TO PREY OR NOT TO PREY? WELFARE AND INDIVIDUAL LOSSES IN A CONFLICT MODEL1

We analyse a generalised form of the Hirshleifer‐Skaperdas predation model. In such a model agents have a choice between productive work and appropriation. We suggest that such a model can usefully be thought of as a continuous form of the Prisoners' Dilemma. We present closed form solutions for the interior equilibria and comparative statics for all Cournot equilibria and analyse the social welfare losses arising from predation. We show that predation is minimised under two quite different regimes, one in which claiming is very ineffective and another in which one of the players becomes marginalised. The worst outcomes seem to arise when claiming is effective, but inequality in power is significant but not extreme. This, arguably, is the situation in a number of transition societies.     

SOUTH AFRICA'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL FISCAL RELATIONS: AN EVOLVING SYSTEM

Across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the transition economies of Eastern Europe, the need to enhance the capability and capacity of sub‐national governments (SNGs) in providing public goods and services has become a main theme of development programmes. Central to this theme is the need to design an intergovernmental fiscal relations (IGFR) system that enhances the effectiveness of sub‐national governments in mobilizing revenues and implementing expenditure programmes. For South Africa, the post‐1994 dispensation has involved significant reforms to the structure and administrative capacity of the three spheres of government. Critical to these reforms is the need to formulate an IGFR framework that takes cognisance of South Africa's past, and serves as an effective policy tool in ensuring that public sector service delivery is well structured and managed. This paper provides an analysis of South Africa's evolving IGFR system. It outlines the historical evolution of the current IGFR system, identifies current challenges, and discusses implications that these challenges have for the functioning of the IGFR system. The general conclusion emerging from this study is that in the South African context, the key elements necessary for an effective IGFR system are in place. Ongoing reforms have improved the capacity of provincial and municipal authorities in carrying out their revenue and expenditure responsibilities. However, the evolving nature of South Africa's IGFR system requires that significant attention be devoted towards enhancing coordination between delivery departments and improving the capacity of many SNGs. These should not only aid the effective functioning of the IGFR system but also ensure that the gains of decentralisation are sustainable.     

论社会救助制度的福利经济学思想渊源

福利经济学是一门研究如何增进社会福利的西方经济学分支,社会救助是社会保障的重要子系统,对解决贫困人口的基本生活问题以及维护社会稳定、促进经济发展至关重要.探寻社会救助制度的福利经济学思想来源和精神基础,使社会救助制度改革可以从福利经济学各代表人物的思想中汲取营养,取得更好的政策效果.     

“高端服务”供给行为的经济学分析

公共利益的实现要允许市场行为的介入,“高端服务”的供给行为恰是价格机制甄选作用的具体体现。“高端服务”存在着3个层次的效率:稀缺资源配置效率的改进、公共产品供给的技术效率和公共服务的分配效率。因此,提供“高端服务”是一种经济理性行为,并未挤占公共利益。     

Dueling Jackpots: Are Competing Lotto Games Complements or Substitutes?

This paper considers the relationship that exists between two lottery products offered simultaneously in the same state, a smaller lottery game run by the individual state and a larger multi-state game run in coordination with other states. The primary issue is whether the two different products should be considered substitutes or complements for one another. The question is considered from two different perspectives that lead to a conclusion that while the two products do tend to be complements to one another, overall the individually run state lottery games experience a reduction in sales from the presence of the multi-state game.     

Developing Social Citizenship？ A Case Study of Education and Health Services in Yantian Village of Guangdong Province

Social policy is an indispensable element of rule and China’s current leadership has moved policy to a more inclusive system based on a notion of citizenship.The extension of social welfare provision is examined through a case study of education and health care in the South China village of Yantian.Yantian lies at the core of the Pearl River Delta,which has become a key link in the global reorganization of manufacturing and production.Consequently,the village is home to some 80 000 migrant workers who complement the 3000 registered inhabitants.A study of education and health-care provision reveals that in terms of equity, registered villagers enjoy significant advantages in seeking welfare resources.Although living in the same village,the two groups inhabit \"different worlds.\" However,provision, while selective,has become more inclusive.The present research suggests that \"social citizenship \" will precede \"political citizenship.\"     

Effort and Performance: What Distinguishes Interacting and Noninteracting Groups from Individuals?

