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

Para una historia de la memoria colectiva : El post-Vichy

Para responder al requisito del seminario del IHTP, intenté explicitar en mi ponencia el marco conceptual de un trabajo que ya publiqué, Le Syndrome de Vichy, extrayendo algunos ejes principales que permitan entablar un diálogo interdisciplinario. De este modo, resultó insoslayable la pregunta por la pertinencia del proyecto en sí, por la grilla de lectura propuesta y finalmente, por las derivaciones posibles de tal enfoque. El libro mencionado no tenía como objeto el período de la ocupación propiamente dicho sino la pervivencia de las fracturas y traumas que había generado dicho período en la conciencia nacional. Basado en un análisis de las representaciones de la última guerra en la vida política y cultural, y de los usos y formas de instrumentalización del pasado, el libro intenta trazar la evolución del recuerdo del gobierno de Vichy en la sociedad francesa desde 1944 hasta nuestros días. Se inscribió de hecho en una corriente historiográfica reciente que renovó la noción controvertida de “memoria colectiva”, al postular la posibilidad de describir su historia, una ambición que no resulta en nada una obviedad. Ese fue el objeto central del debate entablado aquí con Marie-Claire Lavabre.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Some Reflections for the SDS Retreat

Produced by The Center on Disability Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, The Frank Sawyer School of Management, Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts and The School of Social Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, for the Society for Disability Studies

Containing Tradition, Embracing Change: Weaving Together Plant Materials in Northern Latin America

From southern Mexico to northern Colombia, palm fronds, wild pineapple fibers, agave fibers, wild bamboo and cane have been woven into bags, baskets, mats, hats, and brooms for as long as anyone can remember. These items carry great historical and cultural value to many Indigenous people including the Otomi (Mexico), Maya (Mexico and Guatemala), Lenca (Honduras), Ngobe-Bugle (Panama), Embera (Panama and Columbia), plus the Guane and Zunu (Columbia) providing a “sense of place” for those who harvest, prepare, weave, and use or sell plant material woven items in each of their unique environments. Spanish colonization, civil wars, modern politics, tourism, and globalization are among events that have influenced production of these items in many ways, such as introduced tools like floor looms and spinning wheels; new materials (synthetics, wool, and cotton); dyes (synthetic and natural); designs (traditional and contemporary); new ideas (woven rum bottles); needs (horse gear by the Spaniards) and market demand (local, regional, and international), all of which infiltrates even the most remote villages, and play a part in the evolutions of the art in this regions. Snapshots of fiber artists in the areas mentioned above with discussion of their traditional work, changes to it, and possibilities of why, are the focus of this session

Corporations—Rights of Preferred Stockholders Upon Dissolution

A corporation\u27s articles of incorporation provided: In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation the holders of the preferred stock shall be entitled to be paid in full the par value thereof, and all accrued unpaid dividends thereon [italics added] before any sum shall be paid to or any assets distributed among the holders of the common stock. During the corporation\u27s existence, it had never declared a dividend. Furthermore, there was no surplus on hand at date of dissolution. In an attempt to determine the rights of the respective stockholders, the liquidating trustees of the corporation obtained a declaratory judgment construing the words accrued unpaid dividends to entitle the preferred stockholders to receive, in addition to the par value of their stock, an amount equal to the total amount of dividends which would have been paid on the stock had there been a dividend paid every year since date of issue. Since there was no surplus, the amount which the preferred stockholders received in excess of their own capital contribution was paid out of the capital contributions of the common stockholders. Because of the number of years during which no dividend had been paid, the net effect of the judgment was that the preferred stockholders received all of the remaining assets of the corporation and the common stockholders received nothing. Appeal. Held: Affirmed. Hay v. Hay, 138 Wash. Dec. 485, 230 P. 2d 721 (1951)

Containing Tradition, Embracing Change: Weaving Together Plant Materials in Northern Latin America

From southern Mexico to northern Colombia, palm fronds, wild pineapple fibers, agave fibers, wild bamboo and cane have been woven into bags, baskets, mats, hats, and brooms for as long as anyone can remember. These items carry great historical and cultural value to many Indigenous people including the Otomi (Mexico), Maya (Mexico and Guatemala), Lenca (Honduras), Ngobe-Bugle (Panama), Embera (Panama and Columbia), plus the Guane and Zunu (Columbia) providing a “sense of place” for those who harvest, prepare, weave, and use or sell plant material woven items in each of their unique environments. Spanish colonization, civil wars, modern politics, tourism, and globalization are among events that have influenced production of these items in many ways, such as introduced tools like floor looms and spinning wheels; new materials (synthetics, wool, and cotton); dyes (synthetic and natural); designs (traditional and contemporary); new ideas (woven rum bottles); needs (horse gear by the Spaniards) and market demand (local, regional, and international), all of which infiltrates even the most remote villages, and play a part in the evolutions of the art in this regions. Snapshots of fiber artists in the areas mentioned above with discussion of their traditional work, changes to it, and possibilities of why, are the focus of this session

Addressing the Information Gap About Gender Affirming Care

State legislatures across the country have made numerous attempts to pass bills that reflect a lack of understanding and empathy for transgender people (Branigin & Kirkpatrick, 2022). Social workers must be prepared to increase public awareness of the negative consequences for transgender people and society as a whole. One way to respond is to increase awareness. What the process of transitioning for a transgender person might look like, how to help someone who is looking for advice, and gain perspective of the emotional toll it may have on the individual. Therefore, this project will focus on addressing each of those topics. This will be accomplished through a series of infographics on the three main forms of transitioning: social transition, medical transition, and legal transition. Social workers will be able to share these infographics for educational purposes. Recommendations for distribution are provided so that social workers can advocate for others to do the same