National Reform Programmes Research Articles

School accountability reforms and the use of special education

This paper analyses the relationship between Norwegian school reform implementation and the use of special education. After the introduction of the national reform programme called the ‘Kunnskapsløftet’ (‘Knowledge promotion’) in 2006, the use of special education has increased dramatically in Norway. As part of the national reform, municipalities were encouraged to implement accountability elements in their governing systems. There is evidence that the municipalities have implemented the reform to varying degrees and at different points in time. I exploit these variations in timing to investigate whether the growth in the use of special education reflects the degree of reform implementation in these municipalities. The variation in the timing of reform implementation is exploited by means of the application of a Jacobsen, Lalonde, and Sullivan [1993. “Earning Losses of Displaced Workers.” The American Economic Review 83 (4): 685–709] strategy. I find that increases in the proportion of special-education placements are significantly smaller in municipalities with a high degree of reform implementation.

Identifying Reasons for Readmission from the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit Compared to a General Neurology Hospital Service (P04.017)

Objective: To identify reasons for 30-day readmissions from the epilepsy monitoring unit, compared to a general neurology hospital service. Background Reducing readmissions has become a national target for health care reform, but this assumes that a significant proportion of readmissions are preventable. Very little has been published on reasons for readmissions in neurological patients. Without such information it is unclear if readmission rates are an appropriate measure of quality of care in these patient populations. Design/Methods: Patients readmitted to our hospital from 4/1/2011 to 9/30/2011, with any diagnosis, and within 30 days of discharge from either the epilepsy monitoring unit or the general neurology hospital service, were included in this analysis. We retrospectively analyzed, via manual chart review, the electronic medical record to identify reasons for readmission. Reasons for readmissions were classified as planned vs. unplanned, expected recurrence/progression of underlying disease, unexpected recurrence/progression, hospital-acquired complication of index admission, and unrelated to index admission. Results: Sixty-two total readmissions were reviewed. Overall readmit rates were 6% for epilepsy, 7.3% for neurology. Rates for planned readmissions were 40% for epilepsy, 18.5% for neurology, with higher rates observed among epilepsy patients due to readmission for planned epilepsy surgery. Expected recurrence/progression was the primary reason for readmission in 23% of all epilepsy and 48% of all neurological readmissions. Hospital-acquired complications explained 23% of epilepsy, and 11% of neurology readmissions. The most common hospital-acquired complication was medication-related adverse events. Conclusions: Rates of planned readmissions ranged from 20-40%, a fact easily overlooked in national payment reform programs which treat nearly all readmissions, planned and unplanned, equally. Expected recurrence or progression of underlying disease was the most common cause for readmission in both epilepsy and general neurology patient populations. Identifying reasons for readmissions is an important initial step toward the ultimate goal of reducing the number of preventable readmissions. Disclosure: Dr. Bautista has nothing to disclose.

The direct use value of municipal commonage goods and services to urban households in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

To redress past racial discrepancies in ownership and tenure, the ANC government of South Africa initiated programmes to make land accessible to the previously disadvantaged. A key component of the national land reform programme was the provision of commonage lands to urban municipalities for use by the urban poor. However, there has been no assessment of the contribution that urban commonage makes to previously disadvantaged households. This study assessed the economic benefits of the commonage programme to local households, through an in-depth survey of 90 households across three small towns in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. We examined the marketed and non-marketed consumptive direct-use values of land-based livelihoods on commonage, calculated via the ‘own reported values’ approach. The results indicate that a proportion of South Africa's urban population rely to some degree on municipal commonage for part of their livelihoods. Commonage contributions to total livelihood incomes ranged between 14 and 20%. If the contributions from commonage were excluded, the incomes of over 10% of households in each study town would drop below the poverty line. Overall, the value of harvests from commonage was worth over R1 000 (US$ 142) per hectare per year and over R4.7 million (US$ 0.68 million) per commonage per year. However, the extent and nature of use and reliance was not uniform among households, so that we developed a typology of commonage users, with four types being identified. However, rapidly growing urban populations and high levels of poverty potentially threaten the sustainability of commonage resource use. Yet the national land reform programme focuses largely on the transfer of land to municipalities and not on sustainable management. Municipalities, in turn, invest relatively little in commonage management, and the little they do is focussed on livestock production. Non-timber forest products are not considered at all, even though this study shows that they are a vital resource for the urban poor, notably for energy and construction materials.

