Robust political economy

This paper introduces the idea of “robust political economy.” In the context of political economic systems, “robustness” refers to a political economic arrangement's ability to produce social welfare-enhancing outcomes in the face of deviations from ideal assumptions about individuals' motivations and information. Since standard assumptions about complete and perfect information, instantaneous market adjustment, perfect agent rationality, political actor benevolence, etc., rarely, if ever actually hold, a realistic picture and accurate assessment of the desirability of alternative political economic systems requires an analysis of alternative systems' robustness. The Mises-Hayek critique of socialism forms the foundation for investigations of robustness that relax ideal informational assumptions. The Buchanan-Tullock public choice approach complements this foundation in forming the basis for investigations of robustness that relax ideal motivational assumptions. JEL Code B53, P16, P26     

International or national implementers—Who is better? Evidence from a framing experiment

Behavioral economics has shown that changing small features in framing a context or action may drastically change behavior. A key factor characterizing most development interventions is the salience of either a local or an international implementer. Using the setup of an intervention conducted in Indonesia, we show that the study population in the Acehnese context exhibits higher levels of support for the project if the participation of international actors is highlighted. We find that previous experience with the respective actor is pivotal. Qualitative evidence suggests that internationals' perceived skills drive results, highlighting the importance of strengthened local capacities for positive experiences with local implementers. Overall, the study underlines the benefits of linking framing experiments to the actual experiences of respondents to generate insights into the real world.     

International Trends in Economics Degrees During the 1990s

Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United States experienced a substantial decline in undergraduate degrees in economics from 1992 through 1996, followed immediately by a modest recovery. This cycle does not conform to overall degree trends, shifts in the gender composition of undergraduate populations, or changing interests of female students in any of the four countries. There is no evidence that changes in the “price” of a degree to students, tightened marking standards or degree requirements, or changes in pedagogical methods caused the cycle.

Jobs for economics graduates declined in the United States between 1988 and 1990 and thereafter recovered. With a two-year recognition lag, the pattern of employment prospects fits the U.S. slump in economics degrees perfectly. Unfortunately, employment patterns in the other three countries are inconsistent with the degree cycle. The explanation that fits the economic degree pattern best is interest in business education.     

矿区生态系统健康评价理论与方法初探

总结国内外有关生态系统健康理论与评价方法的研究现状及最新成果,界定矿区生态系统健康的内涵,分析影响矿区生态系统健康的原因,论述矿区生态系统健康评价指标体系与评价方法。     

加强大学生心理健康指导的实践

大学生出现的心理问题日趋凸显,应充分认识加强心理健康指导的重要性,建立预警制度,加强心理指导和危机干预,发挥多方面作用,引导学生健康成长。     

马克思主义经济学研究范式创新的理论及现实意义

本文对马克思主义经济学研究范式的创新进行了分析,提出马克思强调用“社会人”研究范式替代“经济人”研究范式,强调运用辩证法分析经济现象,恩格斯在这一研究范式的基础上针对当时资本主义经济发展的状况对马克思的经济学理论进行了重大发展。本文对马克思主义政治经济学研究范式这一创新的理论及现实意义进行了分析,认为马克恩主义经济学的这一研究范式一直延续至今,成为与西方主流经济学迥然不同的一套研究理论体系,这一研究范式能更好地揭示经济现象的本质和规律,因此这一研究范式对于当代的经济学研究仍然具有重要的理论指导意义。     

新古典经济学需求理论的合理性与缺陷分析

新古典经济学需求理论的主要目的是解释消费者对商品组合如何实现最优选择的问题,包括单个消费者是如何在不同商品选择中实现最大化满足的,消费者的个体需求是如何形成市场集体需求的等.本文在研读相关原著的基础上认为,新古典经济学需求理论在解决这些理论难题时,必须具体分析该理论的历史功绩和内在逻辑缺陷.     

"经济"辨析(下)

"经济"本义"经世济民".近代日本借用此一汉语旧词对译英文术语economy,含义变为国民生产、分配、交换、消费的总和,兼指节俭、合算.今天我们习用的负荷着上述新义的"经济"一词,既与该词的汉语古典义相去甚远,又无法从其词形推导出今义来,是一个在"中-西-日"语汇传译过程中步入别途的词语.而"经济"所指概念的转变,正透露了近代日本人以及随后的中国人对于社会生计问题的认识,从泛政治、泛道德理念摆脱出来的取向.