Pathological gambling and switching addictions: Report of a case

The phenomenon of switching addictions, defined as a substitution of one chemical or behavioral addiction pattern for another, has been observed in clinical practices for some time. This case study describes a patient who, in attaining abstinence from alcohol and other drug dependence, became a pathological gambler. The complexities of personal history, medical history and psychiatric history are described as well problems in treatment.     

The New European Trade Preferences: Does ‘Everything But Arms’ (EBA) Help the Poor?

The EU’s offer of tariff‐ and quota‐free access for all exports from the Least Developed Countries (for Everything but Arms) has been welcomed as part of the WTO‐led initiative to assist these countries. But it is not without problems. As the Least Developed compete more with other developing countries than with the EU, trade is likely to be diverted from other, sometimes poorer, countries. (‘Least Developed’ is an official classification, not a neutral measure of poverty.) EBA contradicts and impedes the EU’s policies of reciprocity and promotion of regions: it not only creates an alternative trade regime, but seems unilaterally to break existing agreements. The article concludes that the policy was adopted for essentially political, not developmental, motives.     

Labor Force Supply Decisions of Rural Low-Income Mothers

Employment is crucial to the economic well-being of families. Using a multi-state sample of 412 rural low-income mothers, our study identifies factors influencing two employment decisions they make: labor force entry and number of hours supplied. A logistic regression model correctly predicted 80% of mothers’ work participation decisions. Employed mothers were older, better educated, and less likely to suffer from depression; as well as, more likely to have a driver’s license and receive child care assistance and the Earned Income Tax Credit. An estimated labor supply function explained 33% of the variation in hours worked by the 208 employed rural mothers. Higher wages, availability of health insurance, and overtime benefits predicted the number of hours they were willing to work.

The provisioning responsibilities of older women

Conceptual frameworks that theorize relationship based work, caring and provisioning, are considered. It is argued that provisioning has greater potential for revealing the various dimensions of older women's contributions to society and citizenship claims. Data on the work and responsibilities of older women are presented. Participants belong to a group promoting public discussion on issues of security and justice for older women. This group was one of six research sites documenting the provisioning work done by women in diverse social locations. Findings reveal that older women carry large and complex provisioning responsibilities. This work is summarized under two categories: provisioning activities and provisioning strategies. Discussion of the findings focuses on three major issues facing older women: the unexpected magnitude of provisioning work they are doing; how to integrate the realities of an aging body into provisioning expectations; setting priorities when time is a scarce resource. Implications for theory and the citizenship claims of older women are considered.