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This paper develops a theory of politically-active monopoly, which trades political support to the government in exchange for political favors that increase its profit. Because a larger size means a greater ability to extend support, it also means a greater ability to capture political favors. Thus the monopoly here sets output above the level where marginal cost equals marginal revenue and may produce where price is less than marginal cost, since it faces a trade-off between political and market power. However, the size constraint on monopoly rent-seeking may remove its incentive to minimize cost and could even cause it to waste inputs. In addition, rent-seeking uses scarce resources that could be producing useful products, and the management team able to obtain the most efficient production may not be the management able to earn the highest profit, because efficiency in rent-seeking also counts. Thus while the monopoly here uses more resources than a conventional monopoly, it may still supply less output. However, if the government's political support is sufficiently sensitive to the cost of monopoly, we can expect a relatively optimistic outcome, in which the traditional "deadweight loss" triangle vanishes, although in general the resulting allocation of resources is no better than a second best.

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "The Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA) of 1996 requires that agencies refer eligible debts delinquent more than 180 days that they have been unable to collect to the Department of the Treasury for payment and offset and to Treasury or a Treasury-designated debt collection center for cross-servicing. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made progress in referring eligible delinquent debts for collection during fiscal year 2001. Much of the referral volume was late in the year, however, and substantial unreferred balances remained at the end of the fiscal year. Inadequate procedures and controls hampered prompt identification and referral of both eligible non-Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) and MSP debts. The delayed referral of non-MSP debts resulted from problems with the CMS debt-referral system and insufficient CMS monitoring of contractor referrals. The low level of MSP debt referrals resulted primarily from limited contractor efforts and insufficient CMS monitoring of contractor performance. Although GAO did not test whether selected CMS debts had been reasonably excluded from referral and reached no overall conclusion about the appropriateness of CMS exclusions, GAO found that CMS did not report reliable Medicare debt information to the Treasury Department as of September 30, 2000."

In the last decade financial risk management in public sector organisations has become of greater interest to the public, politicians and regulators. Derivatives are commonly used to manage financial risk but little is known about the reasons why financial risk is managed, particularly through the use of derivatives. Furthermore, little is known about the reasons for and extent of derivative use in public sector organisations. To the authors knowledge this paper represents one of the first studies into the use of derivatives in Australian Commonwealth public sector organisations. A sample of Commonwealth organisations is surveyed on attitudes towards the use of derivatives for hedging. A variety of tests including ANOVA and t-tests are used to analyse the results. The two most important issues in the use of derivatives for hedging in the Commonwealth public sector include budgeting and reducing risks faced by management. Reducing the risks faced by management is often cited as a reason for derivative use in the private sector. It is unclear if budgeting is linked to this. Respondents from Commonwealth organisations rank other private sector reasons for derivative use, such as reducing bankruptcy and taxation relatively unimportant. Results also indicate that there are significant differences in the level of importance in some issues regarding derivative use across different organisations, particularly those with and without a documented risk management plan.

In the last two decades, family members in South European countries have been able to preserve high levels of well-being due to the hyperactivity developed by cohorts of 'superwomen'. These have combined their non-paid household activities with their increasing paid professional activities, a phenomenon that manifests itself in all social groups and classes. The role played by 'superwomen' within households has been very important for the 'catching up' up aspirations of Mediterranean countries and their success in the process of economic convergence with the rest of EU countries. Sacrifices made by 'superwomen' in the 1980s and 1990s have allowed not only South European countries to cope better with welfare retrenchment as compared to Central and Northern Europe. They have also facilitated higher aggregate public and social expenditure with the implementation of governmental programmes other than those directly related to family and personal services. However, the postponement of maternity and the decreasing number of children are the causes that fertility rates in Italy and Spain --Catholic countries par excellence-- are among the lowest in the world. 'Superwomen' may have well allowed a greater degree of gender equality for future generations, but their gradual disappearance may also bring about new uncertainties on whether the Mediterranean welfare regime can survive, as we have known it until present.

5 páginas, 5 figuras.-- El documento en word es la versión post-print. ; We sought to determine the relative importance of aging and hypercholesterolemia on atherosclerosis. Although plasma cholesterol levels increased similarly in young and old rabbits fed an atherogenic diet for 2 months, aortic atherosclerotic lesions were more prominent in young animals. This finding was associated with an age-dependent reduction in the DNA-binding activity of the proinflammatory nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in aortic tissue. Atherosclerotic lesions consisted mostly of macrophages, which displayed a similar proliferative response in both age groups. Independently of the age, medial cell proliferation was low and increased as a function of intimal lesion size. Thus, higher atherogenicity in young rabbits exposed to extreme hypercholesterolemia compared to old counterparts is associated with higher activity of NF-κB in the juvenile vessel wall without apparent age-dependent changes in arterial cell proliferation. ; This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Government and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (PM97- 0136, SAF2001-2358) and from the American Heart Association, Massachusetts Affiliate (9860022T). A.D.-J. was partially supported by the Spanish Government and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (Grant 1FD97-1035-C02-02), and by Fondo Social Europeo (CSIC-Programa I3P fellowship). M.J.C. was supported by a CSICBancaja postdoctoral fellowship. ; Peer reviewed

