Public Policy Issues Research Articles

Концептуальні засади формування державної політики відкритої науки та роль громадянського суспільства в її становленні

Problem setting. In the countries of the European Research Area, the formation of public policies of Open Science is actively taking place. For Ukraine, the relevance of public open science policy is determined by Ukraine's involvement in the European Research Area which is impossible without synchronizing the formation of new and adaptation of existing public policies, including in the field of science. This causes the need for research in the field of open science, and in particular the existing practices of formation and implementation of relevant public policies in the European and world research areas.Recent research and publications analysis. General issues of open science and open data are often considered in the publications of such Ukrainian and foreign scientists as T. Yaroshenko, I. Kuchma, O. Chmyr, Mirowski P. and others. At the same time, it should be noted that the issue of public policy of open science is rarely considered by Ukrainian scientists.The paper objective is theoretical substantiation of conceptual bases of establishment and realization of the public open science policy.The paper main body. The article considers the establishment of the open science paradigm as the initial stage of formation of the relevant policy. The role and place of such a civil society institution as professional associations in this process is demonstrated. The analysis of three main open science documents— Declaration of Budapest Open Access Initiative, Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing and Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities — was carried out. The existing problems on the way to ensuring openness in the scientific sphere are considered, as well as possible ways to solve them. The role of the Internet and one of the types of e-infrastructures, namely repositories, in the actual implementation of open science policy is noted.Conclusions of the research. In the formation of the paradigm of open science and, as a consequence, the policy of open science at the national and international levels, a key role was played by such an institution of civil society as professional associations. It was the efforts of professional activists (scientists, publishers, librarians, grant providers, employees of higher education institutions, etc.) for the first time formulated the basic definitions of open science and open access as part of it, outlined areas of action and examples of necessary measures new knowledge. Such dissemination of knowledge cannot be considered effective if the information does not become widely and permanently available to all stakeholders.Given that research is an interdependent process in which new work is largely based on the results of previous scientific advances, the first documents relating to open science addressed first the issue of access to academic texts and scientific data, and the second - to cultural heritage sites, etc. The issue of access to the means of obtaining a scientific result (for example, to research infrastructures) at the initial stage of formation of the paradigm of open science was not considered. In addition, the issue of openness of science can be considered both universal (BIVD Declaration, Berlin Declaration) and professional (Bethesda statement, which emphasized the biomedical field of research).The driving force for the emergence and evolution of the paradigm of open science was the development of total internetization in the early 2000s, which allowed to obtain any information, including scientific, from anywhere on the planet under two conditions: access to the Internet and the absence of artificial barriers to accessing the information itself.The main obstacles in the way, according to the three documents discussed above, are financial (compensation for publishers who switch to open access, which mainly fell on the shoulders of the authors of publications), legal (copyright) and technical (network access). Internet and the availability of online repositories with unified algorithms). Accordingly, the way out of the situation is to provide reasonable benefits and funds for the publication of academic texts and research data in open access to research estimates, references to copyright only to ensure proper recognition, and the creation of an appropriate system of online repositories and public access. to the Internet.An essential common feature of the three documents discussed above is the emphasis on the need to consider and take into account the content and substantive contribution of the published academic text, rather than the prestige or reputation of the publication in which it is published, when evaluating a scientist or considering his candidacy. promotion. In addition, it is important to treat the publication of works in open access as proof of community service (by analogy with the attitude to volunteering in other areas of life).Activists who laid the foundations of the open science paradigm relied primarily not on the centralized formulation and implementation of relevant policies (as was the case in 2010), but on educational activities among stakeholders on the benefits of publishing their research results in open access.

