The relationship between different social expenditure schemes and poverty,inequality and economic growth

In this article, we study how social expenditure is related to poverty, income inequality and GDP growth. Our main contribution is to disentangle these relationships by the following social expenditure schemes: 1) “old age and survivors”, 2) “incapacity”, 3) “health”, 4) “family”, 5) “unemployment and active labour market policies” and 6) “housing and others”. For this purpose, we employ OLS and 2SLS regression models using a panel data set for 22 Member States of the European Union from 1990 until 2015. We find total public social expenditure to be negatively related to poverty and inequality, but not related to GDP growth. The results vary substantially between the different social expenditure schemes, which makes more accurate targeting possible.     

The limits of parametric reforms in sustaining the Algerian retirement system in a context of population ageing

Accelerated population ageing in Algeria threatens the financial sustainability of its pay-as-you-go retirement system. Reform is a necessity, with options ranging from simple parametric reforms to important systemic changes. Prior to undertaking systemic reforms, it is worthwhile to investigate whether parametric reforms can place the system on a financially sustainable footing. In this article, we used a multi-scenario analysis that crosses the possible reform actions with possible socioeconomic scenarios. The results show that when using the most favourable scenarios, the financial balance of the Algerian system will remain negative in the short and long term. Implementing major parametric reforms can only help reduce the deficit and make it stable over time. Thereafter, systemic reforms will have to be implemented.     

India's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act: Assessing the quality of access and adequacy of benefits in MGNREGS public works

The extension of social protection to all has become a central policy objective, both nationally and internationally. A considerable number of middle‐ and low‐income countries have undertaken substantial efforts to extend social protection, while the international community reaffirmed its commitment to the extension of social protection through the adoption of the ILO Recommendation concerning National Floors of Social Protection, No. 202 (2012). This article reviews the legal provisions and the implementation of the Indian Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), legislated in 2005, and does so in the light of the more recent provisions of ILO Recommendation No. 202. Since its introduction ten years ago, MGNREGA has provided a source of income to rural workers, increased wage rates, achieved high female participation rates and created durable assets. India's local governance bodies, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), have been empowered and involved in the processes of planning and monitoring. However, despite successes, there have been considerable shortcomings in implementation. This article highlights two central themes: first, the innovative policy framework of the Act, which brings together rights‐based entitlements, demand‐driven employment, and citizen‐centred monitoring. Second, it assesses the accessibility and adequacy of benefits in the implementation of MGNREGA. We conclude that MGNREGA offers potential for South‐South learning, both in terms of policy‐design and implementation.     

岳、长开埠与近代湖南社会经济的发展

19世纪末20世纪初,岳州、长沙相继辟为商埠。岳、长的开埠,使得湖南有了直接对外贸易的窗口,其对外贸易也呈现出若干鲜明的特征。同时,岳、长开埠对近代湖南社会经济的发展也产生了积极和消极的双重影响。     

由《性命古训辨证》看傅斯年的学术思想与方法

处在"中国近代文化转移的枢纽"时期的傅斯年,既继承传统学术中积极的一面,又汲取"西洋学问"、"西洋人的研究学问法"及其同时代人治学思想中优长之处,逐渐形成自己独特的学术思想与方法。《性命古训辨证》为傅氏代表作之一,"以语言学的观点解释一个思想史的问题"是其特色,是其学术思想与方法的经典表现。     

The impact of international migration on the public pension system: The case of Portugal

This article analyses the impact of replacement migration on the financial sustainability of the old‐age pension system in Portugal, a country with one of the largest ageing populations in Europe. We do this using demographic forecasts and prospective exercises for the evolution of the Portuguese economy. During the 2015–2060 period, our results evidence the positive impacts of international migration on old‐age pension system financial balances, reaching over 3 per cent of GDP after 2045. Moreover, even when taking into considering the low dynamics for the Portuguese economy, replacement migration is an important input to improve pension system financial sustainability.     

Pension reforms in Chile and social security principles, 1981–2015

Chile pioneered in Latin America not only the introduction of social security pensions, but the structural reform that privatized them and a process of “re‐reform” implementing key improvements. A Presidential Commission in Chile, appointed in 2014 to evaluate reform progress and remaining problems in the pension system, released its report in September 2015. In light of the Commission's findings, the article assesses Chile's compliance with International Labour Organization social security guiding principles: social dialogue, universal coverage, equal treatment, social solidarity, gender equity, adequacy of benefits, efficiency and affordable administrative cost, social participation in management, state role and supervision, and financial sustainability. The exercise follows three stages: the structural reform (1981–2008), the re‐reform (2008–2015), and the Presidential Commission proposals (2015)     

试论知情意在主体实践实事求是中的作用

实践实事求是的主体是集知情意于一体的活生生的人 ,因而主体实践实事求是必然离不开知情意因素的参与和作用。主体在知情意方面的状况与水平直接影响着主体实践实事求是的效率与质量。     

谈科技倡导者的社会角色发展和定位

计算机和互联网伴随着移动网络的发展与生活融合进入一个新的层次,各种软硬件制造商在研发技术销售产品的同时,在社会中扮演起探索新的生活方式并通过销售产品的方式向消费者输出生活理念的社会引导者的角色。专业的生活理念是生活质量更高,分析认为有的不合理的推广方式也产生不少负面问题。     

El modelo de reactancia-indefensión de Wortman y Brehm desde la perspectiva de la psicofisiología social

Resumen

Este estudio fue diseñado para poner a prueba la hipótesis de reactancia-indefensión de Wortman y Brehm (según la cual los efectos producidos por la incontrolabilidad están mediados por la duración del evento incontrolable) en relación al funcionamiento corporal. Para ello, se eligió como principal variable dependiente el control de la respuesta electromiográfica de la musculatura frontal. Se utilizó un diseño factorial 3 (expectativa de control alta, baja y nula) X 2 (entrenamiento en incontrolabilidad corto y largo). Asimismo, se incluyeron medidas sobre «locus de control», estilo atribucional, percepción y estrategias de control. Los resultados obtenidos confirman parcialmente la hipótesis establecida y son discutidos dentro del ámbito de la Psicofisiologia Social.