Die stille Umverteilung

During the last decades income inequality has risen again in western societies. Whereas empirical indicators and statistical data show in detail the changes in income distribution, sociology has no adequate knowledge about the corresponding micro-level motives. The globalization of value chains, technological change, the increasing occupational participation of women, the decline of union participation and tax reform are considered to be the main factors relevant for the increase in income inequality. It is shown that these variables do not sufficiently explain the micro level of organizational allocation structures, which are mainly experienced as budgetary exigencies. Not only business organizations but also public administrations, welfare organizations, schools, universities and health care organizations are governed by budgets in a similar way. It is hypothesized that budgeting functions as a micro-mechanism to transform economic stagnation into income inequality at a societal level. Delegation of responsibility and the creation of consensus are discussed to be central goals of budgeting in enterprises, social administrations, educational and health organizations and the effects of budgeting on the distribution and the allocation of resources are analyzed.     

Migration und das kriminalpolitische Handeln staatlicher Strafverfolgungsorgane

Immigrants in Germany form a significant group in terms of crime. An investigation of the rates at which migrants of different nationalities are registered as police suspects and convicted by the courts in comparison to members of the indigenous population was carried out using data supplied by thirteen German federal states. The raw data for the 1995 and 1999 police crime statistics were provided by the State Offices of Criminal Investigation, while the raw data for the 1995 and 1999 court statistics were supplied by the State Statistical Offices. The two data sources were compared while keeping as many variables constant as possible. After taking into consideration age and gender distributions, it is found that for the different migrant populations the probability of involvement with the police and the courts is in some cases more than three times as high as for the German population. However, young migrants (aged under twenty-five) were less likely than young Germans to be convicted by a court in the course of the judicial process. One reason why higher rates were found for migrants is that their everyday life is regulated by the “Ausländergesetz” (Foreign Citizen’s Act), which is irrelevant for German citizens. Significant differences in the probability of migrants becoming involved with the police and the courts were found between the German federal states. In certain states the Foreign Citizen’s Act is applied three times more frequently than in others. The study examines whether these differences are related to a) the external borders of the European Union; b) the proportion of foreigners in the population; and c) political party preferences and the parties forming the governing majority of the state; clear differences were found with respect to item c).     

The New Zealand national survey of problem and pathological gambling

In New Zealand, awareness of gambling-related problems has increased in association with the legalization of new forms of gambling. This paper presents the methods and selected results from a national survey of gambling and problem gambling completed in New Zealand in 1991. While the primary aim of the study was to determine the extent of problem gambling in New Zealand, the study included a second phase intended to assess the validity and reliability of the widely-used South Oaks Gambling Screen as well as to examine other aspects of problematic involvement in gambling. The results of the two-phase study in New Zealand show that problem gamblers in different countries are remarkably similar in demographic terms as well as with regard to other risk factors associated with problematic gambling involvement. The New Zealand study of problem gambling points the way toward important research topics that will require further exploration in the future.This research was funded by the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs and by the US National Institute of Mental Health (MH-44295).     

Safety cameras: stealth tax or life-savers?

There cannot be a road user in the UK who does not have an opinion on speed cameras—in most cases a rather strongly held opinion. Indeed many of us will hold them responsible for the first blemish on an otherwise clean license. Their proper name is not speed but safety cameras—but do they really save lives, or are they just one more way of extracting money from the hapless motorist? Linda Mountain knows the answers.     

A treatment outcome study of bereavement groups for children

An empirical study of the effectiveness of an eight-week children's bereavement psychotherapy group was undertaken. Children, aged 7–11, who had a parent and/or sibling die were initially assigned to either a treatment group or a waiting list control group and followed over an eight-week period. Participation in the experimental group was associated with a significant decrease in symptomatology, as assessed by multiple measures using multiple sources. Despite a small sample, the intervention was sufficiently powerful to suggest the use of short-term group therapy to help children cope with the death of a parent and/or sibling.The research reported here was originally included in a dissertation written in fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. at Brigham Young University. We wish to acknowledge the helpful suggestions and support from Dr. John Flora-Tostado, Dr. John Lyons, Dr. Joanne Marengo and the participants in the Post-doctoral Research Seminar at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.Dr. Lambert is a Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University.     

Die Verfügbarkeit partnerschaftlich gebundener Akteure für den Partnermarkt

Drawing on data from the German Family Survey 2000, the paper analyses the availability of persons already committed in an intimate relationship for the marriage market on the background of family economics and exchange theory. The probability of separation and immediately getting involved in a Availability varies with some easily observable traits: duration of relationship, cohabitation and marital status, age of partners, sex and — for female actors — the age of the youngest child. The connection of these traits to the commitment in the current relationship is in most cases very obvious and common sense. Thus the traits may be interpreted as indicators of availability by other actors on the marriage market. In contrast to usual assumptions, unmarried persons are available for the marriage market only to a rather small extent if they cohabit with or without a shared household. Married persons are available for the marriage market up to a small, but measureable extent, too.     

Schönheit, Schutz und Pflege. Zur Professionalisierung körperbezogener Dienstleistungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung