Institutional Reforms Research Articles

The Ethicality of Welfare Crowdfunding in the Context of the Neoliberal Welfare State: A Rawlsian Perspective

Despite crowdfunding platforms’ growing involvement in financing welfare, related ethical issues have received little scholarly attention. To address this gap, we focus on GoFundMe, the leading welfare crowdfunding platform in the US, to examine whether it facilitates the establishment of a just society that democratizes access to funding. Informed by Rawls’s ethics, we conduct a comprehensive analysis, arguing that GoFundMe’s modus operandi merits criticism. We advance three interrelated arguments for why GoFundMe is morally problematic. First, it distributes information and primary goods unfairly, perpetuating inequalities that disadvantage the most vulnerable. Second, it uses narratives that may distract public attention from systemic flaws in welfare provision, potentially reducing social pressure for institutional reform. Third, its emphasis on individual choice and responsibility may contribute to momentum for neoliberal policymaking. We show why scholars, policymakers, and platforms should engage in debate about regulating welfare crowdfunding activities to improve their ethicality.

Negotiating with your mouth full: Intergovernmental negotiations between transparency and confidentiality

AbstractTransparency lies at the heart of canonical theories of international negotiations and institutions—yet it is rarely directly measured or explained. This paper explores the potential downsides of transparency reforms in intergovernmental negotiations and institutions. We argue that as formal international meetings open up to the public, negotiators face incentives to shift deliberations to more informal and opaque venues, especially for sensitive and domestically contested issues. To test when and why this occurs, we present new data on three decades of intergovernmental negotiations in the Council of the European Union (1990–2019), and in particular the use of informal breaks where no minutes are taken. We find that recourse to such breaks—especially at lunch time—has increased substantially, and that ministers often take these opportunities to discuss controversial topics. We deploy quantitative and qualitative analyses to show that variations in informal breaks correlate both with institutional enhancements to transparency and with specific concerns over antagonistic political mobilization at home, notably in the form of Euroscepticism. These findings challenge received positive and normative theories about transparency in international institutions, and contribute to the literature on informal governance, negotiation studies, EU politics, and the transnational democratic deficit.

External Debt and Economic Growth of BRICS Nations: How can BRICS Integration help them?

This study examines the relationship between external debt and economic growth in the BRICS countries. It explores how BRICS integration can aid these economies and newly joined countries in solving the debt problem. Using the latest panel data techniques and country experiences, we employed the panel mean group method (PMG) and interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) for South Africa, who joined in 2010. Results show a negative relationship between external debt and economic growth at the group level, with mixed results for individual countries. Using individual country experiences, valid implications are drawn for debt-stressed countries like Ethiopia and oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia. Integrating new member countries in BRICS can overhaul the existing system towards broader perspectives of reforms in global financial institutions. Integration into the BRICS association can benefit these countries through reforms in global financial institutions, fairer debt restructuring, joint investment projects, macroeconomic coordination, debt management knowledge sharing, innovative financing, and collective advocacy for debt relief to enhance stability and resilience.

Mental Health Experiences Among Undergraduate Nursing Students in a New Zealand Tertiary Institution: A Time for Change.

Nursing students in undergraduate programmes exhibit comparable, sometimes higher, levels of poor mental health and substance use compared to the general population; however, this area remains under-researched in New Zealand. The study involved 172 nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing programme at one tertiary institution in Auckland, New Zealand. Employing a mixed-methodology approach, a 29-question survey comprising both open and closed questions was administered to explore the students' experiences with mental health and substance use, as well as their access to support services. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 29 descriptive statistics, while a general inductive approach guided the qualitative analysis. A significant proportion of participants (75%) reported experiencing emotional distress during their studies, with anxiety being the most prevalent (78.5%). A smaller percentage disclosed substance use (8.1%) including excessive alcohol use, cannabis use, nicotine use, vaping cannabis and some refusal to reveal substance use. Surprisingly, less than 1% (n = 0.6) utilised institutional support services. Three qualitative themes were identified including emotional distress and associated effects, emotional and psychological impacts on nursing students' academic journey and tertiary support systems. The findings highlight the urgent need to address the mental health and addiction challenges experienced by nursing students, given their potential adverse effects on academic success and overall well-being. Urgent action is needed to integrate mental health training into the curriculum and provide faculty support. In this study, the underutilisation and inadequacy of institutional support services signal a need for institutional reforms to provide access and personalised mental health support to nursing students. Providing essential skills and support for student success contributes to the overall well-being of the nursing workforce.

