Levels Of Government Research Articles

Analysis of the Selection of River Transportation Modes that are Integrated with Land Transportation in the City of Banjarmasin

The city of Banjarmasin, as the center of economic growth in South Kalimantan, faces significant challenges in terms of mobility. The development of river public transportation is one of the alternatives to overcome urban transportation problems. This study has significance in providing a holistic view of the factors that need to be considered in the selection of river transportation modes that are integrated with land transportation. The study was conducted in the areas of North Alalak Village and Sungai Lulut Village. The data processing method in this study involves testing the completeness of primary and secondary data to describe field conditions, then analyzing the preferences for choosing transportation modes using the AHP method which includes steps such as defining problems, creating hierarchical structures, conducting pairs comparisons, calculating eigenvalues and testing consistency, while the data analysis stage includes the calculation of consistency ratios, consistency vector, average of entries (Zmax) and Consistency Index (CI) to determine the final preference of each alternative. The analysis of priority weights between criteria is calculated to find out the order of the most influential criteria in selecting transportation modes. The results of the study can provide guidance for decision-making at the level of governments, transport companies and communities in developing and adopting more efficient transport systems. This research is expected to be useful for the author to expand insights, for the government and operators as input in the development of integrated transportation, and for the general public as a reference for more efficient modes of transportation.

The soft channels of policy diffusion: Insights from local climate change adaptation policy

AbstractDiffusion has become both an important concept for studying policy spread and a popular governance approach, particularly where direct coercion is unavailable or undesirable. However, the prevailing mechanism‐centered concept is difficult to measure and poorly captures the governance potential of policy diffusion. To address these issues, this article presents a new channel‐centered framework that distinguishes between six soft policy diffusion channels: autonomous, collaborative, exemplary, persuasive, organized, and funded diffusion. The framework is probed by studying local climate change adaptation policy using original survey data collected from the administrations of 190 municipalities located in the central German state of Hessen. The regression results indicate that the local institutionalization of adaptation in Hessen is associated with several interventions by higher levels of government, including the provision of a policy model, a municipal climate network, and grant programs. However, the density of concrete adaptation measures is associated with noninstitutionalized exchanges between municipalities. External grants are also found to be more effective in institutionalizing adaptation in larger municipalities. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the framework for distinguishing and comparing different diffusion channels and suggest that different types of interventions may be required to effectively support adaptation policy development at the local level.

ESG and customer stability: a perspective based on external and internal supervision and reputation mechanisms

According to external pressure theory and reputation theory, reputation-oriented enterprises will experience external pressure as societal attention increases, and enhanced ESG performance can mitigate information asymmetry and boost reputation, thereby signaling to customers the company’s commitment to sustainable development. Based on the data of A-share listed firms in China, this paper manually compiles the detailed information of corporate customers, and explores the relationship between firm’s ESG performance and customer stability using a two-way fixed-effects model. The results show that: (1) Firms with ESG advantages can enhance customer stability, and the higher the ESG score, the more significant the improvement in customer stability; (2) The mechanism test indicates that firms’ ESG performance improves customer stability by strengthening internal and external regulation as well as enhancing corporate reputation; (3) The heterogeneity analysis indicates that in high governance level and small-sized firms, the effect of firms’ ESG performance on customer stability is more significant, and in the ESG sub-test, environmental and social responsibility have a more significant impact on customer stability. This paper provides implications for improving firms’ social responsibility and stabilizing the supply chain.

Challenges and Opportunities in Transforming Rural Governance Through E-Government in Indonesia

General Background: The adoption of E-Government systems is increasingly important in improving public services, particularly at the local government level, to enhance transparency and accessibility. Specific Background: In Indonesia, Village Information Systems (SID) have been introduced to streamline communication, resource management, and service delivery in rural areas. Sugihwaras Village in Sidoarjo Regency is one such location where SID has been implemented. Knowledge Gap: Despite its potential, the effectiveness of SID implementation remains underexplored, particularly in terms of communication, resources, and its impact on rural governance. Aims: This study aims to analyze and describe the implementation of E-Government through SID in Sugihwaras Village, focusing on the four indicators: communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure, using Edward III's policy implementation model. Results: The findings indicate that communication and resource allocation are the primary issues hindering SID effectiveness. Inadequate operator training and a lack of budget for operator fees have led to outdated information and diminished motivation. However, strong commitment from local government and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) have ensured that the system continues to function. Novelty: This study highlights the crucial role of consistent training and budgetary support in enhancing E-Government systems at the village level, particularly in rural Indonesia. Implications: Strengthening operator skills and ensuring adequate financial support are essential for optimizing SID as a tool for public information transparency and service delivery, contributing to improved rural governance and E-Government effectiveness. Highlights: Communication gaps limit the Village Information System's efficiency. Budget constraints reduce operator motivation and system updates. Government commitment keeps the system operational despite obstacles. Keywords: E-Government, Village Information System, rural governance, communication, resource allocation

