Government Ministries Research Articles

‘Flexible’ versus ‘fragmented’ authoritarianism: evidence from Chinese foreign policy during the Xi Jinping era

ABSTRACT Since the 1980s, a widely held view within the scholarly literature has been that China’s political system is characterised by ‘fragmented authoritarianism’ (FA). According to the FA model, the central government’s power is limited by competing interests among a diversity of actors within the Chinese state. These actors include central government ministries and bureaucracies, local governments, and corporations, which bargain for influence over policy direction, leading to incoherence and inconsistency in decision-making. In this paper, we aim to demonstrate that the FA framework is misleading in the realm of foreign policy, especially in the era of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In its place, we characterise China’s decision-making and policy implementation system as flexible authoritarianism. Although actors such as corporations and local governments have a considerable degree of autonomy, they are responsible primarily for policy implementation, to which they can make adjustments within a set of broadly defined boundaries. Long-term strategic goals defined by the Party leadership are combined with elements of neoliberal free-market economics and applied with a remarkable degree of consistency. We illustrate the argument through evidence and case studies from Chinese foreign policy during the BRI era.

An Analytical Desk Review of the Implementation of Fiscal Decentralisation in Zambia: Challenges and Opportunities

Fiscal decentralization, coupled with effective intergovernmental fiscal relations, stands as a cornerstone in the evolution of modern governance structures. This paper analyzes the implementation of fiscal decentralisation in Zambia as part of its initiatives across diverse socio-economic and political contexts for accelerated national development. The review was guided by three objectives which were: to review the existing legislation that supports implementation of fiscal decentralisation in Zambia; to assess the revenue and expenditure autonomy assignments of fiscal decentralisation in Zambia; and to recommend a fiscal transfer system to be used to enhance the implementation of fiscal decentralisation in Zambia. The study is based on secondary data on fiscal decentralization collected in official sources of Zambia’s Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and Cabinet Office – Decentralization Secretariat. All the data was processed by and used in the right format for the analysis of implementation of fiscal decentralization in Zambia. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, this study analysed the real level of fiscal decentralization made in Zambia. Key findings of the study was that Zambia does not have an institution to supervise fiscal decentralization except a desk at Cabinet Office – Decentralization Secretariat. Besides, Local authorities have little autonomy in administering revenues and expenses as such, one of them requires approval by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. This hampers innovation around revenue generation as there is no known parameter used to grant or deny approval. Additionally, some of the aspects of the Zambia Intergovernmental Fiscal Architecture have not been implemented thereby depriving local authorities of revenue. These include Matching grants, revenue sharing of tolls and Road Transport and Safety Agency (RATSA) fees which are supposed to be shared between Central Government and local authorities as road maintenance is a concurrent mandate and revenue sharing for national income collected by Central Government from local authority jurisdictions. Finally, the connection between the level of fiscal decentralization and the scheme of intergovernmental fiscal relations is very important, to ensure maximum effectiveness of local government financing. The quality of the distribution of funds provided by the scheme of intergovernmental fiscal relations and the level of fiscal decentralization has a direct relationship. Balancing these two mechanisms is the most important way to increase the quality of public services at the local level as a way of enhancing the implementation of the fiscal decentralization. Arising from the study’s finding, there is need for amendment and harmonization of legislation governing the devolution process and procedures in order to empower the designate entities to carry out their mandate without unnecessary cob-webs. The local authorities also need autonomy on revenue mobilization and expenditure which are devoid of central government interference and/or rent-seeking pursuits. Furthermore, there is need to balance the level of fiscal decentralization and the scheme of intergovernmental fiscal relations in order to improve the quality of funds distributed and the effectiveness and efficiency in local government financing.

