City Government Research Articles

The Evolution of On-Demand Platforms: Conceptual Framework, Regulatory Challenges, and Policy Implications in the Digital Economy

Digital platforms currently form the cornerstone of what is referred to as 'platform economics,' progressively assuming a central role in the city's economy, experiential landscape, and governance. On-demand platforms play a pivotal role in elevating the level of digital sophistication among citizens. This article extends the current research on on-demand service markets, aiming to cultivate an understanding of this nascent domain of digital platform business within the broader framework of the smart city. In the first section, we delve into various concepts related to on-demand service markets, outlining their distinctive features in comparison to traditional service markets, and elucidating the principal components of the on-demand digital platform economy. The second part of this paper employs bibliometric analysis to unveil, among other insights, emerging areas of interest, key works, and influential researchers in the field, as well as the countries and institutions where research on on-demand service markets is most advanced. This research endeavour may lay the foundation for the development of a theory pertaining to the provision of on-demand services within the context of the platform economy. Finally, the research extensively discusses regulatory challenges and public policy implications in the context of on-demand platforms, with a focus on worker protection, algorithmic transparency, and data security.

Impact of E-Commerce Growth on Urban Logistics in France

Purpose: The article aims to examine how e-commerce growth is affecting urban logistics, including traffic congestion, environmental impact, and warehouse demand. It explores challenges posed by increased last-mile deliveries and suggests ways cities can adapt for efficient, sustainable logistics. This analysis seeks to provide solutions for balancing consumer demand with urban sustainability. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The findings revealed that e-commerce growth intensifies urban congestion, increases emissions from delivery vehicles, and drives up demand for warehouse space near cities. These changes challenge urban infrastructure and logistics efficiency. Sustainable solutions, like green vehicles and optimized delivery networks, are essential to mitigate these impacts. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Urban growth theory, resource-based view (RBV) & sustainable urban logistics theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of e-commerce growth on urban logistics. Practically, logistics companies and urban planners should implement region-specific solutions to manage the unique challenges of e-commerce growth. From a policy perspective, city governments should establish clear guidelines and incentives to encourage sustainable urban logistics practices.

Cow, union buster! Identitarianism and organizing in Bombay’s mills, 1850s-1990s

ABSTRACT This essay examines the role of cow protection in resisting labour struggles in Bombay’s cotton mills from the birth of industrialization in the 1850s to its eventual decline in the 1990s. Relying on public discourse in newspapers, government reports, and union documents, it shows that cows, sacred to Hindus, became a symbol of identity and a basis for elective affinity between mill owners, political/religious leaders, and a pro-capital city government. Mill owners funded cow protection societies, political/religious leaders supported cow protection and mediated directly with mill owners, and the state offered legitimacy, further resisting the negotiating power and innovations of labour unions to demand better living and working conditions. By implicating cow protection (identitarianism/communalism more broadly) in the political economy of industrial capitalism, this essay shifts attention from its primarily nationalist, majoritarian, and often agrarian discourse.

The Urban Land, the Disputed Land: The Land Disputes of Pawirorejo in Surakarta 1982-1985

Abstract: The issue of land disputes in urban areas during the New Order era intensified due to the massive use of land for housing needs and to support various development projects. Especially in the late 1970s, land issues had become a major concern in cities at the municipal level. This paper analyzed the causes of land disputes involving the Pawirorejo family in the city of Surakarta. This historical research used archival sources such as trial documents from the Surakarta Court Office, regional statistical data, and newspapers. The study's results suggest that the state-controlled lands in Surakarta, which did not receive full attention, triggered the Pawirorejo land dispute; consequently, the city government's weak control also played a role. Furthermore, land as a commodity with significant value in the city of Surakarta is vulnerable to conflicts, and the adage "land for the people" becomes very difficult to fully realize amidst the strengthening currents of development and the interests of the authorities. Therefore, the use and ownership of land in urban areas, especially state land in Surakarta, require explicit regulation through legal means. Keywords: The Land Disputes, Pawirorejo, Surakarta, New Order

The Strategy of the Yogyakarta City Government in Implementing a Sustainable Zero Inorganic Waste Policy

This research aims to analyze the implementation of the Zero Inorganic Waste policy enacted by the Yogyakarta City Government, focusing on waste sorting strategies, infrastructure support, and challenges encountered in managing inorganic waste. The qualitative methodology involves field observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with various stakeholders. The research findings indicate that while this policy has successfully raised public awareness about waste separation, significant challenges remain, such as low public participation, limited infrastructure, and insufficient education efforts. Therefore, the government must increase resource allocation for waste management infrastructure and develop more effective educational programs to encourage behavioral change. This study’s contribution to urban waste management literature lies in its emphasis on the importance of a participatory and systematic approach to waste management and the need for public behavioral change to achieve sustainability goals. The conclusions of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in formulating more effective waste management strategies in Yogyakarta and other urban areas. This research also offers substantial theoretical contributions, particularly regarding the importance of participatory and systematic approaches in urban waste management and the necessity for societal behavioral changes to achieve sustainability objectives.

