Effective Policymaking Research Articles

Enhancing trade policy education: A review of pedagogical approaches in public administration programs

This literature review rigorously examines pedagogical approaches in trade policy education within public administration programs, with the goal of enhancing educational strategies for future public administrators in the context of global trade. Recognizing the vital role of trade policy in economic development, international relations, and governance, the review explores the evolution, current state, and challenges of trade policy education. The scope includes an analysis of traditional lectures, case studies, experiential learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and the role of technology in modernizing educational practices. Using a qualitative methodology, the review synthesizes insights from literature reviews, case studies, and comparative analyses of curricula across various public administration programs. Findings indicate that while traditional lectures provide essential theoretical knowledge, their effectiveness is significantly enhanced by case studies and experiential learning methods, such as simulations and role-playing exercises. These methods foster practical application and critical thinking, which are crucial for comprehending complex trade policies. The integration of technology, including online courses and digital simulations, further improves learning outcomes by making education more interactive and accessible. Interdisciplinary teaching, which incorporates perspectives from economics, law, political science, and international relations, enriches the educational experience and prepares students for the multifaceted nature of trade policy. The review concludes that a balanced pedagogical approach, combining traditional and innovative methods, is essential for effective trade policy education. It recommends incorporating active learning strategies, continuous assessment, and professional development for educators. Additionally, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and leveraging technological advancements are vital for enhancing the curriculum. These strategies aim to equip future public administrators with the comprehensive knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of global trade, thereby contributing to informed and effective policymaking. Keywords: Trade Policy Education, Public Administration, Pedagogical Approaches, Experiential Learning, Interdisciplinary Teaching, Technology Integration.

COVID-19 Policy Response Analysis: A Canadian Perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges that go into effective policymaking. Facing a public health crisis of epic proportion, government bodies across the world sought to manage the spread of infectious disease and healthcare-system overwhelm in the face of historic economic instability and social unrest. Recognizing that COVID-19 debates and research are still actively ongoing, this paper aims to objectively compare COVID-19 responses from countries across the world that exhibit similar economic and political models to Canada, identify notable failures, successes, and key takeaways to inform future-state pandemic preparedness.

When do trademarks improve the measurement of innovation? An analysis of innovations from Dutch SMEs

Abstract Effective innovation policymaking critically relies on monitoring innovation. An emerging literature suggests that trademarks could help measure a larger share of innovations than when only utilizing patents, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study establishes when trademarks improve the measurement of innovation compared to solely relying on patents as innovation metrics, by examining the propensity to use trademarks for non-patented innovations from SMEs. We collected multiple original samples of innovations from Dutch SMEs and assessed the extent to which trademarks and/or patents were filed for those innovations. Our results show that trademarks can improve innovation measurement for SMEs, particularly in scale-intensive and supplier-dominated industries and in some service industries—areas where patent propensities are low. Our results bear implications for monitoring innovation and evaluating science, research, and innovation policy. Overall, by combining trademark and patent data, the number of measured innovations by SMEs increases approximately by a relative of 51.8 per cent.

Losing the race before its start: inequities in early childhood development interventions in China

ABSTRACT Extensive research demonstrates the far-reaching impacts of early childhood development (ECD) interventions, including both pre-primary education (PPE) and in-home nurturing. At the same time, a limited understanding of inequalities in ECD exposure across groups of children in many countries poses a fundamental challenge to effective policymaking. This research investigates key factors driving unequal access to PPE and positive parenting for children in China using data from the nationally representative China Family Panel Studies 2010–2018. The research finds substantial and persistent disparities by children’s ethnicity, migration status, household wealth, and mother’s education. While mother’s education dominates variation in both PPE participation and parenting practices, household wealth and ethnicity strongly influence PPE participation but exert less influence than migration status on positive parenting. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors driving inequality in ECD in China, with important implications for targeted policies and programmes in China and beyond.

Economic burden of tobacco use in Pakistan

BackgroundThe lack of reliable tobacco healthcare and economic cost estimates leaves the tobacco industry undertaxed and thriving in Pakistan and makes the country as one of the top tobacco-consuming nations....

