Change Of Government Research Articles

Political cycles, fiscal policy and capital flight in Africa

PurposeThis paper examined the interactive role of Political Cycles on the relationship between Fiscal Policy and Capital Flight in Africa.Design/methodology/approachA two-step System Generalized Methods of Moment empirical estimator was employed. This study used data on 40 African countries from 2009 to 2018.FindingsThe findings revealed that the interaction between political structures and fiscal policy is positive and significant, indicating that fiscal policies during election periods or different regimes would increase capital flight. The study found that political cycles positively affect capital flight, indicating that election periods and possible government changes promote capital flight activities. The tension and volatile atmosphere characterizing election periods in most African countries cause investors to use all alternatives, including illegal systems, to fly funds to a potentially stable economy.Practical implicationsThis study recommends that government and policymakers maintain fiscal discipline during election years and enact pragmatic policies to ensure the continuity of critical fiscal policies to promote business climate and economic stability, especially when there is a change in government.Originality/valueThis study contributes to capital flight literature in two forms. One, the study, to the best knowledge of the authors, is the first to proxy tax with corporate tax (a sound proxy for tax within the business space). Also, this study is the first to empirically show that elections worsen the effect of fiscal policy on capital flight in Africa.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2024-0130

A pendulum or a stopped clock? Rupture, continuity and political change in English sub-national government under Labour

A pendulum or a stopped clock? Rupture, continuity and political change in English sub-national government under Labour

Origins of British reservoir safety legislation 1850–1930

One hundred years ago in 1925, there were two dam failures with significant loss of life, and following these disasters, the 1930 Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act was enacted. Catastrophic failures in the nineteenth century had produced demands for government action but legislation had been much delayed by changes of government at critical times and by concerns about inadvertently reducing the legal liability of reservoir owners. Also, there was a marked lack of enthusiasm within the civil engineering profession for a government inspectorate. The key feature of the 1930 Act was that reservoir owners were required to appoint qualified civil engineers to inspect their reservoirs and, following such inspections, to implement measures required in the interests of safety. Post-1930 legislation, which it is intended will be the subject of a further paper, has done much to enhance public safety but the fundamental importance of independent qualified civil engineers has not diminished.

Elite sense-making in the core executive: the case of Denmark’s 2020 Minkgate Scandal

Abstract This article analyzes the Danish Mink Scandal of 2020 using Karl Weick’s sense-making theory. It zooms in on the 72-hour decision-making process that led to the culling of Denmark’s entire 17 million farmed-for-fur mink population in response to the perceived threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forming a new mutation. Since there was insufficient legal justification for the culling, the prime minister was forced to call a snap general election, leading to a change of government. We exploit detailed data material containing text messages, e-mail correspondence, documentary material, and specific inquiries. The article demonstrates the strength of Weick’s social–psychological perspective on sense-making for public management research. It shows how time pressure can cut across heavily institutionalized standard operating procedures. It can increase the centralization of the decision-making power at the apex and decouple the formal legal responsibilities, which remain institutionalized with the line ministries. The study argues that sense-making offers learning points that cannot be obtained from formal legal perspectives, which are used to assign responsibilities. Indeed, ex-post thinking may be too convenient—traditional solutions like punishing leaders or agencies may obscure the discovery of more systemic vulnerabilities when crises unfold.

Tradicals, Pillars and Directions For Educational Curriculum Development In Indonesia: A Literature Study

This paper aims to identify curriculum traditions, including curriculum changes from time to time in the history of Indonesian education, the five pillars of curriculum development as considerations in curriculum development, and to see the direction of curriculum development. The author used 17 references from scientific journals and books in this study. Tracking reference sources using Google Scholar. The study results show that the educational curriculum change is greatly influenced by political factors such as the change of government and the minister in charge of education, as well as by the shift in education policy. There are five pillars of curriculum development: curriculum objectives, content or materials, learning strategies, curriculum organization and evaluation. The current curriculum development direction focuses on technology integration through the Independent Curriculum platform. As for universities, they implement Independent Learning Independent Campus, which is expected to answer global challenges and prepare the generation to face an increasingly complex world.

