Information-sharing Agreements Research Articles

(Lack of) Competition, Coordination, and Information Sharing in the Pork Industry: United States, 2009–2020

In 2020, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against the Pork Integrators alleging a §1 Sherman Act violation. At the center of the Lawsuit, there is an alleged exchange of atomistic information about the Pork integrators’ operations using Agri Stats, Inc. as a clearinghouse. We use the Supreme Court benchmark in American Column & Lumber to discuss two questions that arise from the Lawsuit. The first is whether the association of Pork Integrators and Agri Stats, Inc., resulted in the restraint of interstate commerce, the main specific issue at stake in the pork Lawsuit. The second is whether information-exchange agreements using clearinghouses like Agri Stats, Inc., lessen competition and offend U.S. antitrust law, a more general issue beyond the pork Lawsuit. We find that there appears to be ample evidence in the Lawsuit to merit prosecution regarding both trade restraints and information-sharing agreements. We conclude by discussing the role of the Agencies in setting the standards in information-exchange agreements.

Study of the Provisions Concerning the Audit of Less Complex Entities Financial Statements

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has decided to issue a new International Standard on Auditing for the audit of less complex entities. It should be noted that, based on the analysis of the audit services market, examining the criteria for classification of entities in the Republic of Moldova, we can see that micro and small enterprises can be classified as less complex enterprises. This article analyses the market of audit services and the development trends of micro and small enterprises in Moldova. The author analyses the provisions of the ISA project (Information Sharing Agreements) for the audit of the financial statements of less complex entities in the projection to the realities of the Republic of Moldova. Analysing the regulatory and legislative framework of the Republic of Moldova regarding the audit, the author proposes a series of changes that would lead to its improvement.

The UK IBD Registry COVID-19 Risk Tool; Patient Generated Data Can Improve the Hospital Record

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated identifying individuals at higher risk of severe outcomes who should be shielded and provided with government support. We describe the initial results and validation of a web-based tool targeted at patients in the UK with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to self-stratify their risk according to a risk grid developed by an expert consensus body within gastroenterology.Methods: We designed a secure web-based survey, compliant with information governance, which was targeted directly at patients in the UK with IBD and promoted via social media. Patient-entered data were directly compared to data held by their local IBD specialist teams.Findings: Between 1st April and 3rd August 2020, we received responses from 34,078 participants with IBD from 176 UK trusts or health boards. Overall, based on these data, 25·9% of participants met the consensus criteria defined for shielding and a further 46·5% were in a moderate risk category. We assessed intra-rater reliability in 1,442 participants using the tool twice or more; most items had almost perfect agreement (kappa >0·80).We validated the patient-entered data against hospital-entered data and medical records for 2,862 patient datasets from ten hospitals. Weighted kappa was 0·59 (95% confidence interval 0·56 - 0·62). After manual resolution of discrepancies, kappa was 0·89 (95% CI 0·87 - 0·91). Of 966 patients identified as requiring shielding in the final dataset for these ten centres, 51·0% had been missed by the hospital-entered data, largely because of incomplete or discrepant information on comorbidity and current disease activity.Interpretation: We have demonstrated that patient-generated data can facilitate rapid risk stratification with respect to COVID-19 and compensate for deficiencies in hospital data. We have validated these data across repeat entry and have demonstrated their reliability compared to pre-existing secondary care data. These findings have important implications for public health and chronic disease management.Funding Statement: Galapagos Biotech Ltd; Biogen GmbH; Tillotts Pharma UK Ltd; Amgen LtdDeclaration of Interests: Author Vida Cairnes has received honoraria for speaking from Falk, Pharmacosmos, Abbvie and Tillots. I have received support to attend conferences fromPharmacosmos, Ferring, Takeda, Falk and Abbvie. I am in receipt of education funding from Crohn’s & Colitis UK. All other authors have nothing to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: The IBD Registry was the Data Controller for the COVID-19 UK IBD Risk Tool. Information Governance (IG) included the DPIA, Privacy Notices, approved information/content development for patients plus Information Sharing Agreements for hospital teams in order to allow the data to be shared. The lawful basis for data collection was under the COPI Notice issued for COVID-19.10 Information was freely provided by participants.

