Transition in government pay policies: The problem of legitimacy

In this article the problem of legitimacy is discussed in the context of pay-for-performance in government agencies. The doctrine of a new public management implies a direct single track between individual performance and organizational result. In practice, however, this seems to be much more complex. It will be argued on theoretical and empirical grounds that public agencies will be hard-pressed to resolve the tension between quality and efficiency imposed by the new pay system. An examination of four empirical cases in different national agencies reveals that the bonus system creates a delicate management problem and poses a risk for the perceived legitimacy of public sector pay.     

未成年人取保候审适用中存在的问题及其完善

对未成年人取保候审适用情况的实证调查分析表明,我国对未成年人取保候审的现状并不尽如人意。主要表现在司法人员对取保候审的认识不足;司法机关青睐于财产保证,限制了取保候审的适用;缺乏有效的监督机制,取保候审的适用具有一定的随意性;公安机关对取保对象的监控不够有力,被取保人违反规定甚至脱逃的事件时有发生;立法过于笼统,给取保候审的适用造成困难等。我国应当建立取保候审申诉制度;完善取保候审监控制度;改进取保候审的保证方式;完善未成年人取保候审立法。     

Medical malpractice problem.

The medical malpractice problem is extremely complex and is perceived very differently by health care providers, patients, and other segments of society. As a widely recognized problem, it is of relatively recent origin. Its potential societal consequences include disruption of health services, waste and maldistribution of economic and human resources, and a severe strain on a variety of our traditional social institutions. The "crisis" of malpractice is a product of many forces, including a disturbing level of negligent and improper medical care, frequently unrealistic patient expectations, and the growing "philosophy of entitlement" which is rampant among Americans. Responses to the problem have sometimes been ill-advised and emotional. Most often, the problem is seen as one of inadequate or overpriced malpractice insurance, though careful analysis suggests that insurance issues are merely symptoms of the real problem. Nevertheless, insurance-based solutions have proven to be politically expedient and have produced at least temporary alleviation of the problem. Ultimately, though, other approaches will be necessary, and careful, objective research is required to identify and test long-term options.     

上海市吸毒问题现状与对策

毒品问题是国际社会公害,而青少年吸毒问题尤为社会关注。当前上海毒情十分严峻,吸毒人员约1.7万,青少年占54.2%。海洛因等传统毒品问题尚未解决,摇头丸、苯丙胺类毒品滥用愈演愈烈。无知好奇是青少年染毒的主要原因,而社会和文化环境的负面影响已成为滥用毒品的重要因素。笔者认为要转变两个观念:青少年吸毒人员既是违法者也是病人,部分更是受害者。禁毒政策应以治本为中心,加强毒品预防教育。标本兼治,打防并举,发动群众,并以此为基点,提出几项具体措施和建议。     

Democracy,economic crisis and the problem of governance: The case of Bolivia

This article examines the political context within which the Bolivian government of Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1985–1989) launched, implemented, and sustained a draconian neoliberal economic stabilization program. The article argues that the key to the successful economic program was the political skill and leadership of President Paz, in particular, his ability to negotiate a political pact with the main opposition party. Finally, the article ponders the tensions and contradictions between neoliberal economic policies and the process of consolidating democracy in a context of extreme economic crisis. James M. Malloy is professor of political science and research professor, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. He is the author of a number of books and articles on Latin America politics, includingAuthoritarians and Democrats: Regime Transition in Latin America (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1987). He is presently working on issues of regime transition, economic adjustment, and the role of private sector interest groups in Latin America.     

America's immigration "problem."

Immigration has traditionally aroused strong passions in the US. Though Americans profess pride in their history as a nation of immigrants, each new wave of immigrants is met with strenuous opposition. Sassen points out that this opposition underestimates the US's capacity to absorb more people and fails to appreciate the political and economic forces that give rise to immigration. The outcry over rising illegal immigration culminated in the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. So far, the law's effectiveness has been limited. 1.8 million immigrants applied to regularize their status. However, there is growing evidence that the employer sanctions program is resulting in discrimination against minority workers who are US citizens, and in various abuses against undocumented workers. Meanwhile, illegal immigration continues to rise. The 1986 law, like earlier laws, is based o a faulty understanding of immigration causes. The US played a crucial role in the 1960s and 1970s in developing today's global economic system. This system contributed to the creation of pools of potential immigrants and to the formation of links between the industrialized and developing countries. In sum, foreign investment and promotion of export-oriented growth i the US in developing countries has served to increase immigration to the US. A workable US immigration policy would be based o the recognition that the US bears a certain amount of responsibility for international labor migrations. The precise features of a fair immigration policy will have to be elaborated. However, it is clear that US immigration policy will continue to be counterproductive as long as it places the responsibility for the formation of international migrations exclusively upon the migrants themselves.     

青少年常见心理问题与违法犯罪

在青少年中比较普遍的心理问题包括成长中的心理矛盾、心理幼稚化和人格问题等,倘若这些问题未能得到适当的解决,容易导致违法犯罪。要防范青少年犯罪,一定要引起全社会的注意,加强对青少年的心理素质的培养,帮助学生培养健康的心理和良好的道德行为。