Suchergebnisse

After reviewing the main empirical and theoretical findings about the evolution of inequality and its impact on macroeconomic dynamics, this thesis expands the analysis performed with an agent-based model by Napoletano, Roventini and Gaffard (2016). In the model, which is characterized by heterogeneous households with credit constraints, an inequality shock is introduced. This generates a fall in aggregate demand and income. Scenarios with different degrees of inequality are compared, and what emerges is that higher inequality is associated with more severe recessions. Moreover, a redistributive fiscal policy, in the form of a subsidy, is introduced after the crisis. This policy significantly dampens the fall in aggregate output implied by the inequality shock and is more effective than direct government expenditure in stimulating the economy.

This article proposes a comparative analysis among Brazilian municipalities in order to identify the determinants of the potential and of the ability to collect urban property tax (IPTU) in Brazil. The analysis applied the fuzzy set theory, a pioneer methodological choice in the field of public finances in Brazil, which has provided unpre­cedented results in terms of property taxation. The results confirmed what analysts and municipal leaders have pointed out for a long time: the majority of Brazilian municipalities do not use their full potential to collect the IPTU — a fact that tends to be more critical in smaller cities, which depend on funding from other spheres of Government. The article breaks new ground in assessing this potential based on a comparative analysis of cities with similar characteristics. ; Con el fin de identificar los determinantes del potencial de la colección de impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles y territorial urbano en Brasil, así como la exploración de tal capacidad, este artículo propone un análisis compa­rativo de los municipios brasileños mediante la aplicación de la teoría de conjuntos fuzzy. La aplicación de esta metodología en el área de las finanzas públicas es pionera en Brasil, e ha dado resultados sin precedentes sobre los impuestos de propiedad. Los resultados confirmaron lo que los analistas y líderes municipales incluso han señalado hace algún tiempo: la mayoría de los municipios brasileños no utiliza todo su potencial para recaudar IPTU — hecho que tiende a ser más crítico en ciudades más pequeñas y que dependen de fondos desde otras esferas del gobierno. Este artículo innova para medir este potencial basado en un análisis comparativo de las ciudades con características similares. ; A fim de identificar os determinantes do potencial de arrecadação do imposto sobre propriedade predial e territorial urbana (IPTU) no Brasil, bem como a utilização dessa capacidade, este artigo propõe uma análise comparativa dos municípios brasileiros aplicando a teoria dos conjuntos fuzzy. A aplicação dessa metodologia na área das finanças públicas é pioneira no Brasil, o que proporcionou resultados inéditos em matéria de tributação da propriedade. Os resultados confirmaram o que analistas e até mesmo dirigentes municipais já apontaram há tempos: a maioria dos municípios brasileiros não utiliza todo o seu potencial de arrecadação do IPTU — fato que tende a ser mais crítico nas cidades de menor porte e que dependem mais de recursos de outras esferas de governo. O artigo inova ao mensurar esse potencial a partir de uma análise comparativa entre cidades com semelhantes características.

Mathematical game theory – developed starting from the publication of The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior (1944), by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern – aims to outline an ideal model of behaviour of rational agents involved in some interaction with other rational agents. For this reason, game theory has immediately attracted the attention of philosophers dealing with practical rationality and, since the fifties, has been applied to the analysis of several issues concerning ethics and philosophy of politics. Here we will focus on one of the most interesting applications of game theory to ethical-political inquiry, i.e., with the game theoretic analysis of some problems related to the evolution of moral norms. Firstly, we will provide a short outline of the development of game theory, which has lead to the formulation of a plurality of different game theories. It will be shown that such theories can be classified in two main groups: rationalistic game theories –in two different versions: classical and epistemic – and evolutionary game theories. Moreover, some basic elements of classical game theory will be introduced and the key ideas of epistemic and evolutionary game theories will be illustrated. Afterwards, the main approaches developed within the ethical-political applications of game theory will be shortly described. Finally, some results obtained in the last twenty years by the researchers who have analysed the evolution of moral norms by the conceptual tools of evolutionary and epistemic game theories, will be examined.