The Impact of Firework Ban Relaxation on Variations in SO2 Emissions in China During the 2023 Chinese New Year

During the 2023 Chinese New Year (CNY), many city governments temporarily relaxed firework restrictions, leading to increased sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the combustion of sulfur-containing fireworks. This study employed the four-dimensional variational (4DVar) assimilation system to examine variations in SO2 emissions in China by assimilating hourly ground-based observations. Two experiments were conducted during CNY in 2022 and 2023 to quantify the variations in SO2 emissions. On CNY’s Eve in 2023, following the relaxation of the firework ban, SO2 emissions surged by 8.22 Gg nationwide compared to the previous day with significant increases in the Energy Golden Triangle (2.037 Gg), the North China Plain (1.709 Gg), and northeast China (0.945 Gg). Emissions peaked on CNY’s Eve and rapidly declined in the following two days but remained elevated compared to the pre-CNY period, indicating lingering effects of firework burning. Compared to the forecasts using the prior emissions, the optimized emissions markedly improved the model forecasts of SO2 during the 2023 CNY period, with an increase in the correlation coefficient (R) from 0.13 to 0.64 and a reduction in the root mean square error (RMSE) by 49.2%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the optimized emissions. These findings will be useful for local governments in formulating strategies for firework burning during CNY.

Tracing the Success of QRIS Policy Implementation in Surabaya City’s Parking Levy System

This research explores the effectiveness of the Surabaya City Government’s policy on parking levy payments via the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS). The study aims to analyze the policy’s success in increasing Regional Original Income (Pendapatan Asli Daerah or PAD) and enhancing community welfare by improving the payment experience for parking users and supporting efficient management by parking attendants. Using Van Meter and Van Horn’s policy implementation framework, which includes six critical factors—policy standards and objectives, resource allocation, characteristics of implementing organizations, inter-organizational communication, implementer disposition, and socio-political and economic environment—the study evaluates both the facilitating and hindering elements of the policy. A qualitative descriptive methodology was employed, with data gathered through literature reviews, field observations, and structured interviews with key stakeholders, including government officials, parking service providers, and users. Analysis revealed that QRIS implementation has been beneficial in promoting transparency and efficiency in revenue collection, supporting PAD growth. However, challenges such as varying levels of digital literacy among users, limited internet access in certain areas, and reluctance among some parking attendants to adopt digital systems were identified as barriers to optimal implementation. Key findings suggest that the policy’s long-term success hinges on consistent inter-agency coordination, community engagement initiatives to raise digital payment awareness, and ongoing training for parking attendants to improve digital proficiency. The study concludes that achieving sustainable success in implementing non-cash transactions for parking levies requires a holistic approach, integrating community awareness, inter-organizational support, and policy adaptability. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers seeking to improve public service delivery through digital transactions. It highlights the importance of adaptive management in fostering community welfare alongside regional revenue growth.

Implementation of Smart Government, Smart Mobility, and Smart Living Policies in Realizing the Quality of Public Services in Yogyakarta City

Major cities around the world believe in the concept of "smart cities" or "intelligent cities". This concept encourages people to participate in city management through a citizen-centered approach. This results in more active and close interaction between citizens and service providers, in this case the local government. This study examines how the Yogyakarta City government can implement e-government to become a Smart City and improve its public services by implementing smart government, smart mobility, and smart living policies. Cities around the world are currently championing this idea as the central government's idea to address various problems in different places. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method by relying on secondary data from digital mass media news which is assisted by data processing using Nvivo 14 as a research tool. Based on the results of the research, it can be found that Smart City in Yogyakarta City shows that (1) Smart Government regarding its online procedures has started to run well; (2) Smart Mobility is superior in traffic monitoring; (3) Smart Living is more prominent in indicators about security. Where with these results, Policy Implementation in the City of Yogyakarta has started to run well, but there must still be improvements, especially in Smart Government, Smart Mobility, and Smart Living so that the quality of public services in the City of Yogyakarta can run even better. Key word: Implementation of smart government, smart mobility, smart living, Yogyakarta CIty

