Comparative Institutional Analysis Research Articles

Surveillance capitalism and the surveillance state: a comparative institutional analysis

Surveillance capitalism and the surveillance state: a comparative institutional analysis

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on E-Learning Adoption and Its Utilization at Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Institutions and Students' Perspectives

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on E-Learning Adoption and Its Utilization at Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Institutions and Students' Perspectives

The Economics of Drought

Water scarcity and drought have determined the structure, location, and fate of civilizations throughout history. Drought remains an important factor in the performance of developed and developing economies, especially in the agricultural sector. While significant attention has been paid to drought as a meteorological phenomenon and on its economic impact, comparative institutional analysis of the economics of drought is limited. In this review, we focus on how economic institutions, the humanly devised constraints that shape the allocation and use of water, impact the severity and incidence of droughts. Water property rights in developed countries encourage infrastructure investments and reallocations that mitigate drought impacts, although such institutions may codify inequitable water access during drought. Developing economies rely more on informal strategies for mitigating drought and remain more vulnerable, experiencing economic losses, conflict, and violence.

Resilient or declining? An institutional analysis of employer associations and their implications for companies in the European Union

Institutional transformations in recent decades have limited the weight and power of collective actors. Notwithstanding this, literature on employer associations (EAs) has argued a resilient performance in terms of affiliation. In this paper, we use comparative institutional analysis to evaluate the actual scope of these associations in terms of membership and the share of workforce employed by their members. Moreover, by utilising a logistic regression approach we delve into the drivers of the choice to join these organisations. Our results show a general decline of EAs, and point to large manufacturing companies as the great reservoirs of affiliation. However, institutional variations across Europe cause significant differences between countries. We thus demonstrate how membership is strongly influenced by the institutional framework, the relevance of the variables related to the provision of collective goods as a counterbalance to trade union activity and adherence to collective bargaining schemes.

Level of Economic Development and National Policies in Mexico and Nigeria (1970-2018): A Comparative Analysis of Growth and Institutions

The research compares Mexico and Nigeria's growth and development disparities using Sen and Collier's frameworks by examining various factors. It aims to propose policies on interest rates, FDI, external debt, government spending on health, education, and welfare. Results highlight positive impacts on Mexico's GNI from external debt, government spending, and FDI, and in Nigeria, all variables except interest rates positively affect GNI. Key recommendations include reducing Nigeria's debt by investing in bonds, using domestic debts and for both countries; enhancing welfare through Progresa, transparency in expenditure using online reporting, and infrastructure; boosting income and employment in Mexico with knowledge transfer, innovation, and transport improvements; and addressing violence by alleviating poverty through proposed subsidy programs and anti-corruption measures.

Digital Disruption in Banking: A Comparative Analysis of Neo Banks and Traditional Institutions

Digital Disruption in Banking: A Comparative Analysis of Neo Banks and Traditional Institutions

THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRACTICES OF SOCIO-ARTISTIC EDUCATION AT PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITIES OF RUSSIA AND CHINA

This scientific article is devoted to a comparative analysis of pedagogical higher educational institutions in China and Russia in the field of art education and social practice. The main purpose of the study is to identify similarities and differences between the educational systems of the two countries, their approaches to teaching contemporary art, as well as interaction with the artistic community and the social environment. The article provides an overview of the existing research in the field of socio-artistic education at pedagogical universities in Russia and China. The key aspects and practices are analysed, such as the organisation of the educational process, inclusion of students in art projects and practices, interaction with the local art community and social organisations. The results of the study help to identify similarities and differences in the approaches to socio-artistic education in educational institutions in Russia and China. The author discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each system and gives recommendations for improving the practice of socio-artistic education in pedagogical higher educational institutions of both countries. The research is of interest to educators, scientists and specialists in the field of art education, as well as those who are interested in comparative analysis of educational practices of art in different countries. The results of the work can be used to develop training programmes and improve the quality of socio-artistic education at pedagogical universities.

Effectiveness of English Teaching as a Foreign Language (ETFL) in Pakistani Educational Institutions: Exploring Methods and Strategies to Address Challenges

This study delves into the effectiveness of English Teaching as a Foreign Language (ETFL) in various educational institutions across Pakistan, with a focus on schools in Lahore, Punjab. The qualitative research method was employed, and interviews were conducted in three different schools. The teachers and students were selected by purposive sampling to gauge the current methods and strategies employed in English language instruction. The initial phase involved posing identical questions to both teachers and students to ensure a comprehensive understanding of perspectives. Subsequently, the inquiry narrowed its focus, repeating the questions for the students exclusively. The research revealed explanatory implications, shedding light on the beliefs and attitudes of language instructors towards the teaching and learning of English as a second language. Additionally, the study proposed practical strategies for students to overcome challenges encountered in their language learning journey. For future research, a comparative analysis of urban and rural educational institutions in different regions of Pakistan may be investigated. Further, potential variations in teaching methods, resources, and challenges faced in diverse educational settings may be explored.

