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Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of patent licensing in a Cournot oligopoly with general demand and looks at both cases: outside and incumbent innovators. The licensing policies considered are upfront fees, unit royalties and combinations of fees and royalties (FR policies). It is shown that (i) royalties unambiguously ensure full diffusion of the innovation while diffusion is limited under upfront fees, (ii) the Cournot price is higher under royalties compared to upfront fees and the price could even exceed the post-innovation monopoly price, (iii) for generic values of magnitudes of the innovation, when the industry size is relatively large, royalties are superior to upfront fees for the innovator and (iv) for any m , there is always a non empty subset of m -drastic innovations such that for relatively large industry sizes, upfront fee policy results in higher consumer surplus as well as welfare compared to both royalty and FR policies. Highlights • A comprehensive analysis of patent licensing in a Cournot oligopoly with general demand. • Licensing policies considered: upfront fees, unit royalties and their combinations. • Royalties ensure full diffusion of the innovation, diffusion limited under upfront fees. • Cournot price high under royalties, could even exceed the post-innovation monopoly price. • When the industry size is relatively large, royalties superior to upfront fees for the innovator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the amendment in the administrative rules on the employment of foreigners in China. Topics discussed include issues of employment licenses, foreign employment permits andforeign expert work permits to regular employees; increase in the duration of work permit validity; and the benefits of the employment reforms to employers, both foreign and locally owned.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the causal relationship between industrial growth and financial development during the post economic reforms in India (1991-2014). The long run relationship between financial development and industrial growth is tested by using ARDL (Auto Regressive Distributed Lag) model while causal relationship has been investigated with the help of Granger Causality Test. The empirical results of ARDL model found strong evidence in the long run between financial development and industrial growth and Granger Causality test indicate the bi-directional causality exists between industrial growth and financial development in India. The results of the present study support the significant role of financial development in the industrial growth. Easy licensing policy, credit availability, tax structure, skill centres and digitalization of market structure can enhanced the industrial growth in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerning the equal opportunities of dyslexic and/or dysgraphic persons to participate as candidates for the driving license examination, we mention that, besides the law that regulates it, it is circumscribed to the principle of equality enshrined by Article 16 of the Romanian Constitution. According to this article, equality is manifested before the law and the public authorities, without privileges and without discrimination. Along the same lines, Article 1 paragraph (2) of the Ordinance no.137 / 2000 on the prevention and sanctioning of all forms of discrimination, republished, establishes that the principle of equality between citizens and the exclusion of privileges and discrimination are guaranteed especially in the exercise of several rights, including the exercise of the right of access to all places and services intended for public use, as well as the right to work and the free choice of occupation. Or, it is known that obtaining a driving license is often a mandatory requirement for a job. In the present study, we will try to put forward arguments for the necessity of amending the Romanian legislation regarding the recognition of equal opportunities for dyslexic persons to participate in the examination for obtaining a driving license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examined the empirical relationship between prices paid for national 3G wireless licenses when spectrums were sold by auction. The reduced-form modelling approach was based on the premise that auction design features can, and do, affect both final (revenue) and intermediate (viz., auction competitiveness and license assignment) auction outcomes. Importantly, the analysis recognizes, and explicitly allows for, the endogeneity of bidder entry and sample selection arising from an absence of bidding. Generally, these key features have only received attention in isolation. In particular, the study addressed the principal question of: which regulator chosen auction design variables determine prices paid in spectrum auctions? The analysis showed that flexible-package formats increased prices paid, and that higher reserve prices had a dampening effect. The article also showed that longer license terms and more competitive auctions (as measured by the bidders-to-licenses ratio) enhance prices paid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SunZia Southwest Transmission Project is a high-voltage transmission line under development in southern New Mexico and Arizona. The project was created to allow the expansion of the renewable energy production economy, and is also part of larger efforts at climate change mitigation. It has the support of federal and state governments, and has been fast-tracked by the Obama Administration. However, in spite of its potential to increase the availability of clean energy, conflicts between local environmental groups and government agencies over siting difficulties have impeded its development. Efforts to streamline the permitting process have been largely unsuccessful, as they often focus on centralizing authority at the expense of local input, and result in increased opposition from citizen groups and local governments who feel their needs and concerns are being ignored. This article examines the current permitting process, potential methods of centralization to increase efficiency, and the procedural protections that will be necessary to ensure that this efficiency does not reduce local input. Easing the development of renewable energy is both necessary to protect the climate, and a concept that lends itself to broad support from environmental groups, government agencies, and the business sector. This article proposes that this potential for support should be encouraged and conflict minimized by ensuring adequate opportunities for meaningful citizen input that can help SunZia and similar projects be embraced rather than rejected by their local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of the history of hydropower license denials by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Topics include the public interest standard required for licensing, the denial of licenses for aesthetic or recreational reasons, and U.S. Federal Power Act, which gave authority to FERC to license hydropower plants.

