The political temptations of rationing by insiders

Long waits for goods, services, and jobs to become available still exist in and to the east of Europe. This paper explores the political economy of what has made pervasive rationing an attractive way to cope with shocks in the past. The explanation advanced lies not in the creation of shortage rents for the personal profit of corrupt insiders controlling the production and distribution process. Instead, rationing with queuing is viewed as a “populist” scheme that allows a majority to keep its wages above levels that would clear the labor market while hiding the cost of such a policy, increased unemployment.     

The use of donkeys in the Mexican central highlands: a gender perspective

This study analyzes the use of donkeys in San Pablo Tlachichilpan, Mexico from a gender perspective. Information was gathered through survey, participatory rural appraisal methods, and direct observation. The results showed that the donkeys were used exclusively for carrying loads. They usually carry water, laundry, firewood, sand, soil, manure, a plough and maize stover, and the harvest. There were no preferences cited for using either the male or female donkey, as both have their own advantages. The males are stronger while the females are more docile. The main problems associated with donkey use were lack of access to veterinary help and advice; inadequate caring of young; low productivity of females; no adequate hoof care; and shortage of fodder. However, these problems were not considered restrictive to their use. With regard to socioeconomic issues, it was revealed that a majority of the rich (72%) did not have donkeys, while most of the poor (80%) have one donkey. Lastly, the donkey was found to be appropriate to the needs of both men and women. However, it is used almost exclusively for the maintenance activities of the household and is less accepted for productive activities such as cultivation or breeding.     

Theft in Sweden 1831?1998

This paper on theft in Sweden analyses crime and reactions to crime in non-individual, structural terms. The data used stems from Swedish convictions statistics which are available for the period since 1831. Swedish trends in theft convictions follow an international pattern with reductions during the second half of the 19th century and settling at a comparatively low level during the decades around the turn of the 20th century. A sharp occurred after the mid-1920s until the mid-1980s. Upon closer examination, this increase took the form of an S-curve whose course resembles that of goods production. One interpretation is that once a basic level of material security had been guaranteed, theft convictions followed the availability of goods; with more to consume, there is more to steal, and levels of control tend to diminish. Howthat ever, this interpretation may not apply to a smaller proportion of convictions ? those which concern persistent offenders. Their development differed in one decisive manner from that of casual offenders ? the steep rise is very sudden and occurred first after the Second World War. An explanation based on the relationship between livelihood, excessive alcohol consumption and theft is put forward.     

Applying the Notion of Noise to Countering Online Terrorism

The growing presence of modern terrorism on the Internet is at the nexus of two key trends: the democratization of communications driven by user-generated content on the Internet; and the growing awareness of modern terrorists of the potential of the Internet for their purposes. How best can the terrorists’ use and abuse of the Internet be countered? As this article argues, the answer to violent radicalization on the Internet lies not in censorship of the Internet, but in a more sophisticated and complicated strategy, relying on the theoretical notion of “noise” in communication process theory.