Strong and Weak Gender Quota Regimes

A study of the introduction and adoption of gender quotas that does not examine both the interpretation of the problem and the process of implementation is insufficient. A gender quota regime may be promising in its formal features, without guaranteeing the intended results in more informal practices. Six criteria form the basis for a strong gender quota regime: (1) unambiguous and concrete goals, (2) rank order of candidates, (3) evaluations and adjustments of the regime, (4) information from superior authorities, (5) satisfactory implementation by the actors involved, and (6) control and sanctions. An evaluation of these six criteria presupposes the use of a variety of methodological approaches. The development of specific criteria for strong versus weak quota regimes makes it possible to identify both the weak points of the legislation and the failures of implementation. In addition, these criteria will contribute to comparative studies on gender quota regimes and supplement the work of cumulative research. This study applies the six criteria in order to evaluate the Norwegian gender quota regime in local politics and shows that even if four criteria are fulfilled the result is still not satisfactory. The practices of implementation among politicians at the local level as well as among the supervising bodies (county governors) vary. Different discourses create various practices that force or obstruct the implementation of gender balance.     

关于建构21世纪中国经济学的几点思考

21世纪中国经济学的建构有其必然性。根据中国经济发展的需要 ,2 1世纪中国经济学的构建应以制度分析为基点 ,以可持续发展为核心 ,以知识经济为前瞻 ,在此基础上 ,产生出具有中国特色的制度经济学、可持续发展经济学、知识经济学三大经济学主干分支。     

一人公司刑法地位探悉

我国新公司法确立了一人公司法律制度,但是一人公司是否具备刑法适格主体地位存在较大争议.由于我国刑法对单位犯罪与自然人犯罪的处罚存在较大差异,故明确一人公司刑法地位不仅具有理论意义,而且具有重大现实意义.文章分别从法理学的人格因素、意志因素、目的因素角度以及法律经济学的外部性、成本收益角度论证了一人公司不具备刑法适格主体地位,以期对一人公司刑法地位问题研究有所裨益.     

新的历史条件下思想政治工作面临的难题

在改革开放和发展市场经济的新的历史条件下，思想政治工作面临着许多难题。科学的分析和认识这些难题，把解决这些难题作为加强和改善思想政治工作的重点解决课题，对于在新的历史条件下加强和改善思想政治工作，具有重要的意义。     

试论解放思想与昭阳区的经济发展

昭通市昭阳区脱贫致富奔小康的任务仍然非常艰巨和繁重,其根本原因之一就是相当一部分干部和群众思想的解放程度不够,实事求是的政治品质不强,“等、靠、要”和“小富即安”、“小进则满”的观念还根深蒂固。因此,进一步从理论和实践上研究和探讨解放思想与昭阳区经济发展的关系有重大的现实意义。     

Equity, international trade and climate policy

The literature of welfare-maximising greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies pays remarkably little attention to equity. This paper introduces various ways to consider efficiency and equity simultaneously. Lower (higher) discount rates lead to higher (lower) emission reduction. Higher (lower) inequity aversion leads to higher (lower) emission abatement, unless one also considers the negative effects of OECD emission reduction on the exports of developing countries; in that case, the effect of inequity aversion is ambiguous. In the absence of international co-operation, higher (lower) risk aversion leads to lower (higher) emission abatement. With international co-operation, the effect of risk aversion is ambiguous because the higher risk aversion gives more weight to poorer regions and poorer generations. We analyse four ways to introduce compassion in a non-cooperative setting. If observed development aid is a guide, international altruism is small and has little impact on optimal emission control. If countries act as if they 'feel' but not 'physically experience' the climate impact of the most vulnerable country, optimal emission reduction increases, but not substantially so. However, if countries actually have to pay for the damage done, they would prefer to reduce their emissions to much lower levels. Finally, if countries pay as much for emission reduction as other countries suffer from climate change, (that is, if climate policy restores the income distribution to what it would have been without climate change), emissions are rapidly cut to very low levels.     

禁毒工作的经济学思考

毒品作为特殊商品的劳动二重性以及毒品市场不同于一般市场的畸型发展,如果从经济学理论的角度出发,或许可以找出毒品犯罪的内在根源,或许禁毒工作会更加强调经济因素的考虑。其具体措施是:加大禁毒经费投入;讲求禁毒工作效益;应用经济惩罚手段;加大反“洗钱”力度以摧毁贩毒集团经济实力等。     

What is the Place of Christian Wolff in the History of the Social Sciences?

This paper explores the place of Christian Wolff in the history of social science in English. The "Introduction" places Wolff in the context of the pre-history of modern social science. Samples are given of the great range of subjects on which he wrote. The importance of the German context is stressed. The second part is devoted to a sample of what the literature contains by and about Wolff. It emphasizes philosophy and science. Part three is a survey of works in the history of the social sciences that mention Wolff. He has a substantial place in political science and psychology, a much smaller place in economics and history, virtually none in anthropology, geography, and sociology. In the applied social sciences, he is found in the history of education. Possible reasons are given. Part four is devoted to the relationships of philosophy and philosophers in the pre-history of the social sciences. They were important in several different ways because they both shaped and reflected how many people thought about science and social problems. The Summary and Conclusion describes the present status. His contributions are summarized. He was a pivotal figure in the making of the German conception of social science. This is a preliminary study emphasizing the issues and problems that a more detailed examination would require. Several conventional judgments are challenged and possibilities for further research suggested.     

Public Choice at the Intersection of Environmental Law and Economics

Management of environmental assets begins with a commons and ends with various legal institutions that assign property rights and control. Each step in the evolution of these legal institutions involves collective decision making. Public Choice analysis helps to explain the decision making process and institutional characteristics that emerge. A survey of Public Choice literature that addresses environmental issues illustrates how Public Choice sheds light on outcomes for the U.S. experience. In the absence of Public Choice theory, law and economics scholars would be hard pressed to explain why costly forms of environmental regulation seem preferred to apparently more efficient institutions and why the body politic seemingly accepts a high-cost, low-output outcome.     

Credible Criminal Enforcement

Economic models of crime and punishment implicitly assume that the government can credibly commit to the fines, sentences, and apprehension rates it has chosen. We study the government’s problem when credibility is an issue. We find that several of the standard predictions of the economic model are altered when commitment is taken into account. Specifically, when only fines are used, commitment results in a lower apprehension rate and hence a higher crime rate. However, when jail is used (with or without fines), apprehension rates and jail terms may be higher or lower compared to the optimal static policy.JEL K14, K42