This thesis investigates credit in the Marxist tradition. Our premise is that credit has been inadequately theorized because of the Marxist dichotomy, a separation of real and monetary factors. It is a consequence of the well-known Classical dichotomy and an essentialist interpretation of Marx's dialectic, contributing to economic determinism and marginalizing the role of finance in Marxist analysis. Based on our reading of Capital, we oppose this interpretation of credit as inconsistent with Marx's methodological and conceptual break with Classical economics, arguing an overdetermined dialectic integrates credit into the class analysis of capitalism. We show that literature in this area either ignores or overemphasizes credit, consistent with the dichotomy. Two schools of thought, finance capital and monopoly capital, reach fundamentally incompatible conclusions about the development of advanced capitalism. Finance capital is predicated on the domination of corporations by banks due to the primacy of credit. Monopoly capital stresses the ascendancy of monopoly corporations, implying a secondary status for finance. We reject the terms of this debate for retaining a deterministic methodology and jettisoning class analysis for an institutional framework. The thesis then offers an alternative theory based on an overdetermined dialectic. The model integrates bank loans and other forms of credit into the Volume 1 world of Capital as a link to the Volume 3 world. This framework is used to investigate some class and nonclass effects of credit, without essentializing either capital accumulation or bank credit like monopoly and finance capital schools. Finally, this alternative framework is applied to a case study of Texas Air Corporation, analyzing how finance helped transform a small regional airline into the largest carrier in the non-communist world. Through each phase of Texas Air's growth, we elaborate on the relationship between financial, industrial and nonindustrial capitals. This provides a new perspective on the relationship between productive and unproductive capital; competition and the centralization of capital; and the resulting class alliances and struggles. We conclude that this framework elucidates the mutual determination of productive and financial relations in contemporary capitalism, whereas the prevailing approaches cannot.

The influence of economies of agglomeration on location decisions has been debated since it was advanced by Alfred Weber in 1909. Empirical findings at the international, national, and regional levels do not definitely support the efficacy of such economies. No study has been done at a local level, the one inherently appropriate to the Weber premise. Further, most studies have used highly generalized manufacturing groupings. The importance of intra-industry and inter-industry determinants of spatial proximity in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area was investigated in this study. The data base included 220 industries with 2,111 firms employing 108,295 workers. National input-output transaction tables were used to generate measures of intra-industry and inter-industry technological linkage at the 4 digit Standard Industrial Code classification level. Nearest neighbor statistics were employed to measure the spatial proximity of firms within an industry. A spatial association measure, the local concentration coefficient, was devised to calculate spatial proximity among manufacturing firm pairs in various linkage relationships. Then, multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationships of intra- and inter-industry linkages to spatial proximity. Average firm size, material and market orientations, and transportation and utility cost intensities were treated as covariates in the analysis. A total of 25 models involving the covariates and various combinations of forward and backward linkages were executed. In 23 cases, the models and effects of linkages were insignificant. The observed influence of the covariates was generally insignificant. Clearly, economies of agglomeration have no effect on industrial patterns in this analysis. Further, the poor performance of the covariates suggest that application of existing theory to localized manufacturing plan selection processes may be misplaced. While these factors may function at the regional or national level, they do not on an intrametropolitan level, at least in this case. Seeking the specific factor of manufacturing linkage based economies of agglomeration or external economies may be a rare exception in location behavior in general and particularly inoperative at a local level. Local development policies which are premised on maximizing such economies are, accordingly, not supported by this research.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged the importance of maternal care and listed it as part of its Millennium Development goals (WHO, 2002). The Maternity unit of the Job Shimankana Tabane (JST) Hospital, situated in the Rustenburg city (regarded as the fastest growing city within South Africa) is burdened with increasing number of patients for the last few years with resultant increased resource utilisation. However, there is no systematic study done to describe this situation. The above mentioned scenario necessitates this study to assess the operational cost of the Obstetrics Unit in relation to caseload, profile of patients, and resource utilization. AIM: To determine the operational costs within the Obstetrics Unit of the JST Hospital in terms of caseload, profile of patients, and resource utilization METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional study design was used for this study. Retrospective record review was done and information extracted from various sources of hospital information system. No primary data was collected for this study. Setting of this study was the Obstetrics unit at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital situated within Rustenburg city of Bojanala District in North West Province. Data was collected on various variables that are relevant to the function of women health services and resource utilization in Obstetrics unit of this Hospital. Results: Obstetric unit of Job Shimankana hospital experienced high caseload due to patient bypassing primary health care service points including district hospitals with highest number being seen afterhours; and due to inappropriate referrals from clinics. Analysis of profile of these patients showed 93% being Africans, 90% unemployed; and 70% being single. Hospital obstetric unit operational costs amount to just over R1.3 million with 57% accounted for by goods and services and human resource accounting for the remaining 43%. The average was R7, 717.75, which is very high. Conclusion: The operational cost of this obstetric unit was found to be very high and quality may have been compromised due to increased caseload, leading to low length of stay.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

<P> The automobile is truly the most dominant mode of transport in Canada; a car is used by nearly 75% of the Canadian adult population each day. Under the auspices of sustainable development and practices, the impacts of automobile driving and its associated land-uses need be investigated using a triple bottom-line approach. This necessitates an understanding of the associated economic, environmental and social costs. Whereas much research attention has been drawn to external economic and environmental costs, the quantification of social costs, especially those related to social interaction and activity participation, has been far less studied. Despite calls from sociologists warning of the role of automobility in diminishing levels of social interaction, community cohesion, and social inclusion, there has been no response from the research community in the form of empirical investigation. The three studies comprising this dissertation seek to rectify the current state of neglect and fill this gap. </p> <P> The modelling efforts in this dissertation lead to the discovery of a complex, nonlinear, and heterogeneous relationship between automobile use and social participation. For many individuals, particularly those who are not traditionally constrained by mobility and time limitations, automobile use is found to limit the likelihood of participation in a slew of social, discretionary, and outof-home activities. Moreover, non-drivers who still participate in a spatiallydispersed lifestyle designed for automobility are at risk of exclusion from various forms of activities. </p> <P> The research findings make significant contributions to the study of automobility, the measurement ofsocially sustainability transportation systems, and the role of transport in social exclusion. The findings also have broader implications for cities in terms of creating competitive social environments in a highly mobile and well-informed labour market, fostering equity between social groups, and promoting the participation in activities with positive social outcomes. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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