We study the political economy of social insurance with double heterogeneity of voters (i.e., different income and risk levels). Social insurance is financed through distortionary taxation and redistributes across income and risks. Individuals vote over the extent of social insurance, which they can complement on the private market. Private insurance suffers from adverse selection which results...

This paper analyses the political support for a social insurance that includes elements of redistribution when there exists an imperfect private insurance alternative. Individuals differ both in their income and risk. The social insurance is compulsory and charges an income-related contribution with pooling of risks. The private insurance is voluntary and charges a contribution based on individ...

Risks threatening modern societies form an intricately interconnected network that often underlies crisis situations. Yet, little is known about how risk materializations in distinct domains influence each other. Here we present an approach in which expert assessments of likelihoods and influence of risks underlie a quantitative model of the global risk network dynamics. The modeled risks range...

This paper gives an overview of the current and emerging environmental health risks and the projected challenges for the future. The aim is to create awareness and incite debate among Environmental Health Professionals on solutions for the risks and challenges as they celebrate the “World Environmental Health Day” to be held on 26 September, 2013. The environmental health risks have been classi...

Megaprojects are complex and expensive projects that often involve social, technical, economic, environmental and political (STEEP) challenges to project management. Despite these challenges, project owners and financiers continue to invest large sums of money in megaprojects that run high risks of being over schedule and over budget. While some degree of cost and schedule risks are considered ...

Biotechnology offers a variety of potential environmental, social and economic benefits but, it is the center of extreme public and political debate at present. A major field of discussion in biotechnology are genetically modified (GM) organisms. New medical, political, ethical and religious discussions arise over the production and consumption of these organisms. Many surveys have been conduct...

T his paper aims to understand the structure and determinants of international bank l ending among APEC economies. Specifically, this paper first aims to analyze whether Australia Canada Japan Chinese Taipei and the United States, which are the only APEC members for which international borrowing data are available, tend to lend more intensively to other APEC members than to non-APEC countries ....