Dramatic Socioeconomic Changes Research Articles

Economic Policies for a Harmonious Society: A Symposium: Editorial Introduction

China’s remarkable economic growth has produced dramatic structural and socioeconomic change. Economic growth has solved many problems but the accompanying changes in the economy and society have brought new problems to the fore. This has been recognized by China’s Government in the recent emphasis that it has placed on the need to create a “harmonious society.” The new leadership will wish to devise new policies for the current challenges and those ahead. In June 2013 a China Policy Forum was held in Oxford to discuss some of these challenges and their implications for future policy.1 Among the various topics that might have been chosen, four were selected and relevant experts were invited to make presentations in order to start the discussions. The topics chosen for this, the first Forum, were: policy against social instability; policy against rural poverty; technology policy; and policy for the aging population. After the very successful Policy Forum the four experts were invited to revise their presentations in light of the discussions, and to prepare them as papers for journal publication. Three have responded. We, the Guest Editors, are grateful to the Editors of China & World Economy for providing an excellent outlet for these (peer-reviewed) papers. The papers differ somewhat from most journal articles in economics in that the contributors were asked to divide their space roughly equally between an economic analysis of the main issues and the policy implications of that analysis. However, the contributors were not expected to come up with a cut-and-dried list of policies to be implemented. Rather, they were invited to present a reasoned set of policy options, based on their economic analysis, for government consideration. In this Introduction we highlight the main points of each paper, concentrating on the policy implications. Social instability is a surprisingly uncommon research topic for an economist, because concern about social instability can lurk behind much policy-making. China’s leadership views social instability as a threat both to the political order and to the continued rapid

Internal migration and socio-economic change in Laos

This study analyzes how the migration pattern in Laos is influenced by the regionally differentiated modernization process, socioeconomic change, international migration and resettlement, by using census data from 1995 and 2005. Though Laos has experienced a rather dramatic socio-economic change during this period the inter-district and inter-province migration rate has decreased. But the empirical analyses show an increasing rural-urban migration and indicate a strong impact on migration from socio-economic changes. But internal migration patterns are also influenced by international migration patterns and resettlement of rural populations. Although socio-economic changes are major determinants to migration, also regional policies and opportunities for international migration are key factors influencing migration in developing countries.

Local perceptions of Tibetan village sacred forests in northwest Yunnan

Sacred natural sites have played important social and cultural roles in many cultures around the world for centuries. More recently, scientists have shown that sacred sites act as de facto protected areas. However, the potential for sacred sites to be integrated into conservation strategies depends on the motivations of people to protect them. The objective of this study is to understand people’s relationships with village-level sacred forests in northwest Yunnan, China. We conducted 201 standardized open-ended interviews of both men and women over 18years of age from six communities in the area near the city of Shangrila. While this region of Yunnan is undergoing dramatic socio-economic changes that can contribute to changes in cultural values, we find no evidence that people’s appreciation for sacred forests is declining. Our results show that the forests hold primarily religious meaning for people, people visit the forests regularly, and, while younger people know less about the forests, they do not differ in terms of use and appreciation, indicating that the value of the areas is not decreasing. Because people primarily view these sacred forests as religious sites and do not directly associate them with ecological value, we suggest that direct integration of these areas into conservation strategies may not be appropriate.

Letter: Increasing Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in a Rural Bangladeshi Population: A Population Based Study for 10 Years (Diabetes Metab J2013;37:46-53)

Dear Editor, In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the prevalence of diabetes, particularly in Asia. This region contains some of the most populous countries in the world, and has undergone pronounced demographic, epidemiologic, and socioeconomic change in recent decades [1]. Indeed, the prevalence of diabetes in Korea has increased from 1.5% to 9.9% in the past 40 years [2]. Bhowmik et al. [3] demonstrated a similarly significant rise in the prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh, from 2.3% in 1999 to 7.9% in 2009. This rapid increase was attributed to the dramatic socioeconomic and lifestyle changes accompanying urbanization in rural Bangladeshi communities; however, these changes were not well documented. If it is possible, demonstrating changes of dietary habits, exercise and occupation during study period may make the present finding more reliable. Secondly, although waist-hip ratio (WHR) was a significant risk factor for diabetes in men, the odds ratio (OR) for WHR was significant in women only in 2009. This may be due to the small number of subjects with WHR <0.8, which is a reference group in women. It may be more useful to divide WHR into <0.8, 0.8 to 0.9, ≥0.9 as the authors did for body mass index. Alternatively, the OR of waist circumference rather than WHR could be used to present the importance of central obesity. Lastly, it is unclear why the prevalence of hypertension showed a decreasing trend over the follow-up period. Increased awareness and treatment of hypertension may not be responsible for this finding, since it can improve blood pressure level and overall health in patients with hypertension, but does not affect the documented prevalence of hypertension. It may also be important to check the method of blood pressure measurement to exclude systematic error. As the authors indicated, longitudinal data obtained from a nationally representative sample may present more reliable results for the prevalence of hypertension.