Urban Flooding: A Case of Ng’ombe Settlement in the City of Lusaka, Zambia

Urban flooding has become perennial in most African countries, inducing socio-economic miseries in affected communities. Climate-induced rainfall, community negligence and lack of coordinated infrastructural development policies remain a threat in Africa’s sub-Saharan cities. Zambia’s City of Lusaka and Ng’ombe settlement, in particular, have not been spared from floods. Using a mixed methods approach, the study investigated the causes and effects of flooding in Ng’ombe settlement in the City of Lusaka. A probability sampling method was used to select 147 respondents whose households were severely affected by floods. A non-probability method was used to select key informants. The key informants were the Provincial Disaster Management & Mitigation Coordinator, and Directors of Planning in the Lusaka City Council, Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development, and Ministry of Housing & Urban Development. Questionnaires and interview guides were used for data-gathering from the respondents and key informants, respectively. The study revealed that 43% attributed the cause of flooding to a lack of professionally constructed drainages while 25% mentioned unplanned settlements as a major cause. Unsupervised construction works and indiscriminate waste disposal came out third and fourth at 15% and 13%, respectively. Those who said their properties were damaged by floods stood at 69%, followed by 20%, whose households were affected by waterborne diseases. Out of the 69% of the respondents who had their properties damaged by floods, 24% of them, who were the majority, built the walls of their houses using sun-dried bricks meant for temporal structures. The study concludes that flooding triggers socio-economic miseries in the Ng’ombe settlement. To avert this, the study recommends the following; construction of professionally designed drainages; strict supervision of construction works by the Lusaka City Council; effective systems of solid waste management; regular clearing of drainages; and normalising illegally built houses, where possible

An appraisal of the relevance of consultation in organisational conflict management

Conflict has been proven to be inescapable in the work environment because of the composite nature of organizations. The study on the Appraisal of the Relevance of Consultation in Organisational Conflict Management evaluated the relationship of consultation with conflict management in an organization. Deploying consultation strategies in conflict management douses the degree of impact and incidence of escalated conflict. The study administered a questionnaire to 200 respondents from Banking & Fintech, Manufacturing, Professional Institutes, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, Telecommunication, and Oil & Gas sectors in Southwest Nigeria through Google Forms, while 177 responded. A questionnaire was designed and validated by Industrial and Labour Relations Experts before administering it. Data were analyzed using charts, tabulations, percentages, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) methods. Findings confirmed that relationships exist between conflict management and consultation as a form of social dialogue. Most respondents agreed in strong and mild terms that deploying social dialogue in conflict management can trim down conflict; facilitate collaboration; replace confrontational relationships; establish a harmonious industrial climate; and open and encourage channels for consensus building. Since conflict is an intrinsic feature of organizational relations, sustaining a mutual relationship requires a deliberate commitment to adopt conflict management strategies. Social dialogue through consultation proved to be a potent apparatus for promoting effective conflict management. This highlights the need for organizations to prioritize consultation as a strategic approach to conflict resolution, ensuring harmony and collaboration across workplace dynamics. Hence, it is recommended that consultation should be deployed as a procedure to manage conflict in an organization.

Mobsters, Mounties, and Canadian Governmental Responses to Organized Crime, 1965–67

Due to its secretive nature and propensity to spread if left unchecked, organized crime bedeviled politicians and law enforcement officials in North America. The popular mythology surrounding the gangster and mobster betrayed the harsh realities of illicit business activities geared towards exploitive profit. Canada was slow to appreciate that career criminals connected to mafia syndicates from the United States and their home-grown accomplices were present and active during the 1960s. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police/Gendarmerie royale du Canada took the lead in criminal intelligence and maintained close relations with American law enforcement counterparts at the federal level. Separate efforts in Quebec focused on investigation towards prosecution, pushed by a tough-on-crime justice minister. The two approaches towards the problem came up in discussions between federal and provincial authorities during meetings in July 1965 and January 1966, interspersed by a federal election that returned a Liberal minority government to power. This article argues that the federal government’s preference for a modest law enforcement solution stymied real progress and instead served political expediency to dodge a demanded royal commission. Organized crime continued to flourish despite governmental efforts.

Career choices: exploring military migrants’ justifications for their enlistment in the British Armed Forces

PurposeUsing “on justification” theory, this article explores the rationality and justification of the West-African military migrants for joining the British Armed Forces.Design/methodology/approachWe utilise an interpretive qualitative research methodology in this study. We undertook semi-structured interviews with 42 military migrants who joined the British Armed Forces between 1998 and 2013.FindingsWe identify various factors that influenced the participants’ decision to join the British Armed Forces, such as individual aspirations, the need to find a “path” at a crossroad in life (e.g. a career dilemma or the loss of a parent), economic opportunities and institutional incentives. Military migrants’ career motivations are shaped by their deep affection for the Crown and their desire to give back to the country with which they share a colonial history.Practical implicationsThe UK’s Ministry of Defence, government and policymakers could gain valuable insights from this study. The findings could significantly shape their recruitment and retention policies, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of the military profession. This could be a crucial step in addressing the recruitment challenges and personnel deficit currently faced by the British Armed Forces.Originality/valueThis study provides a fresh perspective on the dynamics of the military service of foreign-born veterans. The article focuses on an underrepresented group (West-African military migrants) to enhance our understanding of their career motivations in the British Armed Forces. We identify and categorise the motivations and justifications for military migrants’ enlistment in the British Armed Forces according to seven justifications, each depicting a career pattern informing the participants’ motivations and justifications for their enlistment.

