Formal and Informal Rules in the Debate Over the Effectiveness of Institutions

The perspective of institutions as equilibria integrates the approache of institutions as rules, which is much more comprehensive in relation to the dynamics of the preferences of individuals and the way in which they relate to rules, in various situations. I show that equilibrium depends both on the behaviour of actors and the institutions that govern – it is adjusted from within the institution but not exclusively by its formal rules, but by the fact that rational and free individuals choose to comply with the rules.I empashize that there are situations where equilibria are determined by several types of rules: formal and informal. In some cases, equilibria determined by informal rules undermine those resulting from formal rules, while in other cases, the two complete each other and maintain the institution. Thus, formal rules are not necessarily the rules in use as well, therefore a more appropriate analysis of institutions should lay out what type of rules is more influential: formal or informal

Constitutional cooperation and institutional efficiency

The general belief that institutions have a great impact on individuals is proven by the large number of analyses on the schemes regarding the separation and monitoring of state powers, of the rights and obligations of the citizens, of legally accepted doctrines. In fact, one of the main preoccupations of social sciences is the likelihood of survival of some institutions, from the point of view of their efficiency. Of course, the question: "Who has the right to evaluate the efficiency of institutions?" arises. Since their participating members are affected in various ways and invest resources in institutions, they must evaluate if their interests are adequately managed .When rational and free actors are in the position to make a choice, they will preps those woes which ensure an institutional cooperation balance. Rational and independent Individual can only make a Pareto optimal or superior choice, since they know they will be directly affected at the levels interim to the primary collective choice level, hereinafter referred to as constitutional choice. This paper examines the extent to which the rational choice scheme can be integrated in the constitutional organization of an institution as the starting point in the analysis of institutional efficiency

The Impact of the First Covid-19 Wave on Migrant Workers: The Case of Romanians in Italy

The Covid-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on health systems, on many economic sectors and on the labour market. This critical situation is also accompanied by social destabilisation, which has exacerbated inequalities and severely affected the most disadvantaged population groups, such as migrant workers. This study provides insights into the consequences of the first wave and the lockdown period in Spring 2020 of the Covid-19 pandemic on Romanians living in Italy, using data collected by the International Association Italy-Romania ‘Cuore Romeno’, within a project financed by the Romanian Department for Di-aspora and developed to support actions while strengthening the link with Romanian institutions during the pandemic. Findings show that, during the lockdown, two opposite situations occurred among Romanians. Workers in the ‘key sector’ become indispensable and experienced only small changes, while others lost their job or experienced a worsening of working conditions, with lower wages or an increase in working hours. Most workers chose to stay in Italy, relying on their savings or the support of the Italian government. Job losses, not having new employment, and having limited savings all influenced the decision of a smaller group to return to Romania. In conclusion, the analysis suggests that measures adopted should take into consider-ation that the Covid-19 pandemic might disproportionally hit population groups such as migrants, women, young people and temporary and unprotected workers, particularly those employed in trade, hospitality and agriculture

INCREASING THE LEGITIMACY OF THE INSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES FAVOURABLE TO CITIZENS

Abstract In this paper, I analyze the problem of institutional reconstruction in Romania after 1989, which remained until today under the influence of the constitution and social revolution report. The 1991 and 2003 constitutional moments led to institutional conflicts. Regarding this, there are two implications: unsatisfactory institutional processes and the fact that political institutions often appeal the Constitutional Court to interpret or clarify the constitutional texts framing the institutional processes. This shows an underlying problem with the Constitution. I will analyze in detail the consequences of a weak normative integration of the two constitutional moments: decreasing the legitimacy of the institutional processes and the dilution of the Parliament's role. I thus emphasize the extent in which these implications are risky in relation to the integrity of the democratic institutional processes. In the constitutional economics approach, this brings instability and insecurity in the institutional processes. For the citizens, it can generate uncertainty regarding their rights and liberties. In politics, this generates conflicts and duplication of institutional roles in the decision-making processes. Finally, I present and discuss three models for the adoption of the constitutional convention and on this basis I select the most suitable one for the current situation in Romania. This model must be able to meet two main requirements of the normative framework that I use. The first requirement concerns the economic function of the constitution. The Constitution cannot ignore the interests of its citizens and therefore it should allow them to achieve their personal goals. A constitution that is contrary to the legitimate interests of its citizens is not suitable and cannot be normatively integrated in the society. The second fundamental requirement is that the Constitution should protect the legitimate interests of citizens to other interests that contradict them. The question is whether the constitutional rules will structurally favour other interests than those of its citizens

