Policy Analysis Research Articles

Health policy analysis for stewardship of rehabilitation services

Background and aimThere have been a growing interest in investigating the effect of stewardship on other functions of rehabilitation service delivery. Effective stewardship of rehabilitation services can ensure that these services are of high quality, accessible, affordable, and sustainable, and can help achieve the goals of universal health coverage. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the policies adopted in the field of rehabilitation services in Iran and in the international arena, and finally to identify policy gaps, areas for improvement, and areas that have been overlooked.MethodThis research is a policy analysis, carried out through document analysis and Dalglish et al.’s READ approach. Data were analyzed and interpreted using qualitative methodology and directed content analysis. For this purpose, Veillard et al.‘s health system stewardship framework was used to analyze the stewardship of rehabilitation services. The dimensions of the stewardship framework, were: Defining the vision for health and strategies and policies to achieve better health; influencing all sectors and advocating for better health; ensuring good governance in line with prevailing values; ensuring the alignment of system design with health system goals; improving existing legal and regulatory instruments; and compiling, disseminating, and applying information. Scott’s four criteria were used to assess the authenticity, credibility, representativeness, and meaning of the documents. Those that did not meet even one of the Scott’s criteria were excluded from content analysis.FindingsA total of 16 documents were identified, all of which met Scott’s criteria and none were excluded from the study. A total of six themes and 56 subthemes were extracted. The contents of all the documents were extracted under six themes of Veillard et al.‘s health system stewardship framework. Overall, the results show that national documents place greater emphasis on the development of preventive healthcare and health promotion. Documents often focus on engaging NGOs and the families of people with disabilities and on intersectoral collaboration for knowledge production and the development of intersectoral knowledge networks. In terms of health system governance in line with prevailing values, documents are mainly focused on health system stewardship by the Ministry of Health and on evidence-based decision-making with the participation of target groups. Also, documents place more emphasis on upgrading the national infrastructure and increasing access to rehabilitation services.ConclusionIn some areas of rehabilitation services, there is a gap between national documents, which reflects differences in priorities, approaches, resources, and instruments available to strengthen rehabilitation services at the national and international levels.

Barriers influencing the sustainable development of community-based tourism (CBT): evidence from Ciaotou heritage village in Taiwan

PurposeIn recent years, community-based tourism (CBT) in the global market has been combined with specific themes in order to establish various tourism activities. Relatively few studies have comprehensively investigated how this type of CBT should be developed. Therefore, this study takes CBT with festival themes combined with community characteristics as a case study, which explores what obstacles exist in CBT with a combination of community characteristics – the industrial history of sugar factories and external themes, such as, formal flower displays.Design/methodology/approachThe thematic analysis is employed for data analysis of interviews. All interview participants were stakeholders.FindingsThis study identifies five types of obstacles: policy-related, environmental-related, innovation-related, industry-related and communication-related. Based on these findings, it is vital to consider both community and other characteristics of CBT. At the same time, after evaluating the rational perceptions of different stakeholders within the same type of obstacle, this study proposes a more specific and comprehensive development strategies for CBT.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study of community agricultural tourism which collected the viewpoints of different stakeholders – tourists, residents, community associations, local businesses and the government. This study employs in-depth analysis of external policies and environmental and agricultural factors to discover and develop relevant coping strategies and implications.

Deployment of in-body wearable devices in healthcare and at work: closing the EU regulatory gap

