Current Policy Directions Research Articles

Contesting the Commons: Economics and Politics in the New Forest National Park of Southern England

The paper is a case study of a unique area of southern England, the New Forest, designated a national park as recently as 2005. Its inspiration was awareness of the environmental importance of national parks in Poland, and especially knowledge of current conflicts about timber exploitation in Białowieża that have attracted international concern. Both the New Forest and Białowieża have long histories as areas recognised for their special environmental importance. They are homes to fragile ecosytems that have endured over centuries and are now considered under threat. The New Forest has a rich and long history of conflicts over uses for its natural resources, and of institutions that evolved in response to changing economic needs and political priorities. People’s economic needs have always led to conflicts over perceptions about the best use of scarce resources. Sometimes arguments about the national interest is the driver; at the opposite extreme, local problems and priorities are the issue. Irrespective of scale, there need to be institutional frameworks suited to resolution of conflicts of interest and amenable to decision making aimed at their avoidance. Potentially, the New Forest experience contains lessons for other locations, including Poland. So, the paper outlines New Forest geography and history with specific reference to the interrelationship of economic pressures and institutional change, all set against the backdrop of present circumstances and future expectations in the light of current policy directions. It is concluded that international research collaboration potentially can offer new insights and understandings conducive to sustaining any such unique, precious and irreplaceable national park environments for the long term.

Financing long-term services and supports: challenges, goals, and needed reforms

ABSTRACTThe need for long-term services and supports (LTSS) presents a growing financial burden on disabled individuals, their families, and state Medicaid budgets. Strategies for addressing this problem pose both a policy design and a political challenge. This article begins by explaining the choices and trade-offs policy makers face in designing new policy and offers the outlines of a specific approach to navigating these. It then concludes with an assessment of current LTSS policy directions and politics—specifically, the movement to constrain, rather than enhance, federal financing for LTSS and the counterpressures necessary to strengthen meaningful insurance protection. While the political environment has become even less conducive to expansion of public benefits, the underlying problem of LTSS financing will grow and persist. And politics change. Thus, in this paper we offer and explain the choices we would make to bridge the political divide—specifically, a proposal to develop a new public–private partnership based on a public program to cover “back-end” or catastrophic costs plus measures making private insurance more attractive for the “up-front” risk, an approach that has recently been endorsed by a number of bipartisan groups.

It takes two to Tango: Automated vehicles and human beings do the dance of driving – Four social considerations for policy

Automated vehicle (AV) policy development and assessment is a difficult and complicated process. Today’s road and vehicle policies are the product of a hundred years of lessons learned. They generally address five areas: safety, efficiency, mobility, convenience, and impact on the environment. Now the prospect-turned-reality of automated vehicles entering public roadways has opened up a number of new policy-related questions. Is it enough to simply modify current road and vehicle policies or will new policies need to be developed addressing much broader aspects of the transportation system? How can these policies be developed to accommodate technologies that either do not yet exist or are only now being tested on the road in constrained environments? Perhaps most importantly, how can policy influence technological design to safely operate with other road users and can we look ahead to have a better view of potential unintended consequences?This paper provides policymakers with research-based information as they address these and other questions. A metaphor is used where two people on the dancefloor both know a complicated dance. They play off real-time feedback including emotions, tempo, and others on the floor to plan, execute, and modify their moves to complete the performance. It provides insight to some of the social considerations that should be considered as future AV policy is developed. Insights into the direction of current policy are identified and the relationship to the social nature of AV users and non-users are provided. A use case scenario of a driverless shuttle vehicle operating in a campus-type setting is used to elucidate important considerations and underscore the dynamic nature of the social transportation system. Both simulation and field testing provide insight into the problems that affect both users and non-users. Issues are identified that may not yet have been considered by policymakers. An imagined future where AVs seamlessly integrate into our existing transportation system and current driving culture may be erroneous. Considerations for policy include standardizing situations, mechanisms for communication with other road users, and passenger mediation for other road user communication with AVs.

