A Comparative Analysis of SME Friendly Public Procurement: Results from Canada,Hungary and Italy

This paper studies SMEs’ participation in public procurement in light of perceived barriers and expected benefits of accessing the public marketplace. It presents a comparative analysis of SMEs’ participation in three countries that share similar approaches to SME-friendly public procurement. A common survey protocol was developed to be administered to SMEs in the three countries. Data collected were then analysed using regression methods. Findings suggest that some issues that are typically considered critical barriers, namely administrative requirements and award based on lowest price do not hinder participation. However, findings also suggest that firms’ characteristics associated with size are still relevant hindrances, and that SMEs’ involvement are affected by a shortage of tangible (human and financial) and intangible resources (experience). These findings provide guidance to fine-tune public procurement policies directed to SMEs.     

Parliamentary deadlock and the removal of the prime minister: Incumbency and termination theory in Trinidad and Tobago

In December 2001, the result of the general election in Trinidad and Tobago was an 18–18 tie for the 36 seats in the House of Representatives. The party led by the then incumbent prime minister, Basdeo Panday (the United National Congress – UNC) and the party led by the then leader of the opposition, Patrick Manning (the People's National Movement – PNM) found themselves in a situation in which the President of the Republic, Arthur N.R. Robinson, had to decide on which one of them to appoint as prime minister. The incumbency theory has been an established principle in most parliamentary democracies in the Commonwealth in situations where there is a ‘hung’ parliament insofar as offering the incumbent prime minister the opportunity to form a government is concerned. The decision of President Robinson to revoke the appointment of Prime Minister Panday and to appoint the leader of the opposition, Patrick Manning, as prime minister opened a new debate about the powers of the Head of State to terminate the appointment of an incumbent prime minister in spite of the fact that both aspirants for the office commanded the support of an equal number of elected MPs.     

法院内部控制刑事裁判权的方法与反思

我国法院内部对刑事裁判权的控制有着独特的方法与逻辑。在方法上,有严格的流程监控和细密的考核指标,即过程控制与结果控制。这种控制刑事裁判的方法体现了独特的制度逻辑,而制度实践者则基于不同的动因或主动或被动地选择了该方法。法院内部控权模式有利有弊,总体来说,过程控制在一定程度上消解了结果控制的效果,结果控制则又在一定程度上加强了过程控制,如此循环导致对刑事裁判权的控制不但成效不大,且产生了一定的副作用。法院内部控权模式存在双重悖论,未来对刑事裁判权的控制应遵循基本的司法规律。     

An analysis of traditional rules applied by Australian courts to establish personal jurisdiction and their application in e-commerce

This article analyses the jurisdictional principles employed by Australian courts in establishing personal jurisdiction in traditional settings and its extension to e-commerce cases. The Australian courts apply the court rules to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants. The article discusses these rules relating to serving process within and outside Australia and jurisdiction based on the submission of the parties. The adequacies of principles like forum-non-conveniens, forum selection clauses which are vital in the personal jurisdiction inquiry are analysed. The unique High Court decision in Dow Jones v. Gutnick is discussed and the approach followed by the court critically analysed to highlight the excessive exercise of personal jurisdiction. Other cases concerning the internet are also discussed to highlight the approaches followed to establish personal jurisdiction in internet and e-commerce cases. It is argued that the drawbacks highlight the need for legislation to regulate personal jurisdiction in e-commerce cases.     

法律解释规则及其运用研究(中)——法律解释规则及其分类

对多种法律解释规则进行分类研究是法律解释的重要任务.目前法学界关于形式法治与实质法治的区分,可以作为区隔法律解释规则的依据.与形式法治相适应,有合法性解释规则、文义解释规则和体系解释规则;与实质法治相适应,有合理性解释规则、目的解释规则等.法律解释规则是在思维领域中捍卫法治,因而要求法律人在解释法律的时候,首先要使用与形式法治相适应的解释规则,只有经过严格的论证才使用与实质法治相适应的除弊规则.     

法律多元主义及其中国语境：规范多元化

法律多元主义的产生与发展,对各国法治发展的影响不容忽视.当代中国自上而下推行法治,法律规范创制体系以国家制定法为中心,但现代社会中民间法的超强生命力、道德的法律化、法律原则的普遍适用等现象冲击了制定法的中心地位,法律规范的创制体系也由此趋于多元.这种多元主义法律观对当代中国的法治运行具有现实意义.     

我国社区矫正制度存在的问题分析

社区矫正制度的设立是我国行刑制度的一种新的尝试,它适应了刑罚执行方式由监禁刑罚向非监禁刑罚的转变。然而,社区矫正制度在运行过程中存在一定的问题,需采取对策予以解决,充分发挥其应有的作用。     

中美现有技术抗辩制度之比较

本文从中关专利无效宣告制度的差异入手,分析了现有技术抗辩制度在中关专利法中的不同地位及其不同功能。现有技术抗辩制度的适用规则由该制度在专利法中的地位和功能所决定。本文通过回顾中美适用现有技术抗辨制度的部分典型案例,分析了两国在现有技术抗辩制度适用规则上的差异,以及这些差异给我国带来的启示。     

《鹿特丹规则》对卖方（货主）的影响

分析《鹿特丹规则》关于托运人,不可转让运输单证,货物控制权和控制方,不可转让运输单证、不交单提货的可转让运输单证的交货方式、交货条件以及签发运输单证等规定,指出在两国间货物交易中,由付款行向受益人（卖方）开具的信用证和承运人向交货托运人（卖方）签发的提单（物权凭证）,是建立在卖方、买方和承运人相互制约关系上的＂交单相符＂＂付款接单＂和＂交单提货＂三项规则基础之上的。这三项原则保证了国际贸易和国际海上货运中付款和交货的公平、公正和安全,并推动了国际贸易、国际金融和国际海运业的健康有序发展。然而,《鹿特丹规则》的上述规定,改变了上述三项重要规则,背离了公平、公正和保护各方当事人权益的普遍原则,将给海上货物运输利害关系人FOB卖方的货物及货款带来巨大伤害。     

论当事人意思自治原则在涉外劳动合同中的适用空间——兼论我国涉外劳动合同法律适用立法的完善

随着国际投资、服务贸易和知识产权等领域的合作与交流不断深入,劳动者的跨境流动越来越频繁,近年来我国涉外劳动争议日益增多。由于劳动合同的特殊性,在确定我国涉外劳动争议案件的法律适用问题上,我国理论界和实务界有一些不同的看法,争议的焦点是当事人能否依据意思自治原则选择适用法律。涉外劳动合同是一种特殊的合同,当事人的意思自治应受到一定的限制。