Government Policy Research Articles

"Guangzhou-Shenzhen" Urban Linkage and Cooperation Study

As important cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the development of Shenzhen and Guangzhou is of great significance for achieving resource complementarity and promoting industrial synergy in the region. Based on data from 2002 to 2022, this paper uses the Euclidean distance measurement algorithm to calculate the gravitational strength between the two cities, and assesses their competitive and complementary relationships through the geographical affinity strength. Combining these relationships, this paper analyzes the directions in which the two cities can achieve complementary development in the future three industries, and proposes suggestions for optimizing their industrial structures and improving government policies.

Analisis Dampak Inflasi Terhadap Daya Beli Konsumen dalam Konteks Ekonomi

This study analyzes the impact of inflation on consumer purchasing power in Indonesia, focusing on low-income communities and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Using a descriptive qualitative method, data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations. The results show that inflation has a significant effect on daily consumption patterns and the quality of life, particularly in meeting basic needs. Moreover, the increase in essential goods prices has triggered social instability in several regions. This study also evaluates government policies in mitigating the impact of inflation and provides recommendations to protect the most vulnerable groups from rising prices. The findings suggest that although fiscal and monetary policies have short-term positive effects, more comprehensive measures are needed for the long term.

Academic Community – the Target of the KGB of the Lithuanian SSR

Starting from the very beginning of the Soviet occupation, the academic community became the target of the Soviet government. The government aimed to break the elite of society because of its potential and real resistance against the system and to subject it to its policies. Education and science institutions, therefore, were very important in the fight of the Soviet regime for human consciousness. Education was to be used for Communist indoctrination and instilling the values of the worldview important to the Soviet regime both in the country and outside the country. In addition, science institutions had an important role to play in the Cold War race with the West in the areas of science, technology and industry. With their discoveries, scientists had to help create the superiority of the Soviet system against the West. Furthermore, in the guise of scientific relations with the West, there was an opportunity for “intelligence activities”. The KGB, using its resources, helped the Communist Party implement its objectives in conjunction with the academic community. The KGB paid great attention to the behaviour of the representatives of the academic community, their attitudes towards government policies and other issues, monitored their relationships, analysed anti-Soviet manifestations among students and lecturers, and sought to identify and eliminate people who according to the authorities were unreliable. A network of agents was established for the implementation of these tasks, but it was not as broad as the KGB desired. Lithuanian scholars and scholars of the Lithuanian diaspora served both as the tool and the target of the implementation of the Communist Party propaganda campaigns. Achievements demonstrated by Lithuanian scientists in the West had to declare the progress of the Soviet system and also to discredit political campaigns by the diaspora. Scholars recruited by the KGB had a none-the-less important role to play in carrying out the KGB tasks of technical and industrial espionage in the West and thus helping create the image of superiority of the Soviet Union. Conferences and internships both in the West and in Lithuania were the perfect medium for collecting a variety of scientific and technical information. KGB agent reports show that achievements in medicine and in particular in the laser area, dominated in the records obtained by the agents.

Use of Meat Industry By-products in Pet Food Industry: Prospects and Sustainability for Startups in India

With the increasing nuclear family, urbanization, incidents of theft, and isolation in society in the last decades there has been a drastic rise in the number of companion animals, especially pet dogs in the country. The pet food industry is witnessing rapid growth due to the increasing demand for pet foods since pet owners are much more aware of well-being and a balanced diet. India is one of the emerging pet food markets in Asia-Pacific. The country imports 45-50% of pet food to meet the domestic requirements. Therefore there is a huge opportunity in the Indian Pet Food Industry and immense potential to venture into the pet food segment. With a series of opportunities, the sector also witnessed a few challenges which include the absence of a uniform regulatory framework, isolated government policies, higher taxation for pet food compared to other food processing industries, and scattered availability of raw materials. This article throws light on the prospects, sustainability, regulation issues, scope, and opportunities for start-ups in the pet food manufacturing segment by utilizing meat industry by-products as the primary source of protein components to produce cost-effectively and meet the recommended nutritional standards to fulfill the present demands of pet foods.

