The European Commission's Proposal for a Financial Transactions Tax: A Critical Assessment

A financial activities tax (FAT) and a financial transactions tax (FTT) are the main alternative ways of recouping some of the public money used to bail out the financial sector after the great crisis of 2007–08. In preparing a common proposal for the European Union, the European Commission initially appeared to favour the FAT, but then swung its weight behind the FTT in late 2011. Its rationale was that in addition to generating revenue, this tax could also help to stabilize the financial markets by curbing excessive speculative trading. This article takes a different position. Its central argument is that the FTT would amplify rather than dampen market instability by interfering with the functions of important financial institutions. Its chief conclusion is that the FAT is superior to the FTT

Societal Costs and Benefits of Treatment with Trastuzumab in Patients with Early HER2neu-Overexpressing Breast Cancer in Singapore

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Trastuzumab has revolutionized the way we treat early Her2Neu-positive breast cancer, as it significantly improves disease-free and overall survival. Little is known about the societal costs and benefits of treatment with trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting in Southeast Asia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Societal costs (benefits) were estimated as the sum of direct and indirect costs minus benefits in the base case. Direct costs were derived from 4 treatment centers in Singapore (2 private and 2 public, comprising 60-70% of all patients with cancer seen in the island-nation); indirect costs were assessed as the loss of productivity caused by the disease or treatment. Benefits to society were based on extra years of productivity, as measured by GNI per capita, resulting from the quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) saved with the use of trastuzumab as determined in the models by Kurian, Liberato and Garrison.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Incremental costs in Singapore, in 2005 US dollars, were $26,971.05. Average Cost per QALY was$19,174.59 (Median: $18,993.70). Costs (benefits) to society ranged from a cost of$79.42 to a benefit of $9,263.06, depending on the model used (Average benefit:$4,375.89, Median $3,944.03). Sensitivity analysis ranged from a cost of$10,685.00 to a Benefit of US$17,298.79</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Treatment with adjuvant trastuzumab is likely to generate net societal economic benefits in Singapore. Nevertheless, the lower range of possible outcomes does not refute the possibility that treatment may actually generate costs. These costs however clearly fall within the usual range of acceptable cost-effectiveness.</p

Rolling back the prison estate: The pervasive impact of macroeconomic austerity on prisoner health in England

Prisons offer policymakers an opportunity to address the pre-existing high prevalence of physical and mental health issues among prisoners. This notion has been widely integrated into international and national prison health policies, including the Healthy Prisons Agenda, which calls for governments to address the health needs of prisoners and safeguard their health entitlement during imprisonment, and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 concerning reducing inequality among disadvantaged populations.However, the implementation of the austerity policy in the United Kingdom since the re-emergence of the global financial crisis in 2008 has impeded this aspiration. This interdisciplinary paper critically evaluates the impact of austerity on prison health. The aforementioned policy has obstructed prisoners’ access to healthcare, exacerbated the degradation of their living conditions, impeded their purposeful activities and subjected them to an increasing level of violence.This paper calls for alternatives to imprisonment, initiating a more informed economic recovery policy, and relying on transnational and national organizations to scrutinize prisoners’ entitlement to health. These systemic solutions could act as a springboard for political and policy discussions at national and international forums with regard to improving prisoners’ health and simultaneously meeting the aspirations of the Healthy Prisons Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals

Die einheitliche Geldpolitik in Stufe 3: Festlegung des Handlungsrahmens

Available from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, D-21400 Kiel C 202192 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Die einheitliche Geldpolitik in Stufe 3: allgemeine Regelungen fuer die geldpolitischen Instrumente und Verfahren des ESZB

English Translation: The single monetary policy in stage threeAvailable from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, D-21400 Kiel C 207036 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Common market standards for money market and foreign exchange transactions: updated policy messages

SIGLEAvailable from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, D-21400 Kiel C 207979 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

The single monetary policy in stage three: general documentation on ESCB monetary policy instruments and procedures

Dt. Ausg. u.d.T.: Die einheitliche Geldpolitik in Stufe 3Available from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, D-21400 Kiel C 207035 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Report to the Council of the European Monetary Institute on the TARGET system (Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System, a payment system arrangement for Stage III of EMU)

SIGLEAvailable from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, D-21400 Kiel C 202856 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman