Government Intervention Research Articles

Political corruption and cost stickiness: Evidence from China

AbstractThis study investigated the effect of local corruption on the cost behaviour of publicly traded firms in China over the period from 2007 to 2017. Our findings show that firms situated in regions with higher corruption levels tend to exhibit greater cost stickiness, primarily driven by managerial empire‐building incentives and rent‐seeking behaviours. This effect is particularly pronounced in firms subject to greater government intervention, weaker internal controls, fewer political connections, and less market competition. Furthermore, this corruption‐induced cost behaviour is found to negatively impact firm value. The results underscore the critical role of institutional environments, particularly corruption, in shaping corporate cost management strategies. This study provides valuable insights into how corruption influences economic outcomes for firms and offers guidance for managers, regulators, and investors to address these challenges and optimise cost management practices.

Legal and Practical Implications of Digitizing the Slovakian Cadastre: Challenges and Opportunities

Background: Acquiring ownership rights to real estate in Slovakia is complex and frequently encounters hurdles. The formal procedures governing this process can be stringent, resulting in challenges when transferring ownership rights. This article critically evaluates the obstacles and potential advantages as the Slovakian Cadastre shifts towards a digital system. The authors also explore the scope of contractual freedom and governmental intervention in acquiring property rights alongside recent challenges encountered by the digitalized system under both Slovakian and European law. The study analyses the theoretical framework guiding decision-making by Slovak administrative authorities in cadastral proceedings, underscoring the critical role of formal legal procedures in ensuring legal certainty and stability. Additionally, the research underscores the importance of accurately registering changes to property rights within the digitalized real estate registration system to uphold the integrity and transparency of title records. Methods: The research follows a qualitative methodology, employing various qualitative methods, including historical description and analysis, in-depth document analysis, inductive method, comparative analysis, and case studies rooted in legal theory, administrative law and property law. It may utilise conceptual frameworks like legal certainty and stability to inform its examination. The methodology may not involve empirical data collection or statistical analysis but rather a critical examination of the existing legal framework and theoretical perspectives. Results and conclusions: Acquiring ownership rights to real estate in Slovakia is a complex process hindered by discrepancies between registered and actual property statuses, outdated maps and inaccuracies in parcel boundaries. The lack of clarity and precision significantly affects legal certainty and private property rights. In response, the Office of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre has proposed a comprehensive amendment to the Cadastral Act, aiming to update the classification of land, regulate electronic submissions, and simplify application processes. However, the proposed amendment may restrict public access to information contained in the Cadastre, which could negatively impact the exercise of property rights and the right to freely access information.

Linking demand conditions to competitive advantage: the role of government support programs in the halal cosmetic and personal care industry

Purpose This study aims to examine the mediating role of government support programs in the halal cosmetics and personal care industry between local demand conditions and competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 96 companies in the cosmetics and personal care industry in Malaysia, and the analysis was conducted using the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach. Findings The results indicate that demand conditions do not have a direct effect on competitive advantage in the halal cosmetics and personal care industry. However, government support programs, specifically regulatory and innovation programs, play a crucial mediating role between demand conditions and competitive advantage. This highlights the importance of both regulatory and innovation programs in shaping the halal market ecosystem. Practical implications The halal industry policy should prioritize innovation and regulatory programs to ensure that nonfood halal products, including beauty products, are evaluated not only based on ingredient content but also on broader aspects such as product effectiveness, quality, safety and affordability. Originality/value This study offers a unique perspective by highlighting the often-overlooked role of government support programs as key drivers in shaping the halal market ecosystem and enhancing competition in the halal cosmetics and personal care industry. While the government’s role is frequently neglected in market dynamics, this research emphasizes how government intervention, when implemented through effective policy, can significantly contribute to industry growth and competitiveness.

