Suchergebnisse

The Lao People's Democratic Republic made cautious progress during 2004. The socialist government does not tolerate dissent and there is continuing resistance by minorities, but generally, the year saw increased stability and greater confidence that the country is moving forward. Its economy continues to improve, albeit from a very low base. Some ambitious projects, particularly in hydroelectricity and mining, have commenced. The government is slowly building better international links within its region. However, the international community remains concerned about the lack of transparency in politics and administration, and Laos has not succeeded in normalizing trade relations with the United States.

Traces the 1990-2005 history of mercury regulation to shed light on the politics and economics of environmental regulation. Highlighted is a cost-benefit analysis of power plant mercury regulation using IQ gains as measure of benefits. The 1990 amendments to the federal Clean Air Act of the George H. W. Bush administration are examined; analyses of the George W. Bush administration's EPA "cap-and-trade" proposal of 2003 indicate that costs outstrip the benefits of the regulation. The politics behind calls for mercury regulation and risk assessment are then addressed; the lack of economic efficiency in the strategic use of courts to yield outcomes is noted. In considering the cap-and trade regulation of mercury, six broad lessons are outlined; eg, framing policies too narrowly risks suboptimal responses. It is concluded that neither a command-and-control or market-based regulatory regime produce more benefits than costs.

In this paper we provide a synopsis of our research ondialogical networksin media (Leudar 1998; Leudar and Nekvapil 1998; Nekvapil and Leudar 1998; Nekvapil and Leudar 2002a, 2002b, Leudar, Marsland and Nekvapil 2003, Nekvapil and Leudar in press). We outline the concept, provide an example of analysis with that concept, and summarize constitutive properties of these networks. The analysis uses materials from both Czech and British newspaper articles and television debates, all of which relate to politically sensitive events. The Czech materials in particular concern inter-ethnic problems which were acute between 1992–1995, first in the now dissolved Czechoslovakia and then in the Czech Republic.