A computable prototype model of economic development

Economic development models need to advance beyond the two-gap type capital-output models of growth. This paper presents a prototype model of economic development where development is defined more broadly than aggregative output growth in terms of four objectives, namely, income, consumption, distribution, and employment. It is in keeping with the basic needs approach recently developed by the World Bank and other international organizations.The model formulation is based on the dualistic theory of capital formation and structural change. The specification is on the supply side. A novel aspect of the model is that it incorporates the role of education, health, and nutrition in economic development. Further it makes use of cross section data, which is unusual in model building.The model is put to illustrative use to generate dynamic policy multipliers of education and health expenditure. The results do not support the Malthusian fears that increased health expenditure would cause massive unemployment and reduce the standard of living in LDCs.     

Fulfilment of basic needs from a subjective point of view in rural Guatemala

Guardiola J, García‐Muñoz T. Fulfilment of basic needs from a subjective point of view in rural Guatemala Int J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: 393–403 © 2010 The Author(s), International Journal of Social Welfare © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. The study of subjective wellbeing in developing countries is a relatively new field of research, but interest is increasing among researchers. A few decades ago, techniques such as the basic needs approach were applied in order to understand development. The basic needs framework has recently been used to define and monitor the Millennium Development Goals. However, it is limited when it comes to defining the content of basic needs and determining to what extent they are being satisfied, which leaves this decision to an external authority other than the individual. In this article, we estimated how certain indicators and assets have influenced the perception of basic needs in a rural area of Guatemala using a data set containing 369 interviews with Mayan households. The results allowed us to identify the characteristics or assets that influence the perception of basic needs, leaving the decision as to the Mayan people themselves as to whether their basic needs are being met.     

Psychological Vulnerability and Gambling in Later Life

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Because behavioral problems often emerge from maladaptive coping methods, we investigated whether unmet basic psychological needs evolve toward a level of psychological vulnerability that puts older adults who gamble at risk for becoming problem gamblers. Methods: Data from a community sample of 379 adults ages 60 and above were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Participants responded to items regarding their demographics, gambling frequency, engagement in at-risk gambling behaviors, and the extent to which their basic psychological needs were met. Results: Satisfaction of basic psychological needs among older adults who gamble was negatively associated with their being at risk for developing a gambling problem. Satisfaction of basic psychological needs also mediated the negative effect of socioeconomic status on at-risk gambling behavior. Conclusion: Social workers should become mindful of how older adults, who are confronting psychological vulnerabilities in later life, might well turn to gambling as a maladaptive coping mechanism.As per journal style, abstract must not exceed100 words. Please amend accordingly.     

Policy analysis in a socioeconomic model of basic needs applied to four countries

This article summarizes the results of a socioeconomic model of basic needs that was applied to four countries—Brazil, Colombia, India, and Kenya. A modeling approach was thought necessary in order to make more precise the concept of basic needs. Although the work has not been entirely successful in doing that, from the policy experiment attempted, and given the limitations of the models used, we believe that an approach centered on the provision of basic needs will help the poorest satisfy their needs more quickly than is possible under alternative approaches.     

Development and environment: An illustrative model

Many aspects of the physical environment are affected by the process of economic growth and development, creating a need to understand the internal dynamics of environmental systems and their relation to the level and price of economic activity. The present paper sets forth a simple mathematical model of environment, and uses it to illustrate the relationship between economic development and the environment. The model incorporates dynamic features of environmental change—its self-regenerating capacity and the existence of an extinction threshold—and measures the effects of the state of development and its rate of growth in terms of extraction, consumption or destruction, and beneficial inputs. The model also allows consideration of alternative relations defining the extinction threshold, carrying capacity, and the basic growth rate of the environmental system. Both the effect of development on the environment and the reverse-feedback effect of the environment on development are considered.     

