DOCSLIB.ORG

Commission of the European Communities

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Commission of the European Communities COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES C0MC89) 363 final Brussels, 8 August 1989 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION on family policies OQKEENTS iwnaxcnoH p. 3 I. EBCGRAFHIC, SOCDOUDGICAL AHD HXHCMTC (IITI'KXT p. 4 1. EBGGRAfHIC BM3SGB0QHD p. 4 A. Trend in principal demographic indicators p. 4 B. Changes in family structure p. 6 2. SOCIAL AHD FT1"*™? OLKIMCT p. 8 A. Women and employment p. 8 6. Sooio-eoonomlo changes p. 9 3. ancajcrsKH p. 10 II. KHJUmmJUM OP IBB BCEB OP THE FAMILY AHD ARSONS IN ns FAVOUR m PUBLIC ALTIHKITIKS p. 11 1. AT IH1SEHAXI30NAL LEVEL p. 11 2. AT RATIONAL I£VEL p. 12 3. AT (TMMnHTTY LEVEL p. 13 III. CXXELBSttX p. 14 AHNEXE I : LIST OP SENIOR OFFICIALS PAKnCrPATDC IH PREPARATORY WQRC ANHEXBH : SIATISTIGAL TABLES AHHEKB III : HT/WIORf OP MEASDRES TAKHJ IH SUPPORT OP THE FAMELT (Working document prepared by Oomnission servioes) AHNEXB IV : THE SHAKDC OP WggTKBTBTT.TITES JM THE MBiBBR STATES -a- nfmuuuTiui 1. Varied approaches to the question of family exist in the Member States. Conception of the role of the public authorities with regard to the family also differs. However, by the slanting of diverse measures adopted in a certain number of areas such as social security, taxation, family law, etc. in all Member States, the public authorities are directing their attention to families* living conditions. Family policy conditions the sum total of these interventions. 2. In its oommunioation "Problems of social security - areas of common interest" of 24 July 1986, the Commission analysed the implications of demographio trends in the Community, and proposed the organization of "concertation at the level of senior national officials responsible for the policies (family policy measures), as is already the case in the field of social protection".- At the meeting on 27 May 1987, the Council of Ministers for Social Affairs welcomed this communication, which responded to the European Parliament recommendations (resolution of 9 June 1983 on family policy in the Community) and to those of the Economic and Social Committee (report on the demographio situation and report on the social aspects of the internal market) all adopted almost unanimously. On 22 February 1988, the Council on General Affairs adopted the following conclusions: "At the European Council in Copenhagen, the French delegation mentioned the disturbing demographio situation in Europe and emphasized that Europe could not retain its political, eoonomlo and cultural position in the world without a renewal of its demographio dynamism. The Ministers responsible far Family Affairs will meet to exchange information on their national experiences and will submit a report in 1989 on their 3. The aim of this communication is to submit to the Ministers for Family Affairs a draft report drawn up in conjunction with the senior national officials responsible for family affairs, in preparation for which the Commission organized a seminar an the implications of Community family policies (Frankfurt, 18-19 April 1989). One following were stressed during the preparatory work: the disturbing demographio situation in Europe; the impact of social and économie changes an the family; the effects of Community sectoral policies an the family; the fundamental role of the family as the basic unit of society; the cultural and sooio-eoonomio role of the family, based on the transmission of values and inter-generational solidarity. - 3 - 5. From this work, four main areas of common interest emerged: ways of reconciling work and family life and sharing family responsibilities; measures adopted to assist certain categories of families; consideration of the most deprived familles; impact of Community policies an the family, in particular the protection of children during childhood. 6. On this basis, the draft report in question, after describing the demographic, social and economic context of the family, and reviewing its impact on various family groups, concludes with an outline of a feasible approach to these questions. 7. Annex m, a working document prepared by Commission services, nmn+Ai-na a description of national measures adopted In favour of the family, mainly relating to the above areas of common interest and based on information supplied by the Member States. -4 - I. TiarCTAwnq yyTfirrynriAT. Awn Hrymrmr wyrpjriiim 1. DaCGRAPHIC BACUSOUND A. Main demographic indicators 8. Since the end of the 1960s we have been witnessing a reversal of demographic trends. The high birthrate, which had been characteristic of all European oountrles since the industrial revolution, daolInert at an Increasing rate from 1965 onwards. Since 1980, no EEC country, with the exception of Ireland, has achieved full population replacement. Deaths outnumber births with a consequent standstill In population levels, and even a reduction within a few décades unless entries (births and immigrations) compensate for the losses. 