Abstract Background In-body wearable devices can protect workers’ health and safety. Moreover, they might provide data that could be capitalized on in the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), which aims at fostering a single market for medical devices and high-risk AI systems. Yet, neither EU legislation nor national law regulates the use of in-body wearables at the workplace and the related data protection and safety issues. This regulatory gap impacts on workers’ rights. Methods The study explores whether the EU regulatory framework used in the healthcare sector for medical devices could fit the in-body wearables’ application in employment. The legal and policy analysis takes the perspective of workers’ rights and discusses the application of a key GDPR principle: lawfulness. The research discusses the potential transformations in the EU health data protection framework that could close the regulatory gap. Results The EU regulatory framework for medical devices (focused on product safety, performance, and quality) is not equipped to address the data protection challenges linked to the use of in-body wearables for occupational health and safety purposes. The GDPR’s principle of lawfulness and the related guidance by EU and national data protection authorities lack clarity on employers’ possibilities to apply in-body wearables for occupational health purposes. Filling the regulatory gap is conducive to appropriate qualification and risk-based classification of in-body wearables, which affect pre- and post-market requirements and impact on data protection. Conclusions a. The EU legislator could use its social policy competence to regulate the use of in-body wearables to protect workers’ health while safeguarding their data. b. EU authorities should clarify whether and how the data collected by in-body wearables at the workplace could be shared and (re)used within the EHDS. c. Further input by data protection authorities is needed to close the regulatory gap. Key messages • The EU should regulate the use of in-body wearables to protect workers’ health and safety. • Health data gathered through the application of in-body wearables at the workplace may be an asset for the EHDS.

Emergency preparedness in healthcare systems: the “policy-effect” of COVID-19

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that health services preparedness is crucial. Indeed, effective planning enables streamline operations, optimized resource allocation, and transparent communication during crises. Within this context, our analysis aims to assess EU countries’ healthcare systems preparedness, by policies analysis and capacity factor analysis, and relationship with COVID-19. We reviewed policies regarding influenza, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and climate change in EU countries, using a web-screening of national and international authorities and institutions. Furthermore, we performed a factor analysis on WHO’s States Party Self-Assessment Reporting (SPAR) and evaluated the results using an iterated principal factor analysis with promax rotation. Few countries updated their policies after the pandemic, particularly regarding influenza plans. Italy stands out as an exception, having updated its national plan in 2021, while other countries maintain pre-COVID plans. Regarding AMR, only few countries, including Sweden, Netherlands, Malta, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and France, updated their plans post-pandemic, while Estonia and Romania lack plans entirely. Addressing the climate crisis and its impacts on health and healthcare resilience, all EU countries aligned with the EC regulation on climate action through National Energy and Climate Plans in 2023. Moreover, EU countries had average preparedness level of 75.77 (SD: 8.23), calculated on SPAR 2022, with significant disparities. Three major factors contribute to preparedness levels: planning, service delivery, and specific subtopics (e.g. food safety, radiation, infectious diseases). Our findings reveal the complexity of preparedness, showing diverse approaches across countries, despite EU regulations and WHO guidelines. International collaboration is crucial to standardize policies and enable countries to leverage successful examples, improving public health outcomes. Key messages • Health services preparedness, underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, is crucial for effective planning and crisis management. • The analysis demonstrates varying levels of preparedness across EU countries, with differences in policy updates and adherence to international guidelines.

Health economics and services research in symbiosis: STREAMLINEing mental health services in Austria

Abstract Objectives The cost of mental diseases exceeds 4% of GDP in Europe. In Austria, every 5th person lives with mental ill-health (MIH). Ongoing epidemiological, demographic and societal changes increase the need for easily accessible, better integrated and good value services. In STREAMLINE, we combine, harmonize and implement the latest methods in human service mapping and economic costing to optimize future service provision and financing for MIH in Austria. Methods We comprehensively assess the availability, activity and affordability of human services targeting MIH in Vienna within the health and social care, education, labour and justice sectors based on a conceptual mind map. We identify services through extensive literature, document and web searches plus expert consultations. Services are mapped and costed according to the European PECUNIA methods: classification of the main service types using the international DESDE taxonomy of human services; development of Reference Unit Costs using the PECUNIA RUC templates with primary data; validation of the results with secondary data; compilation of a comprehensive multi-sectoral service catalogue; and synthesis for spatial and policy analyses. Results We identified 756 sources, 75% individual organisations, 5% multi-organisations and 20% existing provider lists. 84% relate to health and social care, 10% labour, and 3% education and justice sectors each. 58% deliver care to adults, 37% to children & adolescents, and 5% support carers. Further service mapping and RUCs will be presented. Discussion STREAMLINE pioneers in coordinated public mental health services and economics research at scale. Assessed levels of fragmentation call for better integration, improved transition, reduced spatial inequity and increased support for carers. Results increase the feasibility of service evaluations from a societal perspective. Planned public service atlas facilitates information and access for service users and carers. Funding: WWTF Key messages • New methods for harmonized health services and economics research allow comprehensive information for optimized future mental health service planning and financing. • Assessed levels of fragmentation highlight the need for better integration, improved transition, reduced spatial inequity and increased support for carers.

