Worlds in collision: Is a rational energy policy possible for Western Europe?

The image of worlds in collision is apt as the overlay to any discussion of energy policy in Western Europe. It is suggested here that there are several rationalities or managing strategies that people choose to use to deal effectively or cope with the world around them. Of the five basic paradigms, three play an active role in the social conflict over energy policy. Two of these are nearly diametrically opposed in that what one ‘sees’ as the problem, the other ‘sees’ as the solution. A bridging group provides an institutional framework so the opposing two can co-exist. From acceptance of these different realities as valid and necessary to near- as well as long-term human interests, a policy approach is suggested. It is addressed primarily to this bridging group, and is designed to limit or remove the blocking role played by one of the other active groups.     

Italian consumers’ attitudes towards food risks: self-protective and non-self-protective profiles for effective risk communication

The study aims to assess Italian consumers’ attitudes towards food risks and seeks to outline their socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics on the basis of their attitudes (self-protective and non-self-protective) towards food risks. Using the Computer-assisted telephone interviewing survey method, a sample of 1000 Italian consumers was interviewed on risk perception issues and general eating habits. Factor analyses on the consumers’ propensities to read the label when buying a food product for the first time, their propensities to seek food-related information and their perceived levels of exposure to food risks have enabled us to define Italian consumers’ attitudes towards food risks. Distinguishing between consumers with more self-protective attitudes and those with less self-protective attitudes and identifying their distinctive socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics (e.g. gender, age, the frequency with which respondents do grocery shopping and the channels used for further inquiry) are crucial for communication campaigns aimed at reducing consumers’ exposure to food risks.     

Dividend payout determinants for Australian Multinational and Domestic Corporations

I investigate the determinants of dividend payments for Australian Multinational Corporations (MCs) and Domestic Corporations (DCs). Six measures of dividend payout ratios are investigated, and five international factors are employed in addition to traditional factors. I find: MCs pay significantly less regular cash, special cash, total dividends and net dividends relative to DCs; the degree of foreign involvement is important in determining special cash and net dividend payments; MCs are more active than DCs in dividend increasing activities; and MCs are significantly less likely to be a dividend payer relative to DCs due to tax disadvantages coupled with unfavourable foreign risk exposures.     

我国国债政策的走向分析

国债是市场经济国家实施宏观调控不可或缺的政策工具,在现代经济发展中发挥着越来越重要的作用.在以增债和扩支为主要内容的积极财政政策逐步稳健后,作为其主力军的国债政策也应适时调整.应该逐步减少建设国债的发行,调整建设国债的投资方向;调整国债发行结构和持有者结构,创新品种;并且要加快财政支出体制改革,逐步减少财政赤字;同时还要注意国债政策与其它政策的配合使用.     

中国老年照护法律和政策现状及完善路径

中国老年照护法律和政策体系由五个层次构成,1999年以来进入快速发展期,但目前还存在总量不足、操作性措施少、衔接配套差、优惠政策落实难、家庭照护法律和政策滞后等问题,需要据此进行针对性的完善.     

建立税务稽查选案指标体系的原则和方法

选案是税务稽查工作的起点,是实施税务稽查的前提和基础。选取税务稽查选案评价指标应遵循适应性、规范性、重要性、综合性、简洁性、易得性、稳定性七项原则。结构模型是选取稽查指标的有效方法。建立税务稽查选案指标体系,应根据软硬指标的不同特点,扬长避短,科学配置,从而准确界定企业纳税行为的合法性。     

管理预期:货币政策新工具“SAY”探析

泰勒规则自20世纪90年代以来为美联储等央行所采用,也为众多央行所关注。由于货币政策最终目标,即物价稳定的强制性,政策目标利率的相机抉择性,泰勒规则执行中的规则性,泰勒规则其实是规则和相机抉择的结合。泰勒规则发挥作用的关键在于货币当局与公众建立良好的交流机制。货币当局配合利率调整实行联合或单独交流战略,管理预期,影响市场行为。因此,说(SAY)已经成为现代各国央行重要的货币政策工具,是货币政策传统工具做的重要补充,其核心是管理引导预期。但说发挥作用需要央行对经济形势有正确判断,需要建立央行的信任度、自信和权威。由于政策传导中介质和受体的不同质,因此目前说更多的是一门艺术。     

High‐risk Technology,Legitimacy and Science: The U.S. Search for Energy Policy Consensus

Since the 1980s, a growing body of social scientific research has focused on the organizational character of the institutions that are responsible for the management and functioning of high‐risk technological systems. While there are differences among the social theories of risks that have developed on both sides of the Atlantic, much of the work offers warnings that are relevant to public policy. The warnings have largely been ignored in recent U.S. policy decisions, as illustrated most clearly by the U.S. Energy Act of 2005, which largely overlooks important questions regarding the environmental and technological risks of the technologies favored by the Act. Sociological work suggests that the scientific systems that have been instrumental in the legitimization process of high‐risk technological options of energy, more broadly, should be examined in connection with the societal institutions having responsibility for transparency, safety, and environmental protection.     

