An Exploratory Analysis of Pharmaceutical Price Disparities and Their Implications Among Six Developed Nations

In our study of 43 drugs, prescription drug prices in several wealthy nations (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K.) were much lower than in the U.S. on average, well below relative per capita GDP. There was relatively little difference among the five foreign nations. All this is consistent with previous research. After separating less-unique from more unique drugs, however, important new findings emerged. Relative prices for less-unique drugs, which are subject to strong competition, were at about half the U.S. level. We suggest that this reflects the exercise of monopsony power that does not exist in the U.S., where buyers as well as sellers compete. On the other hand, relative prices for highly unique drugs tended to be approximately proportional to per capita GDP or higher. Remarkably, biotech drugs were priced at or above U.S. levels in Canada and France

An Exploratory Analysis of Pharmaceutical Price Disparities and Their Implications Among Six Developed Nations

In our study of 43 drugs, prescription drug prices in several wealthy nations (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K.) were much lower than in the U.S. on average, well below relative per capita GDP. There was relatively little difference among the five foreign nations. All this is consistent with previous research. After separating less-unique from moreunique drugs, however, important new findings emerged. Relative prices for less-unique drugs, which are subject to strong competition, were at about half the U.S. level. We suggest that this reflects the exercise of monopsony power that does not exist in the U.S., where buyers as well as sellers compete. On the other hand, relative prices for highly unique drugs tended to be approximately proportional to per capita GDP or higher. Remarkably, biotech drugs were priced at or above U.S. levels in Canada and France. These results carry uneasy implications for the future of pharmaceutical research. The follow-on drugs that make therapeutic classes competitive also amplify the incentives to conduct new R&D within these classes even as R&D incentives for pioneer brands disappear with the approach of patent expiration. Our results suggest that price controls operate to blunt these incentives for follow-on drug research, leaving most of the burden to U.S. purchasers. Because these follow-on R&D results are often extremely valuable, the implications merit substantial concern. In contrast, biotech drug prices in foreign nations appear to be above profit-maximizing levels, which we suggest is caused by political forces in the U.S., while foreign revenues, as one would expect, are very low. This, too, undermines research incentives, especially for creating highly innovative drugs.

Fictionalizing Juárez : feminicide, violence, and myth-making in the borderlands

textIn the early 1990s, a series of gruesome murders of young women in Ciudad Juárez, a city located in the U.S.-Mexico border, shook the political landscape of Mexico. A decade later, the strange and violent murders, known as the feminicides or feminicidios of Juárez, reached international infamy across hemispheres and continents. During this time, the city and the cases became the subjects of an extensive body of scholarship and of any imaginable artistic medium (narrative, poetry, theater, performance, music, and so on). Eventually, the complexity and overexposure of the cases and the sociopolitical conditions of Ciudad Juárez placed them at the center of a paradoxical debate: on one hand, the work of activists, feminists, and scholars of social sciences (like anthropologists and sociologists) studied the murders as a localized example of a larger phenomenon of mysoginistic violence; on the other, journalistic and media investigations of Juárez understood the murders as the products of specific agents (serial killers, murderers, drug cartels, amongst others) and the fractures within the Mexican Nation-State. And yet, despite the expansion and overlapping of these discourses, fictional representations of Juárez remained tangential to this intricate debate. Thus, this research explores the different ways in which writers, artists, and filmmakers deployed and negotiated existent perspectives on the feminicides within fictional environments. As a result of the vast amount of published work available on Ciudad Juárez, I narrowed the objects of my research through a transnational scope. The resulting sample of texts transverses borders (Mexico and the U.S.), continents (Latin America and Europe), genres (fiction and nonfiction), and mediums (literature and film). The first chapter explores the connections of Sergio González Rodríguez’s Huesos en el desierto and Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 through the theoretical framework of the possible worlds of fiction. The second chapter moves to issues of representation, gender, and race through the analysis of two novels written by Chicana scholars: Alicia Gaspar de Alba’s Desert Blood: The Juárez Murders and Stella Pope Duarte’s If I Die in Juárez. Finally, the third chapter focuses on film representations of Juárez and the feminicides in the form of Gregory Nava’s Bordertown and Carlos Carrera’s Backyard/El Traspatio.Mexican American Studie

