Current Policy Directions Research Articles

Cost effectiveness analysis comparing varying booster intervals of vaccination policies to address COVID-19 situation in Thailand, 2023.

The COVID-19 booster immunization policy is cost-effective, but evidence on additional booster doses and appropriate strategies is scarce. This research compared the cost-effectiveness of annual, twice-a-year, and biennial booster dose policies. We performed stochastic modeling using compartmental susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered models and a system dynamic model. We evaluated four policy scenarios: (1) hypothetical no-booster immunization policy; (2) twice-a-year vaccination policy; (3) annual vaccination policy; and (4) biennial vaccination policy. In addition, we conducted a one-way sensitivity analysis by adjusting R0 from 1.8 to 3.0 in all scenarios (epidemic stage) and by decreasing the vaccination cost by 50% at the end of the first year to reflect the current policy direction to enhance domestic vaccine production. Compared to non-booster policies, all three booster strategies reduced the number of cases, hospital admissions, and severe infections remarkably. Without a booster, total cases would reach 16,220,615 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6,726,550-29,661,112) by day 1,460, whereas, with a twice-a-year booster, the total cases would reach 597,901 (95% CI 526,230-694,458) in the same period. Even though the no booster scenario exhibited the lowest cost by approximately the first 500 days, by day 1,460 the biennial booster scenario demonstrated the lowest cost at 72.0 billion baht (95% CI 68.6-79.4 billion). The most cost-saving policy was the biennial booster scenario. The annual booster scenario also stood as a cost-effective option for most outcomes. In the epidemic stage and in an assumption where the vaccination costs dropped, all booster policies became more cost-effective or cost-saving compared with the main assumption. This study underscores the significance of the COVID-19 vaccine booster policy. Implementing policies should take into consideration cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and public communication.

Adequate housing in Taipei City’s private rental market: a visual content analysis of online rental unit advertisements

Since 2017, Taipei City government has implemented a policy to expand the rental housing market with a set of incentives for landlords that brings more affordable apartments to the market. This study applied visual content analysis to online rental housing advertisements to investigate the private rental market’s ability to provide adequate housing. The results show limited supply in the affordable price range, structural deficits, and elements contributing to an unsafe and unhealthy living environment. Also, accessibility is not ensured, as 91% of the units are in walk-up buildings. In addition, the prospects of the current policy direction for improving tenants’ precarity in the private rental market are weak, as discrimination and lease insecurity are not being addressed. This paper discusses the potential adverse effects of the current policy direction, including hindering urban regeneration efforts and fuelling a ‘Generation Landlord’. A tenant-centred, multidimensional approach to affordability is recommended as a starting point for future policy design.

Research on Learning Social Networks and Collaboration in Education Using Big Data Analytics and Machine Learning

This paper explores the application of big data analytics and machine learning in education, particularly in the context of learning social networks and collaborative research. By systematically reviewing existing literature and conducting theoretical analysis, this study delves into how big data and machine learning technologies can support and optimize learning behaviors and collaboration patterns within educational social networks. Using literature review and theoretical deduction methods, the research analyzes the potential applications of big data analytics in educational data processing, learning behavior prediction, and personalized learning recommendations. Additionally, it examines the contributions of machine learning algorithms in identifying and optimizing node relationships, information dissemination paths, and collaboration efficiency within learning social networks. By comparing domestic and international research outcomes and considering current social trends and policy directions, several theoretical models and analytical frameworks are proposed to provide theoretical support and reference for future educational research. The results indicate that big data analytics and machine learning technologies not only enhance the efficiency of educational data processing, but also significantly improve information flow and collaboration quality within learning social networks, thereby promoting the development of personalized and collaborative learning. This theoretical analysis offers new perspectives and approaches for further exploring the applications of big data and machine learning in the education sector.

Anti-racism commitment in early childhood education: The limits of cultural competency

Racism is pervasive in education in Aotearoa New Zealand, including in early childhood education. The preparedness of early childhood teachers to respond to the Ministry of Education's current anti-racism policy direction is a pressing concern. This is particularly the case, given the early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa offers little guidance to support early childhood teachers to develop anti-racism pedagogies. This primarily theoretical article seeks to contribute to dialogue with early childhood teachers about both racism and anti-racism pedagogies. The theoretical arguments advanced in the article focus on document analysis of Te Whāriki. Analysis includes consideration of the themes of inclusion, equity and social justice. It also includes consideration of what these themes might imply about expectations for early childhood teachers’ uptake of anti-racism approaches in their practice. Document analysis is supplemented by limited preliminary survey data drawn from the initial findings of the Anti-racism Commitment in Early Childhood Education: Pathways to Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice (ARC-ECE) study. Drawing from race-critical scholarship to further advance the theoretical arguments, the article highlights tensions in early childhood teachers’ understandings about racism. The limits of narrow definitions of racism that explain it as the result of ‘cultural difference’ are explored. In making a case for thinking beyond cultural competence and culturally responsive practice, the article calls for an immediate rethinking of racism in (and beyond) the sector.