Objective: to discuss the classification of the health hazardallowance due to exposure to biological agents attributedto Nursing professionals, based on legal and occupationalparameters supported on the principle of human dignity.Method: an original reflection study with theoretical analysison legislation, jurisprudence and Occupational Health focusedon the biological risks, health hazard and rights of Brazilianworkers. The discussions were based on the current legislationand on scientific evidence. Results: the classification of thehealth hazard allowance due to exposure to biological agentsattributed to Nursing professionals is not in line with thefactual situation experienced by them. Conclusion: it becomesnecessary to broaden the discussion on the subject matterand to review the effective and fair compensation of Nursingprofessionals due to exposure to potentially contaminatedbiological agents in their work environments, given that thehealth hazard allowance is a worker's right and is based onhuman dignity. ; Objetivo: discutir a classificação do adicional de insalubridadepor exposição aos agentes biológicos atribuída aos profissionaisde enfermagem, a partir de parâmetros jurídicos e ocupacionaisapoiados no princípio da dignidade humana. Método:estudo original de reflexão com análise teórica na legislação,jurisprudência e Saúde Ocupacional com enfoque nos riscosbiológicos, insalubridade e direitos dos trabalhadores brasileiros.As discussões foram embasadas na legislação vigente e emevidências científicas. Resultados: a classificação do adicionalde insalubridade por exposição aos agentes biológicos, atribuídaaos profissionais de enfermagem não está em consonânciacom a situação fática vivenciada por eles. Conclusão: fazsenecessário ampliar a discussão sobre o assunto e rever aefetiva e justa indenização dos profissionais de enfermagem porexposição aos agentes biológicos potencialmente contaminadosem seus ambientes laborais, haja vista que o adicional deinsalubridade é um direito do trabalhador e tem ...

In the aftermath of Japan's closing edicts of the 1640s, the curious episode of the mission of the Dutch agent Andries Frisius to the court of Iemitsu in 1650 was an emblematic case of the new course of the diplomatic relations established by the Tokugawa government with Europeans. Local authorities' occasional contacts with the Dutch still revealed uncertainty in diplomatic and commercial exchanges based on rules set by the central government, not yet fully implemented at the local level. Besides the embarrassment in developing official relations, the few European agents admitted in the archipelago had to satisfy the numerous requests from the authorities, as evidenced by the singular case of Frisius. Agents' commitments also included the presentation of official reports, the so-called fūsetsugaki, the news on overseas affairs and European historical events that envoys of the Dutch East India Company were asked to present regularly to the shogunal authorities in Edo. These chronicles had implications in terms of the reception of the image of Europe, influencing to some extent the foreign policy of the time. ; In the aftermath of Japan's closing edicts of the 1640s, the curious episode of the mission of the Dutch agent Andries Frisius to the court of Iemitsu in 1650 was an emblematic case of the new course of the diplomatic relations established by the Tokugawa government with Europeans. Local authorities' occasional contacts with the Dutch still revealed uncertainty in diplomatic and commercial exchanges based on rules set by the central government, not yet fully implemented at the local level. Besides the embarrassment in developing official relations, the few European agents admitted in the archipelago had to satisfy the numerous requests from the authorities, as evidenced by the singular case of Frisius. Agents' commitments also included the presentation of official reports, the so-called fūsetsugaki, the news on overseas affairs and European historical events that envoys of the Dutch East India Company were asked to present regularly to the shogunal authorities in Edo. These chronicles had implications in terms of the reception of the image of Europe, influencing to some extent the foreign policy of the time.

The french Regulation School of hetherodox economics deals with the capability of economic systems to reach stability. The economic systems does not have a tendency to equilibrium. Instead, the institutional farmework of capitalist society produces stability. Regulation Theory links the interaction of agents in a micro level to structural determinations of system development not reducible to this micro level. The evolution of capitalist systems is multidetermined. The origin of institutional forms are presented with the support of Polanyi's and Brauders contributions to the history of capitalism. At last, a discussion on the concept of mode of regulation as a hierarchical configuration of the institutional forms is made. ; The french Regulation School of hetherodox economics deals with the capability of economic systems to reach stability. The economic systems does not have a tendency to equilibrium. Instead, the institutional farmework of capitalist society produces stability. Regulation Theory links the interaction of agents in a micro level to structural determinations of system development not reducible to this micro level. The evolution of capitalist systems is multidetermined. The origin of institutional forms are presented with the support of Polanyi's and Brauders contributions to the history of capitalism. At last, a discussion on the concept of mode of regulation as a hierarchical configuration of the institutional forms is made.