基层央行依法履职中存在的问题及政策建议

随着经济金融形势和宏观调控政策发生变化,基层人民银行依法行政面临着新的形势和政策环境。本文深入分析基层央行在依法履行职责中存在的主要问题,进而提出相应的政策建议。     

Restructuring Financial Regulation in the European Monetary Union

This article argues that present financial regulatory arrangements within the European Monetary Union are not adequate either to preserve stability or to foster financial integration. Reform of financial regulation should concentrate on establishing clear procedures for crisis lending and management, with the European Central Bank at the center; preparing the ground for more centralized supervisory arrangements in banking, insurance, and securities; and establishing and consolidating an active domestic and European Union-wide competition policy that limits local market power and national champions that are too big to fail.     

我国商业银行社会责任机制建构之软法进路

我国商业银行在市场经济中过于追求自身经济利益,忽略乃至损害客户、员工、环境等其他利益相关者的权益的现象日渐突显。因此,商业银行社会责任机制的建构显得尤为必要。＂软法＂自身的独特性与优越性对社会责任机制建构具有强大的推进作用。在分析与反思商业银行承担社会责任现状基础上,试以＂软法＂规范商业银行的经济行为,从而引导其做出更符合社会利益的行为。     

新《保险法》中"保证保险"的风险及其防范

新《保险法》财产保险业务中新增加了保证保险,然而并没有对保证保险的定义、性质、适用范围及合同相关内容做明确规定。因此,正确认知保证保险与普通财产保险的区别,把握保证保险在我国实施过程中可能面临的各种风险具有积极意义。防范保证风险应从完善保证保险立法和监管制度、提高保险公司对保证保险的专业管理操作能力、创新相关产品、加强银保合作和信用环境建设等方面落实。     

对政策性金融机构法律地位的理论思考

在指出我国政策性金融机构已运作20余年却仍无专门法律可依的局面、认清政策性金融机构法律地位是立法前提的基础上,明确界定了政策性金融机构的本质特征是公共性,并逐一梳理了公私法人之争、《民法通则》法人之争,最终作出了政策性金融机构是特殊公法法人的论断.     

系统性金融风险的识别与防范

系统性风险与集中度风险、金融危机既有区别,又有联系。银行金融机构的集中度风险是引发系统性风险的主要因素,系统性风险又是导致金融危机的直接原因。为避免和防范系统性风险,监管部门要把防范系统性风险的重点放在对银行金融机构集中度风险的监控上,加强对银行金融机构集中度风险的外部监管,不断向银行金融机构提示集中度风险,督促银行金融机构建立严格的集中度风险防控机制。银行金融机构也要有稳健的发展战略和谨慎的风险偏好,合理布局经营,严格把控资产分布结构,避免集中度风险,以便从根本上防范系统性风险,避免出现危害更大的金融危机。     

Intergenerational risk sharing and fiscal policy

Risk-sharing implications of alternative fiscal policies are compared in a stochastic production economy with overlapping generations. Ex ante efficiency is shown to be achievable with optimal transfers, regardless of distributional concerns. For CRRA preferences, stylized real-world policies (notably safe debt and safe pensions) are found inefficient in the direction of imposing not enough productivity risk on retirees and too much on future generations. Safe transfers can be rationalized as efficient if preferences display age-increasing risk aversion, such as habit formation. The ubiquity of safe transfers suggests that governments treat the young as more risk tolerant than older cohorts.     

运用信号分析法建立我国的金融风险预警系统

在全球金融自由化程度不断加深的大背景下,我国金融对外开放程度不断加深,建立适合国情的金融风险预警系统的重要性和紧迫性日益明显.借鉴国际上影响广泛的KLR信号分析法,本文根据国情建立了一套金融风险预警系统,选取一系列系统性及非系统性风险监测指标,确定不同风险状态下的预警界限,通过数据处理,最终进行风险的灯号显示.在此基础上,结合我国的具体数据进行了实证分析,发现我国金融风险在系统性风险方面表现为财政风险突出,非系统性风险则聚集在银行系统.因此,我国有必要从财政、银行资本及内控制度、资本市场和金融监管多方面入手,构建金融风险的防范机制.