How Free Market Logic Fails in Schooling—And What It Means for the Role of Government

Market-based policies, especially school vouchers, are expanding rapidly and shifting students out of traditional public schools. This article broadens, deepens, and updates prior critiques of the free market logic in five ways. First, although prior articles have pointed to some of the conditions necessary for efficient market functioning, I provide a more comprehensive list. Second, with an up-to-date literature review, I show that all of these conditions fail to hold to an unusual extent in schooling relative to other markets. Third, because of these failures, I argue that the most potent critique of the free market approach to schooling comes from the intellectual home of markets—economics. Fourth, I show that the issues leading to inefficiency are the same ones leading to inequity. Fifth, I argue that the analysis points to specific roles for government that go well beyond those included in new universal school voucher policies but are also narrower than the roles of government encompassed in traditional public education. For these reasons, the current policy direction is off track and apparently inconsistent with the main criteria on which we evaluate education policy and even with the values that voucher advocates profess.

Current Status and Policy Direction of the Age-Friendly Industry in Korea

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore and analyze the current status of Korea’s age-friendly industry (AFI), which is attracting attention as a solution to various social and economic problems caused by aging, and to find policy directions for the future.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - In order to understand the current status of the age-friendly industry in Korea, this study first investigated and analyzed nine industrial sectors classified by the government. It also looked at the current four major policies fostering this industry. Finally, based on the results of analysis, this study suggests future policy directions.
 Findings - Korea’s age-friendly industry did not fully consider the characteristics and needs of the elderly, and neglected many fields other than care services. In addition, it was still difficult for consumers to access this industry, and practical experts were not effectly nurtured. 
 Research Implications - Based on the results of the analysis, this study identified the problems of the current age-friendly industry in Korea. and suggested the following four policy directions: (1) a broader analysis of the characteristics and needs of the elderly, (2) the expansion of customized consulting for the diversification and quality improvement of age-friendly industrial products, (3) active private participation to increase accessibility to consumers and expansion of promotion centered on residential areas in the region, and (4) the introduction of a more practical expert training system through non-degree programs.

Route-to-market strategy for low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas in the Permian Basin

This paper investigates the untapped potential of the Permian Basin, a multifaceted energy axis in Texas and adjoining states, in the emerging era of decarbonization. Aligned with current policy directives on regional hydrogen hubs, this study explores the viability of developing a hydrogen energy hub in the Permian Basin, thereby producing low-carbon intensity hydrogen from natural gas in the Basin and transporting it to the Greater Houston area. Diverging from existing literature, this study provides an integrated techno-economic evaluation of the entire hydrogen value chain in the Permian Basin, encompassing production, storage, and transportation. Furthermore, it comparatively analyzes the scenario of interest against an optimized base scenario, thereby underlining comparative advantages and disadvantages. The paper concludes that the delivered cost of Permian-based low-carbon intensity hydrogen to the Greater Houston area is $1.85/kg, benchmarked to the scenario, with hydrogen produced close to the Greater Houston area and delivered at $1.42/kg. Our findings reveal that Permian-based low-carbon intensity hydrogen production can achieve cost savings in feedstock ($0.25/kg) and potentially accrue a higher production tax credit due to a shorter gas supply chain to production ($0.33/kg). Nevertheless, a significant cost barrier is the expense of long-haul pipeline transport ($0.90/kg) from the Permian Basin to Houston as opposed to local production. Despite the obstacles, the study identifies a potential breakeven solution where increasing the production scale to at least 412,000 metric ton per year (about 3 steam-reforming plants) in the Permian Basin can effectively lower costs in the transport sector. Hence a scaled-up production can mitigate the cost difference and establish the Permian Basin as a competitive player in the hydrogen market. In conclusion, a SWOT analysis presents Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats associated with Permian-based hydrogen production.