Justifying authoritarian practices: epistemic governance in two opposite interventionist policies on women’s attire in Iran’s pre- and post-revolution 1979

ABSTRACT How do authoritarian actors seek to justify their interventionist gendered policies? The study bridges the authoritarian governmentality scholarship with Epistemic Governance theory to disclose epistemic politics in interventionist policymaking. It gathers textual data from political leaders and influential actors to investigate the epistemic practices around the justifications of two culture-shaping policies on Iranian women’s attire: the ‘unveiling’ policy banning all women’s head covers in the 1930s and the ‘mandatory veiling’ laws in the 1980s. Foucauldian discourse analysis as elaborated in Epistemic Governance analytic is applied to scrutinise how women’s attires were problematised in both cases and how exclusionary measures were justified. The findings reveal that in the 1930s, veiling was represented as the dangerous embodied emblem of backwardness that must be excluded in the urgent context of national progress. In contrast, unveiling, as the marker of cultural colonialism, was prohibited in the context of the necessity to protect the counter-hegemonic national values in the 1980s. These findings highlight recontextualisation practices turning women’s attire into a matter of national security that justify pastoral power for governmental interventions. The study hence warns against (in-)security politics in authoritarian governance whereby any epistemic field is depoliticised, and public opinion is conducted towards interventionist policies.

Welfare‐Reducing Integration Under Emission Taxes and Endogenous Competition Mode

ABSTRACTThis study examines asymmetric supply chain competition between integrated and non‐integrated supply chains under emission taxes when firms choose competition mode in the final goods market endogenously. We find that higher emission taxes may lead the non‐integrated downstream firm to adopt aggressive pricing to induce its upstream firm to lower prices, leveling competition with an integrated one. When the non‐integrated chain integrates, however, quantity contracts become dominant strategies, which might distort welfare under lower emission taxes if both environmental damage and product substitutability are sufficiently high. Our finding indicates the welfare‐reducing effects of government interventions post‐integration when emission tax policy and endogenous competition mode are relevant.

SUPPRESSION EFFORTS BY THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE PROTAGONIST IN PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER'S HOUSE OF GLASS

This research examines the Dutch colonial government's efforts to suppress the actions of Minke, the protagonist in Pramoedya Ananta Toer's novel House of Glass. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the study analyzes words, phrases, and sentences in the novel that indicate colonial attempts to hinder Minke’s activities. The methodology involved qualitative data collection focused on identifying events that reflect the colonial government's interventions. The analysis centers on two key aspects: Minke's actions, which include spreading nationalist ideas, organizing movements, leading the SDI (Serikat Dagang Islam), and using speech and writing as tools for resistance. The findings reveal that the colonial government employed various strategies to curb Minke's influence, including surveillance and reporting, legal restrictions and extrajudicial measures, exile of prominent figures, property confiscation, and rumor-spreading. These efforts underscore the colonial regime's reliance on military force and the loyalty of indigenous officials, highlighting its fundamental weaknesses due to a lack of democratic foundations.

Pathways in the governance of shipping decarbonization from perspective of balancing the conflicting interests

The shipping industry is featured by high carbon emissions. The 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships sets forth the global goals of shipping decarbonization. Shipping decarbonization involves complicated issues of economy, technology, policy and law etc., and implies the conflicts between economic interests and environmental interests, between individual interests and public interests, between individual States’ interests and international common interests and between current interests and long-term interests. This research suggests that balancing such conflicting interests need to follow the principle of prioritizing the international public environmental interests while taking into account the other interests because protection of environmental interests should be taken as the basic value orientation in shipping decarbonization governance and the principle of collaborating governmental intervention and market mechanisms by reference to the theory on the relationship between government and market in economics. Under the guidance of these principle, by reference to the equilibrium analysis method in economics and following the progressive decision theory in management, this research demonstrates that the main pathways in achieving such balance may include: making strategic plan and basic policy for reducing GHG emissions from ships by the government, implementing economic incentive policies such as tax incentives and fiscal subsidies, implementing ship energy efficiency measures, prudently implementing shipping carbon emissions trading mechanism, accelerating the establishment of alternative marine fuel supply chain, innovating alternative marine fuel technology and ship propulsion technology, and actively engaging in international cooperation.

The Temporal and Spatial Evolution and Influencing Factors of the Coupling Coordination Degree Between the Promotion of the “Dual Carbon” Targets and Stable Economic Growth in China

Coordinating the relationship between “dual carbon” targets and stable economic growth is crucial for promoting high-quality development in China. This study utilizes the coupling coordination model, kernel density estimation, and spatial econometric models to explore the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics and influencing factors of the coupling coordination degree between the promotion of the “dual carbon” targets and stable economic growth in 287 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021. The results indicate that, in terms of temporal evolution, the promotion of China’s “dual carbon” targets increases yearly, while stable economic growth follows a “year-on-year increase—short-term decline—sustained recovery” pattern with the coupling coordination degree fluctuating upward. Regarding spatial evolution, the coupling coordination degree between the promotion of the “dual carbon” targets and stable economic growth in China presents a “higher in the east, lower in the west” spatial pattern, with varying gradient effects and polarization across the country and its regions. Influencing factors include government intervention, environmental regulations, energy efficiency, financial development, and R&D investment intensity. These findings provide scientific insights for addressing the mutual constraints between “dual carbon” targets and stable economic growth.

