ANALYSE ET CARTOGRAPHIE DES DOMMAGES DU SÉISME SURVENU AU QUÉBEC LE 25 NOVEMBRE 1988

Dans le cadre d'un projet de recherche en cours portant sur l'évaluation de la vulnérabilité municipale aux catastrophes naturelles (Boivin 1990), un examen des dommages du séisme du 25 novembre 1988 a été mené afin de mieux documenter l'analyse du risque séismique au Québec. À partir de sources variées de rapports de dommages mais, plus spécifiquement, par l'étude des demandes liées au programme de dédommagement mis sur pied par le gouvernement du Québec, une analyse et une cartographie des dommages rapportés est fournie. Les résultats montrent que la majorité des dommages sont concentrés près de l'épicentre dans les régions du Saguenay/Lac Saint-Jean et de Québec. Les dégats répertoriés concernent principalement les ouvertures (portes et (enê tres) avec 11%, les murs intérieurs ou extérieurs (29%), l'apparition de fissures (72%), les fondations (44%) et les cheminées (29%). Au total, 1521 cas de dommages ont été rapportés et analysés dans ce projet de recherche.     

MUNICIPAL AMALGAMATION AND THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL PUBLIC SECTOR IN SWEDEN*

ABSTRACT. The proposition that a decentralized structure of local governments can effectively constrain public sector growth is empirically investigated. Data on Swedish municipal sector size for the 1942–87 period are analyzed within the context of a median voter model. The results indicate that decentralization, measured by the number of units of local government serving a given population, constrains the influence of institutional factors (e.g., rent seeking, bureaucracy) on local budgets as long as these units exceed some minimal threshold size. The findings support the view that communities should be given the flexibility to determine their own ideal pattern of local governments.     

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.     

ANALYSIS OF THEORETICAL,METHODOLOGICAL AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN THE JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE*

ABSTRACT. This paper examines the impacts of JRS articles in the areas of theory, methods and empirical analysis, as represented by subsequent citations reported in the Social Sciences Citation Index. A model relating the mix of theoretical, methodological and empirical research published in the JRS to subsequent citations is estimated. The time distribution of theoretical and empirical citations also indicates that the knowledge diffusion process in these two areas may be segmented.     

Rare Himyaritic coins from Hadramawt

Three rare Himyaritic coins found in the territory of the ancient Hadramawt kingdom are published for the first time. Two of the coins bear the name of the king,'Amdan Bayyin, while the third has the name of Tha'ran Ya'ub.