We study how group membership affects behavior both when group members can and cannot interact with each other. Our goal is to isolate the contrasting forces that spring from group membership: a free‐riding incentive leading to reduced effort and a sense of social responsibility that increases effort. In an environment with varying task difficulty and individual decision making as the benchmark, we show that the free‐riding effect is stronger. Group members significantly reduce their effort in situations where they share the outcome but are unable to communicate. When group members share outcomes and can interact, they outperform groups without communication and individuals. We show that these groups do as well as the best constituent member would have done on his or her own.     

普惠型社会福利的中国理解

普惠型社会福利来自于对社会福利模式的最初划分。在社会福利由补缺型到普惠型转变的过程中,在学界和各级政府层面,无论是顶层设计还是政策实践,我们都在探索有中国特色的普惠型社会福利模式。普惠型社会福利从提出、引入到本土化经历了一个漫长的时期,在我国经济高速发展但人均经济发展水平还很低的情况下,构建怎样的社会福利发展模式并有效地付诸实践成为我国社会福利发展的突出问题。在建立覆盖城乡和全民共享的社会福利体系的背景下,适度普惠型社会福利模式在中国应运而生。     

社会保障制度非商品化的国际比较与战略取向

对安德森社会福利的非商品化度量方法进行改进,增加社会保障模式、公共负担和市场负担等宏观维度指标,从宏观和微观双重维度12个指标度量社会保障制度非商品化程度,并以此对36个国家的社会保障制度的非商品化程度进行度量和比较。研究发现,我国社会保障制度的非商品化程度较低,尤其是社会保障的宏观维度非商品得分较低。我国社会保障的非商品化水平相比于同类型国家略高,但离福利国家之路还较遥远。     

Renting Goodwill in International Marketing Channels: An Analysis of Pricing Strategies and Bargaining Power

This paper investigates the pricing decisions of foreign manufacturers in international markets within a bargaining framework with asymmetric information and the rental of goodwill. The key findings are: first, the foreign manufacturer follows a mark-up pricing strategy in which its gross margin and the quality premium over the domestic product are shared with the importer. Second, a manufacturer–importer contract occurs only when the manufacturer’s bargaining power is within an admissible range which shrinks as transaction costs increase. Third, the domestic consumer will only purchase the foreign product if the importer’s goodwill in the domestic market is sufficiently large to signal quality. The paper contributes to the literature on exchange relationships between foreign manufacturers and importers.     

技术引进中的逆向选择与社会福利

技术引进成为发展中国家提高本国科技水平的重要方式之一,伴随着信息不对称等因素,技术引进过程中容易出现逆向选择的现象,本文对技术引进中逆向选择引起技术引进国社会福利变化进行研究,得出结论:信息对称条件下技术引进所带来的社会福利要远远高于信息不对称的情况。     

我国农村住房保障现状和思考

目前,我国大部分农村住房条件较差,农民安身之所难以得到保障;而现有的农村住房制度又存在诸多弊端,农村住房保障体系也尚未有效建立。虽然城市住房保障体系已经逐步完善,但农村住房与城市住房存在显著不同,农村住房保障应该从保持农村特色、体现民风民俗、方便生产生活等方面入手。文章旨在通过对我国农村居民住房现状和我国现行农村住房制度的分析,对我国农村住房社会保障体系建设提供一定的思路和建议。     

建构城市社会福利过程中市场要素的取舍

从理论上分析了社会福利的基本内涵,认为社会福利是社区居民生活的美好状态。在实践层面上,城市社会福利的提升需要对市场要素进行不同的取舍包括:社会福利服务中的市场要素;政府定位的转向;多方资源的参与中市场要素的位置等多方面的内容。