Market-based Solutions Research Articles

UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO SOBRE A SOCIALIZAÇÃO DO HABITUS NA TRAJETÓRIA DE VIDA: UM OLHAR MAIS AMPLO PARA A FORMAÇÃO DE PROFESSORES DE CIÊNCIAS

In recent years, debates around the world have sought to improve teacher training in science education. However, many of these discourses have emphasized market-based solutions, proposing the idea of “efficiency” and “flexibility”. On the other hand, the conception of science teacher training as a continuous process, throughout life, has been neglected beyond university studies. This is because the influence of this broader process on the socialization of teaching practice, reflected in the science classroom, is not absolutely clear. In this sense, the aim of this work is to understand the relationship between elements of the habitus of elementary school science teachers and their respective socialization processes throughout their lives, taking into account various social spaces. The theoretical and methodological background used was the theory of Pierre Bourdieu, his conceptions of the social practice of agents through the study of habitus and capitals. This research studied 16 science teachers (Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Science) from Brazilian elementary school. Characterized as a qualitative study, the research used a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, and the data was analyzed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). The study identified significant patterns that reflect complex social dynamics, especially related to cultural and economic capital. There is a clear dichotomy between "banking" and "dialogical" approaches, influenced by the teachers' socialization experiences. Furthermore, gender socialization in the incorporation of science teachers' habitus dispositions is fundamental to understanding their social practice. The article also suggests areas for future research, including the influence of students on the socialization process and comparative studies between different educational and cultural contexts. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of formulating new dynamics in science teacher training programs to promote truly emancipatory teacher education.

From Sustainable Agriculture to Sustainable Agrifood Systems: A Comparative Review of Alternative Models

This paper reviews, compares, and critically evaluates two broad groups of sustainable agriculture models: “sustainable agriculture” and “sustainable agrifood systems”. The “sustainable agriculture” models—comprising organic farming, regenerative agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, carbon-capture agriculture, and nature-based solutions—focus primarily on improving ecological sustainability through farm-level practices. These models emphasize reducing external, industrial inputs, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting climate resilience, relying on technological and market-based solutions to address environmental concerns. On the other hand, the “sustainable agrifood systems” models—agroecology, alternative food networks, and permaculture—offer more ambitious visions of systemic transformation. These approaches not only seek to implement environmentally sound practices but also aim to reconfigure the broader food system by challenging corporate power, promoting local governance, fostering food sovereignty, and prioritizing social justice. Grounded in grassroots movements, these models emphasize social justice and economic viability in addition to ecological sustainability. This paper’s contribution lies in its comparative analysis of the wide array of sustainable alternatives, highlighting both their strengths and limitations. Adopting an agrarian political economy perspective, it critiques the former camp for limited engagement with structural issues inherent in capitalist agriculture and the latter camp for underplaying the importance of industrial agriculture for national development in the Global South.

Determining Private Youth Sport Coaches’ Wage Expectations for Tournament Attendance: A Market-Based Solution to Incentivize Tournament Attendance in Coaches of Individual Sports

Incentive structures within the market-driven private youth tennis and athlete development system often fail to deliver optimal sport at the micro-level. Yet, remedying deficient incentive structures within the private youth sports setting has received little empirical inquiry. In examining an established deficiency in private youth tennis delivery deriving from macro-level incentive structures, the authors investigated the wage expectations, and determinants of wage expectations for private youth tennis coaches’ tournament attendance. Guided by human capital theory, rational choice theory, and the wage expectations literature, 111 private youth tennis coaches completed an online survey. Results found most coaches expect a wage comparable to an hour-long coaching session, with coaches’ expectations affected by years of experience, prior playing accomplishments, form of compensation, role responsibilities, and race. Findings do suggest a micro-level remedy for a deficient incentive structure can enhance tennis delivery and demonstrate the viability of a parent-financed coach tournament attendance service.