Analyzing New Quality Productive Forces in New Energy Vehicle Companies Based on a New Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Model

Assessing the new quality productive forces (NQPF) of new energy vehicle (NEV) companies is crucial for promoting the sustainable development of the NEV industry. This paper systematically evaluated and analyzed the NQPF of Chinese listed NEV companies from 2018 to 2022 using a novel multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) model. To address limitations in traditional MCDA models, such as unbalanced weight distribution, insufficient ranking differentiation, and incomplete identification of key influencing factors, this study introduced a new model, IDOCRIW-PROBID (integrated determination of objective criteria weights—preference ranking on the basis of ideal-average distance). First, an evaluation index system tailored to NEV companies’ NQPF was developed. Then, the IDOCRIW method was used to objectively assign weights to the indicators, enhancing the scientific rigor of the weight distribution. The PROBID method was employed to rank companies based on their NQPF, identifying differences between them. Additionally, an obstacle degree model was introduced to analyze key influencing factors, compensating for the traditional MCDA model’s limitations in this regard. The results showed, first, that the proposed IDOCRIW-PROBID model has a high degree of consistency with the classical Entropy-TOPSIS (technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) model in terms of ranking the results (correlation coefficient = 0.91), and that IDOCRIW-PROBID offers higher differentiation compared to other MCDA models, validating its reliability and superiority. Second, during the study period, the development levels of NQPF in Chinese listed NEV companies varied significantly, with most companies at a low level of development and showing a downward trend, indicating that companies face considerable challenges in improving their NQPF. Third, the obstacle degree analysis revealed that R&D lease fees, R&D depreciation and amortization, and direct R&D investment were the primary factors hindering NQPF growth. This research provides theoretical support and decision-making insights for strategic optimization in NEV companies and informs government policy formulation.

Analisis Pengaruh Variabel Makro Ekonomi Terhadap Prevalensi Stunting Di Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the influence of Poverty, Economic Growth Rate, Government Policy and Exclusive Breastfeeding on Stunting Prevalence in Indonesia. This study uses a panel data regression analysis method with a Random Effect Model (REM). The results of the study show that Poverty has a significant positive effect on Stunting Prevalence, and Government Policy and Exclusive Breastfeeding have a significant negative effect on Stunting Prevalence, and Economic Growth Rate has no effect on Stunting Prevalence in Indonesia.

Reply to: Mechanisms by which growth and succession limit the impact of fire in a south‐western Australian forested ecosystem—A comment on Zylstra et al.'s model

Abstract Empirical evidence in scientific literature shows that forest flammability in south‐western Australia declines as forests recover from disturbance, indicating that current policies mandating disturbance may be counterproductive. Zylstra et al. (2023) used mechanistic modelling to explain this trend in Red Tingle (Eucalyptus jacksonii) forest in south‐western Australia. McCaw. (2024) have questioned the validity of the modelling, advancing hypothetical arguments as to why one of the inputs (‘suspended litter’) is incorrect and re‐asserting the need for the current policy. The primary argument by McCaw. (2024) depends upon the redefinition of a component of surface litter into suspended litter. The published definition of near‐surface fuel defines necromass as ‘suspended’ fuel only if it is suspended in living plants or collapsed shrubs. McCaw. (2024) removed this requirement, so that a component of surface fuel was incorrectly measured as ‘suspended’ fuel long after the plants that might suspend it had self‐thinned from the landscape. This physically impossible assertion was supported by an empirical study led by an architect of the policy and utilising the same redefinition of suspended litter, also reporting physically impossible findings as a result. Given the well‐documented decline in wildfire likelihood in long‐unburnt forest, the claim by McCaw. (2024) that suspended litter does not decline suggests at best that such litter plays a lesser role than previously believed. The approaches used by McCaw. (2024) to defend Government policy should be understood in context of growing international concerns around scientific suppression used in defence of Government policy. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Policies And Implementation On Women Empowerment In Meghalaya

Women play a vital role in development. Empowering a woman creates power in her life, society and community. Government policies and programmes are important to create opportunities without restrictions. Specific targeted policies of government and their effective implementation can help women equipped and empowered. This paper attempts to discuss the policies related with women empowerment and their implementation through concerned departments in Meghalaya.

