Oil conflict in Nigeria: Contending issues and perspectives of the local Niger Delta people

This article analyses the extent and nature of private authority in global political economy by examining one of its most publicised instances, the World Economic Forum (WEF). In Davos, Switzerland, the annual meetings of the WEF have attracted the world economic and political e´lite for more than 30 years. Appraisals of the WEF diverge widely. For many years, Le Monde Diplomatique, the French monthly close to the anti-neoliberal globalisation movement, has described the World Economic Forum as ‘the meeting place of the masters of the world [which] has undoubtedly become the centre of hyperliberalism, the capital of globalisation, and the main home of the “pensée unique” ’. George Soros, the well known hedge-fund manager turned philanthropist, has described the meetings of Davos, of which he is a regular participant, as a ‘big cocktail party’. These contrasting views on the influence and power of the WEF in global politics and economy mirror the position of those holding such claims: those closely associated with the Forum are inclined to deny its power and those fiercely opposed are likely to emphasise its overarching influence. From a theoretical perspective, however, these opposing views express disagreement on one outstanding feature of the changes associated with ‘globalisation’: the significance of new agents in the global political economy beyond states and markets.     

Fiscal Policy in Australia and Southeast Asia: An Overview

Ian M. McDonald introduces a Policy Forum on Fiscal Policy in Australia and Southeast Asia . In this Policy Forum two papers focus on the fiscal policy of the Howard Government. A third paper considers the role of fiscal policy in the currency crisis in Southeast Asia.     

Monetary Policy in Australia: An Introduction

This Policy Forum brings together three views on the conduct of monetary policy in Australia. It arose from a submission by Peter Stemp which was refereed in the normal manner for contributed papers. One referee, Stephen Grenville, was prompted to forego his anonymity and to submit a paper addressing similar issues but taking a very different approach on the objectives of monetary policy. The editors asked John Pitchford to comment on both papers. The Grenville and Pitchford papers were edited in the manner used for Policy Forum.     

Financial development and governance relationships

In any country, financial development has a huge influence on country’s economic developments. Financial development strengthens financial stability of countries and enhances deep and broad access to capital and financial services by improving efficiency of financial markets and effectiveness of financial intermediation. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationships between various aspects (pillars) of financial development and dimensions of governance for countries listed in the Financial Development Index of the World Economic Forum. The Index provides a score for the breadth, depth and efficiency of 62 of the world’s leading financial markets. The study utilized the data from the World Economic Forum presented in the financial development report (2012) and attempted to model the relationships between various pillars of financial development and dimensions of governance by structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology. The study used the Worldwide Governance Indicators for year 2012 of the World Bank as the measure of governance. According to the SEM results, there seems to be a significant positive relationship between governance and financial development. Thus, as governance is enhanced, we may expect financial development to strengthen as well.     

日本“清凉地球创新论坛”多元合作模式对推动我国环保科技创新的启示

日本“清凉地球创新论坛”是日本政府致力打造的能源环境版“世界经济论坛”。自2014年举办以来,论坛规模不断扩大,以发达国家为主的顶级科研团队、商业精英和政府决策者围绕气候变化密切跟踪国际前沿技术发展趋势,为低碳领域研发机构开辟了广阔的合作空间,提升了日本对全球气候治理的国际话语权。本文通过对历届“清凉地球创新论坛”的组织情况、议题设置及主要成效跟踪研究,对我国推动环保科技创新及技术转移提出建议,包括加强国际科技合作,发挥政府间部门协同优势,推广产学研合作机制,加强与“一带一路”国家的环境研究合作,为“一带一路”建设提供绿色支持。     

Book Reviews

Béla Greskovits, The Political Economy of Protest and Patience. East European and Latin American Transformations Compared
Roman Frydman, Kenneth Murphy and Andrzej Rapaczynski, Capitalism with a Comrade's Face
Lorand Ambrus-Lakatos and Mark Schaffer (eds), Fiscal Policy in Transition. Forum Report of the Economic Policy initiative No. 3
Michael Ellman and Vladimir Kontorovich (eds), The Destruction of the Soviet Economic System. An Insider' History
Louis Emmerij (ed.), Economic and Social Development into the XXI Century     

Introduction to the Policy Forum

This Policy Forum highlights the links between the exchange rate and Australia's macroeconomic policy.     

