Providing Genetic Testing Through the Private Sector: A View From Canada

Genetic testing technologies are rapidly moving from the research laboratory to the market place. Very little scholarship considers the implications of private genetic testing for a public health care system such as Canada���s. It is critical to consider how and if these tests should be marketed to, and purchased by, the public. It is also imperative to evaluate the extent to which genetic tests are or should be included in Canada���s public health care system, and the impact of allowing a two-tiered system for genetic testing. A series of threshold tests are presented as ways of clarifying whether a genetic test is morally appropriate, effective and safe, ef���cient and appropriate for public funding and whether private purchase poses special problems and requires further regulation. These thresholds also identify the research questions around which professional, public and policy debate must be sustained: What is a morally acceptable goal for genetic services? What are the appropriate bene���ts? What are the risks? When is it acceptable that services are not funded under health care? And how can the harms of private access be managed?

Le financement public de l���enseignement sup��rieur et ses impacts au P��rou : une analyse longitudinale (1993 – 2003)

Cette recherche porte sur le financement public de l���enseignement sup��rieur au P��rou et ses impacts dans une perspective longitudinale couvant la p��riode 1993-2003. Cette p��riode est importante parce qu���elle a ��t�� t��moin, dans ce pays, de changements majeurs aux plans du financement public et de la configuration du syst��me d���enseignement sup��rieur. La recherche consiste principalement dans des analyses secondaires de donn��es pertinentes publi��es par des organismes nationaux et internationaux. Les analyses sont structur��es �� partir d���un sch��ma d���inputs et outputs. On consid��re comme inputs les ressources financi��res et les ressources humaines, lesquelles comprennent les professeurs et les ��tudiants, et comme outputs les taux de diplomation (efficacit�� interne) et la demande de dipl��m��s par le march�� du travail (efficacit�� externe). La th��orie de la d��pendance de ressources sert de cadre pour interpr��ter les rapports entre le financement public et ses incidences sur les r��ponses institutionnels et ses cons��quences. Dans la p��riode retenue, le financement du secteur public a d��cru de 32% en raison d���un d��sengagement progressif de l�����tat. Une cons��quence majeure de la diminution du financement public a ��t�� la croissance rapide du secteur priv�� de l���enseignement sup��rieur. En effet, alors qu���en 1993 il y avait 24 institutions priv��es d���enseignement sup��rieur, il y en avait, en 2003, 46 institutions. La baisse du financement public et la croissance du secteur priv�� d���enseignement sup��rieur ont eu des incidences sur la s��lectivit�� des ��tudiants, sur le statut des professeurs, sur l���implication des universit��s en recherche et sur les taux de diplomation. Le taux de s��lectivit�� dans le secteur public a augment�� entre 1993 et 2003, alors que ce taux a diminu��, dans la m��me p��riode, dans le secteur priv��. Ainsi, le secteur public r��pond �� la diminution du financement en restreignant l���acc��s �� l���enseignement sup��rieur. Le secteur priv��, par contre, diminue sa s��lectivit�� compensant ainsi l���augmentation de la s��lectivit�� dans le secteur public et, par le fait m��me, augmente sa part de march��. ��galement, tant dans le secteur public que dans le secteur priv��, les professeurs sont engag��s principalement sur une base temporaire, ce qui se traduit, particuli��rement dans le secteur priv��, dans un moindre engagement institutionnel. Enfin, les universit��s publiques et priv��es du P��rou font peu de recherche, car elles favorisent, pour balancer leurs budgets, la consultation et les contrats au d��triment de la recherche fondamentale. Paradoxalement, alors que, dans le secteur priv��, les taux de s��lectivit�� des ��tudiants diminuent, leurs taux de diplomation augmentent plus que dans le secteur public. Enfin, les formations avec plus d�����tudiants inscrits, tant dans le secteur public que priv��, sont les moins co��teuses en infrastructure et ��quipements. D��s lors, la pertinence de la production universitaire devient probl��matique. Cette recherche r��v��le que les organisations universitaires, face �� un environnement o�� les ressources financi��res deviennent de plus en plus rares, d��veloppent des strat��gies de survie qui peuvent avoir des incidences sur la qualit�� et la pertinence de l���enseignement sup��rieur.

