Empirical Case Research Articles

Partial planned relocation and livelihoods: Learnings from Narikoso, Fiji

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are vulnerable to climate change impacts, including sea level rise, extreme weather events and other environmental changes. Planned relocation can be an adaptive response to climatic threats. In Fiji, six communities have already relocated. While there is growing interest in planned relocation, there are few empirical case studies from which to learn. Narikoso village, in the Kadavu Province of Fiji, undertook partial relocation in 2020. Drawing on qualitative research (interviews, group discussions, observation), informed by Vanua methodology in 2022, this study examines the impacts of partial planned relocation on people's lives and livelihoods. Seven sustainable livelihood assets – or forms of ‘capital’ – are explored: natural, social, financial, human, physical and cultural, with the addition of spiritual. Our research found that planned relocation altered forms of capital that underpin sustainable livelihoods, leading to both benefits and problems. We argue that planned relocation must not only reduce exposure to climatic and environmental risk, but promote and preserve the integrity of local ecosystems, value continuity of culture and sustain and develop diverse assets that support sustainable livelihoods. This demands deep engagement with climate change‐affected communities to ensure that planned relocations sustain people's livelihoods, dignity and survival.

Institutionalizing suspicion: Tracing the decline of the Swedish sickness insurance system in the 2000’s

This article presents an analysis of Swedish sickness insurance in the 2000’s, outlining cultural and structural shifts in political and institutional design. The study is based on analytic dualism and Margaret S. Archer’s morphogenetic model, which is used to create an analytical narrative focusing on political and institutional developments. The narrative identifies two distinct phases: one period of rapid cultural and structural change (morphogenesis), and one of institutionalization of the new structure (morphostasis). The narrative describes how a key element of the Swedish welfare state, sickness insurance, underwent a transition from an encompassing and generous to a strict and suspicious system, and how this was effectively solidified politically and organizationally. This is related both to a broader shift toward neoliberal and workfare policies, and to the specific socio-cultural and social interactions between agents to reform the system. The analysis provides a contribution to the literature by providing an internationally relevant empirical case of how an encompassing system has undergone a period of substantial decline, and by presenting a coherent long-term narrative which temporalizes this development into specific timepoints and phases.

Emergency management through enduring collaborative networks: Lessons on phases and levels

AbstractThis article explores the conditions that underpin networks as enduring collaborative relationships. To identify key features that sustain long‐term collaboration, we use the Norwegian system of emergency management as our empirical case. Norway is characterized by the important role played by volunteers and voluntary organizations as partners to the police in search and rescue operations. In particular, the article focuses on two possible explanations for the endurability of these networks: the broad involvement of volunteers in the different phases and the role of intermediaries. The article concludes that intermediaries can compensate for a lack of broad involvement, which may be particularly relevant for emergency management where many different resources have to be mobilized in a short time span and in a fashion that enables fluid interaction. This finding is a reminder that both phases and levels need to be explored in empirical studies of collaborations.

Macro-Regional Patterns of CSO Affiliation/Participation within the UN-Civil-Society Framework: The Underrepresentation of the Developing World

The United Nations Integrated Civil Society database was utilized in empirical case studies of UN-affiliated civil society organizations (CSOs) in a spatial comparison as to whether they were headquartered in developed or developing nations. The purpose was to gauge plurality/proportionality in the representation of CSOs by world region within the UN-Economic and Social Council consultative status program. Findings indicate substantial variation in regional representation of CSOs within the UN consultative status framework with developed regions represented to a greater degree proportionate to their populations. Both Africa and Asia were underrepresented relative to their proportions of global population. The findings challenge perceptions that the UN relationship with civil society reflects regional pluralism as reflected via proportional representation.

