Policy Capacity Research Articles

Populism and policy capacity: Evidence from an opposition municipality in Istanbul

AbstractDespite achievements in its conceptual rigor, policy capacity still represents a relatively depoliticized concept that fails to sufficiently consider the ways in which politics plays a role in its creation, mobilization, or decay. This article seeks to contribute to this debate by investigating the impact of populism on policy capacity, the type of policy capacity challenges posed and how they are related to populist policy design. Based on a case study of a municipality in Istanbul the article shows how populist politics and national populist policy design erode long‐term municipal policy capacity by enabling the (ab)use of the rule of law, loss of expertise, exhaustion of critical assets such as urban land and financial resources, and erosion of public citizenship due to growing expectations in the form of particularistic benefits. Declining policy capacity in turn leads to a shift in municipal policy priorities.

Political involvement in street‐level policy implementation as a two‐way relationship—The effect of policy capacity

AbstractTo date, research on politicians’ influence on the work of street‐level bureaucrats (SLB) and the consequences for policy implementation has mainly focused on disruptive effects of political involvement—for instance, poorer social equity in public service provision or political patronage. Our study opens up this perspective and argues that the relationship between politicians and SLB is a two‐way relationship shaped by capacities of the stakeholders themselves and their organisational environment. We link SLB research with policy capacity literature. We focus on the effect of political capacity because this type of capacity meaningfully influences whether SLB can actively control the relationship with politicians. We ask: What is the relevance of political capacity for policy implementation? We use data from Swiss social assistance where the phenomenon of interest, that is the political involvement, is institutionalised by law within the implementing agencies. We show that political capacity at the organisational and individual level has a confidence‐building effect. SLB and politicians learn how to engage with each other and how to make the most of the exchange. Politicians gain a deeper understanding and are able to politically legitimise the policy.Points for practitioners Existing research on politicians’ influence on the work of street‐level bureaucrats (SLB) has mainly focused on disruptive effects of political involvement—for instance, poorer social equity in public service provision or political patronage. We show that the relationship between SLB and political actors can actually lead to ‘non‐disruptive’ or even positive effects on public service provision due to certain capacities of the stakeholders themselves and their institutional environment. We identify two types of capacity that foster a constructive relationship between SLB and politicians: organisational and individual political capacity. Organisational political capacity: The institutional or organisational setting within which SLB and politicians implement public policy and provide public services can promote regular exchange and cooperation between these two types of stakeholders to a greater or lesser extent—or even require it (e.g. by law). If the setting is conducive, constructive contact between SLB and politicians takes place during policy implementation. Thus, SLB and politicians know each other and know how to interact, which enhances trust among them and mutual understanding of their respective duties, challenges, and interests. Individual political capacity arises from this as SLB learn how to use this contact for their needs, that is to obtain and sustain political support for their policy actions. Politicians also benefit from the exchange because they gain a deeper understanding of the respective policy and feel more confident in representing it towards the public and the politics. In short, the findings show how capacity at different levels may reinforce each other. The organisational context can promote political capacity through regular contact between SLB and politicians. Actors have to learn to work with each other and thereby enhance their individual political capacity.

Regional trade agreements and economic integration in Africa: assessing the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA)

This article examines the impact of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on economic integration in Africa, focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). As the largest free trade area globally, AfCFTA aims to create a unified market for goods and services across 55 African Union member states, fostering economic growth, reducing trade barriers, and enhancing intra-African trade. This article assesses the potential economic benefits of AfCFTA, including increased market access, industrialization, and job creation. It also considers the challenges of implementation, such as infrastructure deficits, varying levels of economic development, and non-tariff barriers. Through case studies of key African economies, including South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, the article explores how AfCFTA is reshaping trade dynamics and regional cooperation. Furthermore, it evaluates the role of AfCFTA in addressing Africa’s dependence on external markets and enhancing global competitiveness. The article concludes by providing recommendations for policy reforms, capacity building, and regional cooperation needed to maximize the benefits of AfCFTA. By analyzing both opportunities and challenges, this article offers insights into how AfCFTA can drive deeper economic integration and sustainable development across the African continent.