Enhancing home delivery of emergency medicine and medical supplies through clustering and simulation techniques: A case study of COVID-19 home isolation in Bangkok

This study investigates the enhancement of the home delivery distribution network for COVID-19 Home Isolation (HI) kits during the Delta variant outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Thailand. It addresses challenges related to limited resources and delays in delivering HI kits, which can exacerbate symptoms and increase mortality rates. A k-means clustering approach is utilized to optimize the assignment of service areas within the COVID-19 HI program, while discrete event simulation (DES) evaluates potential changes in the home delivery logistics network. Real-world data from the peak outbreak is used to determine the optimal allocation of resources and propose a new logistics network based on proximity to patients' residences. Experimental results demonstrate a significant 44.29 % improvement in overall performance and a substantial 40.80 % decrease in maximum service time. The findings offer theoretical and managerial implications for effective HI management, supporting practitioners and policymakers in mitigating the impact of future outbreaks.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Selected Surgeries in the Cardiology Department for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Private Health Insurance, and Uninsured Patients in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Karnataka, India.

Cardiovascular diseases are a major public health issue and the leading cause of mortality globally. The global economic burden of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for cardiovascular surgeries and procedures is substantial, with average costs being significantly higher than other treatments. This imposes a heavy economic burden. Government insurance schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) aim to enhance affordability and access to cardiac care. This retrospective study analyzed OOPE incurred for top cardiac surgeries under AB-PMJAY, private insurance, and uninsured patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karnataka. Data of 1021 patients undergoing common cardiac procedures from January to July 2023 were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, median) and the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality. The study aims to evaluate financial risk protection offered by AB-PMJAY compared to private plans and inform effective policy-making in reducing the OOPE burden for surgeries in India. The study analyzed OOPE across 1021 patients undergoing any of four surgeries at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karnataka. AB-PMJAY patients incurred zero OOPE across all surgeries. Uninsured patients faced the highest median OOPE, ranging from ₹1,15,292 (1390.57 USD) to ₹1,72,490 (2080.45 USD) depending on surgery type. Despite the presence of private insurance, the median out-of-pocket expenditure ranged from ₹1,689 (20.38 USD) to ₹68,788 (829.67 USD). Significant variations in OOPE were observed within different payment groups. Private insurance in comparison with AB-PMJAY had limitations like co-payments, deductibles, and limited coverage resulting in higher OOPE for patients. The results illustrate the efficacy of AB-PMJAY in reducing the financial burden and improving the affordability of cardiac procedures compared to private insurance. This emphasizes the significance of programmmes funded by the government in reducing the OOPE burden and ensuring equitable healthcare access. The comprehensive and particular estimates of OOPE for different surgical procedures, categorized by payment methods provide valuable information to guide the development of policies that aim to reduce OOPE and progress towarduniversal health coverage in India.

Institutional environments for circular start-ups: Insights from an entrepreneurial European region

Circular start-ups (CSUs) are gaining popularity to radically rethink the linear resource flows of global production systems and adopt ambitious approaches towards a circular economy from inception. For CSUs, the institutional environment is particularly relevant; this is because the complex nature of sustainability challenges requires a deep engagement with institutions to drive transitions from linear to circular practices. This article analyses how and why institutional factors influence CSUs in the highly entrepreneurial region of Catalonia in Spain. Based on a multiple case study, our findings demonstrate that CSUs are affected by informal institutions through founder motivations, their ability to create opportunities and social values. Formal institutions influence CSUs regarding the previous experience of founders, accessible ecosystem actors and supportive laws and regulations. These findings are important for effective policymaking to develop adequate support mechanisms and understand the particular challenges and opportunities CSUs face compared to traditional start-ups.

