Public Infrastructure Services Research Articles

A Smithian analysis of the Colombian economic growth

Statistical analyses show that, after controlling for the accumulation of productive factors, the joint effect of the diversification of manufacturing inputs and the urban population purchasing power has a positive and significant impact on the Colombian economic growth. Furthermore, there is statistical evidence that shortages or deficiencies of public infrastructure and public services, as well as the violations of property rights diminish economic growth. These results are consistent with the Smithian vision of economic development.

A process model for bricolage-based resource co-management for a resource-constrained government IT project

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which central government in resource-constrained environments collaborates with local government to utilize the available resources at hand to set up 300 Digital Opportunity Centers (DOCs) in 168 remote areas in Taiwan through co-management to bricolage new resources and new capabilities, gradually bridging the urban-rural digital divide to co-create values for local development. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopted an in-depth case study. The authors selected Taiwan’s DOC, the largest public information service infrastructure project in Taiwan, to explore issues related to bricolage-based resource co-management. Findings – From the integrating relevant literature, the generic process of bricolage-based resource co-management can be inferred to consist of four major steps. Applying this body of knowledge as a theoretical lens to analyze the case of Taiwan’s DOC, a process model of bricolage-based resource co-management is inductively derived to address the research questions. Research limitations/implications – A common criticism of this methodology is its lack of generalizability since a case study cannot prove itself in a statistical sense. Practical implications – This study is significant in that it provides a comprehensive and empirically supported framework. The authors hope that practitioners who face resource constraints when conducting large-scale IT projects can use the process model developed in this study as a detailed roadmap to identify the most appropriate actions and steps to undertake. Originality/value – This study provides an empirically grounded framework that contributes toward addressing the lack of empirical studies in bricolage-based, resource co-management research.

Competition and switching in public service markets: Can they reduce inequalities?

AbstractRegulatory reforms to public infrastructure services across European Union (EU) countries were aimed at increasing consumer welfare by introducing competition and choice into service markets. However, empirical evaluations have questioned whether these reforms have benefitted all consumers, suggesting that vulnerable groups of service users (especially those with lower levels of formal education), might be locked into poorly performing services. We assess the relationship between the level of competition in electricity and fixed telephony markets in EU countries and evaluate the affordability of these services for different socio‐educational layers. Our findings show that – although in countries where there is a relatively high frequency of switching, inequalities between socio‐educational groups are smaller and eventually disappear – competition as such does not play a part. These results suggest that demand‐side regulation that successfully enables consumer switching has the potential to equalize social welfare, thereby reflecting a possible convergence of regulatory instruments and the central aims of the welfare state in this context.

Proactive Customer Education, Customer Retention, and Demand for Technology Support: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Do service provider efforts to educate customers influence customer outcomes? We analyze the outcome of a field experiment executed by a major public cloud infrastructure services provider in 2011. Out of 2,673 customers who adopted the service during the experiment, 366 received a service intervention: an engagement through which the provider offered initial guidance on how to use basic features of the service. Before execution, it was unclear if this proactive customer education would have positive or negative effects on customer retention and demand for technology support. We show the treatment reduces by half the number of customers who churn from the service during the first week. Further, treated customers ask 19.55% fewer questions during the first week of their tenure than the controls. Although the treatment’s effects decay within one week, we show that such proactive customer education can have significant economic benefits for the provider. In particular, we find that treated customers increase their accumulated usage of the service by 46.57% in the eight months after sign-up. Finally, we provide evidence that the effects of the treatment are strongest among customers who have less experience with the provider.

Reducing Disaster Exacerbated Non-Communicable Diseases Through Public Health Infrastructure Resilience: Perspectives of Australian Disaster Service Providers.

