Policy Implementation Research Articles

Bridging policy and development: Implementing merit-based civil service management for dynamic governance in West Java

This study aims to identify and the implementation of ASN Management policies on career development aspects based on the merit system in the West Java Provincial Government and 6 Regency/City Governments in West Java Province. The failure of the institutionalization of the meritocratic system in ASN career development is partly triggered by the symptoms of the appointment or selection of officials in the central and regional levels not based on their professionalism or competence except for subjective considerations, political ties, close relationships and even bribery. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The operationalization concept in this study uses Merilee S. Grindle’s Policy Implementation theory which consists of dimensions of policy content and its implementation context. The factors that cause the implementation of the policy to be less than optimal include: 1. Uneven understanding of meritocracy; 2. Slowness/unpreparedness in synchronizing central and regional rules/policies; 3. The information integration system between the center and regions has not yet been implemented; 4. Limited supporting infrastructure; 5. Limited permits for related officials; 6. Transparency; 7. Collaboration across units/agencies; 8. External intervention; 9. Use of information systems/technology. To optimize these factors, an Accelerator of Governmental Unit’s Success (AGUS) model was created, which is a development of the Grindle policy implementation model with the novelty of adding things that influence implementation, including top leader’s commitment and wisdom, effectiveness of talent placement, on-point human development, technology savvy, cross-unit/agency collaboration, and monitoring and evaluation processes.

Mobility Challenges and Inclusive Solutions for People with Physical Disabilities in India

This study examines the complex mobility challenges encountered by individuals with physical disabilities in India and seeks to identify inclusive solutions that can improve their accessibility and autonomy. Significant barriers to their full societal participation include inadequate infrastructure, limited transportation options, societal stigma, economic constraints, and gaps in policy implementation. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this research incorporates surveys, interviews, and field observations to analyze these issues. The findings underscore the critical need for enhanced accessibility standards and their enforcement, increased investment in accessible transportation, greater affordability and availability of assistive devices, as well as inclusive educational and employment opportunities. Additionally, public awareness campaigns are essential to address social stigma. The research advocates for a comprehensive framework of inclusive solutions, which encompasses universal design principles, accessible transportation systems, assistive technologies, support services, policy advocacy, and participatory design methodologies. By adopting these strategies, India can foster a more inclusive and equitable society, enabling persons with physical disabilities to fully exercise their right to mobility and engage meaningfully in all facets of life. The researchers are collaborating with a prominent NGO active in the field of disability in Bengaluru, and a study involving beneficiaries of CSR Program driven in association of NGO partner is planned.

Factors Affecting Sustainable Consumption in the Era of Consumerism: An Empirical Study in the Context of Circular Economy

Sustainable consumption is one of the best ways to address global environmental challenges in an era dominated by consumerism. The circular economy model emphasizes reducing waste, maximizing resource use, and promoting environmentally friendly production and consumption patterns. At the same time, consumers play an equally important role in this change by making responsible choices that prioritize durability, repairability, and recyclability. But despite growing awareness, challenges such as the intention-behaviour gap and infrastructural barriers still exist, limiting the widespread adoption of sustainable practices. Bridging these gaps requires collaborative efforts across sectors and a cultural shift toward mindful consumption. This paper explores the importance of consumer behaviour, business strategies, and policy interventions in promoting sustainable consumption within the circular economy framework. Greater awareness and encouragement of responsible actions can help society transition towards a more sustainable future, ensuring both environmental preservation and economic resilience. A sample of 209 consumers were surveyed to know the factors that affects sustainable consumption in the era of consumerism and found that Consumer Environmental Awareness, Economic factors, Corporate Practices and Policy Implementation are the factors that affects the sustainable consumption.

