Anti-corruption programmes in post-communist transition countries and changes in the business environment, 1999-2002

This paper analyses the anti-corruption activities of 24 transition countries in the period 1999-2002. These activities are divided into omnibus anti-corruption programmes, legislative reform aimed at tackling corruption, and adherence to international anti-corruption conventions. The paper presents a new measure for determining the extent of anti- corruption activity undertaken in these three categories during 1999- 2002. Using the results of a large survey of firms across the region, the paper shows that countries with low levels of administrative corruption were more likely to adopt intensive anti-corruption programmes than countries with high levels of administrative corruption, independent of the level of state capture Across the transition countries, omnibus anti-corruption programmes and membership in international anti-corruption conventions have not led to reductions in the level of either administrative corruption or state capture – at least in this relatively short time period – while new or amended laws aimed at tackling corruption have led to reductions in administrative corruption, but not in levels of state capture. Finally, the paper finds that perceptions of corruption – measured in terms of the degree to which firms consider corruption to be an obstacle to the operation and growth of their business – are positively correlated with the intensity of anti-corruption programmes. This finding suggests that by launching high-profile anti-corruption initiatives, governments may be more likely to heighten managers’ perceptions of the problem rather than to reduce the impact of corruption on firms.business environment, law, state capture, governance, corruption, anti-corruption, legislative reform

TRUST IN TRANSITION: CROSS COUNTRY AND FIRM EVIDENCE

This paper uses data from a large survey of firms across 26 transition countries to examine the determinants of trust in the transition process. We first introduce a new measure of trust between firms: the level of prepayment demanded by suppliers from their customers in advance of delivery. Using this new measure, we confirm earlier findings that trust is higher where firms have confidence in third party enforcement through the legal system. However, the fairness and honesty of the courts are a more important determinant of interfirm trust than are the courts’ efficiency or ability to enforce decisions. We then examine the role of business networks in building trust and find that networks based around personal ties – family and friends – and business associations actively promote the development of trust, while business networks based on enterprise insiders and government agencies do not. Finally, we find that country-level effects are significantly more important determinants of interfirm trust than are firm-level effects.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40026/3/wp640.pd

Trust in Transition: Cross-country and Firm Evidence

This paper uses data from a large survey of firms across 26 transition countries to examine the determinants of trust in the transition process. We first introduce a new measure of trust between firms: the level of prepayment demanded by suppliers from their customers in advance of delivery. Using this new measure, we confirm earlier findings that trust is higher where firms have confidence in third party enforcement through the legal system. However, the fairness and honesty of the courts are more important determinants of inter-firm trust than the courts’ efficiency or ability to enforce decisions. We then examine the role of business networks in building trust and find that networks based around personal ties – family and friends – and business associations actively promote the development of trust, while business networks based on enterprise insiders and government agencies do not. Finally, we find that country-level effects are significantly more important determinants of inter-firm trust than firm-level effects.transition, trust, prepayment, courts, business networks

Health status of UK care home residents: a cohort study

Background: UK care home residents are often poorly served by existing healthcare arrangements. Published descriptions of residents’ health status have been limited by lack of detail and use of data derived from surveys drawn from social, rather than health, care records. Aim: to describe in detail the health status and healthcare resource use of UK care home residents Design and setting: a 180-day longitudinal cohort study of 227 residents across 11 UK care homes, 5 nursing and 6 residential, selected to be representative for nursing/residential status and dementia registration. Method: Barthel index (BI), Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Neuropsychiatric index (NPI), Mini-nutritional index (MNA), EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D), 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), diagnoses and medications were recorded at baseline and BI, NPI, GHQ-12 and EQ-5D at follow-up after 180 days. National Health Service (NHS) resource use data were collected from databases of local healthcare providers. Results: out of a total of 323, 227 residents were recruited. The median BI was 9 (IQR: 2.5–15.5), MMSE 13 (4–22) and number of medications 8 (5.5–10.5). The mean number of diagnoses per resident was 6.2 (SD: 4). Thirty per cent were malnourished, 66% had evidence of behavioural disturbance. Residents had contact with the NHS on average once per month. Conclusion: residents from both residential and nursing settings are dependent, cognitively impaired, have mild frequent behavioural symptoms, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and frequently use NHS resources. Effective care for such a cohort requires broad expertise from multiple disciplines delivered in a co-ordinated and managed way

Anti-corruption programmes in post-communist transition countries and changes in the business environment, 1999-2002

This paper analyses the anti-corruption activities of 24 transition countries in the period 1999-2002. These activities are divided into omnibus anti-corruption programmes, legislative reform aimed at tackling corruption, and adherence to international anti-corruption conventions. The paper presents a new measure for determining the extent of anti-corruption activity undertaken in these three categories during 1999-2002. Using the results of a large survey of firms across the region, the paper shows that countries with low levels of administrative corruption were more likely to adopt intensive anti-corruption programmes than countries with high levels of administrative corruption, independent of the level of state capture Across the transition countries, omnibus anti-corruption programmes and membership in international anti-corruption conventions have not led to reductions in the level of either administrative corruption or state capture – at least in this relatively short time period – while new or amended laws aimed at tackling corruption have led to reductions in administrative corruption, but not in levels of state capture. Finally, the paper finds that perceptions of corruption – measured in terms of the degree to which firms consider corruption to be an obstacle to the operation and growth of their business – are positively correlated with the intensity of anti-corruption programmes. This finding suggests that by launching high-profile anti-corruption initiatives, governments may be more likely to heighten managers’ perceptions of the problem rather than to reduce the impact of corruption on firms.business environment, law, governance, corruption, state capture, anti-corruption, legislative reform

Complicaciones postoperatorias en colecistectomía abierta, hospital “Teodoro Maldonado Carbo”, enero a junio de 2003

Los procedimientos y técnicas quirúrgicas de las vías biliares se realizan para producir la mejoría y/o curación de los diferentes síndromes que las involucran. Sin embargo, siguen existiendo situaciones en las que el propio tratamiento quirúrgico es responsable directo de cuadros de morbilidad y mortalidad. Tipo de estudio: Descriptivo, retrospectivo, transversal, Objetivos: Conocer las complicaciones de la colecistectomía abierta; distribuir la incidencia y secuelas de las complicaciones posquirúrgicas en cada grupo etáreo. Metodología: Se realizó el estudio durante 6 meses con 223 pacientes a los que se les realizó colecistectomía abierta. Resultados: de éstos, sólo 16 pacientes se mostraron con complicaciones (7%). Según el género, los pacientes masculinos fueron 10 (62%) y las pacientes femeninas 6 (38%). Las edades con mayor complicación fueron de 40 a 49 años (5 pacientes). Con respecto a las complicaciones, la hemorragia fue la mayor causa, con 5 pacientes. En conclusión, si bien existe una alta incidencia de pacientes, el número de casos complicados no es grande. Afortunadamente la morbilidad supera a la mortalidad y estas complicaciones pudieron ser diagnosticadas y tratadas. Conclusión: Aunque los métodos realizados en el acto quirúrgico y el cuidado postoperatorio que se lleva a cabo siguen siendo efectivos para la gran mayoría de pacientes, hay que considerar siempre la existencia de complicaciones