Supply Chain-Based Coral Conservation: The Case of Mozuku Seaweed Farming in Onna Village, Okinawa

Blue foods, including seaweed, have been overlooked in food systems analysis and policy-making due to a lack of available data. However, seaweed cultivation is gaining attention as a restorative aquaculture that could contribute to ocean health by serving as blue carbon or nurturing seagrass beds. Commercial restorative aquaculture may provide market-based solutions for improving ocean health. The Onna Village Fisheries Cooperative producers have been restoring corals, knowing empirically that when the coral weakens, the yield of Mozuku seaweed drops. Furthermore, measures taken to reduce red soil run-off prevent the reduction in Mozuku quality and quantity and protect seagrass beds, since Mozuku cultivators have continued to use them as an important nursery. The fishery cooperative and the seaweed processing company, Igeta Takeuchi Co., Ltd., have jointly developed high-quality Mozuku that is resistant to climate change and extreme weather conditions through strain selection. Based on this case, this paper examines the following questions: (1) What quality assurance technique is necessary to continue restorative aquaculture as a market-based solution over the long term? (2) What social platforms and communication channels are available to stakeholders to maintain restorative aquaculture in the long run? To answer these questions, Japanese consumer cooperatives that established “the Mozuku Fund” are also examined. This case study of Mozuku highlights how the sustainability and quality of marine products are maintained throughout the whole supply chain, focusing on the power of the Japanese consumers’ cooperative.

Million dollar baby -A primer on film finance practices in the U.S. movie industry

ABSTRACT This article summarises standard film financing practices for the production and distribution of new content over the past 30 years using a mixed-methods approach. It takes the U.S. movie industry as a case in point to study how excess risk and uncertainty in the financing of new projects are processed and managed by private-sector, entities as well as what market-based solutions have been developed to prevent market failure. The research has wide-ranging implications for other creative industries and their use of intangible assets in creative content finance. In particular, it discusses the prominent role of intellectual property rights in financial transactions in the U.S. audiovisual sector and the ability of the industry to leverage funds through the strategic use of its IP assets. The research findings are based on a series of semi-structured interviews, commissioned expert memoranda, and a dedicated panel of selected industry experts. In addition, using novel data from Uniform Commercial Code filings and official IP registers, we conduct exploratory analysis and provide descriptive evidence on the use of credit and intangible collateral as well as the industry diffusion of such practices. In light of the digital transformation of the industry, this research also documents industry trends and recent changes in U.S. film financing and provides an alternative explanation for the surge in new titles. Finally, we outline generic policy options for improving the financing environment for new films in the United States. The results could help to inform the larger debate on IP-backed finance and the strategic use of intangible assets in content industries.

REVIEW OF CARBON PRICING MECHANISMS: EFFECTIVENESS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

The escalating threat of climate change has intensified the need for robust strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon pricing mechanisms have emerged as pivotal tools in this endeavor, aiming to internalize the external cost of carbon emissions and incentivize cleaner, more sustainable practices. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of various carbon pricing mechanisms, evaluating their effectiveness and exploring the policy implications for future implementations. The review categorizes carbon pricing mechanisms into three main types: Carbon Taxes, Cap-and-Trade Systems, and Hybrid Approaches. Each mechanism is examined in terms of its characteristics, case studies from jurisdictions that have implemented them, and a critical assessment of their effectiveness and challenges. The paper evaluates the impact of carbon pricing mechanisms on economic sectors, assessing their influence on industry and their role in stimulating innovation. Furthermore, it scrutinizes the effectiveness of these mechanisms in achieving emission reductions, considering their impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the review delves into the social and distributional impacts of carbon pricing, analyzing its equity aspects and identifying potential challenges. Drawing from implemented policies, the review extracts valuable lessons and insights. It explores the integration of carbon pricing with other climate policies, examining synergies and coordination possibilities. The discussion also includes the potential for global cooperation and harmonization, recognizing challenges and opportunities for aligning international efforts. As a forward-looking aspect, the paper explores innovative approaches to carbon pricing, considering technological advancements and market-based solutions. It concludes with policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of carbon pricing mechanisms, addressing challenges, and providing insights for policymakers and stakeholders. This review consolidates current knowledge on carbon pricing mechanisms, shedding light on their effectiveness and unveiling important policy implications. By synthesizing lessons learned from implemented policies, the paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on effective climate change mitigation strategies, emphasizing the role of dynamic, adaptable, and equitable carbon pricing mechanisms.
 Keywords: Carbon Pricing, Mechanisms, Climate change mitigation, Effectiveness, and Policy Implications.