Legal Regulation of the Digital Transformation of Local Self-Government in the BRICS Countries

This article presents an analysis of strategies used for the legal regulation of digital transformation processes at the municipal level in the BRICS countries. A systematic analysis of modern trends in the legal regulation of digital transformation in Brazil, South Africa, India and China was carried out, and the features and general directions of this process were highlighted. The authors noted a variety of different approaches to normalizing digital processes in management, ranging from fixing basic principles at the constitutional level to developing “flexible” regulation constitutionally mandated through by-laws and state political and legal documents. It is shown that the digitalization of public administration is primarily focused on the level of national government, since financial resources are specifically concentrated at the highest level of governance. It is concluded that the specificity of local government, manifested in a high degree of self-government and participation of the population in solving life support issues, objectively requires a shift in the emphasis of digitalization to the local level of government. It has been proven that this process requires strategic state planning on the part of the state for the digitalization of local self-government, taking into account the elimination of the “digital divide” in municipalities. The authors propose the implementation and development of the “smart city” concept in the BRICS countries with a differentiated scale of digitalization criteria for the various municipalities.

Analysis of Zijin Mining's Green Transformation and Effectiveness under ESG Concepts

Based on the ESG concept, this paper discusses the practice and effect of non-ferrous metal industrial enterprises in green transformation. Taking Zijin Mining as a case study, it analyses the motivation of Zijin Mining's green transformation and combs through its green governance path, assesses the effectiveness of the transformation from the three levels of governance, environment and society, and evaluates the effect of governing Zijin Mining's green transformation. The study finds that Zijin Mining's green transformation has significantly improved economic performance, energy saving and emission reduction, and actively promoted social performance, reflecting the corporate environmental and social responsibility. The conclusions of this paper not only provide feedback for Zijin Mining's green governance, but also provide practical references for the green transformation of enterprises in the same industry, helping enterprises to achieve the goal of sustainable development.

Young Women’s Political Participation and Gender Depoliticization in Nigeria

Since return to Nigeria to civilian administration in 1999, women have been making efforts to access political leadership space with little progress. With international and national instruments to ensure more women gain inroad into politics, there is a dismal record in this aspect. Anchoring the paper on theory of political participation, the paper explored the possibility of gender depoliticisation through the involvement of young women in politics. Desk research method which utilised secondary sources of data collection was employed. The paper argued that in spite of the fact that young women are involved in activism,they are grossly underrepresented in political leadership. Culture, political acrimony, stigmatisation, religion, lack of finance, political violence, etc., constitute barriers to young women representation in politics. The paper contended that there is always political inequality between women and men, particularly among the youngest generations. The paper concluded that young women are at risk of not being included and favourably considered in the decision making process, as non-participation in politics poses a threat to their gender's dignified existence in the body polity. It recommended that socio-economic barriers including culture, religion, patriarchal belief, political acrimony, insecurity, etc., should be addressed. Empowerment should start from the family to re-orientate on the social barriers affecting young women participation in leadership positions. Girl-child education needs prioritisation to develop potentials, particularly contribution in decision making process at all levels of governance, among others.

Inclusion of people with disability (PWD) in the tourism workforce: a critical discourse analysis of policies and plans

Purpose This paper aims to critically examine the discourse on the disability workforce in Australian tourism policy and planning documents. Design/methodology/approach This research draws on a database of 490 Australian tourism policy and planning documents, across national, state, regional and local levels of governments, destination management organisations and peak industry bodies, to systematically examine the issues pertaining to disability workforce over the ten-year policy cycle (2013–2023), through critical discourse analysis. Findings Analysis revealed 20 of the existing 490 documents had mentions of the inclusion of people with disability (PWD) in the tourism workforce. Through critical discourse analysis, the nuances of political attitudes are evident. Tourism policies tend to exert a cautious approach towards the inclusion of PWD employment. PWD do not have a strong voice when it comes to the formation of tourism policy, especially not as members of the tourism workforce. Practical implications This research underscores an emerging call for the government’s commitment to considering the underrepresented social group of PWD in the tourism workforce. By shedding light on critical discourse analysis of the disability workforce, tourism scholars and practitioners understand the current challenges and explore opportunities to implement tangible actions for an inclusive work environment for all. Originality/value The research is novel and innovative as it critically examines the discourse of the disability workforce in the tourism sector through an institutional theory perspective. The limited emphasis of government policies on the disability workforce may result in missed opportunities to encourage meaningful employment engagement of PWD in tourism organisations. Consequently, this research contributes a tripartite model of policy recommendations that explicitly articulates the mechanisms for change that are tailored to tourism workforce and advocates for the active voices of PWD community in the policy formation process.