Evaluation of The Policy Implementation of The Appointment of Honorary Teachers to Become State Civil Servants with Work Agreements in Jember District

Government Minister No. 49 of 2018 concerning the Management of Government Employees with Work Agreements (GEWA) explained that government agencies must arrange the needs of the number and type of GEWA positions based on position analysis and workload. problems with the availability of teachers in Jember Regency, especially at SMA/SMK, include a growing number of honorary teachers because many have opened their retirement period, honorary teachers are uneven and there are still non-linear in submitting study offers, supplements, and education. The Jember Regency Government has prepared 26% of the formation for Teachers in the Implementation of Appointment of Civil Servants of GEWA that is adjusted to the employee burden of 30% of the APBD. Data from BKSDM of Jember Regency recorded that the number of honorary teachers for elementary to high school/high school levels in the sub-district was around 2,787 people. and is not comparable to the 26% quota of teacher formations in the education district of Civil Servant PPK Students in Indonesia. Research results show that unsuitable and unfulfilled include effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy and equalization. Meanwhile, the other 2 dimensions including responsiveness and accuracy are appropriate and fulfilled.

The evolving practice of UK Government ministers

AbstractHow can understanding the practice of government ministers help us to understand changes in public administration over time? Interviews with former UK ministers suggest that their practice has changed over the last 25 years. Their executive role has been accentuated as they have come to emphasize the importance of delivery and implementation to policy making. Reasons for that are examined, and consideration is given to how that shift in emphasis affects the ministers–civil servant relationship.

A Scoping Review of Existing Policy Instruments to Tackle Overweight and Obesity in India: Recommendations for a Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategy

Background The Indian government is committed to addressing various manifestations of malnutrition, including overweight and obesity, inorder to improve individual health and well-being. The scoping review aims to map existing national policy instruments (programmes, schemes, regulations and guidelines) addressing overweight and obesity in India and analysing them for Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategies. Methods Systematic identification and selection of policy instruments using ‘Arksey and O’Malley’ framework was conducted from central government ministry websites, between March and June 2023. These instruments focused on nutrition and/or physical activity, targeting specific demographic groups like pregnant women, lactating mothers, children (0-5 years and 5-9 years), or adolescents (10-19 years); excluding those focusing on specific diseases like micronutrient deficiencies, wasting, and stunting. Based on search strategy six policy instruments were included and analysed for SBCC strategies. Results While many policy instruments incorporated SBCC plans; the ‘National Programme for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD)’ stands out as a significant policy initiative specifically targeting the prevention of overweight and obesity within the broader context of Non-Communicable Diseases. It adopts a comprehensive approach addressing key drivers contributing to overweight/obesity across multiple levels of behavioural influence i.e., individual, interpersonal, community and organisation for health promotion. However, there’s need to strengthen SBCC strategies related to prevention and management of obesity, especially screening and counselling, to cover all age groups with a particular focus on adolescents and youth. SBCC strategies can also be incorporated into India’s Integrated Nutrition Support Programme (POSHAN 2.0) and/or Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) under the National Health Mission. Conclusion This paper underscores the necessity for comprehensive strategies to address multifaceted origins of overweight and obesity. The NP-NCD stands out as a noteworthy initiative, and there is considerable potential for other programmes to emulate SBCC strategies to bolster their overall effectiveness. Note : *Policy instruments throughout the paper have been used to cover programmes, schemes, regulations and guidelines.

