre la marge bénéficiaire et la rigidité réelle des prix dans un modèle simple d'économie fermée. On montre ensuite en chiffres comment la marge bénéficiaire peut affecter la réaction du compte courant aux chocs monétaires.
Mean and Variance Causality between Official and Parallel Currency Markets: Evidence from Four Latin American Countries
Authors: Kanas Angelos , Kouretas Georgios P.
Published: March 2003

This paper examines the issue of mean and variance causality across four Latin American official and black markets for foreign currency using monthly data for the period 1976–1993. We apply a recent test developed by Cheung and Ng (1996) in order to test for mean and variance spillovers. The main findings are: (1) In contrast to the findings of previous studies, EGARCH‐M processes characterize each bilateral exchange rate series in both markets; (2) There is substantial evidence of causality in both mean and variance with the causality in mean largely being driven by the causality in variance; and (3) The results indicate that the major exporter of causality is the Mexican black market with the black market of Argentina and the black and official markets of Brazil being the smallest contributors.
Information Transfers across Same–Sector Funds When Closed–End Funds Issue Equity
Authors: Higgins Eric J. , Howton Shawn , Howton Shelly
Published: March 2003

This study examines the reaction of non–issuing, same–sector funds when a closed–end fund announces a seasoned equity offering. The non–issuing, same–sector funds have a significant, negative announcement–day abnormal return. The abnormal returns for U.S. debt funds are less negative than U.S. equity and international debt funds. The abnormal returns for international debt funds are more negative than international equity funds. Announcement–day abnormal returns are directly related to the announcement–day abnormal return of the issuing fund and the premium/discount of the issuing fund. Announcement–day abnormal returns are inversely related to the premium/discount of the non–issuing, same–sector funds.
The Emergence of Corporate Governance from Wall St. to Main St.: Outside Directors, Board Diversity, Earnings Management, and Managerial Incentives to Bear Risk
Authors: Fields M. Andrew , Keys Phyllis Y.
Published: March 2003

Recent corporate events have brought a heightened public awareness to corporate governance issues. Much work has been accomplished to date, but it is clear that much more remains to be done. This paper provides a review of empirical research in four relevant areas of corporate governance. Specifically, the paper provides an overview of (a) the role that outside directors play in monitoring managers, (b) the emerging literature on the impact of board diversity, (c) the existence of and incentives for corporate executives to manage firm earnings, and (d) managerial incentives to bear risk.
Opportunity Evaluation under Risky Conditions: The Cognitive Processes of Entrepreneurs
Authors: Keh Hean Tat , Der Foo Maw , Lim Boon Chong
Published: March 2003

Even though the entrepreneurship literature places much emphasis on opportunity recognition, little is known about how entrepreneurs actually evaluate opportunities. This study uses a cognitive approach to examine opportunity evaluation, as the perception of opportunity is essentially a cognitive phenomenon. We present a model that consists of four independent variables (overconfidence, belief in the law of small numbers, planning fallacy, and illusion of control), a mediating variable (risk perception), two control variables (demographics and risk propensity), and the dependent variable (opportunity evaluation). We find that illusion of control and belief in the law of small numbers are related to how entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities. Our results also indicate that risk perception mediates opportunity evaluation.