HOW DO WE ENSURE THE QUALIFICATION OF CIVIL SERVANTS WITH DIGITAL SKILLS IN EUROPE? A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Digital transformation has become a desire for states due to its real benefits to society. Public sector employees must prepare professionally to successfully implement digitisation projects of public services. In this context, the issue of digital skills of civil servants is a priority for the public administration. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of institutions that provide professional training in the digital field for public sector employees. The purpose of this work is to analyse which are the models of good practices to follow when we talk about the digital transformation of public administrations in Europe. At the same time, the objective of the comparative analysis is to establish a set of priorities regarding the digital skills that must be pursued through the professional training processes of civil servants. The work offers interesting insights on how these institutions are sharing their responsibilities. The conclusions of this study can be useful to public institutions in Romania in order to improve digital transformation processes.

Balancing the Relationship Between the Union and Member States through the Market Process

There are mainly two paths to fiscal discipline within a federation or within a monetary union: either through markets or through hierarchy. By establishing the no-bailout clause, the Stability and Growth Pact and the Excessive Deficit Procedure, it was thought that the Maastricht Treaty had chosen market mechanisms to achieve that objective. However, the financial crisis showed the severe shortcomings of the model, marking a shift towards surveillance. This article argues that such failure was not due to the market mechanism but by flawed institutional choices. By establishing a procedure for fiscal adjustment, Member States cast doubt on the credibility of the no-bail out clause and took matters into the political realm. As a result, the political process was at the forefront since inception. There are several ways to deliver a certain social goal. Accordingly, goal choice and institutional choice are inextricably linked because it is the institutional choice which connects goals with their legal or public policy results. Importantly, to choose the best avenue comparative institutional analysis needs to be conducted. After briefly considering the political process, this article purports that other processes should be fully explored. When addressing the financial crisis in multi-level governance, some alternatives have already been employed: state default and supranational bailout. Within the EMU, no State has defaulted on its debt obligations prior to receiving a bailout. However, there is room to explore an option that would be based on market mechanisms with judicial elements while reducing dependence on the political process in the long-term: allowing Member States to orderly default on their debts. The article discusses its main problems, constitutional admissibility and democratic necessity.

Evolutionary Game Analysis on Group Cooperation of Heterogeneous Chaoshan Firms

In developing global trade and commerce, firms founded by Chaoshan merchants have gradually formed informal institutions of group cooperation. This study constructs an asymmetric evolutionary game model for Chaoshan firms from the HCIA (historical and comparative institutional analysis) perspective of group cooperation institutions. Furthermore, it analyses the evolutionary path and the constraint mechanism of group cooperation institutions of heterogeneous Chaoshan firms. The results suggest that if the net payoffs to one party from cooperation are less than those from a breach, it is detrimental for both parties to continue group cooperation. When the net payoffs from cooperation are more than those from a breach, both parties choose group cooperation if reputational compensation covers the losses. Otherwise, the ultimate cooperation between both parties depends on the distribution of benefits, the profitability of cooperation, the penalty cost of a breach, the cost of cooperation and the loss from a breach suffered by adhering to cooperation.

Conceptual typologies of learning communities for master’s course students using a publications exemplar: a comparative institutional analysis

ABSTRACT With an increased emphasis being placed on the importance of postgraduate students publishing articles in international journals, many students may feel a need to organise learning communities with faculty members or their peers to support this aspirational activity. Most research in this area is related to doctoral students, but places relatively little focus on master ones. This study aims to conceptualise possible patterns for the formation of such learning communities through a comparative institutional analysis, based on a qualitative game theoretic discussion. We propose four basic learning community modes: individual (i.e. one-on-one consultancy by faculty staff reviewing individual student drafts); lecture (i.e. writing lectures led by a faculty staff member); peer collaboration (i.e. only students working together on their drafts); and, solo (i.e. individual students working on their own manuscripts without structured support). This is one of a small number of attempts to formalise and provide an analytical model of possible types of coordination between faculty members and master’s course students regarding learning community activities. Our analysis indicates that the most efficient strategy for students reaching the point of successful submission is to have faculty members support them by facilitating groups of student authors and providing feedback on their drafts.

