Policy Context Research Articles

Context matters: Placing the sociopolitical context into research on enclave-health effects and immigration enforcement.

County governments across the U.S. adopt varied immigrant-related policies that facilitate or hinder immigrant inclusion. County-level social, economic, and geographic characteristics also differ by location-resulting in diverging immigrant inclusion goals and local contexts that disparately impact the lives and health of immigrants and their families. Although ethnic enclaves-communities where a large share of coethnic and immigrant residents live-are embedded within broader county governments, research on enclave-health effects have seldom considered the sociopolitical contexts, especially the immigration enforcement policies, in the settings where enclaves exist. This paper examines differences in immigration enforcement policies across U.S. counties. Data are from multiple sources, including the 2016-2020 American Community Survey, the National Center for Health Statistics, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. In a stepwise process, we generated nine county types using county-level social, economic, and geography-related characteristics. This resulted in 236 urban and suburban counties where Latino density was above 13.9%. In bivariate analyses comparing county types, we found significant statistical differences in the number of immigration enforcement (p<0.00) and immigrant inclusion (p<0.00) policies. There were also statistically significant demographic and diversity differences between county types (p<0.00). Our results suggest a need to examine the county-level immigration policy context in research on enclave-health effects, as such contexts shape immigrant inclusion, immigrant health, and community wellbeing. Integrating the sociopolitical context may help to clarify points of intervention that county governments and immigrant communities can lead.

Claim Suppression of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Among Precariously Employed Immigrant Workers in Ontario.

Employers sometimes hinder the appropriate reporting of claims to workers' compensation, a phenomenon termed claim suppression. While the magnitude of claim suppression is difficult to quantify, various reports have identified it as a significant concern. In response, several Canadian jurisdictions, such as Ontario in 2015, introduced legislation addressing claim suppression. This article first discusses the legislative and policy context that influences claim suppression in Ontario, including concerns concerning the scope, interpretation, and enforcement of the law. It then presents qualitative findings from a community-based study with members of the Toronto Bangladeshi immigrant community that documented varied forms of employer claim suppression in precarious work, as well as facilitators of claim suppression within the workers' compensation and health care systems. Our findings and those of other research suggest that the scope of claim suppression is broader than that contemplated by the legislation. Our article proposes recommendations for the conceptualization of claim suppression and for legislation, policies, practices, and interventions that are grounded in workers' lived experiences.

Umbrella Reviews: A methodological guide.

This paper aims to explore the significance of umbrella reviews as a methodological advancement in evidence synthesis, emphasizing their role in aggregating data from multiple systematic reviews and their impact on evidence-based practice and policy-making. The paper examines the evolution of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, highlighting the emergence of umbrella reviews as a comprehensive synthesis method. It details the key steps involved in conducting an umbrella review, including literature searches, study selection, quality appraisal, and data synthesis. Various types of umbrella reviews are discussed, along with the integration of advanced methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches that enhance their effectiveness. Umbrella reviews have become an essential tool in evidence synthesis, offering a higher-level aggregation of systematic reviews to inform decision-making in clinical and policy contexts. Their evolving methodologies, combined with interdisciplinary approaches, make them crucial in shaping the future of evidence-based practice globally.

Analytic Hierarchy Process Optimization of Strategic Resource Management for Sustainable Development: Enhancing International Economic and Commercial Relations through Circular Economy Factors in Open Socio-Economic Systems

This article explores how the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) can optimize strategic resource management for sustainable development, emphasizing circular economy factors in open socio-economic systems. A thorough literature review links existing research in financial security, innovation, and risk management to illustrate the significance of integrating environmental considerations into long-term resource allocation. The proposed AHP framework decomposes complex decision-making into a hierarchical structure that includes both quantitative metrics, such as financial stability and waste reduction, and qualitative concerns, like stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance. Expert evaluations highlight the primacy of environmental and circular economy factors in resource management, closely followed by financial and risk considerations. Waste reduction, resource reuse, and supply chain resilience emerge as top-ranked sub-criteria, underscoring the importance of balancing ecological imperatives with economic viability. The study further highlights digital transformation as an essential enabler of real-time analysis and adaptive resource allocation. Integrating these insights within a broader policy and managerial context offers a roadmap for enhancing international economic and commercial relations, especially in turbulence-prone global markets. The findings suggest that holistic, multi-criteria decision-making—supported by AHP—provides a robust pathway toward sustainable development, promoting resilience and competitiveness in open socio-economic systems.

