Policy Interest Research Articles

A “return of the state” in energy transitions? The making of a hydrogen economy in the European Union

Abstract A shifting paradigm in economic policy is re-asserting the centrality of the state for the transformative overhaul of global energy systems. Amid a burgeoning interest in state policy, however, contemporary scholarly discussions often lack a comprehensive examination of the state itself. We address this gap in economic geography and international political economy by investigating the nuanced role of the state in structuring global industries, with a focus on the emerging hydrogen economy in the European Union (EU). Further elaborating Horner’s typology of state roles in global production networks (GPN) with Jessop’s strategic-relational approach, this article replaces the states-markets dualism with concrete accounts of the co-constitutive relationships binding together the evolution of the “actually existing” State-GPN Nexus. Accordingly, we identify three underdeveloped analytical entry points, concerning (1) the conjoint interrogation of state roles, (2) finance, and (3) the historical regulatory form of the state. This conceptualization is then applied to three case studies on the developing hydrogen economy in Europe. Despite the prominent role of state capital, initiatives such as EU state aid schemes, the European Hydrogen Bank, and the spatialized industrial policy of Hydrogen Valleys reveal the prioritization of de-risking strategies through public-private partnerships more or less directly designed by democratically unaccountable industry groups.

EU as a Trade Power: Adjusting Instruments of Foreign Economic Policy

The focus of this study is aimed at the foreign economic policy of the European Union and the areas of its implementation. The article is based on a comprehensive approach to the concept of EU foreign economic policy as a set of instruments combining trade and investment policies of the EU. The study evaluates the communitarization of the main directions of the EU’s foreign economic policy. As a result, it is concluded that the exclusive competence of the supranational bodies of the Union is partially extended to investment policy. Considering that the paradigm of realism is taken as the basis for the study, the subject of the article is to assess the role of the EU’s foreign economic policy in the realization of the Union’s foreign policy interests. The authors believe that the European Union as a “trade power”, seeks not only to achieve economic benefits, but also to ensure that its trading partners meet a number of regulatory and value requirements. Taking into account the transformation of the world order, the need for the European Union to strengthen its own political subjectivity and economic competitiveness is increasing. This leads to the expansion of “defensive” measures in trade policy (sanctions mechanism for non-compliance with the provisions on sustainable development in trade agreements) and investment policy (mechanism for controlling foreign direct investments). As a result, it strengthens the normative and value content of EU foreign economic policy on one hand and make it more protectionist on the other hand. The authors of the article conclude that by means of foreign economic policy, the European Union, as a “trading force”, seeks to create and maintain an international trade order based on rules that are beneficial to the EU.

Transformation of Pacific Regions in the Second Half of the 20th Century – Beginning of the 21st Century

The paper is devoted to transformation of international political regions in the Pacific. In the late 1960s to early 1970s the formation of the Indo-Pacific started as a consequences of US military and political activities and the intensification of bipolar confrontation. But an emphasis on military aspects at the expense of the economic ones as well as US foreign policy planning based on classical, smaller regions, weakened the unity of the Indo-Pacific space. The end of the Cold War and economic growth in East Asia turned Indian Ocen region into a periphery. Then, for 25 years, economic architecture of the Asian-Pacific, rather than its military-political framework, was at the core of US foreign policy interests. India, Japan, and China used the appeared vacuum to shape a common Indo-Pacific space in accordance with their perspectives. All three had economic foundations and military-political superstructures. In the 2010s, the USA reacted to China’s growth and suggested their own politically motivated version of the Indo-Pacific region, based on political-military presence and interaction later solidifying this in official strategies. So, the formation of the Indo-Pacific is related to space-based objective mutual interests and military and politically motivated regions.

Are private banks more sensitive to changes in reserve requirements? Evidence from an emerging market

PurposeThis article explores the effects of monetary policy rates and interest rate structures on bank profitability.Design/methodology/approachWe studied 65 Indian commercial banks over time, including economic cycles, consolidation and the Great Financial Crisis. We categorized commercial banks by ownership (public, private or foreign) and predicted how they will react to monetary policy changes. We employed the instrumental variable estimate approach and panel Granger causality tests to give evidence of the direction of causation in the monetary policy and bank performance nexus.FindingsPrivate and international banks, we believe, are more sensitive to changes in reserve requirements because they are more effective at maintaining statutory reserves. Private and international banks are more susceptible to repo rate fluctuations than state banks. In contrast, public banks are more sensitive to bank rates because they are more likely than private and international banks to use the bank rate window of accommodation.Originality/valueWe studied the impact of monetary policy rates on bank performance within the banking-dominated financial system of an emerging economy – a focus that has not been previously explored. There has been little research into the connection between monetary policy rates and bank performance in emerging markets, notably in India.