Business Transformation in a Distinctive Institutional Setting: A Study of Regional Development Banks in Indonesia

Limited research exists on business transformation strategy within the Indonesian banking sector, particularly regarding regional development banks, which play a crucial role in regional economic advancement. This study investigates the drivers of successful business transformation in Indonesian RDBs and their impact on organizational performance, examining the moderating role of regional government intervention. Employing structural equation modeling, the study analyzed data from 255 branch managers across 27 RDBs. Results reveal that talent development, transformational leadership, and digital adoption significantly drive successful business transformation, which in turn enhances organizational performance. Contrary to expectations, regional government intervention did not demonstrate a moderating effect. This study provides valuable insights for RDB managers and policymakers, emphasizing the imporace of talent development, leadership, and digital adoption as key pillars of successful transformation and highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of institutional influences within this sector.

Marketing agility during deep uncertainty using a sensemaking perspective: the performance influence of digitization and government intervention in retail healthcare

PurposeCommunity pharmacies are critical healthcare providers facing unprecedented trading conditions during deep uncertainty. As such, this study aims to inform scholars and practitioners about the efficiency of marketing agility in enhancing firm performance while considering the mediating roles of government interventions and digitization.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is constructed and validated. Six hypotheses are tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), with 254 responses attained via a questionnaire.FindingsMarketing agility facilitated firm performance and digitization. However, findings elucidate the impact of government involvement and underscore the necessity for re-evaluating conventional metrics for firm performance amid deep uncertainty.Originality/valueThe efficacy of marketing agility has been acknowledged amidst deep uncertainty, yet more research is needed within the retail healthcare sector. This research addresses this gap.

Location Preferences and Changes in Pollution-Intensive Firms from the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

This study examined the location preferences and changes in pollution-intensive firms by analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution and drivers in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, a transitional manufacturing region in China. To analyze the distribution of firms under natural growth conditions prior to the implementation of the national “Great Protection of the Yangtze River” policy in 2016, this study utilized data on newly expanded industrial land use from 2007 to 2016. The results indicated that new pollution-intensive firms predominantly focused on water pollution, occupying over 40% of the total area annually. The new pollution-intensive firms preferred the geographic agglomeration siting strategy, mostly along the Yangtze River or in urban agglomerations, while gradually moving westward. The total area and number of new pollution-intensive firms in the Yangtze River Economic Belt showed an overall trend of “inverted U-shaped” variation during the study period, and the average size of the pollution-intensive firms gradually decreased. GeoDetector analysis revealed that geographical factors have always been significant. Local economic factors attracted new pollution-intensive firms, but later in the study period, these factors showed some inhibitory effect on the increase in pollution-intensive firms in the lower reaches. Government intervention worked less effectively but was significantly enhanced after interaction with other factors. Finally, the results suggested that local governments should build a stronger synergy between industrial land policies and environmental regulations to ensure sustainable growth and rational allocation of pollution-intensive firms.

DAMPAK JUDI ONLINE SLOT TERHADAP KEHARMONISAN KELUARGA DI KOTA PEKANBARU

This study aims to examine the impact of online slot gambling on family harmony in Pekanbaru City. Online gambling is increasing among Indonesian people, including in Pekanbaru, and has negative effects both economically, psychologically, and socially for the perpetrators and their families. This study uses a qualitative approach with an in-depth interview method with several informants with different professions and social backgrounds, including workers in government agencies, modern markets, small entrepreneurs, and private workers. The main focus of this research is to identify the driving factors of involvement in online gambling, as well as to see how changes in the behavior of gambling players affect the dynamics and harmony in their families. The results show that environmental influences and economic factors are the main triggers for someone to get involved in Online Slot gambling. In addition, the behavior of online gambling players causes family disharmony, which can be seen from household conflicts, decreased communication quality, and emotional instability. The findings also show that although some players attempt to quit, the temptation to return to gambling remains, creating a pattern of addiction that is difficult to break. Therefore, government interventions as well as community and family support are needed to help gambling players quit and prevent further adverse impacts.

