Canadian Insurance Claims Directory 2002 (Canadian Insurance Claims Directory)

Book Description

Dick Netzer, a leading public finance economist specializing in state and local issues and urban government, brings together in this comprehensive volume essays by top scholars connecting the property tax with land use. They explore the idea that the property tax is used as a partial substitute for land use regulation and other policies designed to affect how land is utilized. Like many economists, the contributors see some type of property taxation as the more efficient means of helping to shape land use. Some of the essays analyze a conventional property tax, while others consider radically different systems of property taxation.

The first paper sets the stage, modeling taxes on land and buildings in the context of a dynamic model of real estate markets. The remaining papers examine how various tax mechanisms and non-tax alternatives to regulating and determining land use, such as zoning and private neighborhood associations, complement or substitute for one another.

Product Description

This book addresses a variety of issues relating to intergovernmental finance and the provision and financing of local services including budgeting and financial management, the institutional framework for the conduct of intergovernmental relations, appropriate methods of service delivery in metropolitan agglomerations and remote rural areas, local government enterprises, user charges, property taxes, income and value-added taxes, natural resource taxes, and local business taxes. Throughout, the authors draw on experience both in Canada and in other decentralized countries and consider to varying extents the special problems facing Russia and other large transitional economies.

Hamilton's Paradox: The Promise and Peril of Fiscal Federalism (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

Average customer rating:

Hamilton's Paradox: The Promise and Peril of Fiscal Federalism (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)
Jonathan A. Rodden
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Debt & Deficits | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Public Affairs & Administration | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Non-US Legal Systems | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0521603668

Book Description

As new federations take shape and old ones are revived around the world, a difficult challenge is to create incentives for fiscal discipline. A key question is whether a politically-motivated central government can credibly commit not to bail out subnational governments in times of crisis if it funds most of their expenditures. By combining theory, quantitative analysis, and historical and contemporary case studies, this book provides a new perspective on why different countries have had dramatically different experiences with subnational fiscal discipline.

Federal Intergovernmental Grants and the States: Managing Devolution (Studies in Fiscal Federalism and State-Local Finance Series)

Average customer rating:

Federal Intergovernmental Grants and the States: Managing Devolution (Studies in Fiscal Federalism and State-Local Finance Series)
Shama Gamkhar
Manufacturer: Edward Elgar Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Public Relations | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1840646802

Book Description

This book provides a long-term perspective on policies regarding intergovernmental grants in the US since the 1970s. This period spans six presidential administrations and encompasses a diverse set of political and economic conditions. Containing original research, the book contributes to critical assessments of intergovernmental grant issues such as:

• whether state and local government spending responds symmetrically to increases or decreases in federal aid

• the effects of converting categorical grants to block grants on program spending

• the political economy of federal aid distribution.

Book Description

State and Local Finances Under Pressure explores the future of state and local government fiscal systems given the numerous pressures they face from economic, legal, technological, demographic and political forces. It explores how these multiple forces play out in terms of the changes state and local governments should and are likely to make.

The contributors argue that state and local governments must make substantial changes and that failure to act is likely to result in adverse effects and increasing pressures for modifications that are more difficult to implement and more politically unpalatable. Without reform, state and local fiscal systems will grow increasingly out of sync with economic reality. The authors suggest that government responses are likely to be evolutionary, but that in 25 years the recorded changes will be substantial.

The first chapter provides a historic perspective of state and local fiscal trends. Each of the subsequent chapters describes the nature of one of the pressures state and local governments face including: political and legal forces, globalization of business, demographic and technological changes, deregulation of utilities, and urban sprawl.

Book Description

This outstanding selection of Helen Ladd's work provides an overview of the policy-oriented research she has conducted in the areas of state and local public finance during the past thirty years.

The volume is divided into four parts. The first addresses the concept and measurement of fiscal disparities across local jurisdictions and the design of intergovernmental aid programs. The second part examines the design of taxes and tax structures, including chapters on the mix of taxes at the state level and tax limitation measures. The third part deals with the interaction between taxes and land use, including the fiscal effects of rapid population growth and the use of tax subsidies to promote growth in declining urban areas. The final part focuses on education finance.

Book Description

The central purpose of this book is to analyze the optimal allocation of local public goods or services (for example garbage collection, police, fire brigades and medical services) in large urban agglomerations and the allocation consequences of increasing competition in the provision of them. Competition in the Provision of Local Public Goods uses two innovative aspects present in the concept of Functional Overlapping Competing Jurisdictions, which are de-localized membership and uni-functionality of jurisdictions. The book analyzes the effect of these two aspects on competition among jurisdictions and the impact this probable increase in competition may have on the achievement of the optimal allocation of local public goods.

