Einige neuere Entwicklungen in der Messung der industriellen Konzentration

Zusammenfassung In der Diskussion verschiedener Konzentrationsma?e zeigt die Informationsentropie in der Form des normierten Entropiema?esE optimale Eigenschaften. Gleich demC-Index und demRosenbluth-Index reagiert sie wettbewerbstheoretisch „richtig“, weist aber wegen ihrer axiomatischen Fundierung zus?tzlich die Disaggregations-Eigenschaft auf. Zur ersten Orientierung über Konzentrationstendenzen hat sich der Konzentrationskoeffizient trotz mancher Nachteile als nützlich erwiesen. Einige Ergebnisse werden am Beispiel der Automobilproduktion Kanadas und der BRD gezeigt.

---

Summary Among the discussed measures of business concentration the standardized entropy-measureE reveals most favourable properties. Alike the indexes ofHirschman and ofRosenbluth it reacts ‘as expected’ in terms of the theory of industrial organization. In addition,E makes disaggregation feasible because of its axiomatic basis. For purposes of observing concentration at a first glance the method of concentration ratios proves to be a useful tool despite conceptual shortcomings. Some findings are shown for the Canadian and the West-German passenger-car industry.

     

Sociological versus strategic factors in bargaining

Most game-theoretic models of strategic interaction, indeed most economic models of any sort, specify potential outcomes entirely in terms of the preferences of the agents, as captured in their (possibly cardinal) utility functions. The underlying assumption is that the outcome of such interactions is determined entirely by these preferences, together with the strategic possibilities available to the agents. The purpose of this paper is to challenge the adequacy of this assumption in general, by investigating it in the specific context of two-person bargaining. In particular, we consider whether certain experimental results reported earlier can be accounted for strictly in terms of players' preferences and strategic possibilities, and we report a new experimental study designed to answer this question. The results strongly support the conclusion that sociological factors, unrelated to what we normally consider to be the ‘economic’ parameters of a game, can decisively influence the outcome of bargaining, in a systematic manner.     

The role of the family in development

It is important for the development planner to view the family as a flexible organizational unit of individuals who have different roles, privileges, rewards, options, and obligations. In developing countries the criteria for distributing resources and responsibilities within families are not the same as the Western criteria of development needs and requirements. Neither do sex and age, particularly among the poor, determine the roles people play in the family. Women play important productive roles in developing countries and a critical role in the cultivation of all crops, subsistence and cash, in sub-Saharan Africa. Children also make important contributions. Although all family members must work hard, scarce resources and immediate needs frequently result in unequal distribution of resources and access to services. All members of low-income families in developing countries are involved in the struggle for survival, for no 1 income source is adequate. The family's decision-making process is implicit in all its distribution of both responsibilities and resources. If wives in poor households are able to retain control of their earnings, they can have more power. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the women have a major agricultural role, their power bases are broader.     

Breastfeeding versus infant formula: the Kenyan case

An Infant Feeding Practices Study (IFPS) in 1982 in Kenya, which included a cross-sectional survey of a weighted sample of 980 low and middle income Nairobi mothers who had given birth in the previous 18 months, found that most women breastfeed their infants for long periods, but many introduce alternate feeding, especially infant formula, in the 1st 4 months (86 and 50% of the infants were breastfed at 6 and 15 months respectively, but 50% of the 2 month-olds and 63% of the 4 month-olds were receiving substitutes, mostly formula). This is done largely out of the belief that infant formula is an additional health benefit. A workshop to discuss the findings of the IFPS and other available data, and to make policy recommendations urged the adoption of a policy of protection, support and promotion of breastfeeding. Since breastfeeding is already widely prevalent in Kenya, protection of breastfeeding should receive the 1st priority in policy related to infant feeding. Attention should be directed at at least 2 influences which help undermine breastfeeding: widespread availability and promotion of breast milk substitutes. Support for breastfeeding is viewed as the 2nd policy priority. Situations where support can play a helpful role are, women's paid employment outside the home, hospital practices, maternal morbidity, and difficulties in breastfeeding. Since promotion is the least cost effective of the 3 options, and most Kenyan women are already motivated to breastfeed, this should be the last priority. Promotion includes reeduction of mothers to make them better aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. The workshop recommended the dissemination of appropriate information, consisting of standarized messages based on clearcut guidelines, using mass media techniques.     

De Wet en de kansspelen

In the Netherlands all gambling is forbidden except in a few cases specially mentioned in the law. Time and again specialists in probability theory or statistics are called upon to testify as experts in lawsuits against law evaders. This paper discusses the part played by the experts in such legal procedures. It is pointed out that according to Dutch jurisprudence there does not exist an exclusive distinction between games of chance and games of skill. A simple declaration by an expert that a given game is largely based on chance suffices to see the game sentenced as against the law. This and various other related questions are discussed in detail and illustrated by examples taken from personal experience in the courts.