Forced displacement and the healthcare workforce crisis: Venezuelan healthcare workers in Peru

Abstract Background The migration of healthcare workforces tends to be economically based benefiting high income countries, while draining lower-income countries of workers and skills. However, national instability or civil conflict may also have the effect of forcing out health workers. Few articles focus on the experiences of these types of migrants. This study aims to close a gap in the migration debate by exploring the capacity of integrating displaced healthcare workers in middle-to-low resourced health systems, using Peru as a case study. Methods The study draws on a policy analysis, statistical data and expert information from Peru. Results Peru has become the second largest Latin American destination for Venezuelan forced displaced migrants, a number of which are healthcare workers. While the exact numbers of these workers is unknown, it is estimated that 4,000 and 3,000 physicians and about 2,500 nurses and health technicians from Venezuela reside in Peru. These workers find entry into the heath system difficult due to bureaucratic and costly registration and qualification validation procedures. However, during Covid-19 the conditions were relaxed, and a large number of these workers entered the healthcare workforce. They were primarily physicians and worked in urban medical facilities, though there was some distribution across the country’s departments. This avenue to the healthcare workforce allowed the mobilisation of dormant health skills and assisted to lift density numbers. Conclusions Peru’s experiences bring into focus the potential benefits of mobilising new resources through integrating displaced healthcare worker migrants. It is too early to assess the sustainability of these policies on the country’s healthcare workforce and its Universal Health Coverage goals, yet there seem to be some positive experiences. Speakers/Panelists Tomas Zapata WHO/Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

The politics of universal health system reform in the context of COVID-19

Abstract Background Implementing universalism is more a political than a technical project. With this in mind, Ireland devised a ten-year plan through political consensus to deliver universal healthcare - Sláintecare. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred early in its implementation. Methods This is qualitative research drawing on international literature on universal health system reform in the context of COVID-19 as well as the politics of health reform. The overall research programme is co-produced with the Irish health system. A timeline and analysis of the reform journey is drawn from documentary analysis of key policy documents, parliamentary reports and key informant interviews. Results Despite a policy commitment since 2005, universal healthcare implementation only became government policy in Ireland 2018. While whole system reform and implementation progress has been slow, the COVID-19 health system response boosted aspects of universalism and reform. All COVID-related services during the pandemic were universal, free at the point of delivery, as are most new services introduced since 2021. Despite the political consensus holding through a change government and the pandemic, and significant additional investment in the public health system, there remain many obstacles to reform. These include different stakeholder understanding of implementing universalism in Ireland especially in the context of COVID-19, how best to implement universal healthcare and the politics of delivering reform. Conclusions Contrary to other countries’ experience during COVID, Ireland pursued its policy aim of delivering universalism and expanded services provided universally, free at the point of delivery, with a focus on enhanced community care. The universalism applied to COVID-related prevention and care, new women’s health and chronic disease management services. Despite progress, government has yet to legislate for a universal entitlement to care and obstacles to reform implementation remain.

