Dimensions Of Governance Research Articles

Modernization of the State: The Role of Open Government in the Effectiveness of Municipal Management in San Martín, Peru

The study aimed to establish the relationship between open government and the effectiveness of municipal management in the San Martín region, employing a basic quantitative research approach, a non-experimental design, and a descriptive correlational and cross-sectional scope. The population comprised 926,000 citizens, from which a sample of 1,537 was selected. The survey technique was used with two questionnaires, one for each variable. Regarding the dimensions of open government, the results showed a transparency level categorized as regular at 60%, deficient at 30%, and good at 10%; public sector integrity was rated as regular at 62%, deficient at 27%, and good at 12%; accountability was evaluated as regular at 46%, deficient at 38%, and good at 16%; and citizen and stakeholder participation achieved a regular level of 55%, deficient at 35%, and good at 10%. Concerning the effectiveness of municipal management, the evaluated dimensions showed that equipment and information and communication technologies were classified as regular at 60%, good at 20%, and deficient at 14%; human resources were assessed as regular at 64%, deficient at 21%, and good at 15%; municipal competencies and functions were rated as regular at 67%, good at 17%, and deficient at 16%; and local public services were reported as regular at 63%, deficient at 19%, and good at 18%. Finally, it was concluded that there is a high and significant positive relationship between open government and the effectiveness of municipal management, with a Spearman's Rho coefficient of 0.824 (high positive correlation) and a p-value of 0.000 (p ≤ 0.01), estimating an incidence of 74% between both variables.

Systematic Review of Dimensions and Indicators in Sustainable and Smart Cities: Trends, Interdependencies, and Continental Variations

Accelerated urbanization challenges cities globally. Ensuring good quality of life and environmental protection requires innovative, data-driven solutions. Sustainable and smart cities (SSCs) offer a promising response, but effective implementation depends on selecting and using appropriate dimensions and indicators. The main objective of this article is to present a systematic review within the framework of SSCs to study trends in the use of dimensions and indicators. A citation frequency index (Q) considering quartiles is used to determine the importance of the variables considered in this study. A spatiotemporal analysis of the dimensions and indicators detected is also performed. The results suggest that the multifaceted nature of SSCs necessitates a holistic approach, with environmental (Q3 = 0.536) and social (Q2 = 0.403) dimensions being principal. Despite the lower ranking (Q1 = 0.080) of the information and communication technology (ICT) dimension, its pervasive influence highlights its evolving importance. Effective ICT implementation relies on robust social and environmental foundations, illustrating their interdependence. The governance (Q1 = 0.169) dimension is also essential for the creation of transparent and equitable urban policies. Key indicators related to energy systems (Q2 = 0.379), data analysis (Q2 = 0.327), and resource management (Q2 = 0.291) are crucial for operational efficiency and sustainability. Continental differences in prioritizing SSC dimensions highlight the importance of context-specific strategies, reflecting unique challenges and opportunities faced by different continental areas. By understanding and addressing these continental differences, policymakers and urban planners can more effectively promote sustainable and resilient urban development worldwide.

Impact of country-specific business integrity and firm-specific ESG on earnings quality: evidence from EU civil law jurisdictions

Purpose This paper aims to examine whether variations in country-specific business integrity (BI) and firm-specific environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions can explain variations in earnings quality (EQ) in Northern and Southern EU civil law countries. Design/methodology/approach Regarding EQ, the analysis builds on the “small gain, small loss” (SGSL) model of Burgstahler and Dichev (1997) and Burgstahler and Chuk (2015). The authors explain SGSL with the BI. Southern Europe or “Club Med” is typically associated with a less rigorous institutional regime than Northern Europe. Findings Results evidenced higher EQ in the Northern EU compared with the Southern EU. Furthermore, EQ is explained successfully with the Business Integrity Index (BII) and ESG. The results suggest that BII and ESG represent different dimensions, and, therefore, both should be included in the models explaining EQ. Practical implications The results show that the Northern EU civil law countries have higher EQ compared with the Southern EU civil law countries. The difference is explained by the BII variable. For the Southern EU, legislators and other public policy decision-makers should build up and apply tools to limit and fight corruption in those jurisdictions. The impactful elimination of corruption would, in turn, establish a firmer basis to foster ethical behavior and financial market sophistication developments. Originality/value The study offers additional insights on the determinants of EQ in the EU civil law countries. The prior literature has argued that, categorically, in common law countries firms engage in higher-quality reporting than those in civil law countries. The results evidence that EQ varies within the EU civil law countries; that is, a country’s BI and firm-specific ESG contribute to the explanation for EQ. A more specific explanation for the reasons in the EQ “within” civil law jurisdictions could be related to legislators and other public policy decision-makers in charge of establishing regimes and public policies supporting high-quality accounting.