Policy Capacity Framework Implementation at the Indonesian Air Force Academy

Policy Capacity Framework Implementation at the Indonesian Air Force Academy

From Policy to Practice: Unpacking the Politics and Realities of Environmental Education Policy in Chinese Primary Schools

Abstract In recent years, China’s strong commitment to the political agenda of ecological civilisation has increased the presence of environmental education (EE) in the policy arena. Using the waste classification policy as an example, this research explores the implementation of EE policy in two Chinese primary schools. Through the use of a policy enactment framework, the findings reveal that contextual factors such as school enrolment, infrastructure and external influences from the District Bureau greatly influence the schools’ policy capacity. By exploring the internal policy flow and school artefacts, it was found that although the waste classification policy was enacted similarly in the selected primary schools, the outcomes differed significantly. These variations highlight the complexities and challenges of implementing an EE policy under ecological civilisation and contribute to the understanding of the tension between localised adaptations and the nationally politicised EE policy mandates.

Financial Analysis of Education Industry under the Framework of Harvard Analysis —— Take New Oriental Education & Technology Group as an Example

After the promulgation of the double reduction policy, New Oriental suffered a huge impact. Based on the financial statements of New Oriental in recent years, this paper makes a financial analysis of New Oriental. the Harvard analysis framework is used to analyze the financial situation of enterprises from four perspectives: strategy, accounting, finance and prospects. PEST analysis and SWOT analysis are used in strategic analysis. Through accounting analysis and financial analysis, since the impact of the double reduction policy, the solvency, profitability and operating capacity of enterprises are not good, but due to the timely transformation, these capabilities will show an upward trend in the future. And through the prospect analysis, it is concluded that New Oriental should develop new products in an all-round way and deeply tap the potential of carrying goods. This article can provide a reference for other education and training companies that want to transform.

Epidemiological Model of the Regional Distribution and Analysis of Hepatitis B in Ghana: A Sub-Saharan African Country

Hepatitis B (HB) is a global public health burden which has impacted economies of many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The effect is worse where there is lack of definite information regarding policy direction and capacity towards implementing interventions to control the transmission and spread of the infection. In this study, a SEIR deterministic compartmental model and a hybrid optimisation method for parameter estimation, similar to that of Awuah-Mensah et al. (2022), were used to analyse the regional distribution of HB in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country. The regional epidemiological threshold parameters [Formula: see text] and herd immunity threshold parameters [Formula: see text] computed based on the estimated parameters for each of the regions ranged from a minimum of [Formula: see text] for Volta region in the southeast to a maximum of [Formula: see text] for Upper West region in the northwest of Ghana. These values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] indicated that HB persists in Ghana and the transmission and spread and the associated burden were found to generally increase from south to north of the country. Based on the estimated parameters, only Western region recorded a recovery rate of [Formula: see text]. The remaining nine regions recorded zero recovery rates. The trend of transmission and spread of the infection was also found to be positively related to poverty and health sector inequalities across the regions of the country.

Connecting the Dots: Are the New Public Management and Policy capacity related?

The New Public Management (NPM) and Policy Capacity (PC) have garnered significant attention in the field of public administration. NPM is frequently associated with market-based reforms and the privatisation of public services, whereas PC pertains to a government's ability to design, implement, and evaluate policies effectively. Despite the vast literature on these concepts, there remains a dearth of studies examining their connection. This paper seeks to bridge this gap by exploring the linkages between NPM and PC. Drawing from a comprehensive review of articles and journals, most studies revealed that the two concepts are indeed related in some way.

