Democracy and development: A theoretical framework

A simple framework is set up to discuss the relationship between democracy, material welfare, and development. Democracy is regarded both as a good in its own right, and as an input in the production of material welfare. The optimum level of democracy is then related to the level of development. At the optimum point, the marginal cost of democracy in terms of foregone output is positive, and growth is a decreasing function of the level of democracy. Deviations from the optimum path are described as either repressive or populist. Democratization is not unambiguously an optimal response to exogenous shocks.     

Provoking insurgency in a federal state: theory and application to India

This paper presents a model of provocation in a federation, wherein the state government triggers an insurgency with a view toward acquiring control of some economic assets with the help of the central government. Some econometric support for this model is found using data on the Naxalite conflict in eight states of India. The tests performed control for endogeneity of the state government’s police force interventions. They suggest that the latter are meant to trigger the violent activity of the insurgents, so as to lure the central government into intervening and helping clear the ground for mining purposes in the lands of tribal people.     

Suicide-bombing as inter-generational investment

A simple model of terrorism is presented where the current generation is linked to the next one by some altruism, as in standard dynastic family models. Bombing today some target increases the probability of the benefit of some public good accruing to the next generation. The model is used to discuss the fact that suicide bombers, of the Hezbollah in particular, have been found by Krueger and Maleckova (2002) to come disproportionately from wealthy families, and have an above average education level. While the latter could be expected to increase the opportunity cost of investing in such a suicide, it is suggested that it probably increases also the sensitivity to the future generation’s welfare. The latter effect might offset the deterrent effect of the former.     

IGNA's original LIMS: A complete traceability of administrative and analytic processes for forensic cases

IGNA is the first French laboratory for forensic DNA analysis. IGNA LIMS was developed from the software Microsoft Dynamics NAV which is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) with a real opened solution for specific development and compatible with a lot of Microsoft applications.Thanks to the LIMS, we assure the traceability of analysis and also administrative process (traceability of letters, quotes or phone calls for each case and registration of actions to be done in a case (call for results …)).For one penal case, we can associate one or more sealed items. The DNA expert indicates the analysis to do on each piece (biological fluid detection, type of extraction, nuclear or mitochondrial DNA analysis …).During the technical process, samples automatically pass from a step to the next. Technicians indicate all the information needed for traceability (consumables lot number, used robots …).At the end of the process, the DNA expert validates his results, which are then directly transferred to the final report.Development of the IGNA LIMS from Microsoft Dynamics NAV allows us to use all specific applications of an ERP such as purchases, marketing, sales, etc. and to assure computerization of all our process, from quote to analysis report.     

Methadone-related deaths in Norway

IntroductionThe use of methadone in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is potentially associated with a number of adverse effects and the risk of fatal toxicity. Increased methadone availability may lead to an increase in methadone-related deaths. We have investigated methadone-related deaths in Norway over the period 2000–2006.Materials and methodsMethadone-positive samples over the period 2000–2006 were identified from forensic toxicological investigations, and demographic and toxicological data were retrieved. The cases were cross-linked with the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and regional OMT registers.ResultsA total of 312 individuals had died after taking methadone over the period 2000–2006, predominantly men with a mean age of 36. In 85% of cases (n = 264), the deceased had died of a methadone-related intoxication, most often in combination with other drugs, including benzodiazepines, cannabis and other opioids. Only 22% of the deceased had been in OMT at the time of death. A larger proportion of OMT patients had died of causes other than intoxications compared to those not in OMT (30% vs. 8%, respectively), most commonly related to disease.ConclusionsOne methadone-related death occurred, on average, every week over the time period investigated. Only 22% of the deceased were registered in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) programs. The findings underline the need to control diversion of medication from OMT programs.