Machine Learning and Zombie Firms Classification

We investigate whether the machine learning technique helps to identify zombie firms. We also analyze the differences in zombie indicators proposed by previous research.revious studies successfully classified firms as zombies by focusing on whether they receive subsidized credits. However, when the policy interest rate is low, it becomes more challenging to identify zombies, because low-interest payments by firms can be caused by lenders’ support to zombies and by low policy interest rates. According to our machine learning approach, we show that we can predict zombie firms from financial information that is publicly available even when the policy interest rate is low. We also find that the financial accounts important for predicting zombie firms differ for every zombie indicator, suggesting that these indicators reflect different aspects of firms’ status.

지역관광추진조직(DMO)에 대한 이해관계자 인식 유형화 연구 - 정책설계자, 공급자, 참여자를 중심으로

As the public interest in tourism grows and travel becomes more common, local tourism is also gaining importance. In particular, revitalizing local tourism by attracting more living population has received much attention as a solution to the depopulation issue, and resultingly, policy interest and support for local tourism have also become greater. Now there are more intermediate organizations and destination management organizations (DMOs) that focus on attracting tourists and managing tourist destinations. Focusing on policy designers, suppliers, and DMO participants, this study examines and categorizes the DMO stakeholders' perceptions of DMO's roles and suggests future directions and plans for the development of Korean-style DMOs. To this end, Q-methodology, a type of factor analysis, that can objectively capture individuals' subjective views on social phenomena, was used. Results suggested that based on stakeholders' perceptions of DMO's functions and features, DMOs can be classified into the following four types: ‘local tourism leader type,' ‘governance-oriented type,' ‘marketing-oriented type,' and ‘nurture and support type., It was also found that DMOs need time to establish governance and consensus and it is important to differentiate the positioning of DMOs by region. Results further revealed that a DMO is not only a leader who manages local tourism but also an intermediate support organization focusing on governance. The empirical finding of this study can be used to set the practical directions of Korean-style DMOs and to identify, position, and foster the DMO types that fit the characteristics of different regions.

정책집행이론에 근거한 직업계고 학점제 진단 - 마이스터고 학점제 담당자 인식을 중심으로

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the level of policy awareness among vocational high school credit system policy implementers and derive improvement measures. Methods: This study utilized survey data on policy perceptions of the high school credit system from forty-four head teachers at Meister High Schools, supplemented by in-depth telephone interviews with five participants to explore the reasons behind the survey results. The data were analyzed using statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, t-tests, Borich needs assessment, and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) with the help of SPSS 23.0 software. Results: The analysis of the perception of vocational high school credit system administrators revealed that in the policy goal factors, perception of the policy-making process emerged as the most urgently needed factor for improvement. In executing agency factors, perception of member capabilities emerged as the most urgently needed factor for improvement. In execution management factors, perception of performance goals emerged as the most urgently needed factor for improvement. In policy environment factors, perception of interest and support emerged as the most urgently needed factor for improvement. Conclusion: To enhance the effectiveness of the credit system in vocational high schools, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of tasks related to the credit system, implement a more flexible curriculum, and increase students' understanding and interest in the credit system policies.

Inflation Targeting with an Optimal Nonlinear Monetary Rule—The Case Study of Colombia

This article examines whether Banco de la República (Banrep), Colombia’s central bank, has operated under a dual-regime policy framework—one for recessionary periods and another for periods of economic overheating—since adopting inflation targeting (IT) from Q4 2000 to Q4 2019. We modify the canonical New Keynesian inflation model to accommodate an optimal nonlinear monetary rule aligned with a two-regime policy framework. Using a LSTAR model estimated over the study period, with the output gap lagged by three periods as the transition variable, we identify two distinct monetary regimes. Our findings reveal that the smooth transitions between regimes were driven by shifts in Banrep’s preferences related to its loss function, alongside adjustments in the parameters of the aggregate demand and supply curves within the Colombian economy. Notably, we observe that a modified Taylor principle is not met in either identified monetary regime. This suggests that, in this context, IT has been a successful policy framework even without requiring the policy interest rate to respond aggressively to inflation gaps, as the Taylor principle would otherwise dictate.

