Law, Patriarchies, and State Formation in England and Post-Colonial Hong Kong

The rise of the modern state is often associated with the demise of particularistic ties and authoritarian patriarchy. Classically, particularism gives way to universalism, patronage, hierarchy, and deference to the 'equalities' of contract. But history is not a one-way street nor is patriarchy all of one kind. Society's legal arrangements, structure, custom, power, affect, and sex swing back and forth between values of distance, deference, and patronage and those stressing greater egalitarianism in personal and political relations. Though they vary in type, patriarchy and particularism as cultural systems do not disappear but ebb, flow, and are revived, their oscillation driven by particular economic goals and political insecurities.     

Codification of EC Administrative Procedures? Fitting the Foot to the Shoe or the Shoe to the Foot

Abstract: There are two basic models of EC Administrative Process: Direct, where the procedures are carried out by the Commission and Indirect, where Member States act as agents for the Community. In the first case, the development of general principles to structure the procedures has to date been undertaken by the ECJ. The problem posed by indirect administration, governed by the National Principles of Administrative Law, is one of variable standards. For different reasons, both models raise the question whether EC administrative procedures should be codified. This article contrasts two styles of codification found in the Member States: the first, a short statement of general principles, favoured by the Council of Europe and resembling the standards set out in the jurisprudence of the ECJ; the second, a detailed codification typified by the German Administrative Procedures Code. The author concludes that the first method may be more appropriate for the EC.     

Cointegration and market integration: An application to the Indonesian rice market

This article suggests improvements in the use of regression analysis to measure spatial market integration. The procedure pioneered by Ravallion is still widespread but is valid only under certain conditions of exogeneity. The alternative offered here is an error‐correction mechanism which makes it possible to test for exogeneity as well as indicating the direction and strength of causality in price formation between markets. The method is illustrated with data on rice prices in different parts of the Indonesian market. The results confirm, among other things, that supply sources are more important than demand sources in driving prices.     

Promoting Accountability in Multilevel Governance: A Network Approach

Abstract:  This article addresses problems of accountability in the system of multilevel governance, organised around networks, as it exists in the EU. An 'accountability deficit' arises when gaps are left by the accountability machinery of the several levels of government, supranational and national. This article suggests a new evaluative framework based on the concept of 'accountability network', questioning the hierarchical and pyramidal assumptions that presently underpin accountability theory in the EU context. Using case studies of the Community courts and European Ombudsman, the article suggests that 'accountability networks' may be emerging, composed of agencies specialising in a specific mode of accountability, which come together or coalesce in a relationship of support, fortified by shared professional expertise and ethos. At present fragmentary and imperfect, these might ultimately be capable of providing effective machinery for accountability in network governance systems.     

Government structure in large U.S. cities: are forms converging?

This article examines changes in form of government and other structural elements over a fifteen year period for all cities with a population greater than 100,000. No evidence is found to support current theories related to form changes in large cities during this period. Some convergence between the council-manager and mayor-council forms has occurred in the use of district city council elections, directly-elected mayors, and professional management positions. However, disparities still exist between forms in the use of nonpartisan elections, mayoral voting power, and city council size. The changes in structural design reflect an increased blending of representation and efficiency values.