title: CPI bias and real living standards in Russia during the transition

authors: Gibson, John

subjects: CPI bias

abstract: The economies of the former Soviet Bloc experienced large declines in output during the decade of transition which began with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Yet there are many reasons to believe that measured output and official deflators provide a poor proxy for the change in real living standards in transition economies. This paper uses the Engel curve methodology recently developed by Hamilton (2001) and Costa (2001) to examine changes in real living standards in Russia during the transition period and to provide an estimate of how much the officialRussian CPI has overstated consumer inflation. We also examine changes in consumer durables, home production, and subjective well-being to further evaluate changes in living standards. Our findings indicate that CPI bias has caused a substantial understatement of the growth performance of the Russian economy during the transition. Even just allowing household final consumption to be deflated with bias, we find that the level of real per capita GDP in 2001 may be understated by up to thirty percent compared with using a bias-corrected deflator. Our analysis of consumer durables, home production, and subjective well-being supports the conclusion that the decline in living standards has been substantially less than what is inferred by looking at official statistics on real output.

text: CPI bias and real living standards in Russia during the transition The economies of the former Soviet Bloc experienced large declines in output during the decade of transition which began with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Yet there are many reasons to believe that measured output and official deflators provide a poor proxy for the change in real living standards in transition economies. This paper uses the Engel curve methodology recently developed by Hamilton (2001) and Costa (2001) to examine changes in real living standards in Russia during the transition period and to provide an estimate of how much the officialRussian CPI has overstated consumer inflation. We also examine changes in consumer durables, home production, and subjective well-being to further evaluate changes in living standards. Our findings indicate that CPI bias has caused a substantial understatement of the growth performance of the Russian economy during the transition. Even just allowing household final consumption to be deflated with bias, we find that the level of real per capita GDP in 2001 may be understated by up to thirty percent compared with using a bias-corrected deflator. Our analysis of consumer durables, home production, and subjective well-being supports the conclusion that the decline in living standards has been substantially less than what is inferred by looking at official statistics on real output.

year: 2004-09

title: Perspectives on informed consent: an investigation into attitudes and practices in relation to informed consent to medical treatment in a group of New Zealand hospitals

authors: De Luca, Rosemary

abstract: Words do not of themselves carry meaning but are interpreted by users and within the contexts of their use. These contexts extend beyond the immediate to include historical, contemporary and evolving uses. Particularly within interpersonal communication, shared meanings and therefore understandings are often negotiated. This theory of language applies both to the phrase ‘informed consent’ and to the sharing of information that is believed to be an integral part of informed consent.

The notion labelled ‘informed consent’ in New Zealand society today occurs within individuals’ understandings of the phrase, and the philosophical, legal, official, scholarly and popular expressions of understandings that are publicly articulated through various media.

Active and adequate recognition of the rights of consumers of New Zealand’s health and disability services, including those that hospitals provide, rests on a shared understanding of ‘informed consent’. This understanding, which constitutes what is called a concept, may be arrived at through careful consideration of a wide range of interpretations associated with this phrase. Such a consideration makes up the content of this thesis.

text: Perspectives on informed consent: an investigation into attitudes and practices in relation to informed consent to medical treatment in a group of New Zealand hospitals Words do not of themselves carry meaning but are interpreted by users and within the contexts of their use. These contexts extend beyond the immediate to include historical, contemporary and evolving uses. Particularly within interpersonal communication, shared meanings and therefore understandings are often negotiated. This theory of language applies both to the phrase ‘informed consent’ and to the sharing of information that is believed to be an integral part of informed consent.

The notion labelled ‘informed consent’ in New Zealand society today occurs within individuals’ understandings of the phrase, and the philosophical, legal, official, scholarly and popular expressions of understandings that are publicly articulated through various media.

