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Research Centres

European Institute of Social Security, Leuven

The European Institute of Social Security (EISS) was founded in 1968 as an international scientific association. The members of the Institute-presently about 500 lawyers, economists, sociologists, administrators, actuaries, etc-are committed to the study of social security on an international level. The EISS describes the various effects of this cross-border approach (http://www.kuleuven.ac. be/eiss/page1-1-1.htm) as follows:

  • A first consequence […] is a keen interest in the theoretical study of social security. An abstract approach is applied. This theoretical perspective is very useful for developing new elements relating to social security which can then be adopted and employed in national systems.

  • The interest in the cross-border aspects of social security also involves the extensive study of International and European social security law. Here, our approach supports the idea that even though a strong social component is a sine qua non for the further development of the European Community, sufficient social protection on a European as well as an international level can only be guaranteed now that the world has turned into a global village.

  • The third important element in this cross-border approach is its comparative element. A great deal of attention is paid to the methodology as well as to the practical comparison of social security systems. The conclusions drawn from research in this field constitute a new starting point for improving existing systems.

  • Finally, it must be noted that the European Institute of Social Security uses a multi-disciplinary approach. Not only does it focus on social security law; it also includes other disciplines, such as fiscal law, constitutional law, economic law and international and European law. Even such subjects as social policy, economics, philosophy, and so forth, are included in the EISS' scope of interest. This multi-disciplinary approach guarantees a more accurate and comprehensive output.
Key assets

Community of experts: The EISS has direct access to an extensive range of experts from all Western European countries and most countries in Central and Eastern Europe. It offers them a forum for the exchange of information and provides methods for analysis and assessment.

Multi-disciplinarity:
Members of the Institute comprise lawyers, economists, sociologists, administrators, actuaries, … They work in scientific institutions, in social organisations, in social security institutions or in public administrations.

Comparison:
Over the years the EISS has learned to make full use of this enormous potential of knowledge and information resulting from the fact that so many different countries and branches are involved. The development of a comparative methodology allows our Institute to find solutions to problems at the many levels and in the numerous dimensions of European social security at large. In addition, it is often the key answer to more specific issues (Source: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/eiss/page1-1-2.htm).

Activities

Colloquia: Every year, the EISS organises an international colloquium where social security specialists coming from all European countries meet to discuss selected topics (see section 'Forthcoming Events' of this Newsletter for an account of this year's colloquium).

Yearbook:
The proceedings of these colloquia are published in the yearbooks issued by the Institute. The entire collection of yearbooks constitutes an indispensable part of every social security library.

Research:
The EISS undertakes research in the field of comparative studies of social security, mainly for the Council of Europe, the EU Commission, and national governments. Depending on the project, the Institute cooperates with individual experts or multi-disciplinary and international teams. Moreover, it can give governments or organisations advice on concrete problems.

Information:
The EISS can be asked to send experts in specific fields to deliver a speech on seminars or meetings. Besides, the national sections and working groups of the EISS are invited to organise small colloquia on selected themes.

Training and Education:
The experts of our Institute have extensive experience concerning the development and implementation of training strategies and programmes. The package they offer includes identifying needs, recommending training techniques and developing curricula and study material (Source: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/ eiss/page1-1-2.htm).

Structure and Internal Organisation

The European Institute of Social Security currently consists of 20 national sections (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, United Kingdom) and of individual members in other countries. A national section can be set up as soon as there are more than 5 members from one country.
The association comprises individual members and associated members, formed by collective entities. The individual members must prove that they are doing research in a particular area of or that they have a professional interest in social security questions. The associated members are organisations, institutions or groups who are interested in social security problems. All individual members together form the General Assembly, which has the power to realize the objectives of the organisation.
A bureau composed of representatives of the active national sections and working groups administers the association. The Bureau meets at the annual conferences or on special convocation of the president or secretary-general. It determines the detailed programme of the conferences and the publications.
A Presidium consisting of the president, the vice-presidents and the secretary-general is in charge of the day-to-day management of the EISS.
The Bureau defines the competencies of this small executive board, which was established to improve the efficiency and the flexibility of the administration as well as the management. The Presidium is supported by a Secretariat, which is seated in Leuven and managed by the secretary-general and the co-ordinator.
The budget of the EISS, a non-profit organisation, consists of membership fees, subsidies and income resulting from research projects. Every year, the Bureau determines the budget of the Institute. It also submits the accounts to the general assembly. (Source: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/ eiss/page1-1-3.htm).

