A closer look at risk factors for public-private partnerships in Singapore: six case studies

ABSTRACT

Despite its global popularity over the past few decades, the public-private partnership (PPP) has not always led to successful outcomes, due largely to a number of risk factors associated with the projects. To explain how and why PPPs sometimes fail, this study considers the success-failure continuum of Singapore’s recent PPP experience from 2000 to 2019. After taking a critical, close look at the six failed cases, we identify the following latent risk factors: unstable financial capacity during the execution period of a project, force majeure unforeseen problems that arise, a lack of technical and/or financial foresight, poor corporate management (e.g. delays in construction and poor-quality service delivery), and an unfavourable investment environment stemming from the lack of a clear and supportive governance framework. In addition, we find that most risk factors tend to appear during the contract management (pre-operation) and project management (operation) phases. Such risks seem to drive the operational failure and subsequent contract termination of multiple unsuccessful PPPs, simultaneously (and sometimes sequentially) rather than in isolated fashion. All in all, this study offers for policymakers that better risk allocation and proper, mutual coordination between the public and private partners represent essential factors for PPP success.     

GFAP和VEGF在创伤性脑损伤中表达的研究进展

创伤性脑损伤是世界上导致死亡及残疾的主要原因之一。检测对中枢神经系统损伤有高度特异性和敏感性的生物标志物,可以在一定程度上反映损伤情况。胶质纤维酸性蛋白与血管内皮生长因子均可作为颅脑损伤的生物学标记物,其表达变化规律、峰值出现时间,与创伤性脑损伤的严重程度及损伤时间的推断密切相关,对于法医病理学具有重大意义。该文对胶质纤维酸性蛋白与血管内皮生长因子的分子生物学特性及其在创伤性脑损伤中的表达进行综述。     

Construct validity and internal reliability of the Finnish risk and needs assessment form

Validation of risk and needs assessment instruments used to predict, and reduce, recidivism and misconduct is of ethical, practical and scientific importance. We argue for a focus on variable (i.e. changeable over time) risk factors, and that validation begins with establishing construct validity. The Finnish Risk and Needs Assessment Form, in Finnish Riski- ja tarvearvio (RITA), is a semi-structured interview form adapted from the Offender Assessment System used in England and Wales and consists primarily of variable risk factors. In this study, we examined the construct validity and internal reliability of RITA. The results suggest that the original RITA sections do not provide an adequate statistical model for describing the relationship between scored questions, and we, therefore, offer an improved model. In our proposed model, several scores are influenced by more than one dimension of risk and the dimensions correlate with each other considerably. We suggest that the dimensions that can be measured with RITA are Problems managing economy, Alcohol problems, Resistance to change, Drug abuse and associated behaviour, Aggressiveness and Employment problems. All factors except Drug abuse and associated behaviour had very good internal reliability. We propose this new model to be used in future research with, and in development of, RITA.     

情报信息主导侦查机制的构成要素

侦查机关要在与犯罪作斗争的过程中赢得先机,必须建立一套长期有效的侦查机制。情报信息主导侦查机制是社会信息化的产物,是新时代适应打击违法犯罪的需要。该机制主要有六部分组成,包括情报意识、硬件设施及技术、组织管理体系、专业队伍、制度及情报信息数据库等。     

博弈论维度的警察临战

博弈论是研究策略行为的科学,它研究理性的个体在相互依存时如何作出决策。警察临战具有博弈性,警察临战活动充满着多方利益与策略的博弈。基于对警察临战博弈要素和基本类型的分析,博弈论对警察临战活动具有三个层面的指导意义：观念层面,博弈论将为我们提供新的警察临战行为理念;制度层面,博弈论可以为临战制度的架构提供参考;策略层面,博弈论将为我们制定临战方案提供参考。     

中国股票型开放式基金业绩的实证分析——基于信息比率与单因素模型评价方法的对比分析

采用信息比率与单因素评价模型,使用沪深300指数构建基准投资组合,对我国2005-2007年中10只股票型开放式基金经风险调整后的业绩进行实证研究。基于信息比率的基金业绩评价指标相对于单因素模型有较明显的应用优势,同时采用沪深300指数作为市场基准的评价结果更具有可靠性。     

任务型组织的动态能力建构

在社会复杂性和不确定性迅速增长的时代,考察组织相对于环境变动的动态能力显得尤其重要。在组织能力的问题上,常规组织往往着重于组织的静态能力建设,而对其动态能力则很少给予关注。与常规组织不同,任务型组织要求发展出一种动态能力。这种动态能力虽然表现为一种与环境相适应的能力,而实际上则是一种更快更好地完成任务的能力。     

Using "Shocks and Rumors" to Teach Adaptive Thinking

The business landscape is constantly changing. Moreover, because of globalization, increased competition, and instant communication, the rate of change is accelerating. A student who has practiced only static scenarios is ill prepared to recognize, process, or adapt to changing negotiation issues and interests. Thus, negotiation instructors must change our practices to prepare students to succeed in the increasingly dynamic negotiation situations they will face by utilizing simulations that are also dynamic. This article reviews research on adaptive thinking, applies it to negotiation training, and provides examples of dynamic simulations that require students to adapt. Finally, it offers advice on how to make existing cases dynamic by using "shocks and rumors."     

论公安机关在构建和谐社会中职能作用的发挥

构建社会主义和谐社会是一项宏大而长远的系统工程。公安机关在这一伟大工程中负有神圣使命与重大历史责任。为此,必须深刻理解和谐社会的内在涵义,找准公安工作的切入点,从根本上解决在影响构建和谐社会过程中出现的诸多问题,充分发挥公安机关的职能作用,为构建和谐社会服务。     

Status of Mandibular Third Molar Development as Evidence in Legal Age Threshold Cases

The completion of the third molar roots has played an important role in ascertaining whether individuals may be at or over a legal threshold of age, often taken as 18 years. This study demonstrates that root apex completion in the third molar is relatively uninformative regarding the threshold of age 18 years in a sample of 1184 males, where mean age‐of‐attainment of root apex completion for third mandibular molars is about 19.4 years. This paper also considers the legal age threshold problem for cases where the third mandibular molar is not completely formed, and outlines the use of parametric models and Bayes’ factors to evaluate dental evidence in statistically appropriate ways. It attempts to resolve confusion over age‐within‐stage versus age‐of‐attainment, likelihood ratios versus other diagnostic tests, and prior odds for a case versus the prior density for an age distribution.