Suchergebnisse

The hukou system in China uses residency permits to divide Chinese citizens into urban and rural dwellers. A person's hukou status determines his or her access to state services. Under normal circumstances, a person with a rural hukou status is not eligible for state services in urban areas, and vice versa. Because hukou is primarily inherited from one's parents at the time of birth, children born in urban areas to parents with rural hukou are similarly designated as rural hukou holders. As a result, children living in cities with rural hukou are ineligible for enrollment in urban public schools even if they were born within the district. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that a massive number of people are engaged in rural-urban migration in China each year. The central government has promulgated numerous laws and regulations in an attempt to grant these migrant children free access to urban public schools, but most local governments have been hesitant to implement the changes. Further, as a prerequisite to enrollment, urban public schools commonly require excessive amounts of documentation and charge expensive fees that make public education inaccessible to migrant families. This comment argues that to fix the current problems with hukou and educational access, the central government needs to clarify the responsibilities of local governments in administrating public education and should devote more funding to urban and rural schools. Both of these measures would encourage local officials to comply with existing education laws regarding migrant children. Additionally, the central government must encourage stricter enforcement of relevant laws in order to incentivize local compliance. Making these changes will have long-term political and economic benefits for China because educating this large group of children can soothe social tensions in cities, lessen income inequality, and facilitate China's transition to a service-based economy.

Ethiopia has become warmer over the past century and human induced climate change will bring further warming over the next century at unprecedented rates. On the average, climate models show a tendency for higher mean annual rainfall and for wetter conditions, in particular during October, November and December, but there is much uncertainty about the future amount, distribution, timing and intensity of rainfall. Ethiopia's low level of economic development, combined with its heavy dependence on agriculture and high population growth rate make the country particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. Nearly 90% of Ethiopia's population lives in the Highlands, which include the critical Blue Nile (Abay) Highlands—a region that holds special importance due to its role in domestic agricultural production and international water resources. A five year study of climate vulnerability and adaptation strategies in communities of Choke Mountain, located in the center of the Abay Highlands, has informed a proposed framework for enhancing climate resilience in communities across the region. The framework is motivated by the critical need to enhance capacity to cope with climate change and, subsequently, to advance a carbon neutral and climate resilient economy in Ethiopia. The implicit hypothesis in applying a research framework for this effort is that science-based information, generated through improved understanding of impacts and vulnerabilities of local communities, can contribute to enhanced resilience strategies. We view adaptation to climate change in a wider context of changes, including, among others, market conditions, the political-institutional framework, and population dynamics. From a livelihood perspective, culture, historical settings, the diversity of income generation strategies, knowledge, and education are important factors that contribute to adaptive capacities. This paper reviews key findings of the Choke Mountain study, describes the principles of the climate resilience ...

Professionalisation forms an important domain in the accounting history arena. The geographical spread of professional organisations occurred via the relay of empire and the movement of international capital. Outcomes of professionalisation endeavours are strongly connected to the social and political context in which they occur. The mineral discoveries towards the end of the 19th century established South Africa's first industrial community. As the country's economy expanded, the virtues of simple living and conduct of business passed and there was a growing need for the services of individuals who had knowledge of accounting and of commerce. Most of the skilled accountants who migrated were of British descent. These accountants contributed to the development of the profession in South Africa. The Transvaal, Cape Colony, Natal and Orange River Colony (ORC) each established accounting societies around this time in response to the new industries and business. The Society of Accountants in the Orange River Colony was established in November 1907, five years after the conclusion of the South African War, by seven English gentlemen practising as accountants in Bloemfontein. This was the smallest society in comparison to the other colonies in Southern Africa at the time, and had grown from merely 16 foundation members in 1907 to 60 in 1927 with the passing of the Chartered Accountants Designation Act. The Society of Accountants and Auditors in the Orange River Colony (SAAORC) was a voluntary body, unlike the Transvaal and Natal societies. Accountants in the ORC could conduct their business as accountants and auditors and advertise themselves as such, whether they were members of the SAAORC or not. This article investigates the formation years of the accountants' society in the Free State and explains the difference between this development path and that of the earlier preceding societies. The article explains the establishment of a British profession in a former Boer Republic and the mechanisms of professional closure implemented to safeguard the status of the profession.