Embedded Classed and Raced Academic Capitalism in an Innovative “Solution” to College Costs: Income Share Agreements at two Public AAU Research Universities

College affordability concerns have led to new “solutions’’ for financing college costs, such as income share agreements (ISAs). Drawing on a racialized understanding of academic capitalism, we explore the intersection of higher education, markets, and the state in how ISAs are marketed by two public universities. We find ISAs are advertised as market-based solutions, framing universities as altruistic problem-solvers and students as philanthropic investors. Yet, we also find that institutions’ website promotion of ISAs is raced and classed, targeting current “traditional,” White, upper-middle class students. Finally, we compare institutional narratives to federal guidance regarding ISAs, revealing further blurring between the public sector and private marketplace.

Investigating market-based opportunities for the provision of nutritious and safe diets to prevent childhood stunting: a UKRI-GCRF action against stunting hub protocol paper

BackgroundInadequate access to affordable, safe, desirable and convenient nutrient-dense food is one of the underlying causes of child stunting. While targeted nutrition-sensitive interventions (eg, backyard ‘nutri-gardens’) may increase dietary diversity...

Beyond Green Packaging: Unveiling the Dynamics of Environmental Consciousness and Sustainable Consumption in Yogyakarta

Amid increasing concerns about plastic pollution and its negative impact on ecosystems, this research explores the relationship between environmental consciousness and the desire of urban consumers in Yogyakarta City to purchase products with eco-friendly packaging. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a foundation, we aim to unveil the factors influencing consumer preferences toward sustainable packaging alternatives. Through a quantitative approach, this study involved 150 respondents who were selected purposively, with data analysis utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings indicate a significant relationship between environmental consciousness and positive consumer attitudes towards sustainable packaging, emphasizing the crucial role of environmental consciousness in driving preferences for eco-friendly options. However, consumer attitudes alone do not directly increase the willingness to purchase these products. Instead, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control emerge as the primary determinants, highlighting the strong influence of social pressure and personal efficacy beliefs on sustainable purchasing decisions. This study not only contributes to the theoretical discourse on consumer behavior in environmental sustainability but also offers practical insights for policymakers, businesses, and environmental campaigns in promoting a culture of sustainable consumption through effective communication strategies, policy interventions, and market-based solutions.

Designing a biodiversity credit accounting framework for environmental investment and financing

<p>Achieving biodiversity goals and targets poses a significant financial challenge due to biodiversity externalities. Efforts to address this challenge have focused on market-based solutions for biodiversity offsets to bridge the financial gap. However, accurately calculating biodiversity credits remains a barrier to promoting and implementing these solutions. Here, we propose an innovative accounting framework for biodiversity credits based on the emergy accounting approach. Emergy (spelled with an m) represents the biosphere work performed over time and space (ecosystem services) that supports species, human societies and economies, and is measured in units of solar equivalent energy (emergy, sej). This unified accounting method considers the perspectives of ecosystem productivity, ecosystem networks, and human well-being. We evaluated the biodiversity credits in 157 restoration projects and found several advantages in terms of differentiating project types and setting thresholds for biodiversity credit increases in restoration projects. Only 66% of the projects achieved biodiversity credit increases, and only 29% of the generated credit can be traded on the market. This study provides a scientific foundation for decision-making in ecosystem restoration management and contributes to broader biodiversity conservation solutions as well as to bridging the financial gap in achieving biodiversity goals.</p>