An investigation of body mass distributional changes in Australia, 1995–2017/18

This study investigates changes in the distribution of body mass for adult Australians between 1995 and 2017/18. Using three nationally representative health surveys, we first apply the parametric generalised entropy (GE) class of inequality indices to measure the level of disparity in the body mass distribution. Results from the GE measure reveal that, while growth of body mass inequality is a population-wide experience, demographic and socio-economic factors explain only a modest portion of total inequality. We then apply the relative distributions (RD) method to garner richer insights on changes to the body mass distribution. The non-parametric RD method reveals growth in the proportion of adult Australians falling into the upper deciles of the body mass distribution since 1995. Then, hypothetically keeping the shape of the distribution unchanged, we discern that body mass increases across all deciles of the distribution (location effect) is an important contributor to the observed distributional change. After removing the location effect, however, we find a non-trivial role for distributional shape changes (growth of the proportion of adults at the upper and lower parts of the distribution as the proportion in the middle diminish). While our findings support current policy directions that target the population as a whole, factors driving shape changes to the body mass distribution also need consideration when designing anti-obesity campaigns, especially when aimed at women.

Strengthening Global Systems to Prevent and Respond to High-Consequence Biological Threats

Introduction:The world is facing the devastating impact a biological event can have on human health, economies, and political stability. COVID-19 has revealed that national governments and the international community are woefully unprepared to respond to pandemics—underscoring our shared vulnerability to future catastrophic biological threats that could meet or exceed the severe consequences of the current pandemic. This study examines potential threats related to deliberate Russian military use and misuse of the tools of modern biology or an accident caused by a CBRN event evolving rapidly in the highly volatile political environment in and around Ukraine and other conflicts.Method:A participatory foresight, co-creative, future and transformation-oriented methodology was used to structure a transformative model for a disciplined exploration of scenarios to confront complex challenges and facilitate improved outcomes. Foresight helps to evaluate current policy priorities and potential new policy directions; see how the impact of possible policy decisions may combine with other developments; inform, support and link policy-making in and across a range of sectors; identify future directions, emerging technologies, new societal demands and challenges; and anticipate future developments, disruptive events, risks and opportunities.Results:The study found that the “mitigation scenarios” are based on the “Confront, Regulate, Overcome” metamodel combined with the “Security, Rescue, Care” response modalities. These require the cooperation/coordination of law enforcement forces along with military forces, fire departments and civil security resources, hospital and first-line responder teams, in order to appropriately address populations, assets and territories issues elicited by the identified threat, which drives key decision makers’ tasks at the strategic level.Conclusion:The participatory foresight exercise demonstrated gaps in national and international biosecurity and pandemic preparedness architectures highlighted by the challenges of the Ukraine war—exploring opportunities for better cooperation to improve prevention and response capabilities for high-consequence biological events, and generate actionable recommendations for the international community.

‘You Say One Thing Wrong, and Your Children Are Gone’: Exploring Trauma-Informed Practices in Foster and Kinship Care

Abstract Trauma-informed care is a growing practice approach in child and family social work. Current policy directions in out-of-home care (OOHC) in Victoria, Australia show an interest in further implementation of trauma-informed care, particularly through training for foster and kinship carers. Drawing upon findings from grounded theory research with sixteen foster and kinship carers, this article considers the application of trauma-informed practices in home-based care in the Central Highlands region of Victoria, Australia. The research reveals that whilst carers utilise principles of trauma-informed care to support children and young people, they do not always experience trauma-informed support from the wider OOHC system. This discrepancy suggests that the implementation of trauma-informed care has the potential to increase pressure on home-based carers if it is only encouraged at the interpersonal level between carers and children, without incorporating associated systems-level change. These findings propose that whilst micro-level support and training for carers are necessary and useful, it is crucial for OOHC systems to move beyond such initiatives to plan and enact macro-level reforms.

Towards reconciling population nutrition goals and investment policy in Thailand: understanding how investment policy actors defined, framed and prioritised nutrition

BackgroundGovernment’s investment policy is an important driver of food system activities, which in turn influence consumers practices, dietary consumption patterns and nutrition-related health of populations. While governments globally have committed to developing coherent public policies to advance population nutrition, the objectives of investment policies are seen as being divorced from nutrition and health goals. This study aimed to examine investment policy in Thailand and explore how key actors variously define and frame their objectives in food investment policy, how nutrition issues are represented by the actors, and what discursive effects of the nutrition results were represented within the field of investment in Thailand.MethodsThis study conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 actors (from 23 recruited actors) from government, civil society, academia and industry. A coding framework was developed based on Bacchi’s analytical framework encapsulated in the question “What’s the problem represented to be?” which examines the problem and assumptions underlying a policy. Data coding was first undertaken by a lead researcher and then double-coded and cross-checked by research team. Disagreements were resolved with discussion until consensus was achieved. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThe principal “problem” represented in food investment policy in Thailand was the perceived irrelevance of nutrition to governmental commitments towards increasing productivity and economic growth. Technological innovation in food production and processing such as ultra-processed foods was perceived as a key driver of economic growth. The key assumption underlying this representation was the primacy of a “productivist” policy paradigm, via which the government focuses on industrially driven food and agriculture and expansion to increase productivity and economic growth. This entails that the nutrition needs of Thai people are silenced and remain unacknowledged in investment policy contexts, and also does not take cognisance of the term “nutrition” and its importance to economic growth.ConclusionThe findings show that nutrition was not perceived as a political priority for the government and other investment actors. Promoting productivity and economic growth were clearly positioned as the primary purposes of investment within the dominant discourse. Nutrition regulation, particularly of UPF, may conflict with current investment policy directions which prioritise development of modern food production and processing. The study suggests that comprehensive policy communication about nutrition and food classification is needed.

