Building a Humane Society for Older People: Compassionate Policy Making for Integration,Participation, and Positive Ageing Within a Framework of Intergenerational Solidarity

This article explores the global challenge of population aging with a specific focus on the concepts of integration and participation of older people in society within the context of “realizing a society for all ages” as promoted by the United Nations. It is proposed that governments worldwide need to embrace new ways of thinking about population aging that include strategic initiatives for strengthening the social contract that fosters generational interdependence. The meaning of “positive aging” is explored at both the individual and social levels, with implications for quality-of-life issues involving intergenerational relationships. The point is made that while the promotion of positive aging is commendable on both philosophical and health grounds it can be problematic for those older people who for a range of legitimate reasons are unable to fulfill the notion of positive or active aging. The longevity revolution will require the emergence of a more humane society that undertakes to reconceptualize what older age means, together with exploring new ways of enhancing the citizenship status of older people through the development and promotion of innovative intergenerational relationships. A call is made for a wider engagement of the citizenry in the processes involved in the formulation and implementation of policy making.     

The effects of food and density of the movement ofArion ater andAriolimax columbianus (Pulmonata: Stylommatophora) between habitats

Summary Experiments were conducted to determine if slug density, or food quantity and quality could cause dispersal by slugs.Arion ater dispersed quickly from overcrowded areas, where high mortality was incurred by this species. Poor food conditions, caused more dispersal than good food conditions, but food had no effect on the mortality ofA. ater. Neither food nor density factors had significant effects on the dispersal ofAriolimax columbianus. However, moreA. columbianus died in the high- than low-density treatments.A. columbianus mortality was unaffected by the food factor. DispersingArion were heavier than non-dispersers, but there was no difference between the weights of dispersing and non-dispersingAriolimax. There were significant seasonal changes in the dispersal rate, mortality and weight of dispersingArion, whereas only the mortality ofAriolimax changed significantly during the experiments. SinceArion ater did not markedly reduce its activity during unsuitable weather it was able to leave areas of poor food and high slug density fairly rapidly.Ariolimax columbianus' large size allowed it to remain inactive during unfavourable weather and permitted this species to be relatively unresponsive to the experimental treatments.     

Competition and Wage Discrimination: The Effects of Interindustry Concentration and Import Penetration*

Objective. Economic theory suggests that competition reduces employers' latitude to engage in wage discrimination ( Becker, 1957 ). This study investigates the impact of foreign and domestic competition on wage discrimination. Method. Utilizing the sample of males in U.S. manufacturing industries from the 1990 Public Use Micro Sample (PUMS), industry wage equations are estimated. In a second stage, the impact of domestic and foreign competition on racial wage disparity is assessed. Results. We find little evidence to support our hypothesis. Conclusions. Notwithstanding, the failure of conventional economic theory to satisfactorily explain racial wage disparity reiterates the need to incorporate alternative theories of discrimination into mainstream economic theory.     

Aboriginal Drinking: A Case Study in Inequality and Disadvantage

This paper examines an aspect of social inequality experienced by Aboriginal people living in a remote Queensland mining town. We contend that non-Aboriginal perceptions and attitudes of Aboriginal drinking behaviour contribute directly to structural inequalities within the Mount Isa community. Social drinking in the township is, for reserve-dwelling Aborigines, restricted mainly to one bar in one hotel and adjoining park and river bank area. The restrictions are preserved through both overt and covert discrimination. Aboriginal inebriation and excessive drinking are therefore more visible to the wider community and more accessible to police prosecution than that of any other ethnic group in the town. Although White folk tales concerning Aboriginal drinking often contain fear about acts of violence and crime directed towards the White community, soundly documented incidents are rare. This paper argues that the persistence of such attitudes is at the heart of a symbolic differential between the White and Black community in Queensland. Moreover, problems within the Aboriginal community that can be directly related to the excessive consumption of alcohol must also be seen as a product of these White reactions and perceptions.     

“Neutrality” and “card check” agreements: Union assaults on employee rights and the integrity of the national labor relations board

Employer “neutrality” and union recognition by “card check” are tools unions use to bolster their shrinking numbers. Employee freeinformed choice and the sanctity of a democratic, secretballot National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election are the casualties of this fast-track approach to organizing. The NLRB is faced with challenging issues about some of the agreements which may overreach legal boundaries. This paper addresses those issues and highlights pending NLRB cases which may resolve some of them.     

Rent seeking and the North-South terms of trade

In this paper results are reported for a series of counterfactual experiments with an eight- region numerical general equilibrium model of world trade, production, and welfare. In these analyses trade restrictions in the developing world are modeled as quantity constrained import licensing, which generates competitive rent-seeking behavior. Model experiments concentrate on the implications of differential factor endowment growth for the North-South terms of trade, and the effects of alternative trade policy changes in developing countries.     

Book review

Review of Ttme Senes Techniques for Economists by Terence C. Mills by Thomas B. Fomby Southern Methodst Univ.. Dept. of Economics, Dallas, TX 75275     

Exploring the relationship between gold and the dollar

It has often been argued that one of the reasons for holding gold is as a hedge against currency movements. An exploratory data analysis to examine the validity of this theory can be carried out quickly and simply, using some of the wide and varied range of nonparametric techniques now incorporated into statistical software—but, as Terence Mills shows, such a superficial investigation can lead to interpretations that deeper data analysis shows to be flawed.