Ethiopia has become warmer over the past century and human induced climate change will bring further warming over the next century at unprecedented rates. On the average, climate models show a tendency for higher mean annual rainfall and for wetter conditions, in particular during October, November and December, but there is much uncertainty about the future amount, distribution, timing and intensity of rainfall. Ethiopia's low level of economic development, combined with its heavy dependence on agriculture and high population growth rate make the country particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. Nearly 90% of Ethiopia's population lives in the Highlands, which include the critical Blue Nile (Abay) Highlands—a region that holds special importance due to its role in domestic agricultural production and international water resources. A five year study of climate vulnerability and adaptation strategies in communities of Choke Mountain, located in the center of the Abay Highlands, has informed a proposed framework for enhancing climate resilience in communities across the region. The framework is motivated by the critical need to enhance capacity to cope with climate change and, subsequently, to advance a carbon neutral and climate resilient economy in Ethiopia. The implicit hypothesis in applying a research framework for this effort is that science-based information, generated through improved understanding of impacts and vulnerabilities of local communities, can contribute to enhanced resilience strategies. We view adaptation to climate change in a wider context of changes, including, among others, market conditions, the political-institutional framework, and population dynamics. From a livelihood perspective, culture, historical settings, the diversity of income generation strategies, knowledge, and education are important factors that contribute to adaptive capacities. This paper reviews key findings of the Choke Mountain study, describes the principles of the climate resilience ...

В первые десятилетия своего существования советской власти было необходимо ускорение индустриализации экономики и образа жизни в целом. Для этого требовалось вовлечь в процесс социалистических преобразований широкие слои населения. С этой целью по всей стране, в том числе и в Вятском крае, создавались разные добровольные общества. Самыми массовыми и известными из них были ячейки МОПРа и Осоавиахима. Их деятельность – одна из ярких страниц истории региона тех лет. Специфичные формы работы этих обществ – благотворительные и показательные акции, военизированные и спортивные парады и соревнования, сопровождающиеся мощными идеологическими кампаниями в печати с лозунгами и призывами – вовлекали в себя не только молодёжь, но и других обывателей городов. Широкое распространение получила клубная деятельность. Анализ разных источников показывает, что все слои населения городов Вятского региона активно участвовали в новых формах коллективного досуга. Тем самым достигался искомый эффект в решении политических, идеологических и антирелигиозных задач. ; In first decades of it's existence, Soviet power needed to quicken economy industrialization and mode of life in common. To achieve these goals they had to involve in the process of socialistic reforms wide range of the population. According to this, in the whole country, including Vyatka region, different voluntary societies were found. The departments of MOPR and «Osoaviakhim» were the most mass and popular. Their activities is one of the brightest pages in the history of the region of those years. Specific forms of work in these societies, such as charitable and demonstrative actions, military and sport parades and competitions, accompanied by intensive ideological companies in mass media with slogans and appeals involved not only youth but other inhabitants. Club activity was widely spread. The analyses of different sources show that all parts of Vyatka region population took actively took part in new forms of collective leisure. So the required effect in solving political, ideological, and antireligious goals was achieved.

