Policy Development Research Articles

'The Norm Is to Not Openly Collaborate': Using the Lens of Co-Production to Evaluate the Development of a COVID-19 ICU Triage Policy.

In 2020, surging cases of COVID-19 meant that health services had to plan for crisis-level triage. In the Australian Capital Territory, the Clinical Health Emergency Coordination Centre sought to develop a triage policy in collaboration with a range of consumer, carer and community groups. This study aims to map the collaborative development of the COVID-19 ICU triage policy onto the principles of co-production. Interviews were conducted with facilitators, members of advocacy or consumer groups and clinicians who were involved in the development of the triage policy. Interviews were thematically analysed using both theory- and data-driven approaches to, respectively, draw on the theoretical framework of co-production, and to explore participants' perspectives relevant to but beyond the scope of this theoretical framework. The findings suggest that at each stage of the initiative, there were ways in which the principles of co-production were met, and ways in which they were not met. One of the fundamental concerns that arose was about whether trying to solve a problem based on resources was compatible with a solution based on human rights. Literature about co-production has been critiqued for being limited to aspirational concerns, or implying co-production is easily achievable. The current study contributes to existing research through the application of the theoretical framework of co-production and exploring ways its aims were met and not met within a system-level collaboration developing a high-stakes health policy. This study has been conducted and written by researchers working from lived experience perspectives, and other researchers working from traditionally mainstream health disciplines, including psychology and medicine. Further, the study is about patient and public involvement in the development of a health policy. Thus it both embodies and is about non-tokenistic collaboration between people with lived experience and other health professionals.

National health examination surveys; a source of critical data.

The aim of this paper is to contribute technical arguments to the debate about the importance of health examination surveys and their continued use during the post-pandemic health financing crisis, and in the context of a technological innovation boom that offers new ways of collecting and analysing individual health data (e.g. artificial intelligence). Technical considerations demonstrate that health examination surveys make an irreplaceable contribution to the local availability of primary health data that can be used in a range of further studies (e.g. normative, burden-of-disease, care cascade, cost and policy impact studies) essential for informing several phases of the health planning cycle (e.g. surveillance, prioritization, resource mobilization and policy development). Examples of the use of health examination survey data in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region (i.e. Finland, Italy, Malta and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and the WHO Region of the Americas (i.e. Chile, Mexico, Peru and the United States of America) are presented, and reasons why health provider-led data cannot replace health examination survey data are discussed (e.g. underestimation of morbidity and susceptibility to bias). In addition, the importance of having nationally representative random samples of the general population is highlighted and we argue that health examination surveys make a critical contribution to external quality control for a country's health system by increasing the transparency and accountability of health spending. Finally, we consider future technological advances that can improve survey fieldwork and suggest ways of ensuring health examination surveys are sustainable in low-resource settings.

Prospective Health Impacts of a Universal Basic Income: Evidence from Community Engagement in South Tyneside, United Kingdom.

Studies have suggested that universal basic income (UBI) has the capacity to have substantial health benefits across the population at national level. Multiple impact pathways have recently been theorized and there are calls for trials to explore these pathways empirically. However, very limited research has taken place at local levels to explore potential context-specific effects, or how these effects could play out in economic, social, and behavioral changes. In order to examine these effects and to think through potential issues and unintended consequences, we brought together citizen engagement groups in Jarrow, South Tyneside, in the northeast of England to explore local people's expectations and positions on the development of UBI policies and pilots prior to their implementation. We found that people's expectations regarding the potential beneficial health impacts of UBI on their communities mapped strongly onto academically theorized impact pathways. They also extended understanding of these pathways in meaningful ways. Our findings add to the literature about UBI and health and provide important insights for the future development of empirical, health focused, UBI research.

