Suchergebnisse

This article examines the conduct of fiscal policy since 1974. It is in two parts. The first contains a chronological narrative of what policy-makers did during the period. It describes, in rapid summary, the major policy developments and the setting within which policy formation evolved. The style of part I is more journalistic than scientific, the intention being to convey some sort of impression of what things were like at the time—of the pressure of immediate problems and the unexpectedness of many economic developments—an impression which would perhaps be lost in a more analytical and abstract treatment. The second part is concerned with the more technical task of measuring the effects of policy changes. It emphasizes the leverage of fiscal instruments—the first impact' of policy upon the level of demand—rather than the more indirect effects on the balance of payments and inflation, important though these may have been as target variables.

A comment on SA 25:3/77I6006. When the preferences of a group of committee members (eg, legislators) are single-peaked with respect to some underlying quantitatively scalable unidimensional continuum, then the set of pairwise choices between any given element on the continuum (eg, the status quo) & each of the remaining other elements is shown to be Guttman scalable. When the status quo is assumed as one of the elements on this continuum, an examination of which Guttman scale patterns are generated permits an identification of the locating of the point on the continuum which committee members are treating as the (implicit) status quo. AA.

The reasons are discussed why a multi-purpose concept of human resources that could be used as a basis for measurement is unlikely to be achieved. Alternative ways are explored in which human resources data might be important for policy purposes, particularly in developing countries. Suggestions are offered re the type of data which might be relevant for those purposes that are postulated as being of the greatest practical importance. While statistical techniques have led to a variety of useful data, non-statistical decision-making is needed to apply the knowledge gained, particularly in developing countries, in the field of human resource policy. The problem is to obtain data that will indicate to gov's how far resources are optimally allocated in their country from the point of view of the amount devoted to investment in human resources. In many countries little is known about the allocation of existing human resources. Hence often it is desirable to start with a rough inventory of the distribution of the existing stock of human resources, classified by main categories & their warnings. Earning data will be useful for finding out the rate of return on investment in human resources. Some of the main problems that will have to be faced in collecting the requisite nat'l data are enumerated. But it is essential that the main line of approach is considered before embarking on a more detailed analysis of the measurement problems implied by it. M. Maxfield.

This article is aimed at describing and defining small power status. Definitions can explain either the extensional or intensional meaning of a concept. The intensional way of defining a concept is selected and on this basis the following possible defining characteristics of small powers are explored: low rank, high degree of penetration by environment, a given type of behavior, a distinct role and conflicting interests. The investigation leads to the conclusion that low rank is apparently the most useful, but also the most conventional defining characteristic. For this reason the author suggests that approaches based on the concepts of role and interest are worthy of closer investigation and that they may add new dimensions to the study of small powers and their behavior.

This article is aimed at describing and defining small power status. Definitions can explain either the extensional or intensional meaning of a concept. The intensional way of defining a concept is selected and on this basis the following possible defining characteristics of small powers are explored: low rank, high degree of penetration by environment, a given type of behavior, a distinct role and conflicting interests. The investigation leads to the conclusion that low rank is apparently the most useful, but also the most conventional defining characteristic. For this reason the author suggests that approaches based on the concepts of role and interest are worthy of closer in vestigation and that they may add new dimensions to the study of small powers and their behavior.