A la qu��te du �� bout de papier�� : les perceptions des exp��riences scolaires, des ��tudes et dipl��mes universitaires chez les lyc��ens guin��ens du priv�� et du public

Ce m��moire porte sur les perceptions de l���universit�� et des dipl��mes (universitaires) chez les lyc��ens guin��ens du priv�� et du public en classe de terminale. L���atteinte de cet objectif exigeait une exploration de l���exp��rience scolaire et extrascolaire des ��l��ves. La d��marche privil��gi��e est qualitative et a consist�� en des entrevues semi-dirig��es aupr��s de 23 jeunes de deux lyc��es de la capitale, diff��rents de par leur statut (priv��/public) et l���origine sociale de leurs ��l��ves. Les r��sultats de la recherche montrent que l���exp��rience scolaire et extrascolaire varie consid��rablement selon le type de lyc��e fr��quent��. Si le parcours scolaire au priv�� s���est d��roul�� sans grands heurts, il est nettement plus chaotique parmi les ��l��ves du public. Les premiers b��n��ficient d���un cadre d���apprentissage -tant au niveau infrastructurel que professoral- et d���un soutien familial clairement plus propices aux ��tudes que les seconds. Hors de l�����cole, si le temps est consacr�� aux loisirs pour les lyc��ens priv��s, il est marqu�� par une forte implication dans les activit��s ��conomiques de survie pour les lyc��ens et lyc��ennes du public qui doivent tous se �� battre �� pour rester aux ��tudes. Les donn��es r��v��lent en outre que la poursuite des ��tudes au-del�� de la classe de terminale est per��ue par les deux groupes de lyc��ens comme une suite logique de leur parcours scolaire. L���universit�� attire et exerce une forme de �� fascination �� notamment pour le ��bout de papier �� qu���elle octroie. Le dipl��me universitaire demeure per��u comme une marque distinctive et un symbole de prestige et, surtout dans des milieux populaires, comme un gage d���employabilit��. Enfin, pour les jeunes filles du lyc��e priv��, la poursuite des ��tudes est pr��sent��e comme un moyen d���acqu��rir une certaine ind��pendance m��me si, comme leurs homologues du public, la poursuite des ��tudes doit �� coexister �� avec le projet matrimonial.

La fraude d���identit�� et la protection des renseignements personnels dans un organisme public

Rapport de stage pr��sent�� �� la Facult�� des arts et sciences en vue de l'obtention du grade de Ma��trise ��s sciences (M. Sc.) en criminologie.

Privatisation et commercialisation de la s��curit�� : nouvelles perspectives sur les relations entre secteurs public et priv��

Th��se num��ris��e par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Universit�� de Montr��al

La gestion de la qualit�� des soins dans un contexte de contrat liant un ��tablissement public et un partenaire priv��

Travail dirig�� pr��sent�� �� la Facult�� des sciences infirmi��res en vue de l'obtention du grade M.S. ��s sciences (M. Sc) en sciences infirmi��res, option administration des sciences infirmi��res

L'art contemporain �� l'��re des glissements du priv�� vers le public : pour une relecture de la vie priv��e

Ce m��moire de ma��trise porte principalement sur les ��uvres des artistes Sophie Calle, Sylvie Cotton, Donigan Cumming, Martin Dufrasne et Marc-Antoine K. Phaneuf. L���objectif de cette recherche est d���observer les diff��rents allers-retours qu���ils effectuent dans leur pratique entre la sph��re priv��e et la sph��re publique et qui probl��matisent notre rapport �� l���intimit��. Dans le premier chapitre, je d��terminerai ce qui caract��rise respectivement l���espace public et l���espace priv��, pour ensuite cibler les lieux et les figures de l���intime. Dans le deuxi��me chapitre, seront ��tudi��s les gestes et les m��thodes d���appropriation de la sph��re priv��e par les artistes �� l���aide de la pratique de la collection, la pratique ethnographique ainsi que la pratique de la surveillance. L���impact de ces pratiques sur l���investissement de l���artiste dans la dur��e est relev��, ainsi que leur inscription dans un art dit contextuel. Enfin, je terminerai par une r��flexion sur ma propre pratique, en consid��rant ce qui l���apparente et la distingue des artistes ��tudi��s dans celui-ci.