Trends in food and nutrition behaviours, knowledge and attitudes among youth in six countries: findings from the 2019-2021 International Food Policy Study Youth Surveys.

This commentary highlights the release of findings now available in the report International Food Policy Study Youth Surveys: Summary of Findings 2019-2021. The survey data described in this commentary consist of repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted annually beginning in 2019. Online surveys were conducted in 2019 to 2021 among respondents living in Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the USA. Survey respondents were youth aged 10-17 years in 2019 (n 12 031), 2020 (n 11 108) and 2021 (n 10 459). The report described in this commentary summarises findings on food and nutrition behaviours, attitudes and knowledge among youth, including their diet sources and patterns, school nutrition environments, food security, diet intentions, weight perceptions and weight loss behaviours, sugary drink perceptions, awareness of public education and mass media campaigns, perceptions of food labels and exposure to food and beverage marketing. Results from the IFPS Youth surveys provide important insights into key policies of global interest, including front-of-package nutrition labelling, levies on sugary beverages and restrictions on marketing unhealthy food and beverages to children. As policymakers continue to seek effective strategies to improve adolescent health outcomes, ongoing cross-country monitoring of food and nutrition-related indicators, such as the data from the International Food Policy Study, will be critical in assessing dietary trends and evaluating upcoming policies.

Trends in Enforcement of National Comprehensive Cancer Network Financial Conflict of Interest Policy.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) financial conflict of interest (FCOI) policy sets dollar maximums for panelists, but violations may occur. We studied NCCN Guidelines panelists for the 20 most prevalent cancers, 2013-2022. We included panelists with ≥1 calendar year of service ("current panelists") and those who began service during the study period ("new panelists"); NCCN FCOI policy limits ($20,000 from any single company or $50,000 across all companies) applies to both groups. Industry payments were obtained from Open Payments and mapped manually via NPI. We calculated industry payments received, excluding the same payment categories as does NCCN (research, meals, travel & lodging). We estimated whether panelists received payments exceeding NCCN limits ("violation"). As a proxy for whether panelists were subsequently disqualified as stipulated, we measured continued service for ≥1 calendar year ("retention") subsequent to an estimated violation. We analyzed retention before and after 2016, due to increased scrutiny on NCCN FCOI in 2016. The annual proportion of current panelists with estimated violations ranged between 0.5% (2020) and 5.8% (2016). Among panelists who did vs did not have violations, retention was 83.6% vs 88.5% during 2014-15 (OR 0.55, 95%CI: 0.26-1.31) and 46.6% vs 89.4% during 2017-2020 (OR 0.10, 95%CI: 0.06-0.17). Among new panelists, 2.7% (5/185) had prior-year violations during 2014-15, as did 5.5% (18/330) during 2017-21. Each year, a small portion of panelists receive industry payments exceeding NCCN limits. Since 2016, the likelihood that such panelists will continue to serve has decreased substantially.

Asymmetric Impact of Exchange Rate on Balance of Payment in Nigeria

Maintaining a stable exchange rate is key to attaining macroeconomic objectives for any emerging economy like Nigeria. Thus, an unstable exchange rate may lead to economic instability and uncertainty in the investment climate of an economy like Nigeria. Over time Nigeria has been faced with unstable exchange rates. persistent economic challenges and an unfavourable balance of payments. In the pursuit of these macroeconomic goals, Nigeria has implemented various exchange rate regimes, including fixed, floating, and a unified exchange rate system. However, these goals remain a challenge to the economy. It is against this backdrop that this study employed the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimation technique to analyze the asymmetric impact of exchange rate fluctuations on Nigeria’s balance of payments. Additionally, it considers the impact of control variables such as real interest rates, gross fixed capital formation, trade openness, trade policies, financial deepening, natural resources, and trade balance. Findings from this study revealed that the exchange rate has an asymmetric impact on the balance of payments in Nigeria. Other control variables were statistically insignificant but contributed positively to the balance of payment in Nigeria. Therefore, the research suggested that to improve the balance of payments of the country, Nigeria’s monetary authorities; the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), should implement exchange rate policies that will promote domestic investment and encourage export activities. Interest rate policies that would encourage domestic investments are necessary. This can be achieved through reducing the monetary policy rate which is a driver of banks’ interest rate. This will further encourage loanable funds for investment, hence a favourable balance of payment in Nigeria. Furthermore, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources should leverage international oil prices to enhance export activities and strengthen the balance of payments.