Challenges of mainstreaming institutional policy and frameworks of disaster risk management in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This research examines the challenges of mainstreaming disaster risk management (DRM) policies and frameworks into the existing institutional structures in Ethiopia. Employing an exploratory sequential mixed method approach, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, the study delves into the effectiveness of DRM implementation within the Ethiopian context. Primary data was mainly collected through a survey of 120 individuals and interviews with 18 experts. The findings showed that the Ethiopian sector encountered significant challenges in integrating DRM policies and frameworks due to limited resources and capacity. Implementation faced obstacles like insufficient data, coordination gaps between government agencies, and a lack of awareness among stakeholders. Additionally, frequent natural disasters exacerbate these challenges, demanding more robust and adaptive DRM strategies. The study underscores the necessity of enhancing the capacity of governmental institutions, civil society organisations, and local communities through targeted training programmes and knowledge-sharing platforms to facilitate effective DRM implementation. Moreover, the research emphasises the apparent gap related to the policies and frameworks and the imperative of strengthening institutional coordination and collaboration among relevant government ministries, agencies, and stakeholders, advocating for the establishment of inter-ministerial task forces or committees dedicated to DRM.

Conviction or Consent? Tracing the Influence of Coalition Partners on Family Policy under Centre-Right Ministers

Abstract Many studies have analysed what could motivate centre-right governments to develop progressive family policies, given their historically traditionalist ideology. Updating classic institutionalist accounts, this article expands the focus beyond centre-right parties formally in charge. It argues that in coalition and minority governments, partisan veto players may act as agenda-setters, design policy reforms and successfully exert pressure to approve them through three mechanisms: agreements for government formation, conditions for government survival and bureaucratic continuity. Drawing on novel empirical data from interviews and document analysis, this article applies deductive process tracing to analyse the German parental allowance reform of 2006 and the Spanish 2017 paternity leave extension. The findings complement existing studies that focus on the agency of centre-right parties as ‘protagonists’ of these reforms, arguing that in some cases they have instead ‘consented’ to reforms proposed and supported by other parties.

Disposal of SARS-CoV-2 corpses: experiences of environmental health officers

BackgroundThough the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is no more of a public health emergency, the experiences from burying SARS-CoV-2 infectious dead bodies may remain with the workers. For Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), dealing with decedents during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak may arouse strong feelings of pity, horror, repulsion, disgust, and anger at the tragedy. Therefore, this study aims to explore the experiences of EHOs in disposing off of confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 fatalities in Ghana.MethodsUsing an 18-item interview guide, we gathered data from 27 EHOs from three regions of Ghana. We followed the steps in Descriptive Phenomenology in conducting the data analysis.Resultsi. EHOs were confronted with several occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards like physical and chemical injuries, threat of harm, and psychological harm, ii. The officers also faced severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Unfortunately, they were not provided with any form of psychological support during the period.ConclusionThe SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Ghana exposed major fault lines in the health and safety/disaster and emergency preparedness of EHOs towards the burial of infectious disease dead bodies. Clearly, the disposal exercise failed to uphold the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4.4, 8.3, and 8.5, which advocate for the promotion of decent jobs for all.RecommendationGhana’s Ministries of Health, Local Government, and Sanitation and Water Resources need to attach Clinical Psychologists and security personnel to the disposal teams in future exercises to provide psychological support and security to the team. Though studies on the disposal of infectious bodies in Africa exist, very little is known about the experiences of EHOs in the disposal of SARS-CoV-2 dead bodies during the outbreak.

The effects of government policy on performance planning for implementation of performance contracting in the government ministries in Kenya

The study sought to analyse the effects of government policy on performance planning for the implementation of performance contracting in government ministries in Kenya. A mixed-method type of design was adopted. Stratified sampling was used to sample four government ministries. In sampling staff to be interviewed, top and middle-level management totalling 831 were identified. Thirty per cent of the 831 (249 staff members) were considered to be representative enough for the study. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics. The study used ANOVA, regression analysis, and correlation to analyse the relationship between variables. The study finding observed that there was a strong correlation coefficient of 0.866 at p-value of 0.035 between government policy and performance planning, which implied that employees' performance planning is significant in the implementation of performance contracting; a unit standard deviation increase in effective training and development was likely to increase the standard deviation of performance monitoring by 0.096 on implementation of performance contracting; a unit standard deviation increase in top management commitment was likely to increase the standard deviation of performance reporting on performance implementation by 0.337. The study concludes that government policies have an effect on performance contracting in government ministries in Kenya. Further, the conclusion was that government policy has minimally addressed issues of training and development. Therefore, it is recommended that transfer of training be included in the next reviews of the government policy and specifically addressed in the workplace that often affect the impact of training and development.