Variability of transport emissions and policy implications for the transition towards low-carbon transport

ABSTRACT This paper investigates intra-week variability of transport emissions using 2019 English National Travel Survey data. The unique lens of emissions variability sheds new light on the conceptualization, measurement and challenges of sustainable travel. Specifically, our analysis shows significant heterogeneity along three dimensions, (1) intra-week travel emissions; (2) the level and the variability of weekly emissions within each generic socio-economic group; and (3) latent emissions profiles across the population, which are identified using a latent profile model. Our empirical analysis demonstrates that the socio-economic status alone cannot capture the nuanced emission characteristics across traveller groups. The positive correlation between socio-economic status and travel emissions is subject to significant compositional effects. It is argued that transport sustainability is a relative term, and its definition and usefulness in a policy context are dependent on the benchmark selected. The paper calls for a more purposeful and relatable approach for segmenting travellers in designing sustainable travel policies. A dual focus on the level and the variability of travel emissions offers a new perspective for understanding travel behaviour heterogeneity and adaptability. Highlights Significant intra-week variability of transport emissions in England Latent travel emissions profiles empirically identified Socio-economic status is a weak predictor of generic emissions profile Calling for a more purposeful and relatable approach for segmenting travellers Emissions variability is a new perspective for understanding behaviour adaptability

Towards a children’s rights-based approach to EU sports policy: further room for development?

This conceptual article adopts a normative approach and argues the case for a children’s rights-based approach to European Union (EU) sports policy. Such a proposition, it is contended, remains especially important in the contemporary context of academic and policy debates surrounding both (1) human rights breaches in sport, and (2) the evolution of EU sports policy. Despite these debates, however, the role of the EU within the sport and children’s rights continuum has been given little attention so far. This is remarkable, because the Lisbon Treaty encompassed an EU competence on sporting issues, fairness, openness and co-operation in sport. By synthesizing literatures from the sociology of sport, human rights and EU law, it is contended here that the Lisbon Treaty provides a clear, legal and textual basis for the development of a robust EU policy that pays specific attention to children’s rights in the future development of EU sports policy. Overall, this paper advances a pathway within the EU whereby children’s rights are foregrounded within sports policy whilst extending the literature on EU law, sports policy and the sociology of human rights.

COMPARISON OF TIMOR-LESTE’S GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW WITH INDONESIA’S ANTI-MONOPOLY LAW TO ENHANCE CORPORATE COMPETITIVENESS

The implementation of Good Corporate Governance (GCG) principles in Timor Leste and the implementation of antitrust policies in Indonesia have a significant impact on the competitiveness of companies in both countries. This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the comparison between the GCG principles applied in the two countries, both in terms of their implementation challenges and impacts on business competitiveness. The qualitative approach was chosen to understand the phenomenon in depth, identifying the dynamics in the legal and policy contexts in each country. Using the comparative analysis method, the author explores the similarities and differences between the two legal frameworks, as well as analyzes the social and economic impact of these policies on the competition of companies. It is expected that this research can contribute to the development of better economic policies both in the countries and provide insights for other developing countries in optimizing corporate governance and business competition to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic development.

A historical overview of policy perspectives towards informal care in Taiwan (1996-2023).

This paper examines the evolution of policy perspectives towards informal care in Taiwan, focusing on the development of carer support services. It traces the transition from self-funded services by the Taiwan Association of Family Caregivers (a nonprofit organisation), to services funded by the government. Taiwan's approach highlights the considerable changes brought about by the implementation of the Long-Term Care Services Act which elevated the legal status of carers. Other reforms include the establishment of community-based carer support centres, the introduction of a carer referral mechanisms, and the decentralisation of services to local governments. Carer policies in Taiwan have increasingly embraced the perspective of carers as co-clients, not only recognising their crucial role in the care ecosystem but also raising the profile of informal care in public policy. However, ensuring sustainable funding from the central government, which is vital for the continuation and expansion of carer support, presents a considerable challenge for future policy considerations. The Taiwanese experiences of integrating carers into the long-term care policy context and of decentralisation of carer support services to local governments, serve as a reference for other countries developing carer policies.

History of Biological Databases, Their Importance, and Existence in Modern Scientific and Policy Context.

