Indexing the Federal Tax System: A Cost-of-Living Approach

In this article, we analyze the indexation of federal taxes, using an approach based on cost-of-living measurement. We use our Tax and Price Index methodology and data base to study an indexed system historically, comparing indexation with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to actual tax policy, a tax system with constant parameters, and an “exact” indexing scheme. We reach three main conclusions: (a) The sequence of tax reductions implemented between 1967 and 1985 have fallen short of mimicking indexation, (b) wealthier households would have benefited relatively more than lower-income households from indexation, and (c) CPI indexation would not have completely eliminated bracket creep.     

Determinants of employment of recently arrived Mexican immigrant wives

The work force participation of married, Mexican-origin immigrant women who came to the US in the 1980s was investigated. Determinants of employment utilized in this study are the women's human capital stock, household resources, and labor market structural factors. Nine hypotheses were derived from the analytical model and were examined through logistic regression. Findings showed that all human capital resource and structural labor market factors were significantly related to employment. On the other hand, four of the five family household factors namely: the age and presence of children in the household, husband's income, husband's employment, and non-labor income were significantly related to employment. Furthermore, the positive factors indicating the likelihood of being employed in 1989 for Mexican immigrant wives are: 1) being 25-54 years of age; 2) higher educational levels; 3) speaking fluent English; 4) lower levels of husband's income and non-labor income; 5) employment of husband in 1989; 6) absence of children under age 6 at home; 7) lower non-Hispanic female unemployment rates; 8) higher work force proportion employed in immigrant female-dependent occupations; 9) lower proportions of the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) population being of Mexican origin; and 10) smaller MSA populations.     

“达尔文难题”的解释方法及其博弈论模型研究

文章在科学哲学的视野下分析了解释达尔文难题的几种路径:群体选择理论、亲缘选择理论、互惠理论、副产品理论等。首先分析了这些途径各自的论域、理论自洽性和局限性等问题。进而提出在社会生物学范式下利他问题的两种研究的方法论:第一,对所有动物共有的利他行为进行分类,并提出了新的分类标准;第二,对人类特有的利他行为构建新的研究纲领进行研究。随后在新的研究纲领下构建了人类纯粹利他行为的博弈论模型。并提出利他问题的最终解决需要综合自然主义方法与非自然主义方法才能实现。     

量子密码及其“不可破译性”

在21世纪人类跨入信息时代之际,如何能够实现保密通信的不可破译性是现代通信技术面临的重要问题,也是哲学工作者需要思考的重要问题.量子密码术在保证信息的不可破译性方面已经取得重要进展.通过对非量子密码术和量子密码术两个阶段分别以科学的和哲学的解析,文章认为,古代密码术具有弱不可破译性,发展到经典密码术阶段,密码术在理论和实践上呈现强不可破译性,而量子密码术则显示出不可破译性,逐渐趋向"绝对不可破译性".     

Political Opposition in Russia: Is it Becoming Extinct

This article uses Russian experience to examine several issues concerning the relationship of electoral procedures, democratization, and liberalization. The author's interpretation of certain aspects of the political process in contemporary Russia does not coincide with the opinions of other researchers, including some published in our journal. L. Diamond raised a similar set of predominantly theoretical issues in "Is the 'Third Wave' of Democratization Over?" [Polis, 1999, no. 1].     

实施新型农村合作医疗制度的困境与对策——以四川省宜宾市珙县洛亥镇试点为例

新型农村合作医疗制度是新时期建设社会主义新农村的重要举措。宜宾市在实施农村新型合作医疗制度的过程中存在着宣传不到位、方案和体制不健全、网络不完善等问题。要把这项民心工程落到实处,政府部门要广泛动员,总体规划,优化资源,加强对资金的管理力度,完善管理体制。     

近年来我国科技文化研究综述

自2004年全国“科技文化与社会现代化”学术研讨会在武汉理工大学召开至今,学术界在科技文化研究方面取得了丰硕成果。文章从科技文化的内涵、科技文化软实力与文化强国战略、科技文化的当代反思、科技文化的生境机制等方面,对其进行了择要论述,在此基础上,对科技文化研究进行展望。     

当代中国社会利益分化的和谐价值

改革开放以来,我国社会利益分化虽然不可避免对社会和谐发展产生了一些消极影响,但是从总体上看,这种分化对社会和谐发展是有利的。主要体现在：利益分化促进经济发展,为社会和谐奠定坚实基础;利益分化打破原有利益格局,使我国社会由传统向现代转变;利益分化推动阶级阶层的合理化和阶级阶层内部整合;利益分化促进社会民主和社会规范建设以及有利于及早发现矛盾并把其消灭于萌芽之中,促进社会和谐。