9. This rapid fall in the birthrate since 1965 Is remarkable not only because it occurred simultaneously in all the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, but because all strata of society have been affected, regardless of religion, social status and education and despite the économie growth rate of each of these oountrles, the proportion of women on the labour market or unemployment rates. 10. This decline in the birthrate is not an isolated phenomenon, but occurred in parallel with other factors, such as the decline in the number of marriages, an Increase in the period of time between marriage and the birth of the first child, and a rise in the number of divorces. 11. In all the oountrles of the Community, marriage, often preceded by a period of cohabitation of varying length, is being entered into later in life and less frequently, so that between the beginning of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s the total number of marriages declined by 20%. - 5 - In other words, if the behaviour observed in recent years in various age groups were to be true of a whole generation throughout its life, marriage would lose its general and more or less universal character and be entered into by only half or slightly more of the population. However, it is likely that the present Indices exaggerate the trend.1 12. Alongside the decrease in the number of marriages, there is an -tivwfrtfs» in the number of unions "by agreement" or "de facto" marriages which would account for the Increase in the number of children born out of wedlock. While no Member State remains untouched by this trend, the relative scale of the phennmenon differs greatly from one Member State to another. With close to 40% of births being Illegitimate, Denmark occupies an entirely exceptional position'; the united Kingdom and France are in a ffinrfiM» situation (roughly 20% in 1985), followed by the Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, where the rate varies from 8% to 9%. m Greece, less than 2% of recorded births occur outside marriage (see Annex II, Table 4). 13. Since the mid-1960s and, above all, since 1970, there has been a very rapid rise in the divorce rate; the number of divorces tripled between 1964 and 1982. Divorce is not only becoming more frequent, but is occurring earlier in the marriage. The increase in the Intensity of the phenomenon and the shortening of the duration of marriages ending in divorce combine to produce a véritable explosion of the divorce rate Indicators (see Annex II, Table 3). In the light of the Initial data available, the final proportion of divorced couples among those who married In 1975 will probably be over 1 out of 5 In France, over 1 out of 4 In England and Wales and dose to 1 out of 3 In Denmark.2 14. Significant changes have also taken place in regard to the mortality rate. Whereas, at the end of the last century, the average life span in Europe was between 40 and 50 years, with an infant mortality rate of 10 to 20% ..., today, life expectancy Is well over 70 years, ooming close to or sometimes eaooofling 80 years In the case of women; the Infant mortality rate is under 1%.3 This Increase In life expectancy, oomblned with the fall in the birthrate, are at the origin of the ageing of the population (In other words the proportional increase of elderly persons In a given population) typical of Europe today. 1 Burnel, Eoonomlo and Social Committee Report of 19 June 1985 on the demographic situation In the Community (ESC 602/84 SOC 80, p.9). 2 Burnel, op. cit., p.10. 3 G. Calot, "La fécondité en Europe: evolutions pw=y^gg et perspectives d'avenir", in Symposium on Population Change and European Society, IDE, Florence, 1988. - 6 - 15. The longer life expectancy of women (an average of 6 to 7 years) and a substantial drop in the mortality rate of the extremely elderly has accentuated the Imbalances in the group of the elderly. The category of 75 years and more is becoming numerically and proportionately larger, and women are in the majority In this group (over two-thirds in 1985). 16. The combination of these various factors: a fall in the birthrate, Increased life expectancy ocmnlned with a fall-off in the flow of immigrants since 1973, has had repercussions on all society's structures, especially the age structure of the population. Europe is ageing, and although this process is slow at the moment, the first signs can be seen in the distribution by age group of the population. This Increase in longevity Implies that in the long term the active population will be older, expenditure on health and pensions will be higher, and there will be an additional burden on families who have to provide for their older members. The fall in the marriage rate and the increase in the divorce rate have altered the family structure and increased the diversity of family models, phenomena which need to be confronted.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 2004
