Farmers or Squatters? Collective Land Claims on Sisal Estates,Tanzania (1980s–2000s)

This paper offers a historically grounded analysis of the land question by analysing the political history of collective land claims in sisal estates in Tanga region, in north‐east Tanzania. The persistence of sisal plantations amidst failed attempts at land redistribution is explored by drawing on primary research in villages in the vicinity of three privatized sisal estates. I situate collective land claims in the wider politics of African socialism (ujamaa), to then explain their gradual demise throughout the 1990s as a consequence of neoliberal policies such as privatization and liberalization. Throughout the 2000s, the subsequent allocation of contested lands to commercial sisal contract farmers has fuelled further land disputes. An account of land claims over time, coupled with a class analysis of sisal contract farming, underlines the continuing relevance of the land question in areas of historical land dispossession.     

Land reform and land fragmentation in Central and Eastern Europe

It has often been stated that land fragmentation and farm structures characterized by small agricultural holdings and farms divided in a large number of parcels have been the side-effect of land reform in Central and Eastern Europe. This article reports the findings of a study of land reform in 25 countries in the region from 1989 and onwards and provides an overview of applied land reform approaches. With a basis in theory on land fragmentation, the linkage between land reform approaches and land fragmentation is explored. It is discussed in which situations land fragmentation is a barrier for the development of the agricultural and rural sector. The main finding is that land fragmentation is often hampering agricultural and rural development when both land ownership and land use is highly fragmented.     

中东欧国家银行业改革的成就与启示

借助于对中东欧国家银行业改革历程和发展现状的分析,我们可以清楚地看到各国金融改革路径和制度建设的选择及其成效,从中得到的启示可为我国金融体系改革提供有益的借鉴。     

Does transfer of control rights and private benefits of control increase efficiency? Evidence from China’s privatization of the SOE’s

This study assesses China’s overall privatization efficiency from the perspective of private benefits of control. Results suggest that there is no statistically significant change in the firm’s performance after the transfer. However, ROE is negatively correlated with the magnitude of block premiums at the point of purchase. The research also finds that the average private benefit of a private controlling shareholder is significantly higher than that of a state-controlling shareholder. Obtaining private benefits of control is often the private buyers’ main acquisition motive. However, private benefit undermines the future corporate performance; therefore, lowering the private benefits may help improve the efficiency of privatization. As of now, privatization by means of controlling right transfer among listed companies is inefficient in China.     

民营化、外资股东和嵌入性:来自中国的证据

与传统经济学研究以代理理论为主对民营化的讨论不同,本文通过整合演进理论、制度理论和代理理论,研究了民营化企业改进绩效必须解决的组织和管理问题。以2001年经历了民营化并且在1998～2003年间持续运营的企业为样本进行实证研究,发现,外资股东参与的民营化企业更有可能改进治理结构,进行组织学习和资源能力的培养。但是,这种关系会受到改制企业组织和制度嵌入性的影响。因此,如何管理好组织和制度嵌入性的双重影响,是影响民营化企业改制后绩效改善的关键。     

西方国家行政改革实践及发展模式探究

西方国家的行政改革实践始于20世纪70年代末,改革基本上围绕着私有化、缩减政府规模、削减公共开支、转变政府职能等目标展开,所采取的具体措施也基本以绩效控制、私有化、政府再造和公共服务市场化等手段为主。结合西方国家行政改革的实践经验和未来发展模式,可将西方行政改革的模式归纳为四种:市场式政府模式、参与式政府模式、弹性化政府模式和解制型政府模式。     

The determinants of contractual choice for private involvement in infrastructure projects

Numerous studies have examined the determinants of private participation in infrastructure projects. We depart from this simple public/private dichotomy by empirically examining a rich set of contractual arrangements. Infrastructure characteristics, particularly those that reflect ‘stand alone’ versus network characteristics, are key factors influencing the extent of private participation. Fiscal variables as well as basic controls, such as population and locality of government, increase the degree of private participation. A greater tax burden reduces private participation.     

We Aren’t So Different After All: Differences and Similarities Between Political Affiliation and Issues of Park Use,Management, and Privatization

Abstract

Many researchers have argued that political polarization has increased dramatically over the past 25 years. This article explores partisan polarization regarding specific issues of state park use, management, and privatization. An online demographically stratified panel survey of New York and Pennsylvania residents was used to examine differences in attitudes toward these issues by political affiliation. Respondents were placed into three categories: Republican, Independent, and Democrat. While significant differences were found among the groups, they were often small and rarely between Democrats and Republicans. The only issues demonstrating clear partisan differences were certain park privatization issues, support for diversity initiatives, support for additional greenways, and support for shale gas development within state parks. The results from this study indicate little partisan polarization of state park issues.