Multi-period layout planning for hospital wards

Layout planning for hospitals is a long-term decision. Nevertheless, medical and organizational factors change over time. For example, demand for different-sized bed rooms varies based on medical requirements and patient preferences. In this paper, we consider the planning of ward layouts over multiple periods using different approaches. The fixed ward layout models aim at minimizing either the number of demand violations or costs for installing fixed patient rooms. In contrast, the variable ward layout model allows for layout adaptations to satisfy demand. Thus, additional costs for the movement of walls have to be considered. The application of the different approaches as a decision support tool for hospital planners is explained. Hence, it can be derived in which settings the costs for adapting a layout do not exceed the benefits of such a change. Computational experiments demonstrate the applicability of the models for realistic instances.     

Local democracy

Pratchett, L. and Wilson, D. (eds) 1996: LOCAL DEMOCRACY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Ltd, £12.99 paper.

King, D. and Stoker, G. (eds) 1996: RETHINKING LOCAL DEMOCRACY. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Ltd, £40.00 cased £12.99 paper.

Kuper, R. 1996: CITIZENS JURIES: THE HERTFORDSHIRE EXPERIENCE. Hertford: University of Hertfordshire Business School, Politics Paper 3.

Coote, A. and Mattinson, D. 1997: TWELVE GOOD NEIGHBOURS: THE CITIZEN AS JUROR. London: Fabian Society, £5.00 paper.

Hodge, M., Leach, S. and Stoker, G. 1997: MORE THAN THE FLOWER SHOW: ELECTED MAYORS AND DEMOCRACY. London: Fabian Society, £10.00 paper.

Hambleton, R. and Bullock, S. 1996: REVITALISING LOCAL DEMOCRACY. THE LEADERSHIP OPTION. Report of the Association of District Councils and Local Government Management Board. London: Association of District Councils, £10.00 paper.

LGIU. 1996: AGENDA FOR CHANGE. London: LGIU.

INLOGOV

— University of Birmingham, 1997: MAKING LOCAL GOVERNANCE WORK. Findings from the Local Governance Research Programme of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Findings Paper 1 Changing Nature of Local Governance. Findings Paper 2 Citizenship and Participation. Findings Paper 3 Partnership and Networks. Findings Paper 4 Developing Community Leadership. Findings Paper 5 Managing Change. For copies contact John Raine, INLOGOV, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT.     

Is the relationship between bank stability,competition, and intervention quality nonlinear? Evidence from North African countries

This paper highlights the existence of a nonlinear relationship between bank stability and competition and analyzes the role that government intervention plays in shaping this relationship. We used a sample of 45 banks in North African countries over the period 2005–2019. We applied a semiparametric approach based on penalized spline estimation. The results unveil the specific shape of the competition–stability relationship at different levels of competition; banks reconsider their risk-taking behavior at each level of competition. This nonmonotonic stability at different levels of competition is attributed to the quality of intervention, which is found to be an important determinant in shaping this relationship. Thus, we explain the dispersion of risk levels among North African banks in part by the quality of regulation in each country and conclude by recommending the strengthening of regulation, supervision and the macro-prudential framework.     

Climate change as a threat to biodiversity: An application of the DPSIR approach

Climate change and its consequences present one of the most important threats to biodiversity and the functions of ecosystems. The stress on biodiversity is far beyond the levels imposed by the natural global climatic changes occurring in the recent evolutionary past. It includes temperature increases, shifts of climate zones, melting of snow and ice, sea level rise, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events. Natural systems are vulnerable to such changes due to their limited adaptive capacity. Based on an analysis using the DPSIR framework, this paper discusses some of the important socio-economic driving forces of climate change, with a focus on energy use and transportation. The paper also analyses observed and potential changes of climate and the pressures they exert on biodiversity, the changes in biodiversity, the resulting impacts on ecosystem functions, and possible policy responses. The latter can be divided into mitigation and adaptation measures. Both strategies are needed, mitigation in order to stabilise the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, and adaptation in order to adjust to changes that have already occurred or cannot be avoided. One mitigation option, increased biofuel production, which is also a response to oil depletion, would change land use patterns and increase human appropriation of net primary production of biomass, thereby threatening biodiversity. By considering the first order and second order impacts of climate change on biodiversity when developing policy measures, it will be possible to integrate ecosystem and biodiversity protection into decision-making processes.     

