Social-economic Situation Research Articles

International Conference News: Trends in Migration and Migration Policy

Worldwide, more than 215 million people have left the countries of their birth and moved elsewhere (World Bank, 2011). These migrants make up more than 3 percent of the world’s population. Another 700 million adults say they would migrate to another country if they could, according to polls conducted by Gallup (Esipova & Ray, 2009). Almost all of the world’s nations are either sending or receiving countries, or both. As of 2010, the world’s top three migrant sending countries were Mexico (about 12 million), India (about 11 million), and Russia (about 11 million). The top regional destinations were North America, Europe, and the Gulf States, which together contained about 44 percent of the world’s migrant population. The United States, alone, had more than 42 million migrants, making it the world’s top receiving country. As a region, though, Europe (depending on how defined), had about as many migrants. Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, together, had about 38 million migrants in 2010. The Gulf States of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, combined, had more than 15 million migrants (World Bank, 2011). Public attitudes toward migration differ among receiving countries. In 2011, for example, a majority of adults in Spain, the UK, and the U.S. told the German Marshall Fund’s (GMF) Transatlantic Trends Survey (2011) that “immigration is more of a problem” than “an opportunity” (p. 5). In other countries, such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, opinion was split: just about as many adults said “immigration is a problem” as said “immigration is an opportunity” (p. 5). Only among Canadian adults (surveyed through 2010) did a majority see immigration as more of an opportunity (German Marshall Fund, 2010, p. 4). These differences are likely the result of the receiving country’s social values and economic situation, as well as the history and characteristics of migration in that country. Views in sending countries are also mixed. In a 2012 Pew Research Center survey, half of Mexican adults (50 percent) said “people leaving [Mexico] for jobs in other countries” was “a very big problem” for Mexico (Pew Global Attitudes, 2012, p. 15). The same survey, however, found other issues more likely to be rated as “very big problems” (p. 16) for Mexico: cartel-related violence (according to 75 percent of Mexican adults), human rights violations by the military and police (74 percent), crime (73 percent), corrupt political leaders (69 percent), economic problems (68 percent), illegal drugs (68 percent), terrorism (62 percent), and pollution (58 percent). In 2010, the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, and the University of Maryland School of Public Policy held an international conference on migration in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Titled: Migration: A World in Motion: A Multinational Conference on Migration and Migration Policy, the conference brought together a worldwide audience of academics and professionals from think tanks, government agencies, the private sector, and civil society.

The EU cohesion policy and economic development of Poland

In order to remove regional economic disparities, the EU realizes the cohesion policy. The evaluation of the cohesion policy from the point of view of experiences of individual member states and the EU is not explicit. What is especially controversial here, are unsuccessful attempts to reach the main goal, which is social, economic and territorial cohesion. It does not mean the negation of outcomes of numerous researches which confirm a positive influence of the cohesion policy on the economic growth. The subject for a discussion is the right balance between the equality and effectiveness. The key issue is an answer to the question who and how to support. The question is whether the aid should be directed at the areas which guarantee the highest added value? Should it be the priority to give equal opportunity to the poorest and to support them? At present the cohesion policy is trying to combine both those goals. However, with the limited measures and rising social, economic and territorial disparities, those actions are ineffective. The pace of economic growth in Poland in the recent years – bigger than the average in the EU – has contributed to the making up for part of a development distance towards the rest of the member states. The cohesion policy had some participation in this process. The evaluation of the influence of the cohesion policy is not easy, though. One has to, however, separate its influence from other factors affecting the social-economic situation of the regions. The main aim of the article is an evaluation of the role of the EU cohesion policy in the stimulation of social-economic development of Poland, in particular its impact on the economy of the regions. The research method is an analysis of the literature of the subject. The bases of the conducted research were: statistical data, program documents, reports, national and EU law, quantitative and qualitative research and secondary sources presented in various studies.