How urban welfare affects the hukou selection of rural migrants that belong to dual-hukou families in china

Despite the Chinese government’s implementation of numerous policies aimed at promoting urbanization, the actual urbanization rate has not met expectations. Even when some rural migrants are presented with opportunities to convert to urban-hukou status, an increasing number of families opt to maintain a dual-hukou arrangement (where one spouse holds rural-hukou and the other holds urban-hukou). This phenomenon has garnered significant attention; however, the impact of diverse access to urban welfare on migrants’ hukou selection has been underexplored in existing research on hukou conversion. Access to urban welfare emerges as a critical factor influencing hukou selection decisions. This study constructs an analytical framework to examine the hukou arrangements of dual-hukou families, exploring the effects of various factors related to urban welfare acquisition on the hukou selection of rural migrants. Empirical results indicate that within dual-hukou families, migrants with rural-hukou status can obtain urban welfare through family support or market purchases. Consequently, to maximize family benefits, they prefer to retain their rural-hukou status rather than convert to urban-hukou. Conversely, possession of a qualification certificate from the host city negatively impacts rural-hukou retention. Additionally, rural migrants in dual-hukou families tend to favor cities with high-value hukou and express a desire to convert to local hukou status. These findings offer robust insights for policymaking, demonstrating resilience against sample self-selection bias and reverse causality.

Impacts of Future Climate Change and Xiamen’s Territorial Spatial Planning on Carbon Storage and Sequestration

The intensification of climate change and the implementation of territorial spatial planning policies have jointly increased the complexity of future carbon storage changes. However, the impact of territorial spatial planning on carbon storage under future climate change remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the potential impacts of future climate change and territorial spatial planning on carbon storage and sequestration, providing decision support for addressing climate change and optimizing territorial spatial planning. We employed the FLUS model, the InVEST model, and the variance partitioning analysis (VPA) method to simulate carbon storage under 15 different scenarios that combine climate change scenarios and territorial spatial planning for Xiamen in 2035, and to quantify the individual and combined impacts of territorial spatial planning and climate change on ecosystem carbon sequestration. The results showed that (1) by 2035, Xiamen’s carbon storage capacity is expected to range from 32.66 × 106 Mg to 33.00 × 106 Mg under various scenarios, reflecting a decrease from 2020 levels; (2) the implementation of territorial spatial planning is conducive to preserving Xiamen’s carbon storage, with the urban development boundary proving to be the most effective; (3) carbon storage is greatly affected by climate change, with RCP 4.5 more effective than RCP 8.5 in maintaining higher levels of carbon storage; and (4) the influence of territorial spatial planning on carbon sequestration consistently exceeds that of climate change, particularly under high-emission scenarios, where the regulatory effect of planning is especially significant.

Research on the Green Investment of Traditional Energy Enterprises and Its Effectiveness Under Environmental Regulation

Using data from 188 traditional energy companies listed on China’s A-share market from 2012 to 2023, this study adopts the double-difference method to assess the changes in the green investment of traditional energy companies before and after the implementation of environmental regulation policies in depth and further explores the actual effects and potential risks of green investment on the green transformation of traditional energy companies. This study shows that the environmental regulation policies significantly increased the green investment of traditional energy enterprises, but this increase did not effectively promote the overall green transformation of the enterprises; rather, they became more focused on meeting the current compliance requirements while ignoring the fundamental green technological innovation and production mode change. Further analysis reveals that, as environmental standards continue to rise, the increasing green investment expenditure of traditional energy companies for meeting the standards will continue to outpace the growth in capital inflows of traditional energy companies, resulting in a threat to the financial soundness of the companies in the short term and a significant increase in financial pressure. In the long run, the lack of sustained and stable external financial support for a long period of time will not only constrain the green transformation process of enterprises but may also pose a serious threat to the survival foundation of enterprises and even lead to the elimination of enterprises in fierce market competition.