Impact of regulatory and other changes on Australian unions’ strategies and campaigns, 2023–2024

This article reviews the challenges and opportunities facing Australian trade unions in 2023–2024. It covers industry challenges for specific unions and the changes introduced by the Federal Labor Government through its Closing the Loopholes Amendments to the Fair Work Act. It argues that the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and individual unions need to take the opportunity provided by the Federal Government's legal changes to make gains for members so that they are difficult to overturn if the federal government changes. It analyses campaigns and strategies of unions around challenges specific to them: for example, the recruitment of gig workers by the Transport Workers’ Union and campaigns by the ACTU and the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance around inappropriate use of artificial intelligence by employers seeking to replace workers and usurp employees’ ownership rights to their work. It considers amalgamations (mergers) and disamalgamations (demergers) of concern for some unions. It discusses allegations of inappropriate behaviour facing the Construction and General Division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees’ Union leading to its forced administration as a concern and possible impediment for the entire union movement if not resolved effectively.

A Thematic Exploration of Gender Inequality in the Gujjar Community of Kotranka Tehsil, Rajouri District

The study looks into the gender disparities that exist among the Gujjar clan in Kotranka Tehsil, Rajouri District in Jammu and Kashmir. It investigates the socio-cultural and economic constraints that women confront in their communities, examining how traditional norms influence their autonomy, involvement, and access to resources. Data from 35 respondents were acquired using a descriptive study method, with structured interviews and questionnaires. The research indicates considerable limitations on women's daily lives, particularly in decision-making, mobility, and educational prospects. The findings show that male dominance prevails in financial and family decisions, but social conventions continue to limit women's roles. While some respondents acknowledge a shift toward more gender-equitable practices, traditional gender norms are nonetheless deeply established, restricting women's potential and increasing dependency. Despite government efforts and changing societal perceptions, Gujjar women in Kotranka Tehsil continue to encounter obstacles as a result of established socio-cultural expectations. The study emphasizes the crucial need for comprehensive policies and community-based programs to achieve gender equality and empower women in the Gujjar tribe.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Awareness and Uptake among Healthcare Students in Japan

BackgroundThe vaccination rate for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) has remained significantly low in Japan because of the administrative suspension of active recommendation. This study investigates the awareness and uptake of the HPV vaccine among healthcare students in Japan following the reinstatement of active recommendation for young women in April 2022. MethodsA web-based survey was administered to 2,567 healthcare students from Okayama and Shujitsu Universities in Japan in July 2023. The survey assessed participants' backgrounds, immunization status, awareness of vaccine recommendations, and knowledge of cervical cancer across various demographics, including sex, academic year, and department (Medicine, Health Science, Pharmaceutical, and Dentistry). ResultsThe response rate was 36.3% (933 students; 181 male, 739 female, and 13 unspecified gender). The overall immunization rate among female students was 55.6%, with higher rates observed in medical (73.8%) and dental (63.0%) students. Awareness of the government's change in vaccine recommendation was notably high among female and senior male students. Over half of the female students (54.7%) reported receiving vaccinations based on their parents' advice. Among those unvaccinated but interested in future immunization, concerns about adverse reactions (47.4%) and challenges in scheduling vaccinations (29.1%) were predominant. ConclusionHealthcare students exhibited a higher HPV vaccination rate than the general population. Ongoing education to improve vaccine literacy is crucial for augmenting HPV vaccination rates in Japan.

Lifelong learning in Australian community contexts: Adult learning ‘capabilities’ for study, work, and life

In this paper we explore the Australian adult community education (ACE) landscape and discuss the important roles it plays in developing individual capabilities for study, work, and life. Despite the lack of cohesion of the ACE sector across the various states and territories of Australia, it is well documented that ACE is recognised as important for its capacity to cater for adult learners’ different needs and well-being in community-based contexts. In the last 2 years with a change in the federal government of Australia, ACE has gained more prominence for its capacity to connect hard-to-reach learners into literacy and numeracy programs and preparatory and pre-accredited programs to pathway these learners into further training or employment. The paper reports on research findings from a mixed methods research project examining the effectiveness of ACE outcomes for these first-step learners in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. Nussbaum’s Capabilities Framework, provides a social justice lens to reconceptualise the outcomes for learners in ACE, moving beyond narrow neoliberal economistic measures of adult learners’ success. We claim including both vocational and non-vocational capabilities for learners provides a more nuanced account of learner transformation in ACE.