A Study on the Scale of Land Renovation Based on Low-Carbon Limited in Guangzhou

The paper established low-carbon optimization model of regional construction land structure. The model combined with Markov model and Linear Program model can integrate factors related to economic, social, CO2 emissions and construction land require. This model was validated through a land-renovation case in Guangzhou. Based on its regional development strategy and social-economic situation, we obtained three different levels of low-carbon emissions of construction land optimization scheme, and quantitatively determined land renovation scale. The result of the research shows that the scale of town and industrial land renovation is 751.39 ha, and residential land renovation for 734.67 ha in Guangzhou. The quantitative determination scale of land renovation preliminary research has certain feasibility and reference value based on low-carbon optimization model. Results from this research would help government make wise decisions in the near future to mitigate urban CO2 emissions and construction land scale while maintain economic social development.

Typology of Institutions 0: Introduction to the Series

This Introduction is for a series of articles, which construct the new typology of institutions and use it for management of social-economic systems. The constructed typology will be used for solving of wide classes of problems in separate papers. The paper enumerates these problems. Some are: the requirement of “tolerance for cultural traditions” is an institutional trap; the construction of universal-conceptual institutional code is the main mission for the process of democratization; the “right” education system (primary, secondary and tertiary) and science is the crucial factor for building democracy and a developed society; the new channels for destabilizing of the social-economic situation in the developed countries; the reasons for the return to authoritarian control method in Russia, Ukraine and some countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia; the reasons, from which a number of institutions in developing countries are inefficient, despite the fact that they copy the relevant institutions in the developed countries.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURAL-GROUP COMPOSITION OF STRAIGHT-RUN FRACTIONS OF IRAQI OILFIELDS

Iraq is one of the richest countries of the Near East in terms of oil reserves. Only Saudi Arabia has greater hydrocarbon reserves. Despite the fact that commercial oil production is implemented since 1927, the harsh social and political and economic situation added with long-time military conflict had totally destroyed oil processing infrastructure. Considering this factor, one of the key tasks for this country is building of a new, contemporary oil processing infrastructure. Thus, complex study of oils as well as their straight-run fractions is a requirement for preparation of the projects of oil processing plants that are consistent with current hard requirements. This material contents results of physical and chemical studies of straight-run oil fractions as gasoline, Diesel oil, and heavy oils. Properties of fractions shown below, their potential related to export oil products are essential data for preparation of process flow diagram of the oil processing plant.

Powojenne losy żołnierzy polskich na Zachodzie (w świetle twórczości beletrystycznej pisarzy Drugiej Emigracji)

It is a review of prose and poetic works touching upon the problem of the fortunes of Polish soldiers after the end of World War II, particularly a transformation of war exile into emigration. The Author confronts the publications of D. Mostwin, M. Czuchnowski, I. Bączkowska, Cz. Straszewicz and others, with historic documents, he mentions a social-economic situation of the characters of his narration, about environments in Great Britain, USA etc.

이스탄불여성의 폐면문화 연구

This study will covered socio-cultural background and characteristic of the face-concealing culture of Istanbul which has liberal and westernized clothes culture for women even if it`s an city in an Islamic country. This study depended on literatures related to religion, culture and costumes of the Ottoman Empire, especially costumic data on miniature of turkey, which was famous from 16th to 19th century. Since the 17th century, the Ottoman Empire has been gradually influenced by European countries but the change of women`s clothes was not considerable. In the 18th century, women`s clothes were influenced by foreign fashions. A veil to cover the face was gradually disappeared and traditional Turkish headdresses were replaced by European hats. Through face-concealing culture of Istanbul, we can see some socio-cultural features like Islamic religious character, one`s social position, economic situation, westernization and renovation, beauty and completion of costume, duality for the reason of regional difference.

Humble Class: On Social Status and Economic Situation of Russian Peasantry

The article considers historical destiny of Russian peasantry and modern realities of its economic and social situation. The inconsistency and moral perversity of abstract ideological schemes and "substantiations" of social inferiority of country estate are shown. Directions and mechanisms of overcoming social injustice in respect to peasantry as a condition of modernization of agriculture are grounded.