Analysing the Impact of Minimum Wage Laws on Low-Income Workers in Selected Government Ministries, Agencies, Departments and Parastatals in Benue State

This study analyzed the Impact of Minimum Wage Laws on Low-Income Workers in Selected Government Ministries, Agencies, Departments, and Parastatals in Benue State. It specifically examined the impact of the National Minimum Wage Act on Minority Workers as well as the impact of the Labour Act on Rural Workers in selected government MDAs in Benue State. The target population is 2,803 and a sample size of 338 was derived from Krejcie and Morgan method. The hypotheses were tested with simple linear regression analysis on Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) at a 5 percent significant level. Hypothesis one revealed a statistically significant negative impact of the National Minimum Wage Act on minority workers in selected government MDAs in Benue State. Hypothesis two showed that there is a strong negative impact of the Labour Act on Rural Workers in selected government MDAs in Benue State. The study concluded that there is a statistically significant negative impact of impact of minimum wage laws on low-income workers in selected government ministries, agencies, departments and parastatals in Benue State. It was recommended that policymakers need to review and adjust the National Minimum Wage Act to ensure fair compensation for minority workers in government MDAs by conducting wage audits and aligning wages with the local cost of living. Also, the government needs to revise the labour to address the unique challenges of rural workers in government MDAs by implementing region-specific policies and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

Contribution of Smart Learning on Students’ Academic Competences in Private Universities in Rwanda

The integration of smart learning in teaching and learning process can be successful and increase Students’ academic competences as long as smart learning facilities are integrated. This study titled “contribution of smart learning on students’ academic competences in private universities in Rwanda” assessed the contribution of smart learning technologies on students’ academic performance and explored the relationship between smart learning and students’ academic competences in private universities in Rwanda. In order formulate research design, the study was guided by system and flipping classroom theory. The research adopted a descriptive research design. The targeted population of the study was 400 respondents who were sampled by using Yamane’s formula of sample calculation to become 200 composed by 7 Staff members, 23 lecturers and 170 students. The staff members were purposively chosen while students and lectures were simple randomly sampled. The data collection tools used in this study were Questionnaires and interview. In order to analyses data, the study adopted descriptive, quantitative and qualitative techniques. Through retesting piloted study, reliability was employed by using accurate valid measures. The results showed that the use of smart learning facilities has improved the students’ competences in campuses where 70.6 % strongly agree and 15.9 % answered agree. The study further confirmed that smart learning tools engage and motivate students’ learning process where 71.2 % responded strongly agree and 17.1% responded agree. The study concluded that there was a correlation between smart learning and students’ academic competences where Karl Pearson coefficient of correlation was 0.751, which means the smart learning, contribute to the students’ academic competences. The study recommended that through ministry of education government of Rwanda need to increase fund allocated in supporting private universities. Higher Education Council also need to increase its intensive monitoring and evaluation on the effective use of smart learning within campuses. Lecturers need allow all students to interact with computers and smart digital tools.

The Effect of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) on Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance in Government Ministries in, Nigeria

This study critically examined the effect of International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) on transparency and accountability of government ministries in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted survey design technique using structured questionnaire which was administered to sample of 100 respondents. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The hypotheses formulated were tested using multivariate regression analysis techniques at 5% level of significance. The result of the study shows that adoption of IPSAS increases the level of accountability, transparency and good governance in the selected ministries. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendation are suggested; that Nigerian government should enact an enabling law to back up the adoption and implementation of IPSAS and more importantly institute appropriate sanctions to ensure full compliance.

Establishing the effects of training and development on performance monitoring for implementation of performance contracting in the government ministries in Kenya

The study aimed to establish the effect of training on performance monitoring for implementation of performance contracting in the government ministries in Kenya. A mixed-method type of design was adopted. In sampling staff to be interviewed, top and middle-level management totalling 831 were identified. Thirty per cent of the 831 (249 staff members) considered it to be representative enough. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics. The study used ANOVA, regression analysis, and correlation to analyse the relationship between variables. Reliability of instruments was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, whose alpha value is equal to or greater than 0.70, which is considered sufficient. Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was calculated for each item, and items with a CVR value below 0.99 were eliminated. The final instrument comprised 22 items with CVR values ranging from 0.99 to 1.00. The study found that a unit standard deviation increase in effective training and development was likely to increase the standard deviation of performance monitoring by 0.096 on implementation of performance contracting. The study concludes that training and development have an effect on performance contracting in government ministries in Kenya. The study further recommends that transfer of training and development be included in the next review of the policy.