Impact of driver licensing renewal policies on older driver crash involvement and injury rates in 13 states, 2000–2019

BackgroundMotor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of injury death among adults aged 65 and older in the U.S., second only to falls. A common state-level approach to mitigating older adult crash risk is the implementation of driver license renewal policies which vary largely between states and data on their effectiveness in preventing crashes and injuries are limited. To fill this gap, the aim of this study is to examine the association between state driver license renewal policies and older driver crash and injury rates.MethodsHistorical crash data, license renewal policy data, and other relevant policy and demographic data were gathered from 13 U.S. states (CO, IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, UT, WI, WY) for years 2000 through 2019, inclusive. Main exposures included six license renewal policies: renewal period, in-person renewal frequency, vision testing, knowledge testing, on-road drive testing, and mandatory physician reporting. The primary outcomes were crash and injury rates per 100,000 population.ResultsThe study population included 19,010,179 crash-involved drivers aged 40 and older. State policies became less restrictive in many states over the study period, even for drivers aged 75 and older, resulting in longer times between renewals and fewer in-person renewal requirements. Loosening of in-person renewal from every time to less than every time was associated with increased crash rates, among drivers aged 65 to 74 (RRcrash = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.16). A longer duration between in-person renewals was associated with increased injury rates among drivers 75 and older (RRinjury = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00–1.39).ConclusionsGenerally, state policies became less restrictive and resulted in longer required intervals between license renewal. Loosening of driver license renewal policies was associated with increased crash and injury rates. However, safety benefits of restrictive older driver licensing policies should be carefully weighed against costs to older adult well-being and quality of life following licensure loss. Additional methods to assess fitness to drive are necessary to identify the mechanisms behind the increased rates.

An Inquiry into the Health Principles and Their Uses Made by the Ancients for Social Compassion (Based on Rajarata Civilization)

Since ancient times, health has been given priority among humans. This research aims to identify the health policies made by the ancients during the Rajarata civilization period. The research problem here is how the developed health policies were used for social solidarity and what is their utility. The historical research method was used as the research method here. Sourced facts confirm that the ancient Sri Lankan people also thought of health as an absolute profit. If the health system is of high quality, it is an indication that society at that time acted with compassion. Traditional folk beliefs also prevailed among the people at this time. Accordingly, the ancients strongly believed that diseases are caused by angering the forces called Va-Pit-Sem and other beliefs. It is a mandatory factor to have medical facilities in a state in case of emergencies such as epidemics, pneumonia and war. Therefore, based on these factors, the ancients worked to support the government in making health policies and to raise the health sector. It is stated in the Mahavamsa that ancient medicine was concerned with medical services such as various methods of treatment, style medicine, psychological treatment etc. According to the Mahavamsa, King Dutugemunu has fondly remembered the medical facilities he provided for the public as one of the highest services he did at the time of his death. King Buddhadasa played a special role in the ancient medicine service. The king, who worked with great kindness and compassion to cure the sufferings of his people by performing the affairs of the state well, was a physical and mental doctor who understood it well. During the Polonnaruwa era, King Maha Parakramabahu showed special interest in improving the health of the country's inhabitants. In the continuous history of several centuries, the implementation of the state policies applied by the rulers of the Rajarata Civilization period also on health shows the nature of formal governance. It can also be recognized that Sri Lankan society is not only concerned with public health but also with compassion towards animals and implemented those health policies.

Innovation in Agricultural Water Pricing Systems in China Based on Irrigation Benefits

The comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices is an important component of China’s agricultural water conservation strategy and is highly important for ensuring national water security and sustainable agricultural development. Given the difficulty in raising water prices due to the limited carrying capacity of farmers in the reform, there is a pressing need to consider the implementation of agricultural water price sharing as a potentially viable strategy. Based on the grain production data from 2000 to 2018, the proportion of agricultural water prices borne by farmers and governments in different regions were calculated via the C-D production function method and the “Mitchell scoring + Expert scoring” method in the study. The results revealed that the average sharing coefficient of irrigation benefits for grain crops in China is 0.245. The sharing proportion of agricultural water prices for farmers in seven major geographical regions are ranked as follows: Northwest China (0.467) > Central China (0.427) > Southwest China (0.389) > Northeast China (0.358) > North China (0.319) > East China (0.312) > South China (0.163), while the sharing proportion of the government is 0.533, 0.573, 0.611 0.642, 0.681, 0.688, and 0.837. We proposed a systematic approach that directly ties cost distribution to the benefits received, and determined the proportion of agricultural water prices shared by farmers and governments, which is in line with the farmers’ economic interests and psychological demands. Furthermore, suggestions were proposed regarding the implementation of a rational agricultural water price-sharing policy.

