A Feminist Perspective on Contract Theories from Law and Economics

This article offers a feminist perspective on contract theories in law,economics and law-and-economics. It identifies masculine traits presentcontract theories in all three disciplines. It then describes andassesses some developments that appear to be feminising: Therecognition of the importance of social norms in contract theory andtheories of contract as relationship. The article's main claim is that amasculine model of decision-making persists even within the less overtlymasculine models of contract. The problem of sexually transmitted debtresulting from a surety contract is analysed in detail as a specificexample supporting the article's general argument. The article concludesthat the way forward is to be found in a recognition of other ways ofmaking decisions.     

On the Media Effects of Immigration and Refugee Board Hearings via Videoconference

Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board conducts some of itsrefugee hearings via videoconferencing. As part of a reviewof the fairness of this practice, a theoretical approach andreview of the empirical literature was commissioned. Particularlyunder ‘high stakes’ conditions, it was found thatvideoconferencing reduces mutual trust and understanding, exacerbatescultural differences in non-verbal communication, and increasesthe propensity to lie while decreasing the ability to detectfalsehoods. Further, the inherent power imbalance between thetribunal and the claimant is widened as the tribunal membersbecome acclimatized to the technology. In general, the differencein sensory perception of a mediating technology creates cognitivedifferences between mediated and non-mediated environments.Further, sensory perception that feeds narrative constructionvaries by culture. The process of conveying and understandingmeaning across cultures is sufficiently difficult; adding thecomplexity of videoconference mediation introduces the possibilityof inconsistency, inaccuracy, and altered judgement.     

Frontier Justice: Legal Aid and UNHCR Refugee Status Determination in Egypt

Where UNHCR conducts refugee status determination (RSD), itsreactions to legal aid for asylum-seekers have been mixed. Statisticalevidence collected from Egypt in 2002 indicates a correlationbetween receiving some form of legal aid service and an asylum-seeker'sincreased chances of gaining refugee protection from UNHCR.Unconventional forms of legal aid, including limited servicesby supervised non-lawyers (including volunteers from the refugeecommunity) showed a positive impact on first instance cases,while traditional legal aid models showed an impact at the appealstage. Legal aid should form an essential part of UNHCR's RSDprocedures, and NGOs should work to expand both traditionaland innovative forms of legal aid for asylum-seekers.     

反垄断法中垄断的经济分析及对我国的启示

反垄断既是一个经济问题,又是一个复杂的法律问题。文章通过阐述经济学在反垄断法中的作用,进而运用经济理论分析了反垄断法中的垄断适度与否的问题,指出垄断与有效竞争相容时就是垄断适度,其观点对我国反垄断立法具有一定的启示与借鉴意义。     

关于供给学派减税理论的实践效果的评析及其启示

在二十世纪八十年代,美国在里根执政时期,实施了供给学派的减税理论,其政策效果当时争议较大。根据目前已经公布一些经济数据,本文对供给学派减税理论的实践效果进行了分析,并结合我国国情,提出了实施“中国式”的供给学派减税政策建议。     

威廉姆森谈新制度经济学

新制度经济学重要代表人物威廉姆森近期对新制度经济学的兴起和发展作了回顾和展望。他指出新制度经济学研究的主要内容是产权理论和组织的治理结构理论 ;新制度经济学的研究方法是在继承和批判新古典经济学方法的基础上产生的。威廉姆森还以俄罗斯改革为例 ,指出了新制度经济学的应用条件及其自身待进一步研究的问题。     

中国经济学的文化困境与理论出路

本文通过对中、西文化背景的研究 ,着重阐述了经济学在中国形成和发展中所面对的文化困境 ,指出了中国经济学的发展途径。     

关于经济学研究方法的几个问题

本文提出,经济学方法论体系包括四个基本的组成部分,即研究对象、研究结果、研究过程和叙述方法。“研究对象”是现实具体。“研究结果”是思维具体,是现实具体的反映。如何从现实具体得到既符合实际又符合逻辑的思维具体,是“研究过程”的任务。“叙述方法”涉及的则是思维具体的“外化”(如发表的论文、著作)。从现实具体(研究对象)到思维具体(研究结果),再到思维具体的外化(论文和著作),构成了全部研究过程的一个完整的周期。     

对构建中国特色社会主义政治经济学理论体系的思考

长期以来,在社会上、官场上、市场上、生意场上、教学上出现了马克思主义政治经济学日益淡化和削弱的状况,危害甚大。为了抵制歪理邪说,用正确的理论指导社会实践,推进经济发展,必须完善马克思主义政治经济学,构建中国特色社会主义政治经济学理论体系。在构建的方法和步骤上,要围绕固有的研究对象———生产关系来进行;要分工协作全方位铺开;要各种工具并用;要出成果、出成效、出成绩。