以权利看待公平——于建嵘对话联合国驻华机构特聘专家及官员

贫富差距的加大,其根源在于社会机会的不公平和公民的基本权利得不到保障。要实现政治、经济、社会的均衡发展,不能照搬西方的民主模式,必须探索符合中国国情的基本制度,使社会权利朝着均等化方向发展,并通过完善民主制度来提供改变政策的可能性,防范不合理的政府和最坏的结果。     

Alternative Housing

Many types of housing for older people that do not fit into traditional categories have been proposed, and some have been activated. A number of models are discussed, including the boarding/rooming house, cooperatives, house-sharing arrangements, hotels, mobile homes, community housing, the "granny flat," group homes, and foster homes. The ways in which each housing type meets basic residential needs are considered, including needs for a familiar environment, independence, privacy, personal security, social interaction, and social support. Most alternative housing models are of low appeal, solutions that are turned to either when other alternatives are unavailable or when personal needs happen to fit a particular alternative especially well. For both reasons, it is important to understand and foster the development of such alternatives, even if the numbers served will never be really large.     

论我国消费信贷业务存在的问题及其对策

改革开放以来,我国的消费信贷活动出现了一般消费信贷明显减少,特种消费信贷发展较快和消费心理、消费习惯发生了变化等三个新的特点。面对消费信贷活动迅速发展的新特点,银行开展的消费信贷业务却面临着业务量所占的比重小、品种少,对开展消费信贷业务的作用认识不足和缺少一套完善的消费信贷制度等问题,这些问题的存在既不能满足消费信贷活动迅速发展的需要,也束缚着我国和西方发达国家在消费信贷业务方面的竞争。为了克服这些问题,在竞争中处于有利地位,必须提高认识,突出重点,完善机制,努力提高人     

公民美德与动物福利

动物福利指的是动物的一种健康、快乐状态,在此状态下,至少它们的基本需要能得到满足,而痛苦被减至最小。维护动物福利,一靠伦理、法律、政策规范,二靠公民美德。公民美德是落实动物福利规范的根本保证。与动物福利有关的公民美德包括仁慈、正义、负责、谨慎、节制等。这些美德的养成,离不开个人的长期修炼,同时也需要社会通过公民教育的方式进行塑造和培养。     

The energy constraint in the 1980s and the scope for import substitution in Western Europe

Various policies are being proposed for reducing the energy dependence of Western Europe during the 1980s. This paper discusses their impacts through the use of a simple simulation model under different assumptions concerning energy prices conservation measures and overall economic growth. It also assesses broad energy prospects for three regions of Western Europe up to 1990. In particular, the paper analyzes the scope for substituting domestically produced energy for imported energy. Tentative policy recommendations are presented following presentation of the results. Preference is expressed for combined price-cum-rationing measures. Coordinated and generalized energy consumption policies, so as to improve the energy efficiency for both intermediate and final uses, are also discussed.     

证人拒绝出庭作证的诚信追问及规制

诚信是社会交往的基本规范,证人拒绝出庭作证行为其实是对诚信原则的背叛.在证人拒绝出庭作证的背后存在着利益驱动,证人出庭作证和拒绝出庭作证行为的选择其实是一个利益权衡的结果.解决证人拒绝出庭作证问题,既需要完善相应法律制度,也需要制定操作性强的诚信规则,对证人拒绝出庭作证行为进行规制.     

生态消费模式:社会主义生态文明建设的必然选择

当前,伴随着经济的快速发展,我国新富群体中存在着一种"病态式消费"现象,加上西方消费主义影响,引发了诸多的社会问题。实践证明,只有树立正确的消费观念、克制消费欲望、调整消费行为,才能建立生态消费模式,才能符合社会主义生态文明的要求,实现人与自然的协调发展。     