Individualism normativ si morala in institutiile politice

Trying to integrate the morals into institutional structures seems a good concern in itself. Often, people ask what the values in the society are or which values should be institutionalized and promoted at the institutional level. Each of us take part in discussions about what kind of morals and values should be included or promoted in the Romanian post-communist society, especially in the context of a "moral crisis of the political system". Discussion is important forasmuch the institutions underpin any integrated society. They influence individual behaviors and exert the social control. They require specific and persistent patterns of organization and development of interaction between individuals and social groups. The institutions are designed to satisfy the strategic needs and values, so they are crucial for the survival of society. In the political case, their role is to strengthen political stability and democratic order, including the contribution to internalize the democratic approach in society. Thus, the question of beginning this exercise is this: There can be justified a connection between the moral and the political- institutional order in a democratic system? If yes, what is the nature of this relationship? To analyze this issue of concern, I'll show the meaning and conditions of the democratic institutionalization in the light of a contractualist framework. The analysis is completed by the normative individualism principle. Thus, I examine the effects of political institutions at both the social and the individual actors’ level

The Impact of the First Covid-19 Wave on Migrant Workers: The Case of Romanians in Italy

The Covid-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on health systems, on many economic sectors and on the labour market. This critical situation is also accompanied by social destabilisation, which has exacerbated inequalities and severely affected the most disadvantaged population groups, such as migrant workers. This study provides insights into the consequences of the first wave and the lockdown period in Spring 2020 of the Covid-19 pandemic on Romanians living in Italy, using data collected by the International Association Italy-Romania ‘Cuore Romeno’, within a project financed by the Romanian Department for Diaspora and developed to support actions while strengthening the link with Romanian institutions during the pandemic. Findings show that, during the lockdown, two opposite situations occurred among Romanians. Workers in the ‘key sector’ become indispensable and experienced only small changes, while others lost their job or experienced a worsening of working conditions, with lower wages or an increase in working hours. Most workers chose to stay in Italy, relying on their savings or the support of the Italian government. Job losses, not having new employment, and having limited savings all influenced the decision of a smaller group to return to Romania. In conclusion, the analysis suggests that measures adopted should take into consideration that the Covid-19 pandemic might disproportionally hit population groups such as migrants, women, young people and temporary and unprotected workers, particularly those employed in trade, hospitality and agriculture

Subendocardial Viability Ratio Predictive Value for Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertensive Patients

Background: The subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), also known as the Buckberg index, is a parameter of arterial stiffness with indirect prognostic value in assessing long-term cardiovascular risk. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on 70 patients with uncomplicated hypertension admitted to a county medical reference hospital. We analyzed demographics, laboratory data, arterial stiffness parameters and cardiovascular risk scores (SCORE and Framingham risk scores) and aimed to identify paraclinical parameters associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Results: Of the arterial stiffness parameters, SEVR correlates statistically significantly with age, central and peripheral systolic blood pressure, as well as with heart rate. SEVR seems to have prognostic value among hypertensive patients by increasing the risk of major cardiovascular events assessed by SCORE and Framingham risk scores. SEVR correlates statistically significantly with serum fibrinogen (p = 0.02) and hemoglobin (p = 0.046). Between pulse wave velocity and lipid parameters (p = 0.021 for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and p = 0.030 for triglycerides) a statistically significant relationship was found for the study group. The augmentation index of the aorta also correlated with serum LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.032) and the hemoglobin levels (p = 0.040) of hypertensive patients. Conclusions: Age, abdominal circumference and Framingham score are independent predictors for SEVR in our study group, further highlighting the need for early therapeutic measures to control risk factors in this category of patients