What the EISS has to offer to its members

Members receive a copy of the EISS Yearbook, which includes all the contributions of the speakers who have participated at the annual Colloquium. In a bookstore this publication would cost approximately 75 euro. The membership fee for an individual member is 50 euro. Associated members receive two yearbooks. You can order back copies of the yearbook by depositing 50 euro for each book.
You will be informed on new initiatives of the EISS, its national sections and working groups and on recent developments in social security on the Institute's website, which is regularly updated.
You might be contacted to work as an expert in one of the EISS' projects, on a world-wide, but mostly on a European level. All individual members will be granted up to 20% discount for their own activities, like seminars, workshops, conferences, the annual EISS Colloquium, (…) (Source: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/ eiss/page1-1-5-1.htm).

Membership fee

Individual members pay the amount of 50 euro, which includes a copy of the EISS Yearbook. If you do not wish to receive this yearbook, the membership fee is only 30 Euro.
Associated members, such as organisations, institutions or groups who are interested in social security problems, pay 350 euro. This includes a copy of the Yearbook and the right to send at the most three representatives to EISS activities, meetings, etc. (Source: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/eiss/page1-1-5-2.htm).
Further information: European Institute of Social Security (EISS), Tiensestraat 41, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Tel.: 00 32 (0)16 32.54.16, Fax: 00 32 (0) 16 32.54.19, E-mail: eiss@law.kuleuven.ac.be; http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/eiss.

Family Policy Studies Centre, London

The Family Policy Studies Centre (FPSC) is an independent organisation set up in 1983 to analyse and disseminate information about the family. The Centre studies the changing nature of family life in Britain and the interaction between this and British social policy initiatives. It also acts as a centre of information, dissemination and debate and has occupied a pivotal role in family policy debates as a bridge between policy-makers, researchers and practitioners.
Recent and current research interests include:

  • fathers and the changing nature of fatherhood,
  • families and welfare,
  • the extended family, kinship and friendship networks,
  • child support,
  • the growth of childlessness,
  • single lone parents,
  • parenting problems,
  • the changing nature of marriage,
  • families and the labour market,
  • cohabitation,
  • the demography of families and households.
Publications

The FPSC has over 70 titles in print, covering many aspects of family policy and including Occasional Papers, Briefing Papers, Family Reports, Directories and Working Papers (see section 'Journals and Newsletters' of this newsletter for a presentation of a new FPSC-publication, the Family Policy Digest). The Centre also publishes a series of reports in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation under the umbrella title Families & Parenthood: Policy & Practice.
Further information: Family Policy Studies Centre (FPSC), 9 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SN, United Kingdom. Tel.: 020 7388 5900, Fax: 020 7388 5600, E-mail: fpsc@mailbox.ulcc.ac; http://www.fpsc.org.uk.

Kansaneläkelaitos (KELA)-The Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

Research and Development Centre


The Social Insurance Institution (SII) is responsible for the basic social security provision of everyone living in Finland. The SII ensures that everybody has a basic income and grants financial aid to new mothers, students, and people suffering from illnesses, unemployment or disability, as well as upon retirement. The programmes administered by the SII include basic pension security, health insurance, rehabilitation, basic unemployment security, maternity grants, child home care allowances, child benefits, general housing allowances, conscripts' allowances, financial aid for students, benefits for the disabled, and basic allowances for labour market training.
The SII operates under the supervision of Parliament. The Institution's operations are managed by its Board of Directors. Matters of fundamental importance and certain appointments are decided by an Enlarged Board. The SII's administration and operations are supervised by twelve Commissioners elected by Parliament and by eight auditors chosen by the commissioners.

Research, information service, expertise


KELA has a legislated mandate to maintain a research and development programme and to use the insights gained to further develop its programme operations.
The research and development activies facilitate strategic planning and decision-making aimed at supporting improvements in the individual benefit programmes and in customer service. In addition to implementing the R & D programme, the Research and Development Centre provides policy advice and information services, manages KELA's scientific publication programme, and participates in international cooperation in the area of social security.

Expertise backed by experience and research


Among the R & D Centre's researchers in Helsinki and Turku there are experts in social policy and sociology, law, political history, medicine, nutrition science, psychology, pharmacology, chemistry, statistics and sport and health sciences. Interesting, useful and innovative findings are made possible by our ability to harness expertise in a wide range of disciplines.
The rehabilitation activities are developed by a special multidisciplinary unit in Turku. Turku also has a client testing unit, including a clinical laboratory and radiology unit, which provides diagnostic services to the R & D Centre, the KELA's Rehabilitation Services Unit, and various other health care providers in the Turku region.