Exploring the contribution of integrated healthcare practices to malaria control in Ghana: perspectives of medical herbalists

BackgroundThe integration of herbal and orthodox medicines has gained momentum in global health, ensuring improved management of infectious diseases like malaria. This study explored the experiences of medical herbalists working in Ghana’s diverse ecological zones to understand the contributions of integrated healthcare to malaria control.MethodsA phenomenological design was employed to conduct in-depth interviews with 19 purposively sampled medical herbalists. Framework analytical approach and Donabedian’s conceptual framework for quality of care were utilised in analysing the data.ResultsFindings revealed high awareness of integrated healthcare practices among participants. Medical herbalists perceived integrated care as instrumental in enhancing malaria management through factors such as improved quality assurance, increased accessibility to integrated health facilities, patient-centred care, follow-up practices, and opportunities for continuous professional development. However, structural and process-related challenges were identified, including inadequate healthcare personnel, medicines, and equipment. Additionally, limited promotional activities, non-comprehensive National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and ineffective referral systems were recognised as barriers hindering the effectiveness of the integrated system and its potential contribution to malaria control.ConclusionAlthough national and health system-based challenges have thwarted the importance of integration on malaria control, medical herbalists feel optimistic about the intervention. To optimise the effectiveness of integrated healthcare in controlling malaria in Ghana would require policy modification and implementation. Future research could focus on developing healthcare frameworks, particularly for malaria, that prioritise quality service delivery within an integrated system.

Healthy Kai (Food) Checker Web-Based Tool to Support Healthy Food Policy Implementation: Development and Usability Study

Background Public health programs and policies can positively influence food environments. In 2016, a voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy was released in New Zealand to improve the healthiness of food and drinks for hospital staff and visitors. However, no resources were developed to support policy implementation. Objective This study aimed to design, develop, and test a new web-based tool to support food providers implementing the National Healthy Food and Drink Policy in New Zealand. Methods The Double Diamond model, a structured framework with 4 design phases, was used to design and develop a web-based tool. Findings from our previous research, such as (1) systematic review of barriers and facilitators to workplace healthy food policy implementation; (2) scoping review of current tools and resources available in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada; (3) interviews with food providers and public health nutrition professionals; and (4) food and drink availability audit results in New Zealand hospitals were used in the “Discover” (understanding of current gaps) and “Define” (prioritizing functions and features) phases. Subsequent phases focused on generating ideas, creating prototypes, and testing a new web-based tool using Figma, a prototyping tool. During the “Develop” phase, project stakeholders (11 public health nutrition professionals) provided feedback on the basic content outline of the initial low-fidelity prototype. In the final “Deliver” phase, a high-fidelity prototype resembling the appearance and functionality of the final tool was tested with 3 end users (public health nutrition professionals) through interactive interviews, and user suggestions were incorporated to improve the tool. Results A new digital tool, Healthy Kai (Food) Checker—a searchable database of packaged food and drink products that classifies items according to the Policy’s nutritional criteria—was identified as a key tool to support Policy implementation. Of 18 potential functions and features, 11 were prioritized by the study team, including basic and advanced searches for products, sorting list options, the ability to compile a list of selected products, a means to report products missing from the database, and ability to use on different devices. Feedback from interview participants was that the tool was easy to use, was logical to navigate, and had an appealing color scheme. Suggested visual and usability improvements included ensuring that images represented the diverse New Zealand population, reducing unnecessary clickable elements, adding information about the free registration option, and including more frequently asked questions. Conclusions Comprehensive research informed the development of a new digital tool to support implementation of the National Healthy Food and Drink Policy. Testing with end users identified features that would further enhance the tool’s acceptability and usability. Incorporation of more functions and extending the database to include products classified according to the healthy school lunches program policy in the same database would increase the tool’s utility.

