Country Case Studies Research Articles

地方文化对外交流话语体系构建分析——以北京市政府网站英文版为例

地方文化对外交流话语体系构建分析——以北京市政府网站英文版为例

Towards an Australian Digital Communications Strategy

In the early 21st century, governments developed national broadband plans to supply high-speed broadband networks for the emerging digital economy and to enable digital services delivery. Most national broadband plans are now focused on moving to ever faster networks, but there is a growing need to develop national digital communications strategies to focus on the demand-side of the broadband “eco-system”. In this paper, we outline the approaches adopted by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Korea to assist in the development (or renewal) of Australia’s national broadband strategy, or, as we prefer, national digital communications strategy. The paper draws on the lessons learned from the case-study countries and the recent pandemic and considers some theoretical aspects of the broadband ecosystem. We conclude by suggesting a process to re-evaluate Australia’s national digital communications strategy as it rolls forward, and to incorporate recent international trends to develop demand-side policies to enable greater adoption and use of existing broadband infrastructure and digital services.

Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies: lessons learnt and perspectives for Brazil

The special series “Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies” published throughout 2022, was organised by invitation of the Brazilian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy and Health Services, to characterise medicines pricing and reimbursement in Brazil and other countries and discuss implementation, effects, gaps and opportunities for improvement. The series included an editorial, a perspective on the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies (PPRI) network and eight country case studies, namely Austria, Brazil, Greece, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, Portugal and the United States. In closing the series, an overview is presented, as well as a critical appraisal of how aspects such as innovation, access, health litigation, the importance of international cooperation and networking are producing advances or setbacks for country pharmaceutical regulation, pricing and reimbursement, and in-place health technology assessment. This article also highlights the scenario in Brazil, with recent developments in pharmaceutical policies approaching medicines pricing, incorporation (reimbursement), access, and expenditure, at the same time introducing arguments that show how these same issues may intertwine with planning and budgets, straining sustainability and threatening the concept of comprehensiveness adopted by the Unified Health System. New perspectives for strengthening of pharmaceutical regulation, pricing and reimbursement policies with a life-cycle approach, aiming for improving access to essential medicines, stimulating innovation and ensuring sustainability of the health system are needed. Experiences in the series´ case studies are examples of benchmarking and best practices, opportunities for increasing collaboration and sources of inspiration.

Pro-poor Growth: Concepts and Measurement with Country Case Studies (Distinguished Lecture)

This paper looks into the interrelation between economic growth, inequality, and poverty. Using the notion of pro-poor growth, we examine the extent to which the poor benefit from economic growth. First, various approaches to defining and measuring propoor growth are scrutinised using a variety of criteria. It is argued that the satisfaction of a monotonicity axiom is a key criterion for measuring pro-poor growth. The monotonicity axiom sets out a condition that the proportional reduction in poverty is a monotonically increasing function of the pro-poor growth measure. The paper proposes a pro-poor growth measure that satisfies the monotonicity criterion. This measure is called a ‘poverty equivalent growth rate’, which takes into account both the magnitude of growth and how the benefits of growth are distributed to the poor and the non-poor. As the new measure satisfies the criterion of monotonicity, it is indicative that to achieve rapid poverty reduction, the poverty equivalent growth rate—rather than the actual growth rate—ought to be maximised. The methodology developed in the paper is then applied to three Asian countries, namely, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Measuring road safety advance by IW-EDAS-KNN: A case study for OAS countries