Evaluation of the importance of professional competences: the case of Spanish trainers

PurposeEducation and training are critical factors for achieving the Lisbon strategy's objectives of encouraging economic growth, competitiveness and social inclusion in the European Union (EU). The role of continuing vocational training (CVT) and its contribution to personal development and fulfilment is increasingly recognised in EU Member States' National Reform Programmes. In this context the main objective of this paper is to establish a ranking of the importance of the competences required by CVT trainers in Spain according to national lifelong learning (LLL) standards.Design/methodology/approachA combination of literature review analysis and evaluation of experts' participation is used, based on two‐round e‐Delphi techniques. The literature review analysis identified the criteria, sub‐criteria and indicators that describe the trainers' basic (pedagogical) and specific (skills, abilities, aptitude/attitude and attributes) competences. The questionnaire summarises a wide range of competences and skills related to Spanish trainers. It was distributed among 20 national experts (with experience ranging from three to 30 years in informal and non‐formal training and professional profiles such as training manager, high manager, training programmer, trainers and tutors among others) in order to evaluate the importance of different competences.FindingsThe analysis of the e‐Delphi expert evaluation yields two main findings. First, it provides a unique e‐Delphi draft that contains trainers' professional competences in a non‐formal permanent learning context. Second, it also includes the evaluation of their importance by 20 Spanish experts who are considered to be a qualitative national sample.Practical implicationsThe role of European and Spanish trainers has changed in the last two decades. Trainers need wide recognition of their professional profile in a LLL framework. This requires the recognition of new and renewal of traditional competences, so that they can work as professionals of non‐formal education and assume responsibilities.Originality/valueCVT takes on a variety of forms in different countries and also within a given country. Thus the identification and anticipation of competences and skills required by trainers as important actors on whom training quality and efficiency depends is important. In this case study, the analysis of the expert evaluations shows that specific competences/skills (personal abilities, attitudes in classroom and workshop), are very important in developing a trainer's professional figure. Traditional pedagogical competences (planning, imparting and evaluation) are not forgotten, but new skills have additional characteristics such as “identification, and analysis of training needs”, “training management”, “training implementation” and participant focus.

Government Expenditures and Economic Growth in Europe: The Contribution of Public Expenditures to the Lisbon Strategy (Staatsausgaben Und Wirtschaftswachstum in Europa: Der Beitrag Der Öffentlichen Ausgaben Zur Lissabon-Strategie)

The EU's Lisbon strategy of 2000 (renewed in 2005) calls for substantial improvements in the quality and sustainability of public finance. In this context, the current study concentrates on the growth potential of public expenditures. National Reform Programs are analyzed in order to draw conclusions on the growth-orientation of public expenditures in Austria. One conclusion is that the structure and size of public expenditures in Austria are consistent with long-term fiscal stability. However, the growth potential could be further enhanced by redistributing the responsibilities between the different levels of government, introducing effective expenditure rules, and restructuring public expenditures in favor of educational and R&D expenditures.

Infrastructures of Consent: Interrogating Citizen Participation Mandates in Indian Urban Governance

SummaryHow does the state ‘perform’ people's participation and public consultation exercises in a context where it is increasingly forced to rely on private capital to build infrastructure? How do these new forms of participation and consultation articulate with existing institutions of people's representation? Are the new mandates for citizen participation and public consultation that are written into the reform agenda driving a further wedge into the already fractured citizenship that characterizes the Indian urban polity? These are the questions posed by this paper.While ‘participatory development’ itself has come under critique since the late 1990s for its demonstrated effects of disenfranchising marginalised groups, manufacturing consensus for plans already made, and/or closing off alternative pathways for transformation, this paper argues that contemporary practices of public consultation and citizen participation have moved out of the ambit of such critiques. No longer do they contain more than tokenistic gestures toward broad inclusion or people's empowerment. Instead, the imperatives of ‘fast‐tracking’ India's cities into a post‐Third World regime of ‘global cities’, have given new shape and meaning to contemporary practices of participation and consultation. The paper explores notions of participation as located in 'second generation’ or institutional reforms, particularly as articulated by prominent state‐sponsored public‐private partnerships such as the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) and the Tamilnadu Urban Development Fund (TNUDF). These ‘model’ partnerships provided key programmatic elements that became the basis of national reform programs, notably the Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The paper also discusses the emerging character of collective action in Indian cities in terms of its implications for the unfolding of governance reform measures such as the JNNURM's Community Participation Law.

