bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
F.A. Hayek and why government can’t manage society
Authors: Ebeling Richard M.
Published: March 2021

This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the end of the Sec-ond World War. On May 8th, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allied Powers in Europe. On September 2nd, Imperial Japan sur-rendered to the Allies on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, thus ending a global conflict that is estimated to have cost the lives of upwards of 50 million people.

In autumn of 1945, everyone was looking forward, finally, to a world at peace that could recover from the destruction of a cata-strophic war and move towards a bright new future. But what kind of world was it to be?

Nazism and fascism had been militarily and ideologically pul-verized in the conflict. No one wanted to goose-step to Hitler and Mussolini’s grandiose dreams of a world-ruling master race or a war-worshipping aggressive nationalism to which innocent hu-man beings were to be sacrificed.
Crisis y deuda de la Grecia clásica en el siglo V a. C.: La Atenas de Pericles vs la Atenas de Syriza
Authors: Aguilera Jaime Hernán-Pérez
Published: March 2021

Una de las características más señaladas del populismo es la de destruir todo aquello que pretende solucionar, y cuando lo hace, utiliza con habilidad el recurso de echar la culpa a otro. Son los mercados o los especuladores los causantes del desorden económi-co y social, y no las medidas intervencionistas que terminan por arruinar la economía de mercado. El fenómeno del populismo no es reciente, la historia nos muestra con meridiana claridad cómo la Grecia de Pericles, la Roma de Trajano o de Diocleciano, entre otras, terminaron en una crisis social y económica sin precedentes porrecurrir a medidas populistas para obtener paz social a cambio de poder político.

Cualquier fenómeno social es de una extraordinaria compleji-dad, como lo es explicar la actual crisis griega o la crisis del Impe-rio Ateniense del siglo V antes de Cristo (en adelante a.C.). Es pro-bable que confluyan múltiples causas, lo que hace que la mayoría de historiadores y economistas rechacen una explicación mono-causal y se centren en buscar distintas explicaciones. Una parte de estas explicaciones nos la puede aportar, sin duda alguna, el cono-cimiento histórico, por un lado, y la teoría económica, por otro, ya que si aplicamos una teoría económica previa podemos interpretar la historia2, y muchas veces observamos el paralelismo que surge en distintos momentos históricos como resultado de intervenir so-bre la economía y la organización espontánea de la sociedad. ¿Se podría hacer una comparación buscando similitudes históricas en-tre dos épocas distintas? Estas serían, por un lado la Grecia Clásica del siglo V antes de Cristo, y por el otro la Grecia del euro. Este co-nocimiento histórico nos ofrece un certero análisis de las conse-cuencias negativas que tiene intervenir sobre los fenómenos socia-les, como por ejemplo manipular los tipos de interés, la cantidad de dinero, sobre el recurso a la inflación, a las políticas de endeuda-miento público, de subsidios, o a la fijación de precios y salarios, entre otras muchas. La Grecia del euro, y la Grecia del Imperio Ateniense, a pesar del evidente lapso en el tiempo, pueden ser dos comparaciones efectivas.
Gross (domestic) output – Another government con
Authors: Barnett II William , Block Walter E.
Published: March 2021

The new sheriff in town is Gross (Domestic) Output, or GO. This is a measure that attempts to measure not merely investment, nor final goods, nor consumption, but the quantity and value of intermediate goods. From the vantage point of its proponents, inclusion of this statistic in national income accounts is long overdue. From the perspective of its critics, such as the present authors, it is an invalid statistic, which will create more error and misunderstanding as it is incorporated into official accounts.

Keywords: Gross (Domestic) Output (GO); Gross Domestic Product (GDP); Structure of production.

JEL Code: E2.

Resumen: El nuevo sheriff de la ciudad es la renta (doméstica) bruta. Se trata de una variable que intenta medir no sólo la inversión, los bienes finales, y el consumo, sino la cantidad y el valor de los bienes intermedios. Desde el punto de vista de sus defensores,se debería haber incluido esta estadística en la contabilidad nacional desde hace mucho tiempo. Desde la perspectiva de sus críticos, como los autores del presente trabajo, es una estadística inválida, que creará más errores y malentendidos conforme se incorpore en las cuentas oficiales.

Palabras clave: Producción (doméstica) bruta, Producto interior bruto, estructura de la producción.

Clasificación JEL: E2
El papel económico del Estado: Una crítica
Authors: Cabrera Jose Hernandez
Published: March 2021

The neoclassical justification of the economic role of the state rests on concepts such as the model of economy in equilibrium, perfect competition, market failures, social efficiency and the cost-benefit analysis, monopolies, ex-ternalities, the theory of public goods and the existence of free riders. All this doctrine, which is used by economists to justify interventionism, can be critici-sed from the theoretical and methodological tenets of the Austrian School of economics. From this analysis we get two conclusions: first, many of the pro-blems attributed to market are not such; second, it is not proved that the gover-nment intervention can better the market functioning.

Keywords: Perfect competition, market failures, monopoly, externality, public goods.

JEL Codes: B25, E61, H11, H42, H44, P48.