三重県における森林・林業・木材産業の現状と政策の方向（特集 地方林性の現状と課題）

三重県における森林・林業・木材産業の現状と政策の方向（特集 地方林性の現状と課題）

Age discrimination in the workplace: The more things change ….

Age discrimination in the workplace: The more things change ….

Growth and Strategies of Large and Leading Firms - Metals, Machinery and Equipment Sector Assessment

The strategies and investments of large firms can impact the growth and industrial development trajectory of economies. In the context of South Africa’s deindustrialisation and the current policy direction towards growing the manufacturing sector, this study assesses the investments and strategies of large firms in the metals, machinery and equipment sector, one of the largest contributors to GDP and exports and a key producer of inputs into downstream economic activities. These investments are assessed to understand the companies’ strategies in terms of investments made (and not made), to inform the development of appropriate policy levers and incentives to enhance industrial development. The study considered 25 listed firms in the metals, machinery and equipment sector from 2011 to 2016, considering the location of those investments, and the rationale for these investments given by the companies. Three main cross-cutting observations arise from the analysis. The first is that there is a significant number of mergers and acquisitions, and consolidation in the sector in the period considered. Based on the available data, there is a relatively even distribution between mergers taking place within South Africa and those involving acquisitions of companies outside of Africa. The second theme is that there are ‘pockets of excellence’ where firms are investing in developing capabilities and technologies that can drive development and industrialisation. This marks an important area for policy consideration, whereby measures to support continued investment and upgrading of capabilities would be of significant value in terms of enabling the companies to sustain operations. Third, firms continue to face challenges in terms of sustaining their operations in the context of low investment, low downstream demand (including a decline in government projects), and a challenging cost environment which can limit further growth.

STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF AND ADHERENCE TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED STUDENTS' HALLS OF RESIDENCE AT KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, GHANA

Energy management is one of the current policy directions of the Ghana government given the increasing challenges associated with energy generation to cope with the growing demand. A conscious attempt at adopting practices aimed at conserving energy is considered a sinequanon to coping with the current energy challenges in Ghana. However, an assessment of the awareness level of energy management practices is yet to be rigorously pursued as an agenda towards energy conservation in institutions and agencies perceived to be high energy consumers. Currently, the increasing growth in student numbers in the universities in Ghana and the high energy demands against the low level of energy generation to cope with these demands needs urgent attention. Consequently, adherence to effective energy management practices among students in these universities is considered a prima-facie in coping with the energy challenges in the country. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and adherence levels of energy management practices of students in tertiary institutions in Ghana. Using KNUST as a case study, a questionnaire survey was carried out amongst students in residential accommodation on the campus. Subsequently, mean score and one sample t-test analyses were employed to analyze the empirical data elicited. The findings revealed a generally low awareness and adherence level to the critical energy management practices amongst students. These findings have implications for energy policy formulation and innovations towards conservation and management. Keywords: Energy management; Ghana; Hostels; Students

The Selection of ECEC Programs by Australian Families: Quality, Availability, Usage and Family Demographics

HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD education and care (ECEC) programs have the potential to ameliorate socioeconomic status (SES) gradients. In the Australian ECEC market, however, there is no guarantee that children from low SES backgrounds access high-quality ECEC programs. This study tested the influence of family SES on the selection of ECEC program quality. Participants were 2494 children enrolled in up to 1427 ECEC classrooms (mean age at entry = 43 months, SD = eight months). The study controlled for a range of child, family, home and community-level background factors. Both cross-sectional (linear regression) and longitudinal (growth models) methods are used. The study confirmed that children from lower SES families were more likely to attend lower quality programs. Longitudinal modelling showed the largest quality gap before kindergarten. To narrow SES-related achievement gaps there is a need to significantly improve aspects of program quality that influence children's development, and specifically to do so in programs for younger children. There is a particular need to target ECEC programs in lower SES areas to ameliorate the observed SES quality gradient. The findings further challenge current policy directions from the Productivity Commission inquiry into child care and early learning.