Urban design leadership: Part 2, the case of public architects

AbstractThis paper, in two parts, explores the styles and application of urban design leadership as a dimension of urban design governance. This second part takes the theoretical framework for understanding urban design leadership developed in Part 1 and applies the theory to the varied practices of public architects across Europe. Based on interviews with protagonists involved in the delivery of these roles, the paper teases out how these functions can be understood in terms of leadership. Ultimately, urban design leadership is not a simple thing that should be replicated according to a standard formula from place to place. Instead, as the case of public architects demonstrates, in different ways that relate to opportunities provided by local governance and political traditions, such roles demonstrate the value of urban design as a form of design leadership at the urban scale. Their analysis also demonstrates the value of the framework advanced in Part 1, which proves to be a robust means to interrogate forms and episodes of urban design leadership. It provides a starting point for a research agenda that is ripe for further investigation.

Chairperson Gender, Policy Compliance and ESG Performance of Family Firms

Compared to other types of companies, family businesses tend to be more dominated by the traditional notion of familialism, believing that women should be more responsible for handling family affairs rather than being involved in business operations and decision-making. Yet there is still a controversy about whether female chairpersonship is more favorable to enterprise development than male chairpersonship. Driven by the globalization process and sustainable development strategies, ESG has become an important indicator for evaluating corporate sustainability and social responsibility. This paper empirically investigates the effect and mechanism of the gender of the chairperson on the ESG performance of family firms by using A-share family firms in China from 2009 to 2022 as the research sample. The results show that female chairpersonship significantly enhances the ESG performance of family firms, and this facilitating effect mainly focuses on the social and governance dimensions, and policy compliance is an important reason why female chairpersonship promotes the ESG performance of family firms. The study also finds that female chairpersons contribute more to family firms’ ESG performance in family firms whose chairpersons are from outside the family, those are indirectly founded, those with a high degree of ownership and control rights disparity, and those with single actual controller. This paper provides a framework for the study of the gender of chairpersons on the ESG performance of family firms, and also provides useful references for the professional equality between males and females and the selection of chairpersons in the real economy.

‘E’ of ESG and firm performance: Evidence from China

Following the ESG rating divergence reported in the previous research studies, we develop a novel firm-level Green Commitment (GC) index by incorporating new dimensions of environmental management and governance. We construct GC scores for all A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2021 and analyze whether firms with greater environmental commitment exhibit improvements in their future performance. Our results show that firms with high GC scores achieve higher stock returns without incurring extra risk. Additionally, a strong environmental commitment can enhance operating performance by mitigating financial constraints. The evidence supports the view that environmental investing contributes to the creation of positive shareholder value. Our GC index can be applied more widely to resolve the mixed evidence on the value implications of corporate environmental commitments.

Does Firms’ Corporate Social Responsibility Reduce Crime?

This study examines the impact of firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) on state crime rates in the U.S. from 2004 to 2020. Our research bolsters the expanding work under the Law and Political Economy Project out of Yale University and Economics of Crime Working Group of National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Our empirical results show that states with domiciled firms having better CSR performance exhibit significantly lower crime rates. This lower crime incidence is driven by the environmental, social, and governance dimensions of CSR. Our study is the first to document the societal impact of CSR by analyzing state crime rates, and we conclude that CSR activities have positive externalities on society.

Research on Quality Evaluation of Climate Information Disclosure in Cement Industry

This paper discusses the current situation and framework of climate information disclosure through the review of domestic and foreign literature. Based on relevant international guidelines and Chinese policies and regulations, the evaluation system is constructed from four dimensions of governance, strategy, risk management, index and target report by using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and content analysis method. Taking the content of climate-related information disclosure of Tianshan Stock in 2023 as an example, this paper studies the gap between domestic cement enterprises in their climate information disclosure and the global benchmark, and puts forward relevant countermeasures and suggestions to promote the improvement of the quality of climate information disclosure of listed companies in the cement industry.