Resumen: La justificación neoclásica del papel económico del estado descansa en conceptos tales como el modelo de economía en equilibrio, la competencia perfecta, los fallos del mercado, la eficiencia social y el análisis de coste-bene-ficio, los monopolios, las externalidades, la teoría de los bienes públicos y la existencia de free riders. Toda esta doctrina, que es utilizada por los economis-tas para justificar el intervencionismo, puede ser criticada desde los postulados teóricos y metodológicos de la Escuela Austriaca de economía. De este análi-sis obtenemos dos conclusiones: primera, muchos de los problemas atribuidos al mercado no son tales; segundo, no queda demostrado que la intervención del gobierno pueda mejorar el funcionamiento del mercado.

Palabras clave: Competencia perfecta, fallos del mercado, monopolio, exter-nalidad, bienes públicos.

Clasificación JEL: B25, E61, H11, H42, H44, P48
Carl Menger and the Spanish Scholastics
Authors: Huber Elias
Published: March 2021

This work investigates whether the Spanish late scholastics influenced Carl Menger in terms of the history of economic ideas. A key word research for their names was performed in the German, French and Italian literature which Menger cites in his Principles. The Carl Menger Collection and Menger’s writ-ings were also examined for references. Results show that there seems to be little evidence for an influence.

Keywords: Carl Menger, Spanish scholastics, School of Salamanca, German economics, Principles of Economics, subjective value theory.

JEL Codes: B1; B31, B53.

Resumen: Este trabajo investiga si los escolásticos tardíos españoles influyeron en Carl Menger en términos de la historia de las ideas económicas. Se realizó una investigación por palabras clave de sus nombres en la literatura alemana, francesa e italiana que Menger cita en sus Principios. También se examinó la colección de Carl Menger y los escritos de Menger en búsqueda de referen-cias. Los resultados muestran que parece existir poca evidencia de una posible influencia.

Palabras clave: Carl Menger, escolásticos españoles, economía alemana, Prin-cipios de Economía, teoría subjetiva del valor.

Clasificación JEL: B1; B31, B53.
Disonancia en el entorno emprendedor español
Authors: Moar Antonio
Published: March 2021

The dissonance between the theoretical possibilities of Spanish enter-prise system and our current situation requires in depth analysis to identify the contributing reasons and causes.

The article discusses the main historical reasons and places greater emphasis on assessing the real weight of some of the factors that have traditionally been cited as causes for the differences —between theory and reality—. The current causes are analyzed from a general social and cultural context in which the performance of specific companies is studied. The legal and regulatory fra-mework which affects enterprise is also examined specifically. In both cases, the research spans across company life cycle. Finally a viable and reasoned solution is proposed from the Austriac perspective that should produce positive changes in the current situation.

Keywords: Entrepreneuship, entrepreneurial culture, Austrian school

JEL Codes: B13, D20, P12

Resumen: La disonancia entre las posibilidades teóricas del sistema de empren-dimiento español y nuestra situación actual exige profundizar en las razones que pueden haber contribuido a provocarla.

El artículo aborda las principales razones históricas, poniendo mayor énfasis en valorar el peso real de algunos de los factores que tradicionalmente se han mencionado como causas. A continuación se analizan las razones actuales a partir del análisis de factores de carácter general cultural y social —o contexto en el que se desarrolla la actuación de las empresas— y de carácter específico legal o regulatorio —o marco legal—. Los primeros están presentes y actúan en todo el conjunto de los cuerpos sociales y los segundos son normalmente actos normativos dirigidos a las empresas, y sus efectos se manifiestan sobre todo en estas a lo largo de todo su ciclo vital. Finalmente, se propone una so-lución viable y razonada desde la perspectiva austriaca que permitiría cam-biar el rumbo de la actual situación.

Palabras clave: función empresarial, cultura empresarial, escuela austríaca.

Códigos JEL: B13, D20, P12
Aclaraciones, definiciones y críticas respecto de las teorías de la utilidad, el valor y los precios (la validez de las aportaciones de Carl Menger en la actual Escuela Austriaca de Economía)
Authors: Meseguer César Martínez
Published: March 2021

When Carl Menger published his work Principles of Economics in 1871, he surprised everyone with his brilliance and ability to reconsider basic concepts of economics. His new vision of ideas such as utility, value, and prices turned out to be truly masterful and served to construct the foundations for later studies carried out by the Austrian School of Economics. Nonetheless, these concepts and definitions have sometimes been corrupted by the strong influen-ce of other schools of economics that have had a greater capacity to impose their ideas and to shape current mainstream economics. The current paper seeks to rescue the basic concepts devised by Menger, explaining the why and the validity of his original content. In order to correct errors of interpretation and to facilitate precise communication, not only examples for clear understan-ding will be given but also new complementary contributions will be offered.

Key Words: Austrian School, Political Economy, utility, value, prices.

JEL Classification: B25, D01, D46.

Resumen: Cuando Carl Menger publicó su obra Principios de Economía Políti-ca en el año 1871, sorprendió con su brillantez y su capacidad para replan-tearse los conceptos básicos que conforman la economía. Su nueva visión so-bre ideas como la utilidad, el valor o los precios, resultó ser verdaderamente magistral, y sirvió para poner las bases de todos los estudios posteriores lleva-dos a cabo por la Escuela Austriaca de Economía. Sin embargo, dichos con-ceptos y definiciones se han visto en ocasiones adulterados por la fuerte in-fluencia de otras escuelas de economía que han tenido más capacidad para imponer sus ideas y para formar el mainstream económico actual. El presente trabajo se propone rescatar aquellos conceptos básicos elaborados por Men-ger, explicando el porqué y la validez de su contenido original; utilizando para ello, no sólo ejemplos que mejoren su comprensión, sino, también, nuevas aportaciones complementarias, al objeto de corregir errores de interpretación y facilitar su correcta transmisión.

