Rational Partisan Theory with fiscal policy and an independent central bank

The empirical evidence testing the validity of the rational partisan theory (RPT) has been mixed. In this article, we argue that the inclusion of other macroeconomic policies and the presence of an independent central bank can partly contribute to explain this inconclusiveness. This article expands Alesina s (1987) RPT model to include an extra policy and an independent central bank. With these extensions, the implications of RPT are altered signi ficantly. In particular, when the central bank is more concerned about output than public spending (an assumption made by many papers in this literature), then the direct relationship between in flation and output derived in Alesina (1987) never holds. Keywords: central bank, conservativeness, political uncertainty. JEL Classi fication: E58, E63.

Réductoire moral de Pierre le Bercheur. Réductoire moral de Pierre le Bercheur.

Augustins.

Vivência do sofrimento moral na enfermagem: percepção da enfermeira

Objetivando conhecer a percepção do sofrimento moral vivenciado, relacionando frequência e intensidade, realizou-se pesquisa Survey, utilizando escala Likert variando de 0 a 6 pontos, com 124 enfermeiras em hospitais do sul do Brasil, no ano de 2008. Mediante questionário autoaplicável e análise fatorial, foram identificados e validados quatro constructos. Os resultados finais foram obtidos através de três diferentes análises: 1) estatística descritiva; 2) análises de variância 3) regressão múltipla. O constructo que apresentou maior intensidade de percepção de vivência do sofrimento moral foi a falta de competência na equipe de trabalho (4,55), seguido pela negação do papel da enfermeira como advogada do paciente (4,30), obstinação terapêutica (3,60) e desrespeito à autonomia do paciente (3,57). Em relação à percepção da frequência do sofrimento moral, destacou-se, novamente, o constructo falta de competência na equipe de trabalho (2,42), seguido da obstinação terapêutica (2,26), negação do papel da enfermeira como advogada do paciente (1,71) e desrespeito à autonomia do paciente (1,42).

The Big Band Theory : català col·loquial i humor científic. Proposta de traducció del capítol pilot

Aquest treball elabora una proposta de traducció per al doblatge del capítol pilot de The Big Bang Theory, que combina llenguatge col•loquial i llenguatge científic.L’objectiu és doble: elaborar un llenguatge col•loquial creïble però a la vegada genuí i emprar els equivalents catalans adequats per als termes científics originals.

Capital, Wages, and Growth: Theory and Evidence

Returns to scale to capital and the strength of capital externalities play a key role for the empirical predictions and policy implications of different growth theories. We show that both can be identified with individual wage data and implement our approach at the city-level using US Census data on individuals in 173 cities for 1970, 1980, and 1990. Estimation takes into account fixed effects, endogeneity of capital accumulation, and measurement error. We find no evidence for human or physical capital externalities and decreasing aggregate returns to capital. Returns to scale to physical and human capital are around 80 percent. We also find strong complementarities between human capital and labor and substantial total employment externalities.

Measurement with Some Theory: a New Approach to Evaluate Business Cycle Models

We propose a method to evaluate cyclical models which does not require knowledge of the DGP and the exact empirical specification of the aggregate decision rules. We derive robust restrictions in a class of models; use some to identify structural shocks and others to evaluate the model or contrast sub-models. The approach has good size and excellent power properties, even in small samples. We show how to examine the validity of a class of models, sort out the relevance of certain frictions, evaluate the importance of an added feature, and indirectly estimate structural parameters.

Social Security in Theory and Practice (II): Efficiency Theories, Narrative Theories, and Implications for Reform

166 countries have some kind of public old age pension. What economic forces create and sustain old age Social Security as a public program? Mulligan and Sala-i-Martin (1999b) document several of the internationally and historically common features of social security programs, and explore "political" theories of Social Security. This paper discusses the "efficiency theories", which view creation of the SS program as a full of partial solution to some market failure. Efficiency explanations of social security include the "SS as welfare for the elderly" the "retirement increases productivity to optimally manage human capital externalities", "optimal retirement insurance", the "prodigal father problem", the "misguided Keynesian", the "optimal longevity insurance", the "government economizing transaction costs", and the "return on human capital investment". We also analyze four "narrative" theories of social security: the "chain letter theory", the "lump of labor theory", the "monopoly capitalism theory", and the "Sub-but-Nearly-Optimal policy response to private pensions theory". The political and efficiency explanations are compared with the international and historical facts and used to derive implications for replacing the typical pay-as-you-go system with a forced savings plan. Most of the explanations suggest that forced savings does not increase welfare, and may decrease it.

Estratégias de enfrentamento da incontinência urinária por mulheres

Este artigo é parte de uma pesquisa qualitativa mais abrangente que utilizou como referencial teórico-metodológico a Grounded Theory e o Interacionismo Simbólico, resultando no modelo teórico denominado Entre o sofrimento e a esperança: a reabilitação da incontinência urinária como componente interveniente. Com a intenção de comunicar todo o conhecimento produzido, apresenta-se parte desse modelo, referente ao processo de enfrentamento da incontinência urinária por mulheres sem perspectivas de acesso ao tratamento cirúrgico, após falha dos procedimentos conservadores. Ao inter-relacionar os componentes (categorias e subcategorias) relativos à experiência dessas mulheres, buscando compará-los e analisá-los para compreender a interação entre eles, notou-se vulnerabilidade moral e psicossocial no movimento da experiência do grupo, suscetibilizando-o a riscos à saúde e ao comprometimento da qualidade de vida. Pesquisas são necessárias para aprofundar a compreensão de experiências em que haja barreira ao tratamento cirúrgico por descrédito do profissional médico sobre sua efetividade.

Moral distress: challenges for an autonomous nursing professional practice

Constantly experiencing limiting situations that hinder a professional practice coherent with its principles - of autonomy and advocacy of users' interests -, and often conditioned to experience moral distress, the nursing profession plays a prominent role in the current health model because it has the characteristic of managing the care rendered to users in a perspective of social inclusion, both in the basic health network and in hospitals. Aiming at carrying out a reflection on the nursing practice and the difficulties present in its work routine, and considering its characteristics as a profession, this article sought to make a reflection between the practice of nursing and the numerous moral challenges imposed by the routine, resulting, in many cases, in a value crisis that can reverberate directly on the quality of the service rendered, and in abandonment of the ideals of advocacy for users.