2002

The Old Boys’ Network? Social Ties and Policy Consensus amongst Australian and New Zealand Economic Policy Elites ( 291Kb)
Shaun Goldfinch

Abstract: While much popular and academic work assumes strong links between elites, there is a surprising lack of empirical evidence for such beliefs, especially in New Zealand. This paper aims to address some of these empirical gaps by examining elite linkages in New Zealand and Australia, drawing on 180 interviews with economic policy elites in the two countries. It shows there are significant social network ties between economic policy elites within Australia and New Zealand and some evidence this has facilitated policy consensus.

Citation: Goldfinch, S. 2002. ‘The Old Boys’ Network? Social Ties and Policy Consensus amongst Australian and New Zealand Economic Policy Elites.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 1-25.

Vietnam’s Financial Services Sector: Prospects for Reform ( 275Kb)
Darryl S.L. Jarvis

Abstract: This article explores the reform process currently underway in Vietnam’s financial services sector, specially the strategic drivers of the reform process and the structural changes it is likely to bring about in the coming years. While Vietnam has remained mostly closed to external influences since 1975, especially the type of rapid financial sector liberalization that swept Southeast Asia in the late 1980s and 1990s, renewed pressures stemming from a desire to join the WTO as well as the recently ratified Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, promise to open up Vietnam to foreign competition and initiate substantial structural economic reform. The article argues that this bodes well for Vietnam, since access to foreign investment capital and greater export trade will help secure enhanced growth and quicken the pace of poverty reduction.

Citation: Jarvis, S.L. 2002. ‘Vietnam’s Financial Services Sector: Prospects for Reform.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 42-64.

The Role of Property Tax in Fiscal Decentralization in Indonesia ( 290Kb)
Mukul G. Asher

Abstract: Indonesia has embarked on a decentralization process with potentially far reaching implications for its fiscal system and political economy. This paper examines the role of property tax in fiscal decentralization in Indonesia. Currently, the property tax is essentially a central tax as far as design, valuation, collection (target based), and administration are concerned. The net revenue is fully shared with provinces and districts, though the basis of sharing is not fully transparent. This paper suggests that in order to increase the share of own-revenues of the regions, policymakers may consider permitting greater discretion to districts to set effective property tax rates, within the overall limits set by the central government. It is suggested that centralized administration be retained. Transforming property tax into a truly local tax, including local responsibility for valuation, is not currently recommended, but could be kept as a key long-term goal.

Citation: Asher, M.G. 2002. ‘The Role of Property Tax in Fiscal Decentralization in Indonesia.’ Policy and Society 21: 26-41.

Neo-Liberal Industry Policy and Employment Relations in Australia’s Shipping Industry ( 194Kb)
Thomas Klikauer

Abstract: This paper examines Australian neo-liberal shipping policy and the resulting employment characteristics of the current era. The author argues on the basis of documentary and interview research, for a significant discontinuity in contemporary policy and employment practices. These discontinuities are cumulative, and are part of a causal chain involving government, employers, customers and trade unions. With the rise of neo-liberalism, Australian shipping policy has substantially changed course rejecting not only past forms, strategies, and cooperative approaches, but also extent the alternative norms and models of developed world practice in the staffing and regulation of merchant shipping.

Citation: Klikauer, T. 2002. ‘Neo-Liberal Industry Policy and Employment Relations in Australia’s Shipping Industry.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 65-82.

The Influence of Culture and Values on Policy-Making and Teenage Pregnancy Rates in the United States, Canada, and Italy ( 487Kb)
Sorina Vlaicu

Abstract: Ignoring the heated morality debates and millions of dollars invested in educational programs, the teenage pregnancy rate (and consequently the adolescent birth rate) in the United States remains the highest among the developed countries, even though it had decreased during the 1990s. Adolescent birth rates are 2.5 times higher than Canada’s, and 7.2 times the rate reported by Italy. To account for the differences in teenage pregnancy outcomes among the three developed countries – United States, Canada, and Italy – a complex theoretical model of attitudes, beliefs, values, and policy decisions was constructed. Departing from the rational model approach, the present analysis emphasizes culture and values, and the way in which they influence the political process, and are ultimately reflected in the policy-making decisions. Data used to assess attitudes and beliefs prevalent in each of the three countries were obtained from the most recent release of the World Value Survey. Teenage pregnancy rates and other demographic data were drawn mostly from the World Bank’s 2001 World Development Indicators. For the geographical analysis of the variations within the United States, data was obtained from the Center for Disease Control. The methodology combines cross-tabular and logistic regression analysis of individual attitudes and beliefs; a comparative table of social and economic indicators for a countrylevel analysis; a geographical information analysis (GIS) of the United States data; and a political analysis of the differences observed.

Citation: Vlaicu, S. 2002. ‘The Influence of Culture and Values on Policy-Making and Teenage Pregnancy Rates in the United States, Canada, and Italy.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 83-116.