Palabras Clave: Escuela Austriaca, Economía Política, utilidad, valor, precios.

Clasificación JEL: B25, D01, D46.
El ciclo económico y los recursos minerales. Un enfoque austriaco
Authors: Parella Jordi Franch
Published: March 2021

A great theoretical advance of the Austrian School, thanks to its ela-borate theory of capital, is the understanding of economic cycles. Expansive monetary processes produce serious investment mistakes that inevitably lead to an economic recession, in which mistakes will become apparent and there will be a need to liquidate the wrong projects undertaken, raising the levels of unemployment and promoting the intertemporal reallocation of productive re-sources. One of the sectors most affected by this process of unsustainable and artificial lengthening of the productive structure is mining. This sector extracts the mineral resources necessary for the operation of the industries of capital goods, and thus fully accuses the effects of the economic cycle, both in its upward phase (overinvestment and excess capacity) and the downward phase (decline in the market price of the raw materials and net sales). Changes in prices of minerals, such as nickel and potash, shows a different behavior de-pending on their situation within the set of stages of the production structure. The theoretical analysis is applied to the case of an advanced economy with a strong weight of the mining sector as the Australian and finally some reform measures are proposed.

Key words: Business cycle theory, mineral resources, mining, commodities.

JEL Classification: E30, E31, Q31.

Resumen: Un gran avance teórico de la Escuela Austriaca, gracias a su elabo-rada teoría del capital, es la comprensión de los ciclos económicos. Los proce-sos monetarios expansivos producen graves errores de inversión que inexora-blemente conducen a una recesión económica, en la que los errores se pondrán de manifiesto y surgirá la necesidad de liquidar los proyectos erróneamente emprendidos, elevando los niveles de desempleo y promoviendo la reasigna-ción intertemporal de los recursos productivos. Uno de los sectores más perju-dicados por este proceso artificial de alargamiento insostenible de la estructu-ra productiva es la minería. Este sector es el que extrae los recursos minerales necesarios para el funcionamiento de las industrias de bienes de capital, y por ello acusa plenamente los efectos del ciclo económico, tanto en su fase alcista (sobreinversión y exceso de capacidad) como en la fase bajista (descenso del precio de mercado de las materia primas y de las ventas netas). Las variacio-nes de los precios de los minerales, como el níquel y la potasa, muestra un distinto comportamiento en función de cuál sea su situación dentro del conjun-to de etapas de la estructura productiva. Se aplica el análisis teórico al caso de una economía avanzada con un fuerte peso del sector minero como es la australiana y se proponen algunas medidas de reforma.

Palabras clave: teoría austriaca del ciclo económico, recursos minerales, mine-ría, materias primas.

Clasificación JEL: E30, E31, Q31.
Talking to Walls: The Socialist Calculation Debate that Never Really Was One
Authors: Arnaert Brecht L.
Published: March 2021

In his book «Socialism, Economic calculation and Entrepreneur-ship» Dr. Jesus Huerta de Soto (2010) gives an account of the his-tory of the socialist calculation debate, in which he shows very clearly why the political left today still believes a socialist econ-omy is possible. The popular wisdom in those circles, namely, is that in 1936, Oskar Lange (Lange, October 1936: 53–71 & February 1937) succeeded in refuting Mises’ claim that central planning could not work because the information that is needed to draw up such plans can only be generated in a free market. This paper wants to show that nothing could be further from the truth: Lange never answered Mises’ fundamental challenge, nor was there any other socialist economist that has been able to refute his central argument. A lot of straw men died, but Mises’ funda-mental argument lives.
An Introduction to the Problem of Authority
Authors: Huemer Michael
Published: March 2021

By general consensus, there is a presumption against coercion: Only in a relatively narrow range of circumstances may an individual or group deploy physical force, or threats of physical force, against other individuals or groups. However, these circumstances do not include most of the circumstances in which governments actually deploy force. In other words, the typical behav- ior of governments is behavior that would be considered unacceptable, if adopted by any non-governmental person or group. This happens because the government is thought to have a special kind of authority (political authority), which private individuals and groups lack. The central contention of this paper is that there is nothing special about the state that explains why it would have authority over everyone else. The state, therefore, has only political power, not political authority. That is, it has the ability to coerce other agents and to take their resources, but it has no more moral right to do so than any other agent has. This view leads to a libertarian political philosophy.

Keywords: political authority, political legitimacy, political obligation coercion, libertarianism

JEL Classification: D63, D74, Z18

Resumen: Por consenso general, existe una presunción contra la coerción: sólo en un rango relativamente estrecho de circunstancias puede un individuo o grupo desplegar fuerza física, o amenazas de fuerza física, contra otros indi- viduos o grupos. Sin embargo, estas circunstancias no incluyen la mayoría de las circunstancias en las que los gobiernos realmente implementan la fuerza. 