Legal Liability, Institutional Environment and Audit Pricing: Insights from China’s Securities Law Revision

This study investigates the impact of China's revised Securities Law (2019) on the audit pricing strategies of A-share listed companies. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach and a sample of 26,057 firm-year observations from 2016 to 2022, we find that the new law led to a significant increase in audit fees, especially for non-state-owned enterprises and firms in regions with stronger legal institutions. We attribute these effects to the heightened legal liability and regulatory scrutiny faced by auditors under the new regime, which incentivizes them to enhance audit quality and charge higher risk premiums. Our results are robust to a series of sensitivity tests and alternative specifications. We conclude that the revised Securities Law has achieved its intended objectives of improving market transparency and investor protection but at the cost of higher compliance burdens for listed companies. Our findings have important implications for policymakers, regulators, and market participants in China and other emerging economies undergoing similar legal and institutional reforms.

Challenging the Promises of Institutional Reform to Protect Labor Rights in Bangladesh

Challenging the Promises of Institutional Reform to Protect Labor Rights in Bangladesh

The Treaty of Amsterdam – Institutional Reform and Innovation

The Treaty of Amsterdam – Institutional Reform and Innovation

10.A. Round table: Transforming public health systems at large scale: no pain, no gain

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic, acceleration of climate change, and geopolitical turmoil have triggered discussions about how public health systems in Europe need to transform to be adequately equipped for the so-called “permacrisis”. The challenges to policy makers, health institutions and health services have become so multifaceted, that single solutions from the health sector alone no longer work. Yet, despite the complexity, countries seek to get its own house in order whilst building on inter-sectoral and European approaches in parallel. Germany, Ireland, and Ukraine have all embarked upon ambitious public health services and institutional reforms, leading to transformative change in public health systems. WHO has been accompanying these reforms. The workshop will provide a platform to draw insights and lessons on transforming public health systems from all three countries, although their population size, their socioeconomic and political situation and their public health system design is so different. As the smallest of the three countries in population, Ireland created coherence and is aligning public health actors within “Healthy Ireland” and the Sláintecaire and the Crowe Horwath public health reforms. Germany’s “Pact for the Public Health Services” has been one of the greatest public health investment programs in Europe that was initiated following lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. And Ukraine has undertaken important legal steps to adopt a Public Health System Law, in the middle of a war of aggression on its territory. The workshop will exhibit the process of large-scale public health system transformation in each of the three countries. The purpose is to identify the enablers that make large scale system transformation possible and addressing some of the pains and gains. The workshop will have three parts. Part one consists of three presentations on large scale system reforms from each of the participating countries. Part two consists of a moderated Q&A session. Part three will focus on the synthesis of enablers for large scale public health system reforms through interaction with the workshop participants, using a digital white board. Key messages • Disruptive times can create enabling conditions for large scale public health system transformation. • Designing and implementing large scale public health system reforms is complex, requiring passion, resilience, and collaborative leadership.

Large scale public health system transformation: Ireland

Abstract Ireland has coped comparatively well with the COVID-19 pandemic when considering excess mortality. The reasons are likely complex and multifaceted, but it may be, in part, attributable to a comparatively young population and progress on indicators related to premature mortality and preventable mortality on chronic diseases and lifestyle risk factors. “Healthy Ireland” is a national framework in place since 2013 and utilizes a settings based approach to promote health and wellbeing in communities. It aims to improve collaboration between government, institutions, local communities, and individuals. Sláintecare is an all’party long-term health reform initiative developed in 2017 aimed at delivering the right care, at the right time, in the right place by the right team. In addition, in 2018 Ireland embarked on an ambitious public health reform programme with the implementation of the recommendations of the Crowe Horwath review of Public Health. While challenges exist, including access to services and waiting times, the governments has put in place initiatives to address these and is committed to, amongst other things, promo ting the continued integration of services across a variety of domains including primary to quaternary prevention. As Ireland began to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic it established “The Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group” to identify learnings from the public health components of the response, with a view towards strengthening public health and health protection generally and, specifically, future public health pandemic preparedness. The group, made up of national and international public health experts, submitted its final report in September 2023 which outlined a series of recommendations focused on potential improvements to public health policy, structures and governance. The WHO analysis of the Essential Public Health Functions provided complementary results. More work is now ahead to consider and implement these recommendations and foster institutional reforms including at the Health Services Executive, the Department of Health, and at the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