Breaking the Silent Treatment


 
 
 The dramatic revelations of the #MeToo movement have ex- posed the extent to which workplace sexual harassment is en- demic and concealed across different industries. #MeToo has also shed light on the use of non-disclosure agreements (“NDAs”) by harassers to conceal their pattern of repeated mis- conduct. While there has been strong public condemnation of NDAs in the wake of the #MeToo movement, there is limited case law on the question of whether contracts such as NDAs are legally enforceable when used to settle claims of sexual har- assment that do not amount to criminal conduct.
 While federal and state legislatures continue to debate the benefits of legislating against such agreements, this Note ana- lyzes the viability of the common law public policy analysis to hold such NDAs unenforceable. Given that most states do not have specific statutes directly addressing sexual harassment NDAs, courts should look to a broad range of state legislation as relevant in considering the public policy interests counseling toward finding such NDAs unenforceable. Accordingly, this Note analyzes public policy considerations derived from three types of state law: restrictions on the use of NDAs in instances of sexual harassment, prohibitions of workplace harassment, and limitations on the concealment of public hazards.
 
 
 
 Even in states without any such legislation, this Note urges state courts, when determining whether to enforce sexual har- assment NDAs, to more actively weigh the benefits of enforcing the contractual will of private parties against potential harms to the public welfare. Workplace sexual harassment is a public policy issue that is worsened by the continued use of NDAs. In concealing workplace sexual misconduct, NDAs prevent soci- ety, through private and state actors, from addressing the problem itself and threaten public safety and welfare by allow- ing offenders to potentially harm future workers. Without NDAs as protection, companies will be exposed to reputational damage and potential shareholder litigation when sexual har- assment news becomes public knowledge. Indeed, this threat of future reputational harm could be an effective way to encour- age corporations to change their internal policies relating to workplace misconduct.
 
 
 
 
 

Etapa pós-licenciamento no Estado de Minas Gerais: enfoque na SUPRAM TMAP

A Política Nacional do Meio Ambiente de 1981 é um importante marco na inclusão das questões ambientais nas políticas públicas brasileiras e prevê o licenciamento ambiental, constituído pelas Licenças Prévia, de Instalação e Operação, sendo, a renovação desta última uma possibilidade de acompanhamento do desempenho ambiental de um empreendimento. O estado de Minas Gerais foi pioneiro no uso do automonitoramento no acompanhamento ambiental de atividades, no entanto, existem muitas lacunas nessa prática que comprometem o processo de Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (AIA). Assim, com este trabalho objetivou avaliar as medidas de controle e monitoramento ambiental na etapa de pós-licenciamento. Para isso, analisou-se oito processos de abatedouro e treze de laticínio, geridos pela Superintendência Regional de Meio Ambiental Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba (Supram TMAP). As variáveis analisadas foram dividas em Variáveis Técnicas do Empreendimento (VTEs), que avaliaram o empreendimento, e Variáveis Técnicas do Processo (VTPs) que analisaram o órgão ambiental. Os resultados obtidos foram, quando possível, comparados com os obtidos na Supram Sul de Minas, para verificar influências da regionalização do órgão ambiental. A análise dos dados demonstrou que na Supram TMAP as varáveis ligadas a formalização do processo de licenciamento apresentaram classificação satisfatória, porém para as ligadas à etapa de pós-licenciamento, este resultado não se repetiu. Na compação o cenário encontrado foi similar. Entretanto, destacam-se pontos de divergência de procedimentos, apontando para a falta de padronização entre as Suprams.

Current Societal Views about Sustainable Wildlife Management and Conservation: A Survey of College Students in China.

