Centralized or decentralized? A case study of Norwegian hospital reform

In recent years, decentralization of financial and political power has been perceived as a useful means to improve outcomes of the health care sector. Such reforms are often a result of fashion, rather than being based on knowledge of “what works”. If decentralization is the favored strategy in health care, studies of countries that go against the current trend will be of interest and importance as they provide information about the potential drawbacks of decentralization. In Norway, specialized health care has recently been recentralized. In this paper, we review some of the evidence now available on its economic effects. The most striking observation is that recentralization did not affect the variables related to cost containment and soft budgeting.Health care system; decentralization; recentralization; Norway.

Write Free or Die: Vol. 04, No. 02

Avoiding Introductory Courses, Page 1-2 Upcoming Events, Page 1 Writing Committee Members, Page 2 Dangling Modifier, Page 3-4 Ask Matt, Page 5 Grammar Box, Page 6 Past Perfect, Page

Write Free or Die: Vol. 03, No. 02

Writing & Reading, Page 1-2 Upcoming Events, Page 1 Writing Committee Members, Page 2 Dangling Modifier, Page 3-4 Ask Matt, Page 5 Student Profile, Page 6 Grammar Box, Page 7 Past Perfect, Page

The New Hampshire, Vol. 67, No. 02 (Sep. 14, 1976)

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire

No. 02: The New South African Immigration Bill: A Legal Analysis

The Southern African Migration Project (SAMP) notes the promulgation of an Immigration Bill in Government Gazette Vol. 416 (No. 20889) on 15 February 2000 and the invitation to submit comments. SAMP supports the Department’s contention, implicit in the gazetting of a new Bill, that the Aliens Control Act is an unacceptable instrument for the sound and effective management of migration. The rescinding of the Aliens Control Act and its replacement by a new Immigration Act is therefore a matter of highest priority. However, it is equally important that such legislation is not rushed; that it is constitutionally-sound, implementable and cost-effective. SAMP’s input to the public process of revising the Bill is contained in this document. However, we note the existence of a separate process of review of the White Paper on International Migration by the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs which is holding public hearings on the White Paper from 15-20 May 2000. The Committee is apparently not considering the Immigration Bill at this time. SAMP is unclear how these two processes inter-relate and will therefore also be making an input to the Portfolio Committee reviewing the White Paper. The Immigration Bill notes the limited list of organizations consulted by the drafter(s). There are some notable absences from this list, including the Department of Labour, COSATU and prominent NGO’s in the migration field. It is unclear why the drafters would consult Anglo American Corporation and the South African Chamber of Mines and not NUM. In addition, it is unclear why Georgetown University and the US INS were the only organizations consulted externally. The Immigration Bill does not specify what was done with the numerous public and expert submissions received by the Department on the White Paper. It is possible that these inputs informed the drafting of the Bill although that is not clear. It has been reported that the Immigration Bill has not changed substantially from an earlier Migration Bill which was prepared before 30 November (the deadline for submissions on the White paper). The intent of any Bill is to give effect to the policies laid out, and accepted by government, in a policy White Paper. Hence, there should be consistency between the principles of the White Paper and the immigration legislation which accompanies or emanates from the White Paper. In our view, the Immigration Bill is problematic in this regard. There are elements in the White Paper which are ignored in the Immigration Bill. Contrariwise, there are certain provisions in the Immigration Bill which appear to have no rationale or justification in the White Paper. This input aims to point out these inconsistencies. In its submission to the Department of Home Affairs on 30 November 1999, SAMP identified a series of problems with the White Paper on International Migration. However, many of the problematic areas in the White Paper have been carried over into the Bill. SAMP’s submission on the White Paper is therefore appended to this document for ease of reference. This input also aims to show how the Immigration Bill replicates some of the problems previously identified in the White paper. As many commentators have noted, the White Paper was unclear on numerous policy issues; sometimes making definitive recommendations and sometimes merely speculating on whether some measure might be desirable. The lack of definitiveness on key issues means that it is unclear whether many proposals are government policy or not. Some of each type of recommendation are incorporated into the Bill so the problem is not resolved by reference to the Bill. The emphasis in this input is on problem areas with the Immigration Bill. However, the Bill does contain many positive elements that are far superior to the Aliens Control Act. For example, the provisions of Section 3(6), Section 11, Section 16, Section 19, Section 21(1), Section 28(1), Section 29 (1) (a,e,f), Section 33 (1) (a to c), Section 34 (1) and (2), Section 40. In our view, these and like sections and sub-sections, should be enshrined in the finalized Immigration Act. This input begins with some general comments on the Immigration Bill’s purposes. Then it considers points of contradiction with the White Paper. Finally, on the Bill itself, our approach is to identify particular sections where the proposed process: • will not assist the government in reaching its stated goals is in conflict with its stated goals is counter to common law notions of procedural fairness potentially violates the Constitution and Bill of Rights has been tried and failed in other jurisdictions will have an effect opposite to the one intended is unimplementable for reasons of logistics, cost, etc. There are also statutory issues that need to be considered if this Bill is to be become law (e.g. interaction with the Public Service Act, the Public Finance management Act and the Administrative Justice Act)