A pragmatic approach


The R & D Centre carries out research and provides expert services on issues related to income security, health and welfare, the individual benefit programmes, and KELA's own organization and operations. The main areas of research are:

  • income security,
  • health security,
  • economics of social security,
  • KELA services and administration,
  • development of rehabilitation measures,
  • diagnostic laboratory and radiology services.

Publication programme

The research findings are published in KELA's own scientific publication series as well as in Finnish and international journals. KELA has more than 35 years of experience in social security research, and has published over 500 volumes in its own series. More than 2,000 articles by KELA's researchers have been published in outside journals.

Information service


An information service unit specializing in social security, rehabilitation and health promotion has facilities both in Helsinki and Turku. It offers services to KELA's staff and is open to outside customers as well. The information service maintains collections of the most important Finnish and international publications within its area of specialisation, and makes extensive use of modern technology and electronic media. It also cooperates with other information centres specialising in social security and health care on such projects as the Turva CD-ROM, a databank on health care, social security and work environment issues.

Selected publications


1. Studies in social security and health (1995-)
Harö, AS. (1995). Surveillance of Mortality in the Scandinavian Countries 1947-1993. English. ISBN 951-669-392-X. FIM 76.
Hagfors, R. (1996). The Financing of Social Security in 21 Welfare States. English Summary. ISBN 951-669-413-6. FIM 54.
Marski, J. (1996). Dimensions of Welfare 1995: Threats, Opportunities and New Challenges. English summary. ISBN 951-669-417-9. FIM 45.
Repo, K. (1997). Women and Pensions: Comparing Women's Position in Pension Systems in Finland, Great Britain and Gemany. English summary. ISBN 951-669-432-2. FIM 42.
Hytti, H. (1998). Early Retirement:The Finnish Model. English summary. ISBN 951-669-451-9. FIM 51.
Alho, K., and H. Kaseva (1999). EMU, Public Sector Finances and the Financing of Social Security. English summary. ISBN 951-669-487-X. FIM 56.
2. Social security and health
reports (1995-)
Niemelä, H., and K. Salminen (1995). How to Define a Pension Scheme. English. ISBN 951-669-386-5. FIM 30.
Niemelä, H., Salminen K., and J. Vanamo (1996). Converging Social Security Models? English. ISBN 951-669-386-5. FIM 32.
3. Social security and health: working papers
Kalimo, E. (1996). Social Change and Non-contributory Social Security in Finland. English.
Hagfors, R. (1999). Convergence of Financing Structure 1980-1995. A Technical Supplement. English.
4. Other publications issued by KELA
Häggman, K. (1997). Decades of Change: The Social Insurance Institution 1937-1997. In Finnish with an English summary. ISBN 951-669-434-9. FIM 120.
5. Joint publications
Arinen, S., Häkkinen, U., Klaukka, T., Lehtonen, R., and S. Aro (1998). Health and the Use of Health Services in Finland: Main Findings of the Finnish Health Care Survey 1995/96 and Changes from 1987. In Finnish and in English. ISBN 951-33-0764-6. FIM 140.
Further information: KELA-The Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Research and Development Centre. Information Service, Nordenskiöldinkatu 12, P.O. Box 450, FIN-00101 Helsinki, Tel.: +358 20 434 1702, Fax.: +358 20 434 1757, E-mail: tietopal@kela.memonet.fi; http://www. kela.fi.

News from National Statistical Institutes
125 Years Statistics Norway

Established as a separate institution in 1876, the Statistisk sentralbyrå (Statistics Norway) is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Statistics Norway is administratively placed under the Ministry of Finance; the work programme and budget are decided upon by the Parliament. Statistics Norway has approximately 900 employees and a budget of 50 million Euro. The Norwegian statistical system is very centralised and all but a few official statistics are produced by Statistics Norway.
The Statistics Act of 1907/1989 gives the legal framework for the activities of Statistics Norway as a professional independent institution and for the collection, production and dissemination of official statistics. In addition, Statistics Norway shall: prioritise the needs for official statistics, develop statistical methods and apply statistics to analysis and research, provide information for statistical use for research purposes and for public planning, and have the main responsibility for international statistical co-operation.

Production of statistics


The production of statistics is organised in three departments (economic, social and industry statistics), and in all areas data collection is now increasingly done by using administrative registers (approx. 60 different registers) linked together by the three central identification systems for persons, legal units/businesses and buildings/housing. Statistics Norway has an undisputed right to use administrative data for the production of official statistics and has formal agreements with all owners of administrative data registers.
Together with new forms of electronic data collection, this improves the situation of data suppliers. But much data, especially short-term statistics, is still collected by means of questionnaires and surveys (350,000 questionnaires per year), and Statistics Norway maintains its own CAI-based survey unit with 140 interviewers. Statistics Norway may impose upon any person or legal unit an obligation to provide information for the production of official statistics.