The Impact of Low-Carbon City Governance on Firm Green Innovation: An Enterprise Life Cycle Perspective

The Impact of Low-Carbon City Governance on Firm Green Innovation: An Enterprise Life Cycle Perspective

Reconfiguring Data Relations: Institutional Dynamics around Data in Local Governance

Data infrastructures are major sites through which city government operates and therefore of special interest to critical scholars of technology. Yet ways that these infrastructures are embedded into the institutional fabric of government make them difficult to navigate and often resistant to abstract critique and generalized analysis. We present an ethnographic study of a design effort launched by a team inside a city government to build and deploy a tool with a specific focus on equity and justice. By integrating data from multiple sources and bringing it together in a spatial framework, the team sought to bring neighborhood voices, often marginalized in planning efforts, into the center of the conversation. Tracing the negotiations over data's value in this process, we unveil various tensions involved in this effort, within and between different groups, and how the group of city employees navigated these tensions, mainly by adjusting the relations of the groups around data -- which we call ''data relations.'' Narratives in organizational communications were key in both revealing and mobilizing the data relations constituting the institutional data infrastructure. With the empirical findings, we argue that tracing the data relations can be an effective way for the CSCW community to understand the institutional data politics and make interventions in the systems in power.

Socialist urbanism and cultural infrastructure facilities in China: Cities of the Pearl River Delta and the Guangzhou cultural infrastructure facilities plan, 2003–07

The construction of “cultural infrastructure facilities” (wenhua jichu sheshi) in China – auditoria, exhibition halls, libraries, museums, performance centers – for state administration of culture and information originated in the 1950s with Sino-Soviet exchange and has continued throughout the reform era. However, scholarship on urban development in China, embedded in discourses of capitalism and modern planning, generally does not recognize this category of infrastructure construction by contemporary city governments. To address the lacunae, this article analyzes the history of cultural infrastructure facilities in socialist urbanism, their transfer to the People’s Republic of China from the Soviet Union, the conditions of socialist realism, and the continuity of cultural infrastructure construction since the 1980s. Evidence from the Guangzhou Cultural Infrastructure Facilities Projects Plan (2003 – 07) and cultural facilities sites in the new city center projects of Shenzhen, Shunde, and Dongguan demonstrate how the party-state prioritizes the planning and construction of cultural infrastructure facilities. Contemporary architectural designs for new cultural buildings represent the international aesthetic of reform while cultural facilities continue to house and display party-sanctioned culture and information for the people.

Pengaruh Nilai Pelanggan dan Pengalaman Pengunjung Terhadap Loyalitas Pengunjung di Jakabaring Sport City

The sports and recreation sector in Jakabaring Sport City, Palembang, plays an important role in improving the quality of life of the community, but the challenge of maintaining visitor loyalty is a major concern. This research aims to analyze the influence of customer value and visitor experience on loyalty at Jakabaring Sport City. The research method used was quantitative with multiple regression analysis, involving 135 respondents selected by accidental sampling. Data was collected through a questionnaire with a Likert Scale. The results of the analysis show that customer value and visitor experience partially have a significant effect on loyalty. The conclusion of this research is that increasing the value and experience felt by visitors can encourage higher loyalty. The advice for managers is to continue to improve the quality of services and facilities, as well as create interesting experiences. The Palembang City Government is advised to support the development of infrastructure that supports accessibility, while visitors are expected to provide feedback for continuous improvement. This research provides an important contribution for managers in designing effective strategies to attract and retain visitors to Jakabaring Sport City. Keywords: customer value, visitor experience, customer loyalty, satisfaction

Exploring the Dynamics of Communication in the Handling of Child Victims of Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse: A Case Study in the Women's and Children's Protection Technical Implementation Unit, Pekanbaru City Government in Indonesia