Background: The exposure of people and infrastructure to flood and storm related disasters across the world is increasing faster than vulnerability is decreasing. For people with non-communicable diseases this presents a significant risk as traditionally the focus of disaster management systems has been on immediate trauma and communicable diseases. This focus must now be expanded to include the management of non-communicable diseases because these conditions are generating the bulk of ill health, disability and premature death around the globe. When public health service infrastructure is destroyed or damaged access to treatment and care is severely jeopardised, resulting in an increased risk of non-communicable disease exacerbation or even death. This research proposes disaster responders, coordinators and government officials are vital assets to mitigate and eventually prevent these problems from being exacerbated during a disaster. This is due to their role in supporting the public health service infrastructure required to maximise treatment and care for people with non-communicable diseases. By focusing on the disaster cycle as a template, and on mitigation and prevention phases in particular, these actions and activities performed by disaster service responders will lead to overall improved preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation phases.Methods: Data were collected via 32 interviews and one focus group (eight participants) between March 2014 and August 2015 (total of 40 participants). The research was conducted in the State of Queensland, Australia, with disaster service providers. The analysis included the phases of: organizing data; data description; data classification; and interpretation.Results: The research found a relationship between the impact of a disaster on public health service infrastructure, and increased health risks for people with non-communicable diseases. Mitigation strategies were described for all phases of the disaster cycle impacting public health service infrastructure. Specific measures include: increasing the use of telemedicine; preplanning with medical suppliers; effective town planning; health professionals visiting evacuation centers; evacuation centers having power for medical equipment; hubs for treatment and care after a disaster; evacuation of high risk people prior to disaster; mapping people at risk by non-communicable disease; and a mechanism for sharing information between agencies. A common theme from the participants was that having accurate and easily accessible data on people with non-communicable diseases would allow disaster service providers to adequately prepare for and respond to a disaster.Conclusions: Disaster service providers can play a vital role in reducing the risk of disaster exacerbated non-communicable diseases through public health service infrastructure resilience. They are often employed in communities where disasters occur and are therefore best-placed to lead implementation of the mitigation strategies identified in this research. To sustainably implement the mitigation strategies they will need to become integrated into effective performance and monitoring of the disaster response and health sector during non-disaster periods. For this to occur, the strategies should be integrated into business and strategic plans. Achieving this will help implement the Sendia Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and, most importantly, help protect the health of people with non-communicable diseases before, during and after a disaster.

Ethical Public Service Infrastructure: Problems of Formation

The article describes the basic elements of an ethical infrastructure that manifest themselves as mechanisms regulating the relationship between public servants and the public, being the part of professional activities. Ethics for public servants is defined as the system of regulations of conduct, procedure and rules, and relationships and principles of public-service relationship that is most appropriate set of deeply understood and concretized norms of morality inherent in this society. According to the authors, the main problem of a civil servant professional ethics is the fact that its activities must meet not only the Constitution of Ukraine and current legislation, but also moral principles and norms.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN RUSSIA AS A FACTOR IN THE FORMATION OF AN INNOVATIVE ECONOMY

Institute of public-private partnership in the Russian Fede-ration is currently in its infancy and improvement by adapting international experience of cooperation between business and the state to domestic political-economic model, with its view of legal and regulatory features. The significance of this subject due to the international experience of the past decade suggests that a well-formed structure with the use of public-private partnerships to solve problems in the field of infrastructure and provision of public services, which is important for Russia because of the vast territory and low population density. Objective: To develop practical recommendations on the use of trans-promising forms of public-private partnerships in the innovation economy of Russia. Methodology: The development problems using various methodological approaches, including dialectical approach to the study of various phenomena and laws of development of socio-economic relations in the conditions of market economy; a set of techniques and methods of scientific knowledge of socio-economic phenomena and processes, among them – grouping method, comparison and synthesis, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, the system analysis. Conclusion: The article shows the main directions of development of public-private partnership in the Russian Federation. Practical recommendations on the use of advanced forms of public-private partnerships in innovation economy

From Security to Assurance in the Cloud

The cloud computing paradigm has become a mainstream solution for the deployment of business processes and applications. In the public cloud vision, infrastructure, platform, and software services are provisioned to tenants (i.e., customers and service providers) on a pay-as-you-go basis. Cloud tenants can use cloud resources at lower prices, and higher performance and flexibility, than traditional on-premises resources, without having to care about infrastructure management. Still, cloud tenants remain concerned with the cloud’s level of service and the nonfunctional properties their applications can count on. In the last few years, the research community has been focusing on the nonfunctional aspects of the cloud paradigm, among which cloud security stands out. Several approaches to security have been described and summarized in general surveys on cloud security techniques. The survey in this article focuses on the interface between cloud security and cloud security assurance. First, we provide an overview of the state of the art on cloud security. Then, we introduce the notion of cloud security assurance and analyze its growing impact on cloud security approaches. Finally, we present some recommendations for the development of next-generation cloud security and assurance solutions.

