Expectancy and tolerance: a study of acute alcohol intoxication using the balanced placebo design.
Interactive effects of expectancy and alcohol dose on CNS functioning were examined in subjects differing in degree of dependence on alcohol, using the balanced placebo design. Male subjects (N = 30), 10 severely-, 10 moderately- and 10 nondependent on alcohol, were tested with the Klove-Matthews Motor Steadiness Battery before and after drinking. The administered alcohol dose yielded .07 mg/dl mean blood alcohol level. Expectations about alcohol resulted in impaired sensorimotor coordination in severely dependent alcoholics, as compared to expectations of soft drinks. Moderately dependent subjects showed an opposite response pattern. Such expectancy factors may counteract neuropharmacological tolerance effects, neutralizing real tolerance effects on moderate doses of alcohol for severely dependent alcoholics. High tolerance also makes larger quantities necessary, leading to increased consumption to obtain the same effect.
Local tax reform in Britain in 1993 (reinstating a propertytax) may have reversed some intended fiscal illusion reducing,and ``accountability'' improving, features of the poll tax(itself a reform introduced in 1990 with the specific aim ofpromoting accountability). We formalize these features withina median voter model of the demand for local publicexpenditure that distinguishes between accountability andfiscal illusion effects. The model shows that a prioriaccountability effects on expenditures are ambiguous.Available data for England and Wales are used to test themodel. We find strong evidence of grant illusion (the flypapereffect), similar across tax regimes, with evidence of renterillusion and of less accountability under the property tax.The degree of local income inequality appears to affectexpenditure levels only with the property tax.