Preventing common mental health problems by increasing neighbourhood socioeconomic status: a mental health impact assessment in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Neighbourhood socioeconomic status (NSES) has been identified as a determinant of mental health. In this study, we aimed to quantify how many cases of common mental health problems could be prevented by increasing NSES in the most socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and how the increases in NSES would affect mental health inequalities. We used publicly available data for conducting a quantitative Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of two counterfactual policy scenarios. In Scenario 1, we set the NSES to the Rotterdam median score for all neighbourhoods which were below the Rotterdam median. In Scenario 2, we set the NSES score to the Dutch national average socioeconomic status score for the neighbourhoods that were below the national average. We estimated that Scenario 1 could prevent 5847 (95% CI, 2700-7999) or 10.7% of annual cases of common mental health problems, and Scenario 2 could prevent 10713 (95% CI, 4875-14799) or 19.6% of annual cases in Rotterdam while also reducing mental health inequalities between neighbourhoods in both scenarios. Given the substantial improvements in population mental health that enhanced neighbourhood socioeconomic conditions would bring, policy implementation is urgently needed.

Exploring Differences Between Daily Activity Spaces and Access to Urban Resources in Suburban Affordable Housing Based on the Different Income Groups: A Case of Nanjing, China

Most of the affordable housing communities are built in disadvantaged locations (e.g., the suburbs of Chinese cities) and are generally considered to be the main space for middle- and low-income groups to live in. After decades of development, with the relocation of residents, housing sales and the implementation of mixed housing policies in some countries, there is a common phenomenon of mixed living among different groups in many affordable housing communities. Existing studies have explored the differences and social inequities between affordable housing communities and other types of neighborhoods, but little attention has been paid to the differentiation of residents’ daily activities and the unfair access to resources within affordable housing communities. Understanding this difference is crucial to sustainable community development and the delicate management of cities. From a personal-based perspective, this study examines the sociospatial differentiation of different income groups in the community from two aspects: the multidimensional characteristics of the individual activity space and the availability of different types of urban space. The results highlight significant differences in the activity spaces of different income groups across four dimensions: extensity, intensity, diversity, and exclusivity. Low-income suburban residents have fewer opportunities to access inner-city and inner-suburban areas compared to their non-low-income counterparts. They are more constrained to the outer suburbs. Regression models show that income is a key factor influencing how outer-suburb residents use urban spaces. Other factors, such as one’s employment status, family structure, education level, and the built environment, also play an important role in shaping access to different urban resources. This study highlights the impact of income on social isolation within Chinese urban affordable housing communities. It provides nuanced insights that can inform future policy recommendations in a broader urban context.

Problems of Information Technology-Based Zoning PPDB Implementation at SMAN 3 Banjarmasin

New Student Admission (PPDB) is a school activity that is carried out every year. The current system for junior, vocational, and high schools uses a zoning system. This study aims to determine the implementation of school policies, human resource development, infrastructure, and technical support related to the implementation of IT-based PPDB at SMAN 3 Banjarmasin. This research involved 1 principal, three members of the PPDB committee, three teachers, parents of students, and 4 students at SMAN 3 Banjarmasin. The research aims to implement PPDB zoning based on information technology, namely policies, infrastructure, human resource development, and supporting factors in PPDB. Data collection is carried out by means of observation, interviews, and documentation. After the data is collected, it is processed and analyzed in a qualitative descriptive manner. The results of this study show that in the implementation of IT-based zoning PPDB, there are several problems faced by the PPDB involved in SMAN 3 Banjarmasin, such as student quota restrictions, data manipulation, lack of understanding of prospective students and parents of the PPDB zoning system, network problems, teacher strategies in adjusting learning to the student zoning path, and errors on websites and networks. Based on the findings, it is hoped that the PPDB committee will prepare carefully related to the technical implementation of this PPDB and simulate registration before the official period begins to help users understand the stages.