Practical Reforms in the Field of Copyright Protection in the Republic Of Uzbekistan and Their Promising Results

This article examines the ongoing efforts to enhance legal literacy, awareness, and the protection of intellectual property rights in Uzbekistan, focusing on the “Strategy for the Development of Intellectual Property in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2022-2026.” It highlights the significant legal reforms undertaken since the 2017-2021 development strategy, including the adoption of over a thousand laws aimed at fostering transparency, civil society engagement, and human rights protection. However, several challenges persist in the legal protection of intellectual property, such as inadequate public knowledge, weak integration of intellectual property in production processes, and insufficient coordination among relevant state bodies. The research explores how collective management of intellectual property rights, inspired by international models, can address these challenges. It also delves into the institutional reforms needed to ensure efficient legal protection, prevent counterfeit products, and promote the use of intellectual activity results in the economic and social sectors. The article concludes with recommendations for improving Uzbekistan’s intellectual property framework, increasing public engagement, and positioning intellectual property as a key driver of the country's socio-economic development.

Researching into Preventing Harmful Rent-Seeking Practices: Strategic Policy Interventions Required and Lessons Learnt for Asian Countries

The author of this work argues that rent-seeking occurs in a situation wherein a company or individual seeks special privileges from another party, often the government, but does not reciprocate back. Its examples are (a) license requirements for professions; (b) creating barriers to entry for new businesses, and (c) grants, subsidies, or tariff protection. In the language of economics, rent is defined as “wealth gained via questionable, often manipulative means”.A closer look at the theoretical perspective and review of related literature is indicative of the fact that identification (and practice) of policy-induced harmful rents have been resorted to in many firms and for various purposes. More specifically, the practice of rent-seeking model has been found to be resulting in both economic ‘gains’, and ‘losses’. The bottom-line is that there is a lack of scientific research evidence and published data on how national governments and donor agencies (from across the regions of the globe) have formulated and adopted rent-seeking approaches. The author of this research essay argues that in view of these contradictions and controversies, it is important for the academic and research community to seek answers to pertinent questions on potential advantages of rent-seeking approach. The questions that need to be debated and researched into are:a) what are the approaches to identify policy-induced harmful rent-seeking practices? b) what are their respective strengths and weaknesses? c) how governments and donors have used them in different perspectives? The author, in this paper, aims to seek answer to the above prominent and key questions in the context of countries in the Asian region. In terms of research methodology, secondary data (that are largely ‘quantitative’ in nature) have been used and method of data analysis is descriptive (involving “desk-based research” approach). Data sources have been quoted in the text (including under references). The paper briefly concludes that the rent-seeking activity might be negative, but it might preserve a “growth-enhancing rent”. Even if the rent-seeking activity has a positive value, the “outcome-rent” might be negative. Governments, thus, need to be more transparent in adopting rent-seeking practices; people know how laws and regulations are produced. This renewed critical and multidisciplinary approach has important policy implications for the debates over institutional reform in rent-seeking practices for economies in Asia and the Pacific.In conclusion, the author says that the analysis of rents and rent-seeking practices has been primarily dominated by an economic point of view. This perspective places emphasis on assessing rents in accordance with their impact on “efficiency and economic growth”. As against political approach to rent-seeking (which assumes the negative impact of rents and their potential to derive from corrupt activities), monetary policy experts and economists classify rents as “growth-retarding” (or “growth-enhancing”).In terms of implications of harmful rent-seeking practices for monetary policy, the author of this work argues that the rent-seeking framework has to be extended by incorporating policy insights and strategies developed by stakeholders in the governmental sector and institutional economists if it is to explain the anomalous role played by rent-seeking in Asian countries. This mechanism includes detailed analysis of economy in the broader context in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia (including the Indian sub-continent).