Simple SummaryWildlife conservation and management has become a very complex public policy issue in China as concerns about animal welfare and empathy for animals have emerged, especially in the younger generation. Science-based conservation policy and strategy that focus on sustainable management are perceived as less irrelevant today and can often be in conflict with emerging attitudes and values. Sustainable wildlife management adheres to the conservation concept of effective combination of species conservation and sustainable utilization, with an aim to establish a long-acting species conservation model that promotes all-round development of ecology, society, and economy, and has traditionally formed the basis of conservation management. This study designed a semi-structured questionnaire, which aimed to assess attitudes of Chinese college students towards sustainable wildlife management and wildlife conservation, and investigate the role of demographic and other characteristics on attitude. From October 2018 to April 2019, nine universities (including “Double First-Class” universities, first-tier universities, second-tier universities), and four three-year colleges in China were selected as survey sites, where face-to-face interviews were conducted among students. The results show that students broadly support the sustainable wildlife management but not in issues relating to “Animal Welfare and Rights” and “Trophy Hunting”. Students with lowest support for the theory and practice of sustainable wildlife management are vegetarians, freshmen, and those who have taken environmental protection electives in their educational program.Wildlife conservation and management has become a very complex public policy issue in China as concerns over on animal welfare and empathy for animals have grown. Science-based conservation strategies that are oriented toward sustainable wildlife management (SWM) are under threat as these new attitudes and values emerge and take hold. This study accesses the attitudes of college students towards SWM and wildlife conservation, and investigates demographic characteristics influencing their attitudes in China, a country that is traditionally associated with consumptive use of wildlife and SWM, but where new ideas about wildlife conservation are emerging. From October 2018 to April 2019, nine universities (including “Double First-Class” universities, first-tier universities, second-tier universities), and four three-year colleges in China were selected as survey locations, and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1991 students. A total of 1977 questionnaires were recovered, of which 1739 were valid, with a completion rate of 88%. A Likert seven-point scale method was used to score students’ attitudes, and a classification and regression tree (CART) was used to analyze whether their attitudes were affected by their demographic characteristics. The results show that although students are broadly supportive of the theory of SWM, some are deeply antagonistic about on SWM on issues that arouse strong emotions such as “Animal Welfare and Rights” and “Trophy Hunting”. Demographic characteristics of students affect their degree of support for the SWM with support for SWM lower among vegetarians, freshmen, and students who have taken environmental protection electives. This research suggests that the theory of SWM requires to be refreshed and adapted to appeal to the younger generation of Chinese students, with SWM principles integrated into the environmental education programs of universities and three-year colleges. More attention should also be attached to media publicity by the government about wildlife conservation so as to enhance awareness of the need for SWM.

The Refusal of Supreme Court Nominees to Discuss Legal, Political, and Social Issues at Senate Confirmation Hearings: Ethical Obligation or Survival Strategy?

This essay surveys the refusal of Supreme Court nominees to discuss judicial philosophy, past Court decisions, and personal views on legal, political, and social issues with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The review begins in 1955 with the nomination of John Marshall Harlan and concludes with the Senate confirmation hearing testimony of Justices Neal Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Nominees decline to answer questions concerning public policy and substantive legal issues under the guise of “judicial ethics” restrictions including (1) judicial oaths of office, (2) codes of judicial conduct, and (3) judicial disqualification rules. An examination of these purported justifications discloses that they lack a sound legal basis. The essay concludes by suggesting that nominees who refuse to discuss judicial philosophy, past Court decisions, constitutional issues, and public policy should either advance a new, legally defensible rationale or simply admit that their silence is necessary to avoid losing confirmation votes.

Governing the house: an ethnographic approach (introduction)

This dossier is the outcome of an experiment. We challenged a group of scholars who have conducted long-term ethnographic research in various national settings (Brazil, Chile, France, Haiti, and Morocco) to take a new look at their material from the perspective of the government of the house. This project was conceived long before the Covid-19 pandemic propelled the government of the house into a key issue in public debates and policies at a global scale. “Stay-at-home” (Fique em casa / Rest...

Silk Road: A Journal of Eurasian Development – Prospectus and Purpose

This editorial explains the beginnings of the journal Silk Road commencing around the time of the 2019 Tashkent agreement and the journal’s future scope and ambitions. As nations within Central Asia look towards greater cooperation the editors articulate the journal’s focus on public policy issues and how Silk Road intends to offer a long-held need for scholarly perspectives and analysis from within the region itself. It explains how the journal’s name links to the past of the region, to evoke its ‘inclusive’ connotations as a space of exchange, travel and ‘ambiguity’ but also is ‘intended to evoke a dynamic forward look towards the future’. Embodying a broad and interdisciplinary focus in its scope, it is hoped that the journal’s name also paves the way to its long term mission of encouraging ‘creativity among researchers working’ on policy in the region and to ‘prompt them both to analyse current public policy and to imagine its future’.