2.I. Scientific session: Addressing vaccine hesitancy: from understanding determinants to implementing targeted strategies

Abstract Supported by NextGenerationEU (no. PE00000007) and EU4Health (VAXaction), the workshop will present a pan-European perspective on vaccine hesitancy and the effectiveness of counteracting interventions, especially when facing potentially pandemic infectious threats. Analysing human responses to epidemics is crucial to improve mathematical disease modelling and develop strategies to monitor behaviours during outbreaks, including assessing levels of vaccine hesitancy. This session will explore the multifaceted issue of vaccine hesitancy, which remains a significant barrier to achieving optimal vaccination coverage and is identified as one of the top threats to global health. By integrating theoretical frameworks with practical applications, the workshop aims to present a comprehensive overview of strategies employed to mitigate hesitancy across various demographics and regions. The first presentation will cover a thorough overview of the strategies employed to counteract vaccine hesitancy, leveraging existing infrastructure, health promotion policies, and educational initiatives. It will also explore the role of digital health tools and regulatory measures, such as health passes and nudging techniques, in enhancing vaccination uptake. Furthermore, the session will cover a systematic review of immunisation information systems (IISs) and the proposal of an innovative unvaccinated registry. This part of the workshop will delve into technological advancements and the integration of behavioural insights, which are essential for enhancing vaccine coverage and informing public health strategies. Another significant aspect of the discussion will be the evolution of vaccine mandates, from their historical roots to their contemporary applications. This discussion will reflect on policy shifts necessitated by emerging public health challenges and the need for adaptable strategies that can respond effectively to fluctuating vaccine coverage and acceptance rates. Panel discussions will feature notable experts such as Prof. Carlo Signorelli, President of the Italian NITAG, and Prof. Maria Ganczak, Vice President of the EUPHA Infectious Diseases Control section. These discussions will provide a comparative analysis of vaccination policies across different European countries, highlighting diverse approaches to mandates and the implementation of public health interventions aimed at combating vaccine hesitancy. By providing a unified approach to understanding and combating vaccine hesitancy, we aim to facilitate a critical exchange of ideas and strategies among experts in the field. It will serve as a dynamic platform for discussing evidence-based interventions tailored to specific population needs, enhancing public health outcomes across Europe. This engaging session promises to offer valuable insights into the complexities of vaccine hesitancy and the collaborative efforts required to address this global health challenge effectively. Key messages • Enhanced data collection and analysis are essential to combat vaccine hesitancy, allowing for tailored interventions that address specific community needs and barriers to vaccination. • Effective strategies against vaccine hesitancy require historical understanding and flexibility to adapt to new challenges, ensuring public health policies are responsive and culturally sensitive.

About the need for a Swiss digital health ‘Sistine Chapel’ – lessons from 25 years of health policy

Abstract Background The Swiss government’s ‘DigiSanté’ program 2025-2034 aims to address Switzerland’s delay in digitising its healthcare system. Public and professionals’ trust is central for the implementation of digital health initiatives and partially based on past experiences with the digital health system. To inform DigiSanté, it is crucial to analyse the evolution of the socio-political discourse surrounding health data sharing in Switzerland in the past 25 years to identify the main obstacles encountered and lessons learned during this period. Methods We designed a multi-method study comprising a policy analysis of 65 Swiss policies on health data sharing from 1998 to 2023; scoping review of 250 editorials; sentiment analysis of 400 news articles from six major Swiss newspapers; and thematic analysis of transcripts from 11 online interviews with key stakeholders. Results We identified 32 key policy milestones in Swiss health data sharing, with the COVID-19 pandemic emerging as a trigger for present policymakers’ awareness of health data’s potential and the need for healthcare system digitization. The troubled implementation of the Electronic Patient Dossier (EPD) and its negative narrative are identified as more central in eroding long-term public trust than scandals. Primary obstacles to implementation of the EPD include misaligned stakeholders’ interests, slow policy processes, lack of professional support, low public awareness, and technical interoperability issues. Future strategies involve increasing actors’ involvement to establish a common vision and strategy and improving public communication. Conclusions The present socio-political discourse on health data sharing in Switzerland is shaped by past negative experiences with the EPD, compounded by additional scandals. To cultivate public trust, stakeholders should collaborate to align interests and ensure all parties work cooperatively toward common goals. Key messages • National and international scandals marginally affect public trust compared to the impact of the negative narrative surrounding the slow EPD implementation. • Misalignment of stakeholder interests is the main barrier to implementing health data sharing initiatives, causing delays and trust erosion.

An overview and comparison of approaches used for health policy analysis: What to use and when?

