Does economic inequality breed political inequality?

Does economic inequality generate political inequality? While there is a large literature on the effect of inequality on regime change and support for democracy, there is little research on its effect on political equality across socioeconomic positions. Yet democracy and political equality, although related, are distinct concepts. While political power tends to be more evenly distributed in democracies than in autocracies, there is substantial variation in both regime types. This study argues that economic inequality should decrease political equality through multiple mechanisms: (1) it increases the resources of the rich relative to the poor; (2) it widens the gap in policy preferences across income groups; (3) it reduces participation; and (4) it depresses support for democracy. Using three measures of inequality and data on more than 140 countries between 1961 and 2008, it was found that economic inequality tends to increase political inequality, even when one controls for the level of democracy. Results hold when the sample is restricted by regime type. Finally, evidence in favour of the mechanisms is provided.     

Foreign exchange legislation transformation and enterprise demography in India

This article evaluates the extent to which the legislative changes relating to foreign exchange that have taken place in India within the last few decades, and in particular after 1991, have made an impact on the presence of foreign firms in the economy. The data cover the period 1957–1958 to 2001–2002, and include the entire population of India’s corporate sector. In the period after reforms commenced in 1991, the number of foreign firms in India has increased very substantially. The transformation of the foreign exchange regulation act (FERA) to the foreign exchange management act (FEMA) in 1999 has had a positive effect in inducing foreign firms to India. The FEMA legislation simplifies the maze of controls, procedures and bureaucratic minutiae that have to be observed by all those undertaking to set up and operate a business in India. The changes in the legislative regimes make India attractive as an investment destination for foreign firms.

就业歧视的经济法解决机制分析

体现国家渗透市场理念的经济法自其诞生之日起,便与国家和市场有着天然的亲缘关系.经济法也正是基于市场失灵与政府缺陷的二元结构,确立了自己调整社会经济关系的逻辑基点和路径选择.就业歧视问题体现了市场调节失灵和政府管制缺陷的两难境地,其形成机理与经济法的基本机理具有相通之处.因此,经济法解决机制将成为解决就业歧视问题的理想选择.     

《1844年经济学哲学手稿》经济伦理思想管窥

《1844年经济学哲学手稿》批判了“国民经济学”中劳动者非人化的观点,揭露了“国民经济学”与道德对立的假象,强调了劳动者物质与精神需求的合理性,进而肯定了经济发展对道德进步的促进作用。该经济伦理思想对于克服当下的拜金主叉与物欲膨胀的道德困境有重要的理论和现实意义。     

从殖民地经济到现代经济——战后马来西亚的橡胶政策及其影响

马来西亚是世界上重要的橡胶生产国与出口国.二战后,马来西亚的橡胶种植业及相关工业较为成功地由典型的殖民地经济模式转变为较为先进的现代经济模式.在这成功的转型中,马来西亚政府的橡胶政策发挥了关键作用,其经验与教训值得中国这个世界第四大橡胶生产国与最大橡胶消费国关注.