Domestic Government Research Articles

‘State Brokerage’ in Migration Infrastructure: A Case of State-Led Multilevel Governance of the Employment Permit System in South Korea

This paper examines ‘state brokerage’ in migration infrastructure through South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS). It introduces the concept of state-led multilevel governance (sMLG)—a synthesis of multilevel governance (MLG) and state transformation (ST)—as a framework for understanding state brokerage, thereby contributing to the greater diversity in migration infrastructure scholarship. By analyzing state archival documents, the paper examines how South Korean state has developed a governance framework that spans multiple political-territorial boundaries through state transformation. The transformation encompasses forging diplomatic relationships with foreign governments and orchestrating cross-border policy collaborations as well as (re)arranging domestic governance by establishing new institutions, enacting and revising laws, and reconfiguring the relationships among these entities. These processes have allowed the EPS to facilitate the migration of less-skilled labor without the involvement of private actors.

Health outcome convergence and the roles of public health financing and governance in Africa.

Progress in health outcomes across Africa has been uneven, marked by significant disparities among countries, which not only challenges the global health security but impede progress towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 10 (SDG 3 and SDG 10) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This paper examines the progress of African countries in reducing intra-country health outcome disparities between 2000 and 2019. In other words, the paper investigates the convergence hypothesis in health outcome using a panel data from 40 African countries. Data were sourced from the World Development Indicators, the World Governance Indicators, and the World Health Organization database. Employing a non-linear dynamic factor model, the study focused on three health outcomes: infant mortality rate, under-5 mortality rate, and life expectancy at birth. The findings indicate that while the hypothesis of convergence is not supported for the selected countries, evidence of convergence clubs is observed for the three health outcome variables. The paper further examine the factors contributing to club formation by using the marginal effects of the ordered logit regression model. The findings indicate that the overall impact of the control variables aligns with existing research. Moreover, governance quality and domestic government health expenditure emerge as significant determinants influencing the probability of membership in specific clubs for the child mortality rate models. In the life expectancy model, governance quality significantly drives club formation. The results suggest that there is a need for common health policies for the different convergence clubs, while country-specific policies should be implemented for the divergent countries. For instance, policies and strategies promoting health prioritization in national budget allocation and reallocation should be encouraged within each final club. Efforts to promote good governance policies by emphasizing anti-corruption measures and government effectiveness should also be encouraged. Moreover, there is a need to implement regional monitoring mechanisms to ensure progress in meeting health commitments, while prioritizing urbanization plans in countries with poorer health outcomes to enhance sanitation access.

Pathway for attaining SDG3: The role of ICT infrastructure, natural resources, and environmental sustainability

This study is a baseline attempt to explore socioeconomic and environmental determinants of SDG3 attainment in a sample of 11 post-Soviet economies from 2000 to 2021. The estimated result of the panel quantile via moments reveals that an increase in domestic private health spending, domestic government health expenditure, improvement of ICT infrastructure, financial development, the rule of law, and control of corruption are vital policy instruments to enhance SDG3 attainment in all quantiles. Whereas environmental degradation and natural resources reduce SDG3 attainment. The finding urges for improving selected socio-economic and environmental indicators along with reducing dependence on natural resources.

Municipalities at the crossroads: Deciphering the nexus between municipal insolvencies and international investment mandates

AbstractNavigating the convergence of domestic governance and international investment law presents multifaceted challenges in an ever‐globalizing world. The recent bankruptcy of the Birmingham City Council in September 2023, burdened by substantial debt from equal pay claims, serves as a poignant example, illustrating the potential widespread effects of local financial crises on international investment protections and obligations. The discourse explores the complexities arising from municipal insolvencies and the implications of such local fiscal policies on international investment obligations. The lens of international arbitral tribunals sheds light on the dilemmas faced when local realities vie with global responsibilities, especially concerning investor protections and Bilateral Investment Treaties. Decentralized states add another layer of intricacy, balancing regional policies with overarching international commitments. As the landscape of international investment law transforms, both state entities and investors must understand and adapt to the evolving interplay. The synthesis of these two realms is crucial in today's globalized era. Through proactive policy‐making, stakeholder dialogues, and a keen understanding of both local and global dynamics, a harmonious fusion of domestic objectives and international obligations can be achieved.

