Finanzpolitik als Nachahmungswettbewerb: Empirische Ergebnisse zu Budgetinterdependenzen unter den Schweizer Kantonen

This article examines whether spending decisions in Swiss cantons are interdependent, that is, whether the spending decisions of a canton are influenced by those of other cantons. Theoretically, fiscal policy imitation among cantons can be interpreted as a process of policy and innovation diffusion, as a result of tax competition or as a consequence of federalism as a policy laboratory. The panel analysis presented in this article provides evidence of the existence of budget spillovers among neighbouring cantons. Cantonal governments do not take spending decisions in isolation, but by systematically comparing the fiscal policies in neighbouring cantons.     

Whither the Liberal Democratic Model? Immigration Politics in Switzerland and Japan

A comparison of Japan's and Switzerland's immigration policies disclaims both globalist and public choice explanations that would predict a similar increase in immigrant numbers and an expansion of immigrant rights in liberal democracies. Although both countries have traditionally espoused a rather exclusionary approach towards immigration, Japan is unique in having hitherto succeeded in preempting large numbers of immigrants from entering the country and in having avoided the legal and societal integration of those migrants already present in its territory. In seeking to explain the different trajectories followed by immigration politics in Japan and Switzerland, despite their similar internal and external economic constellations, this article highlights the role of domestic institutions and norms in filtering economic pressure for immigration. Whereas these internal determinants explain to a large degree why Switzerland has become a country of immigration while Japan has not, the central factor explaining the recent expansion of foreign residents’ rights in Switzerland lies not so much in internal determinants but in the country‘s progressing approximation to the European Union and its single market. Notwithstanding these differences, the article concludes that Japan‘s greater resistance to change might now have reached a critical juncture, where demographic pressure and economic demand will make an opening up to increased labor migration unavoidable.     

Efficacy, Self-Derogation, and Alcohol Use Among Inner-City Adolescents: Gender Matters

Prior studies have found inconsistent relationships between measures of self-concept and adolescent alcohol use. The current study explored whether the link between various measures of self-concept and alcohol use depends on gender. In addition, earlier work suggested a focus on negative self-esteem (i.e., self-derogation) might be more useful in predicting alcohol use. Students (N = 1459) attending 22 middle and junior high schools in New York City completed surveys that included measures of efficacy, self-derogation, and alcohol use. Participants completed surveys at baseline, 1-year follow-up, and 2-year follow-up. Data collectors administered the questionnaire following a standardized protocol during a regular 40-min-class period. On the basis of a longitudinal structural equation model, lower efficacy was related to greater self-derogation a year later across gender. Increased self-derogation predicted higher alcohol use for girls but not boys. These findings are congruent with a literature highlighting the importance of negative thoughts about the self in drinking behavior for women but not men. The results suggest that the alcohol prevention approaches should include material to enhance girls' self-esteem.     

论邓小平宪政思想

邓小平的宪政思想对于现阶段我国的宪政建设具有重要的指导意义。宪法至上是邓小平宪政思想的前提。发展民主是邓小平宪政思想的主要内容。实行法治是邓小平宪政思想的核心原则。保障人权是邓小平宪政思想的目的。掌握并运用邓小平宪政思想的基本理论,对于我国目前正在进行的中国特色的宪政建设,具有不可忽视的重大意义。     

试论政策执行中的政府利益

作为政策执行主体的政府,客观上存在着与公共利益不同的自身利益。政府利益的存在及其冲突是导致政策执行偏差的重要原因。对政府利益进行合理的整合与规范是保证政策有效执行的重要途径。     

Does Federalism Matter for Biopolicies? Switzerland in Comparative Perspective

This article analyses how federalism matters for the policy‐designing process and the resulting policies in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology through the comparison of four countries, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Canada. It reconstructs from an actor‐centred perspective how federalism interacts with other country and policy‐field specific characteristics and empirically assesses how this interaction influenced the final policies. By focusing on Assisted Reproductive Technology, the article examines the potential influence of federalism on public policies beyond the standard discussion of the comparative political economy of federalism.     

Remortgaging Women's Lives: The World Bank'sLand Agenda in Africa

In recent months, the World Bank has issued a series of draft policy reports on land relations. This is the first time in over two decades that the Bank has sought to review its policy on lending in the land sector. Access to the draft reports and participation in the consultation process has, however, been severely limited. Nonetheless, the World Bank expects to issue the final Report by the end of this year. This paper presents a gender analysis of the two draft documents that have been made available to date. It assesses their implications for gender relations in Africa. It explores the World Bank's promotion of formal rural credit and challenges the assumption of the availability of women's unpaid agricultural labour. The paper argues that, far from being over, the struggle over land relations which has characterised the last decade in Africa, must continue. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

合理开发利用贵州少数民族传统体育推动贵州旅游业的发展

贵州少数民族传统体育融音乐、舞蹈、体育为一体,是民族文化的表现形式,是重要的民族文化旅游资源。从旅游业的角度,本文从少数民族体育具有的开发利用价值、开发利用的必要性,论述了贵州少数民族传统体育的开发利用对贵州旅游业发展的积极推动作用,并分析了对其开发利用必须坚持的原则和措施。     

贵州省实施“生态建设与扶贫富民工程”调查报告

贵州是中国生态环境最为脆弱的省区之一。根据贵州的实际区情 ,建议国家应将贵州作为全国生态建设投资的重点省区 ,以确保“生态建设与扶贫富民工程”的顺利实施。为此 ,针对贵州生态建设存在的主要问题 ,我们认为今后应在充分发挥长期形成的生态建设经验模式基础上 ,采取相应的有效措施 ,推动土地利用结构调整 ,完善“四荒”拍卖政策体系 ,尽快建立生态建设评估机制 ,积极开发地方绿色农副产品 ,大力发展民族区域经济和本土化特色经济 ,开发环保替代产业和增加就业 ,以切实推动解决贵州的生态环境可持续发展问题。