The Political Economy of Sectarianism

2018 ◽  
pp. 181-204
Author(s):  
Justin Gengler
Keyword(s):  
Identity Politics ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Political Support ◽  
National Narratives ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Welfare Benefits ◽  
Political Incentives ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
The Cost

Arab Gulf rulers face incentives to develop non-economic sources of legitimacy to maintain popular support while maximizing scarce resource revenues. By sowing communal distrust, highlighting threats, and emphasizing their ability to guarantee security, regimes can reinforce domestic backing and dampen pressure for reform more cheaply than by distributing welfare benefits. Survey data from four Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar) demonstrate that governments can effectively cow populations into political inaction even as the economic benefits citizens receive are dwindling. Gulf regimes establish electoral and legislative rules that institutionalize cleavages based on identity politics. Official national narratives in the Gulf are frequently exclusive, highlighting differences among citizens and privileging certain population segments over others. Gulf regimes thus have economic and political incentives to embellish or manufacture domestic and external threats, in order to heighten popular concerns over security and so lower the cost of accruing political support. Gulf rulers are often unable to manage social tensions once unleashed, and some have ended up stoking the very dissent they wished to suppress. This is a precarious strategy that carries serious risks to citizen welfare and the long-term survival of regimes.

scholarly journals The Trucial Gulf States and Their Role in International Politics

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-656
Author(s):  
Muhammad Tariq Javed
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Political Movements ◽  
Political Issue ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Regional Interest ◽  
Gulf State ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Political Uncertainties

The study focuses on International Relation behavior of Gulf Trucial states seeking security in the wake of perceived regional and international threats. The Gulf States including and other despotic regimes in the region have been found abandoning wider regional Interest and joining Western Power and recently even Israel which is political most contested regime in the region. Gulf States are cluster of small but rich and militarily weaker states. This makes them dependent on big or influential regional and International powers. The personal and despotic family rules in Gulf state have mostly been depended for their sustenance on internationally powerful states for their defense and protection against internal and external threats. The native political movements like Muslim Brotherhood Palestinians who are supported mutually make a case of internal threats for the authoritative and despotic Gulf States Emirates. The movements in Middle East seek wider change on their agenda and the end of concentration of power The study find that personal and despotic rules ignore major political issue and their settlement to sustain their grip on power. This facilitates a short term sustenance at the cost of a bigger regional threat. This political trending of the Gulf States also entails domestic discontent which can sow seeds for future political uncertainties and discontent leading to regional security dilemma and escalated conflicts and confrontations. Paper recommends good relations conditioned with mutual reciprocity and accommodation for sustaining peace in the region to have positive impact on International peace. 

The Self-Undermining State

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjun Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
State Formation ◽  
Final Section ◽  
The State ◽  
The Self ◽  
Central Authority ◽  
Interstate War ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Willingness To Sacrifice ◽  
The Cost

This chapter provides an informal rationalist model of state formation as an exchange between a central authority and a population. In the model, the central authority protects the population against external threats and the population disarms and pays taxes. The model specifies the conditions under which the exchange is self-enforcing, meaning that the parties prefer the exchange to alternative courses of action. These conditions—costly but winnable interstate war—are historically rare, and the cost of such wars can rise beyond the population’s willingness to sacrifice. At this point, the population prefers to avoid war rather than fight it and may prefer an alternative institution to the state if that institution can prevent war and reduce the level of extraction. Thus the modern centralized state is self-undermining rather than self-enforcing. A final section addresses alternative explanations for state formation.