Book Description

`This is an important book. The new fiscal decentralization promised enhanced efficiency of public service delivery, reduced corruption, a reinforcing trend to citizen voice and participation, and poverty reduction. But, did it succeed? It is only now becoming possible to get some hard empirical answers. That is what the collection of essays in this book provides in a most systematic and rigorous way. In doing so it takes a cross-regional approach, whereby one can compare different public sector cultures and histories. Decentralization in Asia and Latin America provides new, technically rigorous, and important answers.' - Robert D. Ebel, George Washington University, The Brookings Institution and The Urban Institute, US

`Because of the broad political economy perspective taken by the chapter authors, this volume edited by Smoke, Gomez and Peterson constitutes a valuable addition to the ever increasing amount of literature detailing the county-level experiences with decentralization policies. The interdisciplinary approach considers the fiscal, political, economic, and administrative aspects of the process along with sufficient history for the reader to understand the context in which the decentralization (and in some instances re-centralization) policies have been undertaken. Although the chapters focus on Asian and Latin American countries, readers with interests in other regions of the world can gain considerable insight from these experiences.' - Larry Schroeder, Syracuse University, US

Although decentralization and reactions against it have become increasingly important policy trends in developing countries, the study of this nearly ubiquitous phenomenon has been largely fractured across academic disciplines, geographic regions, and the academic-practitioner divide. The contributors to this edited volume begin to cross some of these constraining, artificial boundaries. Considering decentralization from an interdisciplinary, historical, and comparative perspective, they collectively explore why it has evolved in particular ways and with varied outcomes.

In addition to taking an atypically comparative perspective, the volume highlights the importance of an historical analysis of decentralization and links this to institutional and public policy outcomes. Placing decentralization in this context illustrates why it has taken dissimilar shapes and produced varying results over time in different countries. This in turn helps to clarify the types of institutions and conditions required for the development and survival of decentralization, paving the way for more creative thinking and informed policymaking. The countries covered include: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Brazil.

Students and scholars of economics, political science and development will find the policy and theoretical discussions enlightening. The volume will also prove useful to policymakers and development institutions confronting issues of decentralization.

Book Description

The result of a National Bureau of Economic Research Income and Wealth conference held in December 1983, this volume looks at the concept of "economic well-being" and the ways that analysts have tried to measure it. In addition to income, economists have begun to consider such factors as pensions, wealth, health, and environment when measuring the well-being of a particular group. They have also begun to measure how consumers respond, successfully or unsuccessfully, to such economic uncertainties as inflation, divorce, and retirement. Using new data and techniques, the contributors to this book concentrate on issues of uncertainty and horizontal equity (the equal treatment of individuals within a defined group). Their work points to better ways of determining how various groups in a society are faring relative to other groups. Economists and policy analysts, therefore, will be in a better position to determine how government programs should be applied when well-being is used as a test.

HORIZONTAL EQUITY, UNCERTAINTY, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING; STUDIES IN INCOME AND WEALTH, VOL. 50 [A NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH]

Average customer rating:

HORIZONTAL EQUITY, UNCERTAINTY, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING; STUDIES IN INCOME AND WEALTH, VOL. 50 [A NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH]
Martin; Timothy Smeeding, eds. David
Manufacturer: University of Chicago Press Chicago and London
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IBQZXW

Average customer rating:

HORIZONTAL EQUITY, UNCERTAINTY AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
Martin; Smeeding, Timothy David
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPMGIA

Amazon.com

Toswiah Green. Evie Thomas. One girl. Two names. Two lives. When her police officer father witnesses two white cops killing a black boy, he makes the heart-wrenching decision to testify against his former friends. Overnight, thanks to the witness protection program, Toswiah becomes Evie, and she and her family leave their idyllic Denver, Colorado, life far behind. Toswiah's previously happy, lighthearted mother abruptly turns to religion, her big sister makes secret plans to escape the family, and her proud father collapses inward to a depressed, almost catatonic state. Adolescent Toswiah--now Evie--copes as best she can, taking up track and field in school, and trying to fathom who she is, and who she is becoming.