Optimizing the readiness for industry 4.0 in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goal 1: focus on poverty elimination in Africa

This study explores the transformative potential of fourth industrial revolution (called Industry 4.0) technologies in the context of poverty elimination, with a particular focus on Africa. Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, which spans economic, social, and environmental aspects, there is a critical need for innovative and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to identify how recent advancements, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain, big data, and 5G can be harnessed to address various facets of poverty. Drawing on insights from existing research and expert opinions, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates these technologies with strategic policy interventions, infrastructure development, and capacity building. The paper proposes a framework that illustrates the prerequisite requirements before adopting Industry 4.0 technologies in poverty elimination efforts. This framework aims to ensure that the benefits of technological innovations are accessible to the most vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to the broader goals of socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. The work shows that while Industry 4.0 presents a critical opportunity for sustainable development and poverty elimination in Africa, it needs to have essential capacities to optimize the use of observations, visualizations, and mindset management before or when adopting the first stage of Industry 4.0 solutions for poverty elimination.

Assessing policy capacity and policy effectiveness: A comparative study using sustainable governance indicators

Assessing policy capacity and policy effectiveness: A comparative study using sustainable governance indicators

Trade policy uncertainty and capacity utilisation rate: Firm‐level evidence from China's WTO accession

AbstractThis paper was one of the first to explore the impact of trade policy uncertainty (TPU) reduction on Chinese firm capacity utilisation rate from the perspective of trade policy variation. Based on a quasi‐natural experiment of the implementation of Permanent Normal Trade Relation (PNTR) after China's WTO accession, this paper adopts the difference‐in‐difference (DID) method to conduct empirical analysis, and finds that reduction in TPU significantly raises firm capacity utilisation rate. The mechanism tests show that export expansion is an important channel through which reduction in TPU raises firm capacity utilisation rate, especially for firms exporting to the United States; reduction in TPU also raises firm capacity utilisation rate through the improvement of production efficiency; in addition, reduction in TPU raises firm capacity utilisation rate along the downstream linkages, whereas the effect of the upstream linkages is insignificant. Finally, this paper takes a step further to conduct empirical analysis at industry level, the results show that reduction in TPU also significantly raises manufacturing aggregate capacity utilisation rate, and the improvement of resource reallocation efficiency (especially the exit of the firms with backward production capacity) plays an important role. Our study was helpful to understand the driving forces of the changes in Chinese manufacturing capacity utilisation rate in recent years, and it also provides new ideas for solving over‐capacity.

The Role of International Organizations in Global Governance: Challenges and Opportunities

International organizations play a crucial role in global governance, serving as forums for cooperation and coordination among nations to address shared challenges and opportunities. This article explores the multifaceted role of international organizations in global governance, focusing on the challenges they face and the opportunities they present. Employing a qualitative approach, this study conducts an extensive literature review and library research to examine the contributions, limitations, and evolving dynamics of international organizations in the realm of global governance. Through the review of existing literature, various roles of international organizations are identified, including policy formulation, norm setting, capacity building, conflict resolution, and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the study assesses the challenges faced by international organizations, such as political polarization, resource constraints, legitimacy concerns, and institutional inefficiencies. Furthermore, the study identifies opportunities for international organizations to enhance their effectiveness and relevance in global governance, including promoting multilateralism, fostering partnerships with non-state actors, harnessing digital technologies, and addressing emerging global issues. The findings highlight the importance of international organizations as key actors in shaping the global governance landscape and emphasize the need for continuous adaptation and innovation to address complex global challenges effectively. By elucidating the challenges and opportunities faced by international organizations, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of global governance in the contemporary world.

Rethinking the ‘local state’ and local capacity

ABSTRACT Considering the state-society relationships of local governance leads to conceptual and practical questions about local capacity to decide and pursue local priorities and meet local needs and the role of local government in these processes. In England’s extremely centralised governmental system, debates about local capacity tend to be subsumed by the constraints to which it is subject. Combining scholarship on policy capacity, local governance conjunctures over time and local government’s role within these informs conceptualisation of a plural, relational local state. This draws attention to local government’s everyday, intra-locality relations with its constituent communities, broadening a vertical, reductive perspective to a horizontal, more generative understanding of local capacity to care for place through collective practices.

