The ‘make or buy’ decision in private environmental transactions

A theoretical framework combining the two branches of TCE, i.e., the governance branch (Williamson 2005) and the measurement branch (Barzel 2005) may explain the choice of the governance structure for private environmental transactions. Four case studies, i.e., the market for pure air in polluted cities, the contractual arrangement between La Esperanza and the Monteverde Conservation League, the case of the French mineral water bottler Vittel and the case of land ownership by land trusts are briefly developed in order to support the theoretical framework. Special attention is devoted to the presence (or not) of a 3-D (defined, defended and divestible) property rights system in interaction with the juridical system (civil law vs. common law) and its influence on the way environmental property rights are likely (or not) to be re-arranged. Lessons and policy implications are drawn in order to foster research on these challenging issues.

Determination of drug levels in larvae of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) reared on rabbit carcasses containing morphine

This study concerns the determination of morphine concentrations in fly larvae reared on rabbits administered different concentrations of morphine and a correlation between concentrations of the drug in larvae and tissues. Three rabbits (R1, R2 and R3) were given dosages of 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/h of morphine over a 3 h period via continuous ear artery perfusion. These dosages and time of perfusion were calculated to create tissue concentrations of morphine similar to those encountered in human death due to overdose. Morphine blood level plateau was attained after 1 h of perfusion. A fourth rabbit was used as a control. To evaluate drug concentrations, tissues were sampled using a coelioscopic technique. Approximately 400 eggs of Lucilia sericata, all of the same age category, were placed in eyes, nostrils and mouth of each rabbit carcass. Larvae and puparia were regularly collected from each rabbit for toxicological analysis. The concentrations of the drug in the tissues sampled were determined to be similar to those normally encountered in human overdoses and were correlated with the dosage of morphine that had been administered. Morphine was detected in all larvae and pupae fed on tissues from carcasses administered morphine, except for puparia from the colony fed on the R1 animal which received 12.5 mg/h dosage of morphine. All samples from the control rabbit were negative for morphine. Concentrations of morphine in larvae reared on rabbit carcasses containing morphine were 30 to 100 times lower than the concentrations found in the tissues. A correlation between the tissue concentrations and larval concentrations was found in only 3rd instar larvae (80 to 140 h following hatching). No correlations were found between administered dosages, tissue concentrations and younger larvae, prepuparial larvae or puparia.     

Substituting piracy with a pay-what-you-want option: does it make sense?

Rather than tolerating piracy or increasing sanctions, an artist can release his product directly to consumers by allowing them to download it under a ‘pay-what-you-want’ online strategy. We show analytically that this strategy can (1) be more profitable than a strategy with perfect or imperfect intellectual property rights enforcement for the artist and (2) change the organization and allocation of added value between artists and publishers along the supply chain. This higher profit result is achieved through an increased demand for live performance and positive voluntary contributions of downloaders directly pocketed by the artist. Indeed, a ‘pay-what-you-want’ strategy allows artists to reduce piracy without using sanctions while benefiting from a strategic negotiation ‘weapon’ in the relationship with record labels. Moreover, consumers draw procedural utility from the way the product is delivered. Counter-intuitively, rather than advocating for elimination of conventional releases at posted prices, pay-what-you-want strategies may need them to remain successful. A brief case study of Radiohead’s experiment and anecdotal evidence are developed to support these theoretical insights. Some implications regarding the re-organization of the supply chain and property rights regime are drawn.     

The burden of office,ethics and connoisseurship

Civilization is an achievement in the face of difficulties, a precarious achievement. It is the state of mind of the magician who tremblingly invokes the powers he would use, knowing that if he gets the ceremony wrong what he invokes will destroy him.— Joseph Tussman     

Determination of drug levels in two species of necrophagous Coleoptera reared on substrates containing morphine

Two species of necrophagous Coleoptera: Dermestes frischi (Dermestidae) and Thanatophilus sinuatus (Silphidae), were reared on substrates containing different amounts of morphine. Colonies of D. frischi were reared on rabbit carcasses which had been given 10, 20, and 40 mg/h of morphine hydrochloride via ear artery perfusion over a 3 h period prior to death. A fourth rabbit served as a control. T. sinuatus was reared on minced beef spiked with morphine hydrochloride to give concentrations of 1,000, 2,500, 5,000, and 10,000 ng/g and one control colony. These dosages were calculated to create tissue concentrations of morphine similar to those encountered in human deaths due to morphine overdose. Larvae. pupae, and adults (except for T. sinuatus) were analyzed for morphine content. All developmental stages of D. frischi were positive for morphine and concentrations correlated with cadaveric tissue concentrations during larval stages and to a lesser extent in the adult stage. For T. sinuatus, the best correlations were found in 2nd and 3rd instar larvae. This study demonstrates the potential for use of necrophagous Coleoptera, as well as Diptera larvae, as alternate specimens for toxicological analyses.     

Honesty in Environmental Compliance Games

This note investigates the consequences of honesty in a compliance game involving polluting firms and an environmental agency. Two enforcement schemes with or without self-reporting of behavior are considered. First, we show that non intervention may become optimal when the proportion of honest polluters is large enough but still inferior to one. Secondly, the increase in the number of honest polluters has striking ambiguous effects on pollution and social welfare. Indeed, we give examples in which an increase in the proportion of honest polluters leads to an increase in the number of non compliant polluters or a decrease in social welfare.     

A small macro econometric model for Kazakhstan: a retrospective of alternative economic policies undertaken during the transition process

This paper presents a quarterly macro econometric model of Kazakhstan. The main goal is to provide a stylized representation of the Kazakh economy in order to simulate the consequences of several economic policies viewed by the authorities as essential during the period of transition to a market economy. The policy simulation potential of the model is illustrated by five types of simulations: interest rate shocks, foreign direct investment shocks, world oil price shocks, foreign demand shocks and nominal wages shocks. These sets of simulations show the importance of foreign direct investments in terms of theirs global positive effect, as well as the demand effect of an increase in the wages. We also find that effect of the tight monetary policy is not unambiguous; we argue that in some cases it is not the most efficient policy instrument to sustain the economy.     

The formative years of Azerbaijani nationalism in post-revolutionary Iran

This article covers the period from the Islamic Revolution to Khatami's landslide victory at the presidential elections in 1997 and analyses the processes leading to the formation of a national movement in Iranian Azerbaijan. It successively explores the role played by the Turkish intellectual entrepreneurs, former Leftists and disillusioned Islamists in politicizing Azerbaijani identity and shaping a nationalist movement. This process of aggregation of different social groups reveal what has now become one of the main symptoms of the profound crisis faced by the Islamic Republic.