Use and users of municipal commonage around three small towns in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Municipal commonages surround many small towns throughout South Africa, and are an integral component of the national land reform programme. But little is known about their extent, use or value, and most appear to have limited or no management or investment. This paper reports on a survey of randomly selected households in three small towns in the Eastern Cape to ascertain the extent and purpose of use of municipal commonages. Between 27% and 70% of urban households used commonage depending on site. Key resources used were fuelwood, medicinal plants, and grazing of livestock. Typically, commonage using households were poorer and less educated than other urban residents, although the profile of users is unique for each town. Given the extensive use of commonage resources, and their contribution to the livelihoods of the poor, local municipalities need to develop and implement sound management strategies that account for all users of commonages, rather than the oft encountered focus on livestock owners and production.

The EU or national reform program for Turkey: Does the political feasibility depend on the EU’s absorption capacity?

Concerns of the EU countries on Turkey's membership are summarized by the term 'EU's absorption capacity'. This implies that Turkey may end lip as a member of the EU or may not. Even the reform process can abruptly come to an end due to reasons irrespective of the performance of Turkey in a two-sector model, we show that despite this uncertainty, if before the start of the reform program a 'no' is perceived as less likely, the W-reform will be supported ex-ante. However, a 'no' at the midst of the EU reform program can block the reform process ex-post, since both of the sectors suddenly find themselves in a position that they should have not accepted beforehand Moreover, such a situation can render continuing with the alternative national reform program very hard. On the contrary, if the probability of a 'yes' is ex-ante perceived as less likely, the traditional sector opposes the EU reform process. However, if this perception is wrong and the true probability of a 'yes' is high, a reform program which if implemented would have been in the interests of both of the sectors ex-post, will not be implemented.

New actors within the European Employment strategy (EES): the presence of the legislative power and trade unions in a coexistent dialogue in Luxembourg (2005-2008)

The appropriation of the Lisbon agenda 2010 by the legislative power and its participation in the elaboration of the National Reform Programmes (NRP) of 2005 and 2008 go hand in hand with an increasing parliamentary involvement in EU dossiers. In the context of the Lisbon treaty, this involvement will potentially increase. As regards the debates that have surrounded the Lisbon Strategy, it is shown that Luxembourg’s House of Representatives brought together both representatives from the government and the legislative power with the civil society to generate a debate on the future reforms to be put forward. Considering the panoply of actors involved, it is further argued that the resulting dialogue does coexist with more traditional and institutionalized instruments of dialogue that have embodied the consensus-seeking “Luxembourg social model”.

Globalization and the EU Model of Economic Governance

Globalization and the EU Model of Economic Governance

Vocational qualification frameworks in Asia‐Pacific: a cresting wave of educational reform?

The introduction of national qualification frameworks (NQFs), including frameworks specifically for the vocational sector (NVQFs), are policy initiatives that have far reaching implications for the management and delivery of education and training. Despite the caution called for by researchers and the challenging reality of implementation in both developed and developing countries, NQFs and NVQFs continue to be included in national reform programs in many regions of the world. This paper summarises current developments in the Asia‐Pacific region, where enthusiasm for national qualification frameworks has reached new heights. The paper also draws on the author’s experience in working on NVQF development and implementation in Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea to highlight the role of donors who are active partners in the expansion of the international trend to implement qualification frameworks.

