Suchergebnisse

The article presents findings of an empirical study of the enforcement of controls relating to the discharge of trade effluent into public sewers. The research was designed to examine the extent to which the process of implementation shaped the nature of the controls and focuses particularly on the discretion vested in the individuals concerned with the daily enforcement of the controls. The article discusses the factors which influence the exercise of that discretion. In particular, the field officers' attitudes towards the costs imposed on the traders by compliance and those imposed on society by non-compliance are examined and the relevance attached to the intentions of the trader is discussed. The article concludes, in the first place, that the regular priority given by the officers to the costs of noncompliance does not necessarily coincide with orthodox economic theory in relation to the pursuit of social efficiency and, secondly, that the emphasis placed by the officers on the intentions of the trader helps to alleviate some of the theoretical problems attaching to the imposition of strict liability, although their attitude does raise questions concerning the ultimate justification for the imposition of the criminal sanction.

Findings are presented of an empirical study of the enforcement of controls relating to the discharge of trade effluent into public sewers, specifically, an examination of the extent to which the process of implementation shapes the nature of the controls. Focus is on the discretion vested in the individuals concerned with the daily enforcement of the controls, & on factors that influence the exercise of that discretion. In particular, field officers' attitudes toward costs imposed on firms by compliance & those imposed on society by noncompliance are examined, & the relevance attached to a firm's intentions is discussed. It is concluded that: (1) the regular priority given by officers to the costs of noncompliance does not necessarily coincide with orthodox economic theory in relation to the pursuit of social efficiency; & (2) the emphasis placed by officers on a firm's intentions helps alleviate theoretical problems attaching to the imposition of strict liability, although it does raise questions concerning the ultimate justification for criminal sanction. 16 References. Modified AA.

We argue that predictions of a 'tsunami' of mental health problems as a consequence of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the lockdown are overstated; feelings of anxiety and sadness are entirely normal reactions to difficult circumstances, not symptoms of poor mental health. Some people will need specialised mental health support, especially those already leading tough lives; we need immediate reversal of years of underfunding of community mental health services. However, the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on the most disadvantaged, especially BAME people placed at risk by their social and economic conditions, were entirely predictable. Mental health is best ensured by urgently rebuilding the social and economic supports stripped away over the last decade. Governments must pump funds into local authorities to rebuild community services, peer support, mutual aid and local community and voluntary sector organisations. Health care organisations must tackle racism and discrimination to ensure genuine equal access to universal health care. Government must replace highly conditional benefit systems by something like a universal basic income. All economic and social policies must be subjected to a legally binding mental health audit. This may sound unfeasibly expensive, but the social and economic costs, not to mention the costs in personal and community suffering, though often invisible, are far greater.

We argue that predictions of a 'tsunami' of mental health problems as a consequence of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the lockdown are overstated; feelings of anxiety and sadness are entirely normal reactions to difficult circumstances, not symptoms of poor mental health. Some people will need specialised mental health support, especially those already leading tough lives; we need immediate reversal of years of underfunding of community mental health services. However, the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on the most disadvantaged, especially BAME people placed at risk by their social and economic conditions, were entirely predictable. Mental health is best ensured by urgently rebuilding the social and economic supports stripped away over the last decade. Governments must pump funds into local authorities to rebuild community services, peer support, mutual aid and local community and voluntary sector organisations. Health care organisations must tackle racism and discrimination to ensure genuine equal access to universal health care. Government must replace highly conditional benefit systems by something like a universal basic income. All economic and social policies must be subjected to a legally binding mental health audit. This may sound unfeasibly expensive, but the social and economic costs, not to mention the costs in personal and community suffering, though often invisible, are far greater.