Monday, November 10, 2008

[EQ] World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography

World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography

 

World Bank, November 6, 2008

 

Website: http://www.worldbank.org/wdr2009.

 

“…..Economic growth will be unbalanced, but development still can be inclusive. That is the main message of this year's World Development Report. The report proposes that spatial transformations along the following three dimensions will be necessary:
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Higher density as seen in the growth of cities. Tokyo, the world's largest city is home to 35 million--a quarter of Japan's population--but stands on just four percent of its land.

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Shorter distances as firms and workers migrate closer to economic opportunities. Eight million Americans change states every year, migrating to reduce distance to economic opportunity.

 

Fewer divisions as countries thin their economic borders to enter world markets to take advantage of specialization and scale. Border restrictions to flows of goods, capital, ideas, and people continue to prevent progress in Africa, in contrast with Western Europe….”

 

“….The new World Development Report challenges the assumption that economic activities must be spread geographically to benefit the world’s most poor and vulnerable.  Trying to spread out economic activity can hinder growth and does little to fight poverty. For rapid, shared growth, governments must promote economic integration which, at its core, is about the mobility of people, products, and ideas…”

 

Overviews (multilingual)
English PDF file [32p.] at
:
 http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWDR2009/Resources/4231006-1225840759068/WDR09_01_Overviewweb.pdf
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Coming soon: Arabic, Chinese, French Spanish, and Portuguese

Table of Contents & front matter
Complete report Part 1 | Part 2

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Geography in motion: The Report at a Glance - Density, Distance, and Division

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Overview

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Part One: Seeing Development in 3-D

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Chapter 1: Density
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Chapter 2: Distance
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Chapter 3: Division

Geography in motion: Overcoming Division in Western Europe

Part Two: Shaping Economic Geography

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Chapter 4: Scale Economies and Agglomeration
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Chapter 5: Factor Mobility and Migration
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Chapter 6: Transport Costs and Specialization

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Geography in motion: Distance and Division in East Asia

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Part Three: Reframing the Policy Debates

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Chapter 7: Concentration without Congestion: Policies for an inclusive urbanization
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Chapter 8: Unity, Not Uniformity: Effective approaches to territorial development
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Chapter 9: Winners without Borders: Integrating poor countries with world markets

Geography in motion: Density, Distance, and Division in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bibliographical Note

Endnotes 

References

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Selected World Development Indicators

Index

 

 

 

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This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
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and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

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[EQ] Health and Medical Research in New Zealand

Health and Medical Research in New Zealand

 

Bruce Scoggins

Health Research Observatory, 2008

The research described in this report was prepared as part of RAND Europe's Health Research System Observatory Documented Briefing series
Funded by the U.K. Department of Health.

 

Available online PDF file [63p.] at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/2008/RAND_DB564.pdf

 

Summary PDF file [6p.] at:  http://www.rand.org/pubs/documented_briefings/2008/RAND_DB564.sum.pdf

 

"…….This report provides an overview of health and medical research in New Zealand. The report is part of a series of country-specific reports available from RAND Europe's Health Research Observatory. The report describes the structure of New Zealand's health research system, the processes and performance of the New Zealand health research system, and an outlook which considers current and emerging health research issues in New Zealand. …."

 

Summary: Key Points

-  Government expenditure on health research in 2006􀀐2007 was $136 million (estimate), equivalent to 1.28% of government expenditure on health

   and 17.2% of expenditure on R&D

-  Significant funding, $25 million (estimate) in 2006􀀐2007 was also provided by quasi government agencies, NGOs, and charities

-  Growth in government funding for health research over the past five years has increased little in real terms after adjustment for payment of overheads

-  Most funding is allocated to investigator-initiated research via a contestable process that uses peer review to meet agency requirements of science

   merit and relevance

-  The two universities with medical schools (Auckland and Otago) are the main providers of well-cited and high-quality health research

-  Research "by Maori for Maori" and "by Pacific for Pacific" are priorities for the Health Research Council

-  Research training awards are well supported

-  Health-related biotechnology is a growing and well-performing sector, supporting many innovative companies…."

 

 

 

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This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMS Area]

"Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members".

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    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.  

[EQ] Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy - A Discussion Paper from the Australian Government

Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy

A Discussion Paper from the Australian Government

 

Commonwealth of Australia 2008

 

Available online as PDF file [48p.] at:

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/D66FEE14F736A789CA2574E3001783C0/$File/DiscussionPaper.pdf

 

Website: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PHS-DiscussionPaper

 

The Discussion Paper 'Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy' provides information and a series of questions to assist individuals and organisations to structure their input to development of the Strategy through written submission, by the end of Februrary 2009.

 

“….Process for development of Australia’s National Primary Health Care Strategy

The Australian Government has committed to the development of Australia’s first National Primary Health Care Strategy (‘the Strategy’). Developing the Strategy will require consideration of a wide range of issues associated with the current planning, delivery, governance and financing of primary health care services in Australia, some of which cut across Commonwealth, state and territory responsibilities.


Future directions and reforms, to be identified through the Strategy, will need to recognise and build on the many aspects of our system which are working well. Importantly, the Strategy needs to recognise the critical contribution of the many dedicated health care professionals who are delivering services in our communities….”

 

“…..This Discussion Paper is intended to provide a broad framework and basic information on key issues impacting on primary health care. Its purpose is to stimulate input and comment to assist in the development of the Strategy.

This Paper proposes 10 elements which could underpin a future primary health care system and for each one provides a snapshot of:

• What happens now?

• What does this mean for the community and health consumers?

• What does this mean for health professionals?

• Where could changes be made?

Input on any aspects of these 10 elements, or on additional matters relevant to the Strategy, is welcome…”

 

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Why a National Primary Health Care Strategy?

What are the key elements of an enhanced primary health care system?

1. Accessible, clinically and culturally appropriate, timely and affordable

2. Patient-centred and supportive of health literacy, self-management and individual preference

3. More focussed on preventive care, including support of healthy lifestyles

4. Well-integrated, coordinated, and providing continuity of care, particularly for those with multiple, ongoing and complex conditions

5. Safe, high-quality care which is continually improving through relevant research and innovation

6. Better management of health information, underpinned by efficient and effective use of eHealth

7. Flexibility to best respond to local community needs and circumstances through sustainable and efficient operational models

8. Working environments and conditions which attract, support and retain workforce

9. High-quality education and training arrangements for both new and existing workforce

10. Fiscally sustainable, efficient and cost-effective

References

 

 

 *      *     *

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMS Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

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Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

 

 

 

 

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.