Anthropology has been playing a central role in questioning the supposed
objective and apolitical character of scientific knowledge by underlining the socio-cultural context
and history of the constitution of any scientific theory. From different
research universes, anthropologists have sought to demonstrate how science
and politics are composed, juxtaposed and produced in the daily work of
social actors. In the wake of what Donna Haraway (1995) pointed out, it is
there would not be the "science" look, but the look of the scientists - always located
in a space (which is not only geographical, but temporal, cultural, marked
by social differences, etc.). It is therefore based on the premise that science and
are mutually constituted and from specific contexts. Following
In this line, this collection explores how certain knowledges are constituted and legitimized, how technologies of government come into action - and, through practices
of the social agents, are (re) formulated - and how through such devices
new categories of analysis, social markers, populations and
subjectivities (FONSECA, MACHADO, 2015) - A antropologia vem tendo um papel central no questionamento do suposto
caráter objetivo e apolítico dos saberes científicos ao sublinhar o contexto sociocultural
e histórico da constituição de toda teoria científica. A partir de diferentes
universos de pesquisa, antropólogos têm buscado demonstrar a forma como ciência
e política são compostas, justapostas e produzidas no trabalho cotidiano de
agentes sociais. Na esteira do que apontou Donna Haraway (1995), destaca-se que
não existiria o olhar "da ciência", mas, sim, o olhar dos cientistas - sempre localizado
num espaço (que não é apenas geográfico, mas temporal, cultural, marcado
por diferenças sociais, etc.). Parte-se, portanto, da premissa de que ciência e intervenções
se constituem mutuamente e a partir de contextos específicos. Seguindo
nessa linha, essa coletânea explora como determinados saberes são constituídos e legitimados, como tecnologias de governo entram em ação - e, através das práticas
dos agentes sociais, são (re)formuladas - e a maneira como através de tais dispositivos
são produzidas novas categorias de análise, marcadores sociais, populações e
subjetividades (FONSECA; MACHADO, 2015)

This paper is an account of the intellectual process that led, in the early 1980s, to the definition of the new economic theory of inertial inflation, which is identified as the consequence of phased or staggered price adjustments. Economic agents are involved in an endless process of balancing and unbalancing relative prices, as they keep up with the ongoing inflation. To fight inertial inflation, orthodox or conventional fiscal and monetary policies are insufficient. In addition it is necessary to adopt a heterodox mechanism that neutralizes inertia. This article is part of a book in preparation where the author reports his experience as minister of finance in Brazil in 1987. (Rev Econ Polit/DÜI)

ABSTRACT Introduction: This article analyzes the issue of Capacities for the implementation of public policies. The article examines the concepts of state capacity, policy capacities and policy work to analyze the role of bureaucratic roles in the implementation process. The article criticizes the concept of state capacities and advocates a perspective that the analysis of capacities should be focused on the performance of agents for the fulfillment of public policy functions. Materials and methods: Based on a survey analysis with agents of civil service bureaucracy, the article lists the central capacities for the performance of functions necessary for the implementation of public policies. Results: The theoretical finding is that capacity analysis should consider the role of individuals in the performance of policy functions and the organizational context in which they are embedded. Discussion: This article contributes to the literature on bureaucracy and governance in Brazil.KEYWORDS: State Capacities; Policy Capacities; Policy Work; Public Policy; Civil Service.

