Community-based Incentives Research Articles

Assessing the potential of different economic incentives for stimulating temperate agroforestry. A study in Flanders, Belgium

Many studies point to the social and environmental benefits of agroforestry, also in temperate regions such as Flanders. Nevertheless, farmers do not yet see agroforestry as an equally valuable option alongside other farming systems because of the uncertain economic profitability and the current incompatibility of this system with existing market conditions. This paper has the aim to identify and evaluate – existing and hypothetical- economic incentives for agroforestry in Flanders. Data was collected over the period 2015—2021 through focus groups at conferences and in thematic living labs in Flanders with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. farmers, processors, policy makers, researchers, etc.). The results were analysed qualitatively in Nvivo12 to make a classification of incentives and instruments in a first phase. In a second phase they were evaluated based on an adjusted SAF (Suitability, Acceptability and Feasibility) framework. Four types of incentives were identified: (1) government based; (2) payment for agroforestry products; (3) payment for ecosystem services; and (4) community based incentives. Currently, the highest potential is expected from payment for ecosystem services and the least potential from payment for products and community-based incentives due to a lack of consumer demand for agroforestry products specifically and the unfamiliarity of agroforestry to a broader public. At the end of the data collection period, a positive evolution was already observed in the development of these instruments. To accelerate this evolution, initiatives supporting awareness among a broader public and more insights into the preferences of a wide range of stakeholders is needed.

Community-based incentive coordination in payments for ecosystem services: China’s Wolong Nature Reserve

Community-based Payments for Ecosystem Services (CB-PES) have received continued attention because of their ability to help Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) improve local outcomes and sustain community support. This study scrutinizes the role of community-based incentive coordination in PES using the case of China’s Wolong Nature Reserve (WNR). Combining theoretical modeling and empirical analysis of the WNR, this study demonstrates that CB-PES can deploy a range of incentive-coordinated techniques and practices, eventually improving economic outcomes for stakeholders and environmental benefits for society. In addition, this study also highlights the fact that CB-PES aiming to achieve incentive coordination rely on participatory intermediary governance. Finally, designing community-based incentive coordination mechanisms in PES remains challenging, as it also depends on coordinated conservation efforts to optimize the economic outcomes and environmental benefits of PES.

Community-Based Interventions and Behaviors of HIV+ Persons in Congo-Kinshasa

Introduction: Sub-Saharan African communities bear the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in the world. Because of identifiable cultural links and local beliefs, people are more likely to engage in sexual mores that could negatively impact their life. Starting in early 2000, Congolese HIV+ patients have undergone a variety of medico-social inputs designed to decrease risky behaviors among people in the program and their family members.
 Goals: This inquiry aimed to understand how PLWHs assess the influence of community-based incentives within their society, as primarily conceived to improve daily behaviors of each person living with HIV (PLWH), and a few selected family members with unknown HIV-serostatus.
 Methods: From December 2020 to March 2021, a cross-sectional study was engaged to gather qualitative-driven information from nine in-depth interviews, three focus groups, and two key-informant interviews. Changes were self-assessed through data gotten from 2004-2014 in sexual cleansing, levirate and sororate marriage, Kintwidi phenomenon, stigma and discrimination, sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) and female genital mutilation (FGM), unprotected receptive vaginal or anal intercourse, and behavioral rejection of condoms throughout a decade of Congolese Community-based Interventions (CBIs) implemented from 2004. Grounded on the socioecological model (SEM), this ethnographic study was based on the meaning of the influence of CBIs on cultural behaviors among PLWHs for HIV/AIDS prevention purposes.
 Results: Data from Kinshasa and Bandundu were coded and analyzed through NVivo R1 and Excel, showing significant negative sentiments for all eight key-cultural components in PLWHs.
 Conclusion: Out of the holistic approach employed to tackle HIV/AIDS in communities, the comprehensive strategy enabled for social change in Congo-Kinshasa brought specific impactful insights in terms of behavior according to interviewed PLWHs. Findings could be used to inform further preventive activities to alleviate any community HIV burden in sub-Saharan Africa.