A Transformer Heavy Overload Spatiotemporal Distribution Prediction Ensemble under Imbalanced and Nonlinear Data Scenarios

As a crucial component of power systems, distribution transformers are indispensable to ensure the sustainability of power supply. In addition, unhealthy transformers can lead to wasted energy and environmental pollution. Thus, accurate assessments and predictions of their health statuses have become a top priority. Unlike assumed ideal environments, however, some complex data distributions in practical scenarios lead to more difficulties in diagnosis. One challenge here is the potential imbalanced distribution of data factors since sparsely occurring factors along with some Unusual High-Risk (UHR) components, whose appearance may also damage transformer operations, can easily be neglected. Another is that the importance weight of data components is simply calculated according to their frequency or proportion, which may not always be reasonable in real nonlinear data scenes. With such motivations, this paper proposes a novel integrated method combining the Two-fold Conditional Connection Pattern Recognition (TCCPR) and Component Significance Diagnostic (CSD) models. Initially, the likely environmental factors that could result in distribution transformer heavy overloads were incorporated into an established comprehensive evaluation database. The TCCPR model included the UHR time series and factors that are associated with heavy overload in both spatial and temporal dimensions. The CSD model was constructed to calculate the risk impact weights of each risky component straightforwardly, in line with the total risk variation levels of the whole system caused by them. Finally, the results of one empirical case study demonstrated their adaptation capability and enhanced performance when applied in complex and imbalanced multi-source data scenes.

Climate Change Resilience Strategies for Sustainable Development: Integrating Weather Forecasts and Adaptation Measures

Amidst the ever-pressing challenges of climate change, the pursuit of sustainable development necessitates innovative strategies to bolster resilience. This research delves into the crucial fusion of weather forecasting and adaptive measures as a pivotal approach in confronting the multifaceted impacts of climate variability. Through a nuanced examination of existing literature and empirical case studies, this paper elucidates the potential synergies between timely weather forecasts and adaptive resilience strategies. By amalgamating insights from diverse sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and communities, it illuminates pathways toward sustainable development in the face of climatic uncertainties. Emphasizing the significance of accessible and accurate weather information, this study underscores the transformative power of integrating forecasts into adaptation planning frameworks. Furthermore, it navigates the complexities of implementation, shedding light on both the opportunities and challenges inherent in such integrative approaches. Ultimately, this research endeavors to provide actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, fostering a collective vision for a more resilient and sustainable future amidst the turbulent currents of climate change.

What Leads to Effective Emergency Management? A Configurational Analysis of Empirical Cases of Local Chinese Governments

This study investigates the foundational elements that contribute to effective emergency management in urban settings, with a particular focus on experiences from Chinese municipalities. Drawing on resource dependence theory and attention allocation theory, this research develops an analytical framework encompassing four pivotal factors: environmental resources, information sharing, social participation, and leadership attention allocation. Utilizing Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), we examine these factors across sixteen critical incidents of urban accidents and disaster responses in China. Our findings reveal that a high degree of leadership attention allocation is an essential prerequisite for municipal governments to exhibit robust emergency management capabilities during crises. Furthermore, two primary pathways affecting emergency management capacity were identified: the “resource–leadership attention type” and the “social participation–resource coordination type”. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complexities of emergency management and enlighten the local governments to take some effective measures to enhance emergency management capacities to mitigate disaster losses.

Impact of Retrofitting Strategies for Sustainability of Building

In response to the urgent need for sustainability, the modernization of existing buildings has become a key strategy to improve the environmental protection of the built environment. The purpose of this study is to examine the multifaceted impact of modernization strategies on enhancing sustainability through a comprehensive synthesis of the existing literature. Combining empirical findings and theoretical insights, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, economic and social impacts associated with modernization. The study begins by identifying the general goals and motivations that drive modernization efforts, including the need to reduce carbon emissions, optimize resource use and promote resilience in the face of climate change. Next, the study explores the various renovation methods and technologies available, from energy-efficient renovations to passive design strategies and renewable energy integration. Through a systematic review of empirical studies and case studies, the effectiveness of these measures in mitigating environmental impacts, improving user comfort and achieving long-term cost savings is identified. In addition, the research seeks to unravel the complex interaction between modernization strategies and broader socio-economic dynamics, including equity, affordability and community engagement. Critically assessing the impact of the proliferation of renovation projects, the research aims to identify potential barriers to equal access and participation, thus promoting inclusive and inclusive approaches to sustainable building development. In conclusion, this study contributes to the evolving debate on sustainable building practices by providing nuanced insights into the opportunities and challenges of renovation strategies. By synthesizing existing knowledge and highlighting critical gaps in understanding, research aims to inform policy. actors, actors and stakeholders in the field of the built environment, facilitating evidence-based decision-making and promoting the transition to a more sustainable built environment.