The Social Development Summit and the developing countries

This article discusses some concerns of the 1996 UN Summit on Social Development. Conference organizers identified the three key conference issues as poverty alleviation, social integration of the marginalized and disadvantaged, and expansion of productive employment. The goal of a "society for all" means dealing with the increasing differences between rich and poor countries, the survival of weaker economies in a competitive market system, wide variations in consumption patterns between countries, attainment of political stability while respecting ethnic identity, the rise in social problems among countries with a high human development index, and increasing joblessness. The Human Development Report for 1994 emphasizes human security. Social development is not the equivalent of human resource development nor a side issue of economic growth. The integration of ethnic groups poses social and political problems. There remains a question about what political system and culture would be best for social integration. Developed countries define poverty as the inability of people and government to provide resources and necessary services for people's productive activity. Poverty in developing countries is blamed on colonialism. Globally, developed countries control 71% of world trade. Sharing resources to meet basic needs throughout the world is not an operational ideal. The highest 20% of income earners receive 83% of the world income. The culture of poverty is the strategy used by the poor to survive. Welfare is not an end in itself but does enable the poor to improve their conditions. Development that focuses on productive employment is uncertain. Developed and developing countries do not share similar perceptions of human rights. There is a question as to who should set the priorities for social development. Sustainable social development is related to preservation of natural resources, control of population growth, and promotion of social security.     

基于规制理论的食盐专营制度改革探讨

我国对食盐实行专营制度,这一制度在消除我国碘缺乏病、提高国民素质方面起到了重要作用,但因专营产生的弊端也逐渐显露。目前,由于应对碘缺乏病症的需要已经得到了满足,并且随着市场化进程的逐步深入,对盐业管理也提出了更高的要求,因此,食盐专营制度需要加以改革直至取消。由于我国地域辽阔,地区间经济发展不平衡,居民的消费能力、消费观念千差万别,所以,食盐专营制度改革不能在全国范围内实行单一的政策,而应该按照经济状况,在西部老少边穷地区采取特殊政策,核心是实行碘盐免费供给,东部经济发达地区和中部经济状况较发达地区则实行统一的改革政策。     

Beyond survival: Strengthening community-based support for parents receiving a family service intervention

This paper presents parents' experiences of community support and their recommendations for how their communities, and the services within them, might support their families. Generated through a human-centred design methodology and using a desire-centred framework, the findings suggest that parents receiving a family service require support invoking feelings of intimacy, trust, reciprocity, inclusivity, connection and belonging. Parents' recommendations for community support include addressing material and attitudinal constraints impacting on engagement with services; creating non-judgmental services tailored to their needs but accessed as a last resort; and creating peer-based opportunities to support each other. Parents reflect that moving beyond basic survival of risk and vulnerability to a position where thriving is possible requires purposeful integration of parent's existing and desired community into service interventions. Facilitating deliberate change at the intersection of community and service support is pertinent to current and future social work policy and practice. Wider opportunities for understanding and enabling the needs and aspirations of parents, which are often overlooked because of a focus on addressing risk and vulnerability, are considered.     

The impact of health insurance cost-sharing method on healthcare utilisation in China

In current Chinese health insurance programmes, there are two types of cost-sharing methods: the time-of-service copayment policy and the reimbursement policy. In contrast to the copayment participants, reimbursement participants need to pay for all medical expenses in advance. We study the effect of the reimbursement policy on the utilisation of healthcare services in China. The theoretical analysis indicates that the medical consumption of low income households will be less than the optimal consumption level when enrolled in a reimbursement programme instead of a copayment programme. Empirically, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we find that the total inpatient expenditure of the reimbursement participants is 12.7% lower than that of copayment enrolees, and the reimbursement arrangement negatively impacts low-income and rural populations. Therefore, reimbursement participants, those who are financially constrained, are more likely to suffer the up-front payment burden and finally reduce their healthcare needs.     