Annual Europa Lecture-2002. NCRE Online Paper No. 02/02

[From the Introduction]. Let me begin, however, by commenting on the establishment of this research centre. I am aware that when it was opened by Phil Goff in May 2000, it was as the University of Canterbury’s Centre for Research on Europe, funded through the Vice-Chancellor’s new initiatives fund. Following the receipt of a most welcome and substantial EU grant at the beginning of this year, it was renamed the National Centre for Research on Europe, and I understand that it has gone from strength to strength. Thanks are due especially to Martin Holland as Director for what has been achieved in such a brief time. It is indeed timely to have a research centre focused on Europe. A large majority of New Zealanders trace their ancestry to European countries, especially Britain, and we like to think we know and understand them. But Europe is changing fast, and the mass migration from there to New Zealand occurred several generations ago. If we don’t take care to nurture the relationship, we will end up being out of touch with the new developments. While the logic of our geography leads us to focus a lot of attention on the Asia Pacific region and the Americas, our ties to and interests in Europe are just too important to let go. This evening I will talk about the expansion of the Union, about its importance to New Zealand, and about the wide ranging relationships we have with the European Unio

No. 02: The State of Urban Food Insecurity in Southern Africa

The number of people living in urban areas is rising rapidly in Southern Africa. By mid-century, the region is expected to be 60% urban. Rapid urbanization is leading to growing food insecurity in the region’s towns and cities. This paper presents the results of the first ever regional study of the prevalence of food insecurity in Southern Africa. The AFSUN food security household survey was conducted simultaneously in 2008-9 in 11 cities in 8 SADC countries. The results confirm high levels of food insecurity amongst the urban poor in terms of food availability, accessibility, reliability and dietary diversity. The survey provides important insights into the causes of food insecurity and the kinds of households that are most vulnerable to food insecurity. It also shows the heavy reliance of the urban poor on informal food sources and the growing importance of supermarket chains

Write Free or Die: Vol. 01, No. 02

Writing at UNH, Page 1 Upcoming Events, Page 1 Writing Committee Members, Page 2 Dangling Modifier, Page 2 Ask Patty, Page 3 Les Perelman, Page 4 Grammar Box, Page 4 Tom Newkirk and Self-Conferencing, Page 5 Notes on Oxford Comma, Page Page 6 Past Perfect, Page 9 Faculty Resources, Page

No. 02: The Urban Food System of Maputo, Mozambique

The city of Maputo, with a population of around 1.3 million, has been at the forefront of urbanization in Mozambique. While the Southern African country has posted impressive macro-economic growth rates in the last two decades, there has been only limited formal sector employment generation. Most of its working population is absorbed in informal employment and self-employment. The informal food economy is easily the most important source of food in Maputo. Almost all households regularly obtain food from informal sellers; over 90% at least once a week and many on a daily basis. For many households, daily purchasing is necessitated by unpredictable daily income and a lack of accumulated funds. Such purchasing raises the unit cost per item and leads to higher household expenditure on food. The informal food economy is not confined to the markets, and is particularly visible and extensive on the streets and in the bairros of Maputo. There are many thousands of street vendors selling a range of fresh and processed food, often from the same stall. Most of the fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food and junk food are imported from South Africa. Food insecurity is highly prevalent throughout Mozambique. This audit of the city of Maputo highlights that there are still major information gaps in our understanding of the urban food system. As its work progresses, the Hungry Cities Partnership aims to fill many of these gaps

Write Free or Die: Vol. 02, No. 02

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