Active and adequate recognition of the rights of consumers of New Zealand’s health and disability services, including those that hospitals provide, rests on a shared understanding of ‘informed consent’. This understanding, which constitutes what is called a concept, may be arrived at through careful consideration of a wide range of interpretations associated with this phrase. Such a consideration makes up the content of this thesis.

year: 2003

title: Indigenous women and the professions: Some Maori women's experiences in the accountancy profession of Aotearoa/New Zealand

authors: McNicholas, Patty

abstract: Concern about and resistance to the marginalisation of indigenous peoples has been growing globally. A focus upon indigenous women's experiences of accountancy is thus timely given the increasing concern to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples. This thesis aims to explore the experiences of Maori women accountants in Aotearoa/NewZealand through the use of oral history. It seeks to provide Maori women with an opportunity to be heard by researchers, academics, policy makers, members of the accountancy profession and Maori women more widely. An opportunity is also provided for Maori women to influence the discipline of accounting and its organisational practices by exposing the profession to issues concerning Maori, as an indigenous ethnic group. 
It is argued that it is important to gather and listen to the stories of Maori women, as being heard is a crucial step towards understanding and reconciliation of their experiences with societally espoused commitments to equality and social justice. The struggle for Maori in Aotearoa/New Zealand is for equal participation, which also manifests itself in our organisations like accountancy firms and the accountancy profession. I have investigated the relationship between contemporary Maori women, accountancy and the history of colonialism and post-colonialism. Kaupapa Maori research methodologies are seen as a means of intervention in the transformation of Maori socially, economically and politically. The intent of these methodologies is to ensure a practice beyond the mere assimilation of marginalised groups, like Maori women. 
Over the last decade feminist accounting research has focused upon, perhaps unintentionally, women from the dominant white middle-class. The special features of 'Other' women have been obliterated by the cultural and class blindness of researchers. Their minority status has also rendered their significant differences to be invisible. There has been a particular paucity of research concerned to explain the career experiences of women from indigenous groups, including Maori women. 
An analysis of the empirical date gathered for this thesis is undertaken from a critical feminist perspective, by reference to the works of theorists on the 'decolonisation' of Maori and Maori women in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Suggestions on the transformation of the mono-cultural practices of the accountancy profession and its organisations include the process of hearing and understanding the Maori perspective. The Maori women in this study have shown that they have something unique to bring to the table in seeking a commitment for equal participation, in their aspirations for future equality in all aspects of Aotearoa/New Zealand society.

text: Indigenous women and the professions: Some Maori women's experiences in the accountancy profession of Aotearoa/New Zealand Concern about and resistance to the marginalisation of indigenous peoples has been growing globally. A focus upon indigenous women's experiences of accountancy is thus timely given the increasing concern to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples. This thesis aims to explore the experiences of Maori women accountants in Aotearoa/NewZealand through the use of oral history. It seeks to provide Maori women with an opportunity to be heard by researchers, academics, policy makers, members of the accountancy profession and Maori women more widely. An opportunity is also provided for Maori women to influence the discipline of accounting and its organisational practices by exposing the profession to issues concerning Maori, as an indigenous ethnic group. 
It is argued that it is important to gather and listen to the stories of Maori women, as being heard is a crucial step towards understanding and reconciliation of their experiences with societally espoused commitments to equality and social justice. The struggle for Maori in Aotearoa/New Zealand is for equal participation, which also manifests itself in our organisations like accountancy firms and the accountancy profession. I have investigated the relationship between contemporary Maori women, accountancy and the history of colonialism and post-colonialism. Kaupapa Maori research methodologies are seen as a means of intervention in the transformation of Maori socially, economically and politically. The intent of these methodologies is to ensure a practice beyond the mere assimilation of marginalised groups, like Maori women. 
Over the last decade feminist accounting research has focused upon, perhaps unintentionally, women from the dominant white middle-class. The special features of 'Other' women have been obliterated by the cultural and class blindness of researchers. Their minority status has also rendered their significant differences to be invisible. There has been a particular paucity of research concerned to explain the career experiences of women from indigenous groups, including Maori women. 
An analysis of the empirical date gathered for this thesis is undertaken from a critical feminist perspective, by reference to the works of theorists on the 'decolonisation' of Maori and Maori women in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Suggestions on the transformation of the mono-cultural practices of the accountancy profession and its organisations include the process of hearing and understanding the Maori perspective. The Maori women in this study have shown that they have something unique to bring to the table in seeking a commitment for equal participation, in their aspirations for future equality in all aspects of Aotearoa/New Zealand society.

year: 2003