It is argued in this article that irrepoachable ethical behaviour is a prerequisite for reversing the downward performance spiral of the South African public sector. This downward spiral is caused by three impediments: corruption and maladministration, unemployment, and orthodoxy. These impediments can be related to the politics of society, the politics of economics and the politics of bureaucracy. The performance of the public sector also has a global context and this is explored in terms of the effect of global competitiveness on public revenue, South Africa's vulnerabilty as developing country and the effects of the response to globalisation on the socio-economic needs in the country. This serves to emphasise that little hope should be placed on macro-economic policy reform to make more money available for public spending and address the unemployment impediment. Instead, the other two impediments should be demolished through ensuring irreproachable ethical behaviour. The small actions that cannot be considered corrupt or illegal, but still nibble away at resources - time and opportunities - must be eliminated. Finally, it is proposed that supplementary codes of conduct and a corruption index should be developed on an agency level, and that further institutional reform should be aimed at delegating even more authority for discretion to public managers. (Politeia/DÜI)

Diese Arbeit hat zum Ziel, marktunterstützende institutionelle Reformen im Transformationsprozess zu analysieren. Als Einstieg in die Thematik wird die Aufnahme mittel- und osteuropäischer Länder in die Europäische Union mit der zurückliegenden Süderweiterung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft verglichen. Die folgenden Kapitel befassen sich mit der Bedeutung weicher Budgetbeschränkungen in Transformationsökonomien. Zunächst werden anhand von Daten bulgarischer und rumänischer Unternehmen theoretische Erklärungsansätze für weiche Budgetbeschränkungen getestet. Im anschließenden Teil wird analysiert, ob Handelskredite einen Teil der normalen Geschäftspraxis darstellen oder ob Handelskredite starke Handelsverflechtungen zwischen Unternehmen unterstützen und damit die Wahrscheinlichkeit von weichen Budgetbeschränkungen erhöhen können. Im empirischen Teil werden Daten aus Ungarn und Rumänien verwendet, die aus Unternehmensbefragungen stammen. Im letzten Kapitel wird die Unternehmensebene verlassen und mit makroökonomischen Daten gearbeitet. Ziel ist es hier, den Einfluss institutioneller Reformen auf das Wirtschaftswachstum zu testen. ; Main objective of this work is to analyse market-supporting institutional reforms in the transition process. In the first part of the dissertation, the upcoming enlargement of the European Union towards the east is compared with the earlier southern enlargement. Research in the following chapters is devoted to the problem of soft budget constraints in transition countries. Firstly, theories on the causes of soft budget constraints are empirically tested. Therefore a panel data set consisting of company account data for Bulgarian and Romanian firms is used. Secondly, firm-level survey data from Hungary and Romania is used to test whether trade credits are just part of normal business practice or whether trade credits are representing a systematic phenomenon supporting soft budget constraints of firms in transition. Thirdly, macroeconomic data is utilised to illustrate the impact of implementing institutional change on economic performance.

The tragic events of September 11th generated numerous proposals for greater security measures and increased police powers that might, if implemented, constrict the customary scope of free speech in the United States. Legitimate concerns for internal security have placed increased pressures on traditional constitutional protections for expressive activity. It is against this backdrop that this article presents a careful examination of the basic rationales for adopting constitutional level protections for free speech. The article analyzes the nature of, and many of the conflicts among, the traditional rationales for a constitutional right of free expression. It also suggests that much of the current confusion and incoherence in free speech jurisprudence is traceable to the uneasy relationship among these underlying rationales. This article was published quite soon after September 11, 2001. It is designed to be read and understood by a wide range of attorneys, judges, academics, politicians and policy makers, and the journal in which it is published reflects this ambition. It became part of the continuing national debate regarding the appropriate balance between national security and civil liberties in our country's confrontation with global terrorism. It was reprinted, in full, in Swanson & Castle's annual 2002-2003 First Amendment Law Handbook, a compilation of the best First Amendment law scholarship of the preceding year.

China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce issued a circular on April 18, 1998 banning all forms of multi-level direct marketing, citing concerns with social stability and economic order. While the direct marketing ban was ultimately implemented in such a way as to allow those who engaged in network marketing to transition to retail sales, alleviating some of the violence of the protest to the ban, opposition to the ban has continued both domestically and abroad. Direct marketing organizations create tight-knit, extensive networks of individuals with similar economic interests. By assembling around a common economic interest, the group may also emerge as a self-motivated political force, particularly when personal economic interests are tested. This latent risk of political activism poses a threat to the authoritarian regime in China. The state's response in issuing a blanket ban of all direct marketing activity illustrates its apprehension of private social and economic networks, and its inability and reluctance to seek regulatory alternatives. As China's economic system continues to evolve under the post-1978 market reform policy, the administration will need to adapt its political approach in order to better understand and respond to the demands of a population with expanding private interests, as well as a growing desire to pursue and protect those interests.