Abstract Background Public health challenges are complex and analyzing them requires advanced approaches such as, societal cost-benefit analysis (SCBA), health impact assessment (HIA), and strategic foresight. Analyzing health policy is a multifaceted process, and depends on, among others, the scope, approach, and policy goals. Given this complex and multifaceted nature, it is not always clear which approach to use, and how the approaches can complement each other. Therefore, health policy analysis could benefit from practical and explicit guidance regarding clear identification of cases and types of analysis. Hence in this paper we aim to develop a framework that can provide this guidance. Methods In this paper we describe the differences and similarities of three distinct health policy assessment approaches, SCBA (an economic evaluation approach that takes into account the impact on society as a whole), HIA (is a combination of tools that focus on evaluating the potential health effects of a given policy) and strategic foresight (a systematic and participatory approach used to anticipate and plan for future trends and uncertainties that may impact policy), their application, and how they can complement each other within the field of public health. A framework that can be used when deciding which health policy approach to use for a given case will be developed, based on existing literature, frameworks, and a case study. Discussion This paper contributes to knowledge on health policy analysis and towards efficiency and clarity in analyses conducted in this field. Key messages • There is little guidance regarding how to conduct health policy analysis. • Clear guidance on which approaches to use and how they complement each other will contribute towards efficiency and clarity in health policy analysis.

The lived experiences of the welfare state of platform workers: The barriers to accessing social protection in Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom

AbstractThe recent literature on platform work and the welfare state has stressed that, despite being affected by high‐income insecurity, platform workers cannot easily access social protection. However, it is unclear why platform workers encounter such barriers. This article offers an inductive and empirically based theoretical framework to investigate the obstacles faced by platform workers. It shows that the barriers experienced by platform workers depend on the eligibility criteria, the assessment criteria and the trade‐off between taxation and social protection. The article substantiates these claims by offering both a policy analysis of formal arrangements and a qualitative analysis of the lived experiences of welfare of 101 platform workers in Italy, Sweden and the UK during COVID‐19. The research found that, while many platform workers attempted to access social protection during COVID‐19, platform workers' access to social protection was affected by their positionality as outsiders, which clashes with the eligibility criteria (in Sweden and Italy); by the irregular nature of platform work, which contrasts with the rigidity of the assessment criteria (in the UK, Italy and Sweden); and by the implicit trade‐off experienced by platform workers between minimising taxation and accessing to social protection (in the UK and Italy).

Evaluation of Managerial Economics Applications Strategy using the SPSS Method

Managerial Economics is an economy branch is, this economic theory and size using methods solve real-world managerial problems. It helps businesses and organizations make informed decisions by using economic analysis. Here are some common applications of managerial economics: Demand Analysis and Forecasting: Businesses use managerial economics to understand consumer behavior and forecast future demand for their products or services. This involves studying factors that affect demand, such as price, income levels, and consumer preferences. Production and Cost Analysis: Managerial economics helps businesses optimize production processes and minimize costs. It involves analyzing production functions, cost structures, and economies of scale to determine the most efficient way to produce goods or services. Pricing Strategies: A product or the right price for the service It is up to a company to decide Crucial to profitability. Managerial economics helps businesses set prices by considering factors like production costs, competition, and consumer willingness to pay. Market Structure Analysis: Understanding the type of market, a company operates in (e.g., perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly) is essential for making strategic decisions. Managerial economics helps analyses market structures and determine appropriate strategies for each. Risk and Uncertainty Analysis: Businesses often face uncertainty in various aspects, such as demand fluctuations, production costs, and market conditions. Managerial economics provides tools to assess and manage risks, including techniques like decision tree analysis and expected value calculations. Capital Budgeting and Investment Analysis: Managerial economics assists in evaluating investment opportunities and capital projects. It involves methods Payback period analysis of investments. Regulatory and Government Policy Analysis: Managerial economics helps businesses understand and navigate government regulations and policies that affect their operations. This can include areas like taxation, environmental regulations, and trade policies. Strategic Planning: Using economic analysis, businesses can develop long-term strategies for growth and sustainability. This may involve assessing market trends, competitive dynamics, and potential expansion opportunities. Game Theory and Competitive Strategy: Managerial economics incorporates game theory to analyze strategic interactions between competitors. It helps businesses formulate optimal strategies in competitive environments. Resource Allocation: Efficient allocation of resources, including labor, capital, and technology, is crucial for a company's success. Managerial economics provides tools to distribute funds in a manner that optimisesoverall productivity and profitability. Demand Analysis and Forecasting, Production and Cost Analysis, Pricing Strategies, Market Structure Analysis, Risk and Uncertainty Analysis, Capital Budgeting and Investment Analysis and Regulatory and Government Policy Analysis. The Cranach’s Alpha Reliability result. The overall Cranach’s Alpha value for the model is .744 which indicates 74% reliability. From the literature review, the above 50% Cranach’s Alpha value model can be considered for analysis.

