In the Yugoslav Mirror: The EU Disintegration Crisis

The Yugoslav and the present EU integration crisis display several parallels. In both cases, the integration models have proved to be unable to attenuate the uneven development patterns, and the state has been characterised by strong confederal elements. Deep economic crisis strengthened in both cases the centrifugal tendencies. The political discourse became increasingly dominated by the question ‘who exploits whom?’. While central authorities pursued policies of neo-liberal structural adjustment eroding its legitimacy among the popular classes, the republican authorities in Yugoslavia, respectively, the national governments in the EU tried to shift the burden of the crises to the others and strengthened their role during the crisis management. With the deepening of the crisis, constitutional reform became an issue in Yugoslavia. In the Yugoslav case, the various proposals proved to be irreconcilable. In the EU, a debate on its future shape has begun as well. This issue is highly controversial. In the EU, a key problem is the relationship between euro zone and non-euro zone states. Such an institutional divide did not exist in Yugoslavia. It is significant that the leading state of the non-euro zone group, the UK, is the first state to exit the EU. A key question is whether the EU has already passed the critical point where a deep reform is still possible.     

Practising transnational citizenship: dual nationality and simultaneous political involvement among emigrants

Acceptance of dual citizenship allows migrants to naturalise in the country of residence (CoR) without giving up their former citizenship. For migrant sending countries the question emerges whether emigrants who acquire another citizenship are less attached to and politically active in the country of origin than those who do not. This would be the assumption of traditional perspectives on migration and citizenship. However, according to the transnational perspective neither multiple nationalities, nor participation in and identification with the CoR, preclude ongoing ties and participation back home. We test these perspectives with survey data on Swiss citizens residing in France, Germany, Italy and the US. Our results suggest that Swiss dual citizens abroad are not significantly less attached to and active in Switzerland than their mono national counterparts. Our data further supports the transnational perspective by showing not only simultaneity, but a mutually reinforcing relationship when transnational citizenship is practised. Identification with, and political participation in, the CoR positively relates to equivalent feelings and activities in the country of origin. Since dual citizenship sets the legal foundation for simultaneous involvement in two countries, it correctly assumes a central place in the study of transnational citizenship.     

Eine integrative Theorie des Problemlösens in Gruppen III: Sozio-emotionale Regulation,Konflikte und Kompetenzbedrohungen

This paper is the third paper in a three-part article series presenting an integrative theory of problem solving in groups on the basis of theory and research on group processes, problem solving, and decision making. Problem solving in groups is differentiated into three focuses of action, namely taskwork, group organisation and socio-emotional regulation. In the present paper, aspects of socio-emotional regulation are addressed. Three types of problems are differentiated in the domain of socio-emotional regulation: task-related conflict, socio-emotional conflict and competence impairment. Causes and consequences of task-related conflict, socio-emotional conflict and competence impairment are discussed. For each of the three problem types, recommendations for successful action are established taking into account situational constraints and attributes of the group members. Furthermore, the performance-enhancing effect of self reflection in problem solving groups is discussed.     

On the specification and estimation of large scale simultaneous structural macroeconometric models

Summary This paper surveys the state of the art of the analysis and application of large scale structural simultaneous econometric models (SSEM). First, the importance of such models in empirical economics and especially for economic policy analysis is emphasized. We then focus on the methodological issues in the application of these models like questions about identification, nonstationarity of variables, adequate estimation of the parameters, and the inclusion of identities. In the light of the latest development in econometrics, we identify the main unsolved problems in this area, recommend a combined data-theory-driven procedure for the specification of such models, and give suggestions how one could overcome some of the indicated problems.     

European Welfare regimes and the transition to adulthood: A comparative and longitudinal perspective

Social Indicators Research -     

Introduction

Social Indicators Research -     

Urban segregation in Sweden housing policy,housing markets,and the spacial distribution of households in metropolitan areas

The postwar Swedish housing standard has been raised considerably. But there were also unforeseen and undesired side effects in the form of increasing segregation. Between 1965–1975 a great number of rental apartments were built in the periphery of the metropolitan areas. They originally received an overrepresentation of the poor, immigrants, social welfare recipients, and members of the working class. Today these areas face long distances, increasing deterioration and the lower socioeconomic level of their population is accentuated. The following wave of rebuilding in the central metropolitan areas also reinforced residential segregation. As the dwellings became larger and totally modern, the rents rose. Ownership forms often changed to tenant-owned dwellings which drove up the prices of tenant-owned dwellings. The older working-class population was replaced by wealthy families with middle-class backgrounds. The rebuilding in the city centers has in all likelihood been the motor in the overall relocations and migrations of the metropolitan populations during the 1980s. The movement of the middle-class towards the centers corresponds to an increased concentration of workers and various resource-weak groups on the peripheries. This analysis uses a new large micro data base integrating Swedish census and level-of-living survey data on individuals, households and neighbourhoods.Housing segregation has not been seen as a very serious problem in Sweden. Attention has primarily been aimed at providing spatial and modern dwellings for everyone. The construction of housing was explosive through the middle of the 1970s, and it has been supported by substantial general subsidies. Today, Sweden, together with Norway, has Europe's highest and most evenly distributed housing standard. Overcrowding and unmodern housing have for all practical purposes been abolished.     

Aspekte der Gesundheitsförderung für LehrerInnen

For future actions in workplace health promotion programs for teachers in secondary school, specific (health-related) work strain and resources should be examined. By means of a mail survey (return rate 55%) indicators of work strain, work-related resources, work-related wellbeing (self efficacy and job satisfaction) and indicators of subjective health state (GHQ-12, somatic symptom list and two global ratings of the state of health) were collected. Results show, that compared to other populations significant poorer health ratings for teachers are observed. According to the main presumption, the individual state of health is explainable to a great extent by work strain, resources and work related wellbeing (explained variance between 13 and 29%). The results show however, that the association between the perceived strength of several dimensions of work strain and resources at the one hand and subjective health state on the other hand is limited. Usually, actions in workplace health promotion are based on an empirical investigation concerning the working conditions. Actions that only focus on dimensions of work strain (or lacking resources) which are most emphasised by the employees may risk mischief, as other — more outstanding health related — aspects are possibly neglected. Foregoing investigations prior to workplace health promotions should therefore put more emphasise on the association of work strain, resources and indicators of health.     

The Chinese version of the multidimensional orientation toward dying and death inventory (MODDI-F/chin): an introduction

Preliminary data on the test criteria of the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Orientation Toward Dying and Death Inventory (MODDI-F/chin) are presented. Data from a sample of Hong Kong college students (N = 256) revealed internal consistencies of the eight subtests between .68 and .91, on the whole favorable shape of frequency distributions, and evidence of construct as well as differential validity of the instrument. The use of the full set of 47 items is recommended for the time being.