A conceptual framework from the Philippines to analyse organizational capacities for health policy and systems research.

Organizations that perform Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) need robust capacities, but it remains unclear what these organizations should look like in practice. We sought to define 'HPSRIs' (pronounced as 'hip-srees', i.e. 'Health Policy and Systems Research Institutions') as organizational models and developed a conceptual framework for assessing their capacities based on a set of attributes. We implemented a multi-method study in the Philippines that comprised: a qualitative analysis of perspectives from 33 stakeholders in the HPSR ecosystem on the functions, strengths and challenges of HPSRIs; a workshop with 17 multi-sectoral representatives who collectively developed a conceptual framework for assessing organizational capacities for HPSRIs based on organizational attributes; and a survey instrument development process that determined indicators for assessing these attributes. We defined HPSRIs to be formally constituted organizations (or institutions) with the minimum essential function of research. Beyond the research function, our framework outlined eight organizational attributes of well-performing HPSRIs that were grouped into four domains, namely: 'research expertise' (1) excellent research, (2) capacity-building driven; 'leadership and management' (3) efficient administration, (4) financially sustainable; 'policy translation' (5) policy orientation, (6) effective communication; and 'networking' (7) participatory approach, (8) convening influence. We developed a self-assessment instrument around these attributes that HPSRIs could use to inform their respective organizational development and collectively discuss their shared challenges. In addition to developing the framework, the workshop also analysed the positionality of HPSRIs and their interactions with other institutional actors in the HPSR ecosystem, and recommends the importance of enhancing these interactions and assigning responsibility to a national/regional authority that will foster the community of HPSRIs. When tailored to their context, HPSRIs that function at the nexus of research, management, policy and networks help achieve the main purpose of HPSR, which is to 'achieve collective health goals and contribute to policy outcomes'.

Australia in the International Sphere 1901–1914: An Emerging Foreign Policy Capacity?

Australia in the International Sphere 1901–1914: An Emerging Foreign Policy Capacity?

Addressing risks to mental health from climate change: a policy capacity analysis of England

ABSTRACT Climate change and mental health are inextricably linked crises that demand urgent responses within the health sector and beyond. Mental health challenges associated with climate change are wide-ranging. They include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress resulting from increased exposure to extreme weather events, generalized climate anxiety and indirect impacts. However, there is a significant adaptation gap when it comes to addressing the mental health risks posed by climate change. Lack of capacity is frequently cited as a barrier to adaptation, yet ‘capacity’ covers many facets. This article examines the capacities of policy systems to design and implement adaptation initiatives for addressing the increasing risks to mental health posed by climate change. Focusing on England (UK) as an illustrative case study, this article deploys a policy capacity framework and draws on semi-structured interviews and policy document analysis. It identifies the ways that analytical, operational and political policy (in)capacities manifest across relevant policy areas, which include health, flood and coastal erosion risk management, spatial planning, natural environment and emergency management. Our analysis reveals that despite some strengths in analytical and political capacity, strained operational capacity is exacerbating and reinforcing adaptation gaps. We also demonstrate some of the complex interactions between different types of capacities that both enable and hamper adaptation. This article demonstrates the value of analysing policy capacity, and its potential in identifying and designing the necessary interventions to help circumvent a growing mental health crisis under climate change. Key policy insights In England, efforts to adapt to risks to mental health under climate change are supported through strong analytical capacity, involving research and knowledge generation, education and training, particularly in the mental health sector and Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM). There is, however, room for improvement. Relatively strong political capacity, including advocacy and the role of policy champions, have led to increasing legitimation of the issue and fostered a growing policy landscape. However, some discernible gaps remain. There are significant weaknesses in operational capacity, restricting coordinated, preventative adaptation. This is partly due to significant resource constraints, and historic and current fragmentation within and between the health sector and others.

