We study the effects of centralised versus decentralised wage setting in a unionsed duopoly where firms can outsource parts input production to foreign subcontractors. show that (as opposed centralised) allows trade unions capture larger share rents generated by international outsourcing. Consequently, equilibrium degree outsourcing is lower under setting, which benefits if they are sufficientl...

decentralisation has been described as an empty concept that lacks clarity. yet there is an enduring interest in the process of decentralisation within health systems and public services more generally. many claims about the benefits of decentralisation are not supported by evidence. it may be useful as an organising framework for analysis of health systems but in this context it lacks conceptu...

OBJECTIVES To explore the existence and strength of a relationship between hospital volume and mortality, to estimate minimum volume thresholds and to assess the potential benefit of centralisation of services. DESIGN Observational population-based study using complete German hospital discharge data (Diagnosis-Related Group Statistics (DRG Statistics)). SETTING All acute care hospitals in G...

Objectives—To assess the eVects of centralisation of accident and emergency (A&E) services in a large urban setting. The end points were the quality of patient care judged by time to see a doctor or nurse practitioner, time to admission and the cost of the A&E service as a whole. Methods—SheYeld is a large industrial city with a population of 471 000. In 1994 SheYeld health authority took a dec...

Physiotherapists often use within-session changes to provide a guide for refining treatment application. This study tested the validity of within-session changes as predictors of between-session changes for patients with neck pain receiving manual therapy treatment. A total of 70 pairs of treatments from 29 patients with sub-acute non-specific neck pain receiving manual therapy were assessed to...

OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of centralisation of accident and emergency (A&E) services in a large urban setting. The end points were the quality of patient care judged by time to see a doctor or nurse practitioner, time to admission and the cost of the A&E service as a whole. METHODS Sheffield is a large industrial city with a population of 471000. In 1994 Sheffield health authority took...