Barriers to entry: insider/outsider politics and the political determinants of job security regulations

Job security regulations, here understood as restrictions on hiring and firing, figure prominently in the policy recommendations of international organizations or national reform programmes. However, in contrast to the prominence of job security regulations in the current reform discourse, hardly any attention is paid to their determinants. In this article, the insider/outsider theory of employment and unemployment is examined. Advocates of this approach argue that job security regulations mainly benefit the labour market insiders. As a consequence, insiders will fight all reforms that aim to dismantle these regulations. The insiders are supported by Social Democratic parties, which only represent the interests of the insiders. In this article it is maintained that this simple argument is wrong. Labour market outsiders can be expected to be equally supportive of job security regulations and Social Democratic parties as labour market insiders. This claim is supported by the empirical analysis using survey data.

Challenges for emerging livestock farmers in Limpopo province, South Africa

Land redistribution schemes (e.g. Settlement Land Acquisition Grant and Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development) initiated since the mid-1990s in Limpopo province under national land reform programs have sought to introduce a new generation of previously disadvantaged people to commercial livestock production. However, the beneficiaries of these redistribution schemes known as 'emerging farmers', many of whom generally possess limited technical and financial skills or knowledge of commercial farming practices, face serious challenges in their journey to commercial status. Problems facing the emerging farmers include lack of secure title to the land, lack of investment and working capital and limited access to credit, poor veld condition, highly variable climate, insufficient farm size, inadequate or damaged infrastructure, poor access to extension officers who, in turn, are often overcommitted and under-resourced, poor knowledge of pasture and animal management, and a highly competitive industry context. Many of these problems can be resolved only by government, but problems of pasture, animal, financial and property management can be addressed by training and support. This paper outlines the experiences to date of a project that is seeking to provide technical information and support to emerging livestock farmers in four communities in Limpopo province.

Gospodarka oparta na wiedzy w założeniach Strategii Lizbońskiej - na przykładzie Francji

The following article presents the steps France is taking in the framework of National ReformProgramme based on “social increase”. It assumes that in the area of research and innovationthe increase of private investment and the increase of effectiveness of public research and helpin popularizing innovations in economy are planned. The main aim of the programme is tocoordinate public research and intensify the cooperation with enterprises and developmentof innovation and industrial politics. The plans to reach these aims consist of the change the la-bor law, concessions, better access to funds, the promotion of IT and the increase of funds forlocal development and the improvement of technical infrastructure.The third priority, “the formation of economy based on knowledge”, distinguishes threespheres of enterprises. One of them is “the stimulation of research and innovation” which dealswith:– the increase of funds and effectiveness of public research by means of better formulationand estimation of scientific politics– the development and popularization of French scientific achievements, the improvementof attractiveness of scientific career and the integration of French research system in Europe– the development of science by means of projects and the improvement of effectivenessof public-private co-financing.Apart from the steps taken, spatial differentiation of development of R+D sector will be ana-lyzed.

Gospodarka oparta na wiedzy w założeniach Strategii Lizbońskiej -– na przykładzie Francji

In spite of the process of economic integration in Europe, a lot of developed countriessurpass it in the area of industrial development based on the knowledge. Therefore, in 2000 inLisbon the heads of EU countries accepted the common economic and social strategy for thetransformation of EU into the most dynamic and competitive economy in the world. To reach thisgoal a quick transformation into knowledge-based economy, the development of informationsociety and the increase of economic innovation are planned. The following article presents the steps France is taking in the framework of National ReformProgramme based on “social increase”. It assumes that in the area of research and innovationthe increase of private investment and the increase of effectiveness of public research and helpin popularizing innovations in economy are planned. The main aim of the programme is tocoordinate public research and intensify the cooperation with enterprises and developmentof innovation and industrial politics. The plans to reach these aims consist of the change the labor law, concessions, better access to funds, the promotion of IT and the increase of funds forlocal development and the improvement of technical infrastructure.The third priority, “the formation of economy based on knowledge”, distinguishes threespheres of enterprises. One of them is “the stimulation of research and innovation” which dealswith:–-the increase of funds and effectiveness of public research by means of better formulationand estimation of scientific politics–- the development and popularization of French scientific achievements, the improvementof attractiveness of scientific career and the integration of French research system in Europe–- the development of science by means of projects and the improvement of effectivenessof public-private cofinancing.Apart from the steps taken, spatial differentiation of development of R+D sector will be analyzed.