Ecological Footprint and Willingness to Pay for Green Goods: Evidence from the Netherlands

Human consumption of scarce ecological resources is at the heart of the climate change crisis. Mitigating climate change will require changes in consumer behavior. Further, to respond effectively, policymakers need information on the environmental impact of individuals’ behaviors. In this paper, we study the effect of socio-demographic characteristics and personality traits on individuals’ environmental impact measured by their ecological footprint. We also investigate consumers’ willingness to pay for “green” goods. Using survey data from the Netherlands, first, we construct individuals’ ecological footprint. The survey also uses a 50-item personality scale developed by Goldberg (1992) to construct five personality traits. We find that individuals with higher personal income, less than a high school education, males, the employed, and people living in rural areas are associated with a higher EF. We also find that consumers’ WTP and demand are responsive to price increases in high-emitting goods and personality traits. We contribute to our understanding of the influence of socio-demographic and personality characteristics on the actual ecological footprint at the individual level. Further, we contribute to the economic literature on consumers’ WTP for “green” products as well as the ongoing discussion on using market-based solutions to tackle climate change.

Le logement accessible au Canada

Currently there is limited research on accessible housing provisions for persons with disabilities (PWD) within Canada. The aim of our study is to provide an overview of how shortages of accessible housing are being addressed through the National Housing Strategy (NHS), with an additional look at provincial-level initiatives to tackle the issue, using Nova Scotia as a case study. As the NHS is only five years old, a thorough overview of its outcomes was not possible. However, our study revealed a few critical shortcomings regarding current initiatives—including ambiguous targeting for accessible housing development, lack of coordination between the housing and social services sectors, and (over-)reliance on market-based solutions. Broader understanding of accessible housing needs, more empirical examples of how different sectors can work together, and clarification of the costs and benefits of accessible housing are all necessary in order to more holistically address the accessible housing challenges. Wider application of accessibility design codes, alliance-building among vulnerable community groups to develop stronger voices, and enhanced monitoring systems are additional avenues for action.

BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT SUPPORTS WORKING WOMEN TO THRIVE

Abstract Building on previous research about working women’s financial wellbeing, a provocative question arises: “What would the economy look like if were designed to work for women?” To answer this question, Heather McCulloch, entrepreneur in residence with the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, conducted a translational research initiative called Women in the Economy. Intended to take a deep dive into the economic lives of working women across the U.S. who face one or more barriers, in addition to gender, to building their economic security, the project included in-depth interviews with 127 women across urban, suburban, and rural communities in 30 states and D.C. Participants were asked about the economic challenges they face, what they see as the most promising solutions, and their vision for a gender-equitable economy that enables women to strive, thrive, and reach their full potential. Findings revealed that working woman are struggling to make ends meet; they face a financial penalty - a loss of income and savings - due to caregiving; and they are not receiving the education they need to successfully navigate economic and financial systems. Building on qualitative results, a national survey (n=1224) was deployed to understand the scope of emergent topics. Among key findings are that four out of five respondents reported feeling economically insecure and only one in five reported feeling confident they would live comfortably in retirement. Together, findings based on the wisdom, voices, and experiences of working women point to policy, program, and market-based solutions that can build a gender-equitable society.

Reducing market separation through e-commerce: cases of Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) firms in India

ABSTRACT Market-based solutions for poverty alleviation at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) have been discussed extensively in the literature. Most BoP producer firms are based out of remote locations and suffer from informational asymmetry and a lack of financial resources. This study looks at three BoP firms through Bartels’ theory of market separation to examine whether the adoption of e-commerce helps reduce gaps between producers and consumers. The findings indicate that e-commerce has enabled firms to decrease the spatial, temporal, and informational gaps; however, the effect on the financial gap is yet to be determined. It also recognizes the importance of e-commerce adoption as an effective market-based solution for BoP firms. The findings helped develop a conceptual framework to understand the stages of e-commerce channel adoption by BoP firms. The implications of our findings for theory and practice are discussed.

When solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises ignore gender, they harm society and the planet

Global warming and biodiversity loss continue to increase, and the environment is being degraded faster than at any time in history. At the same time, it will take generations, if ever, to reach gender parity. These issues are all connected. Women and girls, particularly in low-income countries, are disproportionately harmed, yet remain underrepresented or entirely absent from the spaces that shape the global climate and biodiversity agenda. We argue that this is a failure of leadership and science and delivers serious injustice and harm to women and the environment. In this paper we explore the case of gender inequity within market-based responses to these crises, including carbon-offsetting and biodiversity conservation. We present evidence that reveals how market-based solutions primarily benefit men, especially rich and powerful men in high income countries, whilst ignoring and minimising rights, interests, and lives of women, primarily those in low-income countries. We highlight that to have any chance of being equitable, market-based climate and biodiversity solutions must also consider gender at their core. It must be intentional. We make recommendations to address gender-based injustice through both reform and radical change.

Apparel behavioural intentions of urban bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers: exploring the role of store atmospherics

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of store atmospherics on urban bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers’ behavioural intentions to purchase apparel in an emerging African market context. This study also considers purchase antecedents to attitude, perceived behavioural control and social norms as determinants of urban bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers’ apparel behavioural intentions. Design/methodology/approach Using non-probability sampling, specifically purposive and interlocking sampling, data collection was secured from 881 economically active Namibian urban bottom-of-the-pyramid respondents through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Covariance-based structural equation modelling assessed the significant relationships among all constructs in the conceptual model. Findings This study found that for favourable apparel behavioural intentions of urban bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers to occur, apparel retailers should emphasise trust, perceived awareness and self-identity through apparel assortment and groupings, easy-to-read visible signage, together with competent, friendly and respectful sales personnel in their store atmospherics. Practical implications The findings of this study may guide apparel retailers in other emerging African markets to develop regional integration, market-based solutions and inclusive economic growth focusing on “non-essential” products, such as apparel, among urban bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers. Originality/value This study expands the intellectual boundaries of urban bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers’ behavioural intentions towards “non-essential” products. The theoretical framework supports the integration of both the stimulus-organism-response model and the theory of planned behaviour into one single model for empirical investigation. Additionally, adopting a novel theoretical framework helped identify the impact of store atmospherics from a bottom-of-the-pyramid perspective in an emerging African market context, such as Namibia.

Something for Everyone? Addressing Conservative Opposition to Universal Basic Income Programmes

Trial universal basic income (UBI) programmes in developing nations around the world have yielded positive results with respect to individual health outcomes, income, women’s empowerment, decreased child labour and much more. Concomitantly, UBI trials provide evidence that fears that UBI decreases labour force participation are based more on classist mythology than reality, and, rather, increases employment. Despite these promising results, implementation of UBI programmes will mean overcoming significant partisan political forces. As such, the focus of this commentary is to explore the most prominent barrier to the implementation of UBI programmes in both developing and wealthy nations, namely, conservative political opposition. UBI programmes are generally promoted by liberal politicians and implemented in liberal jurisdictions. However, these programmes can advance outcomes aligned with conservative principles. We chronicle the current and historical conservative opposition to UBI and argue for UBI programmes using common conservative talking points, positioning them as holistic market-based solutions to counter fragmented social services, means to foster vocational opportunities and a catalyst to promote economic growth. A discussion of how reframing UBI programmes to align with conservative principles alters attitudes towards UBI is included. The acceptance of UBI programmes across the political spectrum is paramount for achieving widespread implementation.

Efficiency and the futures market in organs.