Public Infrastructure Services in the European Union: Challenges for Territorial Cohesion

Clifton J., Díaz-Fuentes D. and Fernández-Gutiérrez M. Public infrastructure services in the European Union: challenges for territorial cohesion, Regional Studies. Territorial cohesion has emerged as an important objective for European Union authorities, particularly since the Treaty of Lisbon. One important strand of territorial cohesion is citizen access to affordable public infrastructure services. While place of residence may influence use of services, insufficient evidence exists as to whether residence may constitute a disadvantage to citizens as regards service use. This paper assesses this by contrasting citizens' stated and revealed preferences for services in three large countries. Residence frequently conditions expenditure on public infrastructure services and satisfaction with service accessibility and affordability, disadvantaging residents in some territories, posing challenges for territorial cohesion.

Ideological Anachronism Involving Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs: Lessons From the Indiana HIV Outbreak.

Ideological Anachronism Involving Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs: Lessons From the Indiana HIV Outbreak.

A study of the effect of a high-speed rail station on spatial variations in housing price based on the hedonic model

High-speed rail is a large-scale form of public infrastructure that delivers obvious public benefits and economic externalities. The effects of high-speed rail on housing prices are significant, generating positive effects such as increased accessibility between cities as well as negative impacts such as noise pollution. The development of housing projects and urban spaces that surround high-speed rail stations can be improved by scientifically examining the effects of high-speed rail stations on housing prices. In examining the Beijing high-speed rail station, this study develops a hedonic model to study the effects of a high-speed rail station on housing prices at varying geographical spatial ranges. Research shows that greater accessibility between cities, increased investment attractiveness, and an expansion of public service infrastructure results from the establishment of high-speed rail stations, which in turn positively affects housing prices. However, traffic congestion, electromagnetic radiation pollution, noise, and higher crime rates negatively affect housing prices. Spatial variations in housing prices result from the combined effects of positive and negative impacts. From the research result that housing price increases with an decline in distance between houses and high-speed rail stations within (0.891 km, 11.704 km) by the influence of high-speed rail station, and thus we recommend that residential land-transferring fee premiums resulting from high-speed rail station construction should be dedicated to the construction of affordable housing. In addition, housing price declines with an decline in distance between houses and high-speed rail stations within (0.475 km, 0.891 km), and thus regarding negative impacts of high-speed rail stations on housing prices, we recommend that compensation be made available to homeowners residing in affected regions. While land use intensities and urban space layouts should be considered during the planning of high-speed rail stations.

Kinerja Pelayanan Sarana Umum di Kawasan Permukiman Terpadu Panakukang Mas Kota Makassar Berdasarkan Pendapat Masyarakat Pengguna

Dengan kedudukan kawasan Panakukang Mas sebagai pusat pelayanan permukiman terpadu, dapat menciptakan masalah perkotaan yang mendasar yaitu ketersediaan sarana umum yang terbatas dan berkualitas sesuai dengan dinamika kebutuhan masyarakat dengan penyelenggaraan tata pelayanan publik yang baik. Penelitian menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan analisis deskriptif ketersediaan sarana umum dan analisis skoring indeks kepuasan masyarakat terhadap pelayanan sarana umum. Teknik pengumpulan data melalui observasi dan kuesioner kepada masyarakat penghuni kawasan permukiman terpadu Panakukang Mas, dan telaah dokumen yang diharapkan dapat memberikan gambaran kinerja pelayanan dan penyediaan sarana umum di Panakukang Mas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kinerja pelayanan sarana umum kawasan permukiman terpadu kawasan Panakukang Mas berdasarkan masyarakat pengguna atau responden rata-rata berada pada nilai indeks kepuasan masyarakat kinerja pelayanan 62,51 - 81,25 atau baik. Kualitas layanan sarana umum di pemukiman terpadu Panakukang Mas meningkat dengan kinerja yang baik dan fokus pada lokasi dan jarak ke sarana umum. Pengukuran kinerja menunjukkan peningkatan kualitas dalam menjalankan layanan publik berdasarkan kebutuhan penyediaan sarana umum dan standar pelayanan publik.Kata kunci: kinerja pelayanan, sarana umum