La Política Económica del gobierno Zapatero:

Como ya hicimos en los meses finales de los gobiernos anteriores, nuestro Consejo propone con este texto una valoración de la política económica del actual gobierno socialista. A analizar el modelo de crecimiento de la etapa anterior (la era Aznar–Rato) se dedica el primer apartado. Pero la economía española tiene problemas de fondo (apartado 2); destaca la persistente inflación diferencial, por exceso de demanda y por falta de adaptación de la oferta que también se traduce en un fuerte déficit de la balanza por cuenta corriente; en otras palabras, ausencia de suficiente competencia, y pérdida de competitividad derivada de una baja productividad. El apartado 3 entra en el análisis propiamente dicho de la política económica del gobierno Zapatero, recorriendo algunos de los más significativos campos de actuación de la misma; un campo de actuación, por cierto, relativamente reducido por la pertenencia a la zona euro. El Plan Nacional de Reformas, que calificamos de “frustrado” es resumido en el apartado 4; también valoramos brevemente el grado de cumplimiento de sus objetivos. El título del siguiente epígrafe, “La política de la política económica”, refleja cómo algunas líneas de acción política del presente gobierno condicionan de forma significativa la política económica futura. Concluye nuestro texto editorial con una síntesis de lo denominamos “claroscuros” de esa gestión a la vez de continuidad y de cambio.

TOWARDS A CITIZEN-DRIVEN INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EUROPE

Europe suffers a handicap in terms of competitiveness that is mostly related to innovation. Structural factors such as weak linkages between science and industry and unfavourable conditions for fast-growing SMEs explain the inadequate levels of knowledge creation. Only innovation policy measures that actively support the emergence of innovative firms and lead markets will be able to transform Europe into a leader in the knowledge economy. Cluster and open-innovation policies can foster innovation, responding better to individual needs, while national reform programmes should foster society-driven innovation, paying greater attention to the regional level. This paper outlines the key assumptions and premises of the European Union's contemporary innovation policy.

Sustainable growth, competitiveness and employment: Will EU cohesion policy deliver on the lisbon strategy?

The relaunched “growth and jobs” agenda of the EU is reflected in the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion. These have influenced the content of the new Structural Funds programmes, with increased importance accorded to innovation, knowledge and entrepre-neurship. There is evidence of a more strategic approach to economic development and a stronger prioritisation of support. Whether this makes a difference to the Lisbon agenda depends on how the programme objectives are implemented as well as the broader regulatory and other changes required in National Reform Programmes. Convincing Member States of the importance of Cohesion policy also depends on the impact of the Funds being identifiable.

Flexibility and Security in the Adaptability Pillar of the European Employment Strategy

The paper answers to what extent the European Commission, the Council and two member states have an active approach towards balancing flexibility and security at the labour market. To answer this question the stages of the policy cycle of the European Employment Strategy between 1998 and 2006 are analysed: firstly the employment guidelines are analysed and summarised in a flexicurity matrix. Next, the recommendations of the Council to Belgium and the Netherlands are viewed. Lastly, all National Reform Programmes of the two member states are evaluated to establish the level of a balance between flexibility and security in actual policy measures. The paper concludes that although some approaches in the policy cycle address a balance, most of the guidelines and policies deal with flexibility and security as two separate issues.

New Social Risks and Social Exclusion as a Challenge to Czech Social Policy

Current demographic and social changes in (post)modern societies present new challenges to social policy in the form of a new and deepening social and economic imbalance – they are sometimes referred to as ‘new social risks’ – and among the direct consequences of these new risks is the phenomenon of social exclusion. In response to these challenges, European agendas for employment and for social inclusion, are being implemented. These guidelines are set out in programme documents such as National Action Plans for Employment (since 2005 National Reform Programmes) and National Action Plans for Social Inclusion. Given that the Method of Open Coordination is a rather ‘soft instrument’, specific implementation of these agendas in European countries is dependent on many aspects of the national context. In this article, we aim to describe the specifics of the Czech Republic's approach to the problems of social exclusion. We will first explore the emphasis laid on the new risks in Czech social policy measures and attempt to draw comparisons with other EU countries. Next, we will also pay attention to the Czech approach to the agenda for social inclusion, which is among the key agendas in this area.