Research


The research department was established in 1950 and is one of the largest social science institutes in Norway. The research objectives are: to provide empirically-based knowledge of the Norwegian society, to develop analytical tools for planning and policy-making within the government, to analyse statistics as part of a quality control and, finally, to develop statistical methods for producing and presenting statistics.
Research is being done in several areas-modelling, monitoring and forecasting economic, environmental and social trends. Research units are: social and demographic research, public economics, resource and environmental economics, macroeconomics, micro-econometrics and statistical methods and standards.

Dissemination of statistics


Statistics Norway's independent role implies that it decides what, when and how to publish statistics and analyses. The internet is now the main channel for the dissemination of statistics; Statistics Norway's web pages have about 2 million 'hits' every month. All statistics are also released in the internet. Last year, a total of 750 statistical releases were published (see section 'Historical Statistics' of this newsletter for a presentation of the Statistical Yearbook of Norway 2000).
The internet release ensures that all users get access to the statistical releases simultaneously and implies a strict policy of non-differentiated treatment; ministries, the media and the public are all treated equally. To ensure that all users have equal access, all statistics made available on the web site may be used (read, copied, downloaded) free of charge. Statistics are released according to a release calendar that covers the next four months and is updated every week.
In spite of the almost explosive increase in internet publishing, the number of printed publications is also increasing. After release, statistics are published in reference publications (mainly tables and meta data) and in more analytical periodicals and research reports. Almost all printed publications are also available, free of charge, on Statistics Norway's web site (Source: http://www. ssb.no).
Further information: Statistics Norway, Sales and subscription service, N-2225 Kongsvinger, Norway. Tel.: +47 62 88 55 00, Fax.: +47 62 88 55 95, E-mail: salg-abonnement@ssb.no; http://www.ssb.no.

Institut National de Statistique, Belgium


Recently, the Institut National de Statistique (INS) (National Institute of Statistics), launched its web site, http://statbel.fgov.be. It provides a wide variety of statistical data.
The section Statistics presents a selection of annual figures, illustrated by graphs and maps, which is able to present a coherent picture of Belgian society. Apart from the statistics produced by the INS, statistical information from other public authorities is included.
The economic indicators, presented as an index, offer a general and up-to-date appraisal of the Belgian economy. Here, further links to homepages presenting official indicators are to be found.
The online accessible files (fichiers téléchargeables) make ready to use and detailed figures available.
Survey 2001 (Enquête 2001) gives information on the last census and the General Socio-economic Survey to come.
Press communications: The INS pursues a policy of openness in its relationship with the press.
Recent publications: A short presentation informs about the latest products.
Links to statistical institutes and statistical journals are provided.
Further information: Institut National de Statistique (INS), Rue de Louvain 44, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique. Tel.: +32 (0)2 548 63 65, Fax.: +32 (0)2 548 63 67, E-mail: info@statbel.mineco.fgov.be; http://statbel.fgov.be.

Instituto Nacional de Estatística, Portugal


The Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) (National Statistics Institute) improved its online service. From now on, it offers a catalogue of publications on its web site, http://www.ine.pt.

National Statistics Office, Malta


In October 2000, the Maltese Parliament approved a new law, the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. Apart from the establishment of the Malta Statistics Authority, the new legislation provides for the establishment of a National Statistics Office.
The Malta Statistics Authority Act 2000 came into force on 1 March 2001. As a result, the Central Office of Statistics has been reconstituted as the National Statistics Office as from that date. The National Statistics Office, which is headed by a Director General, will take over all the functions that previously pertained to the Central Office of Statistics as well as new functions as provided for in the newly enforced legislation.
Further information: The Director General, National Statistics Office, Lascaris, Valletta CMR 02, Malta. Tel. (general): (+356) 223221-5, Fax. (general): (+356) 248483/249841, E-mail: cos@magnet.mt; http://www.magnet.mt/home/cos.

Recent Social Reports in Europe

Social and Cultural Report 2000: The Netherlands in Europe

The Social and Cultural Report 2000 (Sociaal en Cultureel Rapport 2000) was launched in September 2000. This edition of the report, which is published once every two years, is almost entirely devoted to a comparison between the Netherlands and its European neighbours. It examines how the Netherlands is fairing in comparison with the other countries in the European Union. Each chapter looks into this question in some detail. Some also look at a particular domestic issue.
Chapter titles are: demographics; the economy and government finances; public administration; participation; norms and values; time division and structuring; health and health care; employment; social security; housing; education; leisure, the media and cultural affairs; justice and criminal procedure.
Social and Cultural Report 2000: The Netherlands in Europe. Social and Cultural Planning Office: The Hague, September 2000. ISBN 90-377-0015-2, 632 pp., NLG 75 (also available in Dutch).
The report is available in bookstores. You can also order it from the SCP (fax: +31-70-3407044, e-mail: bestel@scp.nl) or via the web site www.scp.nl.
Further information: Elly Bokma, SCP Information Officer. Tel.: +31-70-3407788 (no orders).