Comparability of Company Accounts Using IFRS and US GAAP: Empirical Evidence of European and US Financial Statements

<p><strong>Purpose-</strong>The main objective of this study is to provide a judgment on the comparability of financial statements prepared under IFRS and US-GAAP. We developed two research questions for evaluating comparability within Europe (IFRS) and within the US (US GAAP) and for testing whether comparability is higher or lower when the US companies are included with the European countries.</p><p><strong>Design/Methodology/Approach-</strong>The T index framework was used to summarize the level of comparability for 13 accounting items using data from 250 companies.</p><p><strong>Findings</strong>-Empirical results are mixed. Of 13 accounting items considered, international comparability is significantly lower for 7 items and significantly higher for 4 items when the US companies are included. Furthermore, comparability amongst companies using IFRS is not consistently higher or lower than comparability amongst companies using US GAAP.</p><p><strong>Practical implications</strong>-Answers to the research questions may provide useful suggestions for IASB’s current policy direction towards global accounting standards convergence, and in particular for the IASB-FASB convergence project. The results also have implications for companies or countries considering shifting to IFRS or US GAAP.</p><p><strong>Research limitations/implications</strong>-Lack of comparability within countries, rather than between countries, suggests a need to focus on reducing options within standards rather than on differences between standards or countries.</p><strong>Originality value</strong>-Our empirical results show that in most cases lack of comparability may be driven by options within a standard rather than by explicit differences between standards.

Government initiatives to attract retired migrants: An analysis of Malaysia's My Second Home (MM2H) programme

International residential retirement programmes as a policy tool to attract mobile retirees have thus far been under-studied. Malaysia's programme that is nearly three decades old was investigated. Drawing data from interviews and secondary data, it charts the evolutionary changes that the programme underwent. The latest iteration signifies an attempt to target wealthier retirees, no longer the mass market. Using the Rowles Watkins Model as the theoretical lense, it points out that Malaysia's current policy direction, whether by design or otherwise, is sensible as it ensures that Malaysia avoids reaching the saturation stage whereby the disbenefits outweigh the benefits. The paper concludes by recommending certain changes, some of which can be implemented without having to wait for the next iteration. Other destination countries can draw lessons from Malaysia's foreign residential retirement initiative, in particular the initial effort to gain popularity and subsequent use in moderation to stimulate economic growth.

A Conceptual Framework of Skilled Female Migrant Retention

Women make an increasingly important contribution to the skilled workforce. Nations like Australia that suffer skill shortages need not only to attract but also retain more skilled female migrants. The latter has become an important policy issue in Australia because of modest retention rates. While much of the relevant literature focuses upon migrant attraction, we address the retention decision. We derive and empirically test a framework incorporating the key explanatory factors in the decision of skilled female migrants whether to remain in Australia. Our results have important implications for current policy directions.

Delivering affordable housing through the planning system in urban renewal contexts: converging government roles in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales

This paper outlines the current Australian policy environment for delivering affordable housing in urban renewal contexts. An increasing shift towards infill development, coupled with a decreasing provision of government-owned social housing, is placing severe pressure on housing affordability. The cumulative effect is to create the need for governments to intervene on urban renewal projects to ensure that affordable housing options are delivered as a part of any new development. Three different approaches to planning for affordable housing in three states are examined: the former Urban Land Development Authority in Queensland, the 15% inclusionary zoning requirement in South Australia and the Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy in New South Wales. Despite significant differences between these approaches, a number of potential roles emerge for government to support delivery of affordable housing by market and not-for-profit housing providers, without adversely affecting development viability. These roles are as the land facilitator, educator, risk taker, subsidiser and long-term planner. Given that one aim of current policy directions is to reduce the role of government in delivering housing and urban growth, the paper concludes by considering the extent to which the approaches across the three states studied can be considered successful.