Analisis Lingkungan dan Kemampuan Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai dan Dampaknya Pada Kepuasan Kerja Pegawai (Studi Pada UPTD Puskesmas Muara Komam)

This study aims to analyze the influence of work environment and workability on employee performance and its impact on employee job satisfaction at UPTD Muara Komam Health Center. The background of this study is based on the importance of employee performance in improving the quality of health services, as well as various problems related to suboptimal work environments and workability conditions. This study integrates the variables of work environment, workability, performance, and job satisfaction in one analysis model to provide a more comprehensive picture of the factors that influence the performance of Puskesmas employees. The research sample consisted of 63 UPTD Muara Komam Health Center employees who were selected randomly. Data collection was carried out through a questionnaire tested for validity and reliability. The data analysis method used was the Structural Equation Model (SEM) with SmartPLS software. The results showed that work environment and workability significantly affected employee performance. Job satisfaction was proven to mediate the relationship between work environment and workability on employee performance. A conducive work environment and good work ability directly improve employee performance and high job satisfaction, further strengthening this relationship. This study provides an important contribution to the development of human resource management policies in the health sector, especially in efforts to improve the performance and job satisfaction of Puskesmas employees. The managerial implications of this study include the need for good work environment management, such as providing adequate facilities and creating harmonious working relationships, as well as improving employee work skills through ongoing training and development programs

International and National Mechanisms Combating Ecosystems’ Damage and Environmental Crimes to Foster Sustainable Development

This article examines international and national mechanisms for combating crime against the environment. Arguments are presented to add the crime of ecocide into the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as well as to create a special international human rights tribunal that can potentially hear cases related to ecocide. A number of bodies, programs, international networks, and transnational non-governmental non-profit organizations should be promoted to directly or indirectly aim at combating crime against the environment. At the same time, the necessity of adopting a comprehensive approach to the international cooperation among these institutions and law enforcement agencies is warranted, given contemporary challenges and threats, in particular with Interpol, a robust institutional framework to combating environmental crime. The importance of establishing universal national and interstate mechanisms for the restoring and preserving ecosystems to combat environmental crimes effectively is underscored. These international regulations should be recognized through relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and other international documents. A conceptual inference drawn is the imperative for comprehensive national measures to combat ecocide, including the development of cohesive state policies, the establishment of an effective environmental monitoring system, and the documentation of incurred damages.

Australian urban designers’ experience of barriers and enablers to climate change action

ABSTRACT Urban designers have considerable potential to take important climate change actions in the built environment. Based on interviews with urban designers across Australia, it was found that the main actions taken were: development and use of policies and strategies; education and research; appropriate project designs; reduction of carbon footprints; advocacy and lobbying; the use of sustainability measures and ratings; and taking on projects oriented to climate change action. Key facilitators of these actions that overcame barriers were strong leadership, establishment of targets and measures, effective regulation, financial and other incentives, and access to trustworthy, practical information.

Integrated Benefits of Synergistically Reducing Air Pollutants and Carbon Dioxide in China.

China's advancements in addressing air pollution and reducing CO2 emissions offer valuable lessons for collaborative strategies to achieve diverse environmental objectives. Previous studies have assessed the mutual benefits of climate policies and air pollution control measures on one another, lacking an integrated assessment of the benefits of synergistic control attributed to refined measures. Here, we comprehensively used coupled emission inventory and response models to evaluate the integrated benefits and synergy degrees of various measures in reducing air pollutants and CO2 in China during 2013-2021. Results indicated that the implemented measures yielded integrated benefits value at 6.7 (2.4-12.6) trillion Chinese Yuan. The top five contributors, accounting for 55%, included promoting non-thermal power, implementing end-of-pipe control technologies in power plants and iron and steel industry, replacing residential scattered coal, and saving building energy. Measures demonstrating high synergies and integrated benefits per unit of reduction (e.g., green traffic promotion) yielded low benefits mainly due to their low application, which are expected to gain greater implementation and prioritization in the future. Our findings provide insights into the effectiveness and limitations of strategies aimed at joint control. By ranking these measures based on their benefits and synergy, we offer valuable guidance for policy development in China and other nations with similar needs.

