Search

Purpose - New hepatitis C medicines such as sofosbuvir underline the need to balance considerations of innovation, clinical evidence, budget impact and equity in health priority-setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of public participation in addressing these considerations. Design/methodology/approach - The paper employs a comparative case study approach. It explores the experience of four countries - Brazil, England, South Korea and the USA - in making coverage decisions about the antiviral sofosbuvir and involving the public and patients in these decision-making processes. Findings - Issues emerging from public participation ac tivities include the role of the universal right to health in Brazil, the balance between innovation and budget impact in England, the effect of unethical medical practices on public perception in South Korea and the legitimacy of priority-setting processes in the USA. Providing policymakers are receptive to these issues, public participation activities may be re-conceptualized as processes that illuminate policy problems relevant to a particular context, thereby promoting an agenda-setting role for the public. Originality/value - The paper offers an empirical analysis of public involvement in the case of sofosbuvir, where the relevant considerations that bear on priority-setting decisions have been particularly stark. The perspectives that emerge suggest that public participation contributes to raising attention to issues that need to be addressed by policymakers. Public participation activities can thus contribute to setting policy agendas, even if that is not their explicit purpose. However, the actualization of this contribution is contingent on the receptiveness of policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose-This article aims to analyze if the adoption of inflation targeting in Brazil contributed to an improvement in the conduction of monetary policy capable of increasing credibility and reducing inflation without an increase in the sacrifice rate. Design/methodology/approach-Considering the Brazilian experience, this article estimates, through GMM and VAR methods, the offsetting effects of a monetary policy change on the output-inflation and unemployment-inflation trade-offs. Findings-The findings denote that the disinflationary process implemented in Brazil, afterthe adoption of inflation targeting, is not associated with the emergence of the above-mentioned trade-offs. Furthermore, the development of credibility in the conduction of monetary policy is an important element responsible for the achievement of this result. Practical implications-Development of credibility is an important strategy for improving the conduction of the monetary policy. Originality/value-The results of the paper give some new insights about the conduction of monetary policy for developing countries, which have adopted inflation targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how Brazilian organizations have handled diversity.Design/methodology/approach This study draws upon the historical analysis by focusing essentially on secondary sources of data, surface-level indicators, namely, race, gender and age. Accordingly, the major sources of information used in this study are the rankings of the Great Place to Work® Institute Brazil (between 2005 and 2013) and from the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment’s reports (between 2009 and 2013).Findings The evidence gathered from the Great Place to Work® Institute Brazil’s lists and the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment’s reports produced mixed results regarding the moral imperative derived from the acculturation of a broad diversity mindset.Research limitations/implications This study is not free from limitations. Both sources used in this inquiry do not depict other relevant data that could provide more accurate results.Practical implications Overall, the findings of this study suggest that training programs and sound work values revision are necessary steps to reduce discrimination, stereotypes, gender bias and to promote diversity and inclusion inside Brazilian organizations.Originality/value It contributes to the understanding of the current diversity scenario in Brazilian organizations by drawing on a historical analysis method. It relied on two germane secondary sources of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose oft/is paper is to explore the similarities and differences between selected behaviors of USA and Brazilian business people that can lead to unintended and unexpected conflicts when businesses from one country engage in business ventures in the other. Data were collected through informal interviews with business people and personal observations in both countries over several years. The Hofstede typology of Cultural Dimensions is utilized to compare and contrast the business behaviors typically found in each nation that can act as major sources of misunderstandings impeding the growth of business relations. Potential points of conflict are identified that can help members of the business communities in both nations better anticipate the issues and adapt their business practices to the requirements of successful Brazil-USA business ventures. Additional research and improved dissemination of results are needed to identify more clearly the issues and paths forward for overcoming these barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the collaboration between the Brazilian government and the agribusiness sector in Brazil, with regards to negotiations and dispute settlement at the World Trade Organization. Topics discussed include the theory of dependent development on changes in state-business relations; role played by export trade of agricultural products in its economic development and reliance of import-substitution industrialization policies on foreign direct investment and international firms.