Attitudes and self-efficacy towards adults with mild intellectual disability among staff in acute psychiatric wards: an empirical investigation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether acute inpatient psychiatric staffs’ attitudes and self-efficacy towards adults with mild intellectual disability, were different than towards the general mental health population. And whether their understanding of the policy for those with mental illness and intellectual disability differed. Design/methodology/approach – The study is a between-subject design, using a self-administered postal questionnaire. The sample was all qualified staff from the acute inpatient psychiatric provision of an inner London borough. Potential participants were randomly assigned to two research groups, half being given a questionnaire regarding people with intellectual disability and the other half an identical one regarding people with mental illness. Comparisons were made between the two. Findings – The majority of staff were unaware of the current policy direction for adults with intellectual disability although were on the whole in agreement to the idea that they should access mainstream services. Staff overall did not have more negative attitudes to those with intellectual disability although were less likely to empower or encourage self-advocacy. Staff were significantly less confident that they had sufficient training and experience, and in their perceived ability to be able to communicate, assess and treat adults with mild intellectual disability when compared to those with mental illness. Research limitations/implications – The response rate and small sample size is a limitation. Further research could usefully look at whether self-efficacy and attitudes differ in different models of mainstream psychiatric care. Originality/value – Government policy in the UK regarding services for people with intellectual disability advocates for inclusion and equality (Chaplin and Taggart, 2012). Those requiring psychiatric care should access this from mainstream services (Department of Health, 2001, 2009, 2011; Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities et al., 2004; Bradley, 2009.) There are, however, no UK-based studies investigating the views of mainstream acute inpatient psychiatric staff towards their role. Intellectual disability staff have concerns about their attitudes and self-efficacy and it is know that acute care is the setting where most adults with intellectual disability will come across mainstream psychiatric staff. Findings have relevance to managers and staff in both intellectual disability and psychiatric services and could be considered in the context of trying to work together as is the direction of policy.

Implementation of the Canadian Paediatric Society's hyperbilirubinemia guidelines: A survey of Ontario hospitals

In 2007, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) published guidelines aimed at preventing severe hyperbilirubinemia. To determine whether hospitals had implemented these guidelines; to investigate how guideline-recommended care is organized; and to understand the factors influencing guideline implementation. The present study was an online survey conducted from December 2011 to May 2012 of all Ontario hospitals offering maternal-newborn services. A total of 97 of 100 eligible hospitals responded. Seventy-seven of the 97 (79%) respondents reported having implemented universal neonatal bilirubin screening. Among these hospitals, hospital-based postdischarge follow-up was reported more frequently than follow-up at community-based locations: hospital laboratory (n=40 [52%]), mother-baby care unit (n=32 [42%]), outpatient clinic (n=25 [33%]), primary care provider in community (n=19 [25%]) and community laboratory (n=8 [10%]). The CPS guidelines were the most frequently reported factor influencing implementation (n=74 [96%]). The survey provides valuable insight into the impact of a complex guideline in Canada's largest province. There was heterogeneity in how hospitals organized services, but there was a notable trend toward hospital-based postdischarge care. The shift to hospital-based care runs counter to current health policy directions and highlights the lack of integration among health care sectors. The majority of Ontario hospitals implemented universal bilirubin screening following the release of the CPS guidelines. Further analysis is needed to determine the impact that the guidelines and the differences in implementation have had on clinical outcomes and the utilization of health services.

서울시 2인 가구의 주거실태와 공간적 입지 특성 연구 - GIS를 활용한 다변량 분석 -

The goal of this research is to explore quantitative and residential features and spatial patterns of two-person households to suggest policy implications for housing supply and development in Seoul. Major findings of this study are as follows. First, the number of two-person households has increased rapidly mainly due to the growth of the elderly and single-parent households. They are mainly composed of the elderly over 60s and the youth of 30s of householder age. They are less likely to have well-paying jobs, and thus more likely to suffer from poverty. They are also inclined to live in rental and small-sized residential units and spatial segregation between the youth and the elderly became serious. In addition, their residential area can be classified into four types: area adjacent to employment centers, hinterland of urban centers, affordable multi-family housing area and redeveloped apartment area. It is necessary to change the current housing policy directions to take changing population and household structure into consideration. Also, diversified housing strategies and programs should be prepared to consider various household types and their needs and demands. Place-based strategies for housing supply and development are needed in consideration of spatial patterns and locational attributes of two-person households. Attention needs to be paid to resolving the social issue of residential segregation between different generations.