This article examines the contribution of the Integrated System for Financial Administration (SIAFI) of the Brazilian government to the promotion of horizontal accountability of the federal public administration in the perception of the system's distinct groups of users. Based on the theoretical framework and analysis of documents on the SIAFI and the rules on public administration, we defined three dimensions to assess accountability – transparency, rendering of accounts and attribution of responsibility – operationalized through an online questionnaire with responses scored on a Likert scale. This questionnaire was sent to four groups of system users—managers, operators, control agents and investigation agents—linked to 128 entities of the federal government. The treatment and analysis of the results through factor analysis and comparison of groups allowed characterizing an overall perception of the efficacy of the SIAFI in promoting horizontal accountability, despite variations in this perception within the constitutive dimensions defined, according to the users' origin and their relationship with the system. ; Este estudo visa avaliar a contribuição do Sistema Integrado de Administração Financeira do Governo Federal (SIAFI) para a promoção daaccountabilityhorizontal na Administração Pública Federal, com base na percepção dos distintos grupos de usuários do sistema. A partir do referencial teórico e da análise documental do SIAFI e regramento da administração pública, foram definidas três dimensões para avaliar aaccountability– transparência, prestação de contas e responsabilização – operacionalizadas em questionário eletrônico construído com base em escala Likert. Esse questionário foi encaminhado a quatro grupos de usuários do sistema—gestor, operador, agente de controle e agente de investigação—, vinculados a 128 órgãos do Governo Federal. O tratamento e análise dos resultados, baseados em análise fatorial e comparação dos grupos, permitiram caracterizar uma percepção global de eficácia do SIAFI na ...

The article analyzes the debate on "racial" or "ethnic voting" in postapartheid South Africa, looking at its implications for democratic theory. A critical review is offered of "sociological" (culture- & class-based) as well as "psychological" & political communication explanations for the unexpected tendency of the 'coloured' voters in the Cape area to "betray" the African National Congress & line up with the white electorate after 1993. An alternative explanation is also offered that seeks to combine elements from the theory of cleavages, class voting theory, & the Downsian theory of elections. It is based on the application of some recent developments of European & American rational choice sociology to the genesis of voting preferences, as well as on the concept of language repertoire & central place theory. Finally, some possible adjustments to the liberal democratic model in contexts marked by economic, language, culture, & geographic differentials are recommended from within the theoretical framework of the neo-contractarian views of democracy. 8 Tables, 2 Figures, 72 References. Adapted from the source document.

OBJETIVO Analisar a gênese da política de controle da aids no Brasil. MÉTODOS Estudo sócio-histórico (1981-1989), orientado pela sociologia genética de Bourdieu, por meio de análise documental, revisão bibliográfica e entrevistas em profundidade. Consistiu na articulação entre a análise das trajetórias de 33 agentes envolvidos na criação de um espaço social voltado para as questões relativas à aids e as condições históricas de possibilidade para a formulação de uma política específica. RESULTADOS O Espaço Aids constituiu-se como produto do encontro da trajetória de agentes de diversos campos sociais (médico, científico, político e burocrático). Um espaço específico de relações, que possibilitou a formulação de uma política para o controle da epidemia da aids, mas onde também estava em disputa a autoridade de falar sobre o significado da doença, suas formas de prevenção e tratamento. A análise mostrou como as estruturas (governos democráticos no estado de São Paulo e no âmbito nacional, com sanitaristas assumindo posições importantes) e a ausência de terapia específica contribuíram para que agentes sociais com disposições e formações diversas formulassem uma política que priorizou inicialmente a prevenção. CONCLUSÕES A ascensão do movimento sanitário, a constituição do SUS e a dominância do campo médico no Espaço Aids contribuíram para a valorização do tratamento, como parte das medidas de controle da epidemia. Essas condições possibilitaram a formulação de uma política baseada na integralidade das ações, articulando prevenção e tratamento, na década seguinte, com importante participação da burocracia estatal e de pesquisadores. ; OBJECTIVE To analyze the genesis of the policy for controlling AIDS in Brazil. METHODS Socio-historical study (1981-1989), based on Bordieu's genetic sociology, by document analysis, bibliographical review, and in-depth interviews. It consisted of a connection between the analysis of the paths of 33 agents involved in the creation of a social space focusing on AIDS-related issues and the historical possibility conditions of the drafting of a specific policy. RESULTS AIDS Space is a gathering point for the paths of agents from several social fields (medical, scientific, political, and bureaucratic fields). A specific space for relationships, which enabled the drafting of a policy for controlling the AIDS epidemic, but also a place where the authority to talk about the meaning of the disease, the methods to prevent and treat it was under dispute. The analysis showed how the various structures (democratic administrations in Sao Paulo and at the national level, with public health officers taking important positions) and the lack of a specific therapy contributed to social agents of different ranks and backgrounds to initially set prevention as a priority. CONCLUSIONS The rise of the sanitary movement, the organization of SUS, and the dominance of the medical field at the AIDS Space contributed to foster treatment as a part of the measures to control the epidemic. These conditions allowed drafting a policy based on the integrality of care, by linking prevention and treatment in the following decade, with important participation from state bureaucracy and researchers.