En otras palabras, el comportamiento típico de los gobiernos es un comportam- iento que se consideraría inaceptable si fuera adoptado por cualquier persona o grupo no gubernamental. Esto sucede porque se piensa que el gobierno tiene un tipo especial de autoridad (autoridad política) de la cual carecen los individuos y grupos privados. El argumento central de este artículo es que no hay nada especial en el estado que explique por qué debería tener autoridad sobre todos los demás. El estado, por lo tanto, sólo tiene poder político, no autoridad política. Es decir, tiene la capacidad de coaccionar a otros agentes y de tomar sus recursos, pero no tiene más derecho moral de hacerlo que cualquier otro agente. Esta visión conduce a una filosofía política libertaria.

Palabras clave: autoridad política, legitimidad política, obligación política, coerción, libertarianismo

Clasificación JEL: D63, D74, Z18
La gran controversia sobre el capital: re-switching, economía austriaca y el mal uso de las matemáticas
Authors: Méndez Daniel Fernández
Published: March 2021

In this article we argue that re-switching was exclusively a mathemat- ical problem and not an economic one. The solution to the re-switching mathe- matical problem is not even a complex one. The economists started to “play” with mathematics without realizing that they were committing serious mistakes in that field. Austrian economists barely participate in the debate despite being better suited to criticize the Neo-classical capital theory. Austrian economists could have also pointed out better than other economists that re-switching was never an economic problem, but a mathematical one. Unfortunately, the capital controversy of the 60s was happening at the same time that Austrian econom- ics was suffering its own particular “depression”.

Palabras clave: Re-switching; teoría capital; expectativas; tipo descuento; dura- ción Macaulay

Key words: Re-switching; capital theory; expectations; discount rate; Macaulay duration

Clasificación JEL B13, B53, D24, E14 JEL Classification B13, B53, D24, E14

Resumen: En este artículo argumentamos que el re-switching fue un problema exclusivamente matemático y nunca un problema económico real. La solución al problema del re-switching es matemática y ni siquiera es una solución muy complicada. Los economistas se pusieron a hacer matemáticas, aparentemente elevadas, sin darse cuenta de que estaban cometiendo graves errores en ese campo. Los economistas austriacos apenas participaron en el debate a pesar de que eran los que estaban mejor situados para, por un lado hacer una crítica mucho más certera a la teoría neoclásica del capital, y por otro lado demostrar que el problema del re-switching no es un problema económico. Sin embargo, la gran controversia sobre el capital se da en los años 60s, cuando la Escuela Austriaca de economía estaba pasando por su particular depresión.
A Primary Comparative Analysis and Integration of the Hayekian- Laozian Theories of Knowledge, Market Process and Law
Authors: Wang William Hongsong , Sánchez Javier Car Amés
Published: March 2021

The thought of Hayek has been a topic of considerable interest for a while now and the studies of Laozi’s philosophy have also been drawing increasing attention worldwide. In particular, increasingly people seek answers to current political, economic and social questions within Laozi’s wis- dom of more than 2000 years ago. By comparing and integrating the theo- ries of Hayek and Laozi, this paper uncovers new insights into the ideas of Laozi and how they align with some of Hayek’s central ideas. Firstly, this arti- cle makes a comparative analysis of the theories of Hayek and Laozi based on their original works, particularly through the authors’ new translation of the original Chinese texts of Laozi. Further, this paper shows how the ideas of authors overlap and are complimentary and therefore proposes a Hayekian-Laozian perspective that informs the idea of entrepreneurship. Therefore, this paper not only seeks to show that Laozi anticipated modern economic insights but that these modern insights can also be integrated into a more detailed theory.
Keywords: Hayek, Laozi, market competition, Daodejing.
JEL classification: A12, D4, B11, B22, B53, D83, K2, L26.
Resumen: El pensamiento de Hayek ha sido un tema de considerable interés desde hace tiempo y los estudios de la filosofía de Laozi también están lla- mando una creciente atención a nivel global. En particular, las personas cada vez buscan más respuestas a cuestiones políticas, económicas y socia- les actuales dentro de la sabiduría de Laozi de hace más de 2000 años. Comparando e integrando las teorías de Hayek y Laozi, este trabajo descu- bre nuevas perspectivas en las ideas de Laozi y cómo se alinean con algu- nas de las ideas centrales de Hayek. En primer lugar, este artículo hace un análisis comparativo de las teorías de Hayek y Laozi basado en sus trabajos originales, en particular a partir de la nueva traducción de los textos origi- nales en chino de Laozi llevada a cabo por los autores de este trabajo. Ade- más, este trabajo muestra cómo las ideas de ambos autores se solapan y son complementarias y por tanto propone una persepctiva hayekio-laoziana sobre la idea de empresarialidad. Así, este trabajo no sólo busca poner de manifiesto que Laozi anticipó conocimientos económicos modernos, sino también que estos conocimientos modernos pueden integrarse en una teoría más detallada.
Palabras clave: Hayek, Laozi, competencia de mercado, Daodejing.
Clasificación JEL: A12, D4, B11, B22, B53, D83, K2, L26.
Mises’ and Rothbard’s Inadequate Treatment of Technology– And why a correct understanding of technology challenges the Austrian theory of time preference
Authors: Klein Christoph
Published: March 2021