Creation of First Nations Health Profiles Through Data Linkage in Manitoba

BackgroundFirst Nation peoples (FNs) were not able to identify themselves within administrative datasets due to lack of FNs identifiers, which perpetuates a pan-indigenous approach in advocacy and evaluation capabilities. Linking databases improves the quality and accuracy of FNs health data and offsets the burden of survey fatigue in communities. Creating community profiles helps FNs in identifying health status priorities for communities, Tribal Council and other geographically defined areas.
 MethodsA resolution was passed in September 2017 to link Indian Status Registry (ISR) file with Manitoba Health Registry, with First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM) and Health Information Research Governance Committee (HIRGC) oversight to create a Key Linked file which has First Nations specific information. Encrypted Personal Health Information Numbers (PHINs) were added to the Key Linked file to create a Manitoba First Nations Research file which is linkable to other databases. Information Sharing Agreements (ISA) have been developed with federal and provincial governments to mandate the processes for data linkage.
 ResultsA resolution was passed in September 2017 to link Indian Status Registry (ISR) file with Manitoba Health Registry, with First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM) and Health Information Research Governance Committee (HIRGC) oversight to create a Key Linked file which has First Nations specific information. Encrypted Personal Health Information Numbers (PHINs) were added to the Key Linked file to create a Manitoba First Nations Research file which is linkable to other databases. Information Sharing Agreements (ISA) have been developed with federal and provincial governments to mandate the processes for data linkage.
 ConclusionData Linkage is a key process to assert self-determination, strengthen FNs data governance and achieve Data Sovereignty. Linking databases creates opportunities for FNs to access accurate data that will assist their Nations to lead their own health research and program evaluation that are driven by their own needs and priorities.

Using Private and Public Assessments in Security Information Sharing Agreements

Information sharing among organizations has been gaining attention as a method for improving cybersecurity. However, the associated disclosure costs act as deterrents for firms' voluntary cooperation. In this work, we take a game-theoretic approach to understanding firms' incentives in these agreements. We propose the design of inter-temporal incentives (i.e. conditioning future cooperation on past interactions). Specifically, we show that incentives for full cooperation can be designed if firms share their private assessments of other firms' disclosure decisions through a common communication platform. We further show that similar incentives can be designed based on outcomes of a public rating/assessment system.

Linking First Nations data to administrative health data within Manitoba

IntroductionFirst Nation peoples (FNs) were unable to track their own health care trends due to limitations in datasets. The key linked file enables FNs to identify themselves within administrative datasets and work with Crown governments to bring equity in all services and departments to support FNs understanding of wellness.
 Objectives and ApproachFirst Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM) was established by 2013 resolution of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) and incorporated in 2014. FNHSSM leads and supports research according to FNs criteria approved by the Chiefs in Assembly. Information Sharing Agreements (ISA) have been developed with federal and provincial governments to mandate the processes for data linkage. The ISA allows Indian Status Register (ISR) data of Department of Indigenous Services Canada (DISC) to be transferred to FNHSSM to provide oversight, and link to Provincial Personal Health Information Numbers (PHINs) to create the de-identified, scrambled, and encrypted Key Linked file.
 ResultsPrevious linkages were done in early 2000s with FNs approval and oversight. The 2018 linkage is the first time that ISAs have been formally developed. ISA-1 is between FNHSSM and Manitoba Health Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL) to create Key Linked file. ISA-2 is between FNHSSM, MHSAL and Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) at University of Manitoba, to create the FNs Research File. This research file can only be accessed with application to and approval by the MFNs Health Information Research Governance Committee. This key linked file allows FNHSSM to prepare community health profiles specifically and only for each FN, to respect FNs Data Governance under Chief and Council. A regional report on Manitoba FNs will be created for all MFNs, FNHSSM and MHSAL.
 Conclusion/ImplicationsLinking datasets helps to strengthen FNs data governance in re-building nations, recognizing FNs inherent right to self-determination. Linking files help to provide meaningful data to advocate for FNs rights and access to the resources and social determinants of health needed to achieve equity in Manitoba.

The Effects of Cross-Border Cooperation on Enforcement and Earnings Attributes

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, prompted sweeping cross-border coordination efforts for securities regulators around the globe. After 9/11, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) forged an arrangement—the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Consultation and Cooperation and the Exchange of Information (MMOU)—that standardizes the protocol for information sharing among participating securities regulators. I link this arrangement to the ability of the SEC to pursue U.S.-listed foreign firms by showing that the probability of enforcement increases by a factor of two or more in firms whose home countries enlist in the MMOU. A much more limited effect on enforcement is observed for similar but bilateral information-sharing agreements, indicating that a broader network creates powerful incentives that are difficult to replicate bilaterally. Because different countries enter the MMOU at different times, their enlistments create a set of staggered shocks to the SEC’s enforcement capacity for U.S.-listed foreign firms. These shocks are associated with predictable improvements in U.S. GAAP-reconciled earnings properties; this helps resolve questions about why the earnings quality of U.S.-listed foreign firms diverged from U.S. firms during pre-MMOU periods.