Integrated management of abatement technology investment and resource extraction

As the need for increased renewable energy generation to meet climate goals grows, so does the demand for critical minerals in the industrial sector. This raises concerns about the availability of supply and the reliability of investment in critical minerals. Based on this, the study proposes an analytical framework for the integrated management of mineral extraction and renewable energy investments. Different from the previous strategy of separate management, this study has established an integrated model that utilizes new energy technology as the downstream application of emission reduction technology. It also utilizes copper, zinc, aluminum, rare earth elements, and other materials as the upstream raw material supply. In terms of minimizing costs, the entire supply chain process is optimized to achieve an empirical case. In addition, considering the significant uncertainty in the process of reducing emissions from new energy technologies, this study also incorporated a forward control stochastic programming method to model and solve it. We obtained confidence intervals for optimal technological investment paths and metal mining paths under various scenarios. Our findings indicate that: (1) Biomass, as a renewable energy technology with the lowest resource demand, should be prioritized for development. However, there is significant uncertainty surrounding the installed capacity of photovoltaics. (2) Copper ore reserves have little impact on the development of renewable energy technologies, while zinc ore and aluminum ore have a greater impact on wind energy and photovoltaics, respectively. (3) By optimizing the cut-off ratio of raw ore under a specific amount of ore storage, we can ensure the availability of materials needed for downstream energy technology.

Marrying the sources and mechanisms of power? Understanding the quarantine hotel through Michel Foucault and Michael Mann

ABSTRACT Using the Norwegian quarantine hotel as a case, I analyse the narratives of 46 ‘guests’, so to explore this biopolitical device, which for biopolitical objectives enables a series of disciplinary mechanisms of power. To do this, I marry Michel Foucault’s approach to the mechanisms of power with Michael Mann’s work on the sources of power, fixating my analysis around the link between ‘discipline’, ‘control’ as well as ‘biopolitics’ and ‘infrastructural power’. The paper’s objective is to explore this empirical case so to advance our understanding of how mechanisms of power work, and are made to work, by exploring the infrastructural sources of power underpinning the quarantine hotel as a nexus of power. This theoretical marriage between two giants in the scholarship on power is operationalized in this empirical case to reveal the utility of exploring the link between the microphysics and macrophysics of power, in general and in the context of COVID-19, through combining these approaches.

Naturalizing Sugar in the American Diet: Agribusiness, Science, and the Propaganda Arts

ABSTRACT This article traces the refined sugar industry’s post-World War II efforts to promote sugar as a necessary dietary component through an examination of its selective use of science and engagement with innovative documentary film making. It begins with the sugar industry’s efforts to promote sugar consumption in the early twentieth century, the period when nutrition science emerged and was popularized. It then moves on to analyze the evolving interplay of scientific knowledge and discursive practice in the sugar industry. The Sugar Research Foundation, Inc. (SRF), a group founded in 1943 by sugarcane and beet sugar business interests, provides the empirical case. The analysis focuses on the period from the SRF’s founding through World War II and its immediate aftermath. Evidence for the analysis was gathered from three archival collections. The article documents how the SRF developed “sponsored films” for mass audiences that employed scientists and scientific concepts to discursively construct refined sugar as a natural and necessary part of the American diet. The SRF combined state-of-the-art documentary film making and distribution with selectively chosen scientific findings to successfully defend its product against public health efforts to reduce consumption. The article makes the case that investigating the history of the refined sugar industry’s efforts to shape consumers’ food habits is an indispensable step toward understanding today’s challenge to address metabolic syndrome in public health.