Transforming Pricing Strategies Globally Through Activity Based Costing

This study evaluates the costing methods of Mami Pia & Cookies, using interviews, observations, and documentation to analyze their production costs. Results show that the company’s current full costing method aligns with accounting theories but is not fully integrated into their pricing strategy, especially for factory overhead. The study recommends adopting Activity Based Costing (ABC) to improve the accuracy of production cost calculations and pricing decisions, leading to more effective financial management and policy-making. Highlights: 1. Theoretical alignment of costing methods.2. Incomplete integration with pricing strategies.3. Recommendation: Adopt Activity Based Costing for accuracy. Keywords: Costing Methods, Mami Pia & Cookies, Activity Based Costing, Production Costs, Pricing Strategy

Impacts of financial development and green trade on the shadow economy: An insight of eagle countries using Bayesian approaches.

The existence of a shadow economy is recognized as an impediment to sustainable development. By applying the Bayesian approaches, the current article investigates the linkage between financial development, green trade, and the scope of the shadow economy, aiming to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how these factors address the challenge posed by the shadow economy in Emerging and Growth-Leading Economies (EAGLE) from 2003 to 2016. The results demonstrate that (i) The progress of the financial sector is expected to diminish the scale of the shadow economy. Specifically, the expansion of financial institutions and markets has a strong and negative influence on the shadow economy. (ii) Increased involvement in green trade is likely to result in a decreased shadow economy. Empirical findings provide evidence for effective policymaking in simultaneously promoting sustainable trade practices, strengthening financial systems, and curtailing informal economic activities for inclusive economic development.

A Neutrosophic Approach to Study Agnotology: A Case Study on Climate Change Beliefs

Misinformation and biased information significantly impact public perception and political decisions, especially on critical issues such as climate change and environmental conservation. This study aims to understand how indeterminacy and contradiction influence public perception and policy formulation by applying neutrosophic theory to model the complexity and multi-dimensionality of ignorance. Using neutrosophic Likert scales, we capture a nuanced spectrum of opinions on the scientific certainty of human impact on climate change. The results are analyzed through a k-means clustering algorithm to identify patterns and segment participants into groups based on their levels of truth, indeterminacy, and falsehood. This approach reveals deeper insights into public perceptions and aids in evaluating their implications for effective communication and policy-making.

Lived Expertise in Homelessness Policy and Governance

Lived expertise (LE) is a valuable form of expertise that can lead to more effective policymaking. Existing research points to important mechanisms for where and how to include LE. It also offers lessons around the potential exclusionary effects such mechanisms may have. In this article, we bring the discussions together and ground them in the Canadian case of homelessness. Failures in Canadian homelessness governance and policy highlight the utility of LE where it has been included, but we also find that its prevalence is unknown. Recent mechanisms including LE are still limited and their influence is questioned. We insist that the inclusion of LE cannot be haphazard or merely a nod to its value. Rather, it requires careful and considerate inclusion that centers LE throughout the policy process, encourages its influence and innovation, and embeds mechanisms for its long-term involvement within governance structures.

Antitrust Law in the BRICS Countries: A Review and Critique

A growing trend shows that global economic power is shifting away from the United States and Europe and towards the BRICS nations. The BRICS nations are predicted to hold the dominant position in the world by 2050. The rapid development of these economies and their markets is also raising a serious concern for the national antitrust enforcement authorities of the BRICS countries in their respective jurisdictions. This study attempts to examine the effectiveness of antitrust law, with a special focus on new developing trends in each of the BRICS jurisdictions. In addition, the study examines the proposed changes and limitations of the Indian Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022. The study reveals that the national antitrust laws and their enforcement processes are not fully developed and in need of considerable changes. Furthermore, the study indicates that while the proposed Amendment Bill 2022 is a progressive step in the right direction, it fails to cover certain key areas of the digital era, requiring further modifications to anticipate future impacts of economic development. In conclusion, the author recommends some points for effective policymaking, along with their future implications.

