The Albanian approach to municipal borrowing: From centralized control to market discipline

Local governments (LGs) in transitional countries face pressing infrastructure needs, which, given the severe shortcomings of traditional funding, make a strong case for debt financing. This article explores the case study of Albania, using document analysis and interviews with mayors, civil servants, citizens and investors. We go beyond an analysis of technical aspects (macroeconomic conditions and legal constraints on borrowing) to include ‘soft’ elements (political and managerial issues, attitudes of key actors), with the aim of highlighting the approach adopted under current policies and the approach that should be adopted. Favorable macroeconomic conditions and the completeness of the legal framework have motivated policy‐makers to choose the market model. Their aim is to develop the financial market rapidly; however, the development of sound management systems at the local level is largely ignored. We argue that the role of managerial capacities, public accountability and professional mechanisms is not adequately taken into account. Future policies need to make the best use of some early experiences of public participation and build upon the extensive training in accounting and auditing issues provided to local civil servants in order to exploit other models of municipal borrowing control. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Case Study of Glasgow's Use of the Prudential Borrowing Framework (PBF) for Schools Rationalisation

This paper analyses Glasgow's use of the Prudential Borrowing Framework (PBF) for rationalisation and renewal of its primary schools and the additional borrowing costs to be met by the resulting efficiency savings and by sale of surplus school sites. Our findings reveal that the PBF has many perceived advantages compared with the Private Finance Initiative/Public Private Partnership (PFI/PPP) route to capital procurement and modernisation. In particular, the link between policy and the use of resources is more transparent under PBF than for PFI/PPPs. However, the approach to risk management seems to have become more relaxed using the PBF even though the Council now retains all associated risks.     

试论贷款诈骗罪

为维护国家正常的金融秩序,打击金融业务犯罪活动熏修改后的刑法设立了“贷款诈骗罪”。由于贷款诈骗罪是一个新罪名,司法实践中“贷款诈骗”本身一些关键性问题,众说纷纭,仍无定论。本文就贷款诈骗罪的概念、犯罪构成、该罪与民事借贷纠纷的界限以及法人应成为贷款诈骗罪的主体进行了全面的论述,为进一步研究贷款诈骗罪进行了有益的理论探索。     

Cross-National Perspectives for Aiding Policy Choice

The field of public policy analysis, centered about practical choices, is being extended by this journal to include useful comparisons among nations or other political units, as well as borrowing or lesson-drawing. This extension should remain close to the practical orientation of the field, rather than seeking to contribute to those disciplinary theories that lack practical usefulness in the short term (several decades). Implications of this admonition are spelled out in the form of a list of suggested topics for articles in this journal.     

拘役刑的适用特点探析

被判处拘役的罪犯由公安机关"就近执行",刑法第43条规定,应将拘役刑的执行机关限定于公安机关的看守所。不论是采取"六个月以下说"还是采取"一年以下说"作为界定短期自由刑的期限标准,拘役刑都不容置疑地应被列入短期自由刑的范围之内。拘役犯的部分有偿自由刑待遇包括执行期间可以回家与酌量发给报酬两项。拘役刑是刑种由轻到重过渡的一个重要环节,拘役刑的规定使刑罚体系严密完整。     

影响农民收入增长的因素分析及对策

农民收入稳定增长,关系到扩大内需、促进国民经济的繁荣以及社会稳定的大局,也是解决三农问题的最终落脚点。然而近年来,我国农民收入增幅持续下降,极大地影响了农民群众的生产积极性,造成了局部粮食短缺和粮价上涨,制约了农村经济的发展。分析制约农民增收的因素,探索当前农民增收的新途径,既有利于短期政策的调整,又是促进农村经济快速、健康、稳定发展的长期措施。