In their seminal treatises Human Action (1949) and Man, Economy and State (1962), Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard deny that the rise in living standards achieved in the 19th and 20th century should be explained by technological progress and the resulting productivity increases. Rather, it is the praxeological category of time preference that allegedly explains in the increase in savings, capital accumulation and economic progress. The pre- sented paper criticizes Mises’s and Rothbard’s dismissive treatment of technol- ogy and argues that time only acquires economic meaning in its reference to objects of choice. As choice implies an understanding of causal relations between means and ends, human action inevitably presupposes knowledge about the use of technology in its capacity to accommodate intertemporal plans. When people thus employ means to pursue ends, the time factor is already embodied in the feasible consumption and production patterns, which are nothing but the outcomes of the prevailing technological possibilities. When human action requires contextualization to acquire meaning, then the ideas of time and time preference cannot exist independently of the particular means- ends-framework.
Keywords: Technology, time preference, time, profit, saving
JEL Classification: B53, D46, D50, E22, O30
Resumen: En sus tratados fundamentales La acción humana (1949) y Hombre, economía y Estado (1962), Ludwig von Mises y Murray Rothbard niegan que el aumento del nivel de vida alcanzado en los siglos XIX y XX deba explicarse por el progreso tecnológico y los aumentos de productividad resultantes. Más bien, es la categoría praxeológica de preferencia temporal la que supuesta- mente explica el aumento en el ahorro, la acumulación de capital y el progreso económico. El documento presentado critica el tratamiento despectivo de la tecnología por Mises y Rothbard y argumenta que el tiempo sólo adquiere un significado económico en su referencia a los objetos de selección. Como la selección implica una comprensión de las relaciones causales entre medios y fines, la acción humana presupone inevitablemente el conocimiento sobre el uso de la tecnología en su capacidad de acomodar planes intertemporales. Cuando las personas emplean medios para perseguir fines, el factor tiempo ya está incorporado en los patrones realizables de consumo y producción, que no son más que el resultado de las posibilidades tecnológicas imperantes. Cuando la acción humana requiere contextualización para adquirir significado, enton- ces las ideas de tiempo y preferencia de tiempo no pueden existir independien- temente del marco particular de medios-fines.
Palabras clave: Tecnología, preferencia temporal, tiempo, ganancia, ahorro
Clasificación JEL: B53, D46, D50, E22, O30
Críticas comunes del pensamiento Miseano (I). Razón y libertad
Authors: Montealegre Ruy
Published: March 2021

In this article, some of the most common objections to Misesian thought will be assessed from a Catholic theological perspective. Beginning with an analysis of the most frequent criticisms advanced against his rational- ism, it will proceed to examine those directed against Mises’ conception of lib- erty and individualism. Finally, a review and evaluation of some of the most relevant objections to his economic understanding will be presented. Dwelling into the, more o less conscious, depths of all the philosophical, cultural, psycho- logical or, even, religious assumptions of Mises’ vast thought, in order to fully tease out his ontological or moral foundations, would probably be not only beyond the reach of the present article but of any one single article, and hence is not attempted. Its scope is much more modest. It pretends to analyze these objections from a praxeological perspective, limiting itself to bring into better focus the possible incompatibility or incongruity, if these indeed exists,  of Mises’ thought with freedom and reason.
Keywords: Mises, theology, objections, freedom, reason
JEL Classification: A13, B53, P16, P16, Z12, Z13
Resumen: Este artículo se propone examinar algunas de las objeciones más comunes al pensamiento miseano desde una perspectiva teológica católica. Se iniciará con un análisis de las críticas más frecuentes sobre su racionalismo, para, luego, analizar las dirigidas contra su concepción de la libertad y del individua- lismo, respectivamente. Se abordarán ulteriormente las críticas más relevantes que han sido dirigidas contra la moralidad de algunos aspectos de su visión eco- nómica. En las siguientes páginas, no se pretende descender hasta las profundi- dades, más o menos conscientes, de todos los presupuestos filosóficos, culturales, psicológicos o, incluso, religiosos del pensamiento miseano, tamizando, de esta manera, completamente sus fundamentos ontológicos o morales. Su alcance es mucho más modesto. Pretende un análisis de estas objeciones desde una pers- pectiva praxeológica, limitándose a señalar la posible incompatibilidad o incon- gruencia, si es que existen, del pensamiento miseano con la libertad y la razón.
Palabras clave: Mises, teología, críticas, libertad, razón Clasificación JEL: A13, B53, P16, P16, Z12, Z13
Epistemological Problems Of Development Economics
Authors: Espinosa Victor
Published: March 2021