The article discusses political and economic cross-currents informing debates on the U.S. energy export policy focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exportation. It mentions proposals for such trade which are subject to extensive permitting requirements. It also notes the Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy's (DOE/FE) regulation of the import and export of the said gas.

The article focuses on the economic trends of small entrepreneurship (SE) in Uzbekistan as of 2012. It states that the share of SE in 2012 has a steady growth in gross domestic product (GDP) up to 54.6%, while, 4.7% growth rate in GDP of small enterprises share. It mentions the On simplification of licensing procedures of The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan which aims to strengthen key principles and clauses on the licensing system and procedures in entrepreneurship. It also presents work flow on the scheme to get an agreement in buying shares in the statutory fund and other economic entity property rights.

The low degree of institutionalization of Chinese administration means that citizens engaging with the bureaucracy have a choice of strategies to achieve objectives. This article deploys Asia Barometer survey data from 2006 to construct a predictive model of preferences to obtain a government permit, including use of connections (guanxi), bribery, writing letters, waiting patiently, and the passive-pessimistic response "nothing can be done". It finds that strategy preference varies according to location (urban or rural interacting with region), socio-economic status, social capital, political values and political performance evaluations. The pattern of determinants shows that Chinese citizens are cross-pressured. The class and gender nature of guanxi and bribery are an obstacle to the creation of a modern Chinese state, but high levels of social trust, support for political freedom, the market and meritocracy combined with the reservoir of trust enjoyed by executive organs present a favourable climate for efforts to improve governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear regulation has faced a variety of challenges since the Atomic Energy Commission first introduced the procedure of two-step licensing, in which construction and operational licenses are issued separately to nuclear reactor developers. Since 1974, and the establishment of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the process for licensing a nuclear power plant has changed dramatically. In addition to the two-step licensing process of old, developers now have the option of choosing a one-step combined license, which offers more flexibility in terms of developing technical specifications. The two-step and combined license options are codified under 10 C.F.R. §§ 50 and 52, respectively. Although intended to streamline the process and avoid expensive licensing periods that plagued plant development under the old regime, the newer combined license method is not being executed as planned and runs the risk of confronting developers with the same economic hurdles. This Note examines both licensing options and posits that a new strategy must be developed to efficiently license the next generation of nuclear power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the statues and government regulation of Indiana on licensing for foster care. It mentions the initiatives of Governor Mitch Daniels to improve child care in the state including the separation of Department of Child Services (DCS) from Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, increase of caseworkers, and creation of ombudsman that will oversee DCS. It argues that areas which include waivers, monitoring and enforcement must be improved.

This article discusses the Llei 16/2009, a law promulgated in the Catalonian parliament of Catalonia, Spain, which is concerned with centers of worship in the region. It examines the relationship between the legal framework of religious freedom and urbanism. The author analyzes the legal antecedents of the Llei 16/2009, religious property in Catalonian cities, and the legality of governmental or municipal licenses given for religious use. He also studies the economic aspects of religious centers, including the use of public taxes for their construction.

The article looks at whether a copyright owner has the right to use the terms of a contract to exclude the rights of copyright users as provided by the Government statutory license in Australia's Copyright Act 1968. It analyzes the policy rationale for establishing such license, its characteristics, and the rights of the copyright owner being transferred to a copyright collecting society. Moreover, it points out that the copyright owner has no right to use the terms of such contract.

