Genetic Testing and the Future of Disability Insurance: Ethics, Law & Policy

Predictive genetic testing poses fundamental questions for disability insurance, a crucial resource funding basic needs when disability prevents income from work. This article, from an NIH-funded project, presents the first indepth analysis of the challenging issues: Should disability insurers be permitted to consider genetics and exclude predicted disability? May disabilities with a recognized genetic basis be excluded from coverage as pre-existing conditions? How can we assure that private insurers writing individual and group policies, employers, and public insurers deal competently and appropriately with genetic testing?     

Trafficking in persons report

The Department of State is required by law to submit a Report each year to the U.S. Congress on foreign governments' efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. This Report is the sixth annual TIP Report. It is intended to raise global awareness, to highlight the growing efforts of the international community to combat human trafficking, and to encourage foreign governments to take effective actions to counter all forms of trafficking in persons.     

从“五朵金花”的打造看社会主义新农村建设

成都市锦江区在深入调研的情况下,创新思维,因地制宜地推出了“五朵金花”新模式,为我国社会主义新农村建设提供了一个良好的借鉴样本。但是,“五朵金花”必须进一步提升它的品牌,稳中有变,变中求新,才能使其得到持续的发展。     

检察机关适用刑事和解的程序问题研究

刑事和解已经成为我国各地检察机关广为实践探索的刑事司法改革措施,但由于缺少法律依据,程序适用上的不协调问题比较严重。本文对检察机关在审查起诉、呈捕以及审判阶段如何适用刑事和解的程序问题进行了研究,并探完了如何防止刑事和解中滥用检察权的途径,以促进相关立法的完善以及刑事司法改革的顺利开展。     

财政联邦主义视角下的政府间关系

财政联邦主义是西方学者借鉴政治学中的联邦制概念而创立的一个经济学概念,用于分析财政分权理论。本文从政府间关系角度出发,分析财政联邦主义产生的理论缘起,结合西方学术界关于政府间财政分权的不同模式,揭示财政联邦主义的理论基础和分析框架。以此为依据,分析财政联邦主义视角下的政府间关系构建,为研究市场经济条件下政府间关系寻找新的研究视角。     

论社会保险服务及其公平性

本文立足于我国社会保险存在的问题,对社会保险的性质进行反思,认为社会保险本质上是一种服务,是国家向劳动者提供的分担相关风险的公共服务,不仅应当供应充足,满足每一个有权享受的社会劳动者的需求,而且应当以公平性为出发点和归宿点,确保每一个社会劳动者都能公平地享受。而要衡量社会保险法规政策以及各级政府和社会保险经办机构的工作是否符合公平性的要求,必须建立相应的公平标准,从覆盖范围的广泛性、参与机会的均等性、义务履行的一致性和基本权利的保障性四个方面,明确社会保险应当达到的水平。     

“双循环”背景下陆海新通道与澜湄合作对接

陆海新通道与澜湄合作对接是推动形成"双循环"新发展格局的一个可能突破口。作为国际机制的陆海新通道与澜湄合作匹配基础好、对接难度小。但在对接过程中,仍面临着区域互联互通不畅、合作机制重叠低效,大国博弈日趋激烈、机制成员国和东盟对中国影响力扩大有疑虑等挑战。由此,可通过加强互联互通建设、增加与其它国际机制的合作、开展在第三方市场合作等路径,推动陆海新通道与澜湄合作实现高效对接,进而推动"双循环"新发展格局在中国西南方向实现突破,使中国与中南半岛乃至东盟国家实现联动发展。     

The Role of Competition in Best Value: How Far Does it Differ from CCT?

This article investigates the role of ‘competition’ within Best Value (BV) and compares it with that of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT). Utilising results of a survey of BV lead officers, the article reveals that ‘competition’ is not being used as widely as may have been expected. However, in terms of outcomes, services subject to BV seem to be at least as likely to be provided externally as would have been the case under CCT. Further analysis also considers the impact that party political control and service type have on the use and outcomes of competition.     

Go West: Georgia's European identity and its role in domestic politics and foreign policy objectives

This article sheds light on the Euro-Atlantic discourse in Georgia by situating it in a wider frame. It provides an analysis of its Euro-Atlantic orientation by presenting it as a continuation of past efforts to involve European powers in Georgian affairs and highlights changing trends in this aspect of contemporary foreign policy. Far from determining whether or not the Georgians are European, the different arguments that have been used to support Georgian “Europeanness” are evaluated to assess its role in the national identity construction process. Focusing primarily on the United National Movement government led by Mikheil Saakashvili, we demonstrate how the Euro-Atlantic discourse has been employed domestically by the political elite as a legitimacy management strategy and explore its function in seeking Western patronage, a key foreign policy goal.