Climate change policing: Integrating environment-sensitive approaches in Nigerian security operations

Climate change has shifted from being solely a severe environmental challenge to becoming a critical threat to global security. Despite efforts to securitise climate change through speeches, policies, research, media and advocacy by various organisations, the specific roles of security agencies, especially in developing countries dealing with insurgencies, remain undefined. This study emphasises that an effective securitisation process must outline clear roles for security agencies, beginning with the creation of an environment friendly operational plan. In Nigeria, non-state violent groups use natural environments like forests and water bodies as hideouts, leading security forces to turn these areas into battlegrounds without environmental assessments or post-conflict remediation plans. This study investigates how eco-friendly practices are integrated into Nigerian security operations. Through 30 interviews and a critical analysis of climate-related policies, it was found that climate policies are not incorporated into security operations. This is evident in the criminalisation of forests, unsustainable disposal of crude oil and drugs, and correctional processes that ignore climate sensitivity. The study concludes that Nigerian security operations need a paradigm shift towards integrating climate-sensitive approaches, recommending that security agencies adopt practices that consider ecological impacts.

Guns better than education: political economy of defence, radical education policies, textbooks, and teachers’ outlook in Pakistan

ABSTRACT The proliferation of religious radicalism within Pakistani education has sparked increasing concern, with significant implications both locally and globally. Current scholarship has primarily focused on education policies and textbooks, often overlooking the complex entanglement between the political economy of defence, the influence of military and economic elites, and the particularisation of radical national and religious narratives. This article uses qualitative methods and purposive sampling to explore how these intertwined forces have radicalised education policies and school textbooks. The research reveals a deep historical nexus between the military apparatus, religious groups, and the state’s educational agenda, fuelling radical ideologies among public schools and madrassah (religious school) teachers. The article elucidates how these power structures have shaped educational discourse in Pakistan by examining this entanglement through the lens of Foucauldian governmentality. The findings underscore the critical societal implications of understanding these dynamics, particularly given teachers’ significant role in shaping students’ worldviews. This study offers valuable insights for international policy analysts, educators, and scholars concerned with the intersection of defence, politics, and education.

Comparative Educational Pluralism: A Framework for Comparative Policy Analysis

ABSTRACT In the face of ideologically driven inquiry and advocacy, debates about school choice and public-private-partnerships in education have produced more “light than heat.” Although scholars have recently emphasized the need for a greater focus on the particulars of policy design, limitations of existing frameworks have inhibited rigorous policy research capable of enhancing understanding of the effects of different policy designs, particularly when considering cross-national and comparative experiences. This article critically analyzes a set of prominent frameworks from the field before proposing a new Framework for Comparative Educational Pluralism that could inform a more design-sensitive and evidence-rooted approach to policy analysis and design pertaining to the role of non-state actors in education systems.