Explaining the barriers faced by veterinarians against preventing antimicrobial resistance: an innovative interdisciplinary qualitative study

BackgroundConsidering the significance of increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its adverse effects on individual and social health and the important and effective role that veterinarians play in controlling this growing issue worldwide, it is essential to have effective preventive control programs. To this aim, the first step is to identify the factors behind the prevalence of AMR in Iran and the barriers veterinarians face to controlling this problem. Thus, the present study was conducted to explain the barriers veterinarians faced in the prevention of AMR from an Iranian veterinarian’s perspective.MethodsThe present research was done in three cities in Iran in 2021. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with 18 veterinarians selected through purposive and snowball sampling and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe data analysis results were classified into 4 main categories and 44 subcategories. The former included: educational factors, administrative/legal factors, client-related factors, and veterinarian-related factors.ConclusionsThe increased AMR can be approached from multiple aspects. Considering the different factors that affect the increased AMR, it is necessary to consider them all through effective planning and policy-making at multi-level and multidisciplinary dimensions. There is special attention needed to scientific and practical interventions at the individual, interpersonal, social, and even political levels. At the same time, measures should be taken to rehabilitate and maintain the health of society to strengthen supervision and attract the full participation of interested organizations.

Impact Analysis of the Influence of Institutional Capacity and the Use of Performance-Based Budgeting on Original Regional Revenue Receipts in the Tanggerang Regency Area

This study aims to analyze the impact of institutional capacity and the use of performance-based budgeting on local revenue (PAD) in the Tangerang Regency area. This research uses a quantitative descriptive analysis method using secondary data obtained from various trusted sources. This research identifies institutional capacity, which includes aspects of human resources, institutional systems, and managerial capacity, and analyzes the implementation of performance-based budgeting to increase PAD revenues. The results of the analysis show that strong institutional capacity significantly contributes to increasing PAD revenues. Apart from that, the use of performance-based budgeting has also been proven to have a positive impact on PAD revenues. The implication of this research is the importance of increasing institutional capacity and implementing performance-based budgeting effectively as a strategy to increase PAD revenues in Tangerang Regency. This study makes an important contribution in the context of regional financial development and public financial management, as well as providing a basis for more effective policymaking in increasing regional income.

Effect of Financial Frictions on Monetary Policy Conduct: A Comparative Analysis of DSGE Models with and without Financial Frictions

In this study, we explored the impact of bank leverage and financial frictions on the transmission of real and financial shocks. Two new Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, with and without financial frictions, were employed in the context of the Tunisian economy. In the analysis, we considered three types of shocks—productivity, monetary, and adverse bank capital shocks. The findings reveal that, in the model with financial frictions, the response of macroeconomic and financial variables to demand and supply shocks was more pronounced than in the baseline model, where frictions primarily exist at the borrower level. In this study, we underscored the significance of financial shocks, particularly negative bank capital shocks, in triggering substantial macroeconomic and financial fluctuations, especially when banks operate with higher leverage ratios. Additionally, the inclusion of financial frictions in the DSGE model enhanced its ability to capture the empirical features of real and financial shocks, providing valuable insights for effective monetary policymaking. The results provide foundational insights for Tunisian policymakers to assess the impact of financial frictions in the context of the Tunisian economy. This is significant for the Central Bank of Tunisia, which has not yet adopted a specific DSGE model. Therefore, through our analysis, we determined the amplificatory role of financial frictions in the dynamics of macroeconomic and financial variables in Tunisia and examined the main transmission channels of shock propagation.

Fueling the Future: A Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast of Fuel Consumption Trends in U.S. Electricity Generation

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides crucial data on monthly and annual fuel consumption for electricity generation. These data cover significant fuels, such as coal, petroleum liquids, petroleum coke, and natural gas. Fuel consumption patterns are highly dynamic and influenced by diverse factors. Understanding these fluctuations is essential for effective energy planning and decision making. This study outlines a comprehensive analysis of fuel consumption trends in electricity generation. Utilizing advanced statistical methods, including time series analysis and autocorrelation, our objective is to uncover intricate patterns and dependencies within the data. This paper aims to forecast fuel consumption trends for electricity generation using data from 2015 to 2022. Several time series forecasting models, including all four benchmark methods (Mean, Naïve, Drift, and seasonal Naïve), Seasonal and Trend Decomposition using Loess (STL), exponential smoothing (ETS), and the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) method, have been applied. The best-performing models are determined based on Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values. For natural gas (NG) consumption, the ETS model achieves the lowest RMSE of 20,687.46. STL demonstrates the best performance for coal consumption with an RMSE of 5936.203. The seasonal Naïve (SNaïve) model outperforms the others for petroleum coke forecasting, yielding an RMSE of 99.49. Surprisingly, the Mean method has the lowest RMSE of 287.34 for petroleum liquids, but the ARIMA model is reliable for its ability to capture complex patterns. Residual plots are analyzed to assess the models’ performance against statistical parameters. Accurate fuel consumption forecasting is very important for effective energy planning and policymaking. The findings from this study will help policymakers strategically allocate resources, plan infrastructure development, and support economic growth.