One of the toughest issues at the time of UK accession to the EEC was the cost of being a member of the European club. The nature of the industrialized British economy ensured that the benefits of initial access were less pronounced than in other, longer-standing member states and quickly became a source of heated debate. Margaret Thatcher fought to get 'her money back' in the 1980s and the ensuing British rebate has become totemic for British politicians. As the European Union debates its next multi-annual budget, why has the budget proved so tricky for the UK? What are the drivers for the EU budget? And what is the rebate all about? This article argues that the UK has tugged in different directions over the EC-now EU-budget, which amounts to about 2 per cent of the Union's public expenditure. At times the UK has urged member states to improve financial management. At times it has pressed for greater redistribution between rich and poor regions through the budget. It has consistently criticized the large proportion of the budget going to support agriculture in the Union. It has, from the earliest days of its accession negotiations, argued about how much it contributes to the EU budget and how it should contribute less, whether it counted among the poorer or the richer member states. Britain has argued first for restraint, rather than promoting certain policy sectors in a consistent manner. While cohesion and competitiveness targets outlined in the 2000 Lisbon Strategy received strong support from the UK government and the Europe 2020 goals set concrete growth targets in line with the UK's own, this policy-shaping is tempered by constraint and restraint, and has not allowed the UK to draw full political benefit from the EU budget. (International Affairs (Oxford) / SWP)

Abstract Background In the literature there are only few empirical studies that analyse the decision makers' reasoning to contract out health care and social services to private sector. However, the decisions on the delivery patterns of health care and social services are considered to be of great importance as they have a potential to influence citizens' access to services and even affect their health. This study contributes to filling this cap by exploring the frames used by Finnish local authorities as they talk about contracting out of primary health care and elderly care services. Contracting with the private sector has gained increasing popularity, in Finland, during the past decade, as a practise of organising health care and social services. Methods Interview data drawn from six municipalities through thematic group interviews were used. The data were analysed applying frame analysis in order to reveal the underlying reasoning for the decisions. Results Five argumentation frames were found: Rational reasoning; Pragmatic realism; Promoting diversity among providers; Good for the municipality; Good for the local people . The interviewees saw contracting with the private sector mostly as a means to improve the performance of public providers, to improve service quality and efficiency and to boost the local economy. The decisions to contract out were mainly argued through the good for the municipal administration, political and ideological commitments, available resources and existing institutions. Conclusions This study suggests that the policy makers use a number of grounds to justify their decisions on contracting out. Most of the arguments were related to the benefits of the municipality rather than on what is best for the local people. The citizens were offered the role of active consumers who are willing to purchase services also out-of-pocket. This development has a potential to endanger the affordability of the services and lead to undermining some of the traditional principles of the Nordic welfare state.

Maģistra darbā "Tūrisma attīstības salīdzinošs izvērtējums postpadomju periodā Rīgā un Prāgā" analizēta tūrisma attīstības gaita divās bijušajās sociālistisko valstu galvaspilsētās. Darba uzdevums ir noskaidrot kā mainījusies tūrisma nozare pēc valstiskās neatkarības atjaunošanas. Pētījumā tika noskaidroti un analizēti galvenie rādītāji, kas parāda kā tūrisma nozare laika gaitā mainījusies. Pētījumā pievērsta uzmanība tādiem rādītājiem kā viesu un viesnīcu skaits, pilsētas telpas pārmaiņas un padomju mantojuma loma tūrisma nozarē mūsdienās. Pētījumos izmantotās metodes: informācijas materiālu, statistikas datu analīze. Iegūto datu analīzes vizualizēšanai ir izmantoti GIS rīki. Pamatojoties uz veikto pētījumu, secināts, ka gan Rīgā, gan arī Prāgā pēc padomju bloka sabrukuma, pāreja no plānveida uz tirgus ekonomiku ietekmēja arī tūrisma nozares turpmāko attīstību. Daudzās pārmaiņas politiskajā un ekonomiskajā jomā ietekmē tūrisma nozari, kas ir jūtīga un reaģē izmaiņām. Maģistra darbs sastāv no 95 lapaspusēm, kurās iekļauti 14 attēli, 10 tabulas un 9 pielikumi. Atslēgas vārdi: Tūrisms postpadomju periodā, tūrisms, jaunās galvaspilsētas, transformācija ; Authors master paper "Comparative assessment of tourism development in post-soviet period in Riga and Prague" analyses tourism development in two post-socialist capitals. The aim of this work is to find out how tourism industry changed after regaining independence. Author in this research clarifies and analyses indicators that shows how tourism industry developed during this period. Paper focuses on indicators like number of tourists and number of hotels, transformation of cities spatial structure and soviet heritage tourism nowadays. Methodology includes analyzing information materials and statistics. To visualize the data author uses GIS. Based on the observation author concludes that both Riga and Prague after soviet period experienced great changes. Transition from central planned to market economy influenced further development of tourism industry. Tourism is sensitive to different changes for example political and economic changes. Paper consists of 95 pages, 14 images, 10 tables and 9 attachments. Key words: Tourism in post-soviet period, tourism, re-emerging capitals, transition

