Uncertainty and sustainability in the management of rangelands

We analyze a dynamic and stochastic ecological-economic model of grazing management in semi-arid rangelands. The ecosystem is driven by stochastic precipitation. A risk averse farmer chooses a grazing management strategy under uncertainty such as to maximize expected utility from farming income. Grazing management strategies are rules about which share of the rangeland is given rest depending on the actual rainfall in that year. In a first step we determine a myopic farmer's optimal grazing management strategy and show that a risk averse farmer chooses a strategy such as to obtain insurance from the ecosystem: the optimal strategy reduces income variability, but yields less mean income than possible. In a second step we analyze the long-run ecological and economic impact of different strategies. We conclude that a myopic farmer, if he is sufficiently risk averse, will choose a sustainable grazing management strategy, even if he does not take into account long-term ecological and economic benefits of conservative strategies.     

Sense‐giving in health care: the relationship between the HR roles of line managers and employee commitment

In this article, we examine line manager prioritisation of HR roles and the consequences for employee commitment in a health‐care setting. Our analysis is based on a quantitative, multi‐actor study (509 employees and 67 line managers) in four Dutch hospitals. Using sense‐giving as a theoretical lens, we demonstrate that, in addition to the effects of high commitment HRM, prioritising the Employee Champion role alone and the Employee Champion and Strategic Partner roles in combination is associated with higher employee commitment. We argue that through performing roles that are evocative of deep‐seated values, such as excellent patient care and concern for others, line managers can have a positive effect on staff attitudes. In a sector often beleaguered by staff turnover, exhaustion and burnout, we offer an important, empirically based framework that has the potential to improve employee commitment and, from there, enhance performance.     

Changes in food provision in Russian households experiencing perestroika

The purpose of this article is to describe how households in Novgorod the Great, Russia, deal with food provision in everyday life. The study focuses on changes experienced in food provision and consumption in Russian society, in order to illustrate how households respond to the transformation towards a market economy. The study reflects women's perspective on food provision. Students from Novgorod the Great visited 105 households and asked the women in the household to answer a questionnaire. Results from the study show that in order to cope with changes in society related to economic reforms, Russian households had changed both their food consumption and food production patterns. There was no big difference between urban and rural households. Nearly all of the households were self‐sufficient in the provision of vegetables and potatoes. Many households had a ‘dacha’ (plot), where they produced most of what they needed. Among the changes experienced during recent years (i.e. during the end of the 1990s), a decade after perestroika was initiated, households mentioned the rise in food prices and the decrease of income. Households reported that they consumed less fruit and/or meat. Some households also mentioned that the quality of nourishment had decreased, thereby indicating lower general quality, lower nutrition value, or less healthy foodstuffs.     

比利时的财富

“请注册为‘D.E.Koninck＇的直升机的主人到咨询台前来好吗？”在首届富世生活比利时峰荟举办地科特赖克展览中心的现场．喇叭里传来这样紧急但礼貌的询问。原来，展览中心的停车场停满了兰博基尼，宾利等名车，但一位直升机的主人不慌不忙地将其两人位的飞机停在了车辆旁边。显然．这位主人宁可被罚也一心想要参加世界顶级奢侈品盛会，毫无疑问，他是对的。     

Bestimmungsgründe der einkommensverteilung

Summary Determinants of Income Distribution. — This article is intended to prove that the various macro-economic “theories of income distribution” appear to be systematic explanations only because the method of forming models — i. e. the grouping together of private economy elements and their relations to macroeconomic aggregates — obscures important determinants of distribution. This hypothesis is proved in two steps: first, it is shown that the two most important elements of the various distribution models — macro-economic production function on the one hand and macro-economic consumption function on the other — in the way they are usually employed, imply assumptions of constancy which lead either to logical inconsistency in the respective distribution theory or to empirical meaninglessness. Second, it is shown by means of an enlarged two-goods-two-factors Solow model that the various macro-economic distribution theories should be integrated so as to include all the various determinants of distribution. Even the enlarged Solow model cannot be regarded as the foundation of an empirically meaningful distribution theory. Reflection on how to improve this model brought out the necessity of examining the quantitative importance of each one of the various determinants of income distribution. This examination, undertaken for the German Federal Republic, has shown that the influence of demand on income distribution, during the period from 1950 to 1967, was comparatively small.

