Income Inequality and Redistributive Spending: Evidence from Panel Data of Texas Counties

Abstract

The relationship between redistributive spending and income inequality has been of interest to researchers for several decades. Existing literature has largely focused on country-level studies and may be broadly divided into two groups: studies that find a positive relationship between the two and studies that find a negative relationship. The positive association is usually explained through the median voter theory and the negative association through the social insurance theory.

This study offers a test of the median voter and social insurance hypotheses by examining the relationship between economic inequality, voter turnout and redistributive spending at the sub-national level among the 50 largest counties in Texas over years 2006 to 2012. One of the advantages of using a regional sample is that counties are relatively more homogeneous and allow for the collection of better records across time. Random effects models suggest that income inequality is positively associated with redistributive spending. The study improves our understanding of the patterns of redistribution at the sub-national level and highlights the importance of careful inter-temporal modelling of relationships between redistributive spending and inequality.     

养老保障体系的分割与整合——北京市的案例研究

文章以北京市为研究个案,对养老保险城乡统筹制度进行分析,发现以地方政府为主进行的养老保障统筹直接弱化了社会保障的城乡分割,但强化了养老保障的地区间分割。虽然在地区内缩小了城乡福利水平的差距,但实际上是加大了地区之间养老保障收入的不平等。这种“福利地方”意味着社会保障在国家范围内的“碎片化”状态的持续,将会对一个地方的人口规模、劳动力的合理流动及劳动力市场的健康发展产生巨大影响。     

Economic security in an era of globalization: definition and provision

Abstract

Globalization has undermined the traditional definition of economic security that centered on economic vulnerability to other states. At the same time, globalization has produced a redefinition of economic security in light of the risks posed by cross-border networks of non-state actors and by the economic volatility of the new global environment. The relationship between economic globalization and undesirable economic and political outcomes must be specified precisely and assessed carefully, however. Judgements about economic security must weigh the effects of increased volatility introduced by globalization against the benefits of improved economic performance in the longer run. Institutions can offset economic insecurity through the provision of insurance, shoring up policy credibility, and guiding adaptation to the new environment. National institutions will remain central to the provision of economic security under conditions of globalization. Regional and global institutions can complement one another (and national institutions) in their alleviation of the new economic insecurity. Although some regional institutions drifted in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, new regional alternatives have emerged that promise to stake out new modalities of economic security.     

我国养老保险制度的完善与传统文化依托浅论

孝文化是中国传统文化的重要组成部分,孝文化强调养老和敬老。当前乃至今后相当长的一段历史时期内,养老保险制度还不能完全解决我国的养老问题,因此,重视养老保险制度与传统文化的依托非常必要。其主要思路是:提倡传统文化学习,推动孝文化的回归;增强家庭养老功能,优化养老财税政策;强化养老道德宣传,严格养老法律机制;博采众长借鉴经验,锻造特色养老制度。     

工伤保险立法完善刍议

工伤保险制度及其相关立法在我国已经初具规模 ,但还未臻完善 ,诸如工伤认定、工伤待遇、工伤赔偿责任、“过劳死”与工伤的关系等还存在许多问题 ,工伤保险现存制度设计中存在缺陷 ,应当进一步完善立法。     

保险合同中疑义利益解释原则的适用

保险合同是一种典型的格式合同 ,而疑义利益解释原则又是保险合同解释的一特殊原则。我国《保险法》第 3 1条对疑义利益解释原则作了原则性的规定 ,但是对于疑义利益解释原则的具体适用上学界和司法界仍存在许多争议。应当首先明确疑义利益解释原则的适用前提 ,正确看待“弱势被保险人”的范围 ,科学而又严格地确定这一原则的适用范围     

最大诚信原则在海上保险合同履行过程中的适用

最大诚信原则是海上保险合同的一项基本原则。本文结合英国法中的相关观点和判例,对我国法律下海上保险合同履行过程中的最大诚信原则应包含的具体内容进行了探讨和研究。     

当代正义要求的法则化——兼论社会保障法的正义基础

19世纪以来,西方的正义观发生了重大变化,即从功利主义的正义观向社会正义理论转变,从谋求最大多数人的最大利益向关爱社会境况最差者转变。本文考察了罗尔斯的社会正义理论,并从法律视角分析了以罗尔斯为代表的社会正义理论所导致的法律变革,揭示了社会保障法的正义基础。     

制定养老保险法的思考

制定正式的养老保险法是发展我国养老保险事业的迫切需要。养老保险法主要应包括养老保险的覆盖对象，养老保险的筹资方式，养老保险金的给付标准，养老保险基金的管理、运营和监督，违反养老保险法的法律责任等内容。为尽快制定出养老保险法并确保其科学性，有关部门应及早将其列入全国人大的立法规划，组织人员进行调研并在条件成熟时将法律草案子以公布交由全民讨论。