Road Safety is an important aspect when considering the public health of a nation. Road Safety is becoming an increasing concern among nations, and road safety hazards remained a huge problem in some nations, causing financial loss and fatalities. Estimated results demonstrates that road traffic injuries cost the government approximately 3% of GDP, and up to 5% in low- and middle-income countries [1]. Since the road traffic incidence created substantial financial burden, it is necessary to control risk factors and improve the road safety advance. By evaluating the road safety conditions of each individual states, or by comparing the road safety status of a group of states, we can identify the potential strengths and weaknesses of each state hence give suggestions for future improvements. This paper looks at a ten-year data (2009-2019), source from the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and the Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group. The aim of this research is to evaluate and benchmark the road safety conditions of the members states of the Organization of American States by applying Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution, a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) technique for classification; identify the continuity in development and advancement of road safety conditions for each state; group the member states of OAS into classes by applying K-Nearest Neighbor Analysis, an algorithm for classification and regression that group objects into classes based on its k nearest neighbors; and make suggestion for future improvements for each member states with respect to their group members. It is concluded that certain indicators are underperformed by a majority of OAS members, which allowed policymakers to identify the potential weakness in road safety performance and offer effective intervention. Additionally, suggestions are made for under-performing countries of the OAS to refer to the road safety procedure from the best-performing nations for future road safety advances.

India s Security Strategy in South Asia: Visualising Afghanistan s Past, Present, and Future

By examining India’s role within South Asia’s security environment, this paper suggests how India’s relationship with Afghanistan’s new political regime under a ‘reformed’ Taliban will lead to security cooperation and gateways to economic opportunities. The discussion is underpinned by an analysis of non-state actors from neighboring jurisdictions, such as Pakistan, and China who pose a direct threat to the security of Indian interests. India being a key power player in the region relies on a stable Afghanistan and is therefore heavily vested in steering and overseeing political decisions by neighbouring states around peacebuilding, conflict management, and human security in the region. A discursive methodological approach based on country case study analysis provides the paper with the data needed to establish and explain what the security environment in the South Asian region looks like, the stakeholders, and political nuances that leave gaps for insecurity to thrive and upset vested interests. The contribution that the paper makes is to support policy direction towards entrenching stronger Indian and Afghan relations based on mutual strategic security and economic interests.

The Gordian Knot of Ethno-Religious Nationalism: Unsettled National Questions and Contested Visions

The early twenty-first century has witnessed a rising number of global crises. These include climate change, widening income inequality, military and nuclear tensions between the major powers, repeated outbreaks of global pandemics, and an ongoing democratic recession. In particular, the deepening democratic recession has afflicted ostensibly both mature and newer democracies – contradicting theories of political development. In many countries, the political alliance between ethno- and religious nationalists has reignited assaults against democratic institutions, processes, and norms. This comparative country-case study, principally of Malaysia and the United States of America (US), explores the alliance between ethno- and religious nationalists by examining the forces and factors that have contributed to this combustible dynamic within the context of unsettled national questions, contested constitutional orders, and foundational national visions. Also examined are the narratives of fear, victimhood and privilege that have galvanised religious and ‘sons of the soil’ ethno-nationalists in resisting the building of inclusive multiracial democracies.

Pollinator Deficits, Food Consumption, and Consequences for Human Health: A Modeling Study.

Animal pollination supports agricultural production for many healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, that provide key nutrients and protect against noncommunicable disease. Today, most crops receive suboptimal pollination because of limited abundance and diversity of pollinating insects. Animal pollinators are currently suffering owing to a host of direct and indirect anthropogenic pressures: land-use change, intensive farming techniques, harmful pesticides, nutritional stress, and climate change, among others. We aimed to model the impacts on current global human health from insufficient pollination via diet. We used a climate zonation approach to estimate current yield gaps for animal-pollinated foods and estimated the proportion of the gap attributable to insufficient pollinators based on existing research. We then simulated closing the "pollinator yield gaps" by eliminating the portion of total yield gaps attributable to insufficient pollination. Next, we used an agriculture-economic model to estimate the impacts of closing the pollinator yield gap on food production, interregional trade, and consumption. Finally, we used a comparative risk assessment to estimate the related changes in dietary risks and mortality by country and globally. In addition, we estimated the lost economic value of crop production for three diverse case-study countries: Honduras, Nepal, and Nigeria. Globally, we calculated that 3%-5% of fruit, vegetable, and nut production is lost due to inadequate pollination, leading to an estimated 427,000 (95% uncertainty interval: 86,000, 691,000) excess deaths annually from lost healthy food consumption and associated diseases. Modeled impacts were unevenly distributed: Lost food production was concentrated in lower-income countries, whereas impacts on food consumption and mortality attributable to insufficient pollination were greater in middle- and high-income countries with higher rates of noncommunicable disease. Furthermore, in our three case-study countries, we calculated the economic value of crop production to be 12%-31% lower than if pollinators were abundant (due to crop production losses of 3%-19%), mainly due to lost fruit and vegetable production. According to our analysis, insufficient populations of pollinators were responsible for large present-day burdens of disease through lost healthy food consumption. In addition, we calculated that low-income countries lost significant income and crop yields from pollinator deficits. These results underscore the urgent need to promote pollinator-friendly practices for both human health and agricultural livelihoods. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10947.

