Banking strategy and credit expansion: a post-Keynesian approach

This paper aims to clarify the relationship between individualbanks and banking industry behaviour in credit expansion. Theauthors argue that the balance sheet structure of an individualbank is only partially determined by its management's decisionabout how aggressively to expand credit; it is also determinedby the balance sheet positions of other banks. This relationshipis shown explicitly by a simple disaggregation of the variablesthat enter into the economy-wide money multiplier. The approachtaken here revives the multi-bank approach to banking analysispioneered by Wallace and Karmel in the 1960s, which is particularlywell-suited to integrating micro and macro levels in Keynesianbanking analysis.     

Call to arms: time to fight an epidemic

According to the National Institutes of Health (2008), 108 million Americans are overweight and/or obese. In 1997, the World Health Organization noted that this was a major public health problem and it is no longer just an American problem. Clinically, nurses must find ways to have conversations with clients about weight and healthy lifestyles in ways that do blame the victim. Take a look at the vending machines for patients and their families in waiting rooms. Is there anything in those machines that we could consider healthy? Nurse leaders are in the ideal position to help their organizations consider the development and implementation of a wellness program. Most importantly, we have to start talking about the issue and find ways to develop multi-pronged approaches to confront the obesity epidemic.     

Gender and Age Differences in Socio‐economic Inequalities in Total and Avoidable Mortality in Portugal: A Trend Analysis*

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how socio‐economic inequalities in mortality (total and avoidable) evolved in Portugal from the 1990s onwards by looking at differences by gender, age group, poverty and cause of death. Results show that mortality in younger age groups is decreasing faster in the most deprived municipalities. Yet, avoidable deaths do not follow this pattern, particularly with respect to treatable mortality amenable to the health care services. Although total and avoidable mortality are decreasing across all age groups and both genders, decreases in treatable deaths during and after the 2011–14 economic crisis slowed down among the young, with a sharpening of socio‐economic inequalities in avoidable mortality among adults and the elderly. This provides evidence that, in some respects, focusing programmes on those living in poor circumstances has been successful over time. However, the impact of the Great Recession on health care services might have contributed to a significant increase in some treatable causes of death associated with these services.     

Crime and economic growth: A case study of Manaus,Brazil

Brazil became the seventh largest economy in the world in 2012. In the same year, the country was responsible for 13% of all worldwide murders. Despite the economic advances, crime is increasing over time in the country. This study explores the impact of organized crime on local economies, focusing on the case of Manaus, Brazil, and the emergence of the criminal group Família do Norte (FDN). We employ a synthetic control method to analyze the economic effects of the FDN's presence in Manaus. The findings reveal a significant negative impact on the city's economic growth and prosperity, with Manaus experiencing a 2% per year lower GDP per capita compared to what it would have been without the FDN. Robustness checks confirme this result, showing how organized crime can disrupt the country's economic advances.