Beyond the Search for Competition in Social Service Contracting: Procurement, Consolidation, and Accountability

The authors argue it is time to move beyond thinking of competition in social service contracting simply in terms of whether competitive tendering procedures are used. Although the procurement process is important, other factors should be examined as well. In particular, they look at how market consolidation and accountability are related to competitive procurement. Findings indicate that demand side—driven consolidation (i.e., governments purposely choosing to go with fewer and larger contracts in which lead agencies manage vendor networks) has both competitive and noncompetitive aspects that are in need of further study and that the competition—accountability link is more complex than generally assumed. Although, as expected, there is evidence that competition, in and of itself, leads to some contractor turnover, it does not appear that competitive vendors are held to higher standards than their noncompetitive counterparts regarding performance (as measured by adherence to contract terms).Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

Homicide as a public health problem in the city of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil O homicídio como problema de saúde pública no município de Campo Grande, MS

This is a case study of homicides carried out within the Second Section of the Justice Court, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. It has been observed that: most homicides are carried out by males (95,7%), Afro-Brazilians (62,9%), between 15 and 25 years (45,7%), illiterate or with incomplete schooling (74,3%), and unemployed (18,6%). It was also observed that the victims' profiles are very similar. Most homicides take place on public streets (41,4%), in the city suburbs, between 20 and 24 o'clock, (51,4%). In 50,0% of the cases, the victim did not receive help from any public health service. In the cases where any family member helped (37,41%), the victims were taken to the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital. Firearms were the prevailing weapons (70,0%) and motives for all crimes were futile, or banal; in most cases (57,0%), alcohol was involved.<br>Este trabalho trata-se de um estudo de caso, realizado na Segunda Vara do Tribunal do Júri, de Campo Grande, MS. Verificou-se que: a maioria dos homicídios foi praticada por homens (95,7%), pardos e negros (62,9%), entre 15 e 25 anos (45,7%), analfabetos ou com primeiro grau incompleto (74,3%) e desempregados (18,6%). O perfil da vítima é semelhante ao do réu. A maioria dos homicídios ocorreu em via pública (41,4%), na periferia da cidade, entre as 20 e 24 horas (51,4%). Em 50,0% dos casos não houve socorro e encaminhamento para serviços de saúde. Nos casos socorridos por familiares (37,4%) as vítimas foram levadas à Santa Casa de Misericórdia. A arma de fogo foi o principal instrumento dos homicídios (70,0%). A motivação para o crime, em todos os casos, foi motivo fútil, ou banal. A maioria (57,0%), envolveu o uso de álcool