Taxes, divorce-transactions costs, economic conditions, and divorce rates: an exploratory empirical inquiry for the United States

"This study argues that, given the tax deductibility of alimony payments in the United States, higher marginal federal income tax rates may reduce the expected transactions costs of divorce and act thereby to increase the divorce rate. After allowing for a variety of other factors, including inflation, female labor force participation, AIDS, the Vietnam War, age, the availability of legal assistance, and transfer payments, both first-differences estimates and Granger-causality tests strongly support the hypothesis."

Prostitution and HIV risk behavior

The authors discuss prostitution as a high-risk behavior for HIV infection and transmission, using data from interviews with prostitutes in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and New York City. "The primary objective is to share some of the information gained in research interviews and street work so that it can be utilized to assist efforts at reaching such high risk behavior populations with appropriate AIDS prevention information, testing, counseling and health services." Factors considered include prostitute characteristics, the pimp, perceived roles of the prostitute, power and control, risky sexual practices, and knowledge, attitudes, and behavior relating to AIDS.

AIDS in El Salvador

The 1st case of AIDS in El Salvador was diagnosed at Rosales Hospital in San Salvador in October 1985, in a bisexual man who had recently returned from the US. Since that time there have been 110 cases at Rosales Hospital, 81% in men. Of these patients, 54% report exclusively heterosexual histories; 42% report no travel outside El Salvador, 33% report travel to the US, 12% to Honduras, and 7% to Mexico. Risk factors include multiple sexual partners in 61%, prostitution in 7%, and injected drug use in 5%. To date, 52% are known to have died, 18% are alive, and the fate of the remainder is unknown. 5 children with symptomatic HIV infection have been seen at the Benjamin Bloom National Children's Hospital. As of September 1991, 504 persons nationwide were known to be HIV-seropositive, 63% of whom lived in San Salvador. Seropositivity among blood donors at Rosales Hospital has increased from 0% in 1988, when screening began, to 0.265 in 1991.

Drug firms pledge with WHO to combat AIDS

In a joint statement, WHO (the World Health Organization) and IFPMA (the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers) committed themselves to use their expertise "towards the resolution of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to explore all possible areas for cooperation". Work towards discovering and developing new drugs and vaccines would proceed as rapidly as possible. In the statement, each institution defined its roles in the research, development and marketing and distribution of HIV/AIDS drugs and vaccines, with special attention to the respect of ethical standards in clinical trials, and to the accessibility of any drugs and vaccines which become available. One of WHO's main objectives is to promote the development of safe and effective new HIV/AIDS products which will be made available at prices that take into account the limited financial means of the public sector to purchase medical supplies for use in developing countries. By the year 2000, according to WHO projections, up to 40 million people may have been infected with HIV since the start of the pandemic. At the end of 1993 the cumulative number of infections was 15 million. Most new infections will occur, as they have in the past, in countries least able to afford adequate prevention measures or suitable treatment. The joint statement reflects the deep concern of IFPMA and WHO for the devastating impact HIV/AIDS can have in such countries--not only on the health of their populations, but also socially or economically.