Examining the policy outcomes of cancelling the house purchase restriction: quasi-experimental evidence from China

While the impact of the house purchase restriction (HPR) policy on the housing market in China has been deeply examined, there is still little known about how the housing market varies when such policy is abandoned. To fill this gap, we first theoretically propose two hypotheses concerning the relationship between abandoning HPR policy and housing price and transaction based on the housing literature. We then examine the hypotheses by taking Jinan, China as empirical case that offer an excellent policy setting of some districts having discarded the policy while the other remains. The results derived from Synthetic Control Method (SCM) showed that the cancellation of the HPR policy plays a vital role in increasing the transaction volume, but it fails to promote house prices. The findings remain reliable after a series of placebo and robustness tests. This article adds new insight to the debate on efficacy of government intervention via more granular quantitative data, and further contributes to policy implications regarding housing market development.

Construction and application case study of a “Primary Care-focused” county health system development index

Background“Focusing on primary care” is the primary principle guiding health system in China. However, there is a lack of effective measurement tools in practice. ObjectiveThe study sought to construct an index of "primary care-focused" county health system development index and perform empirical case analysis with two counties. MethodsThe study was conducted from 2021 to 2022. The index (including its sub-indicators, scoring methods and weights) was constructed based on a literature review and experts’ consensus (via a Delphi technique). Then, it was applied in 2 counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, based on data collected from a range of sources from 2020 to 2022, including surveys for community residents, patients and health professionals survey, institutional survey, medical insurance claims data, as well as data of key informant interviews. ResultsThe results of Delphi method showed that the authority coefficient of experts was 0.91, the coefficients of variation of two rounds of consultation were 0.14 and 0.13, respectively. The constructed index system contains 3 domains, 15 dimensions, and 36 indicators, with a comprehensive index calculation method. The results showed that the overall scores for the two counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were 58.62 and 52.57, respectively. The scores of both counties were below the current national benchmark (60.00 points). ConclusionWithin the constraint of data availability, the index system constructed in this study could be applied to monitor and evaluate the extent that county health systems have achieved “primary care focus”. Its application may improve visibility and priority of primary care development, facilitate the development and implementation policies to strengthen primary care.

Urban social movements as extended class actors: struggles over reproduction in Buenos Aires, New York City and Hamburg

Along with a resurgence in urban social movements (USMs) since the Global Financial Crisis in 2007–08 has come renewed interest in what form(s) of social struggle these movements represent. This is because USMs cannot be straightforwardly explained by the contradiction between capital and labour, as they happened outside the workplace. With the aim of conceptualising USMs, a comparative and empirical case study was conducted on urban development and protest in New York City, Buenos Aires and Hamburg. Approaches ranging from spatial theory to urban sociology and political economy informed the theoretical framework. The study was empirically based on 47 interviews with activists, as well as the observation of participants at protest events and document analysis (both of publications by urban protest initiatives and urban development statistics). Emerging similarities regarding the relational and cognitive structures of investigated protests suggest that contemporary USMs are collective actors counteracting urban dispossession and are thus linked to the capitalist mode of accumulation. Therefore, the article argues for an understanding of USMs as extended class struggles over social reproduction in the city. This terminology is intended not only to highlight that USMs are expressions of the crisis of social reproduction in cities, but also to categorise the characteristic features of USMs – which represent struggles for the use value of a city. USMs can, moreover, contribute to social change, especially if they are able to provide alternative means of social reproduction through the appropriation of urban space.