“Book Review: The Worth of Water by Matt Damon and Gary White”

Gary White and Matt Damon's recent book, The Worth of Water, details the challenges faced and insights gleaned while building a major microcredit initiative to improve access to safe water and/or sanitation. It was presented during the World Water Forum in Dakar (March 2022). I will describe the birth and evolution of this initiative, contextualizing it in the current concern for access to clean water, and attempting to highlight its main technical details (financing, organization, and reach). I will also try to offer some critical consideration (regarding access to drinking water as a human right) and perspective (on the possible development of the approach promoted by the book).     

The Economics of Health and Health Policy: An Introduction

This article provides an introductory overview of the Policy Forum and a discussion of research needs in the economics of health and health policy.     

Introduction to the Policy Forum on Commonwealth–State Funding Arrangements

This article introduces the Policy Forum on funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the States.     

发展现代流通产业,振兴东北老工业基地--"振兴东北老工业基地与现代流通产业发展"高层论坛观点综述

在党中央、国务院提出振兴东北老工业基地战略之后,各级政府和企业界、理论界都在积极探索振兴东北老工业基地的良方.毋庸置疑的是,在振兴战略的实施过程中,现代流通产业将发挥举足轻重的作用.为了深入研究东北老工业基地振兴中流通产业的发展问题,探求流通产业在东北振兴中的作用,从而为东北老工业基地的振兴献计献策,中国市场学会、东北财经大学和锦程国际物流集团于2004年6月19-20日在大连召开了首届"振兴东北老工业基地与现代流通产业发展"高层论坛.本文对此次论坛的主要学术观点进行了综述.     

Childcare Policy: An Introduction and Overview

This article summarises the case for public involvement in the provision of childcare and provides an overview of the contributions to the Policy Forum.     

Introduction: Australian Higher Education as an Industry

This article provides an introduction to the contributed articles in the Forum through an overview of the structure of higher education in Australia.     

Is Australia Really a World Leader in Closing the Gender Gap?

Abstract

In the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2006 Global Gender Gap report, Australia was highlighted as a world leader in closing the gender gap. With reference to the Economic Participation and Opportunity Index (one of four components in the WEF Gender Gap Index (GGI)), this article assesses whether or not Australia is deserving of this recognition. Closer analysis shows that convergence in the participation gap flowed from increased participation in part-time, low-paid, and precarious jobs. Research also shows that women's entry into professional jobs has led to the feminization of some positions and that vertical segregation remains an ongoing problem. In highlighting these disparities, this article questions the capacity of the GGI to provide an adequate understanding of women's labor market participation and economic attainment.     

Special Policy Forum on Unemployment: Editorial Note

The papers for this Policy Forum were presented at a Melbourne Institute Conference in November. Comments by discussants are included.     

Higher Education: Some Key Issues

In this introduction to the Policy Forum, some key issues in relation to proposed reform of the funding of higher education are outlined.     

Long-run Effects on China of APEC Trade Liberalization

Plans for trade liberalization within the Asia–Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forum include the elimination of all tariffs between member states. The study in this paper uses two computable general equilibrium models to examine the effects of these plans, focusing on China. The modelling shows that liberalization increases China's capital stock and real GDP. The implication for Chinese industries depends on the extent to which liberalization exposes them to additional import competition. Industries strongly stimulated include textiles and communications equipment. Transport equipment is the most adversely affected. Chinese regional results follow from the industrial compositions of the regions, with Zhejiang the most favourably affected and Jilin the least.     

The Interaction of Tax and Social Security: Introduction and Overview

this paper introduces the Policy Forum, identifying the need for reform of the interaction of the tax and social security systems and foreshadowing approaches to such reform.     

Reviewing the Trade Practices Act: The Dawson Committee Inquiry

The Dawson Committee is currently reviewing Australia's competition laws. This article introduces the Policy Forum and considers how the economics of the law can aid the review.     

On the determinants of trade in services: evidence from the MENA region

This article examines the determinants of aggregate flows of service trade in MENA countries using an adapted version of the gravity model and a panel data set covering the 2000 to 2009 period for 21 countries and 10 sectors. A new determinant of trade performance is introduced: the number of bound commitments undertaken by a sector in the WTO as well as the availability of those commitments by mode of supply. The results show that being a WTO member boosts trade in services. In addition, the number of bound commitments increases exports, imports and trade in services. This positive and significant effect remains robust even after controlling for several econometric issues, namely, the selection bias related to the WTO membership and the endogeneity of commitments.¹1. We are grateful to the editor Mark Taylor and two anonymous referees for providing valuable comments and suggestions. We would also like to thank the participants to the ERF 18th Annual Conference and to the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Middle East Economic Association (MEEA). This work benefited from the financial support of Economics Research Forum (ERF). It does not reflect the Forum’s opinion.