The Role of Mobile Value Added Services towards Influencing Consumer Purchasing Behaviour in the Mobile Telecommunication Industry of Namibia

Purpose: This study is aimed at evaluating the influence of value-added services on consumer purchasing behaviour in the Namibian mobile telecommunication industry. The study further intends to answer several research questions combined with hypotheses testing on perceptions of value-added services towards consumer purchasing behaviour in the Namibian mobile telecoms. Methodology: A correlational research design was employed in the study. A self-administered questionnaire both online and offline to collect data. The research instrument obtained the reliability and validity requirements, using Cronbach and the Factor Loadings (FL), and Average Variance Extracted (AVE) respectively. A simple random sampling technique was adopted in the data collection process. The sample size was determined as 384. A total of 430 valid responses were received. This quantitative study used the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 and Microsoft Excel for data analysis. Descriptive statistics was adopted when conducting data analysis, including frequencies and mean scores. Inferential statistics was used in hypothesis testing. The research study collected and used secondary data from journals, books, and internet sources. The analysed data was presented using Tables and Figures. Findings: Based on the tested hypothesis, value-added services had a statistically insignificant weak positive relationship with consumer purchasing behaviour (rs (430) = .009, p-value >.0.05). The results also revealed a statistically insignificant negative relationship between income and consumer purchasing behaviour (rs (430) = -.018, p-value >.0.05). ). It was concluded, that there was insufficient information to reject the null hypothesis or suggest that the alternative is correct. Future studies should focus on collecting more information and adopting other research methodologies, such as qualitative or mixed research. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Several consumer behaviour theories and models informed the study’s conceptual framework. Theories included the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Hawkins Stern's Impulse Buying, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) and models such as the Engel-Kollat-Blackwell (EKB) were adapted to the study. Policy makers should expedite the implementation of policies and laws to enhance consumer protection and awareness. Recommendations include enhancing consumer awareness of value-added services and the repetition of research with broad inclusion of other variables, including demographical information.

EXPRESS: Design and Analysis of Efficient Sequencing Policies for Linear Cold Storage Devices

In this paper, we investigate the problem of sequencing data requests for linear devices, such as magnetic tapes, to minimize response time in cold-storage solutions for archival data. Tapes are the technology of choice for long-term storage due to their reliability, low costs, security, and significant energy savings. However, physical limitations on tape pose challenges to policy implementation, which must be scalable on low-power hardware. We provide a theoretical and numerical analysis of existing policies and introduce new ones, identifying cases where each is applicable and evaluating their theoretical performance in terms of the number of requested files. In particular, we show that the standard first-in, first-out (FIFO) policy can be arbitrarily inefficient and investigate novel constant-ratio approximations and polynomial-time procedures. If data on the frequency with which each file is accessed is available, we consider a dynamic programming procedure to minimize a stochastic variant of the problem, providing a constant-time approximation for arbitrary file requests. We also investigate a quality criterion based on makespan and explore online variants of the problem. Our numerical analysis, conducted on both synthetic and real-world data from an industry partner, offers insights into when each policy is most appropriate, identifying cases where the proposed algorithms significantly outperform traditional policies, like FIFO, in terms of average reading times. This study has managerial implications, as current data retrieval practices in data centers are often limited to traditional policies with unknown theoretical performance. Our methodological and numerical analysis provides evidence of the value in appropriately sequencing requests based on tape structure, guiding algorithm choice and highlighting underlying trade-offs in response times.