Historical Statistics


The Statistical Yearbook of Norway is a useful reference work at home, at schools, and in professional contexts. With the help of 734 tables, graphs and maps, Statistics Norway presents a cross-section of updated information about the Norwegian society in a form most people can use.
Strongly influenced by the turn of the millenium, the Statistical Yearbook of Norway 2000 (119th issue/published 09/2000) also contains a number of historical tables. Many of the tables go all the way back to the nineteenth century and provide a good insight into the trend up to the present.
The tables are arranged by subject and introduce each chapter in the yearbook. Even though both the Statistical Yearbook and yearly publications in the series Official Statistics of Norway (NOS) contain time series, the main rule has been to publish historical statistics in separate publications. The first of these, Statistical Survey 1914, was published in connection with the centennial celebration of the Norwegian Constitution and consisted of 46 tables. It was issued in a new expanded edition in 1926 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Central Bureau of Statistics (the former name of Statistics Norway). Since 1914, six editions of historical statistics have been published. The most recent one, which came out in 1995, had 697 pages and is still available.
This is the first time that historical statistics are published together with the Statistical Yearbook. The turn of the millennium is a special occasion for looking back, and Statistics Norway wants to contribute with statistics that will help us reflect upon times that are past but still present in and an inseparable part of our self-awareness and the institutions' history.
What are historical statistics? By historical statistics we mean time series, but there is no exact answer to the question for precisely how long a time series must be before it can be called historical. As a rule, tables that were formerly published as historical statistics had to constitute a time series that led up to the present. These tables were selected and edited by tracing existing statistics as far back as possible. This selection principle was modified this time; many time series are included even though it was not possible to include present-day tables.
Some statistics disappear either because the subjects, for one reason or another, are no longer of interest, or because the activity the statistics are supposed to describe disappears. In the selection of tables presented in the yearbook, there are many examples of this, such as the losses in wartime during the First and Second World Wars, Norwegian companies' pelagic whaling, the floating of timber on Norway's major watercourses and the monthly hiring of seamen on sailing ships. These tables are included in order to present statistics not just as a source for demography, economic history and social history, but also as material for the collective memory.
The tables have two main sources: one or more of the previous editions of historical statistics and individual publications in the series Official Statistics of Norway (NOS). As a rule, a combination of these sources is employed. The volumes published by Official Statistics of Norway that were issued in the 1860s, usually included a historical retrospective, among other things with references to the statistical system they were in the process of replacing, i.e. the tables that accompanied the county governors' five-year reports. In some areas extensive use has been made of these surveys.
The censuses and the statistics of the populations trend are another main source. This data has been employed to prepare the plate (on the end leaf) in the front of the yearbook. At he very back (on the other end leaf), a copy of some of the background material has been reprinted: the general table for births and deaths in Norway, Denmark (with its duchies) and Iceland for 1735-1765. Peter Hersleb, the bishop of Akershus diocese (1730-1737), instructed his priests how to fill out the parish registers and introduced a system of yearly reporting of births and deaths starting on 30 December 1735.
The references under each table specify which publications the figures have been taken from. The reference to Statistics Norway's home page gives information about what kind of statistics have been prepa- red in the area at present.
Nearly all statistics are revised and nearly every revision means that comparisons of data from one year with another cannot be made without reservation. In the notes accompanying the tables, attention has been called to the substance of some of these revisions and to how they have affected the data.
For more information, readers are referred to the text of Statistical Survey 1948, Historical Statistics 1968 and Historical Statistics 1994 (http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/histstat/). Tables contained in the Statistical Yearbook of Norway 2000 are also available on the web site http://www.ssb.no/english/ yearbook.