How global change impacted the rise and fall of the Guge Kingdom

Climate changes and its influences on human society are of increasing concern in science communities. Based on the reconstructed climate data and CENTURY model, we simulated net primary productivity of grassland and the grain yield of highland barley during the pre-industrial millennium in Ali Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. It showed that the variation of precipitation and temperature together affected the fluctuation of land productivity. Wavelet analysis results showed that the land productivity in Ali fluctuated within main periodic bands of 180 yr. We found that the rise and falls of the Guge Kingdom in Ali was synchronic with the fluctuation of land productivity, and the collapse of the Guge Kingdom was obviously related to the sudden change of climate in the 17th century, which turned dry and cold. By combining with historical studies, this study further proposes the mechanism of land productivity fluctuation under climate change on Guge Kingdom. Our findings are helpful to understand the relationship between climate change and social vulnerability, especially providing a typical case study of ancient plateau countries.

Does Smart City Construction Decrease Urban Carbon Emission Intensity? Evidence from a Difference-in-Difference Estimation in China

Climatic changes and environmental pollution caused by traditional urban development models have increased due to accelerated urbanisation and industrialisation. As a new model of urban development, smart city construction relies on digital technology reform to achieve intelligent urban governance, which is crucial for reducing carbon emission intensity and achieving regional green development. This paper constructs a multi-period DID model based on panel data from 283 cities from 2007 to 2019 to explore the impact of smart city construction on urban carbon emission intensity. This study found that smart city construction decreased urban carbon emissions intensity significantly and decreased carbon emissions per unit GDP in pilot areas by 0.1987 tonnes/10,000 CNY compared to that in non-pilot areas. According to a heterogeneity analysis, the integration of smart city developments could decrease carbon emission intensity in northern China’s cities and resource-based cities significantly but had an insignificant influence on carbon emission intensity in southern China’s cities and non-resource-based cities. The reason for this finding is that northern cities and resource-based cities have a higher carbon emission intensity and enjoy more marginal benefits from smart city construction. Based on an analysis of the influencing mechanisms, smart city construction can decrease urban carbon emission intensity by stimulating green innovation vitality, upgrading industrial structures, and decreasing energy consumption. These research conclusions can provide directions for urban transformation and low-carbon development, as well as a case study and experience for countries that have not yet established smart city construction.

OP41 Facilitating Dialogue Of Real-World Evidence Use In Health Technology Assessment: Taxonomy Of Question/Data Source Pairings To Support A Registry Of Studies