Central bank balance sheets under foreign exchange accumulation: insights from endogenous money theory and monetary policy implementation

Abstract This article proposes to draw on the recent experiences of many central banks of advanced economies and the evolution of their operational frameworks in the new context of increased domestic liquidity when analyzing the operations of central banks that engage in exchange rate management and increase their official foreign reserves as a result. It argues that the theoretical literature on endogenous money set within the context of an open economy with an exchange rate objective needs to be amended to account for such developments, as it would be entirely possible for a central bank that accumulates substantial foreign reserves to adopt a floor system and thus maintain a near-perfect control over its policy interest rate without the need for any compensating measure. On the grounds of the reverse causation argument, establishing a direct link between the foreign reserves and the monetary base should not entail any quantitative effect on other economic variables.

Critical policy studies in dialogue with multispecies perspectives: should it become a more-than-human endeavor?

ABSTRACT This forum contribution aims to start a conversation about how multispecies perspectives can broaden the scope of critical policy studies. By addressing three key questions – who speaks, whom do we speak for, and how do we speak for those who are silenced – it examines the power dynamics, ethical considerations, and representational challenges in advocating for nonhuman entities in governance. I discuss frameworks that recognize the rights and agency of nonhuman entities, such as animals, ecosystems, and rivers, with a particular focus on epistemic justice and the inclusion of Indigenous cosmologies that acknowledge the interconnectedness of humans and nonhumans. I also consider the methodological and ethical challenges, including issues of power, representation and informed consent, and explore alternative approaches such as multispecies ethnography to better include nonhuman perspectives. I conclude with three key strategies that can broaden the scope of critical policy studies: making visible silences concerning nonhuman entities in policy; rethinking representation of nonhuman entities in policy; and overcoming silences in representation by adopting reflexive, inclusive methodologies that account for nonhuman interests in policy.

Dynamics of the natural rate of interest and monetary policy

This paper studies the relation between the monetary policy rate and the natural rate of interest in the euro area and the United States across the periods of conventional monetary policy (CMP) and unconventional monetary policy (UMP). The unobserved time series of the natural rate of interest is estimated at the monthly frequency at which the relation between the policy rate and the natural rate is evaluated. The results indicate that the dynamics of the policy rate was positively and significantly related to the variations in the natural rate during the CMP period. The relation twisted during the UMP period.

Implementation of Policy for Supervision and Control of Sales of Alcoholic Beverages in Jayapura City, Papua Province

The circulation of alcoholic drinks in Jayapura City is increasingly widespread and can even be said to be out of control. Alcoholic drinks are openly sold in shophouses adjacent to housing or residential areas of community members. The implementation of the Regional Regulation on Alcoholic Drinks in Jayapura City has not been successful in lowering the amount of alcoholic beverages in circulation. The purpose of this study is to determine what factors impede the implementation of the policy for supervision and control of sales of alcoholic beverages in Jayapura City, Papua Province, as well as issues pertaining to its implementation throughout the city. Descriptive and qualitative research methods were employed in this study. Techniques for documentation, interviews, and observation were used to gather data. The findings of the study demonstrate that this strategy may be effective provided it is backed by thorough and unambiguous policy text as well as an environment that is favorable to its implementation, such as agency cooperation, community involvement, and enough funding. However, a number of obstacles prevent theJayapura City's application of this policy, including economic and political interests that support the sustainability of the alcohol industry, a community culture that considers alcohol to be part of social tradition, as well as limited human resources and budget for effective supervision. Apart from that, the lack of understanding and consistency of implementing officials in enforcing policies is also a big challenge

Ethical research in cash-transfer programs

ABSTRACT The number of cash-transfer programs around the world, as academic experiments and government policies, has grown multi-fold in the last few years, generating great political, policy, and academic interest. However, little is explicitly discussed around the ethical implications of conducting research on such programs. This paper draws on learnings from conducting qualitative research in a universal basic income pilot in urban slums in India over 24 months. It highlights the unique challenges of power and positionality, informed consent, and respect and sensitivity that arise when researching cash-transfer projects. It argues for a recognition of the unique research dynamics engendered by such programs, and the need for more embedded, long-term, relational, reflexive, and trauma-informed research practices to navigate them. The paper concludes by reflecting on the role of university ethics boards in building a more robust and supportive ethical literacy and oversight infrastructure for research capacity and responsible research.

Therapy for Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Driver Alterations: ASCO Living Guideline, Version 2024.2.