What Experimentalism Means in Ethics

What Experimentalism Means in Ethics Eric Thomas Weber The factors which have brought society to its present pass and impasse contain forces which, when released and constructively utilized, form the positive basis of an educational philosophy and practice that will recover and will develop our original national ideals. The basic principle in that philosophy and practice is that we should use that method of experimental action called natural science to form a disposition which puts a supreme faith in the experimental use of intelligence in all situations of life. —John Dewey and John Childs, "The Social-Economic Situation and Education" (1933) In the past, ethical theories have been presented as self-sufficient and holistic. Philosophers have historically been either deontologists, consequentialists, virtue ethicists, divine command theorists, or some other particular theorist to the exclusion of other points of view. In John Dewey's American Pragmatism we see a shift that has gone underappreciated in moral theory, one that I will defend in this essay. Dewey was an experimentalist. In this essay, I will show what I take experimentalism to mean in moral theory. This is important to do, since the very idea of undertaking moral experiments sounds a bit unnerving. The reason one might have this [End Page 98] feeling is due to the history of unethical experimental practices that have become famous, such as in the Tuskegee syphilis experiments or Stanley Milgram's well-known psychological studies.1 To allay fears about the experimentalist's approach to ethics, I will begin with a description of experimentalism's basis in good scientific practice. Surely there have been scientists who have done wrong, but good science learns from the mistakes that others have made and follows a set of important rules for inquiry. Next, I will discuss some of the ways in which experimentalism is an outlook and spirit that America profoundly values in its history and government—the American experiment. Then, I will offer an example of the theoretical flexibility necessary for experimentalism as we find it in one of John Rawls's early writings and in the ethical tradition generally. In "Two Concepts of Rules," Rawls presents a sobering defense of utilitarianism in the legislative rule-establishing task.2 He offers a way to see utilitarianism's consistency with a deontological outlook on punishment and the adherence to rules that we set for utilitarian reasons. Finally, I will conclude with some examples of the ways in which American public policy can be approached with the experimentalist method that so many industries adopt already. For when industry wants to maximize profits responsibly and carefully, businesses find test markets, set up realizable experiments, and perform careful science with profit as their incentive. When a test market does well in one region, similar tests are undergone elsewhere to see whether widespread implementation of products or services would be a good idea. Similarly, in public policy, we frequently bring to other states and sometimes to the federal government those practices and programs that are extremely successful at a particular local level. What will drive inquiry into the best decisions for public policy will not be the profit motive, however, but the noble goal of moral growth. I. Experimentalism's Origin in Scientific Practice To understand the meaning and value of experimentalism in moral theory, it is important to see why experimentalism in the sciences is as successful as it is. As Dewey put it, "Experimentalism is the cause of the victories won by science in the physical field, while the social field is kept as a preserve sacred from the free use of experimental procedure. The result is unbalance, distortion, and misuse of the physical fruits of science."3 To make [End Page 99] use of the greatest lessons of the sciences, we must recognize some key scientific attitudes and approaches. In an essay called "The Development of American Pragmatism," Dewey notes that the father of the experimentalist pragmatic movement, Charles Sanders Peirce, came to his remarkable idea given his own scientific background.4 Scientists, even of the highly theoretical kinds, must explain their hypotheses in terms of conceivable future testing. Without the process of the confirmation of hypotheses, science can only make...

