Catching-up process in the transition countries

This paper revisits the catching-up hypothesis among the 29 transition countries using the time series approach to investigate income convergence. In this study, we propose a model which specifies a trend function incorporating both sharp and smooth breaks using dummy variables and Fourier functions, respectively. Our empirical results indicate that two convergence clubs are forming among the transition countries and one club is among the rich and the other club is among the poor countries, where most middle income countries will disappear and move into one of the two clubs. Also, our results indicate that the 1980s was an ominous decade for growth in the transition countries with income in most diverging from the USA. With recovery in the 1990s, we find that in the 2000s income per capita in most of these countries was catching up toward the USA.     

欧盟国家地方税立法权问题初探

对一个主权国家而言,地方税立法权是一个既重要又复杂的问题。一个国家的地方税立法权制度不仅在很大程度上取决于其宪政体制,而且与该国的历史与传统也紧密相关。欧盟国家的地方税立法权体制因各国的国情不同而不尽一致,德国、英国、西班牙和法国所采行的模式颇具代表性,基本囊括了目前世界各国实行的主要几种模式。对欧盟这几个主要国家,特别是法国的地方税立法权进行考察,有利于对中国在构建本国的地方税立法权体制时将其作为参考借鉴的资讯。     

Overview of clinical forensic services in various countries of the European Union

Examination of a person who has been a victim of a physical or sexual assault may be very important for upcoming legal proceedings.In the context of a clinical ...     

Vocational education and training legislation in Central and Eastern European countries, the New Independent States and Mongolia (the partner countries). Experience of the European Training Foundation

The aim of this article is to give readers a brief insight into the legislative reforms underway in education and training (VET) in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the New Independent States and Mongolia (the partner countries). It is also hoped that through this, readers will have a flavour of the process of reform in general. Legislative reform is an ongoing process. Since 1989, all countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the New Independent states and Mongolia have addressed the issue of VET reform to meet the needs of their new environment. Some have amended existing education laws, some have adopted specific new VET laws. Others still have undertaken a complete reform of their education and vocational education and training system. The important underlying message is the importance of VET and its reform to the overall democratic and economic processes of countries in transition. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Skeletal estimation and identification in American and East European populations

Forensic science is a fundamental transitional justice issue as it is imperative for providing physical evidence of crimes committed and a framework for interpreting evidence and prosecuting violations to International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The evaluation of evidence presented in IHL trials and the outcomes various rulings by such courts have in regard to the accuracy or validity of methods applied in future investigations is necessary to ensure scientific quality. Accounting for biological and statistical variation in the methods applied across populations and the ways in which such evidence is used in varying judicial systems is important because of the increasing amount of international forensic casework being done globally. Population variation or the perceived effect of such variation on the accuracy and reliability of methods is important as it may alter trial outcomes, and debates about the scientific basis for human variation are now making their way into international courtrooms. Anthropological data on population size (i.e., the minimum number of individuals in a grave), demographic structure (i.e., the age and sex distribution of victims), individual methods applied for identification, and general methods of excavation and trauma analysis have provided key evidence in cases of IHL. More generally, the question of population variation and the applicability of demographic methods for estimating individual and population variables is important for American and International casework in the face of regional population variation, immigrant populations, ethnic diversity, and secular changes. The reliability of various skeletal aging methods has been questioned in trials prosecuted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Prosecutor of the Tribunal against Radislav Krstic (Case No. IT-98-33, Trial Judgment) and again in the currently ongoing trial of The Prosecutor of the Tribunal against Zdravko Tolimir, Radivolje Miletic, Milan Gvero, Vinko Pandurevic, Ljubisa Beara, Vujadin Popovic, Drago Nikolic, Milorad Trbic, Ljubomir Borovcanin (IT-05-88-PT, Second Amended Indictment). Following the trial of General Krstic, a collaborative research project was developed between the Forensic Anthropology Center at The University of Tennessee (UT) and the United Nations, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Office of the Prosecutor (ICTY). The purpose of that collaboration was to investigate methods used for the demographic analysis of forensic evidence and where appropriate to recalibrate methods for individual estimation of age, sex, and stature for specific use in the regions of the former Yugoslavia. The question of "local standards" and challenges to the reliability of current anthropological methods for biological profiling in international trials of IHL, as well as the performance of such methods to meet the evidentiary standards used by international tribunals is investigated. Anthropological methods for estimating demographic parameters are reviewed. An overview of the ICTY-UT collaboration for research aimed at addressing specific legal issues is discussed and sample reliability for Balkan aging research is tested. The methods currently used throughout the Balkans are discussed and estimated demographic parameters obtained through medico-legal death investigations are compared with identified cases. Based on this investigation, recommendations for improving international protocols for evidence collection, presentation, and research are outlined.     

新时期党的理论转型的历史进程

实现由革命党理论向执政党理论的转型,是我党新时期理论建设的首要任务。邓小平理论是实现理论转型的突破口,“三个代表”重要思想是实现理论转型的标志,而科学发展观和执政能力建设的理论,则是“三个代表”思想向实践理性的推进。     

社会转型期多元化的行政法特色

中国行政法的孕育、诞生和成长是与中国78年改革开放以来的社会转型时期紧密结合的,在这一转型时期所具备的政治、经济、文化、社会因素为中国行政法的诞生和成长提供了适当的环境。行政法从诞生以来就表现出顽强的生命力,并因其多元化的存在态势而令学界侧目。     

转型时期刑事涉案财物扣押冻结问题研究

针对转型时期经济发展中出现的新型刑事案件和复杂的侦查工作局面,公安机关如何正确理解、适用法律,把握法律、政策界限,做到合法、合理地扣押冻结及妥善处理刑事涉案财物,是公安机关当前需要研究的课题。