Reviews

Basic economics. Mackintosh, M., Brown, V., Costello, N., Dawson, G., Thompson, G. and Trigg, A. 1996: ECONOMICS AND CHANGING ECONOMIES. Open University and International Thomson Business Press, £19.99 paper.

Tinkering with equality. Rees, T. 1995: WOMEN AND THE EC TRAINING PROGRAMMES: TINKERING, TAILORING AND TRANSFORMATION. Bristol: SAUS publications, £11.50 paper.

Construction and employment. McGregor, A., Fitzpatrick, I., McConachie, M. and Thorn, G. 1995: BUILDING FUTURES: CAN LOCAL EMPLOYMENT BE CREATED FROM HOUSING EXPENDITURE? Bristol: SAUS Publications, £9.95 paper.

Harrison, M. and Davies, J. 1995: CONSTRUCTING EQUALITY: HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS AND MINORITY ETHNIC CONTRACTORS. Bristol: SAUS Publications, £9.95 paper.

Globalisation and Local Economic Development. Killick, T. (ed) 1995: THE FLEXIBLE ECONOMY: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE ADAPTABILITY OF NATIONAL ECONOMIES. London: Routledge/ODI, £16.99 paper.

Michie, J. and Grieve Smith, J. (eds) 1995: MANAGING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. Oxford: Oxford University Press, £14.95 paper.

City marketing. Neill, W. V., Fitzsimons, D. S. and Murtagh, B. 1995: REIMAGING THE PARIAH CITY: URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN BELFAST AND DETROIT. Aldershot: Avebury, £35.00 cased.

Flexible working. New Ways to Work, 1995: BALANCED LIVES: CHANGING WORK PATTERNS FOR MEN. London: New Ways to Work, £9.95 paper.

Cyberspace utopia? Graham, S. and Marvin, S. 1996: TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND THE CITY: ELECTRONIC SPACES, URBAN PLACES. London: Routledge, £15.99 paper.     

Distributive politics and economic growth: the Markovian Stackelberg solution

Summary. We generalize the result of Alesina and Rodrik (1994) by showing that their static solution is also a time consistent Stackelberg solution of a differential game between the government and the median voter.Received: 11 June 2001, Revised: 7 February 2003, JEL Classification Numbers: O15, O40, E61, C73.We would like to thank Claus Peter Ortlieb, Nikolaus A. Siegfried, and two anonymous referees for useful comments. The first version of this work was written while Holger Strulik was Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Department of Applied Economics, University of Cambridge, U.K. A research grant of the European Commission is gratefully acknowledged. Correspondence to: H. Strulik     

Greater London enterprise board: Vision and reality

This article debates the innovative role in the private sector defined for GLEB by the London Industrial Strategy. It suggests that there are substantial problems at both the theoretical level and the level of implementation with the concept of municipal enterprise boards. It concludes that there is a need for further discussion on the objectives of municipal enterprise boards and more assessment of their role in relation to other possible economic initiatives at the local level.     

Short reviews

Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit, 1991: The Good Employer: A Guide to Employing People. Available from 23 New Mount Street, Manchester M4 4DE, £5.00 paper.

Healey, P. 1990: From Shipyard to Housing Estate - the Transformation of the Hebburn Riverside 1979-1989. Department of Town and Country Planning, University of Newcastle, £8.50 paper.

Cameron, G., Moore, B., Nicholls, D., Rhodes, J. and Tyler, P. (eds) 1990: Cambridge Regional Economic Review, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge.