The Financial Circumstances of Elderly Canadians and the Implications for the Design of Canada’s Retirement Income System

It is well recognized that the incomes of the elderly are on average much lower than those of the non-elderly reflecting their limited participation in the labour market. But do the elderly have lower levels of economic well-being? Indeed, the financial circumstances of the elderly differ significantly from those of the non-elderly and these differences may compensate for lower income, increasing consumption potential relative to the non-elderly. In his paper, Malcolm Hamilton uses hitherto unexploited data from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Consumer Spending to examine the financial circumstances of the elderly and discusses the implications for the design of Canada’s retirement income system. Hamilton notes that there are five reasons why the unadjusted incomes of senior households should not be compared to those of younger households. Younger households often support children; devote a significant portion of their income to acquiring and financing consumer durables (cars, appliances, furniture) that seniors already possess; incur employment-related expenses (union dues, day-care, commuting costs, insurance); save part of their income for retirement; and pay higher taxes, including CPP and Employment Insurance (EI) premiums. Hamilton presents fascinating data for different types of households on uses of income by age group. He shows that the amount of income available for consumption, that is income after taxes, mortgage payments, savings, union dues, day-care and provision for children, is actually greater for fully retired senior couples than for prime age couples ($30,400 versus$28,600) even though average before-tax income of prime age couples is double that of senior couples. According to Hamilton, the data suggest that seniors need only around 50 per cent of their employment income to maintain their standard of living, not the 70 per cent that is commonly assumed in pension discussions. The implications of this finding for the design of the retirement system are many. Since government transfers replace 40 per cent of the income of the typical retiring Canadian, average Canadians will need little in the way of occupational pensions or retirement saving to live comfortably after 65. Most Canadians can retire in comfort if they eliminate debt and save a modest amount to supplement government pensions.Elderly, Canada, Pensions, Survey of Consumer Spending, Seniors, Spending, Savings

The Protagoras: Judge ... Jury ... and Explication

The idea of a trial is a strong aspect of the structure of Socrates’s direct conversation with Protagoras in Plato’s Protagoras. Each character in the dialogue assumes a particular role within the trial, with Socrates not as accused but as questioner. This paper uses the trial concept as a means in which to get inside the Protagoras and pry open the differing aspects of its characters

Changes in Sufism in the American Context

This article considers the ways in which Sufism has altered since entering the American context. While in Islamic countries, Sufism\u27s atypical rituals and interpretations of the Qur\u27an often made it a target of mainstream Islam. Once Sufism arrived in the United States, however, it rapidly began to change as practitioners no longer had to consider the pressures of a largely Islamic community. This does not mean, however, that there is no pluralism within Sufism in the United States. While early generations of immigrant Sufis remain more strongly tied to a traditional Islamic heritage, many of the Euro-American converts claim no connection to Islam. In the U.S., Sufis have frequently altered many traditional rituals to embrace some kind of Western scientific thought. For instance, while dream interpretation has long been a spiritual matter in the Sufi faith, it now has strong overtones of psychotherapeutic thought. The author makes it clear that this development cannot be perceived as a value judgment. The changes that have occurred in Sufism since its arrival to America have neither improved nor destroyed the faith. Very simply, the American context is vastly different than the contexts in which Sufism initially developed, and this new context will continue to shape and reshape Sufism today

MECHANICAL DAMPING SYSTEM FOR STRUCTURES

A mechanical damping system for a structure is provided. The mechanical damping system comprises a tubular impact frame secured to the structure. A support frame is secured to the structure with the support frame spaced from the impact frame. An elongated member is provided having a first end and a second end. The first end is secured within the support frame and the second end is free from connection and extends into the impact frame. At least one impact mass is secured to the second end of the elongated member, the impact mass movable within and contactable with the impact frame

The Development of an Instrument to Measure Practitioner Knowledge of Service-Learning

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument that would measure practitioner knowledge of service-learning and to make recommendations based on information gathered in order to guide the statewide service-learning initiatives of Tennessee 4-H Youth Development and the Tennessee Department of Education. This study utilized a purposefully drawn sample. The sample consisted of University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service staff who had a 4-H appointment in their job description. The sample also consisted of participants in the Skills for Action service-learning training offered by the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service and the Tennessee Department of Education. These two groups were utilized to give the instrument credibility with both school-based and community based practitioners of service-learning. The instrument was developed based upon the Points of Light Foundation model of service-learning. The instrument contained three sections. Section one gathered information related to the respondents\u27 experience with service-learning. Section two measured knowledge of community needs, learning objectives, youth voice and planning, orientation and training, meaningful action, reflection, evaluation, and celebration and recognition. Section three gathered demographic information. After development of the instrument, a panel of experts examined it in order to establish a high level of content validity. The survey was conducted by a direct mailing. The survey was mailed to the sample with a cover letter outlining the need for the survey and that the survey was confidential. A self-addressed stamped envelope was included for return of the survey. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 12.0 for Windows. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, means, modes, standard deviations, range, percents, and frequencies were utilized. Chi Squares, T-Tests, correlation coefficients, and coefficients of stability were used to analyze the relationships in the study. The .05 probability level was set a priori and was used to determine whether relationships were statistically significant. The following conclusions were based on the findings of this study: 1. Internal consistency of the survey instrument was well above the .66 level set a priori in the pilot and sample studies. 2. Internal consistency coefficients dropped dramatically in the test-retest study; with only five of the eight subscales measuring above the .66 level set a priori. 3. Stability of the survey instrument was low. 4. Tennessee Extension 4-H professionals self-report a slightly higher average number of days of service-learning training than do Tennessee K-12 educators. 5. Construct validity of the survey instrument was low. 6. Tennessee K 12 educators scored statistically significantly higher in all subscales of the instrument than did Tennessee Extension 4-H professionals. 7. Non-community-based advisors scored statistically significantly higher in all subscales of the instrument than did community-based advisors. 8. School-based advisors scored statistically significantly higher in the planning and implementation subscale than did non-school-based advisors. 9. Those who did not volunteer with 4-H Youth Development programs scored significantly higher with regards to the celebration and recognition subscale than did those who volunteer with 4-H Youth Development programs

Classification of subwatershed slopes and geotechnical characterization of steep slopes on reclaimed mine lands in East Tennessee

Mining and logging activity in the Appalachian region create both excessive runoff and sedimentation in local streams and rivers. Also, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 led to over compaction of mine spoil which has led to reclaimed mine lands which will not grow economically viable native hardwood forests. In recent years a construction technique known as low compaction grading has allowed for suitable tree growth but stability and sedimentation have not yet been explored. The purpose of this paper is to create a rapid assessment method to classify the characteristics of watersheds based upon their geomorphology, and then to match this process to the established Rapid Geomorphic Assessment (RGA) method; these methods are intended to correspond to the tendency for a given slope to produce sediment. Also, this research attempts to match upland disturbance areas common in East Tennessee to sediment production characteristics.Lastly, mine spoil physical characteristics were determined and used to determine slope stability on steep reclaimed mine slopes using the low compaction grading technique, and to determine the medium\u27s suitability for tree growth. No correlations were found between the developed Rapid Slope Assessment and the established RGA method. Sediment production characteristics were measured and compared for several land use disturbance areas common to East Tennessee and it was determined that logging roads were the most prone to high sediment production and then mining roads, logged areas, and mined areas followed in that order. Lastly, dry and wet unit weights, moisture contents, and grain size distributions were measured for reclaimed mine slopes using the low compaction grading method, and slope stability was assessed using an infinite slope analysis. It was determined that the nuclear density gauge was the most reliable and convenient way to measure unit weight.Furthermore the factor of safety against slope failure ranged from 1.9 to 1.4. These relatively low factors of safety are acceptable due to the low cost and consequence of slope failure on surface mine sites