Satisfaction of basic psychological needs in an interdependence model of fathers’ own aspirations and those of their adolescent children

Anchored in self‐determination theory (SDT), we used a sample of 310 Japanese father‐child dyads (fathers Mage = 47.95; children Mage = 14.98, 50% female), to investigate: (a) the structure of aspirations in a Japanese sample, (b) the association between fathers’ own intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations and the aspirations reported by their adolescent children, (c) the links between child‐reported father autonomy support and children’s self‐ reported aspirations, and (d) the associations between fathers’ own and children’s own aspirations and the basic psychological needs satisfaction of both fathers and children. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable fit for the theorized model of intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations specified by SDT. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between the aspirations of fathers’ and those endorsed by their children, which were not moderated by father’s autonomy support. Actor‐partner interdependence modeling indicated that when fathers were relatively intrinsic in their orientations, basic psychological need satisfaction was higher for both themselves and their children. These findings highlight the relevance of intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations to the well‐being of youth and the interplay between fathers’ and children’s aspirations, suggesting that both fathers’ intrinsic aspirations and parenting styles are associated with children’s basic psychological needs satisfaction.     

中国循环经济发展的若干理论与实践探索

循环经济是针对经济增长对资源和环境压力而提出的一种新的经济发展模式,也是指一种新的技术经济模式。发展循环经济涉及经济增长、就业与环境之间的深层次矛盾问题。涉及对污染治理的经济学问题、经济发展阶段与循环经济、循环经济与效率、循环经济与生态经济、循环经济与社会公平、循环经济伦理与环境伦理等问题的研究。中国发展循环经济面临的主要问题是企业规模小,缺乏规模支撑和尚未形成适合区域性循环经济网络发展需要的经济机制和政策体系等问题。应该加快进行适合循环经济发展的制度创新,选择优先发展循环经济的领域,治理污染,保护环境。     

Deprivation and Poverty in Hong Kong

Despite high and rising real incomes, the poverty rate in Hong Kong remains a cause of community concern. The government has been reluctant to set a poverty line, although the recently (re‐)established Commission on Poverty has recommended that a poverty line for Hong Kong is developed. Against this background, this article reports results derived from a new deprivation study designed to shed new light on the living standards of the poorest in the community. Reflecting international studies, deprivation is identified as existing when people do not have and cannot afford items regarded by a majority in the community as being essential for all. A list of 35 basic needs items is identified as meeting this definition, the results indicating that around 30 per cent are deprived of at least two items, over 18 per cent are deprived of at least four items and 10 per cent are deprived of at least eight items. Deprivation rates are particularly high among items that meet basic health needs. A mean deprivation score index (MDIS) is then used to compare the degree of deprivation experienced by different groups, and indicates that deprivation is most pronounced amongst those receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), people affected by a disability and recent migrants. The overlap between deprivation and income poverty is also relatively low, which suggests both measures have a role to play in identifying who is most vulnerable and guiding where policy change is most urgently needed.     

Exercising moral agency in the contexts of objective reality: toward an integrated account of ethical consumption

This paper engages with two contrasting approaches to conceptualising and studying consumer behaviour that appear to dominate existing research on consumption. On one hand, agency‐focused perspectives take an individual consumer to be the primary author of practice and a basic unit of analysis. On the other hand, socio‐centric paradigms focus on the social roots of consumption activities and the wider societal contexts in which they take place. The need to provide a more balanced view of consumption phenomena has been acknowledged, yet not adequately acted upon. This paper begins to fill this gap through relevant theoretical and empirical contributions. First, we provide a critical review of the dominant theoretical perspectives on consumption in general and ethical consumption in particular, highlight their key ontological assumptions and explain how they preclude a fuller understanding of the ways in which consumer practices are moulded and shaped. Taking a critical realist approach, we then present the findings from qualitative analysis of consumers' ethical food practices to empirically demonstrate the role of human agency and social structure in creating and shaping ethical consumption. Thus, by means of theoretical analysis and empirical research this paper responds to the call for a more comprehensive understanding of consumption and provides a consolidated account of consumer behaviour which acknowledges and explains the complex ensemble of individual and systemic powers in which consumer practices are contained.