Company-led strategies in defence sector restructuring: Implications for local economic development

This paper examines defence sector restructuring as effected through the networks of Lancashire-based companies involved in defence production. Evidence of restructuring is drawn from the Lancashire Defence Survey. The data provides the starting point for discussion of the strategies of those companies contracted to supply products and services, and employees contracted to supply skills, in the military production process. Transaction cost theory is applied to these changing contractual relations and implications for local economic development organisations are drawn out.     

Restructuring the electricity distribution industry: An analysis of the proposed ownership and governance structures of regional electricity distributors

The electricity distribution industry is currently fragmented and in a financial crisis. The government proposes restructuring the industry into a number of regional electricity distributors (REDs) that will take over the electricity distribution function from municipalities and Eskom, who will be given shares in the REDs in exchange for their distribution assets. It is also proposed that REDs be controlled by boards consisting of customers, trade unions, national and provincial governments, municipalities and Eskom. This article critically examines these and other restructuring options relating to the ownership and governance of REDs. It is argued that these proposals would perpetuate the inequalities that exist between historically advantaged and disadvantaged local governments; that they would extend Eskom's monopoly of the electricity industry, and that they would obstruct good governance and private investment in the sector. To conclude, the article makes a number of recommendations that would mitigate these negative consequences.     

The government sector,the export sector and growth

Summary A three-sector, two-input growth model is developed which potentially allows for the separate identification of government and export sector productivity differentials and externality effects. Using data from a limited sample of OECD countries (which are the only countries for which reliable capital stock data are readily available), we find that the export sector is more productive than the rest of the economy, but that neither an externality effect nor a productivity differential can be detected in the case of the government sector.The author wishes to acknowledge financial assistance from a Research Grant from the Division of Commerce of the University of Otago which funded the participation of William M. Jones as research asistant in this work. Thanks are due to Annette Godman for secretarial assistance. The referees of this journal made extensive comments on an earlier version of this paper, and the present version is substantially better thanks to them. Remaining errors are, of course, my responsibility.     

Restructuring of financial institutions and the corporate sector in Korea

This paper explores causes of the Korean currency crisis which started in November 1997. This paper also presents restructuring proposals and introduces the progress made so far. The urgency for quick restructuring and the necessity of the injection of money from both the government and foreign investors are emphasized. Restructuring of financial and corporate sectors should be pursued simultaneously. In the financial sector, the restructuring of banks should take precedence over other financial institutions. The key task in terms of bank restructuring involves the resolution of bad loans, recapitalization and the expedited reorganization of nonviable banks. Corporate reform is also important. Banks should play a central role in corporate workouts, especially in lowering excessive corporate debt and triggering corporate restructuring based on core competence. Transparency of corporate management, internationally accepted accounting practices, fuller disclosure requirements and stronger monitoring by minority shareholders are prerequisites for effective market discipline. Reform of ownership and governance structure are also important in enhancing managerial accountability of corporates as well as financial institutions.     

制度、伦理与地方政府债券——我国地方政府债券:一道没有解的难题

从各种媒体上看到各位专家学者对我国发行地方政府债券的呼声比较高，称地方政府债券的发行是我国金融中一大创新，是投资的一大亮点，是促进经济发展的动力。好像地方政府债券一发行就能解决经济社会发展中遇到的各种问题，成了包治百病的万灵药。以下就是一些专家学者的观点：     

A poverty indicator system for local government

This article looks at the implications of using indicators (such as poverty levels, housing levels, access to services, employment rates, etc.) as part of a democratic and accountable process of local governance. It is argued that underlying the advocacy of particular indicators of poverty are different models of poverty and of governance. Some popular schools of thought on poverty are examined in terms of both models and measurement (indicators). A framework is proposed for developing indicators, and a set of housing indicators inspired by the United Nations' Urban Indicators Programme is considered using this framework. It is suggested that the current approach to developing indicators in South Africa is not integrated or coherent because it lacks grounding in an explicit and defensible model of poverty.     

参与式预算:地方政府预算制度改革模式研究

文章探讨了参与式预算的发展及其实施与推广的基本原则、过程、所参与的项目、所取得的成就与局限等国际经验,指出了在中国地方预算管理制度中持续推行参与式预算需要关注的几个问题。     

我国地方政府法治建设析论

地方政府作为我国法治政府建设的前沿,起着至关重要的作用。本文简要叙述了目前我国地方政府法治建设的现状,指出了我国地方政府存在的主要问题,并对我国地方政府法治建设的主要内容和重要举措进行了总结。     

Sectoral adjustment in government expenditure in the 1970s: The educational sector in Latin America

As a consequence of economic stagnation and the increasing difficulties faced by developing country governments in financing their budgets, it might be expected that the education sector in these countries would suffer cutbacks. On the other hand, in most countries the education sector has high political, social and economic priority and is therefore one of the more difficult sectors within which to make adjustments. This paper examines the experience of 18 Latin American countries in terms of how educational spending has evolved at each educational level during the period 1965–1978. A comparison is made of the periods before and after the adjustment of the 1970s. The authors evaluate the form that expenditure adjustments have taken and conclude with some remarks on the patterns which emerged.     

关于稳健原则适度应用的思考

本文详细描述了地方政府财政能力的概念 ,并从五个方面建构了地方政府的财政能力的支持系统。