Redefining Science for Sustainable Development the Nexus of Endogenous Knowledge Systems and Scientific Paradigms

This article explores the integration of Western scientific paradigms and endogenous knowledge systems as a pathway to more inclusive and sustainable development. While Western science, rooted in positivism and empiricism, has driven technological progress, it often overlooks the socio-cultural and ecological contexts specific to local communities, particularly in the Global South. Endogenous knowledge, with its holistic and relational approaches, provides valuable insights for sustainable development. Through a theoretical and conceptual analysis, this paper advocates for epistemological pluralism, which fosters the co-production of knowledge across disciplines and cultures. The study also examines the decolonisation of science, addressing the historical marginalisation of indigenous knowledge and proposing institutional reforms that validate these systems in mainstream development practices. It highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and participatory research to ensure local communities play an active role in shaping sustainable development strategies. The findings emphasise the need for policy shifts, interdisciplinary research, and institutional changes to ensure equitable inclusion of indigenous knowledge in global sustainability agendas, offering a more culturally sensitive and resilient approach to development.

Institutions as a determinant of Foreign Direct Investment inflows into the Southern African Development Community

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Southern Africa has been one of the drivers of infrastructure development and economic growth especially in sectors such as mining, agriculture, energy, information, and communications technology (ICT). However, although important economic and institutional reforms have been undertaken by some SADC countries to encourage the inflow of FDI--particularly in low-income countries in the region, the flow of FDI to SADC member states remains low and concentrated in few countries and sectors and is still largely attracted to natural resources sectors. This paper examines the institutions and infrastructure development in the promotion of FDI inflows into the SADC region. Institutions and infrastructure development typically have a positive effect on FDI inflows through their impact on the investment climate. The paper uses panel data econometric analysis with OLS and PCSE to ascertain the impact of governance institutions on FDI inflows into the region. The results obtained reveal that the quality of governance, together with the level of economic development, market size, and openness to trade with the external world play a critical role in attracting FDI into SADC countries. There is however a need to control rampant corruption and reduce the political instability common in some of the countries of the region.

Impunity in Nepal from a Social Protection Lens

This study aims to promote stakeholder solutions to the current state of affairs in Nepal, which has prevailed since the end of the armed conflict in 2006. The study argues that delayed justice in the cases of grave human rights violations that occurred during the armed conflict between the Maoist party and the Government of Nepal is closely associated with the accountability of the then-conflicting parties. The lack of the legislature’s engagement and the Government’s reluctance to address the recommendations of the Supreme Court on transitional justice-related instruments have prolonged the end of impunity and guaranteed social protection of the victims’ families. Upon reviewing the literature on human rights violations, this study concluded that accountability had been impeded by the fragmented conflicting parties, who ignored the victims' and their families’ concerns about justice and social protection. The Government, on the other hand, neglected truth seeking and therefore failed to ensure justice, including in the provision of reparations and standardised institutional reform. The current state of the country’s transitional justice law and unaccountability of state agencies cannot be improved without a collaborative approach and a consultative process with state, non-state actors, victims and their families, as well as the international community.

From the economic to the pandemic crisis: The impact upon the EU constitutional architecture—Introduction to the Symposium

Abstract The European Union has evolved significantly, shaped by crises as foreseen by Jean Monnet, who predicted that Europe would be “forged in crises.” Over recent decades, it has faced challenges such as the euro crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, rule-of-law backsliding, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts. These crises have tested and transformed the European Union’s constitutional framework, prompting institutional reforms and innovations in governance without necessarily revising the Treaties. This Symposium explores the European Union’s constitutional evolution through the lens of crises. Key reforms include the reinforcement of budgetary discipline during the euro crisis and the shift toward a stimulus-based approach in response to the pandemic, culminating in the NextGenerationEU framework. Contributors analyze the model of economic governance that has evolved from the convergence of both the economic and pandemic crises, the changing role of regions, the judiciary’s evolving oversight functions and its limits, and rule of law conditionality as a distinctive form of governance. The Symposium will delve into the post-crisis governance landscape of the European Union from a constitutional perspective, focusing on the structural adjustments implemented and their enduring impact. Despite these changes, the European Union has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, forging new governance structures that reflect its deepening constitutional identity. In the end, the Symposium provides a comprehensive examination of these shifts, highlighting how the European Union continues to integrate and innovate in response to ongoing challenges.