Chegg’s Growth, Response Rate, and Prevalence as a Cheating Tool: Insights From an Audit within an Australian Engineering School

AbstractOnline tools are increasingly being used by students to cheat. File-sharing and homework-helper websites offer to aid students in their studies, but are vulnerable to misuse, and are increasingly reported as a major source of academic misconduct. Chegg.com is the largest such website. Despite this, there is little public information about the use of Chegg as a cheating tool. This is a critical omission, as for institutions to effectively tackle this threat, they must have a sophisticated understanding of their use. To address this gap, this work reports on a comprehensive audit of Chegg usage conducted within an Australian university engineering school. We provide a detailed analysis of the growth of Chegg, its use within an Australian university engineering school, and the wait time to receive solutions. Alarmingly, we found over half of audit units had cheating content on Chegg is broadly used to cheat and 50% of questions asked on Chegg are answered within 1.5 h. This makes Chegg an appealing tool for academic misconduct in both assignment tasks and online exams. We further investigate the growth of Chegg and show its use is above pre-pandemic levels. This work provides valuable insights to educators and institutions looking to improve the integrity of their courses through assessment and policy development. Finally, to better understand and tackle this form of misconduct, we call on education institutions to be more transparent in reporting misconduct data and for homework-helper websites to improve defences against misuse.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canadian colleges: examining definitions and unveiling perceptions

ABSTRACT Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) through strategic policy development has been at the forefront of institutional change, especially within the higher education sector. Canadian colleges have a large equity-seeking student population due to their open admission structure, but despite this, there are implicit biases and actions that impede students’ learning experience. Limited literature exists around how Canadian colleges have approached EDI policy development; thus, this paper initiates the unpacking of the evident policy – practice disconnect by asking: ‘How do colleges understand equity, diversity, and inclusion as articulated in policy documents?’ To address this, the study employs Critical Policy Analysis (CPA) as its main research method to deconstruct the narratives found within purposefully sampled documents including: 1) EDI policies and procedure; 2) institutional multi-year strategic plans; and 3) EDI-based plans and performance reports. Results indicate that colleges tend to be selective in their usage of EDI definitions. There is also a tendency to use ambiguous language around EDI, which makes it difficult to mobilise knowledge effectively and approach equity directly. Policies often fail to address the privileges held by certain positionalities, reinforcing existing power structures rather than challenging them. The significance of this research is in its contribution to enhancing a theoretical understanding of how knowledge supports policy, as well as informing the future development of constructive EDI policies in higher educational institutions.

Exploring The Drivers of Entrepreneurial Intentions Among Farmers in Tanzania's Agricultural Sector

Purpose: This paper investigates the entrepreneurial intentions of orange farmers in Muheza, Tanzania, by validating the extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Design/Methodology/ Approach: The study used a quantitative method approach, with cluster and simple random sampling, to recruit 349 orange farmers. The survey was conducted on 349 small-scale orange farmers in Muheza. To test the model, the constructs of entrepreneurship training, farmers’ attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behaviour control and entrepreneurial intention inputs were validated, followed by factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Findings: The study's results revealed the crucial role of perceived behaviour control and attitudes in driving the entrepreneurial intention of orange farmers. This significant influence underscores the importance of these factors in the development of entrepreneurial intention among orange farmers. It was also found that attitudes and perceived behaviour control predicted the entrepreneurial intention of orange farmers but not subjective norms, providing valuable insights for future research and policy development. Research Limitation: This study primarily focused on orange farmers in the Tanga Region, specifically in the Muheza District. Practical Implication: The findings suggest a clear path for action. To foster and enhance the entrepreneurial intentions of orange farmers, the government and policymakers should concentrate on instilling positive attitudes and controlling perceived behaviour. By promoting a positive stance toward entrepreneurship, we can significantly boost the willingness of orange farmers to engage in commercial farming, thereby contributing to the growth and development of Tanzania's agricultural sector. Social Implication: The study recommends policy options focusing on cultivating positive attitudes and perceived behaviour control among orange farmers to increase entrepreneurial intention, requiring concerted efforts from the government and policymakers. Originality / Value/ Novelty: It contributes to the body of knowledge, addressing the gap regarding the drivers influencing orange farmers' entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, establishing validated drivers of entrepreneurial intention among Tanzanian orange farmers could significantly assist the government in promoting economic development and achieving its vision of becoming a semi-industrialized country.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Decision Fatigue Scale among Korean Registered Nurses

