On the theory of effective demand under stochastic rationing

The concept of effective demand under stochastic manipulable quantity rationing is shown to be compatible with the existence of nontrivial equilibrium. It is argued that stochastic rationing is unavoidable for any satisfactory definition of effective demand. Moreover, manipulability of the rationing mechanism is necessary for reasons of logical consistency, at least if the distribution over realisations for each agent depends on his own action and on the aggregate values of demand and supply only. In that case, anonymous stochastic rationing schemes reduce to those random functions, the mean value function of which is the uniform proportional rationing mechanism.     

Digitalisierung im Gesundheitswesen — zwischen Datenschutz und moderner Medizinversorgung

The digital transformation of the healthcare branch is important and unstoppable. The enormous possibility of digitalisation to redesign and enhance processes has been shown in other branches. Digital technologies offer the similarly large potential to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. However, in terms of digitalisation, the German health system lags behind other European countries. But given a lack of available evidence, the effects of the digitalisation of the healthcare system cannot be reliably evaluated. Digital access to patient data necessitates constructive error cultures in organisations in order to limit defensive medicine. And digital access to health information necessitates individual competence in searching and using this information for participatory decision-making. As with all technological progress, information security is very important in order to gain citizens’ confidence in a digital healthcare system. Thus, it is necessary to simultaneously pursue both enhanced privacy standards and state-of-the-art medical technology.     

Diagnose Mammakarzinom

Zusammenfassung  Früh erkannt, ist Brustkrebs fast immer heilbar — 57.000 Frauen in Deutschland werden j?hrlich mit der Diagnose Brustkrebs konfrontiert, 18.000 Betroffene sterben jedes Jahr daran. Mammografie-Screening ist derzeit die einzige fl?chendeckend durchführbare Methode, die die Brustkrebssterblichkeit bei Frauen nach den Wechseljahren nachweislich senken kann. Welche Vorteile und Risiken bietet das Screeningverfahren?     

On the definition of Transnational Corporations in a UN Code of Conduct

The UN Commission on Transnational Corporations which was appointed by ECOSOC will have its next meeting in May. An Intergovernmental Working Group will have held ten sessions by then and present a draft Code of Conduct dealing with transnational corporations. (For a review of the state of preparations for this Code see the article by Hartmut Scheele in INTERECONOMICS No. 6/1979). The Commission itself and the Working Group have dealt more than once with the question to which enterprises the future Code is to apply but they have so far been unable to reach agreement. The difficulties are examined in the following article.