Cancers in Arab populations: concise notes

Rapid improvements in the field of health care and dramatic socioeconomic changes resulting in modified lifestyles are believed to have contributed to the increased incidence of cancers in Arab populations. For example, the UAE is experiencing a continually increasing proportion of cancer burden, imposing itself as the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and accidents. Very preliminary data from the CTGA (Catalogue for Transmission Genetics in Arabs) database for genetic disorders in Arab populations indicate the presence of at least 55 cancer types in Arab people (Table 1). Although these types of cancers vary with regard to their incidence and frequency, strong indicators show clearly that cancers of the lung and prostate are the most common among males whereas breast and thyroid cancers are the most common among females in the region (reviewed in reference 4).

Family therapy in Macau: development, challenges and opportunities

Family therapy in Macau is in its early stages of development. The Satir model and structural family therapy were the first two therapies introduced. Later on, solution‐focused brief therapy and narrative therapy were also introduced. Macau has been undergoing dramatic socioeconomic changes since the relaxation of the gambling licenses. In sociocultural terms this has led to significant changes: the so‐called ‘dealer's complex’, gambling, drug abuse and youth deviance have become more prevalent. To address complicated family problems, various counselling institutes and training centres were established to conduct family therapy. However, there are still some limitations and challenges that must be addressed in order to have a thriving family therapy profession in Macau.

An International Model for Geriatrics Program Development in China: The Johns Hopkins–Peking Union Medical College Experience

China has the world's largest and most rapidly growing older adult population. Recent dramatic socioeconomic changes, including a large number of migrating workers leaving their elderly parents and grandparents behind and the 4:2:1 family structure caused by the one-child policy, have greatly compromised the traditional Chinese family support for older adults. These demographic and socioeconomic factors, the improved living standards, and the quest for higher quality of life are creating human economic pressures. The plight of senior citizens is leading to an unprecedented need for geriatrics expertise in China. To begin to address this need, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHU) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) have developed a joint international project aimed at establishing a leadership program at the PUMC Hospital that will promote quality geriatrics care, education, and aging research for China. Important components of this initiative include geriatrics competency training for PUMC physicians and nurses in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at JHU, establishing a geriatrics demonstration ward at the PUMC Hospital, faculty exchange between JHU and PUMC, and on-site consultation by JHU geriatrics faculty. This article describes the context and history of this ongoing collaboration and important components, progress, challenges, and future prospects, focusing on the JHU experience. Specific and practical recommendations are made for those who plan such international joint ventures. With such unique experiences, it is hoped that this will serve as a useful model for international geriatrics program development for colleagues in the United States and abroad.

Cross-cultural validation of the revised Temperament and Character Inventory: Serbian data

Objective In this work, we report data on construct validity and cross cultural applicability of the revised Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI R) (Cloninger, C.R., Przybeck, T.R., Svrakic, D.M., & Wetzel, R.D. (1999). The Temperament and Character Inventory-revised, Washington University, St. Louis), a 5-point scale scoring formatrevision of the original, true-false version TCI (Cloninger, C.R., Przybeck, T.R., Svrakic, D.M., & Wetzel, R.D. (1994). The Temperament and Character Inventory-A guide to its development and use, Washington University, St. Louis). Both versions are based on the seven factor Psychobiological Model of Personality (Cloninger CR, Svrakic, DM & Przybeck TR (1993). A Psychobiological Model of temperament and Character, Archives of General Psychiatry, 50, 975-990). Methods The sample consisted of 473 normal adult subjects representing a number of Serbian cities and towns, recruited consecutively while registering at the National Employment Center, located in Belgrade, Serbia. The sample was the designed to be highly representative of urban and suburban population in Serbia to match to TCI R sample in the US. The 240-item, 5-point scale scoring TCI R was used to assess temperament and character traits. In addition to a number of other revisions, the scoring format in the TCI R was changed into a 5-point Likert scale to increase its sensitivity to subtle variations in personality expression. The TCI R mean scores and standard deviations were compared between Serbian and US subjects, internal consistency of the TCI R scales was estimated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients, and principal component analysis was used separately for temperament and character (because of their non-linear relationship) to test the underlying factorial structure of the TCI R. Parallel analysis and randomized simulation data were used to determine the number of factors for temperament and character. Results The results generally supported the construct validity and the cross cultural applicability of the TCI R in Serbia. With a few exceptions, the observed internal consistency for the TCI R scales was acceptable. For the most part, the US and Serbian subjects manifested comparable temperament traits, whereas US subjects had higher character scores. The observed differences are understood as partly reflective of local culture and partly of dramatic socio-economic change in Serbia over the last 20 years. Principal component analysis fully supported the four factor structure of temperament and the three factor structure of character, as postulated by theory. The inadequacy of using linear statistical methods in studying complex non-linear systems such as personality is discussed in some detail.