Pengaruh Pelebaran Jalan terhadap Pemanfaatan Ruang Koridor Jalan Mertoyudan Kabupaten Magelang

Kawasan perkotaan Mertoyudan merupakan kawasan yang berfungsi sebagai kawasan strategis pertumbuhan ekonomi Kabupaten Magelang. Berbatasan langsung dengan Kota Magelang serta didukung aksesibilitas yang tinggi menyebabkan kawasan ini tumbuh cukup pesat. Tahun 2010 dilakukan kegiatan pelebaran jalan koridor jalan Mertoyudan untuk meningkatkan aksesibilitas wilayah yang berdampak pada pertumbuhan kawasan perkotaan Mertoyudan. Permasalahan muncul ketika pertumbuhan sepanjang koridor tidak memperhatikan kebijakan dan peraturan yang berlaku sehingga menyebabkan terjadinya perubahan guna lahan serta intensitas pemanfaatannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh pelebaran jalan terhadap pemanfaatan ruang dilihat dari perubahan guna lahan sebelum dan setelah kegiatan pelebaran jalan sedangkan intensitas pemanfaatan dilihat dari Koefisien Dasar Bangunan ( KDB ) , Koefisien Lantai Bangunan ( KLB ) dan Garis Sempadan Bangunan ( GSB ) . Pendekatan penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif . Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa pelebaran jalan berpengaruh terhadap perubahan pemanfaatan ruang, dibuktikan dengan perubahan luasan penggunaan lahan dan pertambahan bangunan di sepanjang koridor jalan tahun 2009 dan 2014. Hal tersebut dikuatkan oleh hubungan antara lebar jalan dengan KDB, KLB dan GSB bangunan di sepanjang koridor j alan yang menunjukkan korelasi cukup kuat.Kata kunci: pelebaran jalan, perubahan guna lahan, intensitas pemanfaatan bangunan

ANÁLISIS SOCIOECONÓMICO Y POTENCIALIDADES ECOTURÍSTICAS EN LA CIÉNAGA LA CAIMANERA

This article is the result of the investigation Caimanera: a world of opportunities through ecotourism whose objective was to conduct a socio-economic analysis of households in the Swamp Caimanera Covenas municipality, department of Sucre Colombia, and ecotourism potential. It is based on the analytical empirical paradigm, with quantitative approach, its design is not of the experimental type applied and descriptive level, the population consisted of 137 households, the sample was 98 households, the sampling process was probabilistic (simple random sampling). The research techniques used were: the survey and direct observation. The results show a lack of physical infrastructure which is evident in the satisfaction of basic needs: education, health, housing, drinking water, basic sanitation and additionally a job with little chance of entering the labor market, albeit in possession of a high ecotourism potential represented by the presence of basins, pipes, streams and marshes, standing Basin Swamp Caimanera, with an area of 430 hectares. Inadequate and deficient public services infrastructure hampers the use of ecotourism as a potential development of the community.

Residential clustering and spatial access to public services in Shanghai

Commercialization of housing markets has significantly transformed the residential space in Chinese cities. However, few studies have examined social–spatial stratification of residential communities in relation to public services accessibility. This study explores how residential communities are stratified by housing prices and how such spatial clustering is associated with disparities in public service accessibility in Shanghai, China. The results demonstrate significant disparities between the central city and outer suburbs in housing prices and accessibility to public service infrastructure. The uneven process of urbanization and fragmented local government structure might have contributed to the concentration patterns and disparities in public service provision.

Build, Operate and Transfer (bot) Contract and Its Models from a Sharī‛ah Perspective

The build, operate and transfer (bot) contract is a new means of project and construction financing, which includes public-private partnership. Many countries are considering the bot contract as a mode of financing for construction projects as all citizens need public infrastructure services. This article is an attempt to describe various modes, structures and arrangements of bot and shed light on possible Sharī‛ah issues to demonstrate that bot is a Sharī‛ah-compliant type of financing.