IntroductionThis paper reports the results of the collaboration within the European initiative of new Reimbursement and aCCess Approaches (EUreccA) which is concerned with the use of real-world evidence (RWE) in health technology assessment (HTA) decision-making. The work grew from the observation of a large, very experienced group of HTA practitioners which found that the use of RWE varied depending on the type of question asked and the particulars of the data source(s) used. We set out to examine how RWE is used in HTA decision-making and to make proposals on its facilitation.MethodsLiterature reviews covering earlier reviews of RWE use, academic papers, and HTA agency websites were combined with case studies involving interviews with decision-makers in four countries (England, France, Italy, Sweden) to identify the circumstances of breakdown of RWE use and to build a categorization of the uses of RWE and associated difficulties. This evidence supported the creation of a taxonomy of pairings of data sources and the questions they were used to address. The face validity of the approach was tested at an advisory board of senior HTA practitioners.ResultsIn total, 27 questions were identified and 10 types of data source, giving 270 pairings. These pairings were linked to relevant methods guidance and to examples of their use, itemizing HTA issues and decisions made. Reports are being prepared for publication, covering the detail of the methods of the literature searches; methods of the country case studies; a description of the taxonomy; and guidance on governance.ConclusionsWhen using RWE in HTA decision-making, the detail of the particular data sources and question addressed matter. Recently, both the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and the Real-World Transparency Initiative have argued for a registry of the uses of RWE. The work described here offers a starting classification of the material that should be held in such a registry, and which in itself could be developed by the stakeholders, both agencies and companies, that use it, furthering trust and confidence.

How Does Economic Integration Affect Progress along the Investment Development Path? A Case Study of EU Member vs. Non-Member Countries from Eastern Europe

1. Adams, R., Philippa D., Jyothi G. & McGuire, G. (2003) The trade and investment effects of preferential trading arrangements – old and new evidence. Working Paper. Productivity Commission, Canberra. Google Scholar

Application of a method for the sustainable planning and management of ground source heat pump systems in an urban environment, considering the effects of reciprocal thermal interference.

The "Most Easy, Efficient and Low Cost Geothermal Systems for Retrofitting Civil and Historical Buildings" (GEO4CIVHIC) project aims to accelerate the deployment of shallow geothermal systems for heating and cooling purposes when retrofitting existing and historical buildings. Analyzing the implementation process of borehole heat exchangers (BHEs), allows the understanding of how to promote the long-term sustainability of shallow geothermal energy systems. The thermal interference between BHE systems represents a problem, especially due to the increasing deployment of this technology and its spread in densely built-up areas. The main goal of this paper is to propose a conceptual model and to apply this to different case studies. The methodology includes phases to adopt an integrated approach for preventing long term thermal interference in neighbouring borehole heat exchangers, by providing management strategies and technical suggestions for design and operation. The method developed follows the following steps: 1) literature review to determine what are the main drivers for thermal interference between shallow geothermal systems, in the context of the GEO4CIVHIC project case study sites; 2) to create a conceptual model to limit thermal interference at both design and operational phases; 3) to apply the developed method to real and virtual case studies in countries with different regulatory frameworks and to test its main strengths and weaknesses. The application of this conceptual model to specific case studies provides evidence of critical planning and operational characteristics of GSHP systems and allows the identification of measures to mitigate impacts of thermal interference to be identified.

Policy sequencing towards carbon pricing among the world’s largest emitters

Policy sequencing to gradually increase the stringency of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has become an influential narrative without much evidence beyond selected policies and sectors or case studies of individual countries. Here we provide international and cross-sectoral evidence on climate policy sequences for the G20 economies and 18 other large emitters. We find that policy sequences towards carbon pricing are a consistent pattern in the data. The adoption of some climate policies can facilitate the subsequent adoption of other policies, which is referred to as policy sequencing. Across sectors and countries, policy sequences often play an important role in the adoption and stringency of carbon pricing.