O cotidiano institucional do Método Mãe Canguru na perspectiva dos profissionais de saúde

O Método Mãe Canguru apresenta-se como uma política de humanização hospitalar. Este estudo analisou a dinâmica institucional que permeia o funcionamento do Método Mãe Canguru na perspectiva dos profissionais de saúde, a partir da perspectiva da Etnografia Institucional. A pesquisa mostrou que embora alguns profissionais se diferenciem no tratamento com as usuárias, a maioria deles desconsidera o papel ativo da mãe nesse método de intervenção, utilizando o poder institucional como forma de controle social para manter as mães desinformadas sobre a possibilidade de deixar a maternidade. Ressalta-se, assim, que a implantação desse programa requer não só o treinamento da equipe, devendo ser levado em consideração a complexidade social, econômica e emocional dos profissionais e as limitações estruturais do sistema de saúde pública.

Basic legal solutions in culture: Serbia, Germany, Lithuania and Greece

This paper deals with separate and common characteristics of the currently valid statutory laws in the field of culture in four European countries. Those are: Germany (one of the most developed countries in Europe and one of the leading member states of the European Union), Greece (also member of the EU, but in different economic position; specially important for the European cultural heritage), Lithuania (former Soviet Union member, since 90s fast approaching the EU standards, also those in cultural policy) and Serbia, a country in transition, with its economical, political and cultural characteristics and factors. The aim of the research was to compare cultural policies of the countries above, based on adopted laws and other legal instruments of cultural policy. The research included the Constitutions of the countries above, top and bottom regulations in culture, (non)regulated areas in culture and arts, economical and political characteristics etc., and a detailed comparative analysis thereof. It is noted that modernization and changes in laws in the area of culture were aiming (in case of Serbia - are aiming) to adjust legislation to the European standards. The scope, structure and periods when existing legislation has been adopted, reflect the political priorities, aims and direction, social atmosphere and economic situation of a particular country. Despite economical situation and political instability, improvement of the cultural legislation in Serbia exists, although compared to other three countries a certain delay is obvious. The central element of cultural legislation in Serbia is Law on Culture, that came into force in March 2010. The last part of the paper deals with international declarations and conventions with statutory characteristics, as much as with process and dates of their ratification in each country. Central source of material for this paper was international web archive of evaluation on cultural policies Compendium, realized by ERICArts Institute.

How to Make Eu Cohesion Policy More Effective? Conclusions for Poland

In order to remove economic regional disparities, the European Union is realizing a cohesion policy. It is justified economically and socially. It is however conditioned by an acceptance of an active role of the Union and member states in the economy, and therefore a permission for cross-national interventionism. The mechanism of the cohesion policy is based on transfers, and then its essence is redistribution of incomes in order to support selected regions and unfavoured social groups. The main aim of the herein article is to evaluate the influence of the cohesion policy of the European Union on the economy of the regions and economic disparities as well as to formulate recommendations, which will enhance its effectiveness. The evaluation of the Union cohesion policy is not easy. We have to, however, separate its influence from other factors affecting the social-economic situation of the regions. Most of the studies and analyses indicates a positive influence of programmes of the cohesion policy on the economic growth, the situation in the labour market and other economic rates. It has however many imperfections. The controversies are evoked mainly by unsuccessful attempts to reach the main goal, that is social, economic and territorial cohesion. It does not mean the negation of the results of numerous researches, which confirm a positive influence of the cohesion policy on the economic growth. Those and other research methods confirm in fact, that the structural funds contribute to the growth of GDP per capita and to the reduction of unemployment.

‘Schryver van’ of burgerman? - Het afficheren van cultureel en sociaal kapitaal in Vlaamse negentiende-eeuwse romans

In this contribution I examine how Flemish nineteenth-century men of letters, and more specifically: historical novelists, presented themselves on the first textual ‘thresholds’ that readers encounter when they open a book, namely the title page and the dedication. These peritexts not only show how the novelists presented themselves to the outside world, i.e., the profile they wanted to create for themselves; they also provide insights into the social status and economic situation of the men of letters, since underlying motives frequently played a significant role in this respect. Moreover, an analysis of the aspect of self-presentation yields interesting data concerning the process by which the literary field became autonomous with respect to the field of the power. The results of this analysis, which takes the authors’ self-presentation to the reading public as its central perspective, corroborate the existing view that the literary field in Flanders only started to become autonomous with the Van Nu en Straks-movement. During the period between the 1830s and the 1880s, the relationship between authors on the one hand and political, social and ecclesiastical powers on the other was such that artistic freedom and autonomy were luxuries a Flemish author could hardly afford.

