Ethical Issues that arise in Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is designed to give the debtor another chance after a financial failure, and it is often an option that is both more ethical and more efficient than liquidation. We address some basic issues, such as whether Chapter 11 bankruptcy itself is ethical and what elements help one to decide if a particular bankruptcy is ethical. There are many chances for unethical acts during bankruptcy, such as the ethics of a firm that files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yet has sufficient assets to meet its financial obligations, or the often exorbitant fees that bankruptcy professionals are allowed as well as the apparent partiality demonstrated in some bankruptcy courts.     

Écarts d'âge entre conjoints en Algérie. Évolution depuis 1966 et disparités régionales

The improvement in the positionof women and the evolution of spousal relationsare considered to be principal factors in thefertility transition. The age differentialbetween spouses is an important indicator ofthese. In Algeria, within 30 years, thespectacular increase in the mean ages at firstmarriage of women (from 18 to 28 years) and ofmen (from 24 to 31 years) has been coupled witha strong reduction in the average spousal agedifferential which has shifted from 5.6 yearsin 1966 to 3.7 years in 1998.The analysis of the dynamics of this agedifferential at the national level over aperiod of half a century (1948–1998) and ananalysis of its current regional variationsilluminate the very strong links of this trendwith the socio-economic and cultural context(education and activity of women, but alsohousing conditions, the role of agriculture,etc.). However, periodical socio-economicdifficulties (unemployment, poverty, housingshortage) weaken these long-term effects on thespousal age differential, since they force manymen to involuntarily postpone their marriage,thus slowing down the reduction in spousal agedifferentials.     

L‘économie des Québécois francophones à la lumière de la socio-anthropologie*

After taking a summary look at the links that exist between anthropology and sociology, the author introduces what would seem at first glance to be a new discipline, that of socio-anthropology. Advances made in this new field of research stem from the implications behind the definition given to the object of study, and from the methods used. An economic sector controlled by French-speaking Quebecers serves as an illustration. Its examination draws on the hypothesis that family relationships are constituent of relationships in production, that is, of the economic structure. The author then posits that an interdisciplinary approach is essential in socio-anthropology. Après un rapide survol des liens entre l'anthropologie et la sociologie, cet article présente ce qui semble être, au premier abord, une nouvelle discipline: la socio-anthropologie. Les progrès de cette dernière résident notamment dans la teneur de la définition de l'objet et dans les méthodes adoptées pour l'étudier. L'examen de l'économie des francophones au Québec sert ici d'illustration. Il se réclame de l'hypothèse voulant que les rapports de parenté soient constitutifs des rapports de production, c'est-á-dire de la structure économique. La socio-anthropologie relève, au dire de l'auteur, d'une approche interdisciplinaire.     

Sexual inactivity among men who have sex with men living with hiv in europe

Objectives: Most people living with HIV stay sexually active, but some remain inactive. This study investigated prevalence and correlates of sexual inactivity among European HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: An anonymous sexual health questionnaire was distributed in 17 HIV outpatient clinics throughout Europe. Ninety-seven (11.6%) of 838 respondents reported absence of sexual activity. Results: Multivariable regression analysis identified older age, relationship status, and less satisfaction with general health and sexual desire as being associated with sexual inactivity. Conclusions: Prevalence of sexual inactivity has declined since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy to levels similar to those of HIV-negative MSM, suggesting a tendency toward normalization of HIV-positive MSM's sex lives.     

Economic evaluation of brief sex counseling for sexually dysfunctional adolescents

Objectives: In a randomized controlled trial brief sex counselling (BSC), intensive sexual healthcare (ISH) and no treatment (NT) for adolescents with a sexual dysfunction were compared. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of BSC versus ISH and NT from a societal perspective. Methods: Costs, sexual functioning and quality of life were measured during 6 months. Primary outcome measures were measured with the Female Sexual Functional Index, the International Index of Erectile Function and the utilities reflecting Quality of Life based on the SF-36. Uncertainty was dealt with by using bootstrap replications and sensitivity analyses. Results: Results show that the societal costs were the highest for ISH followed by NT and BSC. The difference in costs between ISH compared to NT and BSC was significant. Furthermore, there were no significant group differences in sexual functioning or quality of life. With respect to the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility, BSC can be considered to be a suitable treatment for adolescents with a sexual dysfunction. Conclusions: Due to the lack of a significant difference in clinical effect, it can be concluded that BSC is the cheapest treatment option when implementing the intention-to-treat, besides a no treatment option, for adolescents with a sexual dysfunction.     

Brèves remarques sur le travail comme vecteur de la citoyenneté*

This article examines the history of the notion of work in relation to its philosophical and anthropological meaning, as well as to its meaning in a sociological context. Work is certainly conceived of as a productive act, but it is also considered as bestowing the right to benefit from the privileges of membership in society. Three perspectives are looked at in this context: those of A. Gorz, R Bourdieu and A. Touraine. On this basis, the proposition that “work is dead” is examined closely. The author argues that work is still a way of integrating into society, but a way that actually compromises citizenship rights with regard to those who are working. Young people are the members of the population who are principally affected by this form of integration called “flexploitation.” La généalogie de la notion de travail est d'abord retracédans cet article, tant dans l'orbite de la philosophic et de l'anthropologie que de la sociologie. Le travail y est certes conçu comme action productive mais également comme fer de lance du droit de cité. Trois perspectives sont abordées à ce sujet: celles d'A. Gorz, de P. Bourdieu et d'A. Touraine. Sur cette base, la thèse de la «fin du travail» est passée au crible. L'auteur argue que le travail est encore vecteur d'in‐tégration à la société, mais sous une forme qui fait l'impasse sur les droits des personnes qui l'exercent, bref, sur leur citoyenneté. Les jeunes représentent la tranche de la population touchée au premier chef par cette forme d'insertion nommée flexploitation.     

Creating Community: Offering a Liberation Pedagogical Model to Facilitate Diversity Conversations in MFT Graduate Classrooms

Creating a safe place for open classroom engagement on topics of multiculturalism and diversity requires intentionality and honesty. Unless all, professor and students alike, feel safe talking about related issues, the attempt will result in a politically correct exercise in futility. This article focuses on how intentional pedagogical efforts can create a classroom environment conducive to therapeutic self-reflection and result in personal and professional transformation. Offerings include personal reflections, theoretical and pedagogical ideologies and practices, a classroom paradigm as exemplar, critical redefinitions, a survey of other pedagogical endeavors, a template for multicultural instruction, and recommendations.