    2004 The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Biographies and Remits of the Members of Government Updated version July 2006 Impressum Contents 3 Editor The Formation of the New Government 7 Information and Press Service remits 33, bd Roosevelt The Members of Government / Remits 13 L-2450 Luxembourg biographies • Jean-Claude Juncker 15 19 Tel: +352 478-2181 Fax: +352 47 02 85 • Jean Asselborn 15 23 E-mail: [email protected] • Fernand Boden 15 25 www.gouvernement.lu 15 27 www.luxembourg.lu • Marie-Josée Jacobs ISBN : 2-87999-029-7 • Mady Delvaux-Stehres 15 29 Updated version • Luc Frieden 15 31 July 2006 • François Biltgen 15 33 • Jeannot Krecké 15 35 • Mars Di Bartolomeo 15 37 • Lucien Lux 15 39 • Jean-Marie Halsdorf 15 41 • Claude Wiseler 15 43 • Jean-Louis Schiltz 15 45 • Nicolas Schmit 15 47 • Octavie Modert 15 49 Octavie Modert François Biltgen Nicolas Schmit Mady Delvaux-Stehres Claude Wiseler Fernand Boden Lucien Lux Jean-Claude Juncker Jeannot Krecké Mars Di Bartolomeo Jean Asselborn Jean-Marie Halsdorf Marie-Josée Jacobs Jean-Louis Schiltz Luc Frieden 5 The Formation of the New Government The Formation of Having regard for major European events, the and the DP, Lydie Polfer and Henri Grethen, for 9 Head of State asked for the government to preliminary discussions with a view to the for- the New Government remain in offi ce and to deal with current matters mation of a new government. until the formation of the new government. The next day, 22 June, Jean-Claude Juncker again received a delegation from the LSAP for The distribution of seats Jean-Claude Juncker appointed a brief interview.
    [Show full text]
  • The Family Support Act of 1988
    The Family Support Act of 1988 In the spring of 1988, a special issue of Focus was devoted to Title I: Child support and establishment of welfare reform. In it questions were raised and evidence was paternity examined that were expected to have a direct bearing on any reform that Congress passed and the President approved. The provisions of the law having to do with child support and What would the new legislation do for children? How would paternity constitute an extension of preexisting amendments to the work and training provisions be implemented? What the Social Security Act to enhance child support collection. In would be the effects of more stringent child support enforce- 1975 Congress added Part D to Title IV of the act, establishing ment? Who would, and who would not, be helped by the the Child Support Enforcement program. This legislation reform? created a federal Office of Child Support Enforcement and required each state to establish a corresponding agency to help The long-anticipated welfare reform act became law in enforce child support for all children dependent upon AFDC. October 1988. The stated purpose of the act is Since 1980 the services of IV-D have been available in non- AFDC cases when requested by the custodial parent. Legisla- to revise the AFDC program to emphasize work, child tion in 1984 extended the period during which paternity action support, and family benefits, to amend title IV of the could be taken to a child's eighteenth birthday. The reason the Social Security Act to encourage and assist needy chil- establishment of paternity is such a significant part of the dren and parents under the new program to obtain the program is that a child support award cannot be obtained education, training, and employment needed to avoid unless the paternity of the child is legally established.
    [Show full text]
  • Welcomes You to Luxembourg and Wishes All Participants "GOOD LUCK" Come and Visit Us for Your English Foods, Books and Other Specialities
    - The English Shop - welcomes you to Luxembourg and wishes all participants "GOOD LUCK" Come and visit us for your English Foods, Books and other Specialities .... and visit our new shop in Bruxelles 19, Allee Scheffer, Limpertsberg, Luxembourg, Tel. 2 49 25 1384, Chaussee de Waterloo, Uccle, Bruxelles Tel. (02)374-9839 HOTEL PULLMAN LUXEMBOURG Conveniently located along the highway connecting the city centre with the airport and in the heart of the European Centre - European Parliament, Commission, Court, School, Chamber of Commerce and Eurocontrol are just minutes away. 38 ,,executive king" rooms, 3 suites, presidential suite, 228 spacious rooms with 2 double beds - all with: private bathroom, shower and WC, direct dial telephone, colour TV, in-house movies, radio, minibar, individually-controlled air-conditioning and heating. 9 conferencelbanquetting rooms for up to 300. 2 restaurants with international cuisine. Bar with dance-floor and open fire-place. Indoor swimming-pool, sauna and solarium. Barbecue in Summer. Special Weekend and Short Break arrangements available - ask for our brochure! memhrr of B.P. 512 - L-2015 LUXEMBOURG - ?S? 437761 - 2751 PULLMAN INTERNATIONAL HOTELS THE NEW WORLD THEATRE CLUB presents 13th Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies ThGtre Municpal, Luxembourg - 12th, 13th, 14th & 15th May 1989 under the patronage of the City of Luxembourg A WORD OF WELCOME FROM THE MAYOR OF LUXEMBOURG I am not only speaking on behalf of Luxembourg's municipal authorities, but all our citizens, when I say that I am glad and honoured to welcome for the third time, after 1980 and 1985, the European Festival of English Theatre in our city.