Analisis Efektivitas Penerapan Aplikasi Sistem Keuangan Desa dalam Pengelolaan Keuangan Desa pada Desa Majang Tengah Kabupaten Malang

The Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) manages village finances using the siskuedes application system. With this system, the village government can run village finances with good administrative quality for a village. this system aims for the government to run village finances more easily and efficiently in village financial reports. There are also benefits of Siskeudes also supported by the results of research showing that the application of Siskeudes has a very positive impact on time and cost efficiency. this research sample was taken in Majangtengah village, dampit subdistrict. data collection using the text method of interviews with village officials. in this data analysis, researchers processed data from interviews with village officials which the researchers then concluded according to the standards of domestic government regulations NO 20 of 2018. in the study, researchers concluded that the application of the SISKEUDES application in the village was effective and efficient in a transparent and accountable manner.

Global economic influence and domestic regime support: evidence from China

Rising powers typically seek to play a larger role in international economic affairs, but we know little about the impact of this overseas expansion on domestic publics. This paper examines the domestic political consequences of rising states’ efforts to increase their foreign economic influence. We argue that public approval for these governments depends on whether they succeed or fail to expand their country’s global economic influence. To test this argument, we fielded three survey experiments in China, each focusing on a different component of China’s foreign economic strategy. In all three experiments, informing individuals that China has failed in increasing its role in the global economy reduced average levels of government satisfaction. Our evidence suggests that this drop in government approval operates through a weakened sense of national pride, rather than other channels based on economic prospects.

Bank lending to business entities: 2021–2024

The current situation in the country is characterized by a high degree of uncertainty, which prompts banks to invest resources not in the development of the real sector of the economy, but in risk-free and low-risk assets, which primarily include domestic government loan bonds (DGLB) and certificates of deposit (CD) of the NBU. This situation led to the fact that lending to corporate clients on market terms was not widely distributed and largely led to the implementation of the state credit program "5-7-9", according to which the state does not fulfill its obligations to banks in a timely manner to compensate the difference between market and preferential interest rates. The aim of the research is to develop a comprehensive app­roach to bank lending to business entities, which involves the implementation of radical measures to stimulate it on a market basis in a harmonious combination with state support. А set of methods of scientific knowledge were used: comparison, analysis and synthesis, grouping, abstraction, observation, etc. Ukrainian banks are currently weakly motivated or unable to provide business lending on a market basis. This is due to the presence of the state credit program "5-7-9", which provides a number of preferences to its participants. An inhibiting factor in the development of market lending to enterprises is also the attractiveness for banks of risk-free investments in DGLB and CD NBU, for which interest rates are higher than for loans granted to corporate clients. In addition, the latter generate a high level of risks for banks during the war. A set of measures aimed at the deve­lopment of business lending on a market basis is proposed, which include: the use of risk diversi­fication tools by providing guarantees from the state and international financial orga­ni­zations, in particular the EBRD, the EIB; the imple­mentation of military risk insurance, as well as the transformation of the state credit program according to the outlined directions

Monetary and fiscal policies in Brazil and the behavioral approach

PurposeThis study aims to elucidate the dynamics of monetary and fiscal policy interactions in Brazil, focusing on the impacts of positive shocks in government consumption and interest rates. By comparing rational and behavioral agent responses, it clarifies how these frameworks influence gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, private and government consumption and nominal interest rates.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a new Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model with Bayesian estimation from 2000Q1 to 2022Q4, capturing rational and behavioral behaviors with adjustments for Brazilian economic idiosyncrasies. Impulse response functions (IRF) assess the dynamic effects of policy shocks, providing a comparative analysis of the two frameworks.FindingsBehavioral agents show greater initial sensitivity to policy shocks, causing more pronounced fluctuations in GDP, inflation and private consumption compared to rational agents. Over time, the behavioral approach leads to a more robust recovery, while the rational approach results in a quicker return to equilibrium but less pronounced long-term recovery. The study also finds fiscal policy can partially offset the negative impacts of monetary tightening, with a more delayed effect in the behavioral model.Originality/valueThis paper provides insights into the interplay between monetary and fiscal policies under different agent expectations, emphasizing the importance of incorporating behavioral elements into macroeconomic models to better capture policy dynamics in emerging markets.

A Study the concept and legal principles of Water Management

Water management is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the planning, development, distribution, and optimal use of water resources. It is crucial for ensuring the sustainable supply of water for various human needs, including drinking, agriculture, industry, and recreation, while also maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems. Effective water management involves the integration of scientific, technical, economic, and social considerations to balance competing demands and protect water quality. Legal principles play a pivotal role in guiding water management practices. These principles provide a framework for regulating water use, resolving conflicts, and promoting sustainable practices. Key legal principles in water management include the doctrine of equitable and reasonable use, which ensures fair allocation of water resources among users; the precautionary principle, which mandates proactive measures to prevent water pollution and degradation; and the principle of public participation, which emphasizes the importance of involving stakeholders in decision-making processes. International agreements and national laws often incorporate these principles to address transboundary water issues and domestic water governance. Effective implementation of these legal frameworks requires robust institutional arrangements, transparent governance, and enforcement mechanisms.

