Prospects For Acquired Rights

A notable feature of European Union Directives is that they are initially somewhat loosely worded, necessitating constant (re)interpretation by the European Court of Justice. This process may itself eventually necessitate the publication of a new version of a Directive, once again creating tensions between member states. Few Directives illustrate this better than that concerned with the 'acquired' rights of employees in the case of business transfers which has recently been revised more than twenty years after its original publication. This article sets out to explore, mainly in the context of the UK: the context and content of the original Directive; its particular relevance for the increasingly popular practice of contracting out; the role played by the European Court of Justice in both clarifying and, arguably, clouding the issues; the process of revising the Directive. It concludes with an assessment of the current state of play.     

An effective punishment scheme to reduce extramarital affairs: an economic approach

By using a dynamic stochastic optimization model, this paper shows that the existence of punishment does not necessarily deter extramarital affairs. This study may help to explain why extramarital affairs are a common phenomenon in most societies even though punishment exists. This study also has an implication for family laws: extramarital affairs can be effectively reduced if the legal punishment scheme is designed in the way that makes the adulterer’s expected loss increase with the level of adultery at an increasing or constant rate.      

The legacy of Bismarck

Many mechanisms (such as auctions) efficiently allocate an asset to the firm which values it most highly. But sometimes the asset’s owner may benefit from the transfer only if the asset is not too valuable to potential buyers. In this setting, we examine the efficiency of mechanisms when the potential buyers have private information about the asset’s value. We show that rent seeking, and lobbying, rather than merely wasting resources, can lead to allocations which are close to efficient.     

International volunteering for development and sustainability: outdated paternalism or a radical response to globalisation?

This article discusses the history and evolution of international volunteer-sending agencies and volunteers as a response not only to symptoms but also to causes of global poverty and inequality. It considers how international volunteers might be defined, what makes their role different from other forms of overseas development assistance (particularly their contribution to capacity development), and the positives and negatives that may accompany those differences. It also reflects on international volunteers' suitability as contributors in the transition to a globally more ecologically sustainable state, presenting some insights from volunteers and other stakeholders.