Negotiating Plastics: De-mythicizing Individual Responsibility and Plastic Materialities in Japan, from the 1940s to the 1970s

ABSTRACT Japan is the second-largest producer of plastic waste. The government has implemented policies that encourage individual citizens to recycle and reduce plastic products to promote sustainability. This study into the history of women’s relationship with plastics de-naturalises two assumptions embedded in such environmental policies: firstly, the idea that it is the responsibility of individuals to combat the proliferation of plastics and pollution, and secondly, the notion of ‘plastics’ as a singular element to be accepted or rejected. Based on archival research of articles published in the Asahi shimbun and women’s magazines from the 1940s to the 1970s, this article chronicles changing themes in the depiction of women – plastics relationships. The history of women that emerged from the analysis shows that during this period women exercised their power collectively to negotiate the introduction of various plastic elements into the household. Women collectively determined what could be sold as a plastic product, changed the industry and shop floor practices, and influenced law and government policies regarding plastic waste disposal. The analysis reveals that such collective activities played a role in shaping a diverse history of plastics that is often lost in contemporary discourses of a single ‘plastic’ element and individual responsibility.

Insurance market development and economic growth in Africa: Contingencies and thresholds of structural transformation

Despite insurance contributions to economic growth, the intervening role of structural transformation on the insurance-growth nexus remains scarce, leaving a gap in the literature. Motivated by the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which envisages higher structural transformation, financial development and economic progress, this study examines the threshold effects and the joint impact of insurance and structural transformation on economic growth in Africa. The study employed the generalised method of moments and dynamic panel threshold estimations on 38 countries covering 2008 to 2020. The following findings emerge: First, insurance and structural transformation promote economic growth. Second, the results indicate that structural transformation enhances the impact of insurance on economic growth. This suggests that structural transformation matters in driving insurance market development, ultimately promoting economic growth. Third, the empirical evidence further reveals nonlinearities in the relationship and presents that a high level of insurance penetration stimulates growth and vice versa. More so, the synergistic effect of insurance and structural transformation on economic growth is more substantial at higher threshold levels. This implies that though insurance spurs economic growth, its impact is more effective through the intervening role of a strong structural transformation. Therefore, this study calls for government intervention and policies to improve structural transformations and form insurance synergies to promote growth.

Exploring network governance in sustainable beekeeping management in the Mekong subregion and its challenges

This research paper aims to explore a network governance in sustainable apiculture management and identify its challenges to government and non-governmental policy makers. Qualitative data was collected through participant observation during field visits and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with regional apiculture management. The research results show that each country in the Mekong subregion has different network governances in supporting a sustainable apiculture management. Some countries have a collaborative network between the government, the civil society, entrepreneurs, and scholars. In contrary, some countries lack a policy framework from the government. This difference becomes challenges for the six governments of the Mekong subregion countries to commonly support the sustainable apiculture management in the subregion. The identified challenges in the paper are: (1) a capacity gap between the six countries of the region; (2) no common policies and regulations that would facilitate local beekeepers’ access to wider regional bee products; (3) no support for inter-regional transport of bees and honey for academic purposes; (4) inadequate native bee species preservation and pesticides use; (5) local beekeepers’ limited access to a regional bee diseases and pesticides use database; and, (6) a lack of regional standards for general honeybee product support.

Cultural Transformation and Occupational Shifts among the Gujjar Tribe: An Analytical Study

The study explores the cultural transformation and occupational shifts among the Gujjar tribe in Rajouri District, Jammu and Kashmir. Historically pastoralists, the Gujjars have transitioned into new economic activities due to modernization, urbanization, and changing government policies. Educational advancements and emerging economic opportunities have led many within the tribe to diversify beyond livestock rearing into fields like agriculture, business, and public service. These shifts have redefined family structures, gender roles, and community dynamics, with women increasingly participating in the workforce. But, challenges such as cultural dislocation and loss of land rights persist. The study, based on qualitative research, highlights the complexities of adapting to modernity while preserving cultural identity, offering insights into how the Gujjars navigate the tension between tradition and modern change. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable development strategies that respect both cultural heritage and economic progress.