A Future in the Past

Australia's History educators frequently face challenges regarding the value of post-school qualifications in history. Comments from Australian Government ministers have intensified claims that history degrees lack broad skills valued by employers. This study addresses the dearth of research examining the alignment between learning outcomes from history degrees and occupational skills. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on learning outcomes from 27 history degrees offered by Australian universities. These outcomes were mapped against the Australian Government's Skills Classification Core Competencies and Occupation Listings, employing a rigorous curriculum mapping methodology. The results identified 126 occupations that align with the skills and competencies developed through history degrees. This research not only challenges misconceptions about the employability of history graduates but also provides empirical evidence of the broad applicability of historical skills across various sectors. The findings reveal a significant concentration of history graduates in managerial and professional roles, indicating the high value placed on critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills developed by studying history. However, the study also highlights areas for improvement, particularly in digital engagement and numeracy skills. The research demonstrates that history degrees cultivate a range of transferable skills highly sought after in the modern job market, including advanced communication, critical analysis, research proficiency, and adaptability. These skills position history graduates to excel in diverse fields such as public policy, journalism, law, business, and education. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in curriculum design to enhance graduate employability. This research contributes valuable insights for curriculum development and career guidance in history education, demonstrating that history degrees lead to diverse and meaningful employment outcomes. It also provides a robust evidence base for advocating the value of historical studies in an increasingly skills-focused higher education landscape.

Collaborative governance of an integrated system for collecting contributions for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector: a synthesis of stakeholder perspectives

BackgroundMany low-and middle-income countries have adopted social health insurance schemes. However, the collection of contributions from the large informal sector of these economies poses a significant challenge. Employing an integrated system of contribution collection from all relevant institutions may be cost-effective. We used the integrative framework for collaborative governance, to explore and explain factors that may shape the governance of an integrated system for collecting contributions for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector in Zambia.MethodsWe undertook a qualitative case study involving 25 key informants drawn from government ministries and institutions, cooperating partners, non-governmental organizations, and association representatives in the informal sector. Data were analyzed thematically using Emerson’s integrative framework for collaborative governance.ResultsThe main drivers of collaboration included a need for comprehensive policies and legislation to oversee the integrated system for contribution collection, prevent redundancy, reduce costs, and enhance organizational effectiveness. However, challenges such as leadership issues and coordination complexities were noted. Factors affecting principled engagement within the collaborative regime consisted of communication gaps, organizational structure disparities, and the adoption of appropriate strategies to engage the informal sector. Additionally, factors influencing shared motivation involved concerns about power dynamics, self-interests, trust issues, corruption, and a lack of common understanding of the informal sector.ConclusionThis study sheds light on a multitude of factors that may shape collaborative governance of an integrated system for contribution collection for social health insurance, pension, and taxes from the informal sector, providing valuable insights for policymakers and implementers alike. Expanding social health insurance coverage to the large but often excluded informal sector will require leveraging factors identified in this study to enhance collaboration with pension and tax subsystems.

Intra-Executive Dynamics and Presidential Popularity in Semi-Presidential Regimes

In semi-presidential regimes presidents need to strike a balance between representing the nation and sharing power with prime ministers. The coexistence of the executives may pose challenges to the presidents, but it could also strengthen their public standing. Yet we lack information on how party-political shifts and clashes between the executives shape public opinion on presidents. Covering the period 2000–2020 and including presidents from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Poland and Portugal, this article reveals that presidential popularity is influenced by the political weakness of the government, as both weak and strong presidents’ popularity ratings increased during minority governments, and by the constitutional strength of the presidency, as people seem to tolerate more confrontational involvement mostly from those presidents with stronger constitutional powers. The impact of cohabitation, in turn, appears to be more context-specific, sometimes benefitting the president’s public standing, while at other times harming it. The results thus suggest that being politically opposed to the government may boost the president’s political capital, but only under certain circumstances.