Nurses make decision for patients and the quality of nurses’ decision making can affect patient outcomes. For some reason, nurses are experiencing impaired decision making and it can negatively impact patient care. A valid and reliable instrument to assess decision fatigue may let people know about the concept and guide the development of new policies or interventions for Korean nurses’ decision fatigue. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the decision fatigue scale. The design was a cross-sectional descriptive study and convenience sampling was used to recruit participants. A total of 247 nurses from across South Korea participated in an online survey. The survey consisted of demographic questionnaires, decision fatigue scale, nursing practice environment scale, and compassion fatigue scale. It was validated through confirmatory factor analysis that the Korean version of the decision fatigue scale was a single factor with the same structure as the original scale. The Korean version of the decision fatigue scale showed significant correlations with compassion fatigue, and the scale showed appropriate internal consistency. This study established well enough the psychometric characteristics of the Korean version of decision fatigue.

Firm size in gas distribution. Economies of scale, regulatory dynamics, and policy implications

We revisit the discussion on the optimal size of firms in the piped gas distribution sector, focusing on developments within the Argentine industry. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset spanning nearly three decades, we analyze the evolving cost patterns among gas firms, significantly influenced by shifting customer demands and regulatory dynamics. We find that firms benefit from economies of scale and emphasize the significance of addressing capital stock imbalances when formulating sectoral policies, as excess capacity can lead to diverging policy recommendations. Additionally, we identify considerable cost benefits for firms integrated within larger conglomerates. Our findings underscore the need to revise sectoral policies to align with dynamic market conditions, thereby enhancing cost efficiency and facilitating the development of well-informed sectorial policies.

Under the "Dual-carbon" Goal: Green Credit Policy and High-quality Enterprise Development in China

Given the context of "carbon peaking" and "carbon neutrality" goals, advancing the growth of green finance stands as a crucial agenda to bolster the high-quality advancement of China's economy in the contemporary epoch. Green credit is a remarkable milestone in pursuing the "Dual-carbon" emissions reduction objective and promoting high-quality development. Empirically, scant information exists regarding the correlation between GCP and the high-quality development of heavily polluting enterprises (HPEs). Using panel data from Chinese Lushan A-share listed enterprises spanning 2005 to 2022, this study employs the difference-in-difference model to evaluate the impact of the green credit policy (GCP) on HPEs. Our results show that after the implementation of GCP, the high-quality development of HPEs increased by 9.08% compared to non-HPEs. Despite considering multiple potential confounding factors, the conclusion remains unchanged. The positive effect is particularly pronounced among non-state-owned enterprises characterized by high carbon emissions and in the eastern region. The mechanism analysis indicates that GCP plays a role in influencing the high-quality development of enterprises by promoting low-carbon technological progress. This study establishes a foundation for making informed decisions in optimizing the green financial policy system to effectively enhance the high-quality development of enterprises in China and other developing countries.

Research on investment project risk prediction and management based on machine learning

In the era of digital economy, digital transformation is an inevitable choice in line with current economic development and national policy trends. Enterprises use new generation digital technologies such as big data, blockchain, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and financial technology to apply these technologies to various production and business activities. The research on project risk management has gradually introduced the method of intelligent decision-making, using technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to identify and analyze risks. We use learning models and ensemble learning techniques to predict and manage the risks of investment projects. Through long short-term memory networks (LSTMs), we are able to effectively extract spatiotemporal features from historical investment data to predict future risk dynamics. In order to further improve the accuracy of prediction and the robustness of the model, we introduced the Gradient Booster (GBM) ensemble learning method. These integrated technologies not only optimize the overall performance of the model, but also enhance the adaptability and forecast accuracy of various market changes. In the experimental analysis, we compare the performance of multiple models on real-world investment datasets, and the results show that the ensemble learning method has significant advantages in risk prediction accuracy.