Konflik Kekerasan, Otonomi Daerah dan Integrasi Nasional

In a decade of reform, several changes had been occurred. Some adjustments could be considered as a success, while others potentially could trigger conflicts. Historical conflict remnants in Indonesia were hard to restrain. Hence, national integration remains crucial in the foreseeable future. Local autonomy could be an avenue to resolve the problem of national integration in a particular context. However, local autonomy could result in the reverse end. In the midst of conflict pattern change and development over the last decade, bureaucracy (local and national) has to be able to foresee any sign of conflict (early warning) in order to be able to anticipate. Conflict recognition could be observed through various indications, ranging from demographic changes, deterioration of the social-economic situation, and/or cultural tensions. Failure to do corrective action on such deviation would lead to a greater risk of conflict occurrence.

Trabalhadoras brasileiras: características socioeconômicas e ocupacionais e perfil de saúde, Brasil, 2003

Foi realizado um estudo transversal para traçar um perfil das mulheres brasileiras inseridas no mercado de trabalho, comparativamente aos homens, considerando características sociodemográficas, aspectos relativos à saúde e situação socioeconômica de trabalho, utilizando dados da PNAD-IBGE de 2003. A amostra analisada foi de 173.094 pessoas, com 10 anos ou mais de idade e ocupação definida. A abordagem estatística incluiu descrição da amostra, comparação das características gerais e ocupacionais de mulheres e homens e comparação da situação de saúde de mulheres e homens, calculando-se razões de prevalências e seus intervalos de confiança. Os resultados mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significantes na maior parte das variáveis investigadas. Comparativamente aos homens, as mulheres tinham um perfil educacional mais elevado, rendas mensais menores, jornadas de trabalho remunerado menores e maior tempo dedicado aos afazeres domésticos. Houve diferença na distribuição de mulheres e homens nos grupamentos ocupacionais. Encontraram-se prevalências maiores de doenças crônicas e de relatos de piores estados de saúde entre as trabalhadoras. Os resultados obtidos ressaltam a importância da realização de mais pesquisas sobre gênero, trabalho e saúde para identificar e esclarecer o papel do trabalho nas diferenças encontradas.

Extended-exergy analysis of the Chinese society

Extended-exergy analysis (EEA) for Chinese society was carried out in this paper to present a benchmarking case for future comparative studies in social systems ecology based on exergetic biophysics. For the EEA as an extension of labor theory of value and a possible sustainability metric, exergetic values were assigned to the production factors including labor, capital and environmental remediation costs. Also, the conversion coefficient of households sector was evaluated with the consideration of working hours, which significantly supplements the traditional energy and exergy accounting. The Chinese societal system was classified into seven sectors including the extraction, conversion, agriculture, industry, transportation, tertiary and households. The calculations of capital exergy and labor exergy were modified according to the special social–economic situation of China. A detailed accounting for the total societal extended-exergy use of China 2005 was conducted. Meanwhile, comparison of the net input exergy resources, extended-exergy capital, and labor of the total Chinese society during 2000–2005 was made to reveal the temporal changes using EEA. Finally, the EEA performances of China were compared with those of Norway, UK, Italy and the province of Siena to present solid foundation for energy strategy and identification of sustainable development mode.