Can overarching rules and coordination in polycentric governance help achieve pre‐identified institutional goals over time? Evidence from farmland governance in southeastern France

AbstractThe question of the performance of polycentric governance over time is insufficiently addressed in the literature. By performance, we refer to the ability of polycentric governance actors to design rules and engage in coordination processes that allow them to achieve their goals. Through an institutional analysis, this paper seeks to answer a question that remains unresolved in the field, namely the effectiveness of the overarching set of rules and coordination relationships in their ability to drive institutional and organizational change in polycentric governance processes. To this end, we conduct an in‐depth case study of farmland governance in southeastern France. Through the attributes of polycentric governance, we examine the changes brought about by the goal of local food supply comparing it with other historical goals such as farmland preservation. We show that farmland governance is characterized by an institutional mismatch that prevents its actors from moving closer to the objective of local food supply. We argue that the evolution of farmland governance comes down to organizational change that does not lead to an evolution of rules‐in‐use. We discuss this result in light of the findings of the literature on polycentric governance and its implications for public policy.

The Impact of ESG on Corporate Performance: A Case Study of Yunnan Baiyao

Abstract: With the deepening integration of the global economy and the widespread acceptance of sustainable development principles, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become critical elements influencing long-term value and financial performance of enterprises. Globally, an increasing number of companies are paying attention to ESG factors and integrating them into their strategic planning and operational management. This paper employs case study analysis and accounting-related indicators analysis to evaluate the ESG practices of selected enterprises from the dimensions of environment, society, and governance. It then combines financial indicators to analyze the impact of ESG on their financial performance and the reasons behind it. Finally, suggestions are made on how to achieve sustainable development through improved ESG management.

Explaining the changes in the green technology innovation efficiency of construction enterprises

Based on the objective of global carbon emission reduction, the green technology innovation efficiencies of construction enterprises (GTIE–CE) have attracted attention in various countries and regions worldwide. However, researchers have not yet assessed GTIE–CE from the perspectives of asymmetric innovation theory, resource orchestration theory and eco-innovation theory. To reveal the changes in GTIE–CE, an index system is constructed to measure this efficiency based on resource orchestration theory and eco-innovation theory. In addition, based on the asymmetric innovation theory, this study uses the spatial variance function and PVAR model to reveal the evolution mechanism of GTIE–CE with respect to market, government and technology dimensions. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) Regional heterogeneity is present in GTIE–CE in China, and the appearance of high efficiency spreads from the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta to the surrounding areas. (2) The market dimension positively affects the green technology innovation efficiency of construction enterprises, but this effect is delayed. (3) The government dimension significantly promotes the improvement in GTIE–CE, but this effect is delayed. This study provides an integrated theoretical perspective that reveals the mechanism of GTIE–CE, helps to broaden the research in the field of GTIE–CE, in addition to insights from China to further promote the green transformation of these enterprises.

Iman Peoples Water Sovereignty: Extractive Industries in Central Queensland

The coal seam gas (CSG) industry has rapidly expanded in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) over the past two decades, significantly impacting groundwater ecosystems and Indigenous communities that rely on these water sources for cultural, spiritual, and practical purposes. This article examines the intersection of Water Sovereignty, extractive industries, and key issues such as Social License to Operate (SLO), Indigenous Peoples' rights, informed consent, and the legal doctrine of Aqua Nullius. Through an Indigenous perspective, this research illuminates the multifaceted dimensions of water governance and the complexities that arise from the interactions between Indigenous stakeholders, industries, and regulatory frameworks. Through interviews with Elders of the Iman Peoples in central Queensland, the research highlights how current SLO frameworks neglect Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and fail to uphold ethical standards necessary for protecting Indigenous cultural continuity. Water security is a primary concern, with Traditional Owners emphasizing the need to safeguard surface and groundwater for future generations. This research informs policy at local and national levels while contributing to global discussions on Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and cultural heritage protection. It calls for integrating Indigenous knowledge and rights into water governance, promoting respect, equity, and sustainability in managing natural resources.

