Suchergebnisse

Criticizing the conventional political theory, this article demonstrates that the rise of multiparty electoral competition, rather than improving the quality of democracy, ended up worse because increase the risk of emergence of candidates linked with criminal agents of different type (drug traffickers, guerrillas, paramilitaries and parapoliticians). This shows how the low institutionalization of the party system at the regional level makes easier and less costly in political and judicial terms, the relationship between politicians and bandits. Finally, it reviseda couple of theories suggesting the electoral success of criminalized candidates as a productof patronage, income, poverty and party affiliation. The results of a non-parametric statistical model indicated the predictive limits of such theories. However, the authors find out that "fiscal laziness" is significantly associated with the likelihood of electoral success of candidates who allied themselves with illegal agents. ; Este artículo demuestra que en los municipios colombianos donde coinciden variables de narcotráfico, conflicto armado y competencia electoral multipartidista, el riesgo de aparición de candidatos con vínculos ilegales, crece. También demuestra cómo la desinstitucionalización del sistema de partidos a nivel regional, redujo los costos de transacción entre políticos y bandidos. Por último, se sometieron a prueba empírica muchas teorías que indican que el éxito electoral de los candidatos criminalizados es producto del clientelismo, el nivel de ingresos de la población, la pobreza y la filiación partidista. Los resultados de un modelo estadístico no-paramétrico indicaron los límites predictivos de dichas teorías. No obstante, el autor encuentra que la pereza fiscal está asociada significativamente con la probabilidad de éxito electoral de los candidatos que se aliaron con agentes ilegales.

This article reviews the history of the opium & heroin market in Iran, presents recent figures on the economics of drug trafficking, summarizes factors that influence supply & demand, & quantitatively analyzes the market. It analyzes economic causes & motives of supply & demand, plus risk of seizure, & the socioeconomic characteristics of consumers & retailers. All these factors support conclusions about price trends, their causes & results, the function of the market, & the individual motives of its people of all socioeconomic groups, particularly the youth. 9 Tables, 4 Figures, 23 References. [Copyright 2002 Sage Publications, Inc.]

The extraordinary character of the drug industry and drug markets arises from the fact that research-intensive exchange-values are combined with exceptional use-values. The special form of circulation of drugs can be viewed as the outcome of this special "value-character." The roots of the peculiarities of drugs and drug history are in the exceptional use-values of drugs. They are partly explained by the special position which health and illness occupy in the hierarchy of human needs and partly by the logic of developed capitalism which has generated new use-values for the drugs. The purpose of this article is to examine the origin and development of these questions and the implications which these peculiarities have for modern drug policy.

The paper discusses the likely structure of legal drug markets and explains how they could perform in a socially acceptable manner within the framework of existing laws. It is accepted, however, that governments will insist on regulating many aspects of drug markets, and some elements in a regulatory framework are considered. Until markets have had a chance to perform, it is suggested that regulation is best regarded as a threat to be resisted.

Offene Grenzen, verbreitete Korruption und vielfältige Möglichkeiten der Geldwäsche haben Rußland zu einem wichtigen Transitland für den Drogenhandel werden lassen. Zudem expandiert auch der Drogenkonsum in Rußland selbst. Dem Drogenproblem wird in Rußland im Vergleich zum Alkoholproblem nicht genügend Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet. Zudem fehlen die finanziellen Mittel für eine adäquate Bekämpfung des Drogenmißbrauchs. Die Expansion des Drogenhandels ist auch als Folge der Verarmung der Bevölkerung zu sehen. Opium und Opiumderivate, Cannabis und Kokain sind die beliebtesten Drogen. Mit dem steigenden Drogenkonsum nehmen auch Kriminalität und Prostitution zu. Bemühungen um eine Reform und Humanisierung der Behandlung von Drogenkranken befinden sich noch im Anfangsstadium. (BIOst-Wpt)

Experiments are becoming increasingly popular in economics principles classes as a way to gain student interest in a rather abstract subject. This experiment examines the market for illegal drugs, such as marijuana, and the effects of loosening government intervention on it. While the media tends to focus on the 'normative' aspects of drug legislation, students explore the 'positive' effects that such legislation would produce. This paper contains detailed instructions on the experiment, including a discussion of decriminalization and legalization, and ends with empirical research on the drug market, a discussion of sin taxes, and the economic costs associated with drug use.