Acoustic Characterization of Potential Quiet Areas in Dortmund, Germany

German noise action plans aim to reduce negative health outcomes from noise exposure and identify quiet areas free of noise pollution. Quiet area identification in German noise action plans is based primarily on noise mapping and spatial analysis and not empirical or qualitative data about acoustic environments, thus leaving a gap in the understanding of the quality of formally recognized quiet areas in noise action plans. This work presents a comparative empirical case study in Dortmund, Germany, with the aim to describe the diurnal dB(A) and biophonic properties of quiet areas versus noise ‘hot spots’. Sound observations (n = 282,764) were collected in five different natural or recreational land use patch types larger than four acres within 33 proposed quiet areas in Dortmund (n = 70) and 23 noise hot spots between 27 April 2022 and 2 March 2023. We found that quiet areas are on average more than 20 dB(A) quieter than noise hot spots almost every hour of the day. Forests, managed tree stands, cemeteries, and agriculture diel patterns are dominated by dawn dusk chorus in spring and summer, whereas sports and recreation as well as noise hot spots are dominated by traffic and human noise. A novel composite biophony mapping procedure is presented that finds distinct temporal distribution of biophony in forested and agriculture peri-urban locations positively associated with patch size, distance away from LDEN > 55, proximity to water, and the number of vegetation layers in the plant community. Anthrophony distribution dominates urban land uses in all hours of the day but expands during the day and evening and contracts at night and in dusk hours. The procedures presented here illustrate how qualitative information regarding quiet areas can be integrated into German noise action planning.

Innovative Models of Green Entrepreneurship: Social Impact on Sustainable Development of Local Economies

Introduction. Green entrepreneurship has become a powerful new force, driving sustainability and promoting economic development within local economies. This research explains how small-scale green entrepreneurship activity has its desired role in environmentally affected matters and any economic grow-ups from the low ends.
 Aims and tasks. The study aims to analyze green entrepreneurship models and highlight successful initiatives in various regions, including those related to solar energy, green agriculture and green product development startups, to understand the impact related to social, economic and environmental factors.
 Results. The findings in the research indicate that creativity is an important business strategy, partnerships in the strategic plan, application of technology and capturing communities in driving green entrepreneurship. As such, the study discovered that business models were continuously associated with the creation of jobs, and in average 15,000 new jobs per region were created. North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America contributed significantly. Thus, as well as through strategic partnerships and technology adoption, it has contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions by an average of 60,000 tons a year across all regions. The success of green entrepreneurship models is analyzed using empirical case studies and real-life examples to bring out core issues requiring action and offer recommendations to policy makers, investors, and entrepreneurs on how to implement green business models further.
 Conclusions. The research underlines the dynamic capability of green startups to solve environmental issues along with its shifting economy and community interface. An essential role of green entrepreneurs is the ability to use creative mindsets together with progressive tie-ups. This therefore engenders positive change and leads the way to a more equal and sustainable world. Going further, all critical characters in the area must still be inspired and enlightened to launch more green entrepreneurship initiatives to provide more significant influence on transitioning to a more sustainable society.

Research on the propagation path innovation of rural culture in northern Anhui in short video

The construction of rural culture is an important part of the rural revitalization strategy. The rapid development of short video technology also makes the construction of social spirit and culture gradually penetrate into rural areas. Combined with the unique rural cultural characteristics of northern Anhui, this paper explores the innovative path of short video to promote the spread of traditional rural culture in northern Anhui. Based on the background of rural revitalization, this project plans to conduct data research and analysis from the Douyin platform, analyze the communication effect of rural culture in northern Anhui in short videos from an innovative perspective, and visualize text data by means of data analysis and modeling, and build an evaluation mechanism "addiction model" based on empirical cases such as account page views, forwarded comments and audience feedback. Based on the unified evaluation standard, the communication effect of rural culture in northern Anhui through short video is analyzed, and based on this topic, the innovative research on the actual communication path of rural culture in northern Anhui in short video is carried out. Based on the model analysis of the actual situation and problems of rural culture communication in northern Anhui, high-quality content communication strategies and skills, the role and effect of short video in the actual promotion of rural culture communication in northern Anhui were examined from the perspective of cultural communication, and corresponding practical, strategic, innovative and feasible measures were proposed from the perspective of rural culture classification.