Including biological diversity in natural capital accounts for marine biodiversity conservation and human well-being

Natural capital (NC) accounts measure and value the benefits that ecosystems provide to humans. Marine biodiversity supports human well-being directly by providing a source of food (e.g. wild fish), and indirectly by providing employment (e.g. fisheries, and tourism) and recreation (e.g. diving). The inclusion of the marine environment in NC accounting is relatively new. Central to the NC framework, biodiversity is one of the most challenging aspects to account for. Here, we consider the potential for marine biodiversity to be included in NC accounts, and explain why this is in line with current policy directions towards achieving sustainability and well-being. We present a set of potential indicators that could be used to assess ecosystem extent and ecosystem condition through their biodiversity, and inform policies aimed to improve sustainability and human well-being. We conclude that including biological indicators in NC accounts will help to consider marine biodiversity conservation and economic activities in blue spaces as complementary components of well-being. NC accounts can facilitate decision-making by showing, in few interconnected tables, trends in the provision of biodiversity in a specific area and for specific ecosystems. This makes potential trade-offs between ecosystems, ecosystem services, and economic activities more apparent.

Current Status of Korea's Industry-Academia Cooperation in Materials and Future Policy Directions.

The current status and policy directions of Republic of Korea's industry-academia cooperation in materials research are introduced. Industry-academia cooperation has various forms, such as contract research, joint research, technology transfer, technology assistance, as well as talent development between universities and industry. The actual characteristics of industry-academia cooperation are differentiated, depending on research models such as curiosity-driven research, market-driven research, and scenario-driven research. In addition, there are diverse forms of cooperation, ranging from attaining one-off cooperation goals, to implementing a series of cooperation, to forging sustainable partnership through sharing of values. The efforts and tasks supporting industry-academia cooperation, and the diverse industry-academia cooperative activities, are considered herein from the perspective of the Korean government's policy. Policy recommendations for the industry-academia cooperation, based on the current state and tasks of materials field, are also suggested.

Concurrent 9. Presentation for: Australian onshore petroleum acreage and releases 2022

Presented on Wednesday 18 May: Session 9 This paper is a compilation of information provided by state and territory jurisdictions about onshore acreage and its availability for petroleum exploration in 2022. Most Australian state and territory governments continue to research and promote petroleum prospectivity and support exploration opportunities. Current and future policy directions including government initiatives and strategies to support and increase petroleum exploration opportunities are described, particularly for jurisdictions where no or limited acreage releases are available this year. Increased global energy demand, supply chain issues and resulting commodity price increases present challenges for domestic users and governments alike as global economies bounce back from the forced slow-down of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of writing, the conflict in Europe brings additional supply chain challenges. To access the presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here

Rice for Food Security: Revisiting Its Production, Diversity, Rice Milling Process and Nutrient Content

Rice is food consumed regularly and is vital for the food security of over half the world’s population. Rice production on a global scale is predicted to rise by 58 to 567 million tonnes (Mt) by 2030. Rice contains a significant number of calories and a wide variety of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional values. Its nutrients are superior to those found in maize, wheat, and potatoes. It is also recognised as a great source of vitamin E and B5 as well as carbohydrates, thiamine, calcium, folate, and iron. Phytic acid and phenols are among the phenolic compounds found in rice, alongside sterols, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthocyanins, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and oryzanol. These compounds have been positively linked to antioxidant properties and have been shown to help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This review examines recent global rice production, selected varieties, consumption, ending stocks, and the composition of rice grains and their nutritional values. This review also includes a new method of paddy storage, drying, and grading of rice. Finally, the environmental impacts concerning rice cultivation are discussed, along with the obstacles that must be overcome and the current policy directions of rice-producing countries.

