Interpretive structural modeling—A useful tool for technology assessment?

Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is a computer based technique for helping small groups develop graphical representations of complex systems. In this paper, the rationale for the use of Interpretative Structural Modeling in activities such as technology assessment is developed and the basic concepts underlying the technique are explored. Several applications of ISM are described and from these experiences some observations are made about the nature and effectiveness of the ISM process and product. ISM was found to provide its users with a systematic and comprehensive method for integrating group judgments in the development of “first-cut‘ structural models. At the same time, however, the technique was found to be relatively inflexible and may, in some instances, inhibit group processes. Possible directions for the development of less rigid methods are suggested.     

Corporate financial structure and the funding of private pension plans

One strand of the literature on the employment contract focuses on the role of the contract in the efficient sharing of risk between capitalists and workers. One way capitalists can shift risk to workers is to provide part of workers' remuneration in the form of an unfunded, deferred pension. Since bonds, in the event of bankruptcy or voluntary termination, are typically senior to unfunded pension liabilities, capitalists can also affect their risk by altering the firm's debt-to-equity ratio. These observations suggest that corporate financial structure and the employment contract are interdependent. The paper has two major goals. The first is to take a step towards integrating the theory of corporate financial structure with that of the employment contract. The second is to investigate possible consequences of legislation which regulates the funding of private pensions.     

EFFECT OF GROUPING OF DATA ON THE DIVERGENCE BETWEEN LASPEYRES AND PAASCHE FORMS OF QUANTUM INDEXES*

Historical data for the manufacturing industry in the United States and United Kingdom are quoted, showing in most cases divergences between Laspeyres and Paasche forms of the quantum index that are by no means negligible. When the Paasche index for two of the series is recalculated with quantity indicators for industries instead of for products, the divergence is greatly reduced, and when quantity indicators for industry groups are substituted it almost disappears. This raises some questions about the practices of econometricians and statisticians, which are discussed. In a mathematical appendix by E. R. Coleman it is suggested that the grouping effect referred to does not depend on the particular way in which the data are grouped in most quantum indexes.     

对西方思想史中人的素质思想的考察

西方思想史实际上就是一部以人为中心的历史,它以人为出发点和考察对象,从古至今的思想家们自觉不自觉地涉及到了人的素质这一问题,本文纵向考察了从古希腊开始一直到近现代的西方思想家们对人的素质问题的论述,勾勒出西方人学思想发展的基本脉络,这对于我们今天在社会主义建设中如何认识和促进人的素质的发展具有非常重要的启示和意义。     

我国西南地区水土治理及西部大开发的实证研究

无论是从问题的实质,还是方法论的角度来讲,水土治理都是西南地区经济开发中的一项战略性工程。通过对云南省红河州具体的水土流失现状、危害和治理的紧迫性和治理中存在的主要问题的分析,提出了西南地区水土治理的总体战略设想和具体的治理措施。     

生态经济理论的发展与政治经济学的创新

长期以来,我国社会主义政治经济学由于忽视研究生态经济问题,使之缺乏创新与发展。现在生态经济学得到了迅速的发展,政治经济学必须研究生态经济问题,必须吸收生态经济理论,真正成为社会主义现代化建设的坚实的理论基础。     

当前高校大学生考试作弊原因浅析及对策

高校学生考试作弊现象时有发生。其原因包括自我要求降低，教考制度、学生管理等方面存在问题。要改善这种现状，必须促使学生端正学习态度，通过教育改革提高学生学习热情，加强校风校纪建设，完善考试制度，最终杜绝高校学生考试作弊现象。     

China''''s Cooperative Exploration of Oil and Gas and Its Taxation System

China' s foreign-oriented oil taxation system has, from the beginning, been based upon the positive experiences of other oil-producing countries and has incorporated common international practices. The system has been perfected over decades. It of fers more incentives than other oil-producing countries in the following four aspects: (1) Income tax has a "wide tax base and low tax rate"; (2) VAT levies a low tax rate on ma-