Public Diplomacy and Its Related Concept to Soft Power: Ecuadorian Commitment

This article addresses the Ecuadorian public diplomacy to the European audience. Public diplomacy is focused on soft power. Socialism of the 21st century background is mentioned in this paper with the aim of the construction of a country image to accelerate the local socio-economic development in the international arena. The conceptual framework of this research was designed to address this correlation between governance, and socio-economic development to contribute to our current understanding of the role of locality in public management and to describe the theory and practice of urban marketing as a greater engagement with Ecuadorian public diplomacy. Urban marketing is a fundamental support for these. Citizens, businesses, governments and employees are a policy priority due to the fact that cities are a key factor for the new industrial scenario to converge all segments of society. In addition, the paper briefly presents the highlight of the former president Rafael Correa Delgado as best national representative of soft power use in an Ecuadorian single country case study from a sociological spectrum. The methodology applied is both primary and secondary sources including various books in Spanish language, the Constitution of Ecuador, journal articles, Ecuadorian government reports and implementation plans.

(Re)shaping Amazon labour struggles on both sides of the Atlantic: the power dynamics in Germany and the US amidst the pandemic.

With the initial context of COVID-19 fuelling Amazon's exponential growth, this article investigates how the pandemic (re)defined labour struggles, i.e., cultivating labour's structural, associational and institutional powers in two case study countries, Germany and the US. By analysing these power resources in its two largest markets, I argue that Amazon's structural conditions by which it organises its warehouse labour, which predate the pandemic, have continued to act as obstacles to collective labour action. While in Germany, ver.di continues to mobilise its workplace power but has been unable to get Amazon to sign a collective agreement, the pandemic triggered unprecedented workplace mobilisations and the pursuit of associational power in the US, albeit with varying outcomes. Despite their different industrial relations systems and labour struggles, these two cases highlight the key role of shop-floor organising to put pressure on Amazon, while Amazon's continued rejection of unions as negotiating partners further underlines the importance of regulating Amazon's union-busting tactics.

Changing gear: Experiences of how existing qualitative research can adapt to an unfolding health emergency.

Long-term research projects are not always able to adapt to a new crisis and incorporate characteristics and approaches of rapid research to produce useful data quickly. Project AViD was a programme of research that ran between 2018 and 2022 to examine factors that shape vaccine confidence. The project initially focused on five country case studies looking at vaccines for Ebola, Measles, Rift Valley Fever and Zika. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged during this time and provided an opportunity to contribute to the pandemic's 'million-dollar question'-how to deploy COVID-19 vaccines. Drawing on our experience as researchers, and specifically from AViD, we propose seven factors that can influence when and how longer-term qualitative research projects can adapt and contribute to the response to an unfolding health emergency. These include: (1) the phase of research in which the emergency hits; (2) the relative significance of the emergency in the research setting; (3) the specific methods and research team capacities; (4) existing operational links; (5) supportive ecosystems; (6) flexibility in research contracting and funding; and (7) the research team attitude and approach. We close with two considerations for longer-term research projects that find themselves having to "change gear" amid a public health emergency-the need to re-assess risks and benefits and the need to protect equitable partnerships.

1.L. Workshop: Building capacity for a resilient and healthy post-COVID health workforce

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic added new challenges to health workforce resilience. High workload, increased risk of COVID infection and continuing stress threaten the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers (HCWs) and increase existing (gendered) inequalities, thus reinforcing health labour market problems. Investment in the health workforce and prioritisation of the health and wellbeing needs of healthcare workers in health policy and pandemic recovery plans is therefore called for by the WHO, the European Union and others. However, health systems and policymakers across countries have not sufficiently understood the importance of HCWs. Objectives This workshop brings health workforce needs onto the health policy agenda. It seeks to build capacity for a resilient and healthy health workforce, setting the focus on protection and preparedness of HCWs and their individual wellbeing, and reduction of gendered inequalities. The following major questions will be addressed: What do we know about COVID-19 and the health and wellbeing of HCWs? What skills are needed to respond to new demands? What policy approaches are available to improve protection, preparedness and mental health support of HCWs? How to integrate gender equality and the situation of migrant/refugee HCWs in these approaches, and finally build capacity for effective health workforce governance and its implementation. The workshop introduces novel results drawn from European comparative research and country case studies. It connects policy and practice, as well as health system and individual HCW needs. A number of important policy recommendations are emerging from the research. (1) The health and wellbeing of the health workforce must be addressed systematically across all levels of health policy and governance, including the organisation settings. (2) Health systems must take responsibility and leadership in responding to health workforce needs. (3) Important lessons to be learned from HCWs’ experiences should guide future health workforce policy and pandemic recovery plans. (4) Participatory governance and inclusion of HCWs must be strengthened, including gender equality and diversity. The workshop will stimulate critical debate and improve knowledge exchange across countries and between researchers. It will contribute to strengthen resilience of the health workforce and health systems, and to build back better after COVID-19 in a fair and equitable manner. Key messages • Health workforce needs and mental health support must become policy priorities and addressed as part of health system resilience. • Action has to be taken to strengthen participatory health workforce governance sensitive to new needs.

