The economic consequences of economists

During 1991, disquiet with the policy recommendations and ultimate economic effects of economists began to feature in debates over economic policy in Australia. One example was the emergence of a conservative critique of economic liberalism; another was the publication of Michael Pusey's research showing that ‘econocrats’, notably those in the federal bureaucracy, have distinctive, politically significant attitudes to the role of government. This paper considers the influence of economic orthodoxy as part of a broader phenomenon—the peculiarity and underdevelopment of our public institutional framework. In Australia, forms of intervention required for full employment simply do not exist. This partially explains both our comparatively poor macroeconomic performance since the 1970s and the propensity of government to embrace policies that abrogate social democratic commitments while economic conditions worsen.     

The economic development of West Africa

Almost all documented landslides in Scotland belong to one of four categories: non‐rotational rock slope failures (major rockfalls, translational slides, topples or sags, often in some combination); rotational rock slope failures; debris flows; and translational slides in drift or regolith. Non‐rotational rock slope failures are particularly common on Highland metamorphic rocks, especially schists, and on igneous scarps in the Hebrides and Midland Valley; rotational rock slope failures almost invariably occur in weak sedimentary rocks overlain by resistant igneous rocks; and debris flows are most common on sandy drift or regolith. Former glacial activity has also been of importance in determining landslide distribution. The great majority of rock slope failures are ancient features, but debris flows and small translational slides in drift (both triggered mainly by intensive rainstorms) are much more frequent at present and cause much greater damage, particularly to communications.     

An empirical analysis of the effects of consanguineous marriages on economic development

In this study, development experiences toward economic development are investigated to provide an alternative analysis of economic development, human capital, and genetic inheritance in the light of consanguineous marriages. The countries analyzed in the study are discussed in accordance with consanguineous marriage practices and classified by their per capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth. A broad range of countries are analyzed in the study. Arab countries that experienced high rates of growth in their gross national income during the twentieth century but failed to fulfill adequate development measures as reflected in the growth in national income, countries undergoing transition from tight government regulation to free market democracy, and African nations that have experienced complications in the process of development show important differences in the process of economic development. It is shown that the countries that have reached high average development within the context of per capita GDP have overcome problems integral to consanguineous marriage.     

The ethnic versus the economic frontiers of Poland

The soil which has developed at any given location is considered to be the result of five interacting factors: parent material, time, climate, topography and biotic factors. This paper discusses the role of these factors in the development of Scottish soils, which fall into three broad categories: leached soils, gley soils and organic soils. The intention is to provide a context for the case studies that follow in later papers.     

The economic planning advisory council: The reality of consensus

The Hawke federal Labor government continued the process of national reconciliation and consensus‐formation begun by the National Economic Summit by institutionalizing group/government intermediation and consultation within the Economic Planning Advisory Council (EPAC). This paper looks at the development of the policy which led to the establishment of EPAC to determine what was expected of such a body. The objects and functions of the council are then examined to determine whether its operation increases the efficacy of consensus in government policy‐making. The formal institutionalization of interest groups into the policy process opens up questions about the relevance of theories of corporatism to this innovation in the Australian political system and the findings of this paper in regard to EPAC are discussed in this context to ascertain whether there is evidence of corporatism inherent in these arrangements. Finally, consideration has been given to the question of whether EPAC and consensus have changed the relationship between sectional interests and the government in the Australian political system.     

The economic geography of the impacts of climate change

Our ability to understand the geographical dispersion of theimpacts of climate change has not yet progressed to the pointof being able to quantify costs and benefits distributed acrossglobe along one or more climate scenarios in any meaningfulway. We respond to this chaotic state of affairs by offeringa brief introduction to the potential impacts of a changingclimate along five geographically dispersed portraits of howthe future climate might evolve and by presenting a modern approachto contemplating vulnerability to climate impacts that has beendesigned explicitly to reflect geographic diversity and uncertainty.Three case studies are offered to provide direct evidence ofthe potential value of adaptation in reducing the cost of climateimpacts, the versatility of thinking about the determinantsof adaptive capacity for specific regions or sectors, and thefeasibility of exploring both across a wide range of ‘not-implausible’climate and socio-economic scenarios. Three overarching themesemerge: adaptation matters, geographic diversity is critical,and enormous uncertainty must be recognized and accommodated.     

The political economy of economic reform in North Korea

For over 10 years, North Korea has undergone a severe economic crisis, including food shortages, which has inflicted great suffering upon the North Korean people. Given such dire realities, it is beyond all doubt that the North Korean government should actively carry out comprehensive economic reforms as quickly as possible which aim to transform North Korea's present inefficient socialist planned economic system into a market economic system. Many argue that such reforms would give rise to successful economic growth in North Korea, which could enhance the legitimacy of the North Korean regime. Yet, the North Korean regime has consistently avoided implementing economic reforms, even though it has had a number of opportunities to do so. The July 1st reforms, which were introduced in 2002, have been half-hearted and inconsistently applied. This then raises an important question: Why has the North Korean government avoided adopting comprehensive economic reforms? In other words, what is the crucial barrier that has hindered North Korea's implementation of economic reforms? This article pinpoints North Korea's unique political system—i.e. its monolithic system of political control and policy making which exhibits the highest level of power concentration in one individual among all political systems—as the biggest barrier to economic reforms. No doubt North Korea desperately needs comprehensive economic reforms, in light of its economic crisis and food shortages. Nonetheless, the current North Korean regime has avoided adopting such reforms since they will undermine North Korea's monolithic system. In conclusion, North Korea's monolithic system has been the biggest obstacle to North Korea's economic reforms.     