Operational administrative problems in a mediumsize enterprise

The first operational administrative problem presented was that the enterprise was working in the same way in many years; the workers used the same tool and the same procedures that were not effective, the method they used as solution was the concepts of ‘’5’s’’ to achieve having order and cleaning for the storage. The results were positive because they begin to have benefits such as optimize the process of shipping of merchandise to customers. Another important problem that had the enterprise was that they didn’t have well-defined processes, it affected when two areas entered when sales were made more concrete, the method they used as solution was de ‘’Ishikawa diagram’’ through the analysis cause-effect. It was missing improve the process for document the information in their system, TI support them and as result they achieve streamline prices and conditions of payments agreed with the customer

INTERVENCIÓN PROFESIONAL, PARTICIPACIÓN Y CIUDADANÍA EN EL ÁMBITO COMUNITARIO.

El trabajo aborda los procesos que se dan en los ámbitos territoriales de intervención profesional. Las reflexiones surgen de la intervención continua en ámbitos barriales/comunitarios/territoriales en la Ciudad de Córdoba. Se problematizará sobre la triada planteada de democracia, ciudadanía y comunidad.La mirada se realizará desde una práctica interventiva concreta con organizaciones de base territorial.Surge como reflexión los intersticios y cruces de las prácticas sociales y políticas – aparentemente autónomas- que en el territorio – espacialidad concreta no solo categorial- se condensan en prácticas “originales” y propias. Estas prácticasinterpelan “lo político” dándole nuevos sentidos no estigmatizadoras pero este movimiento lejos de ser armónico es conflictivo fruto de la escisión que se planteó en las intervenciones “noventistas” entre lo social y lo político como esferas separadas. Al final del trabajo plantearemos algunas tensiones que se dan en la “comunidad” en el ejercicio de la democracia y la ciudadanía y como estas entran en tensión con las políticas públicas (en especial las sociales) y su enfoque dederechos.PROFESSIONAL INTERVENTION, PARTICIPATION ANDCITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY AREAAbstractThis work focuses on the processes that take place in the territorial areas of professional intervention. The reflections arise from the permanent intervention in the neighbouring/ community/ territorial areas in the city of Cordoba. The triaddemocracy, citizenship and community is being questioned. The observations are made from a concrete intervening practice with organizations based on the territorial aspects.The interstices and the convergence of social and political practices that, apparently, are autonomous arise as a reflection. In the territory, which is a concrete space and not a mere category, they become their own and “original” practices. These practices interpellate the political aspect by providing it with newnon-stigmatizing senses. This movement is not harmonious but conflictive as a result of the division between the social and political aspects as separate spheres in the interventions of the nineties. At the end of the work, we posit the existenceof some tensions that happen in the community during the exercise of democracy and citizenship and how these come into tension with the public politics (specially the social ones) and their perspective about rights.Key words: Territory; Intervention; Participation; Citizenship; Communit

Trabajo Social e instituciones educativas. Intervención profesional y cuestión social.

This work reflects on the validity of social institutions, their connections with public policies and, therefore, with the social question. It attempts to work on the challenges related to the intervention of social work on these situations. The concept and the role of the State, social policies and educational institutions will be analized. The main demands to professional intervention are recognized and some clues for a strategic study of school situations are suggested.El presente trabajo reflexiona sobre la vigencia de las instituciones educativas, su vínculo con las políticas públicas y por ende con la “cuestión social”I, intentando abordar los desafíos relativos a la intervención del trabajo social en estosescenarios. Se aborda el concepto y rol del Estado, las políticas sociales y lasinstituciones educativas. Se reconocen las principales demandas que se le planteana la Intervención profesional y se sugieren pistas para un abordaje estratégico de los escenarios escolares