This article explores some of the epistemological problems that have been neglected in the history of mainstream development economics. The research is focused on how epistemology influences the conception of develop- ment and the role of the economist in development policy. The epistemological foundations of economics and its methodological and theoretical implications were analyzed first. Then, these points of view were connected to explain the rise of development economics as a purely technical field. The main develop-ment theories were contrasted with empirical evidence to reveal their disregard for reality. Furthermore, the Austrian theory of dynamic efficiency was pre-sented to overcome the epistemological problems of development economics. The results helped in redefining the concept of development based on purpose-ful human action. Finally, some patterns of economic progress were identified to challenge the mainstream role of the economist in development policy.
Keywords: Epistemology, Positivism, Development, Dynamic Efficiency, Prop-erty rights, Capital-theory
JEL Classification: B41, B53, O11, O12
Resumen: Este artículo explora algunos de los problemas epistemológicos que se han descuidado en la historia de la economía del desarrollo convencional. La investigación se centra en cómo la epistemología influye en la concepción del desarrollo y el papel del economista en la política de desarrollo. Primero se analizaron los fundamentos epistemológicos de la economía y sus  implica- ciones metodológicas y teóricas. Luego, estos puntos de vista fueron conectados para explicar el surgimiento de la economía del desarrollo como un campo puramente técnico. Las principales teorías del desarrollo fueron con-trastadas con evidencia empírica para revelar su desprecio por la realidad. Además, se presentó la teoría austriaca de la eficiencia dinámica para superar los problemas epistemológicos de la economía del desarrollo. Los resultados ayudaron a redefinir el concepto de desarrollo basado en la acción humana decidida. Finalmente, se identificaron algunos patrones de progreso econó-mico para desafiar el papel convencional del economista en la política de desarrollo.
Palabras clave: Epistemología, Positivismo, Desarrollo, Eficiencia Dinámica, Dere-chos de propiedad, Teoría del capital
Clasificación JEL: B41, B53, O11, O12
Law and Ayn Rand: Objectivism from the Perspective of Legal Philosophy
Authors: Roméu Luca
Published: March 2021

Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, subordinates legal concepts to radical capitalism as a political ideal. Such concepts, however, play an important role in her political thought. Scrutiny of those writings where Ayn Rand deals with these concepts shows a middle ground between Natural Law, Positivist and Legal Realist perspectives. According to Objectivism, objectivity becomes the essential feature of Law in the stricter sense. In this respect, Rand’s approach moves away from the philosophical influences of Aristotle and Saint Thomas Aquinas, and proclaims the incompatibility of the minimal state with uncertainty and any kind of discretionary powers in the legal field. The contrast with Hayek’s later legal-philosophical contribution points to the feasibility of an integration into what could constitute the basis for a Libertarian legal science.

Keywords: Ayn Rand, Objectivism, political philosophy, philosophy of Law, Law.

JEL Classification: K10, K20, K21, K30.

Resumen: En el objetivismo, la filosofía de Ayn Rand, el tratamiento de los conceptos jurídicos se subordina al capitalismo radical como ideal político. Dichos conceptos, sin embargo, juegan un papel importante en esta teorización. El examen de los textos donde Rand los aborda revela un posicionamiento intermedio entre las perspectivas iusnaturalista, positivista y realista. Lo determinante en la configuración del Derecho, para el objetivismo, será la objetividad de la ley. En la materia, Rand se distancia de Aristóteles y Santo Tomás como únicas influencias filosóficas reconocidas y proclama la incompatibilidad del Estado mínimo con cualquier indeterminación o discrecionalidad en el ámbito de lo legal. El contraste con los sucesivos planteamientos iusfilosóficos de Hayek apunta a la posibilidad de una integración en lo que podría ser el fundamento de una ciencia jurídica libertaria.

Palabras clave: Ayn Rand, objetivismo, filosofía política, filosofía jurídica, Derecho.

Clasificación JEL: K10, K20, K21, K30.
El Debate Sobre La Inevitabilidad Del Estado: Notas Críticas Sobre Los Argumentos De Randall Holcombe
Authors: Boubeta Miguel , Carreiro Óscar
Published: March 2021

This work consists on an analysis of the arguments used by Randall Holcombe to justify the inevitability of the existence of a monopoly on the services of defence and security. We understand that his justification is incomplete because the definition that he uses, regarding the need of a monopoly in the provision of services of this type, does not fit with the Austrian definition of public goods or monopoly. Besides, it does not take into account historical evidence of the provision of these services in competition.
Keywords: State, defence, security, monopoly, public goods.
JEL Classification: B53, H41, L33, H44
Resumen: Este trabajo consiste en análisis de los argumentos usados por Randall Holcombe para justificar la inebitalidad de la existencia de un ente monopolista de servicios de defensa y seguridad. Entendemos que su justificación es incompleta porque su definición de la necesidad de monopolio en la prestación de servicios de este tipo no se ajusta a la definción austríaca de bienes públicos o monopolio. Además no tiene en cuenta evidencias históricas de la prestación de dichos servicios en régimen de competencia.
Palabras clave: Estado, defensa, seguridad, monopolio, bienes públicos.
Clasificación JEL: B53, H41, L33, H44A
Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Surgery: Introduction, General Principles, and Potential Applications
Authors: Mangano Alberto , Valle Valentina , Dreifuss Nicolas , Aguiluz Gabriela , Masrur Mario
Published: March 2021