All at sea? Exploring key actors' understandings of the role of European Union policies for protecting marine nature

AbstractAmbitious European Union (EU) policies are aiming to halt and reverse marine biodiversity loss in the current decade. However, EU environmental and conservation policies have so far fallen short of their targets. This study explores how the key actors in policy interpretation and implementation frame their understandings of these policy objectives, and how these framings influence the protection of marine biodiversity. The results of a Q‐methodological study undertaken with key actors from national, regional sea, and EU governance levels reveal the existence of two predominant frames. Key actors are divided between Environmental Protection and Sustainable Use‐focused understandings, with the first framing further partitioning into four distinct subframes. All the identified frames are internally coherent and are firmly held, therefore begging the question of how EU conservation policy should proceed, given that the same policy texts and the marine biodiversity crisis are perceived in distinctly different ways, with different actions prioritized. It is important to understand and reflect on the different positioning of key actors because these differences directly influence the achievement of marine biodiversity goals.

How climate change and modern slavery interact in the supply chain: A conceptual model development through a systemic review

AbstractDespite growing recognition of the interconnectedness between climate change and modern slavery within supply chains, these issues are often studied in isolation, leading to a fragmented understanding of their relationship. This research aims to bridge this gap by investigating the key factors in supply chains that influence both climate change and modern slavery and how interactions among supply chain stakeholders impact the relationship between them. Utilising the PRISMA literature review method, we systematically reviewed 56 articles to identify the underlying mechanisms and stakeholders' interactions that influence the dynamics between climate change and modern slavery in supply chains. Our findings culminate in a conceptual model that delineates 11 factors bi‐directionally impacting both climate change and modern slavery. These factors include social (migration, violent conflict, and war as well as tradition and culture), environmental (deforestation, soil erosion, disruption of protected area, extreme weather, and resource) and economic (liabilities, employment, education, and pandemic). Furthermore, it highlights how stakeholder interactions at the government, NGO, supplier, focal firm, worker, and consumer levels impact this relationship. Finally, the model underscores the potential of technology adoption, sustainable development strategies, and stakeholder engagement and collaboration as levers to positively influence the relationship between climate change and modern slavery in supply chains.

What Are the Barriers Impeding Female Graduates in Higher Education from Pursuing Entrepreneurship in China? An Investigation from a Theory of Planned Behaviour Perspective.

This study investigates the obstacles encountered by female graduates in China's higher education system when considering entrepreneurship by employing the Theory of Planned Behaviour as an analytical framework. Although entrepreneurship is widely acknowledged as crucial for economic and personal growth, gender inequalities remain, with women being severely underrepresented. The primary objective of this study is to gain insight into the underlying reasons behind the reluctance of female university students, specifically in China, to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. In this study, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with female university students from different majors to identify the key barriers that discourage them from starting their businesses. The factors discovered are instrumental and affective attitudes towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms (family, friends, teachers, and others), and perceived behavioural control (encompassing past experiences, second-hand information, and anticipated obstacles). The results showed that a conservative familial atmosphere, risk-averse cultural norms, and limited access to helpful resources and experiences in universities are major obstacles. This study enriches the present knowledge by providing a detailed explanation of the gender-specific obstacles in entrepreneurship in the Chinese context. It proposes that interventions at the educational and governmental levels are imperative to promote female entrepreneurship.