Jacqueline Woodson, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of Miracle's Boys and many other highly acclaimed titles, delves deep into the confused hearts of a family that has lost its identity. Toswiah, as a young teenager, was already on the verge of shaping her identity as a young woman; with these shattering events, it takes every ounce of strength and courage to keep her core intact. (Ages 13 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

After Toswiah Green's father testifies against a fellow police officer in a murder case, the Greens are forced to enter the Witness Protection Program and give up all traces of their past. For Toswiah—now Evie Thomas—her new life is completely different. Her defeated father spends his days sitting by the window, all her mother's energy goes to their new church, and her only sister is making secret plans to leave. Evie is left wondering who she is and how she can make her future as bright as her past once was.

Customer Reviews:

Hush School Review.......2007-03-30

When the Green family moved from their perfect home in Denver, Colorado, it is not because someone changed jobs or they want to add some more variety into their lives. They moved because if they didn't, they might have been killed. When Johnathon Green, the only black cop in his precinct, witnesses his two best cop friends kill a black teen for no reason, he threatens to tell the head cop. Soon the Green family starts to get anonymous threatening phone calls and someone even fires three shots into the Green's family room window. The Greens, with help of the Jehovah's Witnesses, change their last name to Thomas, and everyone in the family changes their first name. Toswiah Green, newly christened as Evie Thomas, goes to a new school and makes new friends on the track team. The two cops that kill the teen are eventually sent to jail, but it depresses Evie's father so much that he tries to kill himself by jamming a shad of pottery into his wrist. Evie's sister, Ana, gets accepted into Simon's Rock College on a two-thirds scholarship, and leaves at the end of the book. This book is filled with family values, and tragedies.

There are multiple sad incidents in this story. When the two officers kill the black teen, they claim he was reaching for a weapon, but he actually had his hands raised above his head when the shots were fired. Evie meets a girl in her new class who also has the name Toswiah, and that Toswiah's sister is mentally retarded. Finally, Evie's father gets so depresses that he stands up, throws his bowl on the ground, and jams a shard of it into his wrist, sending him to the solarium in the hospital.

There are some family lessons in this book. For instance, when Evie's sister finds out about Evie running track and field, she helps Evie get to practices and meets. The Green/Thomas family becomes very close after the bowl incident, especially Evie and her father. The whole family congratulates Ana after she makes it into Simon's Rock, also.

Evie faces many types of discrimination in this book. When she is in Denver, after the shooting she begins to get teased at school because she is half African American. Once she moves, however, she begins to get teased because she is a Jehovah's Witness (or Joho, as the kids called it). Evie also gets teased because she is really skinny.

Officer Randell and Officer Dennis, the cops that killed the teen in Denver, nearly ruined the Greens's life by tearing them away from every thing the Greens owned and loved. This novel is a great quick read for teens and has lessons to teach us all.

c.brady

My Language Arts Reveiw of "Hush".......2007-03-15

The book "Hush" is about a girl and her family who are in the witness protection program(WPP). Her name is Tamora, but when her family got into the program, they all had to change their names. Tamora changed hers to Elie. Elie has a mother, father, and a sister. I never really found out what the first names of the mother and father were, but the sister's name is Cameron, after she changed it. They were the Watsons but when they changed their names, they were the Greens. Before the insident happened, the Greens lived in Denver, Colorado. But as the story progressed, they made their way to Columbus, Ohio. When the Greens finally made it to their new home, it was revealed to them why they were in the WPP. Cameron and Elie's father had refused to tell them what had happened to get them in the mess that they were in. So when they reached their new home Mr.Green gave in. It turns out that Mr.Green, who was a police man, had seen two of his white friends shoot an innocent black, teenage boy, on purpose. After Mr.G had seen that, he kept getting anonymous phone calls on his cell phone, threatening to kill, torture, or hurt him if he told anyone what he had seen. This was the point in which he called for help. The girls were shocked to learn that this is why they had to change almost everything about themselves. Following this knowledge, the girls now had to try to fit in amongst the other teenagers their age. For Cameron, being to oldest, this was a snap. However, for Elie this was one of the hardest things that she had to do besides being in the WPP. Three months later, subsequently to not talking to barley anyone at school, Elie tried out for the track team, and found out that she liked it, a lot! She made the best friends she had had since going into the WPP. They helped her get through everything that came her way after that. So, in conclusion, the Greens didn't get to go back to the way they used to live, but they were still happy afterwards.

By: Margaux Gudeman

Witness Protection Program.......2007-02-13

It has never really mattered to Toswiah's family that they are one of the few black families in town. Her father is a police officer, her mother a teacher, and her older sister is a popular cheerleader. Toswiah has a best friend and she loves Colorado. Everything is going well for them. Even though her father is the only black police officer on the force, the rest of the police officers are as close as family to them.