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		2002 The Old Boys’ Network? Social Ties and Policy Consensus amongst Australian and New Zealand Economic Policy Elites ( 291Kb) Shaun Goldfinch Abstract: While much popular and academic work assumes strong links between elites, there is a surprising lack of empirical evidence for such beliefs, especially in New Zealand. This paper aims to address some of these empirical gaps by examining elite linkages in New Zealand and Australia, drawing on 180 interviews with economic policy elites in the two countries. It shows there are significant social network ties between economic policy elites within Australia and New Zealand and some evidence this has facilitated policy consensus. Citation: Goldfinch, S. 2002. ‘The Old Boys’ Network? Social Ties and Policy Consensus amongst Australian and New Zealand Economic Policy Elites.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 1-25. Vietnam’s Financial Services Sector: Prospects for Reform ( 275Kb) Darryl S.L. Jarvis Abstract: This article explores the reform process currently underway in Vietnam’s financial services sector, specially the strategic drivers of the reform process and the structural changes it is likely to bring about in the coming years. While Vietnam has remained mostly closed to external influences since 1975, especially the type of rapid financial sector liberalization that swept Southeast Asia in the late 1980s and 1990s, renewed pressures stemming from a desire to join the WTO as well as the recently ratified Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, promise to open up Vietnam to foreign competition and initiate substantial structural economic reform. The article argues that this bodes well for Vietnam, since access to foreign investment capital and greater export trade will help secure enhanced growth and quicken the pace of poverty reduction. Citation: Jarvis, S.L. 2002. ‘Vietnam’s Financial Services Sector: Prospects for Reform.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 42-64. The Role of Property Tax in Fiscal Decentralization in Indonesia ( 290Kb) Mukul G. Asher Abstract: Indonesia has embarked on a decentralization process with potentially far reaching implications for its fiscal system and political economy. This paper examines the role of property tax in fiscal decentralization in Indonesia. Currently, the property tax is essentially a central tax as far as design, valuation, collection (target based), and administration are concerned. The net revenue is fully shared with provinces and districts, though the basis of sharing is not fully transparent. This paper suggests that in order to increase the share of own-revenues of the regions, policymakers may consider permitting greater discretion to districts to set effective property tax rates, within the overall limits set by the central government. It is suggested that centralized administration be retained. Transforming property tax into a truly local tax, including local responsibility for valuation, is not currently recommended, but could be kept as a key long-term goal. Citation: Asher, M.G. 2002. ‘The Role of Property Tax in Fiscal Decentralization in Indonesia.’ Policy and Society 21: 26-41. Neo-Liberal Industry Policy and Employment Relations in Australia’s Shipping Industry ( 194Kb) Thomas Klikauer Abstract: This paper examines Australian neo-liberal shipping policy and the resulting employment characteristics of the current era. The author argues on the basis of documentary and interview research, for a significant discontinuity in contemporary policy and employment practices. These discontinuities are cumulative, and are part of a causal chain involving government, employers, customers and trade unions. With the rise of neo-liberalism, Australian shipping policy has substantially changed course rejecting not only past forms, strategies, and cooperative approaches, but also extent the alternative norms and models of developed world practice in the staffing and regulation of merchant shipping. Citation: Klikauer, T. 2002. ‘Neo-Liberal Industry Policy and Employment Relations in Australia’s Shipping Industry.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 65-82. The Influence of Culture and Values on Policy-Making and Teenage Pregnancy Rates in the United States, Canada, and Italy ( 487Kb) Sorina Vlaicu Abstract: Ignoring the heated morality debates and millions of dollars invested in educational programs, the teenage pregnancy rate (and consequently the adolescent birth rate) in the United States remains the highest among the developed countries, even though it had decreased during the 1990s. Adolescent birth rates are 2.5 times higher than Canada’s, and 7.2 times the rate reported by Italy. To account for the differences in teenage pregnancy outcomes among the three developed countries – United States, Canada, and Italy – a complex theoretical model of attitudes, beliefs, values, and policy decisions was constructed. Departing from the rational model approach, the present analysis emphasizes culture and values, and the way in which they influence the political process, and are ultimately reflected in the policy-making decisions. Data used to assess attitudes and beliefs prevalent in each of the three countries were obtained from the most recent release of the World Value Survey. Teenage pregnancy rates and other demographic data were drawn mostly from the World Bank’s 2001 World Development Indicators. For the geographical analysis of the variations within the United States, data was obtained from the Center for Disease Control. The methodology combines cross-tabular and logistic regression analysis of individual attitudes and beliefs; a comparative table of social and economic indicators for a countrylevel analysis; a geographical information analysis (GIS) of the United States data; and a political analysis of the differences observed. Citation: Vlaicu, S. 2002. ‘The Influence of Culture and Values on Policy-Making and Teenage Pregnancy Rates in the United States, Canada, and Italy.’ Policy and Society 21 (2): 83-116.

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