Giving Birth

To gain an understanding of the meaning of childbirth to women living in St. Petersburg, the Russian Federation. Twenty-four Russian women who had given birth in the past 6 months participated in this phenomenological study and were interviewed and audio-taped about the meaning of childbirth. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. The Russian sociocultural context of childbirth was identified in specific themes: (1) adhering to cultural traditions, (2) accessing information, (3) maintaining a healthy lifestyle, (4) articulating the spiritual and emotional meaning of giving birth, and (5) transforming as a mother and a person. Study participants reported reading extensively during pregnancy as well as accessing Web-based information about childbirth. Women chose to give their newborns traditional Slavic names and have their infants christened. The findings of qualitative studies can be used to guide clinical practice, because they provide rich data about essential life events and reactions associated with them. Women from Russia are emigrating to countries all over the world, and thus, their cultural views of childbirth are essential knowledge for the provision of appropriate nursing care. With dramatic socioeconomic and political changes occurring over the past 15 years, along with major changes in healthcare delivery systems, listening to the voices of Russian childbearing women giving birth is vital information for nurses working in maternal-child health settings.

Postnationalist Identity and Sites of Memory in the Latest Work of Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon and Paul Durcan

In 1977 Seamus Heaney defined his "sense of place", a central concept in his own sense of identity, as "an equable marriage between the geographical country and the country of the mind" (1980 : 132). Since then Ireland has gone through dramatic socio-economic and historical changes that have brought about a complete transformation of the construct of Irish identity as well as of the role that memory plays in its definition. The aim of this article is to analyse how Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, and Paul Durcan, as coetaneous poets representative of a generation that has personally and artistically lived through the deep transformations of Ireland in the last few decades, reflect in their latest work their modified perceptions of the construct of Irishness in what a number of critics have referred to as the new postnationalist Irish context. Special attention is given to Seamus Heaney's District and Circle (2006), Derek Mahon's Harbour Lights (2005), and Paul Durcan 's The Art of Life (2004).

Petztorme Women: Responding to Change in Lihir, Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACTThe goldmining project on Lihir Island in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, has brought dramatic socio‐economic changes. In this matrilineal society, while women's economic contributions were substantial, their political status was not. Women's participation in decision‐making about the mine has been restricted, mainly because men have excluded them. The mining company established a women's section that has supported the development of women's organizations and a range of economic development projects. The women's organizations provide the context for new political roles for women but have experienced many setbacks that are common in such groups across Papua New Guinea. Through the Lihir experience in the first five years of the mine, this paper examines the tensions and divided loyalties that constrain women's organizations and often lead to the failure of income‐generating women's projects in Papua New Guinea.

Industrial development versus environmental conservation at local scale: a case study from southeastern Spain.

Local scale has an important role in environmental management. In Spain, rapid industrialization has occurred in the last three decades, leading to substantial changes in socioeconomic relations and resulting in significant environmental degradation. This paper describes the environmental status of the township of Sax (Alicante, in southeast Spain), which has passed from agriculture to industrial manufacturing in 50 years. The human population has grown exponentially during the second half of the 20th century, with a 91% increase from 1955 to 1995, coinciding with strong growth in manufacturing (factories increased fivefold in the period 1955-1976) and important changes in the working population and land use. Illegal rubbish dumps, water pollution, forest fires, erosion, and degradation of wildlife habitats are the main outcomes of these dramatic socioeconomic and demographic changes. The administration has focused on the control of water pollution and waste management, while nongovernmental organizations have concentrated on the prevention of forest fires and the development of environmental education programs. These measures are insufficient to manage current environmental degradation, and an environmental management plan for the study area is discussed. Increasing effort in waste management and industrial wastewater control, changes in land-use policy, and the creation of an advisory committee to increase public participation in decision-making have been identified as environmental target objectives for the coming years.

PNPs as catalysts in child care policymaking

Dramatic socioeconomic changes in American family life, along with welfare reform, school readiness initiatives, and research on the relationship between child development and child care, have generated new interest in child care policy. Pediatric nurse practitioners and other pediatric nurses have much to contribute to the formulation of national, state, and local child care policies, especially if they are knowledgeable of key policies and regulatory issues. This article outlines these concepts with an eye toward promoting how pediatric nurses might reclaim their role as catalysts for promoting high-quality child care. J Pediatr Health Care. (2001). 15, 49-57.

