Environmental dispute resolution and hazardous waste cleanups: A cautionary tale of policy implementation

New York State experimented with replacing their litigation-oriented system for achieving toxic dump site cleanup with one promising to lower transaction costs through alternative dispute resolution. Our analysis of outcomes is informed by three generations of implementation work focusing on (1) the motivations and incentives shaping individual behavior, (2) the larger organizational and political factors associated with variation across cases, and (3) the generic properties of policy implements. This mosaic approach to explanation produces, we believe, a more lifelike picture of use to policy makers for understanding the dynamic and interrelated nature of their choices.     

Symposium comment: On the new politics of public policy

The process is not the problem, the problem is the problem. Rudolph Penner (1984). …We argue the superiority of the outcome from the process, not of the process from the outcome. The constancy of the economist's objection to this conclusion when applied to governmental rather than market decisions simply often reflects the fact that, while some economists are not disturbed that consumer preferences lead to allocation policies other than best respond to their own tastes, when political preferences lead to governmental policies not consistent with his informed and considered preferences, they are tempted to attribute irrationality to government.     

The impact of a gasoline tax on auto exhaust emissions

The EPA implements its policy of exhaust emission control by setting standards specified in terms of grams of pollutants per mile traveled. As a result, the tax must first restrain the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) if it is to have an impact on emission at all. EPA's choice of miles traveled as the medium through which its policy of pollution control must run is unfortunate, because travel is an activity that people resist giving up. This is reflected in a low long-run price elasticity of travel demand. Consequently, it takes substantial increases in the gasoline tax to make an impact on long-run travel demand. Simulation results show that under an alternative policy option, where EPA's standards are specified in terms of grams of pollutant per gallon of fuel burned, the same long-run reduction in exhaust emissions achievable today can be achieved (at an even higher level of confidence) with less than one-tenth of the increase in gasoline price required under the existing policy regime.     

论刑法各论中的指使

指使部属违反职责罪、妨害作证罪、虐待被监管人罪以及破坏监管秩序罪,都使用了“指使”的概念,对此有三种解释语境,即完全承担共犯的责任、完全不承担刑事责任、部分承担刑事责任。只有综合考虑指使人和被指使人之间的关系、指使的强度、被指使人进行的活动,并且结合立法的意图,才能合理地分配指使人和被指使人的刑事责任。部分承担刑事责任的主张是正确的,指使表现为命令、胁迫和起主要作用的教唆。     

越南的能源与中越能源合作

中越关系正常化以来,随着中越关系的不断发展,双方经济合作不断加强,尤其是在能源领域的合作。本文试图介绍越南主要能源状况,分析中越能源合作的现状、动因及前景,以就教于诸方家。一、越南的能源资源越南资源丰富,越南人习惯将其国土和海域称为“金山银海”,以赞美其资源之丰富;而其能源资源确实丰富多样,有的种类储量巨大①。尤其盛产石油、煤炭等当今世界最为关键的能源,并成为越南出口创汇大户。(一)石油和天然气②越南初步探明的石油天然气储量共10亿立方米石油,估计其总储量可能达35亿～50亿立方米石油。在东南亚各国中,越南的石油储…     

当代恐怖主义的宗教根源

上世纪70年代以来,随着意识形态影响的衰落,宗教原教旨主义(极端主义)在世界恐怖主义的影响越来越大.在过去几年中,宗教型恐怖事件造成的人员死亡数甚至超过50%.从宗教型恐怖主义的发展趋势来看,其将继续是世界恐怖主义的主要根源,并有不断恶化的趋势.     

对我国外向发展战略的分析与反思

实行外向发展战略可以加速经济发展。我国依靠外向发展战略,大力引进外资,推动出口,实现了经济腾飞。目前,我国面临许多严峻挑战,必须进行结构性和战略性调整。     

Fatal accidents on glaciers: forensic, criminological, and glaciological conclusions

The rare event of a corpse immersed in glacier ice becoming exposed on a glacier surface is closely connected with the glaciological conditions at the scene and the site of the accident. Provided that the time since death is known, certain questions relative to the circumstances of a mountain accident can only be answered by considering glaciological aspects. How the scene of an accident can be reconstructed by inference from the site of discovery is discussed by means of three exemplary cases that occurred on Tyrolean glaciers (Austria) during the past 40 years: (1) Two corpses were discovered close above the equilibrium line in the accumulation area after 25 years. The two victims had fallen down a rock face after the breaking off of a cornice and had come to rest in the uppermost part of the accumulation area. (2) A victim was discovered in the lower ablation area 8 years after falling down a crevasse in the middle part of the ablation area. (3) A female alpinist was discovered at the very end of the glacier after 29 years; it was concluded that the accident must have happened in the accumulation area.