Participatory system dynamics modelling for dairy value chain development in Nicaragua

The use of system dynamics tools can add valuable insights when identifying and evaluating priorities for pro-poor value chain upgrading. However, to better understand the complex systems in agricultural value chains and to develop useful models, a participatory modelling process is important. This article highlights the group model building process of the dairy value chain in Matiguás, Nicaragua, one of a few examples of participatory model building in developing countries. The results confirm several benefits with participatory system dynamics modelling, including team learning, a greater understanding of the value of modelling, and a tool for decision-making and priority setting.     

社会管理创新与警察公共关系变革——以统筹城乡发展为视角

随着统筹城乡发展的深入和城乡一体化进程的加快,对警察公共关系的建设提出了更高要求.统筹城乡发展背景下警察公共关系三要素都呈现出新特点.公安机关务必根据大环境的变迁以及警察公共关系三要素的新特点,根据推进公安机关社会管理创新的要求,有针对性地从公共关系的形象设计、传播、危机处理、交往沟通、评价等方面入手,开展警察公共关系活动的反思和变革.     

Building a Business Program in Romania: Creating and Sustaining Change

Abstract

This article deals with initiating and implementing change in a Romanian university and the problems with attempting to sustain and maintain the change initiatives. An American university received funding by the US government to assist with developing an industrial business management program at a Romanian university during the 1990s. Nine important program initiatives were proposed and attempted, resulting in changes to the established way of doing things in the Romanian university. Five of the nine initiatives were not sustained. The explanation presented in this article emphasizes that the change leadership must be sensitive and aware of the cultural and psychological factors. The explanation for the success and failures of the change initiatives is developed by examining the American partner understanding of leadership to promote participation and involvement with the Romanian partner. Many of the change initiatives were pushed on the Romanian partner, thus failing to gain commitment and acceptance of the change initiatives. When the American support ceased to support the change efforts, the Romanian partner continued the change efforts, but within the old cultural values system that they understood and could operate with. The conclusion explains the failures in that the Americans pushed too fast without the participation and involvement of the Romanians, thus not gaining any commitment and acceptance for the new change initiatives.     

中国制度自信的文化密码

文化是制度建构的灵魂支撑。探究中国特色社会主义制度自信何以可能,应从文化与制度的二维互动中寻求制度自信的关系密码,把握中国制度自信的文化向度;从治道理想、思维方式、主题主线探寻中国制度自信的历史密码,把握中国制度自信的文化厚度;从发展主题、发展动力、发展指向上解读马克思主义文化精神对中国制度构建的价值塑造,追问中国制度自信的价值密码,把握中国制度自信的文化高度。     

Community filmmaking as research: (re)considering knowledge production through the camera's lens

In southern Chile, Mapuche Indigenous communities are using video and digital filmmaking to collectively reflect on and communicate knowledge. This article shares their experience, arguing that with the increasing accessibility of information and communication technologies, we should be rethinking and broadening the acceptable ways to generate and convey knowledge about development. Acknowledging the diverse ways of knowing and communicating knowledge, this article suggests that video can be a powerful tool for self-representative knowledge-sharing by Indigenous communities. Only by expanding our debates beyond written media can we engage equitably with a plurality of knowledge-holders to resolve development challenges.     

中国与东盟的贸易变迁:1992—2012

过去20年,中国和东盟间的贸易增长很快,贸易结构也发生了很多变化。本文主要考察这一时期双边贸易的变化,对其中的贸易构成、贸易强度、行业内贸易、贸易互补和贸易竞争等问题进行了研究。     

Planning,Budgeting, and Health Care Performance in Ukraine

Abstract

The Government of Ukraine has not pursued health care reforms now commonplace in the rest of Europe and Central/Eastern Europe that rely less upon centralized, state delivery of services and more on decentralized operational responsibilities and competition for services that increase patient choice. The Ukrainian health sector suffers from personnel overspecialization and facility overcapacity, resulting in high-cost, low productivity services. Budget funds are unavailable for operations and maintenance resulting in poor quality services. The state provides health care as a constitutionally-protected monopoly, relying on the traditional command and control model which ignores cost/quality competition options and responsibilities to patients. Overall, the system which produces these results is over-centralized, requiring achievement of physical service norms without providing sufficient funds. The centralized system does not monitor or evaluate services beyond narrow financial accountability and control requirements. The health care system is paradoxically over-centralized but unable to regulate or control local health care official decisions to ensure compliance with national standards. Needed are reforms in the health care policy and operational areas to produce the supply of services needed for national economic recovery. In the short-term, the budgetary framework can be improved as an operational/management guide through development of comparative information on results. Most of this information can be based on the economic classification consistent with the chart of accounts. Funding stability can be increased to improve expenditure control by implementing a new fiscal transfer formula that provides discretion (i.e., block grants) and performance criteria (i.e., outcome measures). In the medium-term, building on the technical foundation of physical norms and statistical reporting, the health care budgeting and financial management system should shift emphasis to: program planning, policy and management analysis, and public communications. The results of these reforms should lead to decentralized health care operations, service analysis, and delivery responsibilities. At the same time, the reforms should lead to proper centralization of responsibilities for strategic policy decisions, safety regulation, national standards, and program evaluation.     

An Assessment of a Drastically Changed Federal Workplace in the United States

Abstract

Written by four experienced government employees, this article discusses many alarming changes that have been forced on the Federal government workplace over the past 20 years. The article identifies actions by elected and appointed officials that have greatly changed and weakened a workplace that was a model for America. Several attributes of the Federal workplace of the past and of the present are compared and contrasted.     

论五四时期“新青年意识”的时代意义

作为传统社会主流文化的直接颠覆,新文化运动引领着现代“新青年意识”的崛起.意义重大的是,“新青年意识”揭开了传统文化作品中“大团圆情结”所遮蔽的国民“奴性心态”,解构了传统文化意识形态的思想束缚;“新青年意识”彰显了新时期“悲剧意识”中所蕴含的“献身精神”,建构着近代中国社会所急需的变革意识;“新青年意识”还重新诠释了五四时期新文化运动的时代意义,昭示着现代人精神品格培育的思想路径.     

The determinants of foreign direct investment inflows in the Central and Eastern European Countries: The importance of institutions

This study investigates the determinants of FDI inflows in six Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) by incorporating the traditional factors and institutional variables over the 1996–2009 period. The study identifies whether and how these determinant factors differ across four investor countries (EU-15, the US, China, and Japan). The results verify the positive and economically significant role of GDP size, trade openness, EU membership, and institutions (measured by economic freedoms, state fragility, political rights, and civil liberties indices) on FDI inflows. The results also reveal the existence of notable differences in the determinant factors across four investor countries.