447 Cost-Effectiveness of a 3-Year Tele-OSA Intervention

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A177-A177
Author(s):  
Jaejin An ◽  
Dennis Hwang ◽  
Jiaxiao Shi ◽  
Amy Sawyer ◽  
Aiyu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Incremental Cost ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Introduction Trial-based tele-obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) cost-effectiveness analyses have often been inconclusive due to small sample sizes and short follow-up. In this study, we report the cost-effectiveness of Tele-OSA using a larger sample from a 3-month trial that was augmented with 2.75 additional years of epidemiologic follow-up. Methods The Tele-OSA study was a 3-month randomized trial conducted in Kaiser Permanente Southern California that demonstrated improved adherence in patients receiving automated feedback messaging regarding their positive airway pressure (PAP) use when compared to usual care. At the end of the 3 months, participants in the intervention group pseudo-randomly either stopped or continued receiving messaging. This analysis included those participants who had moderate-severe OSA (Apnea Hypopnea Index >=15) and compared the cost-effectiveness of 3 groups: 1) no messaging, 2) messaging for 3 months only, and 3) messaging for 3 years. Costs were derived by multiplying medical service use from electronic medical records times costs from Federal fee schedules. Effects were average nightly hours of PAP use. We report the incremental cost per incremental hour of PAP use as well as the fraction acceptable. Results We included 256 patients with moderate-severe OSA (Group 1, n=132; Group 2, n=79; Group 3, n=45). Group 2, which received the intervention for 3 months only, had the highest costs and fewest hours of use and was dominated by the other two groups. Average 1-year costs for groups 1 and 3 were $6035 (SE, $477) and $6154 (SE, $575), respectively; average nightly hours of PAP use were 3.07 (SE, 0.23) and 4.09 (SE, 0.42). Compared to no messaging, messaging for 3 years had an incremental cost ($119, p=0.86) per incremental hour of use (1.02, p=0.03) of $117. For a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of $500 per year ($1.37/night), 3-year messaging has a 70% chance of being acceptable. Conclusion Long-term Tele-OSA messaging was more effective than no messaging for PAP use outcomes but also highly likely cost-effective with an acceptable willingness-to-pay threshold. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that this greater use will yield both clinical and additional economic benefits. Support (if any) Tele-OSA study was supported by the AASM Foundation SRA Grant #: 104-SR-13

scholarly journals Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Large-Scale Crèche Intervention to Prevent Child Drowning in Rural Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Natalia Alfonso ◽  
Adnan A Hyder ◽  
Olakunle Alonge ◽  
Shumona Sharmin Salam ◽  
Kamran Baset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Societal Perspective ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Operating Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Program Cost ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Life Years ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Drowning is the leading cause of death among children 12-59 months old in rural Bangladesh. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a large-scale crèche intervention in preventing child drowning. Estimates of the effectiveness of the crèches was based on prior studies and the program cost was assessed using monthly program expenditures captured prospectively throughout the study period from two different implementing agencies. The study evaluated the cost-effectiveness from both a program and societal perspective. Results showed that from the program perspective the annual operating cost of a crèche was $416.35 (95%C.I.: $222 to $576), the annual cost per child was $16 (95%C.I.: $9 to $22) and the incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per life saved with the crèches was $17,803 (95%C.I.: $9,051 to $27,625). From the societal perspective (including parents time valued) the ICER per life saved was -$176,62 (95%C.I.: -$347,091 to -$67,684)—meaning crèches generated net economic benefits per child enrolled. Based on the ICER per disability-adjusted-life years averted from the societal perspective (excluding parents time), $2,020, the crèche intervention was cost-effective even when the societal economic benefits were ignored. Based on the evidence, the creche intervention has great potential for reducing child drowning at a cost that is reasonable.

National Museums, National Narratives, and Identity Politics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Lleras
Keyword(s):  
Identity Politics ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
National Museum ◽  
Traditional Role ◽  
National Narratives ◽  
The Past ◽  
National Museums ◽  
Insight Into

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the surge of identity politics and the diversification of heritage and the tensions that arise with the traditional role of national museums that are expected to support the model of a unitary national identity through their narratives and collections. Engaging with distinct patrimonies and transformations in museums checkmates stagnant notions of heritage, but in turn, these actions might also instigate resistance to change. A case study at the National Museum of Colombia will provide an insight into competing notions of heritage, which can be understood as the relics of a material past, but may also be seen as the meanings created about the past. This analysis instigates thoughts about the role that history and historians might play in the elaboration of narratives of identity.

The Impact of Military Spending on Economic Development

2018 ◽  
pp. 182-191
Author(s):  
Saptarshi Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Military Spending ◽  
Military Expenditure ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
External Threats ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Military ◽  
The Impact

Some countries spend a relatively large percentage of GDP on their militaries in order to preserve or secure their status as global powers. Others do so because they are ruled by military governments or aggressive regimes that pose a military threat to their neighbors or their own populations. It is debatable whether there is a causal relationship between military spending and economic growth in the economy. It is again a policy debate how much to allocate funds for civilian and how much for military expenditure. Under these puzzling results of the impact of military expenditure on economic growth which is frequently found to be non-significant or negative, yet most countries spend a large fraction of their GDP on defense and the military. The chapter tries to investigate the relationship between military spending and economic growth in India. It also sees whether external threats, corruption, and other relevant controls have any causal effect. This chapter obtains that additional expenditure on Indian military in the presence of additional threat is significantly detrimental to growth implying that India cannot afford to fight or demonstrate power at the cost of its development.

scholarly journals A Nested Land Uses–Landscapes–Livelihoods Approach to Assess the Real Costs of Land-Use Transitions: Insights from Southeast Asia