Then her father witnesses two white officers shoot a black teenager. They say they thought he was in a gang and was reaching for a gun. Toswiah's father saw that his hands were fully visible, up in the air, and the police officers shot him anyway. He agonizes over the decision he has to make. Should he testify in this trial and help to put his fellow police officers in jail? Or should he follow the code of the police officers and turn the other way, pretending he didn't see anything? He decides to testify.

Suddenly Toswiah's world is turned upside-down. Her family leaves their home in the middle of the night. She will now be known as Evie, and moved to a different place to start over as a different person, telling lies instead of history. Being in the witness protection program is hard on the entire family. Toswiah's mother has found religion and lost herself. Toswiah's father sits all day by the window, feeling like he somehow made the wrong decision. Toswiah's sister is angry at everyone, especially her father, and is doing all that she can to get away. Toswiah is proud of her father and thinks he did the right thing, but she is sad that everything is falling apart. Can this family come together and survive this?

I liked Toswiah and her narration, and I liked the flashbacks to the times before the family had to move. I was disappointed in the parents, though. They were set up as such strong people and such good parents before the trial. But then when their children needed them to be stable and supportive, they completely fell apart. It didn't seem to fit with their earlier personalities.

Pretty good.......2006-10-06

Hush was a very interesting book. It wasn't all good or all bad. I thought the racism theme was a good theme but to obvious, I think themes should be slightly more hidden then that. I did like the finding yourself theme. I thought Ms. Woodson did a fantastic job of getting into the character's head. Even though the writing seemed too deep for a teenager, I thought it was still a pretty good book. One other thing I didn't like about it was that it was very jumpy and a little hard to follow because it went between different ages all the time. Other than that I say this was a very good book. I read it all in one afternoon.

LOVED IT!!.......2006-09-26

Can you imagine having to change your whole life? Loose your best friend, your home and everything you love? Well that's what happened to Toswiah, a twelve-year-old girl who had the "typical" life of a teen. In this fictional story Toswiah and her family had to move because her father was a witness in a crime. This whole thing turned into a racial issue. Their lives started to be in danger because some people didn't want her father to tell the truth about the crime. The family had to move and change their identities, but this was just the beginning of their new life and they also changed their personalities and their actions because of the hard situation they went through.
Toswiah's father spends most of his time looking out the window, her mom has found a new religion that she is so involved in, and her sister is making some sort of plan to get out of the house. Then there is Toswiah, feeling very lost, frustrated, and very lonely, who can't express her feelings to anybody.
I have never read a book this intense, powerful and interesting. Jacqueline Woodson tells the life of a young girl in such a realistic way that you can actually feel the sadness and the pain that Toswiah went through. I recommend this book to anyone who has been through any situation that has made them change their life forever.

Average customer rating:

Clever and funny, a good time all around
GRRRREAT!!!!
Fun and adventure

Jehovah's Witness Protection Program
Rich Kelley
Manufacturer: Western Star Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0964954486

Customer Reviews:

Clever and funny, a good time all around.......2006-04-01

JWPP was given to me as a birthday gift, and I was dubious at first. I'm a former Jehovah's Witness and thought this might be something stupid. Well, instead of stupid it's very clever, very funny. It would actually make a good movie. I recommend this book first of all to the millions of English speaking former Jehovah's Witnesses. When you're finished reading it...and reading it again...pass it along to any JW friends or family you might have. It's a kick.

Read I WAS A TEENAGE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS and JEHOVAH UNMASKED for two of the wildest rides ever!

GRRRREAT!!!!.......2004-01-06

This book pretty much covered all aspects of humor! I loved how so many different outlooks were presented, yet they all were brought together in a great way! The author had great insight to many details, which made you feel as though he has lived each one out himself!
The author did a great job with this book in that many different age groups can relate---at least something in their life would match the characters.
Could there be a sequel coming...?

Fun and adventure.......2003-10-11

"Jehovah's Witness Protection Program" is the funniest book I've ever read.
Every chapter made me laugh out loud, cry, or both. The novel is a rare combination of action, adventure, and romance all rolled into one with an abundance of humor. It's hard to read "Jehovah's Witness Protection Program" and not feel more alive. If the author reads this, I hope you will write another book because I can't wait to read it.

This book reminded me of my college experience, especially the idiotic behavior during those times of my life. Also, it was amazing to pull off a story with the FBI, CIA, Hebrew Defense League, and Christian Right all working against one another with a common interest. Please write a sequel!!!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books