Living guidelines are developed for selected topic areas with rapidly evolving evidence that drives frequent change in recommended clinical practice. Living guidelines are updated on a regular schedule by a standing expert panel that systematically reviews the health literature on a continuous basis, as described in the ASCO Guidelines Methodology Manual. ASCO Living Guidelines follow the ASCO Conflict of Interest Policy Implementation for Clinical Practice Guidelines. Living Guidelines and updates are not intended to substitute for independent professional judgment of the treating clinician and do not account for individual variation among patients. See the Appendix for disclaimers and other important information (Appendix 1 and Appendix 2, online only). Updates are published regularly and can be found at https://ascopubs.org/nsclc-da-living-guideline.

A gestalt shift? Reflections from researchers turned elected representatives on the real-world use of evidence in policy making

This practice piece will present a comparative reflection of how the use of evidence in policy looks when viewed from the outside, as a researcher, with how evidence use is experienced when working as a policy maker. The three authors are unusual in sharing an experience of studying evidence use in policy before becoming elected politicians who are involved in policy making and who have therefore gained a very different, more direct experience of how evidence is used in policy-making settings. Synhaeve has studied evidence use in secure youth care and is an elected councillor and was elected national member of parliament for the Democrats 66 Party in the Netherlands, McMahon has studied evidence use in public health and is an elected councillor for the Labour Party in England, while Heap has studied evidence use in social security policy and is an elected councillor for the Green Party in Scotland. The practice piece will consider to what extent their perspectives on evidence use in policy have shifted as they have moved from researcher to political representative and policy maker, and will consider to what extent these experiences have been shaped by their substantive policy interests and the political systems in which each is operating. It will conclude by summarising the collective insights that have emerged for the three authors as they have shifted to viewing evidence use from the perspective of an insider, who is using evidence in making policy, rather than an outsider, producing evidence with a view to influencing policy.

A critical review of literature and a conceptual framework for organising and researching urban health and community health services in low- and middle-income countries.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are rapidly urbanizing, and in response to this, there is an expansion in the body of scholarship and significant policy interest in urban healthcare provision. The idea and the reality of 'urban advantage' has meant that health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has disproportionately focused on health and healthcare provision in rural contexts and is yet to sufficiently engage with urban health as actively. We contend that this research and practice can benefit from a more explicit engagement with the rich conceptual understandings that have emerged in other disciplines around the urban condition. Our critical review included publications from four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Social Sciences Citation Index) and two CHW resource hubs. We draw upon scholarship anchored in sociology to unpack the nature and features of the urban condition; we use these theoretical insights to critically review the literature on urban community health worker programs, as a case to reflect on community health practice and urban health research in LMIC contexts. Through this analysis, we delineate key features of the urban - such as heterogeneity, secondary spaces and ties, size and density, visibility and anonymity, precarious work and living conditions, crime, and insecurity, and specifically the social location of the urban CHWs and present their implications for community health practice. We propose a conceptual framework for a distinct imagination of the urban to guide health research and practice in urban health and community health programs in the LMIC context. The framework will enable researchers and practitioners to better engage with what entails a 'community' and a 'community health program' in urban contexts.

Recent cohorts aging into Medicare use more counseling and psychotherapy than past cohorts.

Despite recent policy interest in improving access to mental health care in Medicare, little is known about how demand for care will change among the Medicare population as newer cohorts age into the program. We documented the growing rate of counseling and psychotherapy use in the decade prior to turning age 65years among subsequent cohorts aging into Medicare. We characterized how this growth varied across demographic groups, income levels, and mental and physical health status. We present trends using data from the 2002-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey HouseholdComponent. We categorized individuals into 5-year Medicare entry cohorts based on the year they turned age 65 years. Our outcome was an indicator for having a visit for counseling or psychotherapy in a given year. Employing a probit regression, we characterized visit rates across 5-year cohorts, presenting both unadjusted and covariate-adjusted results. We ran stratified regressions by subpopulations. Our sample included 54,666 individuals aged 55to 64 years, weighted to be nationally representative. The cohort aging into Medicare between 2021 and 2025 was 88% (95% CI, 57%-119%) more likely to have a counseling or psychotherapy visit between the ages of 55 and 64years compared with the cohort that gained eligibility for Medicare between 2006 and 2010 at the same age. Growth in utilization was pervasive across many subpopulations. Our findings suggest that more recent cohorts aging into Medicare seek significantly more counseling and psychotherapy than prior cohorts. This increased utilization is pervasive across subpopulations, suggesting that plans must prepare to accommodate the needs of new Medicare entrants.