Review of Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy Responsiveness Capacity to Red Sea Militarization between 1991-2018

Abstract This article aims to assess responsiveness capacity of Ethiopian foreign policy on political and militarization dynamics in the Red Sea region from 1991 to 2018. Primarily, the evaluation employs the Effectiveness and Adequacy policy measurement criteria to assess the foreign policy's responsiveness. The review employed explanatory and argumentative approaches to examine different sources. The study also designed a logical framework of analysis by incorporating relevant IR theories like Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST) and Realism. The analysis then divided foreign policy objectives into General objectives and specific objectives which include Eritrea, Somalia, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula. Consequently, Adequacy and effectiveness policy evaluation criteria are used as to examine whether or not Ethiopian foreign policy assumptions are aligning with the Red Sea political dynamics and effectively achieve the stated objectives. The study shows shortcomings in responsiveness of both adequacy and effectiveness criteria. This is due to change in prior policy assumptions caused by rapid global and regional power dynamics. nevertheless, country specific findings are different. In country such as Eritrea and the Arabian Peninsula the policy is found to be is ineffective and inadequate; where as in Somalia it’s both effective and adequate. on the other hand, policy towards Egypt bound to have adequate assumptions but not effective. Therefore, revision and adoption of a holistic policy towards Red Sea region recommended.

Self-Reliance in Community-Based Rural Tourism: Observing Tourism Villages (Desa Wisata) in Sleman Regency, Indonesia

Self-reliance is essential for community-based rural tourism (CBRT), ensuring effective running in the long term. However, existing studies have focused on general self-reliance conditions while overlooking details surrounding the community’s self-reliance in each activity of the CBRT value chain. This study filled this significant gap by observing community self-reliance in CBRT and considering the tourism value chain (TVC) framework. Built upon the abduction method, this study applied the systematic combining approach to observe three aspects of self-reliance, i.e., goals or objectives, rights and abilities, and owned resources, in the TVC of CBRT entities. Taking the case of CBRT in Sleman Regency, Indonesia, the data collection involved representatives of 49 community-based tourism villages (desa wisata). The results showed that observing community self-reliance in CBRT allows for the identification of multifaceted self-reliance problems in rural tourism communities. Apparently, the observed CBRT initiatives are unable to achieve complete self-sufficiency across all aspects of self-reliance. Reliance on external collaboration and support networks persists out of necessity rather than an inability to self-manage. Policy protections, capacity building, and collaborative partnerships are necessary to develop resilient and sustainable rural tourism amidst necessary dependencies. CBRT planning and policies should hence consider the abovementioned aspects of self-reliance to empower CBRT toward sustainable rural development.

Navigating financial management challenges in the Scottish charity sector: insights and strategic approaches

This paper investigates financial management within Scottish charities, emphasising the challenges faced in external scrutiny, comparative financial information, and accounting practices. It employs a survey and a review by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator to assess impacts on smaller charities, highlighting issues with transparency and compliance. The study advocates for policy interventions and capacity building to improve sector resilience and transparency, thus enhancing effectiveness and sustainability in the voluntary sector.

Teaching policy capacity: A collaborative and constructivist workshop

This article presents an approach for teaching policy capacity to civil servants based on a workshop that took place in 2018 under the auspices of the Government of Prince Edward Island’s Policy Capacity Learning Series. It argues that workshops which introduce civil servants to the concept of policy capacity can enhance skills-based training and knowledge of the policy environment. Through a learner-focused, collaborative and constructivist pedagogy, the workshop involved a group activity where civil servants constructed a visual diagram of their policy environment by categorizing actors, skills, resources, institutions and concepts according to a policy capacity framework. This article discusses the workshop’s planning and delivery requirements which can be used, adapted and improved by practitioners in other jurisdictions. It also provides considerations for future training and education in public administration.