    [Show full text]
  • The Universal Declaration of Animal Rights Or the Creation of a New Equilibrium Between Species
    \\jciprod01\productn\L\LCA\19-1\LCA104.txt unknown Seq: 1 13-FEB-13 14:35 ESSAY THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF ANIMAL RIGHTS OR THE CREATION OF A NEW EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN SPECIES By Jean-Marc Neumann* This Essay is a translation of the author’s original French text. It examines the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights of 1978, which lays out funda- mental rights for animals in fourteen articles. This Essay explores the ori- gins of and influences behind the original Declaration, as well as details the changes which were brought to it in a revised version in 1989. It then exam- ines the scope of the Declaration and why it has not had the far-reaching implications its authors once hoped for. Finally, this Essay questions what the Declaration means for the future of animal rights and whether the docu- ment will have any lasting impact. I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 92 R II. SOURCES OF INSPIRATION AND INTENTIONS: FROM THE IDEA OF ASSERTING ANIMAL RIGHTS TO THE APPEARANCE OF THE FIRST “DECLARATIONS” ........ 92 R III. FROM WRITING TO PROCLAMATION: A NEW MORAL CODE BASED ON THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE ......... 95 R A. The Initial Text ....................................... 95 R B. The Proclamation at UNESCO ......................... 98 R C. The Reworking of the Text ............................. 99 R * Jean-Marc Neumann 2012. Jurist, Trustee of the French Foundation for Animal Law, Ethics and Sciences, (Fondation Droit Animal, Ethique´ et Sciences), 39 rue Claude Bernard, 75005 Paris, FRANCE (E-mail: contact@fondation-droit-animal .org; Website: www.fondation-droit-animal.org/) and Member of the ABA/TIPS/Animal Law Committee.
    [Show full text]
  • Dissertation Docteur De L'université Du Luxembourg
    PhD-FDEF-2019-11 The Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance DISSERTATION Defence held on 29/11/2019 in Luxembourg to obtain the degree of DOCTEUR DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DU LUXEMBOURG EN SCIENCES ÉCONOMIQUES by Fabienne WEBER Born on 31st May 1989 in Luxembourg (Luxembourg) ESSAYS ON MONETARY ECONOMICS AND ASSET PRICING Dissertation defence committee Dr Koulovatianos Christos, dissertation supervisor Professor, Université du Luxembourg Dr Tsoukalas John, Member Professor, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow Dr Schiltz Jang, Chairman Professor, Université du Luxembourg Dr Erce Aitor, Member European Investment Bank Dr von Lilienfeld-Toal Ulf, Vice Chairman Professor, Université du Luxembourg ! Abstract This dissertation consists of three chapters based on three applied theory papers, which all use microfoundations to study mechanisms behind asset prices in the context of monetary policy and Önancial stability. Market Fragility and the Paradox of the Recent Stock-Bond Dissonance. The objective of this study is to jointly explain stock prices and bond prices. After the Lehman- Brothers collapse, the stock index has exceeded its pre-Lehman-Brothers peak by 36% in real terms. Seemingly, markets have been demanding more stocks instead of bonds. Yet, instead of observing higher bond rates, paradoxically, bond rates have been persistently negative after the Lehman-Brothers collapse. To explain this paradox, we suggest that, in the post-Lehman-Brothers period, investors changed their perceptions on disasters, thinking that disasters occur once every 30 years on average, instead of disasters occurring once every 60 years. In our asset-pricing calibration exercise, this rise in perceived market fragility alone can explain the drop in both bond rates and price-dividend ratios observed after the Lehman-Brothers collapse, which indicates that markets mostly demanded bonds instead of stocks.
