Policy Dilemmas Research Articles

Anti-immigrant backlash: the Democratic Dilemma for immigration policy

Anti-immigrant backlash has emerged in recent years as a considerable threat to democracy. In many countries illiberal and anti-democratic political forces driven in part by anti-immigrant sentiment have damaged or threaten to damage the proper functioning of democratic institutions. Should policymakers try to avert this threat by implementing more restrictive immigration policy? If they do so, they may expose immigrants to unjust exclusion. If they do not, they may risk democratic dysfunction, even democratic failure. I will call this the Democratic Dilemma for immigration policy. In this paper I argue that this is a hard ethical dilemma that does not lend itself to a straightforward resolution. I propose an analytic and evaluative framework for assessing possible policy responses to the Dilemma to aid policymakers’ as well as the public’s ethical judgement.

Getting Mileage Fees Right: What Does the U.S. Public Think?

The United States faces a critical policy dilemma with respect to transportation funding: how to fund roads, highways, and public transportation into the future given the dwindling productivity of fuel taxes. This paper explores survey data that shed light on public opinion about one promising replacement for fuel taxes, so-called “mileage fees.” We analyzed 14 years of national survey data from U.S. adults to provide policymakers and researchers with evidence to answer three questions. First, what percent of Americans support the concept of mileage fees and has that support changed over time? Second, does support for mileage fees vary substantially by personal characteristics such as income or annual mileage driven? And third, are some mileage fee design choices more popular with the public than others?

Applying the Precautionary Principle to Wireless Technology: Policy Dilemmas and Systemic Risks

Recent decades have seen a huge rise in human exposure to microwave radiation due to the widespread use of mobile and wireless services that enable smartphones and watches, tablets, laptops and digital devices in the home and workplace. The health and safety standards to protect humans from exposure to harmful levels of microwave radiation can be traced to the 1950s. However, research now demonstrates the existence of many adverse health effects, including cancers and neurological disorders, at levels of everyday use by children and adults. We argue that it is long past the time for governments to apply the Precautionary Principle to protect children and adults, especially pregnant women, and to ensure safer levels of exposure for all.

US Policy Dilemmas in the Indo-Pacific

The Biden Administration in the United States is confronted with an acute dilemma in dealing with the rise of China as an assertive, aggressive and ambitious power in the global order. It seeks to preserve the economic benefits of maintaining good relations with China, yet is uncomfortable with the spread of Chinese influence across the world. This policy dilemma is not new for the US foreign policymakers and there are several instances of Washington’s dilemma in dealing with China in the post-World War II period. As the existing superpower United States and aspiring superpower China struggle to manage their relationship, the dilemmas faced by the US are likely to continue deep into the future. The complex interdependence marked by trade and investment relations, complex geopolitical imperatives and the need to prevent conflict escalation makes it difficult for Washington and Beijing to escape policy dilemmas.

The Free Movement of People in SADC

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states committed under Article 5(2) (d) of the SADC Treaty to develop policies aimed at the progressive elimination of the obstacles to the free movement of capital, labour, goods and services. The 2005 SADC Protocol on the Movement of People was celebrated as a giant step towards the realization of the regional integration objective of building SADC into a regional community that is fully integrated where citizens enjoy the freedom of movement across regional borders. Whilst substantial efforts have been invested in developing various legal and policy frameworks to open up borders for the free movement of people within SADC, thirty (30) years since the formation of SADC in April 1980 as the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC); the region is facing serious challenges relating to the free movement of people, migration and labour movement. In reality, SADC member states’ governments have been confronted with serious feasibility challenges, complexities, risks and dilemmas as they attempt to implement commitments made towards the free movement of people in the region, with political, security, economic, strategic, and technical factors often cited as obstacles. This paper sought to critically reflect on the feasibility aspects, policy dilemmas at member state level as well as strategic considerations that stand on the way of free movement of people in SADC. The focus was on examining possibilities, capacities and prospects of SADC member states (in their collectivity and individuality) in addressing the underlying, structural and operational obstacles that are impeding the free movement of people in the region. Secondary data sources are used for analysis, and the three concepts of free movement of people, migration and regional integration provide conceptual lenses for analysis. Findings are key in providing perspectives on how SADC member states may need to collectively address the fundamental questions and issues that facilitate the free movement of people in the region.