Upbringing Potential in Family, Theoretical Grounds of its Criteria and Indicators

Introduction. A family as a social institution reflects significant changes in the process of society development. With the changes to the social-economic situation the family situation in the Latvian society has become complicated. In the beginning of the 21st century, the family is affected both by economic and social factors. This results in significant changes to family upbringing process. Aim of the Study. Analysis of the social-pedagogical problem and formation of criteria and indicators for upbringing potential in the family. Materials and Methods. Theory method analysis of scientific literature. Results. As a result of analysed scientific literature, criteria and indicators of family upbringing potential in the family have been formed, including description of its five levels. Conclusions. The field of upbringing provides for possibilities to satisfy needs, to improve the values discovered within the field of family life-action, as well as to facilitate formation of sense of belonging.

False teeth "Ebiino" and Millet disease "Oburo" in Bushenyi district of Uganda.

"False teeth" (Ebiino) and "Millet disease" (Oburo, Tea-tea) have been reported in Uganda and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These two perceived diseases are commonly reported in children under-five years of age. Anecdotal and published evidence suggests that these conditions are associated with moderate to severe childhood diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea and that most health seeking behaviour for the conditions is from traditional healers. To estimate how common the 2 perceived diseases (false teeth and millet disease) are and describe health seeking behaviour for the two diseases. We did a cross-sectional survey using an interviewer administered questionnaire with closed and open questions in Bushenyi district, Uganda. The participants included 215 heads of households or their spouses obtained by cluster random sampling of 30 villages. Participants answered questions regarding occurrence of false teeth and millet disease in the household, treatment sought for false teeth and millet disease, perceived causes of false teeth and millet disease and about social economic situation of the household. More than one in two of the households had a child less than five years who suffered from false teeth or millet disease in the last five years. More than 80% of the respondents used traditional medicine alone or in combination with modern medicine to treat false teeth and or millet disease. Occurrence of false teeth and millet disease were favoured by low education status and not living in a house with cemented floor or having a brick wall. Use of traditional medicine was not associated with social economic conditions. The frequency of the perceived diseases false teeth and millet disease is high and may be attributed to low access to preventive and curative health services.

Immigration, lack of control and psychological distress: Findings from the Oslo Health Study

The aims of this study are to compare the level of psychological distress between Norwegian born and immigrants from countries with different income levels and culture, and to investigate the explanatory effect of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors, with special emphasis on lack of control (powerlessness and self-efficacy). A cross-sectional survey with self-administered questionnaire was conducted in 2000-2001 in a sample of 15,723 adults living in Oslo. Psychological distress was measured by a ten-item shortened version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 items, whereas psychosocial variables were measured by various instruments. The results show that the level of psychological distress is significantly higher in immigrants from low- and middle-income countries than in the Norwegian born and the immigrants from high-income countries. They also report more powerlessness, more negative life events, less social support, less income and less paid work. It is concluded that negative life events, mainly related to social network, somatic health and economic situations, as well as lack of social support, are important mediators between immigration from low- and middle-income countries to Norway and psychological distress. Powerlessness also plays a role, but this is mainly because of a concept overlap between psychological distress and powerlessness.

The Association between Social Capital and Juvenile Crime

Social capital has emerged as a widely used concept both in empirical studies and in theoretical debate in social science. In the field of criminology, several studies have found support for the association between various forms of social capital and criminal behaviour. This study examines the association between social capital and self-reported delinquency when structural and individual-level factors are controlled. Indicators of social capital, family structure, economic situation, self-control, cognitive ability and participation in delinquent behaviour are explored in a nationally representative sample of 15-16-year-old Finnish adolescents ( N = 5142). The results of the multivariate analysis indicate that (as indicators of social capital) low parental support, low teacher control and low interpersonal trust are associated with delinquent behaviour when structural and individual-level variables, including self-control, are controlled. Parental control, teacher support and intergenerational closure are associated with delinquency only in bivariate models. It seems that parents’ weak ties connecting the adolescent to the part-time labour market do not protect him or her from the risk of delinquency. Compared with social capital and structural indicators, the level of self-control seems to have a stronger association with the risk of delinquent behaviour. Cognitive ability also emerges as a robust correlate of delinquency. The article concludes by discussing the need to take individual-level propensities into account when examining the effects of social capital.