Políticas de educación superior en Argentina. Entre la Covid-19 y la deuda externa heredada

En Argentina, después de doce años de gobiernos progresistas (del 2003 al 2015) que colocaron a la educación superior como un derecho humano y un bien público social con logros verificables en la expansión del acceso, la inclusión y jerarquización de la investigación científica, le sucedió el gobierno de la Alianza Cambiemos (2015-2019). Las políticas públicas, especialmente en la educación superior, se caracterizaron por el desmantelamiento/desmembramiento de las políticas del gobierno anterior, bajo el argumento de que “los pobres no van a la universidad”. El propósito de este artículo es identificar algunos lineamientos de la agenda en construcción del gobierno que asumió en diciembre de 2019, conjeturando que la tendencia se orienta a recuperar y profundizar los avances alcanzados en los gobiernos anteriores progresistas, en un contexto altamente complejo por la pandemia y la renegociación de la deuda externa que postergaron otros temas de las políticas públicas.

Geographical dimensions of airbnb in mountain areas: The case of Andorra

Abstract With Airbnb becoming an important issue in both tourism and public policy, scholarly research on Airbnb has increased over the past several years. The role of Airbnb varies according to the features and expectations of the host territory. It can either be considered as a complement to an underdeveloped supply of tourist accommodation or as a potential competitor to traditional accommodation that has to be regulated. Although most of the research has been carried out in big cities, Airbnb activity is also present in smaller towns, resorts, rural and mountain areas. This article aims to analyse the Airbnb spatial distribution in a mountain destination (Andorra). Specifically, it is aimed at exploring whether there is a spatial correlation regarding the location of traditional accommodation. Clustering techniques are used to determine natural groups of urban settlements on the basis of the number of Airbnb listings and different types of traditional accommodation. The results pinpoint where Airbnb is concentrating its accommodation offer, as well as where both Airbnb listings and traditional accommodation are clustered. Our research sheds light on the distribution patterns of Airbnb in mountain areas and deepens knowledge on the influences of public policy strategies aimed at regulating the Airbnb phenomena.

Sustaining Treatment for Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior: Administrator and Stakeholder Perspectives Following Implementation.

This study examines administrator and stakeholder perspectives on factors influencing the sustainability of Problematic Sexual Behavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT). After initial implementation of PSB-CBT, qualitative interviews (N = 42) on the sustainability of services were conducted with treatment program administrators (n = 10) and community stakeholders (n = 32) from six sites across the USA. Interviewees discussed key facilitators and barriers for sustainability and identified the following factors as impacting the sustainability of PSB-CBT: public relations, policy, inter-agency collaboration, funding, and workforce issues. Results were overall consistent with the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment) model for implementation in public service sectors, but proposed modifications are also noted. Findings underscore the value of qualitative research in identifying best practices for sustaining valuable therapeutic interventions. The authors argue that future efforts to sustain evidence-based interventions, especially those dealing with sensitive topics around which misinformation and stigma are associated, should prioritize public relations (i.e., outreach, education) in addition to the intervention.

Residential segregation: The role of inequality and housing subsidies

Residential segregation is a key public policy issue that is driven by economic factors on the one side, and individual attitudes towards ethnic diversity on the other side. We assume a modeling framework that consists of a population of two ethnic groups, a rental market for each neighborhood, and household’s utility which depends on consumption and housing. Accounting for income disparities and heterogeneous preferences for living in ethnically diverse neighborhoods, we examine the residential segregation patterns that occur when households make their neighborhood choice by taking economic and diversity related aspects into account. The investigation reveals that ethnic income disparities and heterogeneous preferences are antagonistic forces such that a certain level of income stratification is the price for residential integration. In light of these findings, we discuss to which extent and under which conditions housing subsidy policies can favor residential integration.