In the last decades, community forest management (CFM) has become an alternative to reach important objectives related to forests sustainability and the improvement of forest dwellers' wellbeing. In many countries the recognition and development of specific CFM models has been closely related to social struggles for new rights or the recognition of traditional rights over land, which link it with the communitarian model. In order to understand the sequence of changes of CFM in the course of its recognition in Bolivia and particularly in the northern Bolivian Amazon, we considered three important social processes. The first social process relates to community devised distribution of land and forest resources in response to agricultural and forestry government reforms. The second social process relates to the debt-peonage system called "habilito" in the region, which barraca holders used to control their workforce, assure an adequate labor supply to exploit rubber and Brazil nuts, and to exercise influence over social relations and the local economy. The third process relates to the consequences of the dynamics triggered by the changes experienced by the first two, observed most of the time as different kind of conflicts, resulted from the difficulties of community members to adapt to the new social, political, normative and economic contexts. Related to the first social process, our findings suggest that within processes of changes of land property right and rights of forest use in favor or peasants and indigenous people, these actors needs to develop strategies to cope with the new legislation and new responsibilities, in which the principles of property and rights granted by the government might constitute themselves some kind of obstacle to people devising local principles of access and authority. Thus, the first step to community rule design, enforcement, and effective forest management is the opportunity to, and equity of, access to forest resources among members. The above changes carried out the rupture of ...

December 1991 marked the beginning of a grandiose experiment whose purpose was to establish a whole group of independent states in the territory of a world giant known as the U.S.S.R., which occupied one-sixth of the Earth. Their establishment was based on the negation of the previous Soviet model providing for the domination of one party, which had imposed a no-choice ideology on the society, and for the administrative command system of politics and economics. Could that experiment succeed? Certainly, especially given the successes of the countries of Central Europe (CE) and the Baltic region. Unfortunately, the path of social reform chosen by the post-Soviet countries has never actually demonstrated its effectiveness in the past two decades. The imitation of democratic reforms led to a state of affairs where most of the population in the post-Soviet states was barred from having real influence on political processes, which are now based on the activities of clan groups. Denationalization and privatization have resulted in very high income inequality in the society, i.e. its division into a small group of super-rich oligarchs and the majority of the people with low or middle incomes (sometimes slightly higher). There is no denying that the newly independent states (NIS) have made some progress in regaining their national identity and restoring respect for traditional customs and religion. Meanwhile, these successes could have been more significant had they been supported by the dynamic development of the economic base of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. The following analysis shows that the economy is the weakest link in the process of enhancing stability in the CIS countries, and this has a negative effect on both the internal situation in the NIS and their position in the world community.