There has been considerable debate over regulated organ markets. Especially current markets, where people sell one of their kidneys while still alive, have received increased attention. Futures markets remain an interesting and under-discussed alternative specification of a market-based solution to the organ shortage. Futures markets pertain to the sale of the right to procure people's organs after they die. There is a wide range of possible specifications of the futures market. There are, however, some major unaddressed efficiency concerns. This article presents this class of concerns and discusses the implication for organ futures markets.It identifies a number of inefficiency sources pertaining to crowding out, bad organs, costs and missed opportunities, family refusals,moral hazardand strength of the provided incentive. However, a complete assessment of futures market requires better knowledge regarding the potential reaction from donors, families and health professionals.

Editorial: There's an AI for that

In recent months, the educators and higher education institutions have responded with concern, critique, and hope, to the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI)’s unregulated and mounting influence. Following the period of emergency remote teaching, and the great ‘snapback’ (Jandrić et al., 2022), yet another new concern has emerged, promising to revolutionise education, or threaten its existence. The gravity of the situation has reverberated across the system, as wizardry of predictive pattern recognition fundamentally threatens the validity of long-held practices of summative assessments including essays, and online quizzes. This latest quandary/crisis shows no sign of abating, as venture capitalist funding and language modelling datasets grow. The technology becomes more deeply integrated into word processing, and cloud-based applications through which much of our academic labour is conducted. Understanding and conceptualising new technology within education has long been a necessity, as we wrestle with wrangling tools into our human interactions. Higher education’s relationship with edtech has always been characterised by a cyclical response to disruptive external influences of evolving technology, whose recent developments are often underpinned by neoliberal values of competition, efficiency, market-based solutions, and the privatisation of software platforms. Recent large language model developments are proving no different, with deregulation and the free market serving as the impetus to design and create such tools. Across higher education, educators scramble to decode the GenAI black box, deciphering hallucinations, confabulations, and smooth outputs indistinguishable from original student work. Policy responses range along a continuum of ban or embrace. New AI literacies are being woven into curricula, as change continues apace. 2023 marks a year of existential crisis precipitated by a global pandemic, followed by geopolitical events and a fatigue from the continual adaptation to a new normal. Even within, we are constantly shaping our educational systems. That pull is in many different directions – to accredit, to certify, to help learners become, to socialise, to emancipate, to measure - to meet very diverse purposes and aims. The politics and power structures inherent in our system further affect our response (Kuhn et al., 2023). While the potential of AI chatbots based on natural language processing models is undeniable, it is crucial to discern the reality from the hype and to better understand how our actions and responses are shaping our educational systems in this evolving domain. This editorial examines this dilemma further, to consider the impact on our scholarship of teaching and learning and how we as a community of researchers and educators respond.

Building climate resilience, social sustainability and equity in global fisheries

Although the Paris Agreement establishes targets to limit global warming—including carbon market mechanisms—little research has been done on developing operational tools to achieve them. To cover this gap, we use CO2 permit markets towards a market-based solutions (MBS) scheme to implement blue carbon climate targets for global fisheries. The scheme creates a scarcity value for the right to not sequester blue carbon, generating an asset of carbon sequestration allowances based on historical landings, which are considered initial allowances. We use the scheme to identify fishing activities that could be reduced because they are biologically negative, economically inefficient, and socially unequitable. We compute the annual willingness to sequester carbon considering the CO2e trading price for 2022 and the social cost of carbon dioxide (SC-CO2), for years 2025, 2030 and 2050. The application of the MBS scheme will result in 0.122 Gt CO2e sequestered or US$66 billion of potential benefits per year when considering 2050 SC-CO2. The latter also implies that if CO2e trading prices reach the 2050 social cost of carbon, around 75% of the landings worldwide would be more valuable as carbon than as foodstuff in the market. Our findings provide the global economy and policymakers with an alternative for the fisheries sector, which grapples with the complexity to find alternatives to reallocate invested capital. They also provide a potential solution to make climate resilience, social sustainability and equity of global fisheries real, scientific and practical for a wide range of social-ecological and political contexts.