Gig Workers: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Rise, Challenges, and Future of the Gig Economy

The gig economy, defined by temporary contracts, freelance employment, and independent contracting, has seen substantial growth in the global labour market during the last twenty years. Gig workers function independently of conventional full-time employment, enjoying flexibility but sometimes missing access to benefits like job security, healthcare, and retirement plans. This study examines the evolution of the gig economy, analysing the many forms of gig employment, its catalysts, the influence of technology, and its consequences for both workers and employers. The analysis will address the issues encountered by gig workers, such as economic volatility, insufficient legal safeguards, and the ambiguity of employer-employee dynamics. The study will analyse worldwide reactions, regulatory patterns, and the future direction of gig employment considering governmental changes and technology improvements.

Evaluation of the impact of security perception on the structural changes of MSEs through system dynamics

Micro and Small businesses (MSEs) face several challenges to survive in the market, some of these challenges are related to security matters which are the subject of this article. In Mexico MSEs are victims of crimes such as extortion, theft, and assaults, among others; this situation leads them to spend their economic resources to make structural changes to be able to continue with their commercial activities. This article is based on a survey conducted on 370 MSEs in the central region of the state of Veracruz in Mexico; the present study aims to evaluate the impact of structural changes made by businesspeople in their perception of business security. In this way, the decision-making process of MSEs facing insecurity is statistically analyzed through a simulation model considering the system dynamics methodology. To evaluate this phenomenon, we have identified four main subsystems: 1) Crime, 2) Security Perception, 3) Structural Changes, and 4) Government Policy Changes; at the same time three hypothetical scenarios were simulated: 1) Reduction in crimes committed against MSEs, 2) Government changes in public infrastructure, and 3) the combination of the previous two. The approach allows us to identify that companies make structural changes based on the events around them, rather than on the crimes that they suffer, making abrupt or precipitated decisions. Therefore, we have identified that it is not only necessary to eliminate crimes, but also to work with government strategies that allow MSEs owners and staff to improve their perception of security. This simulation model can be replicated to evaluate the implementation of security policies in other regions with high insecurity rates.

Safer supply and political interference in medical practice: Alberta's Narcotics Transition Services

Across much of Canada, opioid poisoning deaths have been increasing due to a toxic, contaminated, and unpredictable drug supply. Multiple prescribed safer supply pilot projects are being implemented and evaluated in an attempt to save lives. In the province of Alberta, however, new regulations introduced in 2022 significantly constrain safer supply prescribing by banning the prescription, dispensing, and administration of safer supply outside of a very limited number of clinics. In this commentary, we review prescribed safer supply programs in Canada and outline how the Alberta Government's change in regulations conflict with emerging evidence and efforts by other jurisdictions to address the rising opioid poisoning deaths. We examine the development of these regulations and analyze how the Alberta government shaped and justified this restrictive policy. We conclude by identifying important lessons learned from the experience in Alberta for researchers, healthcare providers, and decisionmakers in other jurisdictions.

Kingdon의 정책흐름 모형을 적용한 학교 상담 정책의 변동 분석

This study analyzed the process of policy change regarding school counseling using Kingdon's policy flow model. In order to analyze the overall school counseling policy, we collected government reports, press releases, and research reports published by professional educational institutions with public trust, as well as academic papers and press releases, and conducted a literature analysis to draw the following conclusions. The implementation system for implementing school counseling and the flow of policy for the placement of professional counselors are established in Article 12 of the 「School Violence Prevention and Countermeasures Act」 in 2004, which specifies the placement of professional counselors and the composition of a dedicated organization and provides for full-fledged school counseling. The policy has been activated. However, as individual policies are implemented without legal basis, there has been confusion in the performance of roles and duties due to changes in government or replacement of the minister in charge. The results of this study are expected to provide an opportunity to correct the direction of school counseling policy by understanding changes in the flow of goals and attributes during the implementation process of school counseling policy and exploring the process of policy emergence. Through this study, we aim to provide evidence to support the establishment of legislation for school counseling policies.