La formación profesional de trabajadores/as sociales y los ODS 2030

La ponencia reflexiona sobre la importancia de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible 2030, en particular, el Objetivo 4 que refiere a la educación y en nuestro caso la Formación profesional de Trabajadores Sociales. La Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible fue aprobada por los Estados Miembros de la ONU en la cumbre mundial para el desarrollo sostenible de 2015. Con el fin de erradicar la pobreza, proteger el planeta y asegurar la prosperidad para todas las personas, se establecieron 17 objetivos, 169 metas, y una declaración política. La educación, la igualdad, el acceso a la energía, la accesibilidad al agua, el desarrollo de infraestructuras o pautas para el consumo, son algunas de los objetivos de esta agenda internacional de desarrollo para el periodo 2016-2030, que toma el relevo a los 8 Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio vigentes desde el año 2000. Es además universal, y por lo tanto aplicable a todos los países, incluidos los denominados como "desarrollados". Los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) pretenden ser un instrumento a nivel mundial para erradicar la pobreza y disminuir las desigualdades y vulnerabilidades, bajo el paradigma del desarrollo humano sostenible. Esto nos plantea el desafío de pensar dispositivos de formación que impliquen la complejización en el abordaje de “lo social". La multidimensionalidad de los “problemas sociales”, la lectura desde la totalidad y la historización de los fenómenos de desigualdad, catástrofe ecológica, violencia de género, entre otras situaciones problemáticas que afectan las poblaciones con las cuales se trabaja desde las políticas sociales ámbito privilegiado de inserción profesional de los/as trabajadores/as sociales. El tratamiento de esta temática incluye las actividades de investigación ¿Para qué y para quienes? ¿Quiénes fijan las demandas? ¿Cómo construir agendas que trasciendan la endogamia universitaria?) y extensión desde un enfoque crítico (orientado a resolver problemas de la sociedad, que valorice otros saberes).--Fil: Villarreal, Mario. Universidad Nacional Villa María; Argentina.