Adaptive institutional change in municipal waste management

Purpose. The paper proposes a new trajectory of institutional change that integrates economic (fiscal) and technical solutions in managing municipal waste.
 Methodology / approach. The study adopts a model for the study of institutional change. A retrospective, quantitative analysis of institutional change, a legal-historical analysis of formal institutions, and a comparative-institutional analysis are used to substantiate the link between municipal waste quantities and Gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Using correlation and regression analysis, we examine the relationship between institutional change in municipal waste management and recycling.
 Results. The study proves the impact of institutional change on municipal waste management in the EU and Bulgaria. It can change the relationship between GDP and the amount of waste and stimulate the implementation of more efficient and innovative waste management methods. The relationship between institutional change in municipal waste management are studied. The main idea is that more legal acts regulating municipal waste management and a higher human development index, wich reflects better and more efficient municipal waste management, will lead to higher recycling rates. The study discusses how institutional change aimed at effective municipal waste management can contribute to increased revenues and reduced costs for the government by promoting innovation in the sector, introducing more efficient waste collection and treatment technologies, and encouraging recycling.
 Originality / scientific novelty. The study highlights the lack of a unified direction in rules and policies for municipal waste management in Bulgaria and its impact on the system’s efficiency. It aims to present a new approach to solving the problems related to municipal waste management in Bulgaria that focuses on the importance of institutional change.
 Practical value / implications. The paper identifies differences between the municipal waste management systems in the EU and Bulgaria. The proposed financial and technical solutions help central and municipal administrations to create new institutions. These actions can be joint and better coordinated. All this should lead to changes in the regulatory framework. The new rules will contribute to stability and less need to change regulations, clarity for individuals and organisations to the optimal solutions for reducing municipal waste costs, and “pressure” on the central and local administration to take the necessary actions for such a change.

A Comparative Institutional Analysis of Learning Communities for Postgraduate Students: Region-Wide And Intra-University Group Comparisons

Abstract The recognition of the importance of learning communities for postgraduate students has been on the rise in recent times. As a result, many postgraduate students may wish to establish a learning community (lc) with peers and/or faculty members as a way of benefiting from the support lc s offer. This study undertakes a conceptual analysis of some key features required for organising and sustaining lc s and utilises the comparative institutional analysis (cia) approach in order to model a variety of coordination types that can exist between faculty members and masters’ course students or doctoral students undertaking lc activities. This paper endeavours to conceptually depict the typologies of two lc s with respect to cia principles, and to draw conclusions about their respective cost-efficiency and sustainability, as well as outline implications for further research.

Management strategies in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching-learning process: A comparative analysis of Ecuadorian Public and Private institutions

This research investigation delves into the classroom management routines and protocols implemented by English educators within two educational institutions, one public and the other private, over the course of a senior academic year. The primary objective of this inquiry is to dissect the commonalities and disparities between these institutions concerning their methodologies for classroom management. The researchers strive to identify the challenges encountered by instructors when implementing classroom management routines and protocols, alongside assessing students' comprehension of and adherence to these established procedures. The research employs a blend of three data collection methodologies: observation checklists, surveys, and interviews, which collectively employ triangulation to offer comprehensive insights. The findings divulge substantial disparities and limitations in the application of routines and procedures between the public and private institutions, notably concerning behavioral control and the diversity of pedagogical activities integrated into lessons. The public institution demonstrates a heightened degree of instructor authority in overseeing student behavior, while the private institution incorporates a more intricate range of activities during instructional sessions. Drawing from the conclusions derived from this research, the authors proffer tailored recommendations to English instructors in both educational settings. These recommendations are meticulously formulated to address the identified challenges and proffer potential resolutions for augmenting classroom management, thereby ultimately facilitating the pedagogical trajectory of teaching and learning.

The Use of the Institutional Grammar 1.0 for Institutional Analysis: A Literature Review

Since Crawford and Ostrom proposed the Institutional Grammar (IG), a conceptual tool for breaking down and organizing institutional statements, a burgeoning literature has used it to study institutions contained in single documents and to conduct comparative institutional analysis across multiple countries and time periods. Moreover, rapid advances in text analysis and computational methods are creating new analytic opportunities to study rules, norms and strategies by leveraging the IG syntax. At this stage, it is important to assess the existing literature to understand how the IG has supported institutional analysis across a variety of contexts, including commons governance. Based on a corpus of 48 empirical articles published between 2010 and 2021, we explore how analysts have operationalized institutional statements using the IG. We also synthesize the IG-based metrics and theoretical concepts developed in these articles to illustrate the contributions of IG for measurement of challenging concepts such as polycentricity, discretion, and compliance, among others. Our findings indicate that the IG is a flexible and adaptable tool for institutional analysis, especially for making empirical contributions from text-based data, and it holds promise toward building a potentially new emerging subfield we call Computational Institutional Analysis.