An Analysis of the Modi Government's "Global South" Strategy

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Modi government has continually increased its focus and investment in the "Global South," driven by considerations of changes in the international landscape, India's role as a major power, national security concerns, and domestic factors for economic and social development. The Modi administration has ramped up strategic investments in countries within the "Global South," enhancing cooperation and promoting development among these nations, while also advocating for reforms in international multilateral cooperation institutions. This has elevated India's international influence and improved its diplomatic environment. However, India's hegemonic tendencies toward its neighbors are apparent, which may constrain China's proactive activities within the "Global South." As a natural member of the "Global South," China should maintain strategic stability and collaborate with India to safeguard the common interests of this group.

Enhancing combat readiness via evidence-based pedagogical innovations in National Guard of Ukraine officer training

This study examines the effectiveness of innovative pedagogical conditions in enhancing combat readiness among future officers of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU). Utilising a quasi-experimental design, we implemented and evaluated a set of pedagogical interventions integrating recent combat experience into officer training at the Kyiv Institute of the National Guard of Ukraine. The study involved 74 trainee officers divided into experimental (n=35) and control (n=39) groups. Results demonstrated significant improvements in the experimental group across functional, psychological, and reflective components of combat readiness, with increases of 43%, 25%, and 32%, respectively, in high-level readiness. These findings underscore the importance of rapidly integrating field experiences into military education, offering valuable insights for enhancing officer training in dynamic conflict environments. The study contributes to the broader understanding of adaptive military education strategies and provides a framework for implementing evidence-based training reforms in military institutions globally.

Institutional quality as a catalyst for structural transformation in African countries: What role does foreign direct investment play?

The socio-economic development of African countries is strongly influenced by the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and the quality of these countries' institutions. This paper examines the role played by the quality of these countries' institutions as a pillar in the process of structural transformation (ST) in African countries considering the relationship between FDI and institutional quality. This led to the completion of a thorough econometric analysis that estimated two Panel Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models and concentrated on the complex relationships between the study's variables. The econometric results obtained showed a negative and significant effect of FDI on the quality of institutions in the long term as reflected by two dependent variables: the degree of freedom from corruption and the degree of freedom of ownership. Thus, the results show the major constraints African countries faced in terms of property rights, corruption and the implementation of good governance practices, underscoring the need for radical institutional reform to foster these crucial dimensions of socio-economic functioning. In addition, the study’s result demonstrated the crucial role that institutional quality within the African continent can play in the success of its ST process. Indeed, the positive impact of institutional quality on FDI attractiveness and the implementation of effective development policies could foster an environment conducive to achieve inclusive growth. Finally, the results of the study can help decision-makers define the policies essential to the success of the ST process in African countries.

Does centralization of tax administration regulate tax competition? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

This study investigates how the centralization of tax administration affects tax competition among local governments in China, using the merger of the State Tax Bureau and Local Tax Bureau in 2018 as a quasi-natural experiment. Our findings demonstrate that the centralization of tax administration effectively curtails the degree of tax competition among local governments, resulting in an increase in the tax burden for enterprises previously managed by the local tax bureaus. Mechanism tests indicate that the reform significantly increases the tax burden on enterprises in regions with high levels of tax competition, and overall reduces the divergence of tax burden among enterprises, restraining cross-regional investments driven by tax avoidance. Additionally, we find that after the means of tax competition among local governments are curtailed, competition continues through fiscal expenditure. Our study provides evidence from China on curbing inter-governmental tax competition from the perspective of administrative institutional reform.

The Impact of Federal Fiscal Rules on Debt: Insights from the European Union Countries

AbstractThis study analyzes the impact of federal fiscal rules on government debt in European Union countries. We describe the growth and institutional reforms of fiscal rules in European Union countries and conduct an empirical analysis to examine their impact on central government debt to draw comparative implications for federal fiscal rules in the United States. Our empirical results suggest that more stringent expenditure rules can reduce central or federal government debt relative to GDP, while other types of fiscal rules are found to be insignificant. We also find that certain design and structural features of fiscal rules are more important than others. Our findings offer timely and pertinent policy implications for the mounting federal budget and debt challenges of the United States.