An opinion survey of Delay in Road Construction in City Area and its effects

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the causes and effects of delays in road construction across various areas in Nepal. Its objective is to identify the key factors contributing to these delays and examine how they affect different stakeholders, including the general public, businesses, and the government.Method: This research used a mixed-method approach, combining a questionnaire survey with Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to gather comprehensive data on road construction delays. Key stakeholders, particularly those impacted by road construction projects, were surveyed to collect their views on the causes of delays and the resulting consequences.Results: There is identified several major factors causing delays in road construction projects in Nepal including frequent government changes, alterations in project design, low labor productivity, inadequate planning, political interference and protection, and a shortage of resources. Conclusion: The study concludes that delays in road construction projects not only increase costs but also diminish public trust, growing public dissatisfaction. Stakeholders expressed frustration with the slow pace of construction, emphasizing its adverse effects on businesses, public health, and road safety.

Kajian Dinamika Universitas Al-Azhar dan Reformasi Pendidikan di Mesir serta Pengaruhnya terhadap Dunia Islam

Al-Azhar University is evidence of the oldest Islamic education in the world, which was founded during the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt and functions as a center for Islamic studies and a center for the spread of Isma'ili Shiite teachings. As time went by and changes in Islamic governments, the al-Azhar mosque turned into a madrasa to spread Sunni Islam and has now become a university that has produced many ulama figures who have given birth to new views and ideas for reform, thus influencing the development of education and the Islamic world throughout the world. This research aims to determine the dynamics of universities and educational reform in Egypt which have an impact on Muslims globally, including Indonesia. This research uses library research with references from books, articles and historical analysis of Al-Azhar. The results of this research are knowledge of al-Azhar from the Fatimid dynasty to the present, this motivates Muslims to continue studying and making the mosque prosperous and advancing Islamic education.

International aid management in Afghanistan’s health sector from the perspective of national and international managers

PurposeThe primary purpose of international aid is to promote economic and social development around the world. International aid plays an important role in Afghanistan’s healthcare system. The purpose of this study is to investigate international aid management in Afghanistan’s health sector from the perspectives of national and international managers in 2022 and to provide recommendations for the improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe study has a cross-sectional design. The study participants were chosen by random sampling. The sample size was determined based on Yaman’s formula at 110. The data collection tool was the questionnaire provided by International Health Partnership and Related Initiatives. The data were analyzed in two descriptive (mean and percentage) and analytical formats. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and Variance analysis were used to examine the relationships between demographic variables and the scores of each dimension.FindingsThe average scores given to different dimensions of aid management were as following: 1) the donners’ support of the national health strategy: 48/68 ± 16.14 (49%), 2) the predictable financing: 50/23 ± 16.02 (50%), 3) foreign aid on budget: 55/39 ± 20.15 (55%), 4) strengthening public financial management system: 38/35 ± 19.06 (38%), 5) strengthening the supply and procurement system: 40.97 ± 19.55 (41%), 6) mutual accountability: 46.50 ± 19.26 (46%), 7) technical support and training: 50.24 ± 17.33 (50%), 8) civil society involvement: 35.24 ± 18.61(35%), 9) private sector participation: 36 ± 17.55 (36%), and in total the average score was 44.52 ± 13.27 (44%). The difference between the scores given by two groups of managers was not significant. No meaningful relationship was observed between the total score and any of the demographic variables, but there was a weak relationship between work and management experience and total score. The correlation coefficient showed a statistically significant relationship between the different dimensions of the questionnaire. To sum up, the performance in all dimensions of aid management hardly reached 50%. Donors’ support for the national health strategy was not adequate. There were challenges in evidence-based decision-making, developing national health strategies, control and evaluation, the allocation of resources and use of procurement system. The priorities of donors and government were not always similar and mutual responsibility was lacking. Technical assistance and supporting multilateral cooperation are necessary.Originality/valueMost studies on foreign aid focused on its effects on economic growth, poverty and investment and not aid management processes. Without proper aid management, parts of resources are wasted and aims of aid programs cannot be achieved. This study investigates aid management in a developing country from the perspectives of two main stakeholders, international and national managers.Research limitations and implicationsData collection coincided with the change of government in Afghanistan. The situation might be different now. Still, this study provides areas for the improvement of aid management in the studied country. Future studies can build upon the findings of this research and conduct in-depth exploration of areas of aid effectiveness and designing detailed programs of improvement.Practical implicationsInstructions of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness need to be followed. Particularly, civil society involvement and private sector participation should receive attention. A joint plan for improvement and collaboration of different stakeholders is needed.

