Roger Mark Selya

Pharmacies as alternative sources of medical care: The case of Cincinnati

Since the distribution of pharmacies is more equal, vis-a-vis population, than the distribution of physicians in Cincinnati the feasibility of using pharmacies as supplements to the primary care system was explored. In a sample of 108 pharmacies, it was found that 13% of the customer population asked medically related questions; pharmacists estimated that on average some 35% of their customers ask such questions. Women ask questions more frequently than men. Some 61% of the pharmacists would be willing to write and fill prescriptions should such a law be enacted in Ohio. If such a law were to be enacted consumer education and architectural modification of pharmacies would enhance the use of pharmacies as sources of medical care.

A Geography of Human Rights Abuses

What can geography as a discipline contribute towards a better understanding of human rights issues? Based on an analysis of three maps, selected from a larger set of thirty-two generated from data abstracted from 720 Amnesty International Freedom Writers Letters, this study finds that the number and frequency of human rights abuses over the past twenty years has remained stable at best. A set of ten confounding factors are indentified to explain this lack of progress towards improving worldwide human rights. This article concludes that geographers and human rights scholars could profit in their work by collaborating and consulting with one anothers research.

Taiwan as a service economy

Abstract Although Taiwan has been extensively analyzed as an industrial economy, data on the origins of GDP and employment suggest that Taiwan by 1970 had evolved into a service dominated economy. Data supporting this view indicate that services in general have grown faster than manufacturing, been less prone to adverse effects of recession and quicker to recover from economic downturns. Spatially the distribution of services follows the dictates of a population/market oriented explanation as suggested by central place theory. The concentration of services is better explained by the different locational orientations of consumer and producer services, and by diffusion theory. Four assumptions about anti-service attitudes possibly harbored by planners are tested and found not to apply to Taiwan. The logic and possible limitations of future investment in services are reviewed.

Illegal migration in Taiwan: a preliminary overview.

Since 1986, there have been indications that Taiwan (the Republic of China) has been experiencing an increase in illegal migration. Despite a lack of data describing the number, origins and demographic characteristics of the illegal migrants, an open policy debate has been carried out by economic and social planners, entrepreneurs and labor leaders. Interviews with representatives of these three groups suggest that, contrary to expectations, planners favor the legalization of foreign workers; individual entrepreneurs also consider legalization a wise option. Labor leaders, as expected, are opposed to the use of imported labor. In January 1990, the Executive Yuan (Assembly) adopted regulations permitting limited use of foreign labor. The increase in illegal migrants and the decision to regularize their status suggests the need to review carefully the implications of all planning initiatives as far in advance as possible, and preferably when development plans are being initially implemented.

Deaths due to accidents in Taiwan: A possible indicator of development

Abstract In the period 1960–1977 accidents have gone from the 7th to 3rd leading cause of death in Taiwan. This change is measured by the change in the number of accident related deaths, crude death rates per 100,000, and percent of deaths due to accidents. Three hypotheses are evaluated to explain the role of accidents in the epidemiological profile of Taiwan: the notion of the epidemiological transition. Chinese character traits, and culture in disequilibrium. Hypothesis evaluation includes specifying the person variables of age, sex, and occupation as well as when and where accidents occur. Increased deaths due to accidents are related to a changed environment and risk taking. Implications of the role of accidents in Taiwans epidemiological profile include possible use of the epidemiological transition to measure development, and the heed for an intervention strategy. Intervention strategies include environmental modification and supplying emergency medical care. The need of some intervention is indicated by labor shortages and potential years of life lost.

Economic restructuring and spatial changes in manufacturing in Taiwan, 1971–1986

Abstract The precise impact of economic growth and restructuring on the spatial distribution of manufacturing in Taiwan has been subject to debate. Data at a small enough level of enumeration have not been available to permit and resolution of the question of whether or not manufacturing in Taiwan has been diffused to rural areas as a result of the macro-economic restructuring process. Data from the 1971 and 1986 Industrial and Commercial Census for Taiwan—Fukien Area, Republic of China , contain measures of manufacturing at the lowest administrative level (rural and urban townships). Maps, indices of dissimilarity from Lorenz curves, locational quotients, and net shifts based on these data indicate that the five major cities of Taiwan are still the major centres of manufacturing. The areas experiencing the greatest growth in manufacturing are the suburban townships adjacent to the major cities, townships along the Sun Yat-sen north-south freeway, or in proximity to special infrastructure projects. Future economic development in rural areas will be best served by enhancing opportunities to finance service activities rather than manufacturing

Efrat Eizenberg, From the Ground Up: Community Gardens in New York City and the Politics of Spatial Transformation (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2013).

residential segregation might have been helpful for future research. Overall, however, these issues do not detract from what is an informative, accessible, and important book that will be of enormous interest to anyone concerned about social and spatial inequalities in developed world cities. It will be extremely useful for scholars concerned about general patterns of social inequality as well as specialists studying sociospatial division, gentrification, or segregation (ethnic as well as socioeconomic). The book could also be used to help teach courses on urban sociology and geography, housing studies, or social policy. Although the book is ostensibly marketed to policymakers and practitioners, the absence of causal analysis and practical recommendations for combating socioeconomic segregation mean that these groups may wish to confine their reading to the introduction and conclusion chapters freely available online (http://www.tandfebooks. com). These contain an excellent summary and synthesis of the main findings from each chapter. Indeed, given the timeliness of the book it is a shame that it is so expensive.