When every relationship is above average

Marriage license applicants and law students were surveyed about their knowledge of divorce statutes, knowledge of the demographics of divorce, and expectations for their own marriage. Both groups had largely incorrect perceptions of the legal terms of the marriage contract as embodied in divorce statutes, but they had relatively accurate, if sometimes optimistic, perceptions of both the likelihood and the effects of divorce in the population at large. These same individuals expressed thoroughly idealistic expectations about both the longevity of their own marriages and the consequences should they personally be divorced. Increasing individuals' knowledge of divorce statutes through a course on family law did not diminish this unrealistic optimism. Both groups largely approved of the existing divorce statutes, although there was substantial agreement about a few important respects in which the laws should be changed. These findings suggest that the sense of unfairness and surprise that frequently attend divorce may be a result of systematic cognitive biases rather than of a lack of information about divorce.     

Evaluation of the south carolina comr/cunity long-term care medicaid waiver for the elderly and disabled

Medicaid waivers play an important role in the health policy process. Various health care policy initiatives have encouraged states to experiment ith their Medicaid programs by expanding coverage to populations not traditionally covered by Medicaid, or by delivering Medicaid services in non traditional ways. Lessons learned by individual states' Medicaid waivers could be an important part of the health care reform debate. This paper presents an evaluation of a Medicaid waiver operating in South I Carolina. The South Carolina Community Long-term Care Waiver for the Elderly and Disabled is evaluated for cost effectiveness, quality of care, and client satisfaction. This evaluation shows that the waiver is highly effective in offering individuals who are medically and financially eligible for Medicaid supported nursing home care a viable, cost effective, high quality alternate to institutionalization.     

The temptation of provincial criminal law

Under s.91 (27) of the BNA Act, 1867, the Federal Parliament has the exclusive authority to legislate “criminal law.” This has not stopped the provinces from passing “quasi‐criminal” laws that are difficult to distinguish from criminal law. Recent legislation regarding “public fighting” and civil remedies for criminal acts suggest there are few legal obstacles to enacting provincial criminal law. This article identifies such provincial criminal laws, explains how the modern doctrines of federalism might invite and allow for their enactment, and discusses impacts on criminal justice policy and administration. It highlights the discretion afforded the Crown and police in charging individuals under the federal Criminal Code or similar provincial laws (or municipal by‐laws). While provincial or local laws may allow for more efficient law enforcement, they do so at the expense of the procedural guarantees associated with the criminal law.     

Money,exports, government spending,and income in Peru, 1951–66

Most studies of open developing economies, such as Peru, have found the foreign sector's impact on the domestic economy is very great. This is usually true whether the vehicle for changes in income is monetary or real.¹ This study, following the basic models developed by Polak, Prais and Schotta, will attempt to explain short run changes in income in Peru using two different approaches: a monetary approach and an income approach.