Land ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Lestrelin ◽  
Jean-Christophe Castella ◽  
Qiaohong Li ◽  
Thoumthone Vongvisouk ◽  
Nguyen Dinh Tien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Opportunity Costs ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change ◽  
The Cost

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is viewed as an effective way to mitigate climate change by compensating stewards of forested areas for minimizing forestland conversion and protecting forest services. Opportunity costs assess the cost of foregone opportunity when preserving the forest instead of investing in an alternative activity or resource use. This paper questions the calculation method of opportunity costs using averaged economic benefits and co-benefits of different land-use transitions. We propose a nested approach to land-use transitions at the interface between landscapes and livelihoods and assessing a wide range of potential socio-ecological costs and benefits. Combining household surveys and focus groups with participatory mapping, we applied the approach in villages of Laos, Vietnam and China positioned along a broad transition trajectory from subsistence shifting cultivation to intensive commercial agriculture. By looking beyond the economics of land use, we highlight important linkages between land-use changes and livelihood differentiation, vulnerability and inequalities. Our results show the importance of addressing the impacts of land-use transitions on a wide range of potential ecological and socioeconomic costs and benefits at multiple levels.

OP42 Cost-Benefit Of Computed Tomography In Secondary Hospitals In China

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 19-19
Author(s):  
Hui Sun ◽  
Yingyao Chen ◽  
Jian Ming ◽  
Yan Wei ◽  
Luyang He
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Cost Recovery ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Effective Utilization ◽  
Equipment Utilization ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Benefit Cost

INTRODUCTION:With the promotion of a tiered medical service system, secondary hospitals will play a more important role in the future. This study aims to explore the cost-benefit of computed tomography (CT) in secondary hospitals in China, with a view to providing information for overall economic management in hospitals as well as for regional planning of medical equipment in different areas.METHODS:Fifty-eight secondary hospitals from six provinces located in the eastern, central, and western regions of China were selected as the study sample. Questionnaires were used to collect information on the cost structure, efficiency, and benefits of CT in the secondary hospitals in the past 5 years. Cost analysis was conducted from the perspective of the hospitals, which mainly referred to direct fixed costs and variable costs. We analyzed the investment recovery years a, cost recovery rate b, and benefit-cost ratio to evaluate the economic benefits of CT. We also analyzed the technological benefits of CT based on its effective utilization rate c and positive detection rate. a:Investment recovery years = total original investment / (annual net income + annual depreciation expense)b:Cost recovery rate = average income per check / average cost per checkc:Effective utilization rate = single equipment utilization rate * positive detection rate(Single equipment utilization rate = actual working time / rated working time)RESULTS:Depreciation costs (36.3 percent) were the largest proportion of all costs over the 5-year period, followed by material costs (22.2 percent), maintenance costs (18.2 percent), labor costs (17.1 percent), and electricity consumption (1.2 percent). The investment recovery periods of CT in the eastern, central, and western regions were 2.5, 2.8, and 3.1 years, respectively; the cost recovery rates were 186.5 percent, 172.0 percent, and 174.1 percent, respectively; the benefit-cost ratios were 1.9, 1.7, and 1.7, respectively; the effective utilization rates were 46.1 percent, 58.3 percent, and 71.2 percent, respectively; and the positive detection rates were 52.3 percent, 60.5 percent, and 73.3 percent, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:The current study indicates that the cost-benefit of CT is good in secondary hospitals, especially in terms of economic benefits. But to achieve greater technological benefits in all three regions, more appropriate utilization of CT is needed.

scholarly journals Review on the Evaluation of Casing Damage Level in Oil and Gas Field

2019 ◽  
Vol 256 ◽  
pp. 02008
Author(s):  
Fangcheng Zhou ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Changqing Ma ◽  
Pengfei Lei ◽  
Xinyi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Damage Classification ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Damage Level ◽  
Damage Degree ◽  
Damage Repair ◽  
Casing Damage ◽  
Oil And Gas Field ◽  
The Cost

The casing damage is a common problem encountered in the oil and gas field, and the casing damage will cause huge losses to the economic benefits of the oil and gas field. Grading the damage degree of the casing damage well can provide theoretical support for the oilfield workover operation and save the cost of workover. The casing damage classification has a strong guiding significance for the economic evaluation of the casing damage repair and the development of appropriate workover technology. After a review research on domestic and foreigner papers on the study of casing damage classification, it can be found that there is no mature theory and method for casing damage classification. After analyzing the entire workover process, the concept of the damage repair evaluation expert system is proposed to complete the entire workover process, evaluate the cost, and help the oil and gas field to obtain the best benefits.

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