The contribution of water-energy-food nexus governance to sustainability: A case study of Singapore

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus has been promoted as an approach to integrated governance that can increase system sustainability. However, there have been limited empirical studies that demonstrate how WEF nexus governance leads towards sustainability. Therefore, the study investigates how collaborative governance of the WEF nexus connects to sustainability in Singapore, considered one of the most sustainable cities in the world. The objective is to understand the structure of WEF nexus governance in Singapore and explore how this structure contributes towards sustainability. This study uses a case study approach with qualitative text analysis on multiple data types to address this research objective. The results show two key findings. First, the findings show that WEF nexus governance in Singapore has a collaborative governance approach at the national level but is less integrated at lower levels of governance. Second, the results show that while governance integration, including WEF nexus connections, contributes to sustainability, there are also factors beyond WEF nexus governance that contribute towards sustainability in Singapore. The study concludes that WEF nexus governance provides an opportunity for improved sustainability within the system, but WEF nexus governance alone may not be sufficient for sustainability to be realized.

“It’s changing our lives, not for the better. It’s important that we have a say”. The role of young people in informing public health and policy decisions about gambling marketing

BackgroundMarketing has a significant impact on the normalisation of gambling for youth across the globe. This has included shaping positive attitudes towards gambling, as well as increasing the social and cultural acceptance of gambling – particularly aligned with valued activities such as sport. Because of this, public health experts argue that gambling marketing poses a significant risk to the health and wellbeing of youth. While young people are increasingly exposed to, and impacted by marketing for gambling products, they are rarely consulted about policy issues and options. This study aimed to explore young Australians’ perceptions of current policy responses to gambling advertising, whether they thought young people should be involved in discussions and decisions about gambling marketing regulations, and their perceptions of the duty of governments to protect young people from gambling industry marketing strategies.MethodsQualitative focus groups (n = 22) were held with n = 64, 12–17 year olds in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales. Participants were asked to reflect on current gambling policies, particularly relating to marketing, what they thought should be done about gambling marketing, and if and how young people should be included in public health responses to gambling. An interpretivist ‘Big Q’ approach to reflexive thematic analysis was used.ResultsYoung people highlighted the need for more effective regulations around the content and frequency of gambling marketing. They also wanted to see more realistic representations of the negative impacts of gambling to counter persistent positive commercial marketing messages. Most thought that young people should be given an opportunity to have a say about responses to gambling due to their unique experiences. Participants identified mechanisms to increase young people’s engagement in decision making, such as direct lines of communication to different levels of government, involvement in research, and diversifying ways of engagement. Specific recommendations included more regulatory action such as bans on gambling advertising.ConclusionsCreating formal structures that facilitate the inclusion of young people’s perspectives in decisions made about gambling can result in more innovative and effective strategies to prevent the harms from gambling industry products, promotions, and practices.

The varying levels of contrasting adaptation in Central Asia’s climate change politics

ABSTRACT Central Asia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There is, however, a lack of research on how local businesses, political elites and the general public perceive the need for comprehensive greening initiatives to address its consequences. To account for the material and ideational factors influencing clean energy transition in Central Asian petrostates, I offer an alternative analytic framework that I call ‘contrasting adaptation’. I argue that the energy transition has resulted in two contradictory responses at multiple levels of political governance: a formal response that is broadly supportive of new ‘green’ identities and policies, and an informal response that seeks to delay plans to decarbonize local business models and continues to prioritize ‘old’ oil and gas activities through new transnational networks. Drawing on a model of actor interactions at different levels of climate governance, I examine ‘contrasting adaptation’ – its constituent policies and discourse – to provide a better theorized framework for understanding climate politics in Central Asia. I use comparative analysis of the climate policies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the two Central Asian petrostates that pledged to carbon neutrality, informed by documentary and textual sources, and discourse analysis.

Breaking path dependency? Factors to enhance capacity for rural local governments in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

ABSTRACT Path dependency, often coinciding with the downloading of various responsibilities with reduced funding from higher levels of governments during the neoliberal era, has led to capacity challenges for rural local governments to pursue sector diversification activities. Despite these challenges, research has indicated that, through entrepreneurial efforts, breaking path dependency is possible. Drawing from Staples Theory, Evolutionary Economic Geography, New Public Management, and New Localism as well as primary data from key informant interviews, this paper identifies five factors that influence the capacity of rural local governments to break path dependency. In doing so, it identifies a relationship between New Localism and local governments, and its potential as a bridge for rural economic development. These findings are important, as they contribute to the limited but growing literature related to New Localism and its potential applications for rural local governments in Canada to facilitate economic development.