The effect of corporate governance attributes on human capital disclosure in South Africa

The disclosure of human capital (HC) information in corporate reports continues to be at the centre of discussions in the executive boardroom. Currently, standard setters grapple with implementing uniform disclosure requirements for human capital disclosure (HCD) and as a result this information is scant, erratic, and inconsistently reported. Hence the ISO 30414 was introduced to breach this gap. The aim of the study is to critically examine how corporate governance attributes affect HCD. A quantitative based cross-sectional design was followed using a sample of top 100 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The ISO 30414 HR reporting framework containing 48 metrics was utilised to construct an assessment instrument with a 7-point scale to assess the extent of HCD. Overall, board meeting attendance yielded positive statistically significant association with HC information disclosed on recruitment, retention rate, turnover rate, internal mobility rate, competency rate, employee value-added, absenteeism rate. The board of directors play a critical role in improving the disclosure of HC information in the integrated reports. The study provides first empirical evidence on the impact corporate governance attributes have on HCD using the ISO 30414 HR reporting framework.

Strengthening the Human Rights Guarantee System in the Management of Migrant Policies in Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a bibliographic survey of scientific productions that deal with migration governance throughout the national territory. Theoretical Framework: Supported by the theoretical and methodological assumptions of dialectical historical materialism, this article is part of the results of a post-doctoral internship that discusses the strengthening and defense of the rights of migrants in Brazil. Method: As a procedure for collecting this data, a time frame of research from the last ten years (2014-2024) was used. For this purpose, a survey of scientific production in Brazilian postgraduate programs indexed in the BDTD (Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations) was carried out. The analysis, in turn, was based on the ten dimensions of migration governance, developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) adapted to the Brazilian context. Results and Discussion: The results revealed that although there is an effort by municipalities and states to try to strengthen the guarantee of rights to migrants, there are still gaps and difficulties in ensuring them. There is fragmentation in the provision of services to migrants and difficulties for sectoral policies to carry out integrated and cross-cutting actions. Few studies discuss the institutional structure of migration governance, that is, the strategic organization of public policies in order to strengthen the guarantee of the rights of migrants. Research Implications: The importance of this study lies in organizing and producing materials to support professionals who work to promote the human rights of migrants in the country. Originality/Value: Considering that the management of migration and migrant policies is still under construction, this research contributes to thinking about ways to ensure the rights of migrants through effective migration governance.

Financial performance of emerging market companies during the COVID-19 pandemic: moderating role of sustainability performance

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether sustainability performance (SP) served as a safeguard for firm profitability (FP) and enhanced corporate resilience in emerging markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 1,091 firms in 25 emerging markets from 2017 to 2021, this study analyses the moderating role of SP on the relationship between FP and COVID-19 by using hierarchical linear modelling at three levels: (a) time-level; (b) firm-level; (c) country-level. Findings The results indicate that during the years 2020–2021, emerging market firms with robust SP showed better FP in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings also indicate that all dimensions of sustainability, i.e. environmental, social and governance (ESG), have significantly affected the FP in the post-COVID period. Hence, adhering to ESG principles aids in alleviating adverse financial repercussions during times of crises. Practical implications This study provides valuable insights for companies and policymakers for finding solutions that may assist them in improving SP globally and enduring crises resiliently. The findings are also relevant to institutional investors that consider SP as an investment criteria. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was temporary, the lessons learned could protect firms from future similar global crises. Originality/value This study enhances the understanding of the contingency relationship between sustainability and financial performance by offering up-to-date empirical insights within the context of emerging markets during the pandemic. It demonstrates how different institutional frameworks influenced the SP–FP association during the crisis. Thus, this paper expands the understanding of crisis management literature and bridges the research void concerning the impact of SP on FP in an emerging market context.

Exploring the role of governance in determining public-private investment in energy: New empirical insights from ASEAN

The energy sector plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and enhancing social welfare. However, the mobilization of sufficient investment including public and private remains crucial for advancing energy infrastructure development. Against this backdrop, this study aims to explore the role of governance in determining public-private investment in energy (PPE). The empirical analysis leverages a comprehensive dataset spanning 25 years from 1998 to 2022 and covering ASEAN nations. The study employs the CS-ARDL (cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag) model for regression analysis to assess governance dimensions' long-term and short-term effects on PPE. Additionally, the study conducts robustness analysis by using the FMOLS (fully modified ordinary least square) model and an alternative proxy of governance i.e. EFI (economic freedom index) to validate the findings. The analysis reveals that governance exerts a significant and positive effect on PPE. Specifically, the dimensions of governance such as corruption control (COC), government effectiveness, political stability (POS), regulatory quality, etc. demonstrate robust positive associations with PPE. This positive relationship indicates that stronger governance institutions foster transparency, efficiency, and stability in the energy sector, attracting private-sector investments. The findings of this study have significant policy implications for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable energy transitions and socio-economic development within the ASEAN region. Specifically, it is essential to strengthen governance institutions, enhance regulatory frameworks, and foster public-private partnerships for energy investment. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing novel insights into the governance-energy investment nexus within the ASEAN region.

