Social Safety Net in Islam: The Case of Persian Gulf Oil Exporters

The Persian Gulf oil-exporting countries have had a poor record of managing their oil wealth to meet the basic needs of their citizenry and have failed in insuring an equitable distribution of income and opportunities. Government expenditures in the social sector can be characterized as wasteful and subsidies as regressive and for the more-heavily populated countries simply unsustainable. Set within the paradigm of Islamic economics, providing both normative and ethical guidance on the development of a just economic order, the issue of reforms to the social safety net is analyzed and how these oil exporters can better address the needs of the disadvantaged in an Islamic context is suggested.     

墨西哥湾溢油事件之法律透视

墨西哥湾溢油事件的处置主要适用以1990年美国《油污法》为核心的油污责任法律体系。相较美国过去的相关立法和现行国际油污损害民事责任制度,以《油污法》为核心的美国现行油污责任法律体系不仅极大地扩展了油污损害的赔偿范围,而且还规定了高得多的责任限额。根据美国油污责任法律体系,英国石油公司可能不仅要支付油污清理费用和范围广泛的各种损害赔偿金,而且还将面临各种刑事处罚与民事处罚。鉴于《油污法》为责任限制条款的启动规定了苛刻的条件,英国石油公司享受责任限制将极其困难。     

国际金融动荡对东亚经济的影响

目前,美国正在经历一场金融危机,此次危机已经开始向全球扩散,美国经济衰退初露端倪.本文首先对比分析了此次美国经济衰退和1997年亚洲金融危机的异同点,然后对本次经济衰退的原因做了深层次的分析,最后进一步探讨了本次经济衰退对东亚经济和中 国经济的影响.     

The Impact of 3/11 on Japan

The question posed in this paper is whether the triple disaster of 3/11 constitutes a ??critical juncture?? in Japan. We can point to minor discontinuities in Japanese policies, institutions, and identity caused by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant meltdown that eventuated on March 11, 2011, but in the year following the event there was no evidence of a critical change. The disaster and post-disaster situation in Japan are summarized, and an explanation for the lack of critical change in nuclear policy??an area where change might have been expected in view of the fact that European countries reacted to 3/11 with critical changes in nuclear energy policy??is sought by comparing the ability of mainstream theories of Japanese politics to explain the situation.     

The Impact of WTO Accession on Russia's Agriculture

The article analyzes the impact of WTO accession on Russia's agricultural sector. Three aspects of WTO rules that will affect Russian agriculture are examined: (1) financial support from the Russian government, (2) market access for foreign imports, and (3) market access for Russia's food exports. Addressing the question of positive and negative impacts on Russia's agricultural sector, the article asks if a pessimistic view that sees primarily negative consequences as a result of accession is justified. Claims made by skeptics who are dismissive of the impact WTO entry will have on Russian agriculture are also considered.