Effective and democratic policymaking during a major crisis: an in-depth analysis of Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership after Russia attacked Ukraine

ABSTRACT Sudden crises present a ‘stress test’ for democratic policymaking. Amidst global crises the capacity for swift decisions is becoming increasingly important but reacting to abrupt challenges also easily leads to violations of democratic norms, as recent studies on Covid-19 pandemic demonstrate. To advance our understanding of this pressing tension that thus far has been mainly approached via broad regime-level comparisons, this study examines formal and informal coordinative institutions that facilitate efficient and democratic policy response in crisis situations. Applying the core executive model, we focus on Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership that unfolded rapidly after Russia attacked Ukraine. Through detailed process tracing analysis, we show how the country’s strongly entrenched doctrine of military non-alignment was overturned with broad cross-party consensus in under three months via intensive mediation involving all key actors and governing institutions. Adding important nuance to constitutionally centred studies of crisis decision-making, our analysis shows how strongly institutionalised coordination mechanisms can facilitate radical policy changes to status quo even in the context of dispersed policymaking resources and high partisan fragmentation. Our findings especially underline the complementary roles and interplay of formal rules and informal practices, showing that in crisis situations the latter acquire fundamental importance.

Exploring dynamic urban mobility patterns from traffic flow data using community detection

ABSTRACT The rise of data from smart city services and the emergence of advanced algorithms have emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of the underlying patterns of urban mobility and the potential opportunities for more efficient urban planning and policymaking. By identifying communities with similar mobility patterns, researchers can gain better insights into how people move within and between different regions. Traditional community detection methodologies mainly focused on identifying geographic communities defined by shared locations. However, this perspective overlooks the broader definition of communities. Communities can also emerge from shared social interests, collective actions, and activity patterns. This implies that geographically disparate areas might exhibit similar patterns, which is particularly relevant in the study of mobility pattern similarity. Rather than focusing on regions with strong spatial interactions, this study aims to identify regions that show more similarity to each other than to other areas. Such similarities may indicate parallel urban functionalities, which are essential for effective urban planning and policymaking. To bridge this gap, our study introduces a customized community detection algorithm that employs Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) to quantitatively assess the similarity in mobility patterns between different communities. This advanced approach not only improves the identification of comparable mobility patterns but also demonstrates remarkable flexibility, broadening its application to various other social phenomena. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in capturing complex mobility patterns across different locations and days of the week.

Navigating trade policy uncertainty: Conservatism in cash holding and investment

ABSTRACT Amidst the escalating attention paid to trade policy uncertainty (TPU), we explore its influence on crucial corporate strategic decisions – cash holdings and investment choices. Using an ordinary least squares regression model to analyse a panel of US non-financial firms, we find that firms adopt conservative cash policies as pure cash holdings increase while cash equivalents decrease in response to heightened trade policy uncertainty. Cross-sectionally, we observe that the positive link between TPU and cash holdings is stronger for firms facing higher product market threats and those that are less vertically integrated. Furthermore, a firm’s long-term strategies are also adversely impacted by TPU, reflected in reduced capital investments and employment growth. Additionally, we show that increased trade policy uncertainty is linked to both reduced incentives for risk-taking by CEOs and an increase in doubtful accounts. This shift in both incentives and firm operational risk may explain why firms change their behaviour in response to TPU. Our study has broad implications that firms may consider adopting effective risk management practices and policymakers could establish monitoring mechanisms for timely adjustments.