Measuring progress and evolution in science and technology – II: The multiple uses of technometric indicators

Science and technology development have become critical instruments in the public policy arena given their demonstrated impact on economic progress. As a consequence, a wide array of indicators for measuring and mapping scientific and technological activity, their progress and their outcomes, has been developed over recent decades (see for instance, European Commission, 2nd Report on S&T Indicators, 1997). The majority of these indicators relate to measuring and mapping the published journal and patent literature. In the second part of this review, we focus on a state-of-the-art overview of patent indicators and their multiple uses in supporting the development of science and technology policy. We also discuss the limitations and the pitfalls related to their use.     

Building strategy on technological resources and commercial proactiveness: The Gemplus case

This article uses the resource-based framework for analyzing the strategy of Gemplus, a spin-off of the French group Thomson, that has grown by 50 per cent each year since its creation in 1988. Three points are highlighted: (1) Gemplus combined various resources in order to build a distinctive competence base in three areas: smart cards design, mass production and mass customization, commercial capabilities. (2) The company's strategy is two-fold: a constant enlargement of the spectrum of applications of its core product (i.e. the smart card), supported by technology exploitation and commercial awareness, and an aggressive search for new geographical markets, supported by commercial proactiveness. (3) Gemplus continuously nurtures its resource base through a vast network of partners (with means such as R&D and joint-ventures). To summarize, we explain the success of Gemplus by a talented balance between an outside-in and an inside-out approach.     

Experimental evidence on the irreversebility effect

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on how increased expected information affects subjects' choices. We show that Claude Henry's (1974) result (the Irreversibility Effect) is strongly supported by our experimental data. According to the Irreversibility Effect a rational (expected utility maximizing) agent who anticipates more information before making his future choices, will take a less irreversible position today. In our experiment, present and future choices are framed respectively as portfolio and investment decisions. The degree of irreversibility (or flexibility) chosen by experimental subjects in response to additional information indicated that subjects react to anticipated information as predicted by theory.     

Redistribution and compensation

In a model where individual incomes depend on the agents' characteristics, we provide characterizations of several redistribution mechanisms. These mechanisms are designed to eliminate the effects of characteristics that are to be considered irrelevant, while preserving the influence of relevant characteristics on individual incomes. The mechanisms discussed here are egalitarian-equivalent and conditionally egalitarian mechanisms, as well as averaging versions of these rules.An earlier version of the paper was presented at the 1994 Canadian Economic Theory Conference in Toronto. We thank John Roemer and a referee for their comments. Financial support through a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada is gratefully acknowledged.     

Issue Preferences and Evaluations of the U.S. Supreme Court

While some previous studies have found that public support forthe Supreme Court is related to the ideological direction ofits decisions, these studies were based on data from the WarrenCourt era, a period of high profile judicial liberalism. Sincethen, the Court has grown much more conservative, although itsdecisions have carried a much lower profile. We show that themass media have done little to allow ordinary Americans to followthis change. As a consequence, we find that public evaluationsin the 1990s continued to reflect a 1960s understanding of theCourt, with liberals on racial and gender issues as well asthose least fearful of crime evaluating the Court most favorably.Only those who are both knowledgeable and highly motivated tofollow Court outputs tracked its rightward shift on issues thatare important to them.     

Youth characteristics associated with behavioral and mental health problems during the transition to residential treatment centers: the Odyssey Project population

This study aimed to determine what youth characteristics were associated with emotional and behavioral problems exhibited within the first three months of placement in residential treatment centers (RTCs) in a sample of youth from 20 agencies in 13 states. Two primary research questions were addressed: 1) What characteristics were associated with behavior during the transition to care? 2) Were the characteristics associated with behavior during the transition the same for boys and girls? Data were drawn from the Time 1 phase of the longitudinal national Odyssey Project dataset developed by the Child Welfare League of America. Measures included an extensive child and family characteristics (CFC) form and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The results revealed significant gender-specific patterns of associations between youth characteristics and behavior exhibited during the transition to RTC placement. Notably, a sexual abuse history was associated with Externalizing for girls and Internalizing for boys and entering on psychotropic medication was associated with Internalizing for girls and boys and Externalizing for boys only. Results suggest many avenues for refining practice.     

Pflege der Eltern – Ein europäischer Vergleich*

Elderly people are predominantly cared for by family members. However, not every parent in need is cared for by a child, and not all family members are involved in care. Which factors influence the provision of care? Do European countries differ in regard to intergenerational care, and what are the reasons for these differences? The empirical analyses, based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland), show that various factors influence care by children: individual characteristics of parents and children, family structures and cultural-contextual factors, including welfare institutions. Intergenerational help occurs more often in Southern and Central European countries, where children are legally obliged to support parents in need. At the same time, in Europe professional home care services enable adult children to pursue their personal plans beyond care obligations.