Should a non-rival public good always be provided centrally?

This paper discusses the problem of optimal design of a jurisdiction structure from the view point of a utilitarian social planner when individuals with identical utility functions for a non-rival public good and private consumption have private information about their contributive capacities. It shows that the superiority of a centralized provision of a non-rival public good over a federal one does not always hold. Specifically, when differences in individuals��� contributive capacities are large, it is better to provide the public good in several distinct jurisdictions rather than to pool these jurisdictions into a single one. In the specific situation where individuals have logarithmic utilities, the paper provides a complete characterization of the optimal jurisdiction structure in the two-type case.

Targeted Public Distribution System in Food Grains:Extent of Utlization by the Tribal Population in Kerala

In India, Food Security meant supply of food grains and the medium was Public Distribution System. Public Distribution System (PDS) is a rationing mechanism that entitles households to specified quantities of selected commodities at subsidized prices. The Objectives of PDS are maintaining Price Stability, rationing during times of scarcity, welfare of the poor, and keeping a check on private trade. Kerala has registered remarkable improvement in poverty reduction in general over the years among all social sections, including scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population. As part of the structural adjustment intended to reduce public expenditure, PDS has been modified as Revamped PDS (RPDS) during 1992 and later on as Targeted PDS (TPDS) in 1997, intended to target households on the basis of income criterion, classifying people as Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL). TPDS provides 25Kg. of food gra.ins through the Fair Price Shops per month @ Rs.3/- per Kg. of rice/ wheat to the BPL category and @Rs.8.90 and Rs.6.7O for rice and wheat respectively to the APL category of people. Since TPDS is intended to target the poor people, the subsidy spent by the government for the scheme should be beneficial to the poor people and naturally they should utilize the benefits by purchasing the food grains allotted under the scheme. Several studies have shown that there is underutilization of the allotments under TPDS. Therefore, the extent of utilization of TPDS in food grains, how and why remains as a major hurdle, in improving the structure and system of PDS. Livelihood of the tribal population being under threat due to increasing degradation of the resources, the targeting system ought to be effective among the tribal population. Therefore, performance of the TPDS in food grains, in terms of the utilization by the tribal population in Kerala, impact thereof and the factors, if any, affecting proper utilization were considered as the research problem in this study. The study concentrated on the pattern of consumption of food grains by the tribal people, whether their hunger needs are met by distribution of food grains through the TPDS, extent to which TPDS in food grains reduce their share of expenditure on food in the total household expenditure, and the factors affecting the utilization of the TPDS in food grains by the tribal population. Going through the literature, it has been noted that only few studies concentrated on the utilization of TPDS in food grains among the tribal population in Kerala.The Research Design used in this study is descriptive in nature, but exploratory in some aspects. Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad have more than 60% of the population of the tribals in the state. Within the three districts mentioned above, 14 villages with scheduled tribe concentration were selected for the study. 95 tribal colonies were selected from among the various tribal settlements. Collection of primary data was made from 1231 households with in the above tribal colonies. Analysis of data on the socio-economic factors of the tribal people, pattern of food consumption, extent of reduction in the share of expenditure on food among the household expenditure of the tribal people and the impact of TPDS on the tribal families etc. and testing of hypotheses to find out the relation/association of each of the six variables, using the data on BPL and APL categories of households separately have resulted in findings such as six percent of the tribal families do not have Ration Cards, average per capita consumption of food grains by the tribal people utilizing TPDS meets 62% of their minimum requirement, whereas the per capita consumption of food grains by the tribal people is higher than the national average per capita consumption, 63% deficiency in food grains may be felt by tribal people in general, if TPDS is withdrawn, and the deficit for BPL tribal people may be 82%, TPDS facilitates a reduction of 9.71% in the food expenditure among the total household expenditure of the tribal people in general, share of food to non-food among BPL category of tribals is 55:45 and 40:60 among the APL, Variables, viz. household income, number of members in the family and distance of FPS from tribal settlements etc. have influence on the quantity of rice being purchased by the tribal people from the Fair Price Shops, and there is influence of household income and distance of FPS from tribal settlements on the quantity of rice being purchased by the tribal people from the open market. Rationing with differential pricing on phased allotments, rectification of errors in targeting, anomalies in norms and procedures for classifying tribal people as BPL/APL, exclusive Income Generation for tribal population, paddy cultivation in the landholdings possessed by the tribal people, special drive for allotment of Ration Cards to the tribal people, especially those belonging to the BPL category, Mobile Fair Price Shops in tribal settlements, ensure quality of the food grains distributed through the TPDS, distribution of wheat flour in packed condition instead of wheat through the Fair Price Shops are recommended to address the shortcomings and weaknesses of the TPDS vis-avis the tribal population in Kerala.