Journals and Newsletters

Family Policy Digest

The Digest is a new monthly publication for anyone with an interest in family policy. Issue one of the Family Policy Studies Centre's (FPSC, London) roundup of news about parliamentary and voluntary sector developments in family policy in the United Kingdom appeared in February 2000. Especially for staff in small voluntary organisations who may not have the resources to monitor these publications for themselves and for larger organisations who have a very focused expertise and would welcome a wider overview the ten annual issues of the Digest might become a useful tool.
The Digest will be mailed to subscribers in the second week of February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, December (events in December and August will be covered in the issues mailed in early February and October). The subscription year runs from 1 January to 31 December. An annual subscription costs £60.00. If you join during the year you will pay only for the number of issues you receive in that year. Choose whether to receive the Digest by mail or through the Centre's website.
For a sample copy please contact the FPSC on 020 7388 5900, or e-mail the Centre on fpsc@mailbox.ulcc. ac.uk. You may also visit the FPSC's web-site, http://www.fpsc.org.uk.

Schmollers Jahrbuch: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften.
Journal of Applied Social
Science Studies


The title Journal of Applied Social Science Studies is new, but the journal itself is old. It was founded about 120 years ago under the title Jahrbuch für Gesetzgebung, Verwaltung und Rechtspflege des Deutschen Reiches (Journal for Legislation, Public Administration and Judicature in Germany). It became famous under the title Schmollers Jahrbuch für Gesetzgebung, Verwaltung und Volkswirtschaft (Schmollers Journal of Legislation, Public Administration and Economics). Gustav von Schmoller was an influential economist at the beginning of the century. Schmollers Jahrbuch was published from 1913 to 1967. From 1968 to 1999 the German Economic Association ('Verein für Socialpolitik') edited the journal under the title Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften (Journal of Economics and Social Sciences).
In 2000, the idea of Schmollers Jahrbuch was revitalized as a forum for interdisciplinary studies as well as applied social sciences, that means, research applying social science methods to problems of the 'real world'. Theoretical, empirical and historical methods are appropriate as long as research is applied to practice. The journal is bilingual and has access to an international pool of referees which guarantees a high standard of the published contributions. The journal focuses on European topics. Original research in the following fields is welcome: Applied studies; Interdisciplinary studies, such as Labour Economics, Social Policy, Public Health, Educational Research; Studies on Economic History; Simulations; Policy analysis. Schmollers Jahrbuch also invites guest editors to small symposia on special topics.
Schmollers Jahrbuch is a publication issued by the German Institute of Economic Research (Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung-DIW, Berlin) and is edited by Gert G. Wagner, Richard V. Burkhauser, Richard Hauser, Werner Jann, Dietmar Petzina, Barbara Riedmüller, Timothy M. Smeeding. Issued quarterly. Approx. 672 p. Language: English, German. Annual subscription: DM 148.00/ sFr 131.00. Subscription rate for students: DM 118.40/ sFr 105.50. Single issue: DM 40.00/ sFr 37.00. (Rates do not include postage). ISSN 0342-1783.
Submission of papers: Gert G. Wagner, editor-in-chief, Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Koenigin-Luise-Straße 5, 14191 Berlin/Germany. Tel.: (+ 49-30) 89789290; fax: (+ 49-30) 89789109; e-mail: schmollers_ jahrbuch@diw.de.
Ordering: Duncker & Humblot GmbH, Postfach 41 03 29, 12113 Berlin/Germany. Fax: (+ 49-30) 79000631; http://www.duncker-humblot.de.

German Economic Review


In 2000, the German Economic Association launched the German Economic Review--an alternative attempt to revitalize the idea of Schmollers Jahrbuch, which was a forum for applied social sciences. The German Economic Review (GER) is an international journal which aims at publishing original and thorough research of general interest in a broad range of economic disciplines, including macro- and microeconomics, economic policy, international economics, public economics, finance, and business administration. The scope of research approaches includes theoretical, empirical and experimental work. Innovative and thought-provoking contributions, in particular from younger authors, are especially welcome. The GER also invites guest editors to participate in the production of special editions on topics of current or broad interest.
The official publication of the German Economic Association (Verein fuer Socialpolitik), GER is supplied to all its members. This guarantees an exceptionally wide circulation, particularly within Europe. Accordingly, a focus on European topics is welcome. At the same time, GER aims at a wider audience by attracting submissions and by encouraging the participation of and subscriptions from economists around the world.
The GER is edited by an international board of editors and associate editors from Europe and overseas. This ensures access to an international pool of referees and guarantees a high intellectual standard of the published contributions. Editors endeavour to process submissions promptly. GER is published four times a year in English and is available online. Issued quarterly. Annual subscription: £76.00 (institutional), £31.00 (personal). ISSN 1465-6485.
Submission of papers: Managing editors are Robin W. Boadway, Queen's University, Ontario, Canada, e-mail: boadwayr@qed.econ.queensu.ca; Bernhard Felderer, Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, Austria, e-mail: ger@ihs.ac.at; Paul C. De Grauwe, Leuven University, Belgium, e-mail: paul.degrauwe@econ.kuleuven.ac.be; Stefan Reichelstein, Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley, USA, e-mail: reich@ haas.berkeley.edu; Urs Schweizer, Universität Bonn, Germany, e-mail: office@wipol.uni-bonn.de.
Ordering: Journals Customer Services, Blackwell Publishers Journals, PO Box 805, 108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 IFH. Tel.: + 44 (0)1865 244083; fax: + 44 (0)1865 381381; e-mail: jnlinfo@blackwellpublishers.co.uk; http://www. blackwellpublishers.co.uk.

