Suchergebnisse

THE MEDIAN VOTER MODEL HAS FALLEN FROM BEING ONE OF THE MOST SOLIDLY ESTABLISHED MODELS IN PUBLIC CHOICE TO A STATE OF ALMOST VIRTUAL ABANDONMENT. THE ARTICLE REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE MEDIAN VOTER MODEL IN PUBLIC CHOICE THEORY, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO RESEARCH THAT INDICATES THAT THE MODEL IS VALID ONLY IS VERY SPECIAL CONDITIONS THAT SELDOM EXIST IN REALITY. IT CONCLUDES THAT THE MEDIAN VOTER MODEL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR HAS SERVED MUCH THE SAME ROLE AS THE MODEL OF PURE COMPETITION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BOTH PROVIDE A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH VARIOUS COMPLICATIONS THAT REFLECT REALITY CAN BE ADDED. JUST BECAUSE THE MEDIAN VOTER MODEL IS NOT DESCRIPTIVE OF EVERY POLITICAL MARKET DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT CAN NOT PROVIDE A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC SECTOR DEMAND.

Attempts to provide an academic perspective on the Governments's recent proposals on the conduct of business in local authorities, in the context of the Widdicombe process as a whole. (JLN)

Ausgehend von einer Skizzierung der ersten Phase der bulgarischen "Perestrojka" zwischen März 1985 und Juli 1987, die charakterisiert wird von der zögernden Nachahmung der sowjetischen Reformpolitik und vorsichtigen eigenen Reformansätzen, vermittelt der Verfasser einen Überblick über die ab Mitte 1987 deutlicher umrissenen Konzeption und über den aktuellen Stand der bulgarischen Wirtschaftsreform (Eigentumsformen, Dezentralisierung, Planungs-, Banken, Agrar- und Außenhandelsformen); des weiteren über Ansätze und bisherige Ergebnisse politischer Reformen (Partei, politisches System und Staatsorgane, Massenorganisationen, Rechtssystem), über "Glasnost" in den Medien und die Kritik der stalinistischen Vergangenheit sowie über die zunehmende Politisierung der Intelligenz und die Gründung "autonomer Gruppen". Abschließend informiert der Autor über die personellen Veränderungen innerhalb der bulgarischen Parteispitze, die auf parteiinterne Meinungsunterschiede über Zielrichtung und Tempo der Reformen schließen lassen. (BIOst-Klk)

Examines the Japanese educational system and policies, focusing on the multiplication of private schools, educational standards, and competitiveness among students. Summary in English.

Canadian survey data are used to compare the attitudes of the general population & decisionmakers (N = 2,084 & 1,348, respectively) toward civil liberties, with focus on the issue of wiretapping. Findings indicate that this presents an important exception to the familiar theory of democratic elitism. Ironically, the very sophistication & knowledge that lead elites to support individual rights & freedoms also make them more likely than the Canadian population as a whole to support wiretapping. 6 Tables, 2 Appendixes, 19 References. Modified AA

Both international assistance organizations and governments are searching for alternative means of providing public services in order to relieve the growing financial burdens and to reduce high levels of public employment. (SJO)