CHERRIES, LEMONS, AND THE FTC: MINIMUM QUALITY STANDARDS IN THE RETAIL USED AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

The FTC initially considered two forms of regulation in the used automobile market, requiring dealers to either certify or warrant the mechanical condition of each automobile sold. Since the regulation would have been imposed only on dealers and not on private sellers, its effectiveness was dependent on the magnitude of the induced shift of sales into the private market. Accordingly, this paper employs a gametheoretic model to examine the theoretical conditions under which society could be expected to benefit from either regulatory alternative. Among other things, it is concluded that a socially beneficial minimum quality standard may not exist in some situations.     

Class and left-wing radicalism

Ce travail tente d'examiner la relation entre la classe sociale, l'appartenance syndicale, l'expérience du chîomage, l'ethnicité, l'affiliation religieuse et le radicalisme de gauche dans un secteur de Winnipeg. Les données démontrent que le gauchisme a ses origines dans la classe sociale et la conception marxiste de classe sociale a plus d'importance que la conception sociologique traditionnelle. Ce travail démontre aussi que ni l'ethnicité ni l'affiliation religieuse ne contribuent beaucoup à la compréhension des attitudes politiques de gauche que détiennent les résidents du Nord de Winnipeg.
This paper attempts to examine the relationship between social class, union membership, un-employement experience, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and left-wing radicalism in a part of Winnipeg. The resultant data show that leftism is rooted in social class, with the Marxian view of class being of greater import than the traditional sociological view. In this study, neither ethnicity nor religious affiliation contributes much to our understanding of left-wing political views adhered to by the people of Winnipeg North.     

THE EMPIRICAL RELIABILITY OF MONETARY AGGREGATES AS INDICATORS: 1983–1987

It is widely believed that monetary aggregates have failed to predict economic performance over 1983-87. This paper observes that the traditional definition of money (M1 lessother checkable deposits, or M1A) shows no evidence of structural change, and yields lower prediction errors for both real GNP and inflation over 1983-87Q2 than the errors obtained using M1 or M2. If there is a mystery, it is not why MIA has done so well, but why economists abandoned it for M1 or what was once called M1B (currency, demand deposits, and other checkable deposits).     

Wheels within wheels and systems within systems The assessment process

SUMMARY. To assess the problems and needs of a disturbed child or adolescent, there should be an awareness of many interacting conceptual systems within which the individual exists and develops. This paper highlights the theoretical view that an individual cannot be fully understood within any single theoretical framework or system Using an awareness of the hierarchy of systems., formulations are set out to allow for logical interventions at one or more of these levels; thus reducing the need for professionals to decide on the ‘right’ intervention or treatment for any individual or family     

Attachment and Child Abuse

Summary Defects in the bonds of attachment between parent and childare put forward as a precursor in cases of child abuse and neglect.It is suggested that therapeutic work with such families shouldbe focussed on the re-establishment or strengthening of thesebonds, if they are found to exist. Ways of determining theirexistence and building upon them are discussed. It is suggested that, with the safeguard of a regular and intensivecontact with the family, separation can often be avoided. Thisallows an immediate start on the basic task of strengtheningthe bond, and avoids weakening it still further as a resultof separation. A case example is given.     

Social Work and Self-determination

Correspondence to Department of Political Science and Social Policy, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN. Summary Self-determination is a curious concept, related to, but notquite the same as, freedom and autonomy. As an ethical principle,the principle of self-determination bears little relationshipto the way social workers behave. It is used as if clients werebeing allowed a free, independent choice; but clients are subjectto pressure, and the social work relationship is often conceivedwithin a structure of authority. As a guide to practice, theconcept of self-determination ignores the cases where directionis legitimate or desirable. Self-determination can be seen as a professional ideology—aninter-related set of values and ideas. The concept is derivedfrom a number of ideas and values outside social work, but itappears to have little direct relevance to social work in practice.The paper suggests that the concept of freedom may be more usefuland less remote from the realities than ‘self-detemination’is.     

Union Organization in Great Britain

Union membership and density in Britain has experienced substantial decline since 1979. The fall in private sector membership and density has been much greater than in the public sector. The size of the union sector, measured by employer recognition, has shrunk. Membership decline has been accompanied by financial decline. Much of the decline occurred before 1997, under Conservative governments. Since 1997 and the return of a Labour government, the position has in some respects stabilized. Currently, unions have a substantially reduced economic impact, but a continued, if limited, role in workplace communication and grievance handling, often as part of a voice regime including nonunion elements.