Heterogeneous environmental consciousness, carbon permit adoption, and endogenous growth: A case of China

Motivated by low participation rate in China’s pilot Emission Trading Schemes (ETS), yet there being ample empirical evidence of carbon permit activities having an impact on firms’ technological innovation choice, we develop a novel endogenous growth model with carbon accumulation where both the green behaviors of non-corporate individuals and carbon permit adoption choice of corporate owners are influenced by heterogeneous environmental consciousness. Calibrated for China based on ETS price data, we examine the impacts of both long-run policy experiments and short-run cyclicality associated with carbon permit prices. we find that long-term greater ETS trading affordability would incentivize more firms to participate and bring about a reduction in carbon ratio, though it is still largely bounded by the conventional environment-growth trade-off that it requires supplementing it with other policies. In the short run, we find that higher carbon permit trading price would be procyclical to economic expansion but at the cost of environmental degradation too. In combination, this presents a policy dilemma: while improving ETS trading affordability is a long-run policy priority in China, in the short-run, absent fundamental changes, the procyclicality between carbon permit price and economic growth would serve as counteracting forces to this.

North Korea's COVID-19 policy dilemma: epidemic prevention conflicting with trade.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, striking a delicate balance between sustaining economic activity and safeguarding public health has become a crucial concern. The border closures for COVID-19 prevention have further intensified concerns for North Korea, which conducts over 90% of its trade with China and Russia, countries sharing its borders. This study aims to scrutinize North Korea's response to these competing imperatives by examining the impact of border closures on the country's trade dynamics with China and Russia. This study employed the difference-in-difference (DID) method to analyze transformations in North Korea's economic activity before and after the border closures, utilizing trade data and nighttime satellite imagery captured in 2019 and 2020. The results reveal that North Korea actively reoriented its trade priorities towards Russia and accorded precedence to its epidemic prevention system over its economy during the pandemic. A noticeable increase in imports of food and pharmaceuticals was observed, indicating a significant rise in the inflow of these essential commodities. The findings of this study suggest that during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea placed significant policy emphasis on preserving public health. However, due to economic hardships and food shortages, if the pandemic persists in the long term, it indicates the possibility of partial or complete lifting of border closures to mitigate these challenges.

On the interactive effects of climate policies: Insights from a stock-flow consistent model

Climate policies such as carbon tax and green finance policy are critical measures to promote low-carbon transition worldwide. These policies are, however, likely to interact with each other and create unintentional consequences. This paper adopts a stock-flow consistent model to theoretically explore the effects of policy interactions. Specifically, commercial banks, as the key credit creators and critical players in providing source of finance, are included. Based on the numerical simulations of the dynamic model, we find that both carbon tax and green finance policies render positive impacts on low-carbon transition. In addition, green credit incentives, if imposed simultaneously with carbon tax, can enhance the positive effects. Although low-carbon transition could generate higher net government revenues, our results show that banking sector tends to expose to higher financial risks when firms’ debt-equity ratio rises. Further analysis shows that subsidies on green loans can support green transition and bring positive consequences to debt rollover and social welfare, indicating the needs for active government intervention to improve policy effectiveness. The framework proposed in this paper provides a useful way to understand policy dilemmas in pursuing low-carbon transition and give important implications to form optimal policy mix.

Retaining the returnee migrant workers: Lessons learned from COVID-19

This paper presents facts and figures of returnee migrant workers in Nepal during the COVID-19 crisis. Nepal, affected by the coronavirus pandemic late after the fourth week of March 2020, the government decided to lockdown due to the appearance of two incidences of infection crossed over one million. Using secondary sources of literature, the paper mainly analyses the facts and figures concerning the COVID-19 crisis and migrant workers' issues. During this period, a severe crisis affected the country with a 75 per cent fall in remittance from the already counted 25 per cent of total gross domestic product. In the beginning, around 1.5 million migrant workers were expected to return by losing jobs in major destinations - India, the Middle East and Malaysia - which is over one-fifth of the total migrant workers abroad. This rate of return however was not recorded to that number. The growing tension of the virus was not limited to the state level only but basically, the individuals losing jobs, killing hopes of getting involved in new jobs and remaining unattended by the state authorities for a longer time amid confusion and dilemma of policies and programmes. Those involved in the informal sectors, particularly the women and other marginalised communities were severely affected when they could not collect food for their families, pay back rents or survive in the place. Reducing the impact of the pandemic, all the stakeholders needed to resume their work by getting proper knowledge and information on the impact of COVID-19. It necessitated concentrating on the immediate priorities such as current living conditions and utilising best practices available and possible in the local communities for reintegration by adopting the tight of the migrant workers. Although the government announced packages to retain nearly one million returnees, this could not properly happen and with dismay, the returned migrants opted to work and jobs abroad.

