Role Of Public Sector Research Articles

Nicaragua's Commercial Policy: Building a Socially Responsive Foreign Trade

The Sandinista revolution which ended in July 1979 with the successful overthrow of the Somoza regime entailed high costs in loss of life and productive capacity. Following the war, industrial and agricultural production were seriously affected as some $250 million worth of equipment, factories, and inventories had been destroyed and industrial organization disrupted. The output of such key products as cotton, grains, and cattle fell precipitously. There is little disagreement that the Sandinistas inherited an economy on the verge of collapse. Consequently, the first task was to repair the ravages of war, a reconstruction process which demanded extensive reorganization of both public and private spheres of economic and social life. At the same time, the new leaders did not simply want to reinstitute old methods but to develop a system of economic institutions responsive to the needs of those marginalized by unfettered capitalist institutions. Concern for distributive justice has been central to social policy in education, health and housing, as well as in productive activities where measures have been developed to reorient production in order to meet the new national goals. In pursuit of these ends, the Sandinistas have opted for a mixed economy, seeking to provide social guidance to production. A moderate degree of state ownership of production was attained through the nationalization of Somoza family holdings. This has resulted in a significant public sector role in the economic output: 37 percent of 1980 gross domestic product (GDP) was produced by state-owned industries. These included approximately one-fifth of agricultural production, three-quarters of construction, one-sixth of manufacturing, one-fourth of commerce, and all of mining.

Changing Role of Public and Private Sectors in Agricultural Research

The considerations involved in defining appropriate roles for the public and private sectors in agricultural research are examined with respect to mechanization, plant variety, and insecticide research and development. It is concluded that the public sector should continue to give mechanization a low priority. Varietal improvement should remain a relatively high priority until the effects of plant variety protection legislation become more apparent. Simultaneous achievement of safety, environmental, and productivity objectives in insect pest control will require that the public sector play a larger role in research and development.

Proxy beach environments: Toward relief of recreational pressures on fragile coastlines

Abstract Whereas technology has brought problems for coastlines—mass‐produced cars streaming in on superhighways—it can also solve some of the problems thus created. Proxy beach environments, such as Big Surf, Arizona, which replicates aspects of an ocean coast, are but one palliative wrought by advances in hydraulics and landscape design principles. These artificial settings can furnish, within city limits, many of the experiences of more exotic seasides, and by so doing, alleviate recreational pressure on fragile natural counterparts. In exploration of this principle, the Big Surf facility is described and its market examined. It is suggested that the large capital outlay for this type of environment could be defrayed by inviting hotels and restaurants to locate, under concessionaire arrangements, on land closely overlooking the site. This could provide an incentive for the private sector to develop the primary facility, but a public sector role is also to be encouraged, as there is scope for redistributive strategems.

Legislative advocacy: One path to social change

108 The press to meet mounting social any of these programs would affect problems, combined with budgetary well over a million people. Other pro cutbacks, elimination of programs, imgrams affect even more recipients. For poundment of funds, and scarce reexample, the 1972 changes in Medicaid sources, makes this a critical period (P.L. 92-603) terminated some bene for social welfare and the social work fits for over 20 million low-income profession. If the profession is to recitizens, and an increase in Medicare main viable, more social workers must fees would affect virtually everyone become active as legislative advocates, over age 65, or about 22 million In this article the term legislative adelderly and disabled people.2 vocate refers to any individual, agency, The largest social welfare program or organization who attempts to influis, of course, social security. If Con ence the course of a bill or other gress makes one change in social se legislative measure. curity benefits, which it does nearly The purpose of this article is threeevery year, that change can directly fold: (1) to present data supporting influence the income of 124 million the assertion that this is indeed a critipeople—30 million beneficiaries and cal and perhaps a pivotal period for 94 million workers (whose payroll tax social work, (2) to discuss factors in would be increased)—well over half the legislative process that set limits on the population.3 the amount of influence one may exDespite a Republican administration pect to exert, including the roles of and the demise of many social pro compromise, time, and rational persuagrams started in the 1960s, important sion, and (3) to examine specific tacwelfare legislation continues to be in tics that may be used—the provision troduced and debated in both federal of timely and relevant information, the and state legislatures. For example, selection of targets of influence, and major federal legislation has been in the use of legislative and administratroduced recently on child develop tive staffs as conduits of influence. ment, health care, the minimum wage, welfare reform, social security, hous NEED FOR ADVOCATES i„g( an(j manpower.4 And thousands The need for involvement of social of bills concerning social welfare are workers in legislative advocacy has introduced each year into the fifty state long been recognized and supported.1 legislatures. Few bills survive the tor However, it is even more critical now tuous legislative process. Some deserve because of three significant factors: to pass, but many are not in the best ( 1 ) The breadth of social legislation interests of the public or do not rep causes even minor changes in policy to resent enlightened social policy. The have a major impact on millions of point is that social change will come people. (2) Much important social about whether or not social workers legislation continues to be introduced are actively involved in the process, each year. Moreover, an ever growing Moreover, federal, state, and local proportion of the budget and national governments allocated 55 percent of resources is being devoted to welfaretheir budgets for welfare activities in type activities, and it is important that fiscal 1973, compared with 42 per social workers have a role in determincent in 1965. Social welfare expendi ing priorities. (3) The lack of a budtures under public programs rose from getary surplus, combined with a slow $52.3 billion in 1960 to $215 billion rate of growth, will make competition in 1972. The proportion of the gross for funds expended on social welfare national product devoted to public so more intense than in the past. cial welfare increased from 11.8 per New legislation can produce widecent in 1965 to 17.6 percent in 1973.5 spread social change for specific segIn short, the public sector's role in ments of the population. For example, financing social welfare is growing in fiscal 1972 there were 17 governrapidly. In addition, decisions affecting mental income-transfer and in-kind social welfare are being made increas programs, each of which had over a ingly in state and federal legislatures, million recipients. Thus a change in Revenue sharing shifts even more deci

“Private and Public Sector Roles in Solving Social Problems”

Journal of Social PhilosophyVolume 1, Issue 1 p. 3-4 “Private and Public Sector Roles in Solving Social Problems” Sam Wyly, Sam WylySearch for more papers by this author Sam Wyly, Sam WylySearch for more papers by this author First published: September 1970 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9833.1970.tb00191.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume1, Issue1September 1970Pages 3-4 RelatedInformation

The Dilemma of Mexico's Development: The Roles of the Public and Private Sectors.

The Dilemma of Mexico's Development: The Roles of the Public and Private Sectors.