This thesis is a collection of three essays about the economics of coordination. Coordination issues arise when, in presence of multiple equilibria, heterogeneously informed agents need to coordinate with each other towards a Pareto-superior outcome. Electoral outcomes, collective decision-making, currency attacks or polit- ical regime changes examples of coordination problems. The first chapter provides a game theoretic analysis of group decision making, investigating how an agent's communication behavior is affected by different voting systems. I show that in an ideal state where communication is noisy but agents can communicate without opportunity costs, agents will always reach unanimous consensus regardless of which voting system governs the deliberative process. I further show that under the more realistic case in which communication involves opportunity costs, voting systems shape an agent's communication behavior. Specifically, when the opportunity costs of communication are low, a voting system based on unanimity approximates the results of the ideal state. Conversely, when communication involves high opportunity costs, a voting system based on majority is more desirable. The second essay is an experimental test of the predictions developed in the first chapter. The experiment is designed to determine how different voting institutions in uence the process of communication of collective decision bodies when communication can be costly. In contrast with the existing literature, I have found that different voting institutions induce different decision outcomes. In particular, a voting system based on unanimity fosters subjects' communication and information sharing. Once subjects choose to communicate, I also have observed that communication unambiguously improves the quality of the decision outcome across each voting rule. The third and final essay provides a political regime-change interpretation of the organized crime phe- nomenon. Under the assumption that the a criminal organization in a society benefits of the support of individuals, I investigate the strategic interplay between a criminal organization and a large number of citizens who might be more inclined to support the criminal organization rather than reporting its illegal activities to the legal authority. Borrowing from the economic literature on coordination and regime change, I model a criminal organization as an autocratic regime and claim that illegal activities are used in order to raise citizens support.

This article describes the cores of social significance identified in the speeches of primary healthcare professionals regarding the quality of the actions performed. This is a case study carried out in two services organized according to different models: a "traditional" unit, with community agents, and one for family healthcare. The interviews and observations are analyzed based on the framework proposed by Vigotsky, dialogically with the literature on the working processes in health care. The results point as the main cores of quality in basic care: reception as interaction between professional and user of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS); diversity of multi-professional and intersectoral offers; community agents as a link between healthcare team and community; and teamwork and democratic management. Even though these aspects are socially understood as cores for quality in primary health care among professionals, there are tensions and contradictions between the legitimized and the instituted as practices. ; O artigo descreve os núcleos de significação social identificados nas falas de profissionais de saúde da atenção primária com relação à qualidade das ações desenvolvidas. Trata-se de estudo de caso realizado em dois serviços organizados segundo modelos diferentes: uma unidade "tradicional", com agentes comunitários, e uma de saúde da família. As entrevistas e observações realizadas são analisadas a partir do referencial proposto por Vigotski, em diálogo com a literatura sobre o processo de trabalho em saúde. Os resultados apontam como principais núcleos de significação da qualidade na atenção básica o acolhimento como interação entre profissional e usuário do Sistema Único de Saúde, as diversidades de ofertas multiprofissionais e intersetoriais, os agentes comunitários como elo entre equipe de saúde e comunidade, e o trabalho em equipe e gerenciamento democrático. Ainda que esses núcleos estejam socializados entre os profissionais como significados de qualidade, observam-se tensionamentos e contradições entre o legitimado e o instituído como prática.