父母参与及学业成就：探索两者在高中生身上的关系

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between parental involvement (communication, motivation and reading promotion) and educational achievement in baccalaureate students. A quantitative, cross-sectional, non-experimental and correlational study was conducted with 13,478 parents or legal guardians and students undertaking the educational stage under study in Mexico in 2018. A questionnaire was administered to parents or legal guardians, in which they provided information about their children. The questionnaire included items to measure factors pertaining to communication, motivation and reading promotion. The validity and internal consistency of each factor was established using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, according to the resulting Cronbach’s alpha (a) and McDonald’s omega () coefficients, respectively. Educational achievement was determined according to student reading, mathematics and science outcomes in PISA 2018. In order to empirically verify the proposed theoretical model, a structural equation modelling approach was taken and, from this, the empirical model was obtained. Based on the above, educational achievement was found to be directly related with communication and reading promotion. Likewise, an indirect relationship was obtained between motivation and educational achievement. The relationship between the factors examined in the present study and educational achievement is not sufficiently considered in in baccalaureate students. It is, therefore, important to recognise family as a valuable entity with a meaningful impact in the school environment.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar la relación existente entre el Involucramiento parental (Comunicación, Motivación y Fomento lector) y el Logro educativo en estudiantes de bachillerato. Fue un estudio cuantitativo, transversal, no experimental y correlacional que estuvo conformado por 13,478 madres, padres y/o tutores y estudiantes que cursaban el nivel educativo en mención en México en el año 2018. Fue aplicado un cuestionario para madres, padres y/o tutores, en el cual, brindaban información acerca de sus hijas e hijos. De este cuestionario fueron seleccionadas preguntas para medir los factores de Comunicación, Motivación y Fomento lector, determinando validez y consistencia interna de cada factor a través de los análisis factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio y los coeficientes alfa (a) de Cronbach y omega () de McDonald, respectivamente. El logro educativo se midió a través de los resultados del estudiantado en lectura, matemáticas y ciencias en PISA 2018. Para comprobar empíricamente el modelo teórico propuesto, se aplicó el modelaje con ecuaciones estructurales. Una vez que se aplicó dicho modelaje se obtuvo el modelo empírico. Con base en lo anterior, se encontró una relación directa entre la Comunicación y el Fomento lector con el Logro educativo, asimismo, se obtuvo una relación indirecta entre la Motivación y el propio Logro educativo. Por consiguiente, se da por sentada la relación entre los factores analizados y el Logro educativo en estudiantes de bachillerato, de ahí la importancia de reconocer a la familia como un ente valioso que tiene impacto en el ámbito escolar.O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a relação entre o Envolvimento dos Pais (Comunicação, Motivação e Incentivo à Leitura) e a Realização Educativa nos alunos do ensino secundário. Foi um estudo quantitativo, transversal, não experimental e correlacional que foi composto por 13 478 mães, pais e/ou tutores e estudantes que frequentavam o nível educativo em questão no México, em 2018. Foi aplicado um questionário a mães, pais e/ou tutores, no qual estes forneciam informações sobre os seus filhos. A partir deste questionário, foram selecionadas perguntas para medir os fatores de Comunicação, Motivação e Incentivo à Leitura, determinando a validade e consistência interna de cada fator através da análise exploratória e confirmatória dos coeficientes alfa (a) de Cronbach e Omega () de McDonald, respetivamente. A realização educativa foi medida através dos resultados dos estudantes em leitura, matemática e ciências no PISA 2018. Para testar empiricamente o modelo teórico proposto, foi aplicada a modelação com equações estruturais. Uma vez aplicada esta modelização, obteve-se o modelo empírico. Com base no acima exposto, foi encontrada uma relação direta entre Comunicação e Incentivo à Leitura e Realização Educativa, e foi encontrada uma relação indireta entre Motivação e a própria Realização Educativa. Por conseguinte, a relação entre os fatores analisados e os resultados escolares dos alunos do ensino secundário é tida como certa, daí a importância de reconhecer a família como uma entidade valiosa que tem um impacto no ambiente escolar.O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a relação entre o Envolvimento dos Pais (Comunicação, Motivação e Incentivo à Leitura) e a Realização Educativa nos alunos do ensino secundário. Foi um estudo quantitativo, transversal, não experimental e correlacional que foi composto por 13 478 mães, pais e/ou tutores e estudantes que frequentavam o nível educativo em questão no México, em 2018. Foi aplicado um questionário a mães, pais e/ou tutores, no qual estes forneciam informações sobre os seus filhos. A partir deste questionário, foram selecionadas perguntas para medir os fatores de Comunicação, Motivação e Incentivo à Leitura, determinando a validade e consistência interna de cada fator através da análise exploratória e confirmatória dos coeficientes alfa (a) de Cronbach e Omega () de McDonald, respetivamente. A realização educativa foi medida através dos resultados dos estudantes em leitura, matemática e ciências no PISA 2018. Para testar empiricamente o modelo teórico proposto, foi aplicada a modelação com equações estruturais. Uma vez aplicada esta modelização, obteve-se o modelo empírico. Com base no acima exposto, foi encontrada uma relação direta entre Comunicação e Incentivo à Leitura e Realização Educativa, e foi encontrada uma relação indireta entre Motivação e a própria Realização Educativa. Por conseguinte, a relação entre os fatores analisados e os resultados escolares dos alunos do ensino secundário é tida como certa, daí a importância de reconhecer a família como uma entidade valiosa que tem um impacto no ambiente escolar.该研究旨在确定父母参与（沟通、激励和阅读推广）与学业成就在高中生身上的关系。这是非实验性、非相关性的研究，采用定量、横向研究方法对2018年墨西哥高中阶段的学生及其父母或监护人，共计13478人进行分析。我们对父母或监护人进行了问卷调查，就其孩子的信息进行询问。我们对该问卷中的问题进行了精心地挑选，以便更好地测量沟通、激励和阅读推广这三大因素。通过探索性因素分析、确认性因素分析、克隆巴赫系数、麦当劳的欧米伽系数确定因素的效度和内部一致性。使用2018年国际学生能力评估计划中的阅读、数学和科学衡量学生的学业成就。为了实证检验提出的理论模型，研究使用了结构方程，从而得到了经验模型。在此基础上，研究发现沟通和阅读推广与学业成就间有直接的联系，而激励与学业成就间的联系为非直接联系。研究证实了分析因素与学业成就在高中生身上的关联，也表明了家庭这个重要的存在，在学校领域也发挥着非常深刻的影响