Leaders' Future Orientation and Public Health Investment Intention: A Moderated Mediation Model of Self-Efficacy and Perceived Social Support.

Prior studies have investigated the issue of public health and health policy from economic, environmental, and healthcare perspectives. Research on public health from leaders’ perspective may also help to advance our knowledge about leaders’ perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions toward public health management. Therefore, this study is based on social ideal theory, social cognitive theory, and social trust theory to investigate the influence of leaders’ future orientation on public health investment intention with the mediating role of leaders’ self-efficacy and the moderating role of perceived social support. Using a structural equation modeling with a sample data of 381 leaders of government agencies in Vietnam, empirical results indicate that leaders’ future orientation has a positive influence on public health investment intention. Furthermore, self-efficacy is found to have a positive mediating effect in the relationship between leaders’ future orientation and public health investment intention. In addition, perceived social support positively moderates the link between leaders’ future orientation and self-efficacy. Perceived social support also moderates the indirect effect of leaders’ future orientation on public health investment intention through self-efficacy. On one hand, this study contributes to theoretical research by clarifying the effects of leaders’ perceptions, and cognitive and behavioral intentions toward public health investment. Findings of this study may have implications for researchers who may have interest in studying the issue of public health management from leaders’ viewpoints. On the other hand, this study contributes to practitioners since understanding how leaders’ characteristics affect public health investment will enhance the quality of policy makers’ decision-making in improving public health for citizens and society.

Family caregiving in an aging society: Key policy questions

Abstract An aging population, attended by an increase in chronic diseases and disability, together with decrements in health among the elderly, require considerable health care resources being expended on long-term care needs in the home environment at the community level. Increase in life expectancy, and more substantially, the disproportionate increment within the very oldest age groups and in the number of elderly whose activities are limited by some sort of physical or cognitive disability have significantly increased family care needs. Such demographic shift and socioeconomic changes throughout the developed world are making elderly care an increasingly important public policy issue. Particularly, one of the principal foci of policy makers should be supporting and nurturing family care. This paper focuses on the case of Israel. Like many industrialized countries, Israel faces the challenge of caring for a growing number of vulnerable older people while advancing adequate policies to support both elderly and their informal caregivers. Currently, the demands for family caregivers has increased drastically, and, studies predict that the personal, social, and economic costs of caregiving, which have risen dramatically over the last three decades, will only continue to increase. This paper focuses on the extent to which current legislation supports primary informal caregivers in Israel. A review of the legislation and benefits has indicated that the aid supplied is limited mainly because their application is relevant only in extreme cases where the elderly need constant supervision or care in institutions. Their contribution to most elderly and their families is only partial. The rights afforded to the informal caregivers are relatively few, are limited and are all concentrated in the domain of occupational support, and this also in a restricted manner. Key message Family caregiving in an aging society: Key policy questions.

A Roof Over Their Heads: Housing Public Policies for Returning Inmates

Returning from prison can be a daunting experience and a difficult adjustment for anyone. Prisoner reentry programs are needed for public policies advocating for a new approach to an old problem: How do recently released inmates successfully reenter society once they have served their societal debt? There are tremendous obstacles to reentering society, yet housing is among the most pressing reentry problems to solve. In our research, we discuss and consider the public policy issue most pertinent to successful reentry, affordable, and available housing as a necessity for returning inmates. Housing is key to solving even a tiny part of a much bigger problem in criminal justice public policy circles: the public management of crime in America.

Subcontracting chain and workers’ participation in continuing vocational training: findings from the French, quantitative, linked employer–employee survey of training and career paths

This article discusses the correlation between cascading subcontracting and employees' participation in continuing vocational training. Based on a capability approach, it uses the French quantitative linked employer–employee survey on training and career paths (DEFIS) to question to what degree inter‐firm relations influence their employees’ training opportunities and processes. The results suggest cascading effects in training participation, considered from the angle of taking part both in training and training decision making. It addresses public policy issues arising from inequalities in employee participation with respect to the subcontracting relationship and thereby questions the liability of pure principal contractors.