This study aims to examine the dynamics of communication in handling intrafamilial child sexual abuse, with a case study of RR, a child victim of sexual abuse by her stepfather and cousin, reported to the Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (Unit Pelaksana Teknis Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak/UPT PPA) of the Pekanbaru City Government. Data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, observations, and document studies. Using the constructivist paradigm and the social construction theory by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann, the collected data were analyzed qualitatively to explore how communication patterns and interactions among the involved parties, including the UPT PPA team, the victim, the victim's family, the Social Services, the Police, Legal Aid, orphanages, and other informal parties, build the social reality of child protection for the victim RR. Data sources were selected using purposive sampling based on criteria until saturation was reached. The findings indicate that despite communication barriers and non-cooperation from the family, effective communication and good coordination among all involved parties are crucial to ensuring the recovery and ongoing legal process for the child victim of sexual abuse. An empathetic, sensitive, and collaborative approach can help the victim feel supported and gradually recover from the traumatic experience. Collaboration between institutions plays an essential role in providing protection and social rehabilitation for RR. The dynamics of communication in handling intrafamilial child sexual abuse involve the dialectical processes of externalization, objectification, and internalization among the various parties involved. Received: 30 July 2024 / Accepted: 28 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Kinerja Pendapatan dan Belanja Kota Malang Tahun 2018–2023

Evaluation of Regional Government financial performance is important and needs to be carried out. The aim of this research is to check the financial performance of the Malang City Government by analyzing financial reports from 2018 to 2023. This research is descriptive qualitative with secondary data obtained from the Malang City Central Statistics Agency. The results show that the degree of decentralization ratio has an average of Fair Performance, the financial independence ratio has an average of Low Performance, the efficiency ratio has an average of Inefficient Performance, the ratio of operational expenditure to total expenditure has an average of Good Performance, the ratio of capital expenditure to total expenditure with average Good Performance, and ratio of expenditure growth with average Good Performance.

Smart Cities, Digital Inequalities, and the Challenge of Inclusion

While cities on a global scale embrace smartness as a roadmap for efficient urban governance, disparities persist in the domain of digital accessibility, literacy, and skills, with manifestations of digital exclusion, ageism, and ableism prevalent in most digital urban experiences. Despite their commitment to bridging the digital divide, governments lack comprehensive frameworks to inform policymaking and action for inclusion in smart cities. This review paper aims to deepen the understanding of the multifaceted challenges confronting the governance of inclusion in smart cities. Drawing from a review of research encompassing digital inclusion, digital transitions, smart cities, and urban governance, we discuss who is included and excluded in the governance of smart cities; what are the necessary conditions to be met for smart cities to be considered inclusive; and how can smart city governance deliver public value and equal benefits for all. As a novel contribution, this paper outlines a reflective framework to inform citizen inclusion in the governance of smart cities. This framework is meant to act as a starting point in the design of inclusive digital urban policies, and can also be employed to assess the directions taken to date in public organizations towards more inclusive urban practices.

Efektivitas E-ABK: Analisis Beban Kerja di Dinas Pendidikan Kota Surabaya

This research examines the effectiveness of E-ABK (Workload Analysis) in the Surabaya City Education Office. The aim of this research is: To find out how effective E-ABK is in the Surabaya City Education Office. The research method in this study uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research. This research wants to discuss the effectiveness of E-ABK (Workload Analysis) in the Surabaya City Education Office which consists of 5 indicators, namely Efficiency, Adequacy, Evenness, Responsiveness and Accuracy. This research uses primary data collection techniques in the form of observation, documentation and interviews, while secondary data uses the results of previous research with different loci. The research results show that the use of E-ABK (Workload Analysis) is in accordance with 5 indicators, namely Efficiency: Based on the data sources obtained, it is very supportive in assisting the process of filling in crew members. ASN employee resources that support the implementation of E-ABK can be said to be efficient if all ASN are able to understand the filling flow and complete it on time. ; Adequacy: The organization of regional apparatus in the Education Service has been carried out in accordance with the applicable mechanism, namely an analysis of workload on the organizational structure. The policy for structuring regional apparatus organizations in the Education Department has met the adequacy criteria. This can be seen from the fact that the organizational structuring policies implemented have met the needs of the city government organization itself. ; Alignment: By equalizing the workload, you can create a fairer and more equitable work environment where all employees can give their best. ; Responsiveness: Increasing responsiveness can increase efficiency, reduce waiting time, increase customer satisfaction, and increase employee morale. ; and Accuracy: The accuracy of the number of employees needed in the Surabaya City Education Department can be seen through the existing number which will later be determined and matched between the existing E-ABK and the existing number of employees currently. The implementation of E-ABK (Workload Analysis) for Employees at the Surabaya City Education Office has been going smoothly. Even though the infrastructure and human resources are available and sufficient, there are still some employees who still do not fully understand how to fill out E-ABK. To increase employee competency, regular outreach and training regarding the use of E-ABK is needed.