South African companies need to become increasingly competitive and productive in the global economy while complying with the statutory requirements of a range of labour legislation. Implementation of the requirements of the Employment Equity Act is likely to result in greater diversity within companies and increasing representation of different race groups at all levels. As management practices may need to be tailored to harness, for competitive advantage, the diverse values that employees bring to the workplace, it was the objective of the present exploratory study to measure similarities and differences in values for managers in the Southern Sun Group, a prominent hotel group in South Africa. The methodology involved obtaining a convenience sample of 68 managers from three race groups, and having them complete the VSM94 instrument (Hofstede, 1994) with the aim of investigating similarities and differences in values between such groups. The findings indicate that managers in the sample evidence both similar and different values along the Hofstede (1994) values dimensions. The study addresses the implications for the Southern Sun Group of managing an increasingly diverse workforce. Where differences in value orientations are apparent, recommendations are made to the management of the Southern Sun Group as to how management practices could be adapted to effectively respond to these differences.

In 1994 officials from the Ohio Department of Health reported that some residents of Lorain County, Ohio, possibly had been exposed to methyl parathion (MP), a highly toxic restricted-use pesticide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assisted in the investigation by providing epidemiologic and laboratory support to the state and local health departments. Although the initial investigation found MP inside the homes, it was unclear if the residents were exposed. CDC used a new biological monitoring method to measure urinary p-nitrophenol (PNP), the metabolite of MP. This biological monitoring measures the internal dose from exposure to toxic chemicals from all routes. Laboratory analyses demonstrated that the urine of residents contained moderate to high levels of PNP, with median, mean, and highest reported concentrations of 28, 240, and 4,800 g/L, respectively, thus confirming exposure of the residents. Almost 80% of the residents had urinary PNP concentrations above the 95th percentile of the reference range concentrations. This information, combined with other analytical results of air and wipe tests, guided public health officials' decisions about the potential risk in each household. In this article we illustrate the laboratory's role in providing information to assist in making these public health decisions. Furthermore, it illustrates how a multidisciplinary team from various governmental agencies worked together to protect the public's health.

This paper draws lessons from a review of primary health care services in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, undertaken by a regional health management team. The review was carried out because of perceived increases in workload and inadequate staffing levels, arising from the rapid expansion of the city associated with inward migration. A survey of the utilization of government clinics was used to develop a more equitable allocation of primary health care services between localities. The survey revealed disparities between patterns of utilization of the services and the allocation of staff: the poorer localities were relatively underprovided. Decisions made centrally on resource allocation had reinforced the inequities. On the basis of the results of the review, the regional health management team redistributed nursing and medical staff and argued for a shift in the allocation of capital expenditure towards the poorer communities. The review demonstrates the potential for regional and provincial health management teams to make effective assessments of the needs of their populations and to promote the equitable delivery of primary health care services. In order to achieve this they need not only to become effective managers, but also to develop population-based planning skills and the confidence and authority to influence the allocation of resources between and within their regions and provinces.

Focus group interviews are a useful qualitative research technique to obtain data from small groups about their opinions, attitudes, and/or feelings on a given subject. This particular technique has been used in Western Quebec in order to reveal the opinions, needs, and feelings of health professionals and future parents concerning prenatal education. As part of the region's priorities for 2002, all future parents in this part of the province were to be offered prenatal, government-paid, community health education. Consequently, the Ministry of Health at the regional level sought a customized program for all community centers, based on identified regional needs and recent research. This program had to prove to be innovative, user-friendly, effective, and efficient. After reviewing the literature and conducting discussions with representatives from all regional health agencies throughout the province, the author of this article designed and conducted focus groups with perinatal health professionals from all community centers and hospitals of the Outaouais region. Later, focus groups were also conducted with parents. Following the analysis of the data and comparisons with existing resources, the author of this paper designed and proposed a specific program aimed at the empowerment of future parents. This paper reports the original problem and its context, the research methodology, and the proposed program (underlying philosophy, objectives, content, and educational techniques).

Applies theoretical, typological, conceptual, & empirical analysis to the changes within the European catch-all political parties. This article focuses on the 'crisis' of the changes in the catch-all party (Vokspartei) since the 1970s & the restructuring of the Western catch-all parties as society & the Parteienstaat, or party state, where they function. Three waves of party building are identified & four resulting types of parties are described. The author argues that O. Kirchheimer's term, 'catch-all' party has been used inappropriately since he referred only to the outgrowth of the mass-integration party. Most of the major parties in Europe are still catch-all, however, & since the 1980s, they have experienced lower levels of organization & societal penetration. Social democratic, Christian democratic, & conservative parties have adapted by becoming smaller, less structured, & more flexible in order to remain electorally competitive. The disadvantages of these changes have been their 'short-termism' & 'ad-hockery' in their programs & electoral appeal as well as their inability to socially integrate & mediate. The Spanish, Portuguese, & Greek parties that have traditionally been ad hoc mobilizers have adapted better than the more structured German SPD or the social democrats in Scandinavia. The catch-all parties are not in a crisis of legitimation, but have remained stable & have generally been able to reorganize enough consent to re-equilibrate the system. L. A. Hoffman