ABSENTEEISM IN MODERN LAW: CAUSES AND METHODS OF OVERCOMING IT

The article examines the causes and conditions of the phenomenon of absenteeism, as well as the problems and features that exist today in the field of suffrage. The political, social and psychological factors that influence the level of electoral activity are analyzed and considered. The phenomenon of parliamentary absenteeism through the prism of democracy and legitimacy of parliamentary activity is considered. The relationship between the political and legal culture of the population and the process of forming a clear civic position, civic activism and social responsibility has been studied. As practice shows, the conduct of election campaigns, the process of forming an electoral culture is complex and multifaceted. The formation of political and legal culture, civic activism and responsibility must begin at the level of secondary education. State and public institutions should play an active role in this process, which are designed not only to acquaint citizens with the election legislation, but also to explain its norms. An effective means of overcoming passivity and indifference today is to establish a public dialogue between citizens’ associations and state institutions. The use of transparent electoral technologies is also important. In general, to overcome absenteeism in modern domestic political practice, society and the state need politicians with national thinking and state-building strategy. The elected government must be open and accountable to the citizens who voted for it. Political elites must be responsible for the country’s political choices. In addition, in the age of information technology, the media are of great importance, which can also significantly affect the activity of citizens during elections, giving preference not only to advertising candidates, but also to election debates, comparative analysis of independent scientific institutions, objective and not engaged information coverage.

Cross-country comparative analysis and case study of institutions for future generations

While references to sustainability have become a centrepiece of both political campaigns and actual policy-making, the long-term future and its citizens have traditionally not been a primary concern of political decision makers. Nonetheless, a small group of countries have experimented with institutions that are intended to act as guardians for future generations. To evaluate their relative success and draw conclusions about best-practice examples, this study examines and compares these approaches. To this end, a literature review was conducted to first identify the status quo and the problems that are caused by the tendency in politics to have a bias for the present and to discount the future. This was followed by a comparative analysis (using a multifactor model based on criteria suggested by the literature) of countries that have introduced institutions dedicated to the consideration of Future Generations. The most promising instance that emerged from this comparative analysis was then more closely examined through a case study, investigating its ability to overcome political presentism by evaluating both successes and shortcomings. The findings suggest that institutions for future generations are partially able to address the problems of political presentism, but their success depends largely on structural conditions such as the power they hold and their resistance to politicisation.

Legislative ex-post impact assessments in Europe: applying a new assessment framework for comparative institutional analysis on Post-Legislative Scrutiny by national parliaments in Europe

ABSTRACT This article analyses parliamentary practices in conducting Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) in Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom against four categories of parliamentary approach in PLS. Parliaments as passive scrutinisers have few parliamentary structures, capacity and procedures for PLS and no parliamentary PLS reports. Parliaments as informal scrutinisers have few parliamentary structures and procedures but are stronger in terms of own parliamentary outputs on PLS. Parliaments as formal scrutinisers have more developed structures and procedures on PLS but remain weak in terms of outputs and follow up. Parliaments as independent scrutinisers are strong in terms of structures and procedures as well as in terms of reports and follow up. The case-studies indicate that the federal parliament of Germany is a passive scrutiniser in PLS, the parliament of Italy an informal scrutiniser, the parliaments of Sweden and France formal scrutinisers, and the UK Westminster and Swiss parliaments independent scrutinisers.

The grammar of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in international conservation: A comparative institutional analysis of four treaty regimes

AbstractOf enduring interest to social scientists is better understanding institutional design. Formal institutions (e.g., treaties and regulations) convey salient governance information, including actors' required, allowed, or prohibited actions, and monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to foster institutional compliance with those actions. Yet, few studies have compared these features in international instruments. Addressing this gap, this study utilizes the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework's rule typology and the Institutional Grammar (IG) to compare the stringency and robustness of the formal monitoring and enforcement mechanisms outlined in four conservation treaties: The International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling; the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the Convention on Migratory Species, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Doing so revealed the mechanisms' theoretical ability to manage species' appropriation levels and treaty opt‐outs (e.g. reservations/objections), thwart biodiversity losses, and meet their conservation objectives. Findings include (1) identification of verbs and semantic constraints that dilute legally mandated actions to recommended outcomes; (2) a divide among treaty regimes by specificity of the required/permitted/recommended actions assigned to actors; and (3) enforcement mechanisms that require member states to take punitive action against non‐compliant national actors vis‐a‐vis regimes with minimal to no enforcement requirements. This study complements existing institutional design, international relations, and legal scholarship by illustrating the IG's and IAD's utility to describe the treaties' formal monitoring and enforcement design features. It also provides a better understanding of formal international conservation governance which may be useful to policy designers and conservation practitioners.