New MZES Publications Working Papers


Since the beginning of 1999 all working papers of the MZES have been published in one common working paper series (ISSN 1437-8574). The following working papers have been released and can be obtained from the MZES, University of Mannheim, D-68131 Mannheim. Tel. +49-621-292-1885, Fax +49-621-292-1735. Working papers published since 1997 are also available over the Internet and can be downloaded..
Michael Stoiber and Paul W. Thurner: Der Vergleich von Ratifikationsstrukturen der EU-Mitgliedsländer für Intergouvernementale Verträge: Eine Anwendung des Veto-Spieler Konzeptes. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 27).
Eibe Riedel: Verhandlungslösungen im Rahmen des Sozialpakts der Vereinten Nationen. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 28).
Dirk Hanschel: Environment and Human Rights: Cooperative Means of Regime Implementation. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 29).
Sonja Haug: Klassische und neuere Theorien der Migration. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 30).
Birgit Hellmann, Michèle Knodt and Beate Kohler-Koch: Globalisierung und Integration: Strategievorstellungen deutscher Parlamentarier. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 31).
Cornelia Kristen: Ethnic Differences in Educational Placement: The Transition from Primary to Secondary Schooling. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 32).
Jan van Deth und Martin Elff: Political Involvement and Apathy in Europe 1973-1998. Mannheim: MZES, 2000 (Working Paper no. 33).

New Books from MZES


Knodt, Michèle, and Beate Kohler-Koch, eds.: Deutschland zwischen Europäisierung und Selbstbe- hauptung. [Mannheimer Jahrbuch für Europäische Sozialforschung, vol. 5]. Frankfurt am Main: Campus, 2000. 474 pp., DM 128.00, ISBN 3-593-36618-5.
Thomas Mann already envisaged that 'Germany would become European'. This yearbook looks into the question how far this wish has become reality today. It analyses different political fields in a comparative perspective and examines how and to what extent the integration of Germany into the European organizations leads to a permeation of national politics and to an adaptation of behaviour and political structures. It becomes evident that Eurpeanization is by no means equivalent with uniformity and can well be used as a strategy of self-assertion.
Bräuninger, Thomas: Internatio-nale Institutionenpolitik: Die Wahl von Entscheidungsregeln für die Meeresbodenbehörde. [Mannheimer Beiträge zur politischen Soziologie und positiven politischen Theorie. Ed. Franz Urban Pappi and Jan van Deth, vol. 2]. Frankfurt/New York: Campus, 2000. 297 pp., DM 68.00, ISBN 3-593-36631-2.
Based on the example of the 'seabed authority', Thomas Bräuninger examines how agreements on the establishment of international institutions can be reached in international negotiation systems with a large number of states and considering the conflicts resulting from diverging interests. The empirical analysis of the territorial conflicts of 180 sates and the description of potential partial conflicts give a realistic picture of a complex, multilateral negotiating siatuation.
Pfenning, Astrid, and Thomas Bahle, eds.: Families and Family Policies in Europe: Comparative Perspectives. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2000. 359 pp., DM 98.00, ISBN 3-631-37078-4.
Comparative family policy studies have flourished in recent years. The growing recognition of family policy is related to far-reaching changes in family structures since the mid-1960s and to the growth of European welfare states to fiscal and institutional limits. With recent welfare state reforms, the family, gender roles, and the social division of labour have become prominent issues. This book contributes to comparative family policy studies by a distinct profile. Contributions typically include a small number of countries. The geographic focus is on Southern European and Scandinavian countries, including comparisions to Austria, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Ireland and The Netherlands. The book combines quantitative and qualitative approaches, institutional and historical perspectives.