Overview of innovative skill-mix changes in nursing across Europe

Abstract Background Many countries in Europe and worldwide have implemented new professional for nurses or are in the process of implementation, yet, an overview of the evidence on skill-mix changes has been missing. This study has analysed skill-mix innovations in nursing, evidence on outcomes and lessons for implementation. Methods An overview of systematic reviews, following a protocol plus country case studies, as part of an international study. The literature search was performed in six databases, with search terms covering skill-mix whereby the nursing profession played a key role. Screening was performed by three researchers after high interrater reliability rates were achieved. Analyses were performed for the nursing professions, a typology of skill-mix changes (task-shifting and role expansion) and evidence on outcomes. Results A total of 42 systematic reviews were identified on nurses working in new roles. The roles varied considerably, ranging from nurse prescribing to advanced practice nursing and nurse-led clinics. Nurse-led chronic care programmes were frequently identified, with overall positive outcomes on several health outcomes, e.g., for patients with diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Nurses were also working in advanced roles in health promotion and prevention, e.g., performing screening programmes, showing equivalent quality of care compared with doctors if adequately trained. Several skill-mix models to enhance care coordination and integration were identified, suggesting that when tailored to the needs of specific population groups, particularly for vulnerable groups, may improve health outcomes or access to services. Conclusions The roles of nurses are increasingly diversifying and expanding internationally. Sharing country experiences on how to effectively educate the workforce to be prepared for these new roles and ensure smooth integration is critical.

SDG5 Gender Equality during the COVID-19 pandemic: an international comparative policy assessment

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruptions in healthcare systems and societies and exacerbated existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere. Our study explores health systems responses to gender equality goals during the COVID-19 pandemic and which role these goals play in pandemic recovery policies. Methods We apply a qualitative comparative approach. Country case studies (expert information, secondary sources) were collected in March/April 2022. The sample comprised Australia, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom and USA, reflecting conditions of high to upper-middle income countries with established public health systems, democratic political institutions and gender equality policies. Selected topics: maternity care/reproductive services, violence against women, and gender equality/female leadership. Results All countries tried to keep essential maternity and reproductive services open, but strong limitations applied especially for prevention and counselling services; at the same time, digitalisation/telemedicine supported service expansion. Violence against women and children strongly increased during the pandemic. Routine services were partly kept open and new helplines occasionally established, but no action was taken to scale-up mental health support and respond to new demand. A push-back of gender equality was observed across countries in all areas of health and social care, often coupled with strong increase in intersecting social inequalities; participation of women in decision-making bodies was generally weak and not monitored. Conclusions Across countries, gender equality policies cracked under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic; this is true for countries with male and female political leaders, and for different areas of SDG5 and health. There is an urgent need for more effective intersectional gender equality policies and improved participation of women in global health and in health system recovery plans. Key messages • Health systems failed to take action to protect SDG5 goals; gender and intersecting inequalities strongly increased during the pandemic. • Building back better after COVID-19 will only be possible with an intersectional gender equality programme and feminist policy approaches.