Blockchain Papers

Charles W. Hultman, L. Randolph McGee

No abstract is available for this record.

J.R. Quan, C.T. Chang

No abstract is available for this record.

Charles Kleiber

No abstract is available for this record.

Joe Kilian, Silvio Micali, Rafail Ostrovsky

No abstract is available for this record.

Gian Carlo Guarda

This paper discusses urban services finance in the Latin American context of rapid urbanization, severe fiscal constraints and democratization of administrative systems. Analyzing the situation in thirteen different countries, it draws several conclusions which may be helpful in the design of new lending operations. The report's main theme is that the World Bank's approach to the urban sector needs to be re-directed. The structure of the report is as follows: first it reviews the rising demand for urban services, noting the positive correlations of rapid urban growth with national development, but also the corresponding, incremental fiscal pressures. The macro-economic constraints to urban expenditures are summarized and the adverse circumstances limiting new capital formation and service provision in Latin American cities is mentioned. The report also discusses whether Latin American governments are truly decentralizing and reviews the strategies to relieve the fiscal gap of subnational governments, including changes in the existing systems of revenue sharing, reassignment of public service functions, pricing adjustments, deregulation or privatization of certain services, technical assistance, and restructuring of institutional credit. The main findings and recommendations are organized according to three main groups: country concerns; theoretical concerns; and operational concerns. The text is accompanied by three case studies in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

H. J. Mittendorf

The paper provides a brief overview of the problems of physical agricultural marketing infrastructure in Africa, with particular reference to rural roads and marketing facilities, such as storage, processing and market centres. In order to overcome these constraints, it is necessav to strengthen macro policy changes, with particular reference to commodity marketing, rural finance and government decentralization policies with the obiective of providing more incentives to marketing enterprises and local authorities to promote infrastructure development. Changes in macro policies have to be supported by adequate training programmes, support to institution building and adjustment of aid strategies to encourage self-help in developing marketing infrastructure.

G.M. Brown, M.G. Gouda, C.-L. Wu

No abstract is available for this record.

Dirk Engels, P Mpitabakana

In Burundi, the intestinal parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, inhabits the waters of the Rusizi Plain (1 of the worst affected areas), the Capital Bujumbura, the Imbo-Sud, and around Lake Cohoha. It continues to cause illness in these regions. In 1985, the Lutte Contre la Schistosomiase project implemented a control program in these regions, chiefly involving chemotherapy. In addition, the European Development Fund had financed integration of safe water supply and environmental sanitation efforts into the program. To further reduce the incidence of schistosomiasis, the control program has introduced a training program for auxiliary health workers and health education campaigns. These efforts assist the program in decentralizing schistosomiasis control to health services and communities. Auxiliary health workers in primary schools, health centers, and subcommittees for sociosanitary development are responsible for educating the public about schistosomiasis. Program workers have developed educational material which allows the educators to address consistent messages to all audiences yet also allows for flexibility. The material consists of posters demonstrating how the disease is transmitted and other preventive measures, a film on schistosomiasis control, and a flip chart. Eventually health centers will be responsible for epidemiological surveillance of schistosomiasis. Communal subcommittees for sociosanitary development play an important role in informing local authorities of needed actions to control the disease and in setting priorities.

Andrew Thomason

No abstract is available for this record.

Roméo Ortega, Gustavo Sanchez Galindo

A complete proof is given of global convergence to zero of the prediction error and asymptotic optimality for a direct adaptive controller is established based on multistep quadratic cost minimization with a receding horizon philosophy. The only substantial assumptions are that the controller designed when the parameters are known, stabilizes the plant and the exact knowledge of the first N y (N y -optimization horizon) impulse response coefficients of the plant. The technical hurdles for the development of a comprehensive convergence theory of this type of controller are also highlighted.

Norman F. Johnson

Abstract The different forms of privatization all imply some diminution of the state's role in the provision, financing or regulation of welfare. Privatisation does not simply mean the sale of public assets and greater reliance on private enterprise and competitive markets; it also means the transfer of welfare responsibilities from the state to the voluntary and informal sectors. This is partly an ideological issue, concerning the state's relationship with individual citizens and social groups, and partly a matter of practicalities. Welfare pluralism implies a less dominant role for the state in the provision (as opposed to the financing and regulation) of welfare services: its major themes are decentralization and participation. Some doubt is cast on the capacity and the desirability of the informal and voluntary sectors substituting for the state in social service provision. The family is undergoing substantial changes which may reduce its capacity to provide care and, at the same time, the number of dependents is increasing. The voluntary sector is beset with problems of uneven and incomplete coverage, equity, fragmentation and accountability. The chief consequence of welfare pluralism has been the rapid development of the commercial sector.

Bernard H. Baum, Teri Strenski

Abstract Thailand's public health system is in transition, reflecting the economic status of the country. The decentralized system has made great strides in improving the health of its people. But paradoxes exist. While some urban areas have an oversupply of CT Scanners, rural villages still cope with hygiene‐related illnesses. Malaria and Yellow Fever no longer dominate health resources. Now AIDs, heart disease and accidents top the problem list. Like other countries, Thailand also struggles with health financing to address the unmet needs.

Jan H.M. Korst, Emile H.L. Aarts

No abstract is available for this record.

Charles Collins

Abstract The public sector in Latin America has been characterized by the proliferation of national semi‐autonomous bodies known as ‘decentralized agencies’. This article focuses on such agencies in Colombia from the 1960s onwards. Attention will be paid to their institutional proliferation and how this affected local government, particularly in the fields of water and sanitation. Such changes in state organization have not been problem free. The growth of ‘decentralized agencies’ has been associated with problems of inefficiency, administrative confusion and problems of social and political unrest. Indeed, such contradictions have resulted in the issue of decentralization being placed on the political agenda and the development of innovative and administrative reforms that could breathe new life into local government.

Donald R. Winkler

Evaluating decentralization in terms of three economic criteria - social efficiency, technical efficiency, and equity - the paper argues that some decisionmaking (about finance and teacher recruitment) should be provided for at the local level, and some (about school organization and curriculum) at the regional level. A system of central government grants should be used to correct problems of equity and inefficiency inherent in a decentralized system. Little is known about the economic and educational consequences of decentralization, despite a wide variety of country experiences. The effects of decentralization are difficult to isolate, so scholars have focused instead on issues of implementation.

David J. Ravenscraft, F.M. Scherer

No abstract is available for this record.

George E. Briggs, Stephen B. Lawton

This paper explores some definitions of school -eased budgeting and other forms of decentralization, attempts to determine the extent of their adoption, develops some indications of aecentralization results, and provides suggestions for further research directions. The paper addresses (1) how often decentralization involving a change in resource allocation procedures is mentioned as a possible response to demand for change in educational systems; (2) the nature of the demand for changes in school system organization; (3) whether decentralization reported in the literature shifts resource allocation procedures toward the school level; and (4) whether decentralization produces improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. The study reviews 14 articles published between 1980-83. Each article was analyzed to elicit answers to the research questions, and the results were tabulated according to sample size, attitude toward decentralization, nature of demand for organizational change, classification of the type of decentralization, and the results of the innovation adopted. Decentralization appears to be a positive innovation for addressing the demands for organizational change in school systems. Further research into the definition of decentralization and the development of a model of decentralization is required. More concrete, reportable research data are needed, in addition to more school-level studies of decentralization effects, including their impact on the budgeting process in school systems. (28 references) (MLH) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS AND THE DECENTRALIZATION OF LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS George Briggs, Ridley College St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and Stephen Lawton, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Toronto, Ontario, Canada Presented at the Annual Conference of the American Education Finance Association San Antonio, Texas March 9-11, 1989 U S DEPARTMENT OF ' ...ATIO' Deice or Fytucationsi eesesich and inn, a nom EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (010 his documar, has been rep duceo as isceiyed fro n the person or cocoa-Nation ortoinating tt 1 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction aLality 4 P0,13 01 view or opinions stated in this docu Merit do not necessarily represent officiat OEFI position or policy PERMISSION TO REPROL,CE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED eY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) EFFICIENCY. EFFECTIVENESS AND THE DECENTRALIZATION OF LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS

Walter J. Jones, James Allen Johnson

:The development and spread of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in American urban areas is challenging established policy making structures and patterns in a variety of ways. AIDS is forcing urban policymakers to engage in unusual efforts at large and nonincremental change while possessing relatively little understanding of the ultimate nature and course of the disease. A variety of uncertainties exist, involving the future scope and development of AIDS, current and future treatment costs, legal and administrative responsibilities, workplace concerns, education efforts, financing methods, and political effects. As a consequence, those making AIDS policy must rely upon what Jones (1984) terms ambitious decisionmaking styles. Successful control of AIDS will require decentralized policymaking centered on experimental efforts in each urban area confronted with the disease. Given the wide range of uncertainties regarding the nature of AIDS and effective policy measures, it is unlikely that a truly national AIDS policy will be established in the immediate future.

H. Kopetz, A. Damm, C. Koza, M. Mulazzani · 7 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

W.G. Wolters

The position of local and provincial elites in the Philippines has changed in character. At the beginning of the century the landed elite was relatively autonomous, keeping the state weak and using it to reinforce its position. Since the 1950s a new elite of mercantile entrepreneurs has emerged, dependent on state credit and political protection. Under the martial law regime in the 1970s the state ceased to be an extension of regional elites and acquired the features of a separate level of organization. The transition to the Aquino administration has led to some degree of decentralization. However, provincial politicians are more than ever interested in finding their slot in the central state apparatus.

Eric S.G. Shaqfeh, Ronald G. Larson, Glenn H. Fredrickson

No abstract is available for this record.

M.V. Tsebrenko, G.P. Danilova, A.Ya. Malkin

No abstract is available for this record.

M.A. Ioffe, Yu.M. Gershenzon, V.B. Rozenshtein, S.Ya. Umanskii

No abstract is available for this record.

Hirofumi Abe

Regional disparities in terms of income and employment showed marked decline under various regional policies during the Period of Rapid Economic Growth. However, the drastic changes in Japanese industries after the Oil Crises in 1970s have caused structural recessions in some regions which have been dependent on resourceand energy-intensive industries. Furthermore, the economic activities are rapidly concentrating in Tokyo Metropolitan Region under the internationalization of Japanese economy. Regional income disparities began to widen again since the early 1980s under these circumstances.This paper aims to examine the trend of industrial differences in Japanese regions in the postwar period, and to identify its current problems. Three analytical methods, namely the analysis of coefficient of variation, the rate-share analysis, and the shiftshare analysis are applied using employment data for the years 1955 to 1985.Major findings of the study are summarized as follows:(1) Manufacturing sector showed a clear decentralization of employment during the period 1960-1985, whereas the decentralization of tertiary sector was not very clear.(2) Marked decentralization was found in the high-tech machinery industry which have been rapidly concentrating in North and South Tohoku Regions. Despite the recession of manufacturing industries after the Oil Crises, these regions showed remarkable employment growth.(3) The shift-share analysis of manufacturing sector has showed low growth performance in the western part of Japan. These regions had been specialized in the heavy and petoro-chemical industries during the Period of Rapid Economic Growth, and suffered much damage in the Oil Crises.(4) Locational patterns of tertiary sector differ among industries. Finance, retail and wholesale industries have been concentrated in metropolitan regions, whereas local regions have been specialized in the service industry.(5) The shift-share analysis of tertiary sector has identified little difference of growth performance which comes from the industrial structure of each region. However, a marked difference has been found in the differential shift components between metropolitan and local regions, which indicates a clear gap of locational attractiveness among them.