Corporate, Social Responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria: Investigating Discrepancy between Practices and Blind Spots

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been recognized as a significant contributor to the economy of developing countries. The study uncovers the potential causes of CSR discrepancies in Nigeria, a nation with divergent business prospects, evaluates their implications, and provides effective way-outs. CSR has achieved substantial interest worldwide as enterprises attempt to weigh profit-making services with social and environmental obligations. Yet, there is extensive interest in disagreements between organizations’ CSR obligations and their actual implementation. By synthesizing documented literature, the study reveals factors responsible for the discrepancy of CSR in Nigeria, such as ineffective stakeholder involvement, consumer attitude, inadequate resources, poor frameworks, and lack of consistent reporting. Furthermore, the implications imposed by CSR are examined, including missed chances for social impact, reputational damage, consumer perception, and workers' morale and commitment. Since CSR discrepancies are crucial to both enterprises and legislators, the study underscores addressing stakeholder engagement, clear frameworks for CSR implementation, transparency in reporting, and adequate resource allocation that can bring about sustainable development. The insights provided by this study can inform CSR policy development and effective corporate practices in Nigeria.

Understanding non-permanent mobility: Factors influencing resident movement in Racang Welak Village, Welak Subdistrict, West Manggarai Regency

Background: The factors of mobility in this study refer to the push and pull factors influencing the non-permanent mobility of the residents of Racang Welak Village, Welak Subdistrict, West Manggarai Regency. Most of the residents in Racang Welak Village are seasonal farmers. Non-permanent mobility is influenced by good accessibility and sufficient access to technology. The area of Racang Welak Village cannot fully meet the needs of the local community, leading them to seek employment outside their area despite the strategic potential of Racang Welak to boost their economy. Method: The objectives of this study are to identify the factors that cause the residents of Racang Welak Village, Welak Subdistrict, West Manggarai Regency, to engage in non-permanent mobility. This research is a descriptive qualitative study. Data collection methods include observation, interviews, and documentation. The sample consists of residents of Racang Welak Village who participate in non-permanent mobility. Result: The results of this study show that the fertile soil conditions in Racang Welak Village allow for the cultivation of various types of crops, resulting in many residents working as seasonal farmers. Seasonal farmers whose needs are not met locally often seek information about job opportunities elsewhere. With information received from family members in the destination area, the residents of Racang Welak Village decide to work in other regions without the initial intention to settle there. Conclusion: The push factors for non-permanent mobility among Racang Welak residents include unmet needs in their home area. Despite having to bear transportation costs, they still choose to engage in non-permanent mobility. The pull factors include a pleasant environment, good social interactions, and job opportunities obtained through relatives in the destination area. Additionally, the work locations are strategic and offer jobs that match their professional skills, resulting in higher incomes. Novelty/Originality of this study: This research aims to identify the push and pull factors of non-permanent mobility and how the inability to meet local needs drives residents to seek employment outside the region. These findings apply to designing local economic development policies that can reduce dependence on non-permanent mobility by increasing job opportunities and accessibility in the region of origin.

Policy strategy: Nickel mining contribution to rural development equity and social violence minimization in Kolaka Regency

The lack of attention from mining companies to the majority of areas still affected by mining activities can result in regional economic disparities and high levels of social violence. It is crucial to have policy strategies for mining contributions to rural development equity and social violence reduction through CSR assistance and other aid funds. This research employs the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis method using the MULTIPOL analysis tool. Recommended action programs include the construction of schools, provision of scholarships, job openings, business capital, and infrastructure development, supported by strong regulations and law enforcement. Cracking down on illegal mining permits is essential to reduce environmental damage. Holistic and sustainable integration policies, alongside effective law enforcement, are necessary to achieve the goals of equitable development and social violence reduction. These steps should be reinforced with incentives for traditional/community leaders and increased police/military presence in villages within the next 2 years, particularly in zones 2 and 3 of the mining areas. Failure to implement these measures could escalate social violence, jeopardize security, and impede the operations of mining companies in Kolaka. The findings of this research support the priority of security and orderliness in development and underscore the importance of diverse research methods for mining area development policies.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem supply service intensity in China: Patterns, drivers, and implications for sustainable development