Influence of chromatic and lighting on the visual environment of the elderly: A critical literature review

AbstractThe use of color and lighting as factors for adapting the housing of the elderly is tending to develop, in response to demographic data on the aging of the population and its impact on lifestyles. Adapting the environment for those over 60 years has become a national issue for public policy. So this article takes stock of the studies carried out on this issue. We have to review all the literature devoted to this subject, focusing on research products dealing with the color and light interaction in the indoor environment of seniors.

What is an Australian Job Worth?

AbstractThe value of a job is an important issue for management, human resources, law and public policy, yet we lack good empirical estimates of this value. This article presents a theoretical framework for valuing jobs and estimates the average economic value of an Australian job at approximately $104,000. However, judges awarding compensation for unfair dismissal under the Fair Work Act implicitly value a job at around $10,000. If the economic value estimate is correct then workers place a high value on keeping their job, which has important human resources management implications, such as worker commitment and risk‐taking.

Space-Borne Monitoring of NOx Emissions from Cement Kilns in South Korea

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the South Korean cement industry are investigated with remote-sensing measurements, surface observations, and in situ aircraft measurements. In the Yeongwol, Danyang, and Jecheon regions of central South Korea, six closely located cement factories produce 31 million tons of cement annually. Their impact on the regional environment has been a public-policy issue, but their pollutants have not been continuously monitored nor have emissions inventories been fully verified. Using a newly developed downscaling technique, remote-sensing analyses show that Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NO2 column densities over the cement kilns have more than twice the modeled concentrations, indicating that the kilns are one of the most dominant NOx emission point sources in South Korea. Observed NOx emissions are stronger in the spring, suggesting that these sources play an important role in the formation of surface ozone and secondary particulate matter. These emissions also slightly increased in recent years, even while most major South Korean cities posted a declining trend in NOx emissions. Photochemical models (during May to July 2015) demonstrate that emissions from the South Korean cement industry have significant environmental impacts, both on surface ozone (up to approximately 4 ppb) and PM2.5 (up to approximately 2 µg/m3).

Partisanship does not tell the full story: The complexities of public opinion and fracking in the United States

Although party affiliation is a strong predictor of differences in citizen opinion about a wide range of public policy issues, the picture is more complex for unconventional gas development (UGD) through hydraulic fracturing. Using data collected in Colorado (n = 390) around the time of the highly polarizing 2016 Presidential Election, we conduct a latent class analysis based on individual perceptions of the possible risks and benefits of UGD. Instead of finding attitudes polarized along party lines, citizens in Colorado parsimoniously cluster into three substantially sized groups that cannot be explained by party identification and sociodemographic variables. We also test the value of group membership by assessing association with individual voting behavior at the hypothetical ballot box using language from actual measures filed for placement onto the 2016 Statewide Ballot in Colorado. Results suggest that attitudes toward UGD may be better explained by perceptions of potential costs/disadvantages and benefits/advantages rather than traditional sociodemographic and political party variables. This suggests that understanding public opinion on fracking means moving beyond our traditional conceptualization of opinion formation, even in today’s politically polarized environment.

On Progressivity, Regressivity, and Proportionality: A Graphical Approach to the Teaching of the Income Tax Structure

Adopting the geometric concepts of a tangent line and a secant ray allows for determining the curvature (convex, concave, or linear) and the behavior of the marginal and average tax rates of an income increasing tax function. Such information helps to determine whether the tax function is progressive, regressive, or proportional, as well as the possibility that it pro-pends to equity in the distribution of the social tax burden. Thus, several issues of public policy can be rigorously analyzed specifying different income tax functions that satisfy determinate graphical shapes, circumventing the need to use the traditional approach of differential calculus.