Decision���Making in Public Good Dilemmas: Theory and Agent���Based Simulation

In many real world contexts individuals find themselves in situations where they have to decide between options of behaviour that serve a collective purpose or behaviours which satisfy one���s private interests, ignoring the collective. In some cases the underlying social dilemma (Dawes, 1980) is solved and we observe collective action (Olson, 1965). In others social mobilisation is unsuccessful. The central topic of social dilemma research is the identification and understanding of mechanisms which yield to the observed cooperation and therefore resolve the social dilemma. It is the purpose of this thesis to contribute this research field for the case of public good dilemmas. To do so, existing work that is relevant to this problem domain is reviewed and a set of mandatory requirements is derived which guide theory and method development of the thesis. In particular, the thesis focusses on dynamic processes of social mobilisation which can foster or inhibit collective action. The basic understanding is that success or failure of the required process of social mobilisation is determined by heterogeneous individual preferences of the members of a providing group, the social structure in which the acting individuals are contained, and the embedding of the individuals in economic, political, biophysical, or other external contexts. To account for these aspects and for the involved dynamics the methodical approach of the thesis is computer simulation, in particular agent-based modelling and simulation of social systems. Particularly conductive are agent models which ground the simulation of human behaviour in suitable psychological theories of action. The thesis develops the action theory HAPPenInGS (Heterogeneous Agents Providing Public Goods) and demonstrates its embedding into different agent-based simulations. The thesis substantiates the particular added value of the methodical approach: Starting out from a theory of individual behaviour, in simulations the emergence of collective patterns of behaviour becomes observable. In addition, the underlying collective dynamics may be scrutinised and assessed by scenario analysis. The results of such experiments reveal insights on processes of social mobilisation which go beyond classical empirical approaches and yield policy recommendations on promising intervention measures in particular.

From evolution to co-evolution – An empirical study of the role of innovation, policy and public research in industrial dynamics

In the past decades since Schumpeter���s influential writings economists have pursued research to examine the role of innovation in certain industries on firm as well as on industry level. Researchers describe innovations as the main trigger of industry dynamics, while policy makers argue that research and education are directly linked to economic growth and welfare. Thus, research and education are an important objective of public policy. Firms and public research are regarded as the main actors which are relevant for the creation of new knowledge. This knowledge is finally brought to the market through innovations. What is more, policy makers support innovations. Both actors, i.e. policy makers and researchers, agree that innovation plays a central role but researchers still neglect the role that public policy plays in the field of industrial dynamics. Therefore, the main objective of this work is to learn more about the interdependencies of innovation, policy and public research in industrial dynamics. The overarching research question of this dissertation asks whether it is possible to analyze patterns of industry evolution – from evolution to co-evolution – based on empirical studies of the role of innovation, policy and public research in industrial dynamics. This work starts with a hypothesis-based investigation of traditional approaches of industrial dynamics. Namely, the testing of a basic assumption of the core models of industrial dynamics and the analysis of the evolutionary patterns – though with an industry which is driven by public policy as example. Subsequently it moves to a more explorative approach, investigating co-evolutionary processes. The underlying questions of the research include the following: Do large firms have an advantage because of their size which is attributable to cost spreading? Do firms that plan to grow have more innovations? What role does public policy play for the evolutionary patterns of an industry? Are the same evolutionary patterns observable as those described in the ILC theories? And is it possible to observe regional co-evolutionary processes of science, innovation and industry evolution? Based on two different empirical contexts – namely the laser and the photovoltaic industry – this dissertation tries to answer these questions and combines an evolutionary approach with a co-evolutionary approach. The first chapter starts with an introduction of the topic and the fields this dissertation is based on. The second chapter provides a new test of the Cohen and Klepper (1996) model of cost spreading, which explains the relationship between innovation, firm size and R&D, at the example of the photovoltaic industry in Germany. First, it is analyzed whether the cost spreading mechanism serves as an explanation for size advantages in this industry. This is related to the assumption that the incentives to invest in R&D increase with the ex-ante output. Furthermore, it is investigated whether firms that plan to grow will have more innovative activities. The results indicate that cost spreading serves as an explanation for size advantages in this industry and, furthermore, growth plans lead to higher amount of innovative activities. What is more, the role public policy plays for industry evolution is not finally analyzed in the field of industrial dynamics. In the case of Germany, the introduction of demand inducing policy instruments stimulated market and industry growth. While this policy immediately accelerated market volume, the effect on industry evolution is more ambiguous. Thus, chapter three analyzes this relationship by considering a model of industry evolution, where demand-inducing policies will be discussed as a possible trigger of development. The findings suggest that these instruments can take the same effect as a technical advance to foster the growth of an industry and its shakeout. The fourth chapter explores the regional co-evolution of firm population size, private-sector patenting and public research in the empirical context of German laser research and manufacturing over more than 40 years from the emergence of the industry to the mid-2000s. The qualitative as well as quantitative evidence is suggestive of a co-evolutionary process of mutual interdependence rather than a unidirectional effect of public research on private-sector activities. Chapter five concludes with a summary, the contribution of this work as well as the implications and an outlook of further possible research.