Water Management and Healthy Ageing in Rural Australia

Current Australian policy directives are aimed at building older people’s capacity to remain independent, healthy, and productive. However, in the context of increasing populations, climate variability, declining water supplies, and water price increases, there is concern that issues relating to water access and usage will impact capacity for healthy ageing in rural locations. Drawing on environmental gerontology, focus groups were used to explore the attitudes and behaviors of rural seniors relating to water use and management strategies in four rural communities located in north-east Victoria. Findings indicate that water is significant in the lives of rural seniors from both an aesthetic and resource-based perspective, and related to cultural and historical values. Thus, individual ability to manage water was a source of identity, with some water management policies seen as unjust and dissonant with current practices. These findings are critical in considering how macro-level policies impact human-environment interactions among vulnerable groups.

Chapter 3. Overview of previous national SEND achievements and their fit with current SEND policy directions

Chapter 3. Overview of previous national SEND achievements and their fit with current SEND policy directions

Addressing the Social Determinants of Subjective Wellbeing: The Latest Challenge for Social Policy

The idea that the happiness and wellbeing of individuals should shape government policy has been around since the enlightenment; today such thinking has growing practical policy relevance as governments around the world survey their populations in an effort to design social policies that promote wellbeing. In this article, we consider the social determinants of subjective wellbeing in the UK and draw lessons for social policy. Survey data are taken from the 'Measuring National Wellbeing Programme' launched by the UK's Office for National Statistics in 2010. For the empirical strategy, we develop bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, as well as testing for interaction effects in the data. The findings show that wellbeing is not evenly distributed within the UK. Socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, employment, household composition and tenure all matter, as does health status. Influencing population wellbeing is inherently complex, though, that said, there is a clear need to place greater emphasis on the social, given the direction of current policy.

‘Where Have All the Trees Gone?’ Urban Consolidation and the Demise of Urban Vegetation: A Case Study from Western Australia

Despite a vast body of empirical evidence emphasizing the significance of urban landscapes for improved quality of life, academic literature examining the impacts of urban consolidation on established vegetation and trees remain limited. This paper outlines the economic, social and environmental benefits of urban vegetation and trees and investigates the consequences of urban consolidation on established vegetation and trees in Como, an inner suburb, south of Perth, Western Australia (WA). It presents data from a longitudinal study utilizing photographic evidence and visual observations over several years. This study reveals an overwhelming trend for the removal of all landscaping when land is redeveloped under the current policy direction of urban consolidation. This paper investigates the importance of urban vegetation and trees, as a significant and valuable proportion of ‘greenery’ in urban areas. A conclusion drawn is that there exists little or no incentive for developers to preserve established urban vegetation and trees and only limited capacity to regulate for the protection of established ‘greenery’ in the private domain. Finally, the authors provide some recommendations, which emerge from this research.

Towards a learning identity: young people becoming learners after leaving school

This article explores the development of learning identities among 51 young New Zealanders who left school with few or no qualifications. Most experienced a period of time after leaving school when they were not in education, employment or training (known as NEET). At the time of this research all had moved into a learning environment of some kind. The development of learning identities involved the explicit rejection of their former NEET identities and was facilitated by aspects of their current learning environment, particularly relationships with tutors and fellow students and styles of learning that differed from their school experiences. Within this context the young people were able to think about crafting future pathways into further education and employment. The article concludes with a discussion of current policy directions that attempt to reintegrate these young people into a school-like system, a process that may be unhelpful for them.