The importance of competition law as a policy lever to help the EU compete at the forefront of science and technology seems to have been overlooked by the Commission. As a consequence, the EU appears to be at a disadvantage to the USA in terms of the regulatory environment for intellectual property and licensing practices. This article examines these differences and explores the pros and cons of the European and American approaches to competition law, ultimately arguing in favour of regulatory harmonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes variations in the rates at which North Carolina citizens apply for and are issued concealed carry permits (CCPs). Various theories, primarily those related to fear of/response to crime, demographic/geographic factors, and social learning theories of gun ownership, guide the analysis. Generally speaking, the authors find little support for socioeconomic and demographic explanations of CCPs in North Carolina. In addition, the authors find no support for the notion that violent or property crimes, or changes in these crimes over time, affect CCP policy. The authors do find some evidence that change in minority population (Black, but not Hispanic) is significantly related to permitting. In North Carolina, there is support for a cultural model of CCPs. Both the political conservatism and the proportion of hunters in the population (our indicator of a cultural norm that values and cherishes gun ownership) are consistently related to permitting. The authors conclude that the combination of political conservatism and socialization into a hunting/ gun-owning culture are more important than socioeconomic variables in explaining CCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VENUS-F facility of the GUINEVERE project must satisfy the nuclear safety criteria required by the licensing regulations of the Belgian authority. For this reason, radiation shielding analyses were performed at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK) in the course of nuclear safety assessments in support of the GUINEVERE project. The Monte Carlo (MC) MCNP5 model was developed in accordance with the current design of the VENUS-F fast lead reactor. The reactor was assumed to operate on 500-W fission power, which is called zero power, with accelerator-driven system (ADS)-related experimental aims. The MC variance reduction techniques, such as particle splitting, Russian roulette, weight windows, and point detectors, were applied. To speed up the MCNP calculations, the advantages of message-passing interface parallel computations on FZK's CampusGrid Linux Cluster were employed. The MCNP track-length estimations, point detectors, and the mesh tally super-imposed over the GUINVERE geometry were used in dose rate calculations. The neutron and photon maps of dose equivalent rate were produced in places of possible personnel access inside the reactor control room and on the accelerator room's floor. To obtain the dose equivalent, the neutron and photon fluences were converted by means of ICRP-77 and ANSI/ANS-6.1.1-1977 conversion factors, respectively. The contributions of the D-D and D-T fusion neutron sources to the dose rate fields were estimated. Activation analyses of the lead core and building materials were performed by the FISPACT-2005 inventory code with the EAF-2005 library to manage the radioactive materials after the series of ADS experiments in the GUINEVERE project. The activity density and shutdown contact dose rate have been calculated. The effect of the impurities in lead on its radioactivity after the VENUS-F campaign was examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how the passage of Saskatchewan's Health Facilities Licensing Act in 1996 created both a legal framework for private health facilities in the province as well as erecting significant barriers to virtually insure that no such facilities could effectively operate. This is done within the context of discovering how placing barriers to privatization has contributed to reform of the health care system and the conditions in which reform will be permitted. Data for the study were collected from a series of eleven key informant interviews including elected officials, civil servants, health care professionals, academics, members of key stakeholder organizations which both supported and opposed the legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The REAL ID Act requires states to adopt standardized procedures and formats for state driver's licenses and IDs. Twenty-one states have passed a law or resolution in formal challenge to REAL ID; only seven states have not initiated a formal challenge. Using qualitative and quantitative analyses, we find that relatively less populous and less wealthy states, which are likely to be more impacted by unfunded mandates and more conservative states, which are more likely to be concerned about retaining state control, were more likely to oppose REAL ID. States with stronger privacy orientations also were more likely to pass statutes or resolutions in opposition. Our qualitative analysis also implies that social advocacy coalitions and state associations played important roles in facilitating and leading state resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the operation and impact of the moratorium on new banking licences imposed in Hong Kong in 1965 and the claims that foreign banks destabilised the banking system and drained resources from the colony. First it examines foreign banks' attempts to circumvent the moratorium through claims of special circumstances and buying interests in local banks, and secondly it examines the efforts of incumbents to extend barriers to non-bank financial institutions and to branches of foreign banks. The general conclusions are that while the moratorium was aimed at increasing the stability of the banking system, it had the effect of decreasing the regulatory breadth of the government, and reducing incentives for mergers and acquisitions that might have improved governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how eventual membership of the European Union is influencing reforms in South East Europe, through legislation and institutions being brought into line with EU practice. Design/methodology/approach - The article reflects the results of monitoring exercises conducted in the Balkans with data gathered from national regulatory authorities and ministries. The approach is comparative between the countries and with the existing EU member states. Findings - Considerable progress has been made in the opening of markets, with The issuing of new licences and the introduction of regulatory measures to support new entrants. However, many obstacles remain to be overcome. Research limitations/implications - Determining the practical application of the legal provisions is not straightforward; there may be delays or questions of interpretation. Further work is required to determine how the changes are carried forward. Practical implications - Further work will continue both by the authorities in South EasI Europe and in monitoring increased competition in mobile markets and the introduction of broadband, primarily using wireless technology Originality/value - Work on this region of Europe has been very limited, in part due to difficulties in gathering data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study takes the rise and fall of licence fee indexation within German public service regulation as an example and traces mechanisms of re-politicization of independent regulatory agencies (IRAs). According to the evidence, agency contestation is likely when: (1) administrative cultures result in incoherencies in institutional design; (2) IRAs deal with redistribution; (3) conflicts about principles of regulation persist; (4) IRAs pursue one particular regulatory ideology; (5) controversial regulatory output is highly visible; and (6) affected interests are not given a say. The article points to the relevance of new regulatory technologies that are likely to embody regulatory bias. Moreover, it seems that successful contestation of IRAs requires the conjunction of escalating factors. Nevertheless, such contestation might not result in a return to old modes of command and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article enlists various states and their nursing licence procedure. The whole information is divided under 7 heads--State, Board of Nursing, Licensing Expiration, Fees, Temporary Permit, Limitations on Reexamination and Continuing Education Requirements. Fees is again divided in three heads--Licensure, Endorsement and Renewal Fees and Temporary Permit entails two heads--Fee and Time Limit. The information is approved by each board of nursing and provides a good basis of comparison between different states in terms of their policies towards the various nursing practice licenses like Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, and Certified Registered Nurse.