Life Expectancy and Politics of Public Education and Pension with Endogenous Fertility

Implications of increased life expectancy on parental fertility decisions and subsequent shifts in political influence between younger and older generations carry significant consequences for government policies concerning education and pension. This study introduces an overlapping generations growth model incorporating these effects, qualitatively indicating that increased life expectancy correlates with lower fertility rates, decreased education expenditure-GDP ratio, and increased pension benefit-GDP ratio. A model simulation evaluates the impact of the projected increase in life expectancy until 2100 on four country groups: synthetic rich OECD, synthetic rich OECD Europe, Japan, and the United States. The findings demonstrate similar trends as in the qualitative analysis, yet growth rates are projected to vary significantly across regions and countries due to differing life expectancy increases.

Applied Economic Engineering To Solar Energy Projects

Background: The search for the use of electrical energy through renewable sources is experiencing significant expansion, particularly at a time when social policies are being implemented with a focus on climate conditions. Solar energy stands out as a renewable energy source with costs that are more accessible than conventional energy sources. Photovoltaic panels for commercial use represent a smart strategy for many companies seeking energy efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability. These systems offer benefits that range from reductions in operational expenses to contributions toward corporate social responsibility goals. Materials and Methods: To conduct this study, two research methods were used: bibliographic research and documentary research. The qualitative approach employed in this article enabled a detailed investment analysis of the elements related to economic engineering applied to solar energy projects. Techniques for economic and financial viability were presented, including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period. Results: The findings of the research demonstrated that solar energy is a viable and strategic option for economic growth in Ceará. Considering that Ceará ranks fifth in Brazil for its capacity to generate solar energy, solar power represents a promising investment alternative for the state. The study highlighted the economic and environmental advantages of utilizing solar energy. Conclusion: The research clearly shows that solar energy not only contributes to economic growth but also plays a crucial role in environmental conservation in Ceará. Achieving the objectives reinforces the importance of government policies focused on expanding clean energy sources. These policies will ensure that the benefits of solar energy extend beyond the current scenario, fostering a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Consumer preference and willingness-to-pay for formal recycling of electric vehicle batteries: a discrete choice experiment study

The burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market poses a substantial challenge to battery recycling systems, yet understanding EV battery recycling behavior from the demand side remains limited. Previous studies have analyzed perceptual or attitudinal factors, neglecting the observable attributes of EV battery recycling. To this end, we proposed a discrete choice model to investigate the differences between formal and informal recycling behaviors, identifying consumer preferences and willingness to pay. By analyzing 1190 sample data collected from Chongqing, China, we find that: (1) The formal recycling market exhibits greater sensitivity to prices compared to the informal recycling market. (2) The formal recycling market favors recycling by EV battery producers, whereas the informal recycling market shows the least preference for recycling by automobile producers. (3) Door-to-door recycling services are the most effective in facilitating the transition from informal to formal recycling markets for EV batteries. (4) Capacity subsidy policies outperform one-time fixed subsidy policies in incentivizing formal recycling. (5) The formal recycling market for EV batteries necessitates "traceability to the recycling outlet", as opposed to being untraceable. (6) The high-awareness group exhibits greater sensitivity to government policies compared to those with lower environmental concerns and less knowledge of EV battery recycling.

How to Promote Women’s Shift Towards Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products: The Application of Push-Pull-Mooring Effect Model

The growing environmental concern has promoted the global shift towards sustainable consumption, leading to the focus on reusable products. While extant literature has delved into the purchase intention of feminine hygiene products, it has often disregard the intentions behind women switching to reusable alternatives. To address this gap, the present research explores the drivers addressing women's intention to switch from disposable products to reusable options like menstrual cups and cloth pads. By utilizing non-probability purposive sampling, the study applies the Push, Pull, and Mooring (PPM) model to a sample of 386 women aged 18 to menopause. Theoretical insights from this research inform women's predisposition towards adopting reusable feminine hygiene products. Empirical findings identify pricing benefits as a significant pull factor along with women's positive attitude to switch. It also indicates that push factors have a lower impact on switching intention than pull and mooring factors. The findings underscore the potential for marketers to plan for a green transition by improving the design of sales strategy. This also provides a reference for the execution of government policies to promote the adoption of reusable feminine hygiene products to lower environmental wastage.