Correction Factor for Mitigating the ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ Phenomenon in Assessing Low-Carbon City Performance

Performance assessment of low carbon cities (LCCs) attracts great interest and attention from academia, industry, and government as an effective measure to promote urban low-carbon development. However, the efforts of LCCs could be misinterpreted without consideration of the fact that cities with different endowments face different challenges and assume different responsibilities, thus it is important that this fact is considered in assessing LCCs’ performance. This study develops the previous study by the research team, “dual perspective diagnosis method for assessing LCC performance”, by introducing a correction factor to take into account the impacts of local endowments and mitigate the ‘one-size-fits-all’ phenomenon when comparing LCC assessments between cities. The empirical case study presented in the paper indicates that the adoption of a correction factor has improved the accuracy of the assessment results by demonstrating actual management efforts in developing LCC performance. It is proposed that applying the correction factor can help to achieve more accurate assessments of the status of low-carbon city practice, based on which more effective low-carbon policies can be designed and implemented towards achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.

A meta‐analysis of SES framework case studies: Identifying dyad and triad archetypes

Abstract There is a need to synthesize the vast amount of empirical case study research on social‐ecological systems (SES) to advance theory. Innovative methods are needed to identify patterns of system interactions and outcomes at different levels of abstraction. Many identifiable patterns may only be relevant to small sets of cases, a sector or regional context, and some more broadly. Theory needs to match these levels while still retaining enough details to inform context‐specific governance. Archetype analysis offers concepts and methods for synthesizing and explaining patterns of interactions across cases. At the most basic level, there is a need to identify two and three independent variable groupings (i.e. dyads and triads) as a starting point for archetype identification (i.e. as theoretical building blocks). The causal explanations of dyads and triads are easier to understand than larger models, and once identified, can be used as building blocks to construct or explain larger theoretical models. We analyse the recurrence of independent variable interactions across 71 quantitative SES models generated from qualitative case study research applying Ostrom's SES framework and examine their relationships to specific outcomes (positive or negative, social or ecological). We use hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis and network analysis tools to identify the frequency and recurrence of dyads and triads across models of different sizes and outcome groups. We also measure the novelty of model composition as models get larger. We support our quantitative model findings with illustrative visual and narrative examples in four case study boxes covering deforestation in Indonesia, pollution in the Rhine River, fisheries management in Chile and renewable wind energy management in Belgium. Findings indicate which pairs of two (dyads) and three (triads) variables are most frequently linked to either positive or negative, social or ecological outcomes. We show which pairs account for most of the variation of interactions across all the models (i.e. the optimal suite). Both the most frequent and optimal suite sets are good starting points for assessing how dyads and triads can fulfil the role of explanatory archetype candidates. We further discuss challenges and opportunities for future SES modelling and synthesis research using archetype analysis. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Playful (music) teaching and learning in Irish primary school classrooms

ABSTRACT The value and importance of play for children’s well-being, learning and development is evidenced by its inclusion within the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and its increased policy and research presence on a national and international stage. However, with a need for educators and pupils to navigate a range of implicit tensions in understandings of play and formal learning, enactment of playful pedagogy in primary schools is not without its challenges. This article situates playful teaching and learning in the primary education sphere, drawing from the broader policy and research context, and findings from empirical case study research conducted with Irish primary school teachers (n = 6) exploring playful music pedagogy over a 6-week period in their classrooms in 2019. Results indicated teacher perceptions of a capacity for playful music pedagogy to facilitate deep, holistic learning in tandem with enhanced engagement and motivation for children. Also of note is a blurring of boundaries between play and work with implicit shifts to classroom culture, ownership, and associated movement outside comfort zones for teachers and pupils alike. Recommendations are made pertaining to cultural and policy shifts, and sustained support for educators in navigating tensions, paradoxes and challenges associated with implementing playful pedagogy in the Irish primary education context.