AI (Artificial intelligence) is an interdisciplinary field aimed at the development of algorithms to endow machines with the capability of executing cognitive tasks. The number of publications regarding AI and surgery has increased dramatically over the last two decades. This phenomenon can partly be explained by the exponential growth in computing power available to the largest AI training runs. AI can be classified into different sub-domains with extensive potential clinical applications in the surgical setting. AI will increasingly become a major component of clinical practice in surgery. The aim of the present Narrative Review is to give a general introduction and summarized overview of AI, as well as to present additional remarks on potential surgical applications and future perspectives in surgery.
VITOM® 3D in Arterio-Venous Fistulas: Single Centre Preliminary Surgical Experience
Authors: Palumbo Vincenzo , Fazzotta Salvatore , Damiano Giuseppe , Di Vita Gaetano , Lo Monte Attilio
Published: March 2021

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the vascular access of choice for hemodialysis patients. A correct microsurgical vascular anastomoses is essential to the optimal care of patients. Loupes can help surgeons perform such procedures, but often cause neck or back pain and fatigue.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate whether a video telescopic operating microscope (VITOM®; Karl Storz Endoscopy GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) could be used as a substitute for loupes to create microsurgical vascular anastomoses.
Methods: We evaluated microsurgical anastomoses with VITOM® in 10 patients (6 male, 4 female) from January 2019 to December 2019. The created anastomoses were 7 side-to-side, 2 side-to-end and 1 end-to-end.
Results: A valid thrill was always present on palpation. Surgical procedures had an average time of 87.6 min, ranging from 49 to 110 min. Eight patients had AVF maturation; in the remaining 2, one had a thrombosis after 25 days and one couldn’t be dialyzed due to low flow in AVF.
Conclusions: The VITOM® system makes it possible to carry out anastomosis in difficult cases. It is both safe and useful for the training of young surgeons.
Measurement of the Endotracheal Tube Diameter Using Computed Tomography Images for Pediatric Patients: Comparison with Classic Formulas
Authors: Özcanoğlu Hatice Dilek , Türkay Berna , Kutlutürk Şahin Neşe , Ulubay Zahide Özlem , Revanlı Ayşe Sevinç , Toker Kamil
Published: March 2021

Objective: In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the compatibility of endotracheal tube (ETT) size used during surgery with tracheal diameter measured by computed tomography(CT) and classic formulas in children who underwent CT imaging preoperatively due to surgical indications. Methods: The study included preoperatively CT scanned, 0-3 year-old patients who were operated due to congenital heart diseases between June 1-October 1, 2018.Using the CT scans, transverse and anteroposterior tracheal diameters were measured from the subglottic level. As these diameters reflect the external diameter of the ETT, the inner diameter-which corresponds the ETT size-was calculated using a correction formula. Besides, Cole’s formula was used to calculate the ETT size for each child, and the tube sizes used during surgeries were obtained from anesthesia charts.ETT sizes were compared. Results: 43 patients (22 girls [51.2%],21 boys [48.8%]) were included.The mean age was 10.5±9.6 months. 18 patients (41.9%) had cyanotic, 25 patients (58.1%) had acyanotic heart disease.Mean corrected transverse and anteroposterior tracheal diameters at CT images were 4.35±0.69mm and 4.30±0.71 mm, respectively. The mean diameter calculated by Cole’s formula was 4.22±0.20 mm. The mean tube size used during surgeries was 4.37±0.60 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between the tube sizes used during the surgeries and the corrected transverse tracheal diameters from CT measurements (p>0.05). But the tube sizes used during the surgeries found significantly larger than the diameters obtained by Cole’s formula (p<0.05). Conclusion: In 0-3 years of age pediatric patients who undergo a congenital heart surgery,corrected tracheal transverse diameter measured by CT is more effective,reliable and less invasive than classic formulas for determining appropriate ETT size
PORTER'S GENERIC STRATEGIES AND FIRM PERFORMANCE IN
PETROLEUM MARKETING COMPANIES: A CASE STUDY OF
VIVO ENERGY, NAIROBI, KENYA
Authors: Omboga Novah , Machoka Paul
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
The main objective of the study was to establish the influence of Porter's generic strategies and firm performance in
petroleum marketing companies using Vivo Energy Limited as a case study. The business environment in emerging
economies has witnessed intense competition among firms. Petroleum marketing companies in Kenya have had to face
such conditions in a competitive environment prompting the firms to develop strategies that match their capabilities to
market demands. The specific objectives of the study were: to examine how leadership cost strategy and; focus strategy
affect the firm performance of Vivo Energy Limited. The study was premised on the; resource-based view, competitive
advantage and contingency theories. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 237
employees at Vivo Energy Limited. Stratified proportion sampling was used to obtain a sample of 108 respondents.
Questionnaires were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to
determine the relationship between the study variables. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to establish the
relationship between dependent and independent variables. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was checked to reveal
the overall model significance. The study established that there was a positive relationship between the cost leadership
strategy and firm performance. Analysis also revealed that focus strategy had a substantial positive correlation,
establishing that focus strategy and firm performance are fundamentally related, and that the variation in firm
performance can be explained by a unit change in focus strategy. The study recommended that the management of Vivo
Energy Limited should adopt cost leadership strategy that is focused on gaining competitive advantage byselling their
products at average prices to earn higher profits than competitors in the sector or below the average industry prices to
gain market share. It also recommends that Vivo Energy should consider employing focus strategies that are
concentrated on narrow segment aimed at achieving cost advantage or differentiation.
Keyword: Cost leadership, Firm Performance, Focus strategy, Generic Strategies
Pengaruh Pendidikan Kesehatan Masyarakat Terhadap Pengetahuan Tentang Penanganan Demam Berdarah Dengue
Authors: I.W Mei Lestari , Khudsiyah Hasiratul
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Health education is a number of influential experience in profitable against  habits, attitudes, and knowledge related to the health of individuals, communities, and Nations. Health education about knowledge of Dengue Hemoragic Fever (DHF)  is an important and urgent things to do. Methods: This research uses experimental design pre test and post pre-loaded test one group design. This population is the community at RT. 7 RW. 01 Wards of coral in the Sub District of Sampang District of Sampang as much as 277 people. Purposive sampling technique used with sampling total sample 120 heads of Families or representing. How data retrieval using a questionnaire type closed-ended question dichotomy. Result:  The results of the study before a given health education obtained the majority (51%)  less and after given health education the majority (56%) either. Based on the results of the statistical tests using SPSS test Wiloxon Sign Ranks test obtained P = 0.000 with α = 0.05 <. Conclusions: Knowledge about  the handling of the dengue fever Dengue DBD is already good but  should be further  enhanced to be aware in order that HE MIGHT not too many sufferers and could prevent it with the knowledge already acquired from the granting of health education about Dengue Hemoragic Fever (DHF).
Chemical characterization of glass beads from the necropolis of DrenDelyan (6th–4th century BC), Southwest Bulgaria
Authors: Tzankova Nikoleta , Mihaylov Philip
Published: March 2021

