Fiscal Decentralization and Natural Disaster Mitigation: Evidence from the United States

How decentralized government structure influences public service delivery has been a major focus of debate in the public finance literature. In this paper, we empirically examine the effect of fiscal decentralization on natural disaster damages across the U.S. states. We construct a unique measure of decentralization using state and local government expenditures on natural resources, which include investment in flood control and mitigation measures, among others. Using state‐level panel data from 1982 to 2011, we find that states that are more decentralized in natural resource expenditures have experienced more economic losses from floods and storms. This effect is only pronounced in states that are at higher risks of flooding. Our findings suggest that fiscal decentralization may lead to inefficient protection against natural disasters and provide implications for the assignment of disaster management responsibilities across different levels of government in the U.S. federal system.     

预防未成年人犯罪法若干理论问题研究

本文论述了制订《中华人民共和国预防未成年人犯罪法》的指导思想,即做好预防未成年人犯罪工作,为未成年人身心健康发展创造良好的社会环境.阐明了《中华人民共和国预防未成年人犯罪法》的主要内容,即该法明文规定了未成年人犯罪教育,明文规定了对未成年人不良行为的预防,明文规定了有关部门对未成年人健康成长的社会生活环境的管理责任,明文规定了对未成年人严重不良行为的矫治,明文规定了未成年人对犯罪的自我防范,明文规定了对未成年人重新犯罪的预防;还阐述了《中华人民共和国预防未成年人犯罪法》的主要特点和外国及联合国关于预防未成年人犯罪的立法规定。     

Public Sector Risk Financing: Exploring the Potential Use of Weather Derivatives by Fire and Rescue Services

The floods of 2007, experienced across much of England, resulted in local authority organisations, including Fire and Rescue Services, mounting large-scale responses and incurring additional and unexpected expenditure. Although central government activated funding schemes, some local authorities fell below the thresholds set and had to absorb the additional costs. This raised a question of what alternative methods were available to allow these local authority organisations to finance such unexpected costs. Weather derivatives are widely used in certain sectors to manage the financial risk that arises from undesirable weather conditions and the objective of this research is to explore the reactions of an FRS towards the use of these financial instruments in managing additional costs, such as those arising from the 2007 floods. Our findings suggest that a combination of risk-aversion, lack of specific financial knowledge and comfort with the status quo seem set to stifle development of weather derivatives as an innovation in public sector risk financing. However, this exploratory study suggests that the method has some merit and is at least worthy of further examination.     

An Opportunity

正A development plan for cooperation between Beijing,Tianjin and Hebei Province(Jing-Jin-Ji)has recently been submitted for approval by the State Council,indicating that a solid step is being made toward the unified development of the three locations.This will be a milestone for China’s regional economic development as well as representing one of the effective measures to control smoggy weather.     

刍议不良软件的成因与其法律问题

近来一场讨伐流氓软件的战役拉开帷幕,流氓软件遭到广大计算机用户的一致谴责.从探析流氓软件的涵义出发,流氓软件与不良软件实则是同一涵义.并讨论不良软件的传播及其背后的法律问题.     

谈网络对青少年素质培养的影响

网络作为一种现代媒体,它对人的素质培养尤其是青少年素质培养的影响将远远超过任何一种传统媒体。它的出现将有助于青少年学习观念、平等意识、全球意识、效率观念、奉献精神的培养及人际交往、求知途径的拓宽等。但网络对青少年的素质培养也具有一定的消极作用,对此我们必须予以高度重视。     

看守所被羁押人员的心理管理

被羁押人员心理是指被羁押人员的个性心理与他们在处于被监禁这样特殊条件下产生的心理状态的总和。被羁押人员个性心理和心理状态共同决定着其在羁押过程中的行为表现,因此讨论其不良心理活动对于预防和矫治其违法犯罪行为有着重要的现实意义。     

论知识产权制度的“恶”名

人们对知识产权制度“恶”名的看法包括伦理上的和非伦理上的两个层面。事实上,知识产权制度并非必然是恶的,它具有伦理上的合理性和经济上的效用性;在知识产权全球化进程中,后发展国家可从中分享利益。不过,知识产权制度在其演进过程中,也出现了一定的负面效应。知识产权制度应注意平衡各方利益冲突,完善激励机制和保障公众对知识和技术正当利用的权利。后发展国家应尽可能利用知识产权国际条约成员的身份和权利,通过国际磋商和协调机制在知识产权保护领域为本国科技、经济和文化的发展争取有利条件。     

公安机关在极端天气类自然灾害临战处置中的职责——美国圣路易斯市应急预案给我们的启示

极端天气类自然灾害会给社会带来重大损失，对极端天气类自然灾害的临战处置是公安机关义不容辞的责任。本文通过对美国圣路易斯市应急预案中“极端天气标准应急管理分系统”的相关分析，结合2008年春节以来公安机关抗击雨雪冰冻灾害的成功经验，明确了公安机关在极端天气类自然灾害临战处置中的两类职责，对提高公安机关应对该类突发事件的能力具有重大促进作用。     

关于我国商业银行信贷风险的成因及防范对策

目前我国商业银行大多受不良贷款的困扰而举步艰难，纠其原因主要是政府的行政干预，企业的还贷意识淡漠，法律体律不全，银行经营不善等。银行要摆脱这种困境就必须加强风险的防范；首先要完善法律法规体系，规范政府行为和企业行为；其次加强银行内部管理制度；第三建立健全银行内部风险转化机制；第四强化中央银行的监管。