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Résumé Causes déterminantes de la distribution du revenu. — Cet article cherche à prouver que les diverses ?théories macro-économiques de la distribution de revenu? ne paraissent être des interprétations systématiques que parce que la méthode de construire les modèles — c’est à dire, de grouper ensembles les éléments d’économie privée et leur relations avec les collectifs macro-économiques — cache des facteurs importants de distribution. Cette hypothèse est prouvée en deux temps: primo, il est démontré que les deux éléments les plus importants des diverses modèles de distribution — la fonction macro-économique de production d’une part et la fonction macro-économique de consommation d’autre part — tels qu’ils sont généralment employés, comportent des suppositions de constance, qui causent soit une contradiction logique dans la théorie de distribution y relative, soit une insignifiance empirique. Secundo, il est démontré, au moyen d’un élargissement du modèle Solow à deux marchandises et deux facteurs, qu’il faut intégrer les diverses théories macro-économiques de distribution, si l’on veut tenir compte de toutes les causes déterminantes de la distribution. Même le modèle Solow élargi ne peut pas être considéré comme le fondement d’une théorie de distribution qui soit empiriquement significative. En réfléchissant aux possibilités de corriger ce modèle, il s’est montré nécessaire d’entreprendre des recherches individuelles empiriques sur l’importance quantitative des diverses causes déterminantes de la distribution du revenu. De telles recherches, entreprises pour la République Fédérale Allemande, ont montré que l’influence de la demande sur la distribution du revenu, pendant les années de 1950 à 1967, a été relativement faible.

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Resumen Los determinantes de la distribución del ingreso. — El objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en demostrar que las diferentes ?teorías macroeconómicas de la distribución del ingreso? son sistemas explicativos cerrados sólo debido a que la forma en que se desarrollan los modelos y que consiste en agregar variables microeconómicas a nivel macroeconómico, encubre importantes factures determinantes de la distributión. La demostración de esta hipótesis se hace en dos pasos: En primer lugar se muestra, que los dos componentes más importantes de los distintos modelos de distribución, las funciones macroecon?micas del consumo y de la producción, implican generalmente supuestos de constancia que dan lugar a inconsistencias lógicas o que echan a perder el valor empírico. En segundo lugar y mediante un modelo ampliado de dos bienes y dos factures, de Solow, se ense?a que las distintas teorías macroeconómicas de distribución deberán ser integradas la una con la otra si se quieren abarcar todas las determinantes de la distribución. No obstante la ampliación del modelo de Solow, este aún no se presta de base para una teoría del ingreso empíricamente sustancial. Reflexiones acerca de las posibilidades de mejora de este modelo llevan a la conclusión de que es necesario realizar estudios empíricos sobre la importancia de los distintos determinantes de la distribución. Un análisis a este respecto ha sacado a relucir que en la RFA y durante el período 1950–1967, el impacto de la demanda sobre la distribución de la renta ha sido peque?o.

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Riassunto Motivi della decisione della distribuzione dei redditi. — In questo lavoro deve essere dimostrato che le diverse macroeconomiche ?teorie della distribuzione dei redditi? solo per questo formano sistemi esplicativi chiusi perché il modo della formazione del modello, cioè la raccolta di grandezze economiche singole e relazioni con aggregati macroeconomici, cela essenziali fattori di decisione della distribuzione. La dimostrazione di questa ipotesi è fornita in due momenti. Per primo viene mostrato che ambedue le parti più importantidei diversi modelli di distribuzione, la funzione macroeconomica di consumo da una parte e la funzione macroeconomica di produzione dall’altra, nella forma in cui sono solitamente usate, implicano accettazioni di costanti che conducono o ad inconsistenze logiche della corrispondente teoria della distribuzione o ad empirica mancanza di contenuto. In secondo luogo è dimostrato in base ad un ampliato modello due merci-due fattori di Solow che le diverse teorie macroeconomiche devono essere integrate se devono essere rilevati tutti i singoli motivi v decisione della distribuzione. — Anche il modello ampliato di Solow non puo essere ancora considerato corne fondamento di una teoria della distribuzione empiricamente piena di contenuto. Riflessioni sulla possibilità di un miglioramento di questo modello fanno apparire necessario la realizzazione di ricerche empiriche singole sul significati quantitativo dei diversi motivi della decisione della distribuzione dei redditi. Una ricerca di tal genere diede come risultato che l’influenza della domanda sulla distribuzione del reddito della RFT durante il periodo 1950–1967 fu comparativamente scarso.