Ownership structure and integrated reporting quality: empirical evidence from an emerging market

Purpose This paper aims to explore the role of ownership structure on integrated reporting quality (IRQ) in an emerging market. Design/methodology/approach This study includes a sample consisting of 64 firms from Bursa Malaysia, with 173 firm-year observations from 2017 to 2020. Feasible Generalised Least Square model has been used to test the hypotheses. Findings The findings show that government ownership has a positive effect on IRQ and that the integrated reports and <IR> framework are well aligned. Foreign ownership influences IRQ positively. However, the results did not support the effect of family ownership on IRQ as hypothesised. Practical implications The findings of this research hold practical implications for companies and regulators in Malaysia. The results demonstrate to investors that both government and foreign ownership have a positive impact on IRQ. Therefore, investors can make well-informed investment decisions regarding companies with a high level of government or foreign ownership. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to explore the effect of ownership structure on IRQ in the Malaysian context.

Subnational Investments in Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change: Some Financing and Governance Issues

Meeting climate change goals requires steadfast action at all levels of government in terms of both mitigation (measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (measures to reduce the impacts of climate change on economies and societies). Against this background, this paper discusses the role of subnational investment, including funding and financing options, as well as governance arrangements. It fills a gap in scholarly work on the principles guiding subnational investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation, identifies areas for future work, and underscores the need for cross-country comparable information on policy instruments and outcomes at the subnational levels of administration that could be used in more systematic hypothesis testing in this area. JEL classification codes: H11, H70, Q54.

Building a Robust Federalism in India: Constitutional Provisions, Practical Challenges, and Pathways to Overcome

This study explores the intricacies of India's federalism, examining both the actual challenges encountered in implementing the system and the legal structure that establishes and governs it. The Indian Constitution aims to establish a balance of authority and responsibility between the central and state governments. It combines unique characteristics of unitary government with federal government. This study looks at the key constitutional provisions and amendments that specify the organizational structure of the federal government, including the division of legislative power, budgetary relationships, and administrative processes. Federalism cannot actually be implemented in India due to significant barriers, despite a constitution designed to maintain a careful balance. Administrative inefficiencies, political tensions, and economic disparities sometimes lead to strained relations between centers and states. This essay looks at these problems, highlighting instances of conflict and cooperation between different levels of government. This study aims to understand the evolution of Indian federalism by a critical analysis of case laws, policy decisions, and intergovernmental discussions. The paper also covers the effects of regionalism, coalition politics, and economic liberalization on the federal framework. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the practical aspects of constitutional federalism and the necessary modifications to enhance its efficacy by means of an examination of these characteristics. The findings underscore the necessity of continuous deliberation and adaptation to ensure that India's federalism is resilient and responsive to the aspirations of its diverse citizenry.

Drugie życie silbo gomero – jak edukacja, turystyka i sztuka przyczyniły się do ocalenia gwizdanego języka z Gomery

THE SECOND LIFE OF SILBO GOMERO – THE CONTRIBUTION OF EDUCATION, TOURISM AND ART TO SAVING THE WHISTLED LANGUAGE OF THE ISLAND OF LA GOMERA Silbo gomero is a whistled language used by inhabitants of La Gomera (Canary Islands) and created before the arrival of Spanish settlers to overcome communication problems resulting from the deep ravines and narrow valleys that radiate through the island. The language, commonly used in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, declined in the 1950s–1980s due to economic migration, the growth of tourism and technological developments e.g. the telephone. Since the language was endangered in the late 1990s, revitalization efforts were generated at both community and governmental level. Nowadays, tourism is not a threat to silbo gomero; it’s seen as a great opportunity and as a generator of both employment and income. Unlike other islands in the archipelago, La Gomera focuses on natural resource-based tourism and cultural tourism and silbo gomero seems to be an ideal magnet for tourists looking for something more than the beach and the sun.

Mayors Unchecked: Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions of Local Autonomy in Latin American Municipalities

In this paper, we argue that, relative to chief executives at higher levels of government, mayors in Latin America often operate with fewer outside checks on their scope of action, with problematic consequences for democracy. To make this argument, we examine a number of factors that can render mayors especially powerful and autonomous as political actors, and distinguish between the vertical (inter-governmental) and horizontal (inter-branch) dimensions of their autonomy. Vertically, we show that mayors have more institutional leeway than governors given the absence of the mechanism of interventions from the national government that could check their power. Horizontally, we identify a number of institutional and noninstitutional advantages that can enable mayors to exercise predominance vis-à-vis municipal legislative bodies and other actors in the local political landscape. To support our argument, we provide evidence gathered from fieldwork in six municipalities in three different countries (Chile, Paraguay, and Peru).