Hacking democratic innovations: the problem of agency in deliberative systems

ABSTRACT Empowering citizens through democratic innovations has long been a central goal of government intervention. Despite the transformative rhetoric that has accompanied their implementation, democratic innovations have gained support and political presence, however, while moving away from public decision-making processes. A recent example are deliberative mini-publics. The problem has to do with a conception that relativizes the agency of citizens in political systems, an issue that is very visible in the systemic turn of deliberation. From this perspective, agency is diluted in a dynamic of interconnected deliberative settings far from the decision-making centers. The objective of this essay is to analyze a hybrid deliberative framework conceived from the outset around the political agency of citizens. We show how deliberation can improve participatory systems, without needing to replace agency with diffuse communicative mediation. To do this, we analyze the successes and failures of its implementation in the city of Madrid.

Differential Game Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction Effect and Price Strategy Considering Government Intervention and Manufacturer Competition

ABSTRACTGovernments and enterprises are paying more and more attention to carbon emissions. Considering the dynamic of carbon emissions reduction (CER) and the government intervention, this study discusses the optimal CER effort level, price, and government intervention intensity in a two‐echelon supply chain consisting of a government and two manufacturers. The two manufacturers have two competitive behaviors: Cournot and Stackelberg. Two differential game models are constructed for the two different behaviors, and the optimal decisions under the two models are obtained. The comparisons of these optimal solutions are analyzed, and the influence of some parameters on the optimal solution in the two models is investigated under two scenarios. Furthermore, the optimal government intervention intensity is obtained with the goal of maximizing government utility. The results show that the Stackelberg game allows manufacturers to achieve higher profits and CER but is disadvantageous to consumers, and the manufacturer as the leader has a first‐mover advantage. Fierce market competition leads to greater CER and profits, but higher prices reduce consumer surplus. Larger penalties can promote enterprises to reduce carbon emissions when carbon emissions are large. Compared with the Cournot behavior game, the Stackelberg allows manufacturers to obtain higher profits and CER, but the prices are higher that are detrimental for consumers. The fierce market competition is good for manufacturers, the environment, and the society, but it reduces the consumer surplus. The low CER efficiency causes high costs and reduces the manufacturer's motivation to CER, which harm the environment and reduce profits. The government intervention is negatively correlated with the intensity of market competition and the sensitivity of manufacturers to policies.

Does government procurement affect corporate carbon emissions? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT Supply-driven government intervention policies aid firm sustainability, but do demand-driven government intervention policies impact corporate carbon emissions? This study examines the impact of demand-driven government intervention, specifically government procurement, on corporate carbon emissions using the data of listed firms from 2015 to 2021. The results uncover that government procurement decreases carbon emissions by stimulating demand-driven effects and enhancing green innovation. The enhanced effect is evident with sustainable procurement practices and a favorable institutional environment, particularly in Eastern and Central China. This study contributes to comprehending demand-side environmental governance policies and informs strategies for optimizing carbon emission control policies.

Influence of Temperature Variability on the Efficacy of Negative Ions in Removing Particulate Matter and Pollutants: An Experimental Database

Cities globally must make urgent decisions to ensure a sustainable future as rising pollution, particularly PM2.5, poses severe health risks like respiratory and heart diseases. PM2.5’s harmful composition also impacts vegetation and the environment. Immediate government intervention is necessary to mitigate these effects. This study tackles the urgent problem of reducing PM2.5 levels in Medellín’s urban and indoor environments, where pollution presents serious health risks. To explore effective solutions, this research provides new data on the interaction between particulate matter from various pollutants and negative ions under different temperature conditions, offering valuable insights into air quality improvement strategies. Using a high-voltage system, ions bind to pollutants, accelerating their removal. Experiments measured temperature, humidity, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, negative ions, and PM2.5 in a 40 cm3 chamber across various conditions. Pollutants tested included cigarette smoke, incense, charcoal, and gasoline at two voltage levels and three temperature ranges. The data, available in CSV format, were based on 36,000 samples and repeated tests for reliability. This resource is designed to support studies investigating particulate matter control in urban and indoor environments, as well as to improve our understanding of negative ion-based air purification processes. The data are publicly available and structured in formats compatible with leading data analysis platforms.