With the development of genome sequencing technologies, the amount of data produced has greatly increased in the last two decades. The abundance of digital sequence information (DSI) has provided research opportunities, improved our understanding of the genome, and led to the discovery of new solutions in industry and medicine. It has also posed certain challenges, i.e., how to store and handle such amounts of data. This, coupled with the need for convenience, international cooperation, and the possibility of independent validation, has led to the establishment of numerous databases. Spearheaded with the idea that data obtained with public funds should be available to the public, open access has become the predominant mode of accession. However, the increasing popularity of commercial genetic tests brings back the topic of data misuse, and patient's privacy. At the previous United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15, 2022), an issue of the least-developed countries exploiting their natural resources while providing DSI and the most-developed countries benefitting from this was raised. It has been proposed that financial renumeration for the data could help protect biodiversity. With the goal of introducing the topic to those interested in utilizing biological databases, in this publication, we present the history behind the biological databases, their necessity in today's scientific world, and the issues that concern them and their content, while providing scientific and policy context in relation to United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16, 21.10-1.11.24).

Carbon Emissions from Food Consumption and Reduction Potential in Urban Residents: A Case Study of Provincial Capitals in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River

Existing studies have established reliable methods for estimating carbon emissions from food consumption, yet there remains a lack of quantitative analysis on the decarbonization effects of energy transition and resource recycling. This study integrates lifecycle analysis and scenario analysis, based on data from 2006 to 2020, to conduct an empirical investigation of four provincial capital cities (Zhengzhou, Xi’an, Jinan, and Taiyuan) in the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River, exploring the potential for reducing carbon emissions from food consumption and examining the driving effects of energy transition and resource recycling. The results indicate the following: (1) Per capita carbon emissions from food consumption decreased after 2016. (2) Incineration for power generation has a significantly higher carbon reduction effect than landfilling. The proportion of carbon emissions from food waste disposal decreased from 20% to around 6%, with the decarbonization potential of recycling transformation being 8.8%, 8.3%, 11.5%, and 14.4% in Zhengzhou, Xi’an, Jinan, and Taiyuan, respectively. Our findings suggest that promoting the widespread adoption of new-energy vehicles, increasing the share of renewable energy in power generation, optimizing food recycling technologies, and reducing food waste are crucial for achieving future reductions in carbon emissions from urban food consumption. The proposed methodology for assessing carbon emissions and reduction potential in food consumption can also be applied to other regions with varying geographical, economic, and policy contexts.

Implications of state policy context for the well-being of immigrant families with young children.

There is notable variation in state-level social policy exclusions for immigrant parents and their children. Little research has investigated how these exclusions impair the well-being of immigrant families. This study examined how state-level social policy exclusions for immigrants are associated with the well-being of immigrant parents and development of their children. A mixed methods approach guided by the transformative framework was used with quantitative analyses among a subsample of low-income immigrant parents from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B; N = 1550) and qualitative focus groups with immigrant parents of young children from two states with differing social policy contexts: California (n = 18) and New Hampshire (n = 17). Results indicated that low-income immigrant parents with young children experienced greater parenting-related stressors in states with more restrictive policies toward immigrants. Quantitative findings revealed that children born in more exclusionary states had lower reading skills at age 4 and kindergarten. Findings from the qualitative focus groups identified a core category centered on humanity being at the hands of the state, with the following themes: (1) salience of immigrant limitations; (2) state climate toward immigrants; and (3) social programs reduce stress, but access is variable and filled with barriers. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

Boundary work in times of deterrence: emotionalisation, interdependence and inequality at the interfaces between refugees, state and civil society

ABSTRACT The Danish Parliament has increased legal measures to deter asylum seekers from heading to Denmark. Since 2019 all residence permits are granted ‘with a view to temporary residence’, while the criteria for meeting the requirements for permanent stay have been raised. The focus on integrating newcomers has been subordinated to objectives of deterrence and return, placing refugees with temporary residence in Denmark under conditions of deportability. Drawing on critical border and migration studies, this paper explores how deterrence is produced politically and negotiated in local practice. To understand the challenged relations between refugees, volunteers and municipal caseworkers in a context of restrictive legislation and hyper-precarious conditions, we propose a new conceptual approach theorising these changing dynamics, as different practices of ‘boundary work’. Based on fieldwork in three Danish localities (2021–2023), we scrutinise the lived experiences of deterrence by focusing on the boundary work of refugees, as well as of volunteers and caseworkers in the new self-sufficiency and return policy context. We thereby show how interdependence, inequality and emotionalisation processes are reinforced at the interfaces between all three groups. The wider scope of the analysis, we argue, is that these boundary work practices are induced by deterrence policies.

