Information transparency,monitoring, and incentives under decentralization: Evidence from China's fiscal reform of “province managing county”

Monitoring is deemed crucial for the incentivization of a decentralized organization, but its function relies on information transparency between the central authority and the delegated individuals. We test this hypothesis by considering changes in the fiscal behavior of Chinese county governments following an exogenous fiscal reform in 2004/2005 that removed information obstacles between provinces and counties. Employing data on 590 Chinese counties from 2000 to 2009, we find that counties in the reform provinces adopt a more proactive fiscal policy after the reform, suggesting that they become more incentivized in the political competition for economic growth. Such effects are stronger in counties with fewer competing peers and counties with either high or low ranks in the records of economic growth among peers. The increase in counties' productive spending leads to higher economic growth in later years.     

黄铜器表面着色方法的研究

在总结古代铜器表面处理的文献基础上一通过化学成膜探讨含锌32％－36％的黄铜试样表面着色的方法,通过调整和控制试液的浓度、温度、酸度及浸泡时间的实验,确定黄铜表面栗色膜形成的最佳条件。对表面形成的粟色膜用多种实验手段进行了测定,结果表明栗色股厚度约为8μm主要组成为Cu2O。并对化学过程中形色栗色膜的机理作了初步探体     

明墓出土历书的揭取与复原

明墓出土的历书,粘连固结成块,脆硬易于折断。通过实验分析研究,探明其主要原因可能是木质素选择性地吸附的钙铁离子与蛋白质的分解物形成复杂物质,沉积在纸上,渗入书内所致。故揭取该历书的关键是去除钙离子,EDTA二钢,碱性过氧化氢、气相二氧化硅等的分步处理,使脆硬的纸张软化,再逐页分离揭取,然后再去除色素沉淀物,终于恢复了书的原貌。     

An Approach to the Diagnosis of Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia from the 2500‐Year‐Old Remains of a Skull from Ancient China

A human skull, buried about 2500 years ago in a Bronze Age cemetery at Jinggouzi, a site of an important ethnic group in ancient China, appeared to have characteristics of fibrous dysplasia. The CT images indicated a reduction in bone density and relatively homogeneous lesions. More features were revealed using CT reconstruction techniques. Lesions seen in low‐magnification images using a 3D deep‐field microscope had an irregular honeycomb‐like structure. At higher magnification, the trabeculae morphology and the gaps between the trabeculae were irregular and varied in size and shape. Paraffin‐embedded specimens stained with HE showed trabeculae with tortuous irregular arrangements varying in shape and width. The irregular trabeculae of woven bone has been described as having fibrous dysplasia. Molecular analysis of the GNAS gene indicated no mutation. This provides a non‐invasive approach for us to make more comprehensive diagnoses and to assist research into ancient human diseases.     

Political Commitment,Policy Ambiguity,and Corporate Environmental Practices

A lack of clear political commitment together with confusing rules and enforcement often characterize the institutional context of policy implementation and regulatory compliance in developing countries. By connecting such contextual features to existing models of policy implementation and regulatory compliance, we examine how regulatory factors are related to basic and proactive corporate environmental management practices in the Pearl River Delta region in China. Drawing on data derived from both a survey and in‐depth interviews, we show that a perception of clear political commitment to environmental protection across multiple government levels and units is positively associated with business efforts in basic environmental practices, regardless of the specific enforcement intensity. Nevertheless, a perception of clear political commitment is not related to proactive environmental practices. Conversely, a perception of policy ambiguity, in the form of confusing regulatory standards and enforcement, is negatively associated with corporate efforts in both basic and proactive environmental practices; yet, intensive inspections mitigate these negative associations with policy ambiguity.     

WELL-FORGED "WALKING GOLD"——THE SHEEP BREEDING INDUSTRY IN THE GAMPA COUNTY

正It is just the dawn,but the sheepfolds have already begun to move restlessly.Sunlight makes its way in.Tashi Tsedan and Redan open the sheepfolds one after another.Flocks of sheep suddenly gush out like an influx of water from an opened gate.These two herdsmen from Jirong Village in Drik Town of Gampa County are fulfilling their duty grazing these flocks of Gampa sheep,a well-known breed of Tibetan sheep.     

明前期“相对宽松”的筑城政策探论——以湖广地区为例

洪武年间,湖广各府级中心城治、西南少数民族等"寇乱"为患地区率皆设立卫所、筑城守御,并辅以巡检司、土司等多重防御力量。在其障护之下,腹里州县安全无虞,实无修固城防之必要。自洪武朝以至宣德朝,湖广地区修筑、维护城池主要限于驻军各地,对于其他众多普通州县并未从严要求,各地不修城的情形相当普遍。正是洪武朝奠定的颇为严密的区域安全防御体系保障了地方安定,为明前期实行这种相对宽松的筑城政策创造了条件。一些学者所谓明代"一贯积极、严厉的"筑城政策似乎并不完全切合明前期的实际。     

秦汉帝国“新地”与徙、戍的推行——兼论秦汉时期的内外观念与内外政策特征

秦汉帝国是伴随"新地"的推展和边界的扩张而确立的。政府在派遣"新地吏"同时,往往推行徙民实边、行役戍边政策。在后来的发展中,实边较戍边更为边策所重。其原因既涉及财政、舆论,也有对防御效能的考虑。两汉时期,内地与边郡之间的差别有所扩大,影响到朝廷内外政策的差异。边郡军事负担甚巨,而且因军队屯驻造成经济残破与社会动荡。边郡维持运转,常需邻郡供给、中央调控、募民输粟及军士屯田。"文景之治"、"光武中兴"中轻徭薄赋的惠政,与边政状况直接相关。     

修志应重视口述资料的运用

第二轮修志面临资料缺失问题,而作为资料补充渠道之一的口述史,在地方志领域并没有得到足够的重视。第二轮修志应重视口述资料的运用,使其在志书资料补充收集中发挥更大的功用。口述资料能补充志书关键资料、微观资料、一手鲜活资料,以及印证文献资料。同时,使用口述史资料也面临一些问题,解决这些问题有七项举措:一是研究理论,加大理论指导力度;二是建立制度,提供规范化保障;三是指导工作,推动开展口述资料收集;四是实施项目,投入具体口述史实践;五是实现数字化,使口述资料得以妥善保存、信息共享;六是加强口述史人才队伍建设;七是扩大宣传,提高口述史知名度和在修志中的影响力。