Analysis of contemporary climate adaptation policies in Ireland and their application to the coastal zone

Global climate change presents a range of impacts on Ireland's economy and society with particular challenges facing coastal areas. The need to adapt to these risks is considered both urgent and essential and the policy framework has evolved to meet these challenges with the adoption of climate action legislation and a National Adaptation Framework (NAF) to facilitate the transition to a climate-resilient economy and society by 2050. This paper briefly reviews the European and Irish government policy context for sectoral climate adaptation before reviewing and classifying the sectoral policy measures introduced to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change impacts. While the analysis reveals that progress has been made by adopting climate action legislation and by developing a suite of climate action focussed plans, it also demonstrates that the policy measures included in the Sectoral Adaptation Plans to reduce climate change vulnerabilities are limited in number and lacking in effectiveness. Furthermore, their application to cross-cutting themes, exemplified by the coast, is inadequate to deal with the practical climate change issues. These findings indicate that Ireland is at a preliminary stage when assessed according to the EU adaptation preparedness scorecard.

An ideology of deserving: A historical analysis of the United States' immigration policies governing forced migration and social welfare

AbstractLegislation governs both the admittance and treatment of forced migrants in the United States. Increasingly, many forced migrants are offered few welfare benefits, temporary protection, and no pathway to permanent residency. This paper explores forced migrants' legal categories and access to social welfare, focusing on five humanitarian protection statuses: Temporary Protected Status, Humanitarian Parole, Asylum Seeker, Refugee, and Asylee. Based on the concepts of welfare nationalism and the Protestant Work Ethic, our historical analysis examines the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 to see how this landmark legislation shaped access to welfare for noncitizens. We then focus on the emergence of humanitarian statuses since the 1950s and the legislation that constructed them. We conclude that immigration legislation governing forced migrants underlies an ideology of deserving, where some are treated as more meritorious than others. Thus, we call for welfare scholars to elevate immigration status as a key category in their research.

Organizational Strategies for Providing Foreign Language Education Services to Adults Over 45: International Practices and Approaches

Organizing educational services for people over the age of 45 is essential for their personal development, economic participation, social inclusion, and mental well-being. International and local legislation supports these initiatives, aiming to provide equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for all ages and to use the benefits of these people being fruitfully involved in the economic and social life of a country. The article aims to examine the strategies for providing educational services to adult learners (citizens over the age of 45) in different countries (European countries, the USA, Australia, China, Ukraine, Brazil, and Japan), with a focus on whether this process is integrated into social services and formal and informal education systems within the framework of the concept of lifelong learning. The methods included literature review on databases such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, and ERIC; comparative analysis of educational policy documents; case studies and reports from different nations; meta-analysis; field observations; and others typical to the field of comparative education and general education. They were utilized to provide a comprehensive and well-rounded analysis of how different countries organize and implement foreign language education services for adults over the age of 45. The findings reveal that the approaches to providing foreign language education for adults over 45 varies widely across different countries, reflecting each nation's unique historical traditions, cultural values, and current societal needs. This diversity in practice can be categorized into four main groups: services provided by social services; formal education systems; informal education systems; and self-organized services to present the prevailing approach to providing foreign language education for individuals over 45 in each country. The study concludes that the provision of foreign language learning services for individuals over 45 varies significantly across countries, reflecting diverse historical traditions, cultural attitudes, and current needs. Whether through social services, formal education systems, informal educational channels, or self-organization, each country’s approach highlights the importance of adapting educational services to meet the needs of an adult population seeking continued personal and professional growth.

Comparative policy analysis in airport security through the lenses of the multiple-streams framework

Comparative policy analysis in airport security through the lenses of the multiple-streams framework

Uncertainty in dynamic econometric input-output models: a Norwegian case study

Input-output models used for macroeconomic impact and policy analysis are often characterised by large data sets and resource-heavy computing. However, the types of results they provide are sensitive to uncertainty in their core assumptions. Various approaches have been proposed to account for the uncertainty in one or more parts of the analysis assumptions. Although it is standard practice to include varied cases in policy analysis, the notion of stochasticity of parameters across periods of time is less widespread. Costly numerical computing and difficulty in interpreting the results complicate this approach. In this work, we adapt an environmentally-extended dynamic econometric input-output model to account for uncertainty of various kinds. We demonstrate the methodology in the case of building renovation. The results provide insight into situations where explicitly considering uncertainty as part of the analysis is useful, as well as others in which no additional information was gained from such treatment.