Analysis of off-farm work decisions among smallholder farm households in Burkina Faso

This article investigates off-farm work decisions by smallholder farm households. Using data on 1,101 households from Burkina Faso, it demonstrates that in addition to the usual household socio-demographic characteristics, remittances, access to information and beneficiary of specific training affect off-farm work decisions, as well as rainfall factors and idiosyncratic health shocks. Community characteristics such as accessibility and number of inhabitants are also key factors. While suggesting that off-farm work is less likely to be undertaken for accumulation purposes, these results have important policy implications. In particular, policy measures should consider each segment as a separate entity.     

Adding to the Controversy? Civil Society’s Evaluation of the National Conference Dialogue in Yemen

ABSTRACT

This article assembles a picture of Yemen’s 2013–14 National Dialogue Conference (NDC) by collecting perspectives from local civil society organizations (CSOs), which are contrasted to the views of international commentators. Despite all efforts by internal parties as well as the international community, the dialogue failed to avert war, which broke out shortly after. Through interviews with 50 CSOs, we reconstructed the reasons for failure, as well as paying attention to the observed strengths of the dialogue. Half of the consulted organizations were directly involved in the NDC, either as an invited participant or in a brokerage role. The other half concerns outside observers. We identify aspects on which the opinion of the CSOs converge, but also highlight striking divergences depending on insider/outsider status. In contrast to the view espoused in the international literature, the CSOs overall feel that, in spite of all its procedural and substantive flaws, the NDC was a significant junction in the long road towards peace and stability and laid important groundwork for future dialogues.     

What do forensic analysts consider relevant to their decision making?

In response to research demonstrating that irrelevant contextual information can bias forensic science analyses, authorities have increasingly urged laboratories to limit analysts' access to irrelevant and potentially biasing information (Dror and Cole (2010) [3]; National Academy of Sciences (2009) [18]; President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2016) [22]; UK Forensic Science Regulator (2015) [26]). However, a great challenge in implementing this reform is determining which information is task-relevant and which is task-irrelevant. In the current study, we surveyed 183 forensic analysts to examine what they consider relevant versus irrelevant in their forensic analyses. Results revealed that analysts generally do not regard information regarding the suspect or victim as essential to their analytic tasks. However, there was significant variability among analysts within and between disciplines. Findings suggest that forensic science disciplines need to agree on what they regard as task-relevant before context management procedures can be properly implemented. The lack of consensus about what is relevant information not only leaves room for biasing information, but also reveals foundational gaps in what analysts consider crucial in forensic decision making.     

试论善的理念是政治社会的合法性基础

拥有幸福生活始终是人类孜孜以求的一个社会理想。本文试图从古典的哲学思想出发寻找政治社会存在的道德基础。以道德为基础的政治社会体现了人的政治生存向度,需要人们把它作为各种规范的核心观念才能有约束力,才能使社会关系和谐有序地发展,从而实现“自然主义”和“人道主义”的统一。     

经济基础在构建和谐社会中的作用

社会和谐是生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑等一系列复杂的社会矛盾综合作用的集中表现和结果。政治、经济、文化、思想道德建设、法律法制等等,对社会和谐的形成和发展都有重大作用,但起基础作用的是经济基础,生产资料所有制关系是否适应生产力的性质、水平和发展的要求,对社会和谐具有决定性作用。构建社会主义和谐社会,必须以经济发展为前提。经济基础也是人与自然之间和谐的关键因素。     

从涉外侵权行为的法律适用原则看"最密切联系理论"

最密切联系理论,是近年来西方国际私法理论与实践中最引人注目的进展。拟从涉外侵权法律 行为的法律选择规范着手,对最密切联系原则的若干理论问题进行探讨。     

论国际商事仲裁在金融争议解决中的运用

近年来有关国际商事仲裁的实践表明,其作为一种争议解决方式在金融领域得到了越来越多的适用。除对其在金融领域适用时的一些传统理论障碍予以了有效的克服以外,国际商事仲裁作为一种争议解决方式的优越性也正得到进一步的体现。虽仍存有一些不足,但在国际和国内机构的推动下,国际商事仲裁方式在国际金融争议及我国涉外金融争议中,都有着良好的发展前景。     

国际法在欧洲国家的适用问题研究

欧洲是国际法的发源地,关于国际法与国内法关系的学说最早于英国出现。国际习惯法与国际条约是国际法的主要渊源,考察欧洲国家适用国际习惯法与国际条约的法律规定与实践,国际法在欧洲国家有不同的适用问题。     

知识产权制度的进路与出路:知识产权文化——以构建和谐社会为视角

知识产权文化是知识产权制度的积淀和升华,对知识产权制度运行中各种主体的利益冲突具有潜在的协调和平衡作用。知识产权文化与和谐社会具有共同的经济理性,而且其协调和平衡的社会功能与和谐社会追求的终极目标不谋而合,因而知识产权文化在构建和谐社会的进程中具有重要的地位。     

构建和谐社会要努力搞好社会保障工作

构建和谐社会,需要搞好社会保障工作。共产党对构建和谐社会与搞好社会保障工作进行了理论探索,我们研究社会保障工作实践中的问题,提出解决问题的思路、对策,有助于构建和谐社会。