Research on policy guidance and risk prevention and control in the digital transformation of sports industry

Background: Digital transformation in the sports industry has become increasingly crucial for sustainable development, yet comprehensive empirical evidence on policy effectiveness and risk management remains limited. Purpose: This study investigates the impact of policy support and risk factors on digital transformation in sports companies, examining heterogeneous effects across different firm characteristics and regional contexts. Methods: Using panel data from 168 sports companies listed on China’s A-shares markets and the New Third Board from 2019 to 2023, this study employs multiple regression analyses, including baseline models, instrumental variables estimation, and robustness tests. The digital transformation level is measured through a composite index incorporating digital infrastructure, capability, and innovation dimensions. Results: The findings reveal that policy support significantly enhances digital transformation levels (coefficient = 0.238, p < 0.01), while financial risks demonstrate the strongest negative impact (−0.162, p < 0.01). Large firms and state-owned enterprises show stronger responses to policy support (0.312 and 0.278, respectively, p < 0.01). Regional development levels significantly moderate the effectiveness of policy implementation. Conclusions: The study provides empirical evidence for the differential effects of policy support and risk factors on digital transformation across various firm characteristics. The findings suggest the need for differentiated policy approaches considering firm size, ownership structure, and regional development levels. Implications: Policy makers should develop targeted support mechanisms addressing specific challenges faced by different types of firms, while considering regional disparities in digital transformation capabilities.

Examining Truth Regimes Reveals How Local Communities View Flooding and River Management in the Lower Missouri River Basin, USA.

Riverine flooding is increasing in frequency and intensity, requiring river management agencies to consider new approaches to working with communities on flood mitigation planning. Communication and information sharing between agencies and communities is complex, and mistrust and misinformation arise quickly when communities perceive that they are excluded from planning. Subsequently, riverfront community members create narratives that can be examined as truth regimes-truths created and repeated that indicate how flooding and its causes are understood, represented, and discussed within their communities-to explain why flooding occurs in their area. To better understand community perceptions of river management related to repeated flooding, we employed a qualitative methodology of semi-structured interviews with 112 community members in 3 communities on the Missouri River, USA. Discourse analysis of the interviews revealed three dominant truth regimes that shape perceptions of river management in these communities: (1) upstream reservoir releases are driven by recreational aims, such as fishing and boating within reservoirs, instead of downstream flood control; (2) endangered species protection surpasses other river values and flood management; and (3) river navigation for commerce is no longer prioritized. For environmental managers, understanding the truth regimes circulating within local affected communities can help moderate mistrust of and frustration with governing bodies, guide project messaging to disarm false truth regimes, and improve the communication of river science, management options and policy implementation.

Heterogeneous fertility reponses to the two-child policy: growth-induced domestic migration and income effect

ABSTRACT The deteriorating demographic structure in China has already invalidated its one-child policy ineffective. However, smoothing the ripple effects generated by this policy will require more comprehensive population policies. This context led to the introduction of the two-child policy in China. This paper examines the effects of the two-child policy by observing the regions that were previously subject to the one-child rule. The findings indicate that a geographic mismatch between people’s willingness to have children and household income has resulted in an uneven distribution of birth rates following the implementation of the two-child policy, with higher birth rates concentrated in rural areas experiencing rapid urbanization. As the Chinese economy progresses towards a higher level of urbanization, population policies aimed at encouraging larger families will become less effective, as fertility norms will have permanently altered in tandem with the rising costs of urban living. With more affluent populations less likely to have more than one child, understanding how to increase fertility rates in demographic groups that have not fully transitioned to the advanced urban sector will be crucial for developing effective population growth policies.

An exploration of sociopolitical grief

ABSTRACT Grief is most commonly understood as an individual response to the death of a loved one. However, this view of grief is highly individualistic and does not incorporate the complexity of the grief experience as a response to many different types of losses. Grief may be individually and/or collectively experienced. It may also be present not just after the death of a loved one, but due to the ‘death’ of deeply held values, ideals, and identities that originate in social and/or structural spheres. A unique form of grief that has significant relevance to current world events is sociopolitical grief, which occurs in losses that result from the implementation of political policies, laws, organisational norms, and social messaging that have a profound impact upon specific individuals and groups. In this article, the concept of sociopolitical grief will be explored from many different perspectives, along with the unique implications for losses that originate at the governmental, structural, and/or social levels.