Descriptive epidemiology of de novo acute leukaemia in the Sultanate of Oman

A hospital-based epidemiological study of de novo acute leukaemia was carried out in the Sultanate of Oman, a sparsely populated Arabian Gulf country which has undergone rapid and dramatic socio-economic changes recently. A total of 65/99 Omanis (66%) were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and 34/99 (34%) as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Trends and peak values in age-specific incidence rates for ALL are generally in line with those of Western countries. The proportion of T-ALL cases is however higher than that in Caucasian populations but lower than in many non-white populations. AML frequency particularly in childhood is similar to that observed in many African countries.

The Changed South, 1947-1997

This paper traces change in the South in recent decades that has resulted from industrialization, the Sunbelt attraction, urbanization, and development of the service economy. The "Boombelt" along 1-85 in the Piedmont region attracted much of the industrial expansion, particularly in North and South Carolina, and Georgia. The largest metropolitan areas in the region now account for the largest share of manufacturing output. City-building has also been propelled by the expansion of white-collar service industries, including headquarters locations which are disproportionately concentrated in Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. The role of Atlanta at the top of the urban hierarchy in the region and the tremendous rate of growth of urban corridors on the southeast and west coasts of Florida stand out. Along with dramatic socio-economic change, the South also experienced significant political realignment, agricultural restructuring, and ethnicity shifts in the past fifty years making the region more like the rest of the nation. The South has become a major global player in economic growth but rural areas still lag behind.

Urban growth and the transformation of rural China: the case of Southern Manchuria

Since the economic reforms launched at the end of the 1970s, China has experienced dramatic socioeconomic change which has led to the emergence of new and distinctive regions of economic interaction characterised by an extensive and intensive mix of agricultural and non‐agricultural activities. This paper illustrates the nature and characteristics of these evolving Extended Metropolitan Regions (EMRs) by drawing on the experience of the Shenyang‐Dalian urban corridor in Northeast China (Manchuria). The increased level of economic interaction between the cities and the countryside is characterised by accelerated labour and capital flows, rapidly expanding rural‐urban commodity trade and subcontracting between urban and rural enterprises. The result is a rapid erosion of differences in the standard of living, economic function and life style between the city and the countryside.

Historical, Ethnographic, and Contemporary Political Analyses of the Muslims of Kampuchea and Vietnam

This paper surveys the historical, early ethnographic, and contemporary political analyses of the Cham Muslims of Kampuchea and Vietnam. The historical overview describes the Indie and Islamic influence on the traditional kingdom of Champa, the consequences of French colonialism, and the results of the Vietnam war. The ethnographic description of the Cham is based on early French scholarly depictions that were influenced by Orientalist modes of representation. The contemporary political analysis is derived from scholarly attempts at assessing the recent situation of Cham Muslims as they faced genocide in Cambodia and experienced ethnic repression in Vietnam. This paper brings together some of the early historic and ethnographic research with that of the most recent descriptions and analyses of the political situation of the Muslim communities of Kampuchea and Vietnam. The major objective of this essay is to provide a basis for understanding the dramatic socio-economic and political changes that have occurred within these communities. These Muslim communities of Kampuchea and Vietnam have endured substantial change, especially after the impact of French colonialism, the Vietnam war, and the aftermath of recent political events in those countries. It is hoped that this essay will stimulate further research on these Muslim communities by scholars, including scholars from within these communities, to help shed light on the history, culture, and political developments of these relatively neglected peoples.

Temporary migration and its frequency from urban households in China

The individual and household determinants of temporary migration and its frequency from urban households in China is examined. After 1978 economic reforms brought about dramatic socioeconomic changes in the country. In 1988 the total floating population was estimated at 50 million and 10 million every day in 23 big cities including Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. There is considerable evidence that temporary migrants account for about 20% of the resident population in most big cities. The principal data set used come from the Zhejiang segment of the 1986 National Migration Survey. An overall target sampling rate was set at 2/1000 households, and altogether 16 provinces with 74 urban places were covered. A total of 25,000 households comprising 100,267 individuals were interviewed. A 2nd data set was also used which was derived from a survey by the Population Research Center of Hangzhou University conducted in early 1988. Considering the individual variables with logistic regression, young adults aged (18-34 years) and the middle-aged (35-54 years) were more mobile than the elderly (55 years and older), but age did not affect the probability of making repeated movements. In general, males were more mobile than females, and they were also more likely to move again. Marital status did not affect the propensity to move, nor the probability of moving more than once. Formal education significantly increased the individual's propensity to move, and it was also positively associated with a higher probability of making repeated movements. White-collar workers had a significantly higher temporary migration rate than blue-collar and agricultural workers, and so did state employees compared with collective or private employees. However, there was no significant difference in the temporary migration rate between blue-collar and agricultural workers. Occupational characteristics did not affect the frequency of movement among temporary migrants.