The Economic Crisis and Retardants of Growth in Greece

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
George S. Atsalakis ◽  
George Baourakis ◽  
Constantin Zopounidis
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Special Interest Groups ◽  
Policy Makers

The development of special interest groups may alter the structure of incentives and the direction of a society's development. Governments are systematically influenced by special interest groups. The slowdown in the adoption of new technologies, the non-adjustment of the economy, and the focus on the distribution of the “pie” rather than the enlargement of the “pie” due to the activity of the interest groups lead to a certain rigidity in society, a lack of reforms and a lack of competitiveness. Any attempt reform and the society fails because of the strong resistance of these lobbyists until the inevitable occurs for both society and the economy. Awareness of the perverse role of interest groups by more and more people, but mainly by public policy makers, will significantly reduce the losses suffered by society from their activity. This is an expectation of all who espouse a society that will minimize economic and social inequalities. The unveiling of the role of special interest groups and the removal of privileges will transform Greece into both a healthy society and economy.

scholarly journals Twenty Years after IIRIRA: The Rise of Immigrant Detention and its Effects on Latinx Communities across the Nation

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melina Juárez ◽  
Bárbara Gómez-Aguiñaga ◽  
Sonia P. Bettez
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
The United States ◽  
Special Interest Groups ◽  
Time Series Regression ◽  
Federal Policies ◽  
Government Data ◽  
Immigrant Detention

This paper studies the dynamics of detention, deportation, and the criminalization of immigrants. We ground our analyses and discussion around the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996's (IIRIRA's) detention mandate, the role of special interest groups and federal policies. We argue that these special interest groups and major federal policies have come together to fuel the expansion of immigrant detention to unprecedented levels. Moreover, we aim to incite discussion on what this rapid growth in detention means for human rights, legislative representation and democracy in the United States. This study analyzes two main questions: What is the role of special interests in the criminalization of immigrants? And does the rapid increase in detention pose challenges or risks to democracy in the United States? Our study is grounded within the limited, yet growing literature on immigrant detention, government data, and “gray” literature produced by nonprofits and organizations working on immigration-related issues. We construct a unique dataset using this literature and congressional reports to assess what factors are associated with the rise of immigrant detention. A series of correlations and a time series regression analysis reveal that major restrictive federal immigration policies such as IIRIRA, along with the increasing federal immigration enforcement budget, have had a significant impact on immigrant detention rates. Based on these findings, we recommend three central policy actions. First, the paper recommends increased transparency and accountability on behalf of the Department of omeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and on lobbying expenditures from for-profit detention corporations. Second, it argues for the repeal of mandatory detention laws. These mandatory laws have led to the further criminalization and marginalization of undocumented immigrants. And lastly, it argues that repeal of the Congressional bed mandate would allow for the number of detainees to mirror actual detention needs, rather than providing an incentive to detain. However, we anticipate that the demand for beds will increase even more given the current administration's push for the criminalization and increased arrests of undocumented individuals. The rhetoric used by the present administration further criminalizes immigrants. 1

Survey of Interest Groups Influence in an Economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-67
Author(s):  
Haris Nikolaos Papadakis ◽  
George Stelios Atsalakis
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
Special Interest Groups ◽  
Domestic Economy ◽  
Major Area ◽  
Individual Country ◽  
Macroeconomic Impact ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Mancur Olson

The role of special interest groups (SIGs) is a major area of research for economists, political scientists, sociologists and historians. The interest of economists mainly focus on the incentives that encourage the creation and development of these groups and the effect on domestic growth. In a pioneering book, “The rise and decline of nations”, Mancur Olson describes in-detail the macroeconomic impact of the activities of these groups. In this article, a survey is carried out with regard to the miscellaneous factors referred to in the bibliography which affect the formation of SIG's and their subsequent influence on the economy of each individual country. The aim is to underline all the variables that have been used in the literature to estimate how interest groups affect the domestic economy.

António Salazar and the Reversal of Portuguese Colonial Policy

1974 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Foreign Capital ◽  
Special Interest Groups ◽  
Colonial Policy

This article has argued that under António Salazar Portuguese colonial policy was altered from one which envisaged the ultimate growth and development of the African colonies to one which emphasized colonial stability. Between 1928 and 1930 he took steps to diminish the role of foreign capital in the colonies, weaken the influence of special interest groups, restrict Portuguese emigration to the colonies, and bring colonial autonomy to an end. As a result of these measures, Salazar ensured that metropolitan Portugal would be the chief beneficiary of the exploitation of the Portuguese colonies.

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