Divulging data: Domestic determinants of international information sharing

Information is a core input of governance that is often disrupted by the processes associated with globalization. To mitigate potential governance failures, states turn to information sharing – the exchange of sensitive data between governments. Such exchanges, however, come with considerable risks. Building on work in International Relations and organizational sociology stressing the importance of institutional similarity, we argue that states commit to information sharing based on their beliefs as to the reliability and predictability of potential partners – an assessment that involves a relative evaluation of domestic institutions. We test our argument on institutional similarity with a new dataset of mutual legal assistance treaties (MLATs) – a critical example of information-sharing agreements. The empirical analysis finds substantial support for our argument: states with similar legal institutions are much more likely to sign MLATs. The article contributes to a range of research concerned with the politics of globalization, especially as it relates to enforcement cooperation, the role of domestic institutions, and information flows.

Input Suppliers, Differential Pricing, and Information Sharing Agreements

It is common for firms to systematically share information with their input suppliers. Although such agreements with horizontal rivals have been analyzed, there has been little work examining vertical sharing, and that analysis has focused on suppliers that set uniform prices. However, there has been a systematic change in the US policy toward vertical relationships in the past decades: both FTC inaction and courts rulings have curtailed the effect of Robinson‐Patman, a law meant to prevent differential pricing. Furthermore, it is not clear if differential pricing reflects the suppliers' or the buyers' power. The interaction of these effects is examined.

Contributing to Communicable Diseases Intelligence Management in Canada: CACMID Meeting, March 2007, Halifax, Nova Scotia

In the spring of 2003, the Public Health Agency of Canada (then, Health Canada) partnered with several provincial/territorial and regional public health stakeholders to improve pan-Canadian public health surveillance, communications and response through the application of new technologies. This resulted in the creation of the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (CNPHI), a comprehensive framework of applications and resources designed to fill critical gaps in Canada's national public health infostructure. Over the past four years, the CNPHI has evolved into Canada's only pan-Canadian public health information management system. With over 2000 registered users, the current CNPHI environment consists of more than 30 integrated applications and systems that can be loosely categorized into four functional groups: data exchange; data analysis and integration; communication, collaboration and coordination; and knowledge management. Despite poor data repositories, legacy information management systems, and the lack of standards and agreements, the CNPHI has demonstrated that much can be accomplished in these areas. Over the next decade, significant barriers impeding additional advances will be bridged through the implementation of the Electronic Health Record, and through ongoing efforts to address gaps in standards, and data- and information-sharing agreements. Together with new technologies coming on-line, opportunities to further enhance public health surveillance and response will be limited only by one's imagination.

Input Suppliers, Differential Pricing and Information Sharing Agreements

It is common for firms to systematically share financial and productivity data with their input suppliers, as well as their rivals. However, there has been a systematic change in the US policy towards vertical relationships in the past decades: both FTC inaction and courts rulings have curtailed the effect of Robinson-Patman, a law meant to prevent differential pricing by upstream suppliers. The implication of this change on information agreements is examined. It is found that the use of differential pricing by the upstream supplier changes the downstream firm's value from sharing information as well as producer surplus and welfare.

Information Exchange as Collusive Behaviour: Evidence from an Antitrust Intervention in the Italian Insurance Market

by Donatella Porrini*1. IntroductionSince the U.S. Sherman Act the issue of firm’s information exchange behaviour can beconsidered for its anti-competitive effects when the plaintiff proves that the sharedinformationhasbeenusedforcollusivepurposes.However,withintheEuropeanCommunity,the issue of information-sharing agreements is subject to a particular exemption by ECcompetition law,

A Time-Series Framework for Supply-Chain Inventory Management

We consider a supply chain in which the underlying demand process can be described in a linear state space form. Inventory is managed at various points of the chain (members), based on local information that each member observes and continuously updates. The key feature of our model is that it takes into account the ability of the members to observe subsets of the underlying state vector, and adopt their forecasting and replenishment policies accordingly. This enables us to model situations in which the members are privy to certain explanatory variables of the demand, with the latter possibly evolving according to a vector autoregressive time series. For each member, we identify an associated demand evolution model, for which we propose an adaptive inventory replenishment policy that utilizes the Kalman filter technique. We then provide a simple methodology for assessing the benefits of various types of information-sharing agreements between members of the supply chain. We also discuss inventory positioning and cost performance assessment in the supply chain. Our performance metrics and inventory target levels are usually presented in matrix forms, allowing them to accommodate a relatively large spectrum of linear demand models, and making them simple to implement. Several illustrations for possible applications of our models are provided.