Interaction between Public Transportation and Urbanization in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area: an Expansive Model Reaching its Limits

In Metropolitan Area of Mexico City, most of urban displacements happen through semi formal public transportation: small and medium capacity vehicles operated by small private enterprises, through a concession scheme. This kind of public transportation has been playing a major role in the Mexican capital. On one hand, it has been one of the conditions for urbanization to be possible. On the other hand, despite its uncountable deficiencies, public transportation has allowed for a long time the whole population to be able to move within this huge metropolis. However, that important function with regards to integration has now reached its limits in the most recent suburbs of the city, where a new mode of urbanization is taking place, based on massive production of very big social housing gated settlements. Public transportation tends to constitute here a factor of exclusion and households meet with important difficulties for their daily mobility.��

Private long-term investment in uncertain times. Bruegel Policy Contribution 2012/23, December 2012

The economic and financial crisis in Europe is affecting the financing of long-term infrastructure investment. There are multiple clearly identifiable channels: reduced demand for long-term investment, a tightening prudential framework for lending, upward adjustment of risk perception, complex transition of the financial system, and increasing macroeconomic, sovereign and regulatory risk. Some of the identified channels are potentially dangerous spillovers from the crisis that entail the risk of a downward spiral (eg increasing regulatory risk), while others are efficient market responses (eg reduced investment demand, correction of pricing of risk). Consequently, public policy instruments should not address the accessibility of long-term finance per se, but should explicitly target the critical channels.

Lessons from the private finance initiative in the UK: benefits, problems and critical success factors

Purpose – This paper summarises the main research findings from a detailed, qualitative set of structured interviews and case studies of private finance initiative (PFI) schemes in the UK, which involve the construction of built facilities. The research, which was funded by the Foundation for the Built Environment, examines the emergence of PFI in the UK. Benefits and problems in the PFI process are investigated. Best practice, the key critical factors for success, and lessons for the future are also analysed. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based around 11 semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders in key PFI projects in the UK. Findings – The research demonstrates that value for money and risk transfer are key success criteria. High procurement and transaction costs are a feature of PFI projects, and the large-scale nature of PFI projects frequently acts as barrier to entry. Research limitations/implications – The research is based on a limited number of in-depth case study interviews. The paper also shows that further research is needed to find better ways to measure these concepts empirically. Practical implications – The paper is important in highlighting four main areas of practical improvement in the PFI process: value for money assessment; establishing end-user needs; developing competitive markets and developing appropriate skills in the public sector. Originality/value – The paper examines the drivers, barriers and critical success factors for PFI in the UK for the first time in detail and will be of value to property investors, financiers, and others involved in the PFI process.