The economic transformation of Malta in the 1960s

AFRICA

Africa in Transition: Geographical Essays. Edited by B. W. Hodder and D. R. Harris. 9 × 5 ¾. Pp. XII + 378. 41 figs. London, Methuen, 1967. 50s.

Libya. By Helmuth Kanter. Geomedical Monograph Series 1. 12 × 8 ½. Text (German and English) plates and 17 maps. Springer‐Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: 1967. $12.00.

South West Africa and its Human Issues. By J. H. Wellington. 8 ¾ × 5 ¾. 452 pp. Plates, figures. Oxford U. Press, 1967, 84s.

AUSTRALIA

Australia's North‐West. Alex Kerr, 9 ¾ × 6 ¾. 439 pp. 19 figs. 71 tables. University of Western Australia Press, 1967. $8.00.

GEOMORPHOLOGY

Recherches de Geomorphologie en Ecosse du Nord‐ouest. By A. Godard. 10 ½ × 8 ¼. Pp. 685. 180 maps and diagrams, 7 folding maps. 63 photographs. Publications de la Faculté des Lettres de l'Université de Strasbourg, 1965. £7 17s.

Processes of Coastal Development. By V. P. Zenkovitch. Edited by J. A. Steers. Edinburgh: Oliver &; Boyd, 1967. 12 gns.

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

Readings in Economic Geography. Edited by Howard G. Roepke. 10 ¼ × 7 ¼. John Wiley, 1967. 56s.

Agricultural Geography. By Leslie Symons. 8 ¾ + 5 ¾. Bell, London, 1967, 30s.

Early Crop Production in the British Isles. Memoir No. 9, Symposia in Agricultural Meteorology, edited by J. A. Taylor. University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1966.

Quantitative Geography. Part 1 Economic and Cultural Topics. Edited by W. L. Garrison and D. F. Marble. North Western University Studies in Geography No. 13. 9 × 6. 287 pages. Evanston, Illinois, 1967. $3.75.

The Geographer and Urban Studies. By David Thorpe. 10 × 8. 24 pp. + appendix. 9 figures. University of Durham, Department of Geography Occasional Papers, No. 8. 1966. 2s.

GENERAL

Models in Geography. Edited by R. J. Chorley and P. Haggett. 9 ½ × 6 ½. Methuen, 1967. £6.

CARTOGRAPHY and SURVEY

International Yearbook of Cartography. Vol. VI, 1966. Edited by Prof. Ed. Imhof. 9 ¾ × 6 ¾. G. Philip &; Son, Ltd., London, 1966. 52/6d.

Original Survey and Land Subdivision. By Norman J. W. Thrower. 8 ½ × 5 ½. Pp. xxi + 160. Chicago: Association of American Geographers, 1966.

DISCOVERY

The Pacific Basin: A History of its Geographical Exploration. American Geographical Society Publication No. 38. 10 × 8. 457 pp. Maps and plates. Edited by Herman R. Friis. New York, 1967.

EDUCATIONAL

A Sample Geography of Great Britain. E. R. Burrell and J. Hancock. 7 ¼ × 9 ½. 176 pp. 143 maps, diagrams, tables. I.L.U.S. map. 6 O.S. maps. 4 end cover maps. Methuen Co. Ltd. Price 21s.

Africa. By Ronald Miller. 8 ½ × 5 ¾. 272 pp. 61 figures. 68 plates. Index. Nelson's Geography Texts. 1967. 15s.

General Geography Part I. By G. M. Chapman. 7 × 9. 182 pp. Index. G. Bell &; Sons Ltd. 1967. 17/6d.

General Geography. By H. R. Cain and F. J. Monkhouse. 6 ½ × 8. 216 pp. Index. Book I of Longman's Graded Geographies. 1967. 12/6d.

Sketch Map Geographies. Bk. 2. British Isles. By P. Speak and A. H. C. Carter. 7 ¼ × 9 ¾. Longman's 1967. (Limp Cover 7/‐.)

North America and Asia including U.S.S.R. By R. C. Honeybone and N. J. Graves. 8 × 5 ¼. 446 pp. Index. Heinemann. Geography for Schools. Bk. 3. 18s. (North America is published separately at 12s. 6d.). 1966.

A Geography of New Zealand. By E. J. Baggaley. 4 ¼ × 7. Pp. xii + 228. Index. 38 plates. 15 maps. Thomas Nelson (Australia) Ltd., Melbourne. 1967. $1.35.     

The sustainability and some consequences of Chinese economic growth

During the past 27 years, China's economy and relationship with the outside world has been transformed. The magnitude of annual economic growth and rapid increase in the volume of output of goods and services raise unsettling questions about potential threats to the sustainability of current growth levels and implications for economic and political stability. This paper examines the sources of economic growth and concludes the strong state system, high rates of saving and investment and demographic structure will sustain growth. Chinese authorities must be aware that a failure to maintain the process of financial and political institutional reform or to address the widening regional income inequalities poses potential domestic threats to sustainable growth. Tensions remain in China's international relationships, forcing China to consider further adjustment and accommodation in its regional security and economic relationships.