Australian onshore petroleum acreage and releases 2022

This paper is a compilation of information provided by state and territory jurisdictions about onshore acreage and its availability for petroleum exploration in 2022. Most Australian state and territory governments continue to research and promote petroleum prospectivity and support exploration opportunities. Current and future policy directions including government initiatives and strategies to support and increase petroleum exploration opportunities are described, particularly for jurisdictions where no or limited acreage releases are available this year. Increased global energy demand, supply chain issues and resulting commodity price increases present challenges for domestic users and governments alike as global economies bounce back from the forced slow-down of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of writing, the conflict in Europe brings additional supply chain challenges.

Can we design language education policy and curricula for a motivated learner? Self-Determination Theory and the UK language crisis

ABSTRACT With the UK entering its fourth decade of this crisis with no end in sight, it is timely to ask how current policy directions for language learning beyond the compulsory phase (currently age 14 in all 4 UK nations) align with learners' psychological needs in relation to language learning. After a review of these psychological needs within motivational theory, this article first discusses current foreign languages (FL) policies in all four UK nations (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland), alongside the current debates around the recently published 2021 Ofsted Curriculum Research Review for languages (OCRR), which is likely to underpin Ofsted's inspections of provision in England. We then critically evaluate a range of research-based measures to boost learner motivation, some of which show promising results. Taking as our theoretical basis the psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness and competence that comprise Self-Determination Theory (SDT), we then analyse FL policy and practices directions in the UK, including those articulated in the OCRR, and conclude that these tend to ignore or misinterpret motivational theory. This is followed by recommendations for FL policy which align both with SDT principles and research evidence. The conclusion critically evaluates opportunities and risks of current UK policy directions.

The Relationship between Future Anxiety Due to COVID-19 and Vigilance: The Role of Message Fatigue and Autonomy Satisfaction.

How does future anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic relate to people’s willingness to remain vigilant and adhere to preventive measures? We examined the mediating role of message fatigue and the moderating role of autonomy satisfaction in the relationship between future anxiety due to COVID-19 and willingness to remain vigilant. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with adults residing in the United States in June 2021 when numerous U.S. states re-opened following the CDC’s relaxed guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. Our data showed that message fatigue mediated the relationship between future anxiety due to the pandemic and willingness to remain vigilant. The data further revealed that autonomy satisfaction significantly moderated the mediation. Namely, the role of message fatigue in the indirect relationship between future anxiety and willingness to remain vigilant was significant only among people low to moderate in autonomy satisfaction; its role in the indirect path was not significant for those high in autonomy satisfaction. Notably, independent of the mechanism involving message fatigue, future anxiety was directly and positively associated with willingness to remain vigilant regardless of the levels of autonomy satisfaction. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of psychological and behavioral responses to the current pandemic and policy directions.

Family violence homicide rates: a state-wide comparison of three data sources in Victoria, Australia.

Family violence homicide (FVH) is a major public health and social problem in Australia. FVH trend rates are key outcomes that determine the effectiveness of current management practices and policy directions. Data source-related methodological problems affect FVH research and policy and the reliable measurement of homicide trends. This study aimed to determine data reliability and temporal trends of Victorian FVH rates and sex and relationship patterns. FVH rates per 100,000 persons in Victoria were compared between the National Coronial Information System (NCIS), Coroners Court of Victoria (CCoV) Homicide Register, and the National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP). Trends for 2001-2017 were analysed using Joinpoint regression. Crude rates were determined by sex and relationship categories using annual frequencies and Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates. NCIS closed FVH cases totalled 360, and an apparent downward trend in the FVH rate was identified. However, CCoV and NHMP rates trended upwards. While NCIS and CCoV were case-based, NHMP was incident-based, contributing to rate variations. The NCIS-derived trend was particularly impacted by unavailable case data, potential coding errors and entry backlog. Neither CCoV nor NHMP provided victim-age in their public domain data to enable age-adjusted rate comparison. Current datasets have limitations for FVH trend determination; most notably lag times for NCIS data. This study identified an indicative upward trend in FVH rates in Victoria, suggesting insufficiency of current management and policy settings for its prevention and control.

The RIX Wiki: the use of multimedia advocacy to support person‐centred planning in a special needs secondary school – implications for current policy and practice

The article documents findings from a pilot study undertaken in 2012–2013 in a special needs secondary school in the England, that trialled the use of a multimedia advocacy tool, “The RIX Wiki”. The trial was part of the pathfinder programme, which aimed to reform existing Special Education Needs provision, from the system of statementing to one of developing education health care plans. The reforms became enshrined in the Children and Families Act (2014). The findings were overall positive and helped with person‐centred planning processes. The discussion is framed within current and future policy directives. We argue that multimedia advocacy approaches and software tools, like the “RIX Wiki” will have a continued role to play in ensuring the needs, aspirations and choices of children and young people with learning disabilities remain central.