Small sustainable monetary incentives versus charitable donations to promote exercise: Rationale, design, and baseline data from a randomized pilot study

Regular physical activity (PA) enhances weight-loss and reduces risk of chronic disease. However, as few as 10% of U.S. adults engage in regular PA. Incentive programs to promote PA have shown some promise, but have typically used incentives that are too large to sustain over time and have not demonstrated habit formation or been tested in community settings. This report presents the rationale and design of a randomized pilot study testing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of small monetary incentives for PA (n=25) versus charitable donations in the same amount (n=25) versus control (n=25) over 12months among 75 low-active but otherwise healthy adults at a local YMCA. Incentives are based on YMCA attendance, which is verified by electronic swipe card data and is the primary study outcome, with self-reported minutes/week of PA assessed as a secondary outcome. Incentives are intentionally small enough—$1/session, maximum of $5/week—such that they could be indefinitely sustained by community organizations, privately-owned health clubs, healthcare organizations, or employers (e.g., employer fitness facilities). Costs of the incentive program for the sponsoring organization may be partially offset by increases in membership resulting from the appeal of the program. Moreover, if efficacious, the charitable donation incentive program may have the added benefit of building social capital for the sponsoring organization and potentially serving as a tax write-off, thus further offsetting the cost of the incentives. Findings will also have implications for the use of financially sustainable community-based incentive programs for other health-related behaviors (e.g., weight loss, smoking).

The importance of markets, politics, and community support: An analysis of the Small Community Air Service Development Program

Across the U.S., smaller communities face a challenging environment for attracting and retaining commercial air service as a result of airline industry changes. Increasingly, airports and communities in smaller markets are developing air service development programs (ASIPs) to provide incentives to reduce the financial risk to airlines while also marketing the new service to the community. A key source of funds for many of community-based incentive programs is the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), which is a discretionary grant program operated by the Department of Transportation that provides funding to communities to supplement their own ASIPs. Despite the growing importance of this tool used by many communities, we know little about the factors that drive the allocation of SCASDP grants by the DOT. Using an analysis of 164 applications to the SCASDP program between 2011 and 2013, we assess the effect of market, political, and economic factors on the DOT's allocation of grants. Our findings suggest the DOT largely relies on the criteria in its published guidelines to allocate SCASDP grants. Specifically, the agency is more likely to approve applications for SCASDP grants when the community has the support of members of Congress who represent the community and the support of businesses and citizens through local match contributions. We also find the DOT allocates grants to communities with letters of support from air carriers and prior experience, either through multiple applications in the past or through an experience air service development consultant, with the application process.

Pilot survey of a novel incentive to promote healthy behavior among school children and their parents.

Reversing the obesity epidemic has been a persistent global public health challenge, particularly among low socioeconomic status populations and racial/ethnic minorities. We developed a novel concept of community-based incentives to approach this problem in such communities. Applying this concept, we proposed a school intervention to promote obesity prevention in the U.S. We conducted a pilot survey to explore attitudes towards this future intervention. The survey was collected as a nonprobability sample (N = 137 school-aged children (5–12 years)) in northern California in July 2013. We implemented multivariable logistic regression analyses where the dependent variable indicated the intention to participate in the future intervention. The covariates included the body mass index (BMI) based weight categories, demographics, and others. We found that the future intervention is expected to motivate generally-high-risk populations (such as children and parents who have never joined a past health-improvement program compared to those who have completed a past health-improvement program (the odds-ratio (OR) = 5.84, p < 0.05) and children with an obese/overweight parent (OR = 2.72, p < 0.05 compared to those without one)) to participate in future obesity-prevention activities. Our analyses also showed that some subgroups of high-risk populations, such as Hispanic children (OR = 0.27, p < 0.05) and children eligible for a free or reduced price meal program (OR = 0.37, p < 0.06), remain difficult to reach and need an intensive outreach activity for the future intervention. The survey indicated high interest in the future school intervention among high-risk parents who have never joined a past health-improvement program or are obese/overweight. These findings will help design and implement a future intervention.

Impacts of EMRs on Bedside Caregivers: Verification of Favourable Clinical, Cost, Satisfaction Outcomes

Regular physical activity (PA) enhances weight-loss and reduces risk of chronic disease. However, as few as 10% of U.S. adults engage in regular PA. Incentive programs to promote PA have shown some promise, but have typically used incentives that are too large to sustain over time and have not demonstrated habit formation or been tested in community settings. This report presents the rationale and design of a randomized pilot study testing the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of small monetary incentives for PA (n = 25) versus charitable donations in the same amount (n = 25) versus control (n = 25) over 12 months among 75 low-active but otherwise healthy adults at a local YMCA. Incentives are based on YMCA attendance, which is verified by electronic swipe card data and is the primary study outcome, with self-reported minutes/week of PA assessed as a secondary outcome. Incentives are intentionally small enough—$1/session, maximum of $5/week—such that they could be indefinitely sustained by community organizations, privately-owned health clubs, healthcare organizations, or employers (e.g., employer fitness facilities). Costs of the incentive program for the sponsoring organization may be partially offset by increases in membership resulting from the appeal of the program. Moreover, if efficacious, the charitable donation incentive program may have the added benefit of building social capital for the sponsoring organization and potentially serving as a tax write-off, thus further offsetting the cost of the incentives. Findings will also have implications for the use of financially sustainable community-based incentive programs for other health-related behaviors (e.g., weight loss, smoking).