Aspirations and Challenges of Space Techno-Science in Global Semi-Peripheries: A View from Kazakhstan

This article contributes to the emerging scholarship on space programmes developed by nations across global semi-peripheries, and it uncovers the major factors and challenges shaping the outer space agenda both domestically and internationally. Drawing on the case of Kazakhstan, the article discusses how the development of the space industry has been accompanied by the government’s efforts to indigenise space techno-science, while public discourses promote a vision of space services as playing a key role in addressing some of society’s major problems. The article reflects on new challenges faced by emergent space nations like Kazakhstan in the context of the ongoing commercialisation of space services, which undermines the economic viability of investment in the national space infrastructure, such as satellites. The analysis of ongoing challenges and policy dilemmas reveals that space techno-science in the context of emerging space nations can be seen as an instrument serving to consolidate state sovereignty, as well as the ground where this sovereignty has been put to the test.

Carbon leakage perspective: Unveiling policy dilemmas in emission trading and carbon tariffs under insurer green finance

This study delves into the intricacies of the policy dilemma surrounding carbon emission trading and carbon tariffs, with a specific focus on the perspective of carbon leakage. Using a capped call option model, we assess the equity of a life insurer, emphasizing the importance of carbon leakage resulting from borrowing by carbon-intensive manufacturers. The findings reveal a nuanced scenario: while an increase in green loans positively impacts the guaranteed rate of the insurer, it simultaneously poses a challenge to the equity of carbon-leakage vulnerable manufacturers. Stringent regulatory caps on emissions act as a limiting factor on guaranteed rates for carbon-intensive borrowers. Additionally, higher Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism tariff rates contribute to a decrease in the guaranteed rate, affecting both the fund-providing insurer and the borrowing manufacturer. This analysis underscores the intricate balance required in policymaking and decision-making, where an understanding of these complex relationships becomes pivotal. Striking the right balance between environmental sustainability and financial stability is essential to navigating the policy dilemma inherent in carbon emission trading and carbon tariffs.

The gig economy, platform work, and social policy: food delivery workers’ occupational welfare dilemma in Hong Kong

Abstract Previous literature suggests that the gig economy and platform work pose challenges to social policy, including the welfare entitlement issues caused by workers’ ambiguous occupational status. Focusing on the government’s regulatory role, this study investigates platform workers’ occupational welfare (OW) by conducting in-depth interviews with forty-six food delivery workers in Hong Kong. The evidence reveals workers’ occupational risks resulting from platforms’ algorithmic devices and the misclassification of independent contractors. The denied access to private occupational pensions was considered acceptable by workers because of the perceived irrelevance of OW. While interviewees emphasised time-based flexibility as a key intangible benefit, the shifting business costs to self-employed workers was highlighted as a disadvantage. A policy dilemma appears between strengthening state regulation/protection and maintaining workers’ temporal autonomy. Arguably, the platformisation of work is translated into the gigification of OW, disentitling platform workers’ employer-provided welfare and labour protection. Platforms possess monopolising power over workers, the state displays weak regulatory power to monitor platforms, and workers’ occupational citizenship is undermined by the government’s minimal intervention. This study contributes to the literature by linking OW to platform work and revealing how the gig economy reshapes social policy, empirically offering a worker-centred analysis of OW in Hong Kong.

ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN THE ALLOCATION OF LOW-COST HOUSES: A SOUTH AFRICAN CASE STUDY

This paper is a culmination of an empirical study which sought to investigate the ethical dilemmas and Clientelism in the allocation of low-cost houses. Section 26 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 eloquently states that ‘everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing’. Low-cost houses commonly known as ‘RDP houses’ are government’s approach in responding and respecting the constitutional right to adequate housing for all deserving South Africans. This paper argues that the low-cost housing system in South Africa is concocted by ethical dilemmas and conflict of interest such as corruption, nepotism, administrative discretion, and policy dilemmas amongst others. The paper adopts a combination of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative research approaches) and content analysis. The paper followed a case study approach whereby 10 selected villages within the jurisdiction of the Greater Giyani Local Municipality, Limpopo Province were randomly sampled for data collection. Therefore, questionnaires were administered and collected, interviews conducted and documents relating to the discourse of this study were analysed in context of the general objectives of the study. This was done with a view of proposing recommendations that can be used to minimise and curb unethical conduct and the use of public goods for the benefit of political parties, particularly those running the machinery of government.