China’s Promoting of Authoritarian–Westphalian Democracy and Its Implications for the Liberal International Order

China is seen as undemocratic, illiberal, and autocratic by many who live outside it, and the terms “democracy” and “China” are often difficult to reconcile. Nonetheless, Beijing has been actively employing the concept of democracy both domestically and on the international stage in recent years. This paper aims to critically examine how Beijing conceptualizes and advocates for democracy at home and abroad. It also endeavors to explore the implications for the country’s domestic and global governance, particularly in relation to the US-centered liberal international order in the context of critical international relations studies. In so doing, this paper will focus methodologically on Beijing’s official documents and state media outlets, presenting an argument that is twofold. First, by promoting its unique form of democracy known as “whole-process people’s democracy,” Beijing domestically intertwines democracy with authoritarianism, hierarchy, and dictatorship. This whole-process people’s democracy appears to function at home as a tool of regime security that is characterized by a rule that is of and for the people but not by the people. Second, China on the international stage has adopted Western-style liberal values to advocate for enhanced democracy in international relations. Through its strategic adoption of these liberal values, Beijing accuses the United States of a hegemonic liberal hypocrisy in international relations while appearing to aspire to a world that is fragmented into essentially different entities.

Business-Government Relations in Domestic and International Marketplaces

Over the past few years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in China. Laws and incentives encouraging EV adoption have strengthened the domestic relationships between Chinese EV companies and the Chinese government, compared to their partnerships with other governments. Internationally, Chinese electric vehicle firms often face limited government support due to trade barriers and geopolitical conflicts that affect their operations. This paper explores the Chinese electric vehicle industry, highlighting its positive role in international trade and its potential threat to foreign manufacturers. It also recommends that the domestic government adopt a data analysis methodology to facilitate expansion and enhance competition among domestic firms through subsidies and tax incentives.

Financing health in sub-Saharan Africa 1990-2050: Donor dependence and expected domestic health spending.

In 2021, global life expectancy at birth was 74 years whereas in sub-Saharan Africa it was 66 years. Yet in that same year, $92 per person was spent on health in sub- Saharan Africa, which is roughly one fifth of what the next lowest geographic region-North Africa and Middle East-spent ($379). The challenges to healthy lives in sub-Saharan Africa are many while health spending remains low. This study uses gross domestic product, government, and health spending data to give a more complete picture of the patterns of future health spending in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed trends in growth in gross domestic product, government health spending, development assistance for health and the prioritization of health in national spending to compare countries within sub-Saharan Africa and globally.We found that while gross domestic product was projected to increase through 2050 in sub-Saharan Africa, the share of gross domestic product that goes to health spending is only expected to increase moderately. Our exploration shows that this tepid growth is expected because the percent of overall government spending that is dedicated to health 7·2% (6·3-8·3) compared to average of 12·4% (11·7-13·2) in other regions) is expected to stay low. Even if the amount, of resources provided from donors climbs some, it is not expected to keep pace with growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa and may transition towards other global public health goods. Critically, development assistance for health provided to sub-Saharan Africa is expected to decrease in some countries, and the expected growth in government health spending might not be enough to cover this expected decline. Increases in spending with a concordant prioritization of health and the appropriate health system governance and structural reforms are critical to ensure that people who live in sub-Saharan Africa are not left behind.

Dual-Axis Worship Space of Buddha, Dharma, and Ancestors in Huayansi, Western Capital: The Liao Dynasty’s Political and Diplomatic Context (10th–11th Centuries)

The Huayansi 華嚴寺, situated at the frontier stronghold of the Liao Dynasty in the Western Capital, is a significant royal temple that preserves two main halls from the Liao and Jin Dynasties to this day. Through a systematic examination of the Liaoshi 《遼史》 and the related literature, this study offers a novel interpretation of the east–west dual-axial layout of the Huayansi and its historical significance. It further discusses the integral artistic space of the Buddha and the Dharma within the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall 薄伽教藏殿, which shapes the spiritual realm of the Western Pure Land, thereby repositioning and enhancing the historical value of the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall. The article elucidates the political and cultural core elements embedded within the formation of the parallel axes of the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall and the Mahavira Hall, which are closely associated with three pivotal years in the Liao Dynasty: 1038, 1044, and 1062. This not only reflects the grand historical context of the Liao Dynasty’s domestic governance and foreign policy during the 10th and 11th centuries but also encapsulates the rich and diverse religious beliefs and cultural traits of the Khitan 契丹 people. The axis space of the Bhagavata Scriptures Hall, constructed earlier during the reign of Xingzong 興宗 to house the Liao Canon 《遼藏》, along with the architectural complex of the Huayansi—named and commissioned by Emperor Daozong 道宗 24 years later—collectively establishes a dual-axial worship space at the Grand Huayansi, sanctified by the triad of the Buddha 佛, the Dharma 法, and the Ancestors 祖. This underscores the Liao Dynasty’s political objectives of deterring hostile states and ensuring national security within the framework of Buddhist veneration and ancestor worship.