Inovasi Kebijakan Publik Melalui Aplikasi Terintegrasi

This research aims to analyze the implementation of public policies through integrated applications, with a case study on the Samarinda Integrated Application (SANTER). The SANTER application is part of the Samarinda City Government's initiative to realize the smart city concept, which aims to improve the efficiency of public services, strengthen transparency, and facilitate interaction between the government and the community. This study uses Edward III's theory of public policy implementation, which includes four main elements: communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure. The analysis was conducted by collecting secondary data from annual reports, user satisfaction surveys, and news articles related to the implementation of the SANTER application. The results show that effective communication between the government, policy implementers, and the community is crucial to the success of this application. Adequate human resources and technology are also key factors, although there are still challenges in terms of limited resources at the sub-district and village levels. The disposition or attitude and commitment of public officials towards the SANTER application is very positive, as demonstrated by the full support of the mayor and heads of relevant agencies. An efficient bureaucratic structure and good coordination between agencies also played an important role in the implementation of this application.

The relationship between social order and crime in Nottingham, England

AbstractStudies of organized crime in cities have traditionally concentrated on the global south or ethnic enclaves and traditional mafia territories within the global north. Here this study turns its attention to governance-type organized crime in the English city of Nottingham, where the main protagonists are white and British born. It investigates whether such a gang can govern communities by reducing ordinary crimes. We conduct in-depth interviews with local officials and analyze a novel dataset of the public’s phone calls to the Nottingham police from 2012 to 2019, encompassing spatio-temporal information and police-labeled crime types. We identify Nottingham’s ward of Bestwood as the site of an entrenched, governance-type organized crime group, whereas its most similar ward, Bulwell, is not. Further comparative analyses indicate that certain ordinary crime rates are significantly lower in Bestwood than in Bulwell. We conclude that governance-type organized crime can emerge in a country with a high capacity to police and in a nonimmigrant, less affluent community. Our findings suggest that traditional explanations of the emergence of criminal governance in cities need to be revisited.

Pediatric burn injury at home in 30 years: A road to future prevention

IntroductionInjury prevention is valuable for pediatric burns at home. To develop future target of prevention, we aimed to elucidate characteristics and chronological changes of pediatric burn injuries at home in urban areas. Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study using the database of the Tokyo Burn Unit Association, which comprises 14 tertiary burn centers, the Tokyo Fire Department, Tokyo Medical Association, and the Tokyo city government. We included pediatric patients aged ≤15 years who had a burn injury at home in the last 30 years and divided them into five groups at 6-year intervals. We compared the mechanism, severity, and outcome of burn injuries between the groups. ResultsWe included 1092 pediatric patients, with no significant chronological changes in the incidence of burn injuries at home (approximately 200 patients in each 6-year period). The median age was 1 year in all the groups. Flame burns decreased from 7.7% to 1.6%, whereas scald burns remained at >80%. The burn area decreased from 10 (5–16) %total body surface area (%TBSA) to 7 (3–11) %TBSA. The length of hospital stay was reduced from 6 to 2 days, and in-hospital mortality was 0.4%–0.5% in the last decade. ConclusionsThe incidence of flame burns and burn area decreased over time with improving clinical outcomes in pediatric burns. The number of scald burns remained the same over time; thus, further social intervention is needed to prevent scald burns.

Smart ignorance: Instrumentalising useful unknowns to bureaucratise and rescale power in the city

Critical geography inextricably associates smart cities with modalities of entrepreneurial governance, the privatisation of government assets and functions, and an effectively diminished role of the state in urban governance. In this article, I argue that this is an incomplete examination of ‘actually existing smart cities’ as it overlooks the bureaucratisation of city government through rescaling, which occurs via the instrumentalisation of ambiguity and ignorance. Furthermore, the existing literature focuses on the rescaling of power in ‘spaces of exception’ or enclave developments, but does not adequately address what happens when these corporate parastatal entities land in ‘actually existing’ cities where urban spatialities and political geographies are alreacy established and do not need to be formulated afresh. I draw on rich qualitative research in one case study of an ‘actually existing’ smart city – Pune in western India – to explore how the implementation of a smart cities programme results in a bureaucratisation of city government through existing useful unknowns, and generates further ambiguity around issues of authority and power in city government. This article offers a significant conceptual contribution to the understudied political geographies of city government by moving beyond the examination of zones of exception and investigating the dynamics of integrating privatised governance mechanisms into a historical ‘actually existing smart city’ with a formalised city government dating back to the late 19th century.