New CD-ROM issued by the MZES


Maucher, Mathias, and Thomas Bahle, eds.: MZES/EURODATA Family Policy Database. Mannheim: MZES/EURODATA, 2000.
The database provides quantitative and qualitative information on family policies in 16 European countries, all EU-member states as of 2000 except Luxembourg, plus Norway and Poland. It covers five fields of family policy: 1) cash benefits for families in general, 2) cash benefits especially for lone parents, 3) existence minimum (family dimension), 4) child-care services and 5) cash benefits and time-rights related to parenting and caring for children.
The core of the database are quantitative time series provided in standardized form across all countries included, supplemented by country-specific data and institutional information. The time series include data on beneficiaries, benefit rates, service supply (offer), expenditure, and receipts for each individual family policy measure at the lowest possible aggregation level. They cover family policies from their origins or from when data are available up to the present, focusing on the period from the 1960s until the mid-1990s.
Information on institutional regulations and comparative classifications is available for most family policies for which time-series data have been established. The database does not contain any family policy indicators, however, nor does it include context data from areas like demography, social security, national accounts or labour market statistics.
Since February 2001, the database has been accessible and distributed on CD-ROM. It has been made available in two versions. The browser-based version is limited to documented time-series data. The MS ACCESS version, in addition, provides information on institutional regulations and comparative classifications of family policy measures. They are available for most family policies for which time-series data have been established. The changes over time can be listed in a report, documenting each legal amendment or change of a programme property. Moreover, the full version offers additional selection procedures that can also be used in combination, and allows for a variable search.
The product can be ordered for a small user fee of 25   (shipping included). Please send an e-mail to fpdb@mzes.uni-mannheim.de. For more detailed information please visit the project's homepage http://www.mzes. uni-mannheim.de/projekte/fpdb/.
By mid February 2001, the 'MZES/EURODATA Family Policy Database' was transferred to the 'European Observatory on Family Matters', until 2004 located at the Austrian Institute for Family Studies (ÖIF) in Vienna. The database will be updated and possibly extended to include other fields. Furthermore, it is planned to establish an online access to at least parts of the database within the next few months.

Forthcoming Events:


The 2001 EISS Annual Colloquium, 27-29 September 2001, Bergen, Norway.
The Colloquium on 'European Social Security and Global Politics' will be organized by the Norwegian section of the EISS (European Institute of Social Security) and the Centre for Social Research, University of Bergen. The meeting will start after lunch on Thursday, 27th September, and end with a festive dinner at Mount Floyen, overlooking the city of Bergen, Saturday, 29th September.
The general theme of the conference will focus on the challenges of European welfare states in an era of an economically and politically more and more integrated world. To what extent is it likely, possible, or desirable that relatively strong European welfare regimes, embedded in the politics of the nation state, will persist? Given specific values and interests, will or must a new configuration of European welfare states be outlined? Is 'globalisation', or a more international economy and society, more or less conducive to the economic, cultural and political sustainability of comprehensive national welfare states? Is Europe (still) a model for other regions of the world in terms of social security protection and welfare provision, or what, if anything, can Europe learn from others regions? These broadly phrased questions and topics can be approached from several disciplinary perspectives, in a more or less comparative framework, within a long or short time perspective, be studied historically or with a future orientation, on the macro- or micro level, and with a concentration on one or several of various kinds of welfare and social security programmes.
The deadline for submission of proposals and abstracts was 1 March 2001. A selection of papers accepted and presented will be published in the EISS Yearbook (Kluwer Law).
If you have questions regarding the Colloquium, please contact the Chair of the Program Committee, Professor Stein Kuhnle (stein.kuhnle@isp.uib.no; Tel.: 47-55582179). Information can also be obtained from Rut Fjellberg, Centre for Social Research (rut.fjellberg@sefos. uib.no; Tel.: 47-55589714).

EURESCO Conferences. A Programme of the European Science Foundation with the support of the European Commission.

  1. The Second Demographic Transition in Europe: Euroconference on Family and Fertility Change in Modern European Societies: Explorations and Explanations of Recent Developments. Chaired by H.-P. Kohler (Rostock, Germany), Bad Herrenalb (Germany), 23-28 June.
  2. European Societes or European Society? Euroconference on European Welfare States and the Changing Life Course. Chaired by R. Breen (Firenze, Italy), Kerkrade (The Netherlands), 6-10 October.

Conferences are open to scientists world-wide, whether from academia or industry. Participation is limited to about 100 (deadline for applications: 3-4 months before a conference). The emphasis will be on discussion about new developments. The conference fee covers registration, full board and lodging. Grants are available, in particular for nationals from EU or Associated States under 35. Limited funding for participants from Central and Eastern Europe may also be available.
For up-to-date information and an on-line application form visit the EURESCO web site at http://www.esf.org/euresco or contact the Head of the EURESCO Unit: Dr. J. Hendekovic. European Science Foundation. 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, 67080 Strasbourg Cedex, France. Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 76 71 35; Fax.: +33 (0)3 88 36 69 87; e-mail: euresco@ esf.org.