Research on the Implementation Dilemma and Countermeasures of College Graduates' Employment Policy in the New Era

Research on the Implementation Dilemma and Countermeasures of College Graduates' Employment Policy in the New Era

The Dilemma of cultural commodification policy of barkcloth: A study of the Kaili Community in Pandere Village, Indonesia

The Dilemma of cultural commodification policy of barkcloth: A study of the Kaili Community in Pandere Village, Indonesia

Humanitarianism and National Security Conundrum: A Systematic Review on Bangladesh’s Refugee Policy Dilemma, More Owes to Displaced Rohingyas

Humanitarianism and National Security Conundrum: A Systematic Review on Bangladesh’s Refugee Policy Dilemma, More Owes to Displaced Rohingyas

A Game-Theory-Based Contract Mechanism to Facilitate Technology Spillover in Emerging Electric Vehicle Markets

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been increasingly adopted by both developing and developed countries as an effective means to cope with energy shortage and provide environmental-friendly transportation solutions. However, due to technology gap, domestic electric vehicles (DEVs) in developing countries often cannot compete with well-established imported electric vehicles (IEVs) from developed countries. Therefore, developing countries often face the dilemma of increasing the EV adoption through more IEVs and promoting the development of DEVs. This article proposes an incentive-compatible contract mechanism to address this dilemma. Through a set of game theory models, we compare the commonly used subsidy and tariff policies against the spillover effect of a technology assistance program (TAP) and derive the optimal pricing strategies for DEVs and IEVs. The results show that the implementation of TAP can lead to a more competitive market and significantly increase social welfare. Consumers can benefit from reduced prices of both the DEVs and IEVs, while the profits of the IEVs and DEVs can be enhanced at varying degrees of technology spillover resulted from TAP. Therefore, the proposed TAP mechanism effectively complements the existing subsidy and tariff policies and provides a viable instrument for the government of developing country to reconcile the existing policy dilemma.

Dialectics of Opportunities and Challenges in Disciplinary Shifting of ‘Rural Development’ into ‘Development Studies’

This paper aims to discuss the emerging trend and scope of Development Studies as an academic discipline. Methodologically, the paper is based on secondary sources of data. A comparative and argumentative method has been followed in a continuum approach to Rural Development and Development Studies. It argues that conventional particularistic approaches to development are being upgraded in the more general domain of Development Studies. Therefore, going with some national and international trends of studies in both disciplines, this paper offers a strong recommendation for the adoption of Development Studies with exploration and extended continuity of Rural Development. The paper does not, however, conclude with the immortality of the discipline of Development Studies but stands with its continuous evolution and contestation. Taking the reference of Nepal, the paper has highlighted different issues, opportunities, and challenges of such shifting in terms of quality of the program, courses and faculties, career and exposure, and research potential and policy dilemma. The paper is expected to contribute to the studies of different paradigms and discourses of development in their given contexts and conditions of socio-political realties.

State roles in platform governance: AI’s regulatory geographies

Platform governance scholarship commonly derives the role of the state from its actions as a regulator of platforms: a rule-setter that sets limits and restricts their activities. This article argues that three additional state roles enable and constrain the agency of states to regulate platforms: facilitator, buyer, and producer. Using the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act as a case study, the article asks: How do different state roles in platform governance shape AI’s regulatory geographies? It answers this research question by outlining two policy dilemmas between those four state roles. First, the EU’s ambition to act as a facilitator of digital markets constrains its scope of interventions as a regulator of platforms. Second, the EU’s deficits in acting as a producer of AI infrastructure exacerbate its dependency as a buyer of Big Tech offerings, especially cloud computing services. The article contends that dilemmas between state roles are not anomalies but defining features of state-platform relations. As generative AI systems gain sophistication, an understanding of how state roles relate to each other helps to navigate their complex governance regimes.

When mRNA technology meets patent law: innovation, barriers and public health

Abstract The success of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has ushered in a new era of vaccine and therapeutic development. In this rapidly evolving field, top biotech and biopharma companies are constantly searching for new opportunities to create innovative treatments and vaccines. However, the landscape of mRNA patents is getting complicated and dense, with an accumulation of partially overlapping patent rights that require multiple rights holders’ permission for use and commercialization. Additionally, there are several pending patent lawsuits related to key components of mRNA platform technologies, with strong implications for follow-on innovation and technology diffusion within the field. The case of mRNA technology—as often happens with emerging technologies—is therefore emblematic of the policy dilemma faced by patent law of how to balance economic incentives in a setting of cumulative innovation. This article maps out relevant legal factors that, under different conditions, might aggravate or mitigate the potential negative effects of patents in the field. Further, it sets a framework for more targeted examination of the identified issues.