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A comparison is made between 'chauvinistic' models of tax compliance generated from mainstream neo-classical economics and the 'softy' framework favored by psychologists, sociologists and other related parties. A 'third way' is presented to better understand individuals' taxpaying behavior. It is more process-driven and less deterministic than conventional economic models without sacrificing a deductive position. This third model addresses preferences over conformity to social conventions.

Reforms to the UK National Health Service were introduced in Apr. 1991 to cut too much vertical integration by implementing a quasi-market where incentive structures and greater availability of information would allow decision makers to more effectively use resources. However, a general framework with which to examine the welfare gains or losses resulting from the quasi-market is yet to be implemented. To correct the situation, an analytical framework of a quasi-market within which distortions such as cream skimming and local monopoly can be investigated.

An analysis of decentralization based on Niskanen's theory of bureaucracy, which emphasizes the existence of fiscal illusion, shows that budget maximizing bureaus can increase their budgets by exploiting fiscal illusion connected with intergovernmental grants. This analysis provides a different perspective of intergovernmental grants as it is not based on equity and efficiency. Decentralization can improve public expenditure. The present approach highlights the role of price elasticity instead of the spatial non-rivalness public goods in influencing public sector good provision.

Ethical investing raises questions relating both to the possibility of private provision of public goods and to the determination of asset prices in financial markets. In both cases economists have turned to more complex, psychologically based models of behaviour to provide adequate explanations. Such models show that there is unlikely to be a clearly identifiable cost to ethical investment, and suggest the need for closer consideration of the diversity of investors' motives. The discussion is illustrated by reference to the growth and performance of U.K. ethical investments.

R.J. Brent has developed a new model for estimating an individual's valuation of life. Unlike previous models, Brent's paradigm does not place monetary values on human life. The model categorizes different time periods in an individual's life in terms of time spent for producing income, ensuring life safety and planning for future growth. Although theoretically feasible, the model contradicts actual human behavior and decision-making.

Presents a discussion and policy proposal of the waiting lists for inpatient treatment of the national Health Service in Great Britain. Justifications of the reduction of the lists; Suggestions of a solution of the problem of waiting lists; Implementation of the policy and the possibility of criticisms on the proposals.

Focuses on the argument that if the British government welfare provision were to be reduced, the voluntary charitable sector would fill the void. Economic theory of altruism. Need by public policy analysis for an evaluation of changes in constraints and evaluation of changes in tastes and preferences; Influence of demonstration effect on preferences.

The article looks into the economic rationale designed to elicit fiscal preferences. The authors cite several questionnaire studies which depict that individuals with high incomes have indicated a greater preference for more government activity by contrast with low income groups. They also observe that despite the tendency for the fiscal activity to be loaded in favor of the low income individual, the high income individual is the one who demands for more fiscal activity. Meanwhile, a theorist proposes the development of the three sector economy that relies on consumer-voters dissatisfaction with the quantity of public sector good provided.

This article offers information regarding Britain's Welfare State and private alternatives. In mainstream economic theory, the basic unit of analysis is the individual because it is the people who have preferences and take decisions to maximize utility subject to their budget constraints. It discusses that the basic arguments for looking beyond the isolated individual have traditionally been collected under the three functions of Musgrave's public household, including allocation, distribution, and stabilization.

'Leviathan' public choice (LPC) and 'other' public choice (OPC) arguments inform an econometric assessment of the role standard economic and Leviathan public choice variables on the share of total government expenditures in GDP and the shares of four sub-categories of expenditure in total government expenditure. The two-stage econometric procedure adopted ensures both non-negativity and the adding-up of shares to unity. The results for UK data 1961-81 are somewhat mixed at the sub-category level but at the total government expenditure level the influence of LPC variables as such does not appear significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]