Estimating a national critical mineral security index in Indonesia using analytical hierarchy process

Critical minerals are key to guaranteeing energy security and economic stability in a nation. Indonesia, as the largest country in Southeast Asia, has significant reserves of critical minerals. The current circumstances, however, pose substantial challenges for Indonesia as it strives for self-sufficiency in various sectors. Indonesia must pay attention to its natural resource management, especially that of critical minerals. This study aims to present information on securing critical mineral resources in Indonesia by constructing a Critical Mineral Security Index (CMSI). This study used a quasi-qualitative method, wherein the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used as the process of analysis. A total of four dimensions have been proposed in this study—availability, accessibility, technology-efficiency, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions with a total of 29 indicators. The results of the AHP confirm that the security level of critical mineral resources in Indonesia is 5.57. The results indicate that the availability dimension has the highest weight compared to the other dimensions, equal to 47.6%. While the accessibility dimension has the lowest level of resistance. The government should, therefore, prioritize improving the indicators of accessibility dimensions. These results have policy implications for the energy and mineral sector in the future, to further reinforce energy and mineral security on a national scale, which may ultimately support transition energy in Indonesia and strengthen national defense.

The Governance of Renewable Energy Auctions: A Multidimensional Comparative Policy Analysis

Auctions have become the most important policy instrument for promoting renewable energy (RE). This article offers a conceptual and methodological framework to grasp the variety of national RE auctions’ governance arrangements. It presents indices to systematically measure and compare key dimensions of RE auctions and electricity governance: scope of regulation, private operators’ influence, coordination, and the concentration of authority. The framework’s usefulness is demonstrated via its application to three contrasted cases – the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Morocco, showing the disruption in electricity governance patterns induced by RE auctions and the relevance of the multidimensional approach to understand policy outcomes.

ESG and economic growth: Catalysts for achieving sustainable development goals in developing economies

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) dimensions and economic growth on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries. The research utilizes a quantitative approach, analyzing panel data from 12 developing nations from 2010 to 2022. The Panel ARDL (Pooled Mean Group) method is applied to assess both short‐term and long‐term effects of disaggregated ESG components—environmental, social, and governance scores—on SDG attainment. Robustness is confirmed through endogeneity tests conducted using Instrumental Variable (IV) regression analysis with the Two‐Stage Least Squares (2SLS) method. The results reveal a positive relationship between ESG dimensions and SDG attainment, with economic growth also contributing significantly to SDG progress. The study highlights the importance of integrating ESG principles with economic growth strategies to enhance SDG fulfillment in developing countries, offering valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders in advancing sustainable development agendas.

Multipurpose territorial cadastre and collaborative participation as tools for smart urban governance: An analysis considering the pandemic’s effect in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region, Brazil

The society lives in a dynamic, complex and contradictory urban system, seeking to reach a balance between urban development and environmental preservation. For this purpose, there is a need to perform an efficient urban management integrated with the information and communication technologies. From this integration, emerges the smart cities concept, which is composed of smart governance strategies and actions. In this sense, the present article aims to understand and discuss the contributions, potentials and public values of the multipurpose territorial cadastre and the collaborative participation as tools for smart governance. In order to validate the theoretical essay, a case study was performed to analyze urban governance in the São Paulo metropolitan region, Brazil, according to the use of information and geoinformation resources applied to cities’ management, pre- and post-pandemics. The results have shown that some practices of municipal governments have already been established aligned with the dimensions of smart governance. However, mainly, as for spatial activation in the use of geoinformation, as well as in the use of multipurpose territorial cadastre, it still has much to move forward and, therefore, to qualify with public value the strategies and actions of governance that a smart city requires.