The Crisis of the 1980s in Sub-Saharan Africa,Latin America and the Caribbean: Economic Impact,Social Change and Political Implications

The purpose of this paper, prepared as a background document for the UNRISD/University of the West Indies conference on Economic Crisis and Third World Countries, is to provide a framework for consideration of societal changes accompanying economic recession and restructuring in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean over the past decade. It is the central argument of the paper that adaptation to crisis should not be considered a temporary phenomenon, interrupting a single, lineal process of modernization which can be expected to resume its course once current difficulties are overcome. On the contrary, both crisis and adjustment have profoundly modified the structure of incentives within which individuals and households must attempt to ensure their livelihood, encouraging new patterns of behaviour with long-term implications for the nature of the economy, society and political practice. After a brief review of the macroeconomic background of crisis in each region, this central hypothesis is explored through a very preliminary analysis of the changing life chances of various kinds of upper, middle and lower income groups — emphasizing not only the costs but also the opportunities which have been associated with economic restructuring. Some individual and collective reactions to change are then considered, before raising a series of questions concerning the implications of crisis and adjustment for the state and civil society.     

我国西部不发达区域自然资源要素转换的若干思考

西部不发达区域是我国自然资源密集地区,极具开发潜力,其经济成长采取自然资源转换模式具有客观必然性。但是传统的自然资源要素转换模式已严重制约着西部地区经济的持续发展。本通过对西部地区自然资源优势、资源开发中的技术结构和利益分配机制以及资源转换模式等问题的系统思考,提出了提升区域自然资源转换模式的构想。     

SPATIAL EQUILIBRIUM WITH FOOTLOOSE FIRMS*

ABSTRACT. We determine the location equilibria in a duopoly model under a novel solution concept. Typically, spatial equilibrium is described as either a simultaneous price and location game, or else as a two-stage location-then-price game. We introduce a new alternative, a two-stage price-then-location game. It is well known that no (pure strategy) equilibrium usually exists under the two standard solution concepts when products are homogeneous. We show this is also true for the new concept. We then provide numerical results for a specific functional form (the logit model) which introduces product heterogeneity into the standard framework, restoring equilibrium when the degree of substitutability between products is not too small.     

The Ngovo Group: an industry with polished stone tools and pottery in Lower Zaïre

Summary Now, for the first time, it is possible to place in an exact archaeological context the polished tools which have been collected for many years on the surface in the savanna immediately to the south of the equatorial forest. In Lower Zaïre, in an area of 6000 km², polished tools have been found systematically associated with a particular type of pottery. This pottery, which was previously known as Groupvi pottery and which we propose calling Ngovo group pottery is very distinctive.Although faunal remains associated in one case were of wild animals, someElaeïs andCanarium nuts could indicate the beginnings of agriculture. A series of dates in good agreement place these polished tools and this pottery within the last two centuries bc.At the present time, iron-working in Lower Zaïre has not been dated prior to the second century ad. This Early Iron Age is associated with the Kay Ladio group pottery which is possibly derived from the Ngovo group.

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Résumé Pour la première fois, il est possible de préciser le contexte archéologique des outils polis que depuis longtemps on recueillait en surface dans les savanes immédiatement au sud de la forêt équatoriale.Au Bas-Zaïre, dans une zone de plus de 6000 km², des outils polis ont été trouvés systématiquement en association avec une céramique d'un type particulier. Cette céramique, connue précédemment sous le nom de céramique du groupevi et que l'on propose d'appeler dorénavant groupe de Ngovo, est très caractéristique.Bien que les restes de faune qui y sont associés dans une grotte soient ceux d'animaux sauvages, des noix d'Elaeïs et deCanarium indiquent peut-être un début d'agriculture.Une série de datations remarquablement convergentes placent ces outils polis et cette céramique durant les deux derniers siècles bc.La métallurgie n'est jusqu'à présent pas datée au Bas-Zaïre avant le 2e siècle ad. Cet âge du fer ancien est associé à la céramique du groupe Kay Ladio qui dérive peut-être du groupe de Ngovo.

     

Absence of premolar teeth from ruminant mandibles found at archaeological sites

Three bovine and three ovine mandibles are described in each of which the second permanent premolar tooth was absent. In one of the bovine jaws an absence of the fifth cusp of the third molar was also noted. A review of tooth absence in wild and domestic bovidae is presented and suggestions are made as to the reason for absence.