Degressive proportionality - source, findings and discussion of the Cambridge Compromise. Mathematical Economics, 2011, Nr 7 (14), s. 39-50
The principle of degressive proportionality in relation to the division of indivisible goods in the past few years – especially since the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon – has been one of the topics frequently appearing in studies of economists, mathematicians, lawyers and people involved in politics. It combines a purely theoretical and easily definable question with a very important practical problem that concerns primarily members of the European Union and countries aspiring to become one. The article shall include a debate and discussion of the findings of the Cambridge Compromise concerning proposals to solve the problem of allocating seats in the European Parliament.
Mathematical aspects of degressive proportionality
We analyze mathematical properties of apportionment functions in the context of allocating seats in the European Parliament. Some exemplary families of such functions are specified and the corresponding allocations of seats among the Member States of the European Union are presented. We show that the constitutional constraints for the apportionment are so strong that the admissible functions lead to rather similar solutions.
Women's health in prison: urgent need for improvement in gender equity and social justice.
The needs of women held in detention have received little attention and con-tinue to be neglected by health systems and prison authorities. One reason for this, too readily accepted until now, is that women prisoners are a clear minor-ity group within prisons all over the world. It is only recently that attention has been drawn to the fact that a minor-ity status does not justify the widespread ignorance of women’s basic rights and the considerable gender insensitivity still dominating criminal justice systems.In Europe alone, there are about 100 000 women and girls in prison.