    [Show full text]
  • Fifty Years of European Optometry and Optics 1960-2010
    FIFTYFIFTY YEARSYEARS OOFF EEUROPEANUROPEAN OOPTOMETRYPTOMETRY AND OOPTICSPTICS 1960-20101960-2010 AnAn OOverviewverview of ECOO and its PPredecessorredecessor Bodies Kindly sponsered by DOZ Verlag Luisenstraße 14 69115 Heidelberg Telefon 0 62 21- 90 51 70 Telefax 0 62 21- 90 51 71 www.doz-verlag.de President’s Foreword Anyone who is going to make anything out of history will, sooner or later, have to do most of the work himself. He will have to read, and consider, and reconsider, and then read some more. Geoffrey Barraclough (1908–1984) The history of ECOO goes back to the year 1960, when very motivated and future-orientated colleagues in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands established the Groupement des Opticiens du Marché Commun (GOMAC). (The six countries were the original member states of the European Economic Community.) Subsequently, the Pan European Group (PEG) of the former International Optometric and Optical League was established. And, then, in 1992, GOMAC and PEG merged to create the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) of today. During the last five decades ECOO has developed into an organisation representing over 75,000 practitioners in 30 European countries. During our autumn meeting on 22-24 October 2010 in Dresden, ECOO will celebrate the 50th anniversary of European optometry and optics. For that reason I am very proud that ECOO can present in Dresden this short history which describes the last 50 years of our profession in Europe. This booklet was written by ECOO`s General Secretary, Richard Carswell, who has spent a lot of time studying the eventful history of ECOO.
    [Show full text]
  • VU Research Portal
    VU Research Portal How parties change Binnema, H.A. 2009 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) Binnema, H. A. (2009). How parties change: EU integration and the flexible response of political parties. Ipskamp Drukkers. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. E-mail address: [email protected] Download date: 29. Sep. 2021 VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT How parties change EU integration and the flexible response of political parties ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof.dr. L.M. Bouter, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van de promotiecommissie van de faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen op woensdag 13 mei 2009 om 10.45 uur in de aula van de universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105 door Harmen Anne Binnema geboren te Amsterdam promotor: prof.dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Sales Prospectus September 2008 Edition
    Sales Prospectus September 2008 Edition SUNARES This translation is for courtesy purposes only. We make no claim as to the accuracy or validity of this text. The actual German original Selling Prospectus shall prevail. Summary SUNARES (Investment company in the form of an “umbrella” fund in accordance with part I of the Luxembourg law dated 20th December 2002) Name of the subfund: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources Currency of the subfund: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: EUR Security code no.: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: A0ND6Y ISIN: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: LU0344810915 Issue period: (subscription period) SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: 14.02.2008 – 03.03.2008 Subscription price is the issuing price plus a sales commission of max. 5 %. Value date (Note 1): SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: 04.03.2008 Date of the first net total valuation: 04.03.2008 Transaction fees: max. 0.20 % of the actual amount in the case of shares max. 0.10 % of the face value or the possible higher list price in the case of fixed or variable interest securities max. 0.05 % in the case of unit trusts Issuing price: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: EUR 100.00 Sales commission: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: max. 5 % (Note 1) In the case of subscription applications which are received during the issuing period, the issue price at the next fixed value date must be paid. 2 Summary SUNARES (Investment company in the form of an “umbrella” fund in accordance with part I of the Luxembourg law dated 20th December 2002) Depositary bank fee: SUNARES – Sustainable Natural Resources: max. 0.10% p.a.