Siasat Kebudayaan Komunitas Adat Dayak Lepoq terhadap Kebijakan Pelarangan Membakar Lahan di Desa Lung Anai Kecamatan Loa Kulu Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara

This study focused on the cultural strategies of the Dayak Kenyah traditional community in Lung Anai Village in farming practices as a response to the government policy concerning controlling forest and land burn. The cultural strategy referred to was a social practice related to the management and utilization of local resources, including the practice of local wisdom in farming in the form of burning which is passed down from one generation to the next. The research method that the researcher used was a type of qualitative descriptive research with data collection carried out by means of observation and in-depth interviews. The findings from this research were that the response of the Dayak Kenyah Lung Anai to the policy of prohibiting land burning was very diverse. The public responded to this policy in two ways, namely attitudes and actions. Their attitude was gossip and the actions of the community were carrying out one-time demonstrations. The Lung Anai community had a closed resistance, namely burning in the afternoon until evening, providing barriers, asking companies for help, using village land, increasing income. The conclusion of this research is that the cultural tactics carried out is a form of resistance by indigenous communities to government policies in order to survive by maintaining their traditions in the practice of managing and utilizing local resources.

Performance of indicators used in regular risk assessments for COVID-19 in association with contextual factors.

This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from "1-week lead" demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from "week lagged value" showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Assessing the Influence of Social Justice Movements on Public Policy and Community Empowerment in Indonesia

This paper explores the influence of social justice movements on public policy and community empowerment in Indonesia through a juridical analysis. By examining key legal documents, court rulings, and government policies, the study assesses how social justice movements have shaped the legal landscape in areas such as labor rights, environmental protection, and gender equality. The findings reveal that social justice movements have successfully influenced the development of laws and policies aimed at addressing systemic inequalities, though challenges remain in their implementation. Furthermore, the research highlights how these movements have empowered marginalized communities by providing them with the tools and resources to advocate for their rights. The study concludes that while social justice movements have made significant strides in influencing public policy, continuous efforts are needed to ensure effective enforcement and sustained community empowerment.

Determinants of fertility experience among reproductive women age (15-49) in Ethiopia: Application of count regression models.

Fertility refers to the average number of children born to a woman over her reproductive years. Due to cultural norms, economic development, education, access to healthcare, and government policies, fertility rates vary significantly across different countries and regions of the world. Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in Sub-Sahara Africa and its fertility rate has consistently been one of the highest in the world. Hence the main goal of this study was to identify the leading factors for the total number of children born per mother in Ethiopia. This study used the most recent secondary data obtained from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey. A total weighted sample of 8885 women aged 15 to 49 was included in the study. The primary outcome variable in this study was the number of children born per mother, and different socio-demographic and economic factors that could influence fertility experience were included. The analysis was performed using STATA version 17 software. Negative Binomial regression model was used to assess the association between outcome and predictor variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. From a total of 8885 women, on average approximately 2.73 children were born per mother. Age of mothers (IRR = 1.08, 95% CI: (1.077, 1.082)), religion for Muslim (IRR = 1.13, 95% CI: (1.08, 1.18)) and others (IRR = 1.16, 95% CI: (1.11, 1.22)), level of education secondary and above (IRR = .61, 95% CI: (.58, .65)) and primary (IRR = .84, 95% CI: (.81, .87)), household member of six to nine (IRR = 1.24, 95% CI: (1.20, 1.28)) and household members more than nine people (IRR = 1.14, 95% CI: (1.07, 1.21)), wealth index for rich (IRR = .94, 95%, CI: (.91, .98)), marital status for not married (IRR = .49, 95%, CI: (.48, .51)), pregnant mothers (IRR = 1.08, 95%, CI: (1.02, 1.13)) and contraceptive users (IRR = 1.12, 95%, CI: (1.09, 1.16)) were the signficant variables for number of children ever born per mother. In Ethiopia, the average number of children born per mother was approximately 2.73. Poisson and Negative Binomial regression models were compared, and we found the Negative Binomial regression model to be better to identify the determinants of fertility experience in Ethiopia. Age of mothers, religion, current pregnancy, use of contraceptive methods, mothers' education level, household members, wealth index, number of children aged five and under, region (Somali, Gambela, and Addis Ababa), and marital status were the determinants responsible for fertility experience among mothers in Ethiopia. These findings are helpful for policymakers and healthcare professionals for developing targeted interventions and programs aimed at improving the high fertility rate experience in Ethiopia.