Undermining liberal international organizations from within: Evidence from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

AbstractInternational organizations promoting democratic governance and human rights are increasingly challenged by some of their own member states. To better understand this dynamic, we propose a distinction between the illiberal ideology of political parties and their regime environment, aiming to examine the international behavior of actors extending beyond autocratic governments. We argue that the domestic regime environment plays a pivotal role in influencing the extent to which illiberal parties engage in contestation to undermine liberal norms on the international stage. We expect contestation behavior to be primarily driven by illiberal parties seeking to diminish the influence of liberal international politics on domestic power structures. Moreover, we contend that government participation moderates illiberal parties’ contestation behavior. To test our expectations empirically, we study roll call votes in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), one of the most powerful international parliaments promoting liberal values. Drawing on an original dataset that records approximately 500,000 individual votes cast in PACE decisions, we find evidence for substantive contestation by illiberal parties, especially those representing illiberal regimes. Only illiberal governments in liberal systems moderate themselves at the amendment stage. Our study has implications for the potential threat that emerging illiberal actors pose to international liberal institutions.

Future Envisioning of Hybrid Political Order

Hybrid political order is a relatively new political concept for explaining a state-building reality observed in some new post-conflict states. Hybrid political orders and hybridity have evolved as a result of the emergence of fragile states that hardly function in the international system. The fragile states began to be characterized by post-modernity and did not fit in the classical model of the state. Thus, this paper explores the literature to demonstrate how hybrid political order functions within domestic governance than in the interaction with other states and in the international system. The purpose of this study is to examine a hybrid political order in the international system by exploring the determinants of legitimacy and recognition. Such exploration and analysis are in addition grounded on peace-building and state-building theories. This paper envisions the hybrid political order as a possible alternative for better functioning of the international system.

Analisis Investasi Dalam Negeri, Upah Minimum, dan Pengeluaran Pemerintah Terhadap Jumlah Penduduk Miskin di Provinsi Jawa Timur

The main goal in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreement is to end poverty. Appropriate and efficient government intervention is needed to reduce poverty. This research analyzes the influence of domestic investment, minimum wages and government spending in reducing poverty in East Java. Multiple linear regression analysis was used as parameter estimation for this research. The data used a time series period 2008-2022. The results show that there is a significant negative relationship between domestic investment and government spending on the poor people. This means that when domestic investment and government spending increase, it will reduce the poor people in East Java. However, this is different from the minimum wage which has a positive and significant relationship to the poor people. When the minimum wage increases, it has no effect on the number of poor people in East Java. So it can be concluded that the government can optimize domestic investment and government spending to end the problem of poverty in East Java.

Economic globalisation, relative power, and post-cold war democratisation

This article discusses the effects of economic openness on the relative power and domestic regimes of the Cold War non-democracies (CWND). Rapid growth strengthens their national competitiveness, which may offset the external democratic pressure of the West. In this way, economic globalisation may obstruct worldwide democratisation. Based on panel data from 1992 to 2022, this study applies a two-equation model to prove that economic openness has mild but significantly positive effects on the power of the CWND and that the relative power has adverse effects on their democracy level. Thus, globalisation does not necessarily lead to democracy. Furthermore, the democratic recession reflects the decline of Western power in nature, which allows non-Western states to sustain their regimes. Under this condition, the inconsistent approach adopted by the West in regime imposition may exacerbate the delegitimation of Western democracy.

Effectiveness of public health spending: Investigating the moderating role of governance using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM)

BackgroundThe link between public health spending (PHS) and population health outcomes (PHO) has been extensively studied. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the moderating effects of governance in this relationship are little known. Furthermore, studies have focused on mortality as the main health outcome. This study contributes to this literature by investigating the moderating role of governance in the relationship by simultaneously assessing three dimensions of governance (corruption control, government effectiveness and voice accountability) using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a measure of outcomes.MethodsThe study applies the two-stage moderation approach using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to panel data from 43 SSA nations from 2013 to 2019. The study also uses domestic general government health expenditure (DGGHE) as an independent variable and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) as the dependent variable in this relationship.ResultsThe analysis reveals that DGGHE affects DALY negatively and that governance improves the effect of DGGHE on DALY, with bigger improvements among countries with worse governance.ConclusionThese findings provide evidence that good governance is crucial to the effectiveness of PHS in SSA nations. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries should improve governance to improve population health.