Imagining Coat-Hangers and Pills: A Qualitative Exploration of Abortion Beliefs and Attitudes in Hostile Policy Contexts in the United States.

We explored awareness of and attitudes about the safety of various methods people use to attempt to end a pregnancy without medical assistance, which we refer to in this study collectively as self-managed abortion (SMA). In 2020, we invited individuals living in eight United States (US) states considered "hostile" to abortion rights or with a history of criminalizing abortions performed outside the formal healthcare system to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews regarding their attitudes toward these practices. We analyzed coded transcripts for content and themes. We interviewed 54 individuals. Participants perceived methods of ending a pregnancy on one's own to have a high potential for complications, often evoking "coat hanger" abortions. Participants also frequently referenced methods such as physical trauma, herbs, teas, alcohol, or other drugs. Very few participants reported awareness of medication abortion pills. When asked about the safety of SMA in the context of self-sourcing these medications, participants considered pills safer and more acceptable than other SMA methods, while still fearing incorrect use and complications. Others believed that SMA could offer greater reproductive autonomy, less stigma, and a safer physical and psychological experience than facility-based abortion care. In 2020, most participants perceived SMA as involving unsafe practices and did not include use of medication abortion pills. Future research should document how beliefs and attitudes have been influenced by the expansion in telemedicine provision of medication abortion, the implementation of new state abortion bans, and the promulgation of Shield Laws.

The Role of Rresearch and Development in Global Technological Competition

Subject. Research and development in science and technology, as well as the development of the innovation sector, are top priorities for the country’s socio-economic well-being and security. Purpose. The competitive strategy is based on the analysis of the market for modern technologies and the identification of key areas for the development of competition. The goal is to ensure the country’s future economic competitiveness and the national security of Russia and other developed countries. Methodology. The study of priority scientific areas within the context of national scientific and technical policies in developed countries. It also explores the key characteristics of the information technology market and the unique features of its development and operation. Furthermore, the researchevaluates the financing of research and development activities. It analyzes the costs associated with these activities and their impact on economic growth. Results. The rationale for financing research and development in priority areas lies in the targeted strategic development of the economy. This development should be innovative, involving the creation of a high-tech complex and the effective use of the results of intellectual activity. The focus is on ensuring the security and competitiveness of the country in science, technology, and socio-economic well-being. The most important condition for the efficient use of public funds is the effective management of relevant programs and projects.

Scientometrics Approach to Advance Public Policy Within the Framework of Indigenous Peoples

This study aims to analyze the application of scientometric approaches within the context of public policy and the rights of Indigenous peoples, highlighting the potential of this method to identify, measure, and evaluate policy studies concerning Indigenous communities. A literature review utilizing the scientometric approach enables researchers to analyze scientific studies, identify emerging research trends, and evaluate public policies affecting Indigenous communities. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive search strategy was employed using the Web of Science database, with the keywords ‘Public Policy and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.’ The search covered articles published from January 1, 2000, to August 2024, resulting in a comprehensive review of 118 relevant articles, focusing on the interdisciplinary aspects of various categories. Within the context of public policy and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, the application of scientometrics provides various insights, including publication analysis, policy impact prediction and Indigenous rights, collaboration analysis, policy trends and Indigenous rights analysis, and knowledge mapping in a more objective and reliable framework. One of the notable findings from these analyses is that successful policies are those that integrate Indigenous perspectives into policy formulation and actively involve Indigenous communities in every policy process.

우리나라 수학 교사 연구에 관한 주제범위 고찰: 전문직성 관점을 중심으로

This study is a scoping review that examines 293 research papers on mathematics teachers in South Korea published from January 2000 to July 2024 viewed through the lens of professionalism. Professionalism is a theoretical perspective that comprehensively explains the characteristics of professions called professionals not only in terms of specialized knowledge and skills but also within socio-cultural and institutional contexts. According to an analysis of previous studies, professionalism is broadly classified into professional, institutional, and connective approaches, depending on whether the contexts influencing its formation are situated within or outside the teaching profession. Based on this framework, this study identified the perspectives on professionalism expressed in each paper, examining variables such as research background, teacher-related topics, school levels, etc. Additionally, Multiple Correspondence Analysis was conducted to derive characteristics of the literature on mathematics teachers in South Korea. The findings indicate that literature with a professional approach was the most prevalent across all school levels (elementary, middle, and high), with elementary-level studies especially displaying a variety of teacher-related topics. Institutional approach studies saw a peak in the 2010s, while in the 2020s, studies with a connective approach became more common. However, institutional approach increasingly appeared in combination with other approaches, particularly regarding research on teachers related to the revised curriculum. High school-level studies notably account for a relatively large proportion within this mixed approach. Based on these findings, insights were gained regarding the implications of the South Korean curriculum in terms of teacher autonomy and professionalism within a policy context, as well as suggestions for the direction of teacher professionalism support at the institutional level.