    [Show full text]
  • Centenaire Administration Des Bâtiments Publics Luxembourg Impressum
    10 1910 1911 x 1912 10 1913 | 1914 DESBÂTIMENTSPUBLICS ÀL’ADMINISTRATION DEL’ÉTAT DEL’ARCHITECTE DU SERVICE 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Centenaire Administration des bâtiments publics Luxembourg 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Luxembourg des bâtimentspublics Administration Centenaire 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 rénovations etreconstructions projets nonréalisés espaces urbains bâtiments scolaires bâtiments sanitairesetsociaux bâtiments résidentiels bâtiments religieux bâtiments européens bâtiments culturels bâtiments àl’étranger bâtiments administratifs 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 10 1910 1911 x 1912 10 1913 | 1914 DESBÂTIMENTSPUBLICS ÀL’ADMINISTRATION DEL’ÉTAT DEL’ARCHITECTE DU SERVICE 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 Centenaire Administration des bâtiments publics Luxembourg 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Luxembourg des bâtimentspublics Administration Centenaire 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 rénovations
    [Show full text]
  • The Coming Debate on Postsecondary Student Aid Policy
    University of Wisconsin-Madison Institute for Research on Poverty Volume 11 Number 4 Winter 1988-1989 The coming debate on postsecondary student aid policy The effect of taxation on labor supply in industrialized countries: A conference PC-SIPPTEST IRP agenda for 1989-1991 IRP National Advisory Committee Discussion Papers The Family Support Act of 1988 Luxembourg Income Study summer workshop Seminar series New affiliates and visitors Recent books by IRP researchers ISSN: 0195-5705 The coming debate on postsecondary student aid policy by Charles F. Manski Director, Institute for Research on Poverty The legislation authorizing the Stafford Loans and Pel1 Graduation-Contingent Aid: Writing in the magazine Grants, the major federal programs subsidizing postsecon- Change, Frederick Fischer of the Office of Management dary schooling by lower- and middle-income students, and Budget proposed replacement of the existing pro- expires at the end of 1991.' It is already apparent that grams by a "graduation-contingent" aid program. This reauthorization of these programs will not be routine. A would give "unsubsidized loans while the student is in sharp debate on the form and magnitude of federal student school, with subsidies provided in the form of partial aid policy is taking shape. loan cancellation only after degree attainment."2 Numerous proposals for replacing or complementing the National-Service-Contingent Aid: Representative present programs are being floated for consideration by the David McCurdy (Oklahoma) and Senator Sam Nunn lOlst Congress. Among them are the following: (Georgia) have announced that they will cosponsor legislation that would replace existing programs by one I discuss how these features interact with specific proposals.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Republic of Germany
    Federal Republic of Germany National Affairs AN THE ATMOSPHERE OF EAST-WEST detente that spread throughout Europe in 1989, the West German people showed growing impatience with the heavy burden of defense placed on them by membership in NATO. This was expressed, for example, in more open protest against the pervasive low-flying mili- tary aircraft of NATO, especially after several serious accidents. Moreover, a federal Parliament report on the state of the German army pointed to the declining accept- ance of the Bundeswehr in German society and continuing problems with morale in the army itself. This shift in popular attitudes in turn forced changes in the defense policy of Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic (CDU)-Free Democratic (FDP) coalition. Due primarily to the dovish views of Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Kohl was forced to resist U.S. pressure for modernization of short-range nuclear missiles and to press for U.S.-Soviet nuclear disarmament. In early January, the New York Times revealed that a German firm, Imhausen- Chemie, had played a central role in the construction of a poison-gas factory at Rabta in Libya. The German Foreign Ministry at first denied the allegations, claiming insufficient evidence, and the government charged that a campaign against the Federal Republic was being mounted in the American media. Later on it became known that the German government had been informed by Washington in Novem- ber 1988 about the involvement of German firms and even earlier by its own intelligence service (Bundesnachrichtendienst, BND). Indeed, the director of the BND, Bernhard Wieck, indicated that reports from his office to the government in August 1987 had not received proper attention.
    [Show full text]
  • Compilation of National Accounts in High Inflation Countries
    Review of Income and Wealth Series 35, Number 1, March 1989 COMPILATION OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS IN HIGH INFLATION COUNTRIES National Accounts Consultant, France Due to inflation, the level of flows of funds is changing over time. Nevertheless, National Accounts aggregate flows annually. High inflation rates create additional difficulties in elaborating constant price accounts as well as current price accounts. Furthermore, one can notice that the accounts themselves partly lose their meaning: deformation of technical coefficients, lack of share between real interests and reimbursement of the debt, change of scale, within a single aggregate, of the flows that compose it. In that inflation context, the national accounts could be interpreted again if it could be possible to reprocess the evaluations: infra-annual constant price accounts, and above all, "cali- brated accounts" are proposed in the course of this paper. The author ends with a description of a simple method to elaborate those "calibrated accounts." Among the disequilibria that a national economy can experience, inflation reflects a societal crisis concerning the monetary instruments founding the market, the preservation of wealth, and finally the very notion of value. In general this drift of prices stays within limits considered to be bearable (these limits moreover being perceived differently from one country to another and from one period to another). But in certain circumstances, the deviation sets in, a crisis appears, the movement accelerates and the public authorities powerlessly witness the irruption of a phenomenon that throws into confusion the behaviour of the economic agents; hyperinflation is present. In connection with the deriving crisis, the national accountant is doubly concerned: -his instrument is expected to reflect the situation the country is experiencing; -whereas at the same time the bases of his instrument are undermined since the market price serves as its yardstick.
    [Show full text]