Community-based incentives for environmental protection: the case of green electricity

This paper examines the effectiveness of using community-level rewards to subsidize environmental protection. Specifically, we study the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities (CCEC) program that provides mostly symbolic rewards in the form of municipal photovoltaic installations in proportion to the number of households that voluntarily purchase green electricity. We find that the program causes a 22 % increase in the number of households purchasing green electricity in CCEC municipalities. The pattern of results suggests that the CCEC leads to the mobilization of community-based recruitment campaigns that increase signup rates by up to 700 % around the period of initial qualification. We also find that a change in the marginal incentive created by the program has little consequence on signup behavior. The implication for policy is that community-based incentives can be effective, but the size of the subsidy itself appears less important. Finally, simple calculations based on CCEC up-front costs reveal upper-bound, cost-effectiveness measures of $570 per household signup, 6.7\(\not {c} \) per kilowatt-hour of annual green-electricity demand, and $113 per ton of annual carbon-dioxide emission reductions.

Protected areas and community incentives in savannah ecosystems: a case study of Tanzania’s Maasai Steppe

AbstractTwo issues of central importance to conservation are developing an improved understanding of the relative roles of state protected areas and local institutions and developing effective strategies for creating community-based incentives for conservation. We provide a case study of northern Tanzania’s Maasai Steppe to explore these issues in the context of a savannah ecosystem where wildlife is mobile and depends extensively on community lands for seasonal habitats. We compare the impacts and outcomes of four approaches to developing local incentives for wildlife conservation on community lands: protected area benefit-sharing, trophy hunting donations, village–private tourism concession contracts, and a direct payment scheme for habitat conservation. Tourism and direct payment concession areas have resulted in large areas of community land being protected for wildlife by villages as a result of the conditional and contractual nature of these ventures. By contrast, other approaches that provide economic benefits to communities but are not conditional on defined conservation actions at the local level demonstrate little impact on wildlife conservation on community lands. In spatially extensive ecosystems where protected areas cover limited areas and wildlife relies heavily on community and private lands, strategies based on maximizing the direct income of communities from wildlife are fundamental to the sustainability of such systems.

Why profit-oriented companies enter the OS field?

This paper contributes to the literature on Open Source (OS) by providing empirical evidence on the incentives of firms that engage in the field. Data collected by a survey on 146 Italian companies supplying OS solutions ( Open Source firms ) show that (surprisingly) intrinsic, community-based incentives do play a role but are not, in general, put into practise. We investigate this discrepancy between attitudes and behaviours and single out groups of firms adopting a more consistent behaviour. Our results are in line with the literature on individual motivations in the OS movement.

Intrinsic Motivations and Profit-Oriented Firms in Open Source Software: Do Firms Practise What They Preach?

A growing body of economic literature is exploring the incentives of the agents involved in the Open Source movement. However, most empirical analyses focus on individual developers and neglect firms that do business with Open Source software (Open Source firms). This paper contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the incentives of firms that engage in Open Source activities. Data on firms' motivations were collected by a large-scale survey conducted on 146 Italian companies supplying Open Source (OS) solutions and show that intrinsic, community-based incentives do play a role. Nevertheless, these positive attitudes towards the values of the OS community, which are quite surprising by profit-oriented firms, are not in general put into practise. Discrepancy between attitudes and behaviours is a widely investigated phenomenon in social psychology literature. We explore its pattern in our sample, find that it does not concern all the respondents, and single out a group of firms adopting a more consistent behaviour. Our results are in line with the literature on individual motivations in organisations and Open Source business models.

Community-based incentives: Increasing contraceptive prevalence and economic opportunity

One promising approach to encouraging contraceptive acceptance and practice has been initiated by a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Thailand, the Population and Community Development Association (PDA). Community-level incentives, directed to the village as a unit and to individuals as isolates, are thought to put less direct pressure on the individual. In addition, the locus of power in such plans may be placed at the community level, as opposed to some higher administrative stratum far removed from the people the programme was meant to serve.