The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning

Persuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on biased information evaluation. By conducting a factorial survey (N = 480) and incorporating a computational model of attitude formation, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the cognitive-affective mechanisms driving motivated reasoning. Our experimental findings reveal that motivated reasoning is most pronounced when persuasive appeals employ a combination of emotional and rational elements within a negatively valenced argument. Furthermore, our computational model, which estimates belief and affect adjustments underlying attitude changes, elucidates how message framing influences cognitive-affective processes through emotional coherence. The results provide support for a negative correlation between shifts in coherence in response to new information and the propensity for motivated reasoning. The research contributes to computational models of opinion dynamics and social influence, offering a psychologically realistic framework for exploring the impact of individual reasoning on population-level dynamics, particularly in policy contexts, where it can enhance communication and informed policy discussions.

LIETUVOS JAUNIMO PERĖJIMAS IŠ ŠVIETIMO SISTEMOS Į DARBO RINKĄ: IŠŠŪKIAI IR TENDENCIJOS

he article examines the process of youth transition from the education system to the labor market in Lithuania. It discusses the context of social policy and the regulation of legal and strategic documents. The main focus is on the European Union’s Youth Guarantee program, aimed at reducing youth unemployment, particularly among NEET (youth not in employment, education, or training). The article addresses the theoretical assumptions of the transition process and analyzes various theoretical perspectives, such as status change and human capital theory, which are used to assess youth integration into the labor market. In the Lithuanian context, the transition from the education system to the labor market is not a linear process. Youth transition is often accompanied by periods of unemployment and inactivity. The article distinguishes three youth segments: labor market-active youth, inactive individuals (studying but not working), and NEET youth. Special attention is given to the NEET indicator, which has increased over the long term in Lithuania, although it has fluctuated in different periods. The study also highlights the connections between youth employment and unemployment indicators with the NEET group, as well as correlational relationships showing that fluctuations in youth unemployment rates are closely related to changes in the NEET indicator. Additionally, the impact of educational attainment on youth employment is analyzed, noting that higher education does not always ensure successful employment. The article provides conclusions and recommendations on how to improve youth opportunities for successful integration into the labor market.

The Government-Farmer Conflict in Sudan: A Deepening Crisis in Agriculture

This paper explores the ongoing struggles faced by Sudanese farmers within the broader context of government policies and socio-political challenges affecting the agricultural sector. Despite agriculture being the backbone of Sudan's economy, the sector has been hindered by inadequate government support, land disputes, poor infrastructure, and the exacerbating impacts of climate change. Through an analysis of recent farmer protests, land ownership issues, and the state's responses, this paper reveals a cycle of alienation and unrest among rural communities. Drawing from a range of sources, it argues that the government's failure to implement effective land reforms and provide adequate support for small-scale farmers has deepened the rural-urban divide and threatened food security. The paper concludes by calling for comprehensive reforms, including secure land tenure, increased rural investment, and climate adaptation strategies, to create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.

Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan

To address the complexity of sustainable urban development, policymakers are making increasing use of digital technology tools, now including AI and urban digital twins (UDTs). The aims of the article are to shed light on the political implications of UDTs uses in urban policy and governance aimed at sustainability and to understand from a perspective of political sociology factors influencing processes of UDTs design and implementation. Research questions regard the local politics of UDTs for sustainability analyzed through the lenses of policy frames, contexts, regulation and data governance and value. Responses are based on evidence from the comparative analysis of two case studies: Bologna and Milan, carried out through desk and field research (analysis of documents and interviews). Local agencies lead to different approaches and, potentially, outcomes, made possible by the diversity and plasticity of UDT models, systems and purposes, as well as by the elasticity and adaptability to different spatial contexts of the policy paradigm of urban sustainability. Two patterns of the local politics of UDTs emerge in Bologna and Milan, in which above all the roles of public actors and businesses are different. Logics of action, practices and forms of coordination are transferred from the broader systems of urban governance and political economy to the more circumscribed systems of action of UDTs.