The glass beads from the Dren-Delyan necropolis are found in burial complexes dated as from the end of the 6th century BC until the first half of the 4th century BC. The purpose of this study is to obtain data on the chemical composition of the glass and the technology of its production. LA-ICP-MS and SEM-EDS analyses were conducted.
The analysed glass beads are classified as a low-magnesium type (LMG), and only one of the samples is determined as high-magnesium glass (HMG). The yellow colour of the glass is due to crystals of lead antimonate incorporated into the glass matrix. The green colour of the beads is a result of interaction of added copper and lead in the glass mixture, in presence of iron and chromium. Dark blue samples are coloured by additives with cobalt, copper and lower iron content. Light blue colouration of opaque glass beads is due to high copper content, along with the presence of iron. The colouring agent of a transparent light blue bead is FeO in amount up to 0.25 wt%. The brown colour is associated with high iron content. Two different opacifiers were used for the production of opaque glass beads – antimony and tin, either individually or together. The decolourising agent is antimony without the involvement of manganese. Based on the results of the studied glass beads, we assume at least four types of raw material mixtures for their production. Comparison of the obtained results and published data about similar ancient glass findings was made.
Exotic garnet–clinopyroxene–K-feldspar granulites from the Chepelare shear zone, Central Rhodope massif, Bulgaria: implications for high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism
Authors: Georgirva Milena , Vladinova Tzvetomila
Published: March 2021

Garnet–clinopyroxene–K-feldspar granulite occurs as a thick layer or boudin within the variegated rocks of the Chepelare shear zone in the Central Rhodope massif, Bulgaria. It consists of several domains: mesocratic homogeneous matrix (clinopyroxene–plagioclase–K-feldspar–quartz ± amphibole), porphyroblastic garnet, K-feldspar and clinopyroxene, and strongly foliated fine-grain bands (chloritized biotite–chlorite–prehnite–albite ± epidote). The origin and nature of the matrix mineral association is still unclear. The peak porphyroblast association forms at the expense of plagioclase from the matrix at higher pressure. The fine-grain deformation zones channel the lattermost fluid infiltration. The clinopyroxene-garnet and Zr-in-titanite thermometry give temperatures higher than 790–860 ºC at 2 GPa and, with thermodynamic modeling, suggests crystallization at ~1.8–2.1 GPa and temperature of ~850 ºC in HP granulite field for the porphyroblast granulite association.
A Multivariate Analysis of Public Housing Residents: Comment
Authors: Van Matre Joseph G.
Published: March 2021

In a recent issue of this journal, Kau and Floyd employed the multivariate statistical technique of discriminant analysis in a study concerned with occupant and dwelling characteristics of public versus substandard housing in Savannah, Georgia. Their stated goal was: “to determine which of the poor have lived in public housing. In other words, given the limited supply of public housing, to what extent is the selection process of the public housing authority biased? The paper also compares the structural and environmental qualities of public housing with those of substandard housing.” The subsequently derived discriminant function correctly classified 86.8 percent of the sample observations. K and F conclude that “the Public Housing Authority does discriminate and that in general the model has discriminatory power.” However, an examination of their analysis reveals several methodological flaws which weaken, if not negate, their conclusion.
Regional Scientists and Regional Identity
Authors: Strepp James M.
Published: March 2021

I would like to begin my remarks by paying tribute to that unknown (at least to me) person who coined the term “regionalism,” and a family of related terms, to refer to studies, analyses, policies, programs and problems relating to sub-national geographical areas and the social, economic and political entities, attitudes and relationships associated therewith. “Regionalism” is a much more attractive label than “sectionalism,” the term that historians and others applied to the conflicting geographical interests and attitudes, and to the resulting public policy conflicts and disputes, throughout all of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The label may not sell the product, but it certainly has a major influence on the extent to which people take time to test it.