Amey employees go to work with a smile

Purpose – The paper aims to observe how the well-being program at public-service infrastructure provider Amey is doing much more than reducing sickness absence; it is helping employees to be happier and more resilient. Design/methodology/approach – It examines the reasons for the well-being program, the form it takes and the results it has achieved. Findings – It reveals that in a recent Kingston University survey, 81 per cent of Amey people reported that they were frequently engaged at work. Sickness absence has dropped from 9.5 days a year to 7.5 days, creating a significant financial saving. Practical implications – It argues that Amey’s commitment to its employees’ well-being and development has helped it to establish a reputation as an employer of choice, which in turn helps it to continue to attract and retain talent. Social implications – It explains how a particular focus has been on encouraging male employees to reveal and work on their emotional problems. Originality/value – It demonstrates how the well-being program has facilitated the process of organizational change at Amey.

Do federal and state audits increase compliance with a grant program to improve municipal infrastructure (AUDIT study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundPoor governance and accountability compromise young democracies’ efforts to provide public services critical for human development, including water, sanitation, health, and education. Evidence shows that accountability agencies like superior audit institutions can reduce corruption and waste in federal grant programs financing service infrastructure. However, little is know about their effect on compliance with grant reporting and resource allocation requirements, or about the causal mechanisms. This study protocol for an exploratory randomized controlled trial tests the hypothesis that federal and state audits increase compliance with a federal grant program to improve municipal service infrastructure serving marginalized households.Methods/DesignThe AUDIT study is a block randomized, controlled, three-arm parallel group exploratory trial. A convenience sample of 5 municipalities in each of 17 states in Mexico (n=85) were block randomized to be audited by federal auditors (n=17), by state auditors (n=17), and a control condition outside the annual program of audits (n=51) in a 1:1:3 ratio. Replicable and verifiable randomization was performed using publicly available lottery numbers. Audited municipalities were included in the national program of audits and received standard audits on their use of federal public service infrastructure grants. Municipalities receiving moderate levels of grant transfers were recruited, as these were outside the auditing sampling frame – and hence audit program – or had negligible probabilities of ever being audited. The primary outcome measures capture compliance with the grant program and markers for the causal mechanisms, including deterrence and information effects. Secondary outcome measure include differences in audit reports across federal and state auditors, and measures like career concerns, political promotions, and political clientelism capturing synergistic effects with municipal accountability systems. The survey firm and research assistants assessing outcomes were blind to treatment status.DiscussionThis study will improve our understanding of local accountability systems for public service delivery in the 17 states under study, and may have downstream policy implications. The study design also demonstrates the use of verifiable and replicable randomization, and of sequentially partitioned hypotheses to reduce the Type I error rate in multiple hypothesis tests.Trial registrationControlled-trials.com Identifier ISRCTN22381841: Date registered 02/11/2012Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-912) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Por Nuestros Ojos: understanding social determinants of health through the eyes of youth.

Understanding the social determinants underlying health disparities benefits from a mixed-methods, participatory research approach. Photovoice was used in a research project seeking to identify and validate existing data and models used to address socio-spatial determinants of health in at-risk neighborhoods. High-risk neighborhoods were identified using geospatial models of pre-identified social determinants of health. Students living within these neighborhoods were trained in Photovoice, and asked to take pictures of elements that influence their neighborhood's health and to create narratives explaining the photographs. Students took 300 photographs showing elements that they perceived affected community health. Negative factors included poor pedestrian access, inadequate property maintenance, pollution, and evidence of gangs, criminal activity, and vagrancy. Positive features included public service infrastructure and outdoor recreation. Photovoice data confirmed and contextualized the geospatial models while building community awareness and capacity. Photovoice can be a useful research tool for building community capacity and validating quantitative data describing social determinants of health.

Influences of urban characteristics on cycling: Experiences of four cities

Cycling level was investigated for four cities with similar land area namely, Beijing, Berlin, Canberra and Singapore. Four characteristics namely, urban structure, transport policy, public transport service and cycling infrastructure, as affecting cycling activities in urban areas were compared. A cycling line was devised and used to position and compare each city by the stages of cycling level. Cycling level in Berlin is comparatively high and remains on an increasing trend which is at the promising stage. Recommendations are given for the other three cities (Beijing, Canberra and Singapore) that could improve cycling level.