Security as a Public Value

Purpose: Security would seem to constitute the most fundamental public value, and is intrinsically linked with the right to life. Keeping the public safe from internal and external threats is the primary function of governments and states. At the level of global governance, systemic security, and a guarantee of freedom from existential threats for sovereign states, lie at the heart of international law, international organizations, and the normative rules of coexistence. Yet the definition of security has evolved over time. The proliferation of threats to security, and spillover between them, has seen an expansion along the X-axis of issues. Meanwhile, consideration of an increasingly broad hierarchy of the subjects of security (those for whom security should be provided) has seen expansion along the Y-axis of referent objects in two directions from the state - upwards towards international communities and ultimately to the global biosphere, and downwards peoples, communities, and vulnerable groups and individuals. A combination of these perspectives has manifested in three of the gravest crises to face domestic and international governance policymakers: the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the global humanitarian crisis of refugees and forced migrants. This paper traces the evolution of security public values and reflects the emergence of a holistic conceptualization of governance prescription in response. Method: This research project used a qualitative approach consisting of literature review and document analysis. The results of this study should be supplemented by quantitative and qualitative studies in the future. The literature review consists of a comprehensive assessment of scholarly academic publications from competing perspectives in the fields of political and moral philosophy, public administration, and international relations. The document survey is mainly related to the policy documentation output of national governments and international organizations, as well as media reports. Results: The research identifies how the exponential growth of security challenges, and their interlocking and cross-contaminating nature, has rendered traditional modalities anachronistic. It identifies how conceptualizations of what constitutes ‘security’ have steadily expanded to include a greater focus on human beings as the referent object, and to include a broader range of ‘threats’ to these referent objects. Questions related to state and systemic security remain relevant and interact with human-centric issues and perspectives in an increasingly complex web of insecurities. Global governance policymaking has likewise expanded to encompass non-traditional security (NTS) issues, but in doing so has shone a spotlight on the controversial dualistic nature of international organizations. In 2005, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan referenced the interrelatedness of the three pillars of the UN by noting “we will not enjoy security without development, development without security, and neither without respect for human rights. Unless all these causes are advanced, none will succeed.” In doing so he neatly encapsulated the progress made by the evolution of security and governance conceptualizations, as well as ongoing challenges. Policy prescription and obligations for those who govern, therefore, must increasingly consider spillover between these diverse agendas. This has been reflected in the newly emerging discourse on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN). The article assesses not only the promise of the HDPN, but also continued shortcomings in terms of how it is currently operationalized at the global level, two decades after Annan’s original call to action for a more integrated and human-centered approach to security and governance.

Policy Formulation for The Establishment of Professional Certification Agency to Produce Competitive Graduates At Institute of Public Administration

The Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) is an Official Education Institution organizing the Vocational Education Program with the function of producing superior, professional, competitive, and integrity domestic government cadres. This institution faces a problem related to the policy formulation for the establishment of a Professional Certification Agency (LSP) to produce competitive graduates. This study aims to provide policy recommendations for the establishment of LSP to produce competitive graduates. This descriptive study used a qualitative approach. The data source was 30 respondents. Data collection techniques covered interviews, documentation studies, and literature studies. Data were analyzed in stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions. The results of the analysis showed that the introduction and formulation of problems related to the lack of specific competencies possessed by IPDN Praja were carried out well; IPDN prioritized handling the problem related to the unavailability of LSP outside IPDN whose competency field specifications are in accordance with the study programs in IPDN and then set a strategy for the formation of the IPDN LSP; the establishment of an IPDN LSP did not face any serious obstacle; and the Rector of IPDN together with all Work Units within IPDN carried out the formulation and produced policies, namely the Rector's Decree Number: 500.10.2.2-225 of 2023 concerning the Establishment of the Professional Certification Agencies of the Institute of Public Administration. In this case, IPDN needs to prepare LSP establishment documents in accordance with BNSP Regulation Number 2/BNSP/III/2014 concerning the Establishment of LSP and LSP-P1 IPDN educational institutions. Besides conducting competency tests, it can also provide information about education and training as a prerequisite for participating in certification.