The European Forecasting Network (EFN) is a research group of European institutions, founded in 2001 under the auspices of the European Commission. ; - In the first months of 2012 there were some mild signs of improvement in the world economy, to a large degree due to political measures taken in the euro area at the end of 2011. In particular, the ECB secured financing of banks by offering liquidity for as longs as three years and by easing standards for collateral. - However, the southern countries of the euro area will stay in recession for most of the year 2012: planned fiscal consolidation in Spain and Italy has a magnitude of about 3% relative to GDP, in Portugal and Greece the restriction is even larger. The structural reforms need time to take beneficial effects, and the real sector is largely out of reach of the expansive monetary policy. - It is still uncertain whether another solvency crisis of a euro area member state can be avoided. The main risk is now that deep recessions in the southern countries caused by the drastic consolidation programs might undermine confidence of financial investors in the viability of the reform processes. - In spite of recessions in the southern countries, euro area GDP is forecast to stagnate in 2012, mainly because demand in some member states (notably in Germany and, to a lesser extent, in France) and from abroad will expand moderately. - Although our inflation forecasts have risen considerably since last report, the ECB mandate for price stability in the medium term has not been significantly threatened in the last few months. The year-on-year HICP rate is expected to be around 2% already in December this year. Considering the external and transient nature of the recent inflationist tensions and the weak economic situation in the euro area, the ECB is not expected to change its expansive monetary policy stance in the short or medium term.

The university system is complex and is constantly pressured to evaluate its performance. How should university performance be defined? There is no agreement on the dimensions, criteria and indicators to choose. This article presents a typology of the conceptions of universities so as to evaluate their performance. Based on an extensive literature review, a typology prototype consisting of seven conceptions of universities was developed. A method of anasynthesis (Silvern, 1972; Sauvé, 1992; and Legendre, 2005) was used to verify the typology. Semi-structured interviews were held with eleven experts. These experts assessed the proposed typology in relation to six validation criteria (clarity, logic consistency, comprehensiveness, economy, usefulness and acceptability by users). This article presents the results of this research as well as the seven optimal typology categories (public service, market, academic, learner, political, entrepreneurial and living environment). ; Le système universitaire est complexe et subit de nombreuses pressions pour qu'on évalue sa performance. Comment définir la performance des universités? Il existe une diversité d'opinion quant au choix des dimensions, des critères et des indicateurs à privilégier. Cet article a pour but de présenter une typologie des conceptions des universités en vue d'évaluer leur performance. À partir d'une recension des écrits, un prototype de la typologie a été élaboré, lequel comporte sept conceptions des universités. De manière à valider cette typologie, un processus d'anasynthèse (Legendre, 2005; Sauvé, 1992; Silvern, 1972) a été utilisé. Onze experts ont été rencontrés dans le cadre d'entretiens semi-structurés. Ces experts ont porté un jugement sur la typologie proposée en fonction de six critères de validation (clarté, consistance logique, exhaustivité, économie, utilité et acceptabilité par les usagers). L'article sous référence présente les résultats de cette recherche, de même que les sept types de typologie optimale (service public, marché, académique, apprenante, politique, entrepreneuriale et milieu de vie).

Russia is potentially an attractive host economy for foreign direct investment (FDI), mainly due to its large market and rich natural resources. The Government has, however, been unable to make the radical changes needed in the country's investment climate for attracting FDI on a scale and to a range of industries in line with Russia's potential. Nevertheless, oil and gas, power generation and motor vehicles industries, as well as wholesale and retail trade and several other industries have recently received new and significant FDI. After a steep decline in 2008, inward FDI (IFDI) stock recovered, to reach US$ 491 billion in 2010, although there was a moderate fall again in 2011. IFDI flows fell considerably in 2009 but rose to US$43 billion in 2010 and US$ 53 billion in 2011. In 2008–2010, the largest number of significant greenfield projects were in power generation. Large mergers and acquisitions (M&As) took place in various industries, but the size of the largest deals was usually smaller in 2010 than in 2008 and 2009. High levels of corruption, lack of competition and a distorted dialogue between the state, business and society are main barriers to the rapid growth of inward FDI. The recent global financial and economic crisis has revealed weaknesses of the Russian model of development in the 2000s. It is doubtful whether the efforts currently under way by the Russian Government to "repair" the existing model without political and economic reforms will lead toward a major improvement of the investment climate as only slight changes are being made (e. g., the improvement of the Russian migration regime and the development of special economic zones). However, the federal elections in 2012 could lead to more efficient steps, although it is difficult to predict the scale of probable positive shifts in the investment climate.