Mind the gap: A scoping review of skills gaps for graduates in the creative industries

This scoping review paper explores skills gaps for graduates in creative industries as identified and discussed in global industrial and education contexts. Adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) system, our review presents findings from 63 texts published from 2007 to 2023 that were located via five databases. These findings suggest that the top-ranked hard skills gaps for graduates are digital or related skills, such as those related to marketing and data analysis. The top-ranked soft skills are communication and collaboration, both of which are cited more frequently than any hard skill gap and appear key for graduate employability. Factors identified as contributing to these skills gaps include higher education offerings, industry needs and cultural policy. These contributing factors are correlated to the rise of creative industries, shifting values in cultural sectors, change in governments in western influenced cultures and digital transformation.

Call for Papers. Addressing Capability Challenges in Public Management

Policy Quarterly is pleased to announce a call for papers for a special issue entitled ‘Addressing Capability Challenges in Public Management’. The New Zealand public sector faces challenges that are common internationally: rising demand, limited resources, and growing complexity in a more volatile, challenging and uncertain world, as well as polarisation in broader society. It also has some unique characteristics, including the contested role of the Treaty of Waitangi, a reset after a post-Covid 19-induced spending boom and a recent change in government.

The political economy of digital government: How Silicon Valley firms drove conversion to data science and artificial intelligence in public management

IMPACT The relationships between digital governments and private digital technology corporations shape investments that endure for years, even decades. Yet recent changes have been under-researched in public management and accountability studies. Until the 2010s systems integrators (SIs) were dominant, producing proprietary legacy computer systems that still shape government technologies today. Since that time, governments have become increasingly reliant on the online tools and cloud technologies developed by Silicon Valley (SV) firms and platform corporations. To keep digital investments in line with business and civil society progress, governments have had to catch up and innovate with the latest generation of data-intensive technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and to adopt some SV organizational culture and practices in government. However, previous long time-lags in public sector responses highlight many lessons for today’s digital government change pioneers. In particular, the article illustrates the importance for digital managers of accelerating change in government organizational cultures, and developing the expertise to manage contractual diversity.

‘Life Will Be Very Different after the War’: Administrative, Political and Academic Tensions in the Development of Papua New Guinea after the Second World War

ABSTRACTAt the end of the Pacific War (1941–1945) in Papua and New Guinea and the restoration of Australian rule, the Australian Labor government anticipated a self‐governing colony. It was not an act of decolonisation per se. Rather it was a step toward a self‐governing colony under the umbrella of Australia. Independence was for the future. The change of government at the end of 1949, and the replacement of the administrator J.K. Murray in 1952 by Donald Cleland, further weakened the momentum for reform as envisaged by the previous Labor government. Percy Spender, the new Minister for External Affairs and Territories, said that the ‘indigenous inhabitants … will be unable, for many years to come, to play any part in the executive government of the country’. The abandonment of the Ward policy and what it explicitly and implicitly offered was a betrayal of the promises made during and shortly after the Pacifc War, that is, that there would be change for the better and New Guineans would be able to control their destiny.