How to do more with numbers : Elementary stakes,framing, keying,and the three-dimensional character of numerical signs

This paper investigates the various ways in which the use numbers is involved in the ordering of activity in social situations. Drawing on social studies of finance and accounting, elementary stakes within the situated use of numbers are initially considered, listing alongside the utilization of numbers as bearers of information their impact on opportunities of action, the embedding of situations, and the use of numbers as social resources. Subsequently, Erving Goffman’s method of frame analysis is drawn upon to more closely investigate how the utilization of numbers is interactively regulated. The framing of activity differentiates consumptive and reproductive utilizations of numbers, and processes of keying manage transitions between frames of consumption and reproduction. Through framing and keying, numbers acquire a three-dimensional character combining calculative, symptomatic and existential qualities. This is illustrated by a sketch of the kind of social order which unfolds when participants attempt to regulate at a distance activity embedded in networks of circulating numbers. In conclusion, there appear to be general differences between the use of numbers and the use of letters and written narrative which derive from the more immediate bearing of the use of numbers on the ordering of social situations, and particularly its unique power of upkeying.     

Port devolution revisited: the case of regional ports and the role of lower tier governments

Most models of port governance have been developed to fit the largest ports, and tend to simplify the devolution process as one involving the transfer of jurisdiction from the State to the private sector. The devolution of smaller ports has been largely ignored as have transfers involving transfers from upper levels of government to lower tiers of public administration. Yet in many countries this has been the experience of port governance, where complex structures have arisen, many of which involve public control, in contrast to the strongly privatised process covered in the literature. The objective of this paper is to examine the process and consequences of changing port governance involving small and medium size ports where lower tiers of government are involved. It examines the recent devolution process in Canada and the decentralization policy in France. It brings to light the diversity of actors, public and private, who have come into play. The paper goes on to examine the challenges that have come about as a result of devolution that face the new port administrations. The paper concludes that existing models of port governance are incomplete and that the role of public administration in port governance is greater, albeit in a different form, than claimed in the existing literature.     

Currency restrictions,government transaction policies and currency exchange

Summary. We study how currency restrictions and government transaction policies affect the values of fiat currencies in a two country, divisible good, search model. We show that these policies can generate equilibria where both currencies circulate as medium of exchange and where currency exchange occurs between citizens of different countries. Restrictions on the internal use of foreign currency can cause the domestic currency to be relatively more valuable to domestic agents while taxes on domestic currency create an incentive for home agents to hold foreign currency. We demonstrate that some policies increase prices and lower welfare while others do the reverse. Received: September 5, 2001; revised version: March 1, 2002     

Greece in the European Union: policy lessons from two decades of membership

This paper examines the first two decades of Greece’s experience as a member of the European Union (EU). In evaluating the Greek experience within the EU, we derive three fundamental policy lessons that apply both to similar small peripheral countries now entering the EU and to the EU itself in terms of facilitating their integration in a large economic area. First, small peripheral countries that enter the EU must address the structural deficiencies of their economies before entry in order to minimize the impact of increased competition after the removal of trade protection, and follow domestic policies that maintain and promote their comparative advantage within the EU. Second, the Convergence Criteria have proven to be a successful mechanism for countries with a poor historical policy record to achieve macroeconomic stability, as shown by the case of Greece. Third, common EU policies can be very helpful in facilitating structural reforms in small peripheral economies. However, these policies must be continuously evaluated and improved so that their effectiveness is maximized.     

The state of construction training and employment in the local economy of Jersey

There is a crisis in the training and skills provision of the Channel Island of Jersey's construction industry that has similarities with the situation in Britain. The main problems relate to the unavailability, inappropriateness and narrow focus of skills, the demand-driven and task- or job-specific nature of training, the Jersey-born and male focus of recruitment, and the uncoordinated, traditional and short-term approach of the local construction firms towards promotion and financing of training provision. It is argued that a structured training policy incorporating the needs of both education and industry and holding a long-term vision should enable the construction industry of Jersey to reverse the downward spiral.     

Book Review

The article deals with Swedish well-educated female entrepreneurs (Swefees), that is entrepreneurs with a education exceeding 12 years. The Swefees seem to differ in some interesting ways both from other female entrepreneurs, from male entrepreneurs and from other women on the labour market. But it also turns out that they are of two kinds, Loner-Swefees and Family-Swefees. The Loner-Swefees are single, living in a big city environment and have an interrupted career in the public or private sector behind them. They are extremely career-oriented. The Family-Swefees are also career-oriented but try to run a family and a firm at the same time. Swefees go into business with strong feelings both of a push and pull kind. They are very professional in their way of running the firm.

The population of Swefees were found through a big questionnaire sent to a sample of 1,440 of the population of over 64,000 Swedish female entrepreneurs. A little more than 1,000 (of the 1,440) were still in business when receiving the questionnaire which around 70% of them answered. Swefees turned out to be only 6% of female entrepreneurs.     

Short sea and deep sea shipping markets in France

This paper examines the physical and organizational characteristics of maritime consignments sent from France by comparing those sent by deep sea shipping (DSS) with those sent by short sea shipping (SSS). It employs a very detailed survey that identifies individual shipments, and contains information on routing, mode and organization. The results confirm that the majority of deep sea consignments pass through the major ports, but the SSS market is shown to be more diverse. A link between the size of the hinterland and the type of trade is identified. Finally, the paper shows the importance of logistic service providers in SSS chains.     

The financial crisis in Norway: effects on financial markets and measures taken

This article guides through the measures implemented in Norway in order to dampen negative effects stemming from the financial crisis. We also discuss some features of the Norwegian money market and the liquidity system in Norway. From the point of view of central banks, the widening gap between money market rates and the key policy rate has been one disturbing element of the financial crises. We develop a simple model, which illustrates how developments in forward exchange premiums can provide insight as to why money market premiums differ across currencies. The model shows that the excess supply of term liquidity in dollar relative to the excess supply of term liquidity in other currencies has an impact on the domestic money market premium relative to that on USD.