Ireland: an "emigrant nursery" in the world economy

"This paper focuses on historical and contemporary aspects of Irish emigration and argues that a world-systems, comparative approach avoids the pitfalls of behaviouralism and national exceptionalism in conventional accounts of Irish emigration. It suggests that causes and consequences vary with social class, ethnic group and regional context, compares 'traditional' with 'new wave' emigration and argues that it is premature to talk of the 'Europeanisation' of Irish emigration." (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA)     

Informed decision making: the new paradigm

Health care cannot survive in its present form. It is becoming unaffordable for a large share of the country's population. Its quality and effectiveness inexplicably vary between communities and across time. With all these problems, the process of health care can be understood. All that are needed are good, basic data; its access, management, and analysis; and then presentation of facts and observations. Together, these functions describe the translation of data into information--the field of medical informatics. Information about such management concerns as clinical efficiency (which largely is related to appropriateness and cost-effectiveness) and about the realities of day-to-day medical practice can be used to improve the value of health care. Informed decision making is based solely on confidence that, given the right information and understanding, we can all make the right decisions. The right decisions mean better patient acceptance and satisfaction, a sense of value enhancement by payers, and support of the Hippocratic tradition.     

Patterns of Australian and Canadian immigration 1900-1983

A historical analysis of trends in immigration to Australia and Canada from 1900 to 1983 is presented. The important role that immigration has played in the development of both countries is stressed. The steps taken to rethink immigration policies following the international economic crises of the mid-1970s are also considered, as is the increased demand for immigration by political refugees. The close relationship between political objectives and migration policies in both countries is emphasized. (summary in FRE, SPA)     

Immigration reform in France and the United States: reflections and documentation

This paper analyzes similarities and dissimilarities in French and American efforts to come to grip with irregular migration. The symbolic importance of immigration reform is argued to be a key political concern in both nations, although the politics of immigration reform has assumed a more partisan flavor in France, particularly since the municipal elections of 1983. In France, the theme of control and security, associated with the notion of preventing "automatic" immigration which would endanger the cohesion of French society, was widely utilized for political ends prior to and after May 10, 1981 (the date of Francois Mitterand's investiture). The American government, on the other hand, is confronted with the unenviable task of obtaining a legislative consensus on legalization and employer sanctions through an approach seeking to harmonize and integrate the demands articulated by various groups: employers, unions, and alien and ethnic interest groups (principally Hispanic groups divided into a hierarchy along a recently arrived/established cleavage). The American situation most sharply differs from the French case in terms of the absence of a right/left political cleavage. The real effects of clandestine immigration are to be found at the local level. In France, as in the US, the ability of local actors to exert pressure raises the fear that legalization and sanctions will change little, except in terms of symbolic legitimacy.     

Chinese Communist Party Central Committee calls on Party and Youth League members to take the lead in having only one child (per couple), [open letter,September 25, 1980

This open letter from the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party concerns the question of controlling China's population growth. To limit the total population of China to 1.2 billion by the end of this century, the State Council has advocated 1 couple giving birth to only 1 child. China's total population will reach 1.3 billion after 20 years and will exceed 1.5 billion after 40 years. Besides the family needing to increase the cost of upbringing, increasing population also requires the state, in order to solve their education, employment, and otheer problem, to raise education expenditures, investments of equipment, and outlays for social and public utilities. The phenomenon of population "aging" will not occur within this century because at present 1/2 of the total national population is below the age of 21, while elderly people above age 65 consist of less than 5%. After 40 years of the practice of 1 child per couple, some families may experience the problem where the elderly lack people to care for them. In the future when production is developed and the people's lives are improved, social welfare and social security will certainly increase and improve continuously. To control population growth, the Party and government have already adopted a series of concrete policies; considerations and allowances are to be given to single children and their families with respect to admission to childcare centers and primar schools. Young comrades must begin with themselves, while old comrades must educate and supervise their own sons and daughters.     

A socio-economic survey of Malian,Mauritanian and Senegalese immigrants resident in France

A socioeconomic survey of migrants from Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal who are residing in France is presented. The data are from the official statistics of the four countries concerned and from surveys undertaken in France and the countries of origin. Consideration is given to sources of data, places of origin, economic activity of migrants, length of stay, residence, and illegal immigration.     

Twentieth-century cohort marriage and divorce in England and Wales

Summary Marital status life tables, which follow a real or synthetic birth cohort through life and the marital statuses of 'never married', 'presently married', 'widowed', and 'divorced', reflect observed marriage, divorce and mortality behaviour and provide a detailed record of a cohort's experience. The present paper analyses such tables for cohorts of men and women born in England and Wales between 1900 and 1945. The results show that the later cohorts deviate substantially from the 'European pattern' of late marriage and high proportions never marrying, and that a dramatic rise in divorce has taken place, so that among the later cohorts one marriage out of four ends in divorce.     

经济理论的第二次危机

1971年12月27日,英国经济学家琼·罗宾逊在美国经济学协会第八十四届年会的理查德·艾黎讲座上作了一篇题为《经济理论的第二次危机》的讲演.罗宾逊夫人在讲演中提出了资产阶级经济理论正在经受第二次危机,并对美国凯恩斯派经济理论展开了猛烈的抨击.我国学术界对此讲演曾作过介绍.鉴于这场论争有助于我们了解垄断资产阶级经济理论的发展和演变,现将罗宾逊夫人的《经济理论的第二次危机》和美国凯恩斯派代表人物詹姆斯·托宾的《英国剑桥与美国剑桥之间的论战》两篇文章的摘要一并刊出;同时,我们请中国社会科学院经济研究所黄范章同志写了一篇文章:《从"两个剑桥之争"谈起》,对这场论争的背景和意义,作了扼要的评论.