With the steady development of global economy and the rapid increase of population, it is of great significance to quantify the supply capacity of ecosystem services and reveal its driving factors for sustainable development. We quantify the ecosystem supply service intensity (ESSI) using multiple sources of natural and cultural data from 2000 to 2020. We then jointly analyze this data with the information entropy of the land to obtain the temporal and spatial evolution law of ESSI under multiple scales in China. At the same time, according to the spatial distribution of ESSI in China, the concept of China's ecosystem supply service intensity development equilibrium line (ESSIL) is innovatively put forward. The results show that the spatial distribution pattern of China's ESSI is symmetrical with the ESSIL which is nearly orthogonal to Hu Huanyong line. Because of the different regional development policies, different regions with different economic levels have different driving effects on land change. Furthermore, due to the country's large size, the primary ESSI drivers vary greatly throughout its various regions. The assessment of the ESSI changes in China from multi-scale, combined with the effects of land cover change, climate and human activities, and put forward a new pattern distribution mode of ESSI in China, which provides a new perspective for formulating ecologically sustainable development strategies in large-scale areas.

External Financial Flows, Fiscal Policy and Human Development Index in Nigeria

The sustainable development goals that were rolled out and adjusted from the un-attainment of Millennium development goals of 2015, lacks a notable financial option and channel that would help developing countries like Nigeria to achieve goal 3, goal 4 and goal 8, which this study captured with the human development index. This study examines the effect of external financial flows, fiscal policy and human development index in Nigeria. The used the secondary data that was collected from World development indicators and Central bank of Statistical Bulletin. The period was between 1991 to 2022 bot year inclusive. The external financial flows was captured with foreign direct investment, foreign aid, remittances, net exports, external debt while fiscal policy was captured with government expenditure for education and government expenditure for health. The findings from the external financial flows revealed that foreign direct investment and remittances have a negative significant effect on human development index while net export have a positive significant human development index. The fiscal policy measures revealed that government expenditure on education have a positive significant effect on human development index while government expenditure on health have a negative significant effect on health. The Nigerian government should focus on policies that boost export sectors, especially those that add significant value to raw materials. This can be achieved through subsidies, tax incentives, and investment in infrastructure. The Nigerian government should allocate a larger portion of the national budget to education. This increase in funding should aim to address infrastructural deficits, enhance teacher training, and provide adequate learning materials. Implement robust mechanisms to ensure that health funds are used efficiently and transparently.

Joint ICOH-WOPS & APA-PFAW global roundtable perspectives: exploring national policy approaches for psychological health at work through the 'National Policy Index' lens.

Worker psychological health is a significant global imperative which requires national policy action and stakeholder engagement. While national policy is a critical lever for improving worker psychological health, some countries are more progressive than others in relation to policy development and/or implementation. At the Joint Congress of the International Commission on Occupational Health, Scientific Committee on Work Organization and Psychosocial Factors and the Asia Pacific Academy for Psychosocial Factors Work in Tokyo (September 2023), a Global Roundtable was designed to initiate international dialogue and knowledge exchange regarding relevant national policy approaches. The Global Roundtable involved experts from diverse regions alongside an engaged audience of congress attendees and facilitators. Qualitative data were analysed against the five components of the National Policy Index tool, comprising policy priority, specific laws, nation-wide initiatives, sector-oriented initiatives, national survey and/or studies. Analysis revealed that while work-related psychological health is a policy priority across many countries, at the same time, there are global gaps in both legislation specificity and active regulation across different countries. For future policy development across countries, it will be beneficial to continue and deepen international discourse and for countries to share their approaches with others.