Agricultural Drones in Africa: Exploring Adoption, Applications, and Barriers

The adoption of drone technology in agriculture is transforming farming practices across Africa by enhancing resource efficiency, reducing operational costs, and promoting environmental sustainability. This paper explores the various applications of drones in African agriculture, including precision farming, crop monitoring, pest control, and livestock management. Drones enable farmers to optimize the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, leading to increased yields and improved profitability. Despite the potential benefits, the deployment of drones faces challenges such as high costs, lack of technical expertise, and regulatory barriers. This study highlights the importance of addressing these obstacles to facilitate the widespread adoption of drone technology among both small and large-scale farmers. By leveraging drones, African agriculture can improve food security, scale up operations, and contribute to the continent’s sustainable development goals. The findings of the review include case studies from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria which show that government intervention and private-sector partnerships are crucial for overcoming these barriers. This paper highlights the need for targeted training programs and policy reforms to enhance accessibility for smallholder farmers. By leveraging drones, African agriculture can improve food security, scale up operations, and contribute to the continent’s sustainable development goals.

Technological adoption in building surveying: exploring the impacting factors and strategies for enhancing utilisation

PurposeEmbracing digitisation within the building surveying profession will enhance its practices and, of course, improve productivity. However, the level of digitisation within the building surveying profession is very low. Thus, this study aims to identify factors impacting technology adoption within the building surveying professions and provide practical ways of improving the adoption of technology.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a convergent mixed-methods approach to identify digital technologies applicable to building surveying professions. The study also investigates factors influencing technological adoptions and provides ways of improving their adoption. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis and ordinary least squares regression.FindingsThe study found that business communication platforms and smartphone applications are frequently used, while digital survey equipment and in-house developed applications are less commonly utilised by building surveyors. The influencing factors identified are economy, technical knowledge, culture, efficiency and regulatory factors. The study recommends increased education and training for building surveyors, promotional opportunities from manufacturers and government intervention in the form of subsidies or tax breaks to promote further digitisation within the building surveying profession.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insight into strategies for the digitalisation of the building surveying profession. Application of the findings would promote further utilisation of digital technologies.

How the synergy of government intervention and digital transformation affects carbon emission: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

ABSTRACT Digital transformation (DT), government intervention (GI) and carbon emissions (CE) have always been the focus of academic attention, and arguments on the relationship amongst them exist. This study seeks to introduce the degree of political connection and government subsidies (GS) as GI into the relationship between DT and CE at the micro-level and aims to provide a new perspective for resolving previous arguments. By using a difference-in-differences model, the impact of DT on reducing CE is measured by taking a sample of 3925 observations from listed enterprises in China and dividing them according to the following degrees of political connection: none, moderate and high. Results show that DT is effective in reducing CE. Additionally, DT of enterprises with moderate political connections has had the greatest effect on reducing CE, followed by the effect of enterprises with high political connections. The effect of enterprises with no political connections is insignificant. If enterprises with a moderate or no political connections gains more GS, then the negative impact of DT on CE will be stronger. This study provides new evidence that DT reduces CE at the micro-level and presents a new perspective on reaching a consensus by introducing GS and the degrees of political connection.

A comparative view of the South African and Canadian framework for issuing work visas to skilled refugees and asylum seekers

South Africa faces a shortage of skilled workers due to long-standing systemic challenges that prevent it from producing the skills necessary for economic development. In 2021, only 25 per cent of persons employed in South Africa were considered highly skilled. The critical skills work visa has been designed to facilitate the employment of skilled immigrants, but is unsuitable for doing so in the case of skilled asylum seekers and refugees, even though the latter could alleviate the shortage of skilled workers. While members of this group are eligible to apply for a critical skills work visa, they face significant obstacles that hinder their chances of obtaining one. This article highlights the barriers this group encounters and draws lessons from Canada's Economic Mobility Pathways Project, which has successfully connected skilled refugees to employers and filled in-demand positions. In South Africa, the likelihood of obtaining a critical skills work visa without governmental intervention is low for many in this group, resulting in a waste of their skills. The article compares the South African case to how Canada has integrated skilled refugees to occupations requiring skills. Canada's partnerships with NPOs such as Talent Beyond Borders have been vital in assisting skilled refugees and connecting them to employers. The article thus argues that to employ skilled refugees in positions commensurate with their skills, the South African government has to assist and form partnerships with organisations specialising in this cause.