National Subsidy Research Articles

Universal Subsidized Continuous Glucose Monitoring Funding for Young People With Type 1 Diabetes: Uptake and Outcomes Over 2 Years, a Population-Based Study.

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is increasingly used in type 1 diabetes management; however, funding models vary. This study determined the uptake rate and glycemic outcomes following a change in national health policy to introduce universal subsidized CGM funding for people with type 1 diabetes aged <21 years. Longitudinal data from 12 months before the subsidy until 24 months after were analyzed. Measures and outcomes included age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemia, insulin regimen, CGM uptake, and percentage CGM use. Two data sources were used: the Australasian Diabetes Database Network (ADDN) registry (a prospective diabetes database) and the National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS) registry that includes almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes nationally. CGM uptake increased from 5% presubsidy to 79% after 2 years. After CGM introduction, the odds ratio (OR) of achieving the HbA1c target of <7.0% improved at 12 months (OR 2.5, P < 0.001) and was maintained at 24 months (OR 2.3, P < 0.001). The OR for suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c ≥9.0%) decreased to 0.34 (P < 0.001) at 24 months. Of CGM users, 65% used CGM >75% of time, and had a lower HbA1c at 24 months compared with those with usage <25% (7.8 ± 1.3% vs. 8.6 ± 1.8%, respectively, P < 0.001). Diabetic ketoacidosis was also reduced in this group (incidence rate ratio 0.49, 95% CI 0.33-0.74, P < 0.001). Following the national subsidy, CGM use was high and associated with sustained improvement in glycemic control. This information will inform economic analyses and future policy and serve as a model of evaluation diabetes technologies.

An uncertainty analysis for offshore wind power investment decisions in the context of the national subsidy retraction in China: A real options approach

As a new clean and sustainable energy that can reduce carbon emissions, offshore wind energy has received much more attention in recent years. In response to the complexity and flexibility issues in the decision-making process of offshore wind power investment, this paper proposes an investment decision framework based on a bidimensional binominal lattice that embeds deferral options, aiming to derive the appropriate development timing and investment potential for corporate investors in uncertain environment of market and technological development. And the investment model embedding revenue from carbon emission reduction highlights the advantages of clean energy. Furthermore, we creatively compare the policy effects of three subsidy schemes using the model as a policy analysis tool and use scenario analysis to simulate the impacts of dynamic adjustments in subsidies on investment decisions. For the case of an offshore wind power plant in Guangdong province, China, we find that the local government has to provide a subsidy of 0.11 CNY/kWh to allow the project to be profitable. In the absence of subsidies, however, it is preferable to defer the decision of investment with a wait-and-see attitude. Given the same total government financial input, we find that it will be more beneficial for the government to provide R&D subsidy than electricity tariff subsidy and operation subsidy in terms of long-term sustainable development. Our findings also demonstrate that considerations in the carbon trading market will also contribute to the development of offshore wind power. The conclusions of this article can provide valuable guidelines for corporate investors to adjust the appropriate development timing and for policymakers to optimize subsidy allocation, so as to promote the healthy development of offshore wind power and low-carbon transition.

Subsidizing Fuel-Efficient Cars: Evidence from China’s Automobile Industry

This paper examines the response of vehicle purchase behavior to China’s largest national subsidy program for fuel-efficient vehicles during 2010 and 2011. Using variation from the program’s eligibility cutoffs and the rollout of the subsidy program, the program is found to boost sales for subsidized vehicle models, but also to create a substitution effect within highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Estimates imply that ignoring the substitution effect would lead one to conclude that the program is welfare enhancing, whereas in fact the marginal cost of the program exceeds the marginal benefit by as much as 300 percent. (JEL D12, H25, L25, L62, O14, P23, P36)

PRESIDENTS AND THE CONDITIONAL CORE-SWING TARGETING OF THE NATIONAL SUBSIDY IN SOUTH KOREA, 1989–2018

AbstractIn this article, I present a theory of conditional core-swing targeting that focuses on the competition for majority control in legislative elections to explain how presidents use their strong budgetary powers to manipulate the distribution of the national subsidy in South Korea. Presidents whose parties already possess a legislative majority are expected to favor core municipalities to strengthen the foundations of their majority constituency, whereas those who seek majority control are predicted to prioritize swing municipalities in an effort to cross the majority threshold. Presidents are also anticipated to respond to the electoral cycle by shifting subsidies to riskier municipalities when elections approach. Using a novel data set on national subsidy allocations that spans three decades, I find evidence in favor of the hypotheses. This article demonstrates that the beneficiaries of distributive favoritism are not fixed, and that politicians can engage in complex and varied targeting strategies to achieve their objectives.

How could Finland promote renewable-energy technology innovation and implementation?

Abstract Several major market failures are hindering renewable energy production. Probably the most significant one of these are negative externalities. Another issue hindering renewable energy production is low technological and commercial maturity. These technologies might not become commercially viable in the near future without state intervention. This study aims to analyse Finnish energy policy based on current legislation related to renewable energy production and budget policy related to renewable-energy subsidies. This study shows that the polluter-pays principle is implemented quite well in Finland due to the emissions trading scheme and taxation. Still, this principle is not entirely implemented in electricity production as electricity tax is not based on the carbon intensity of the fuel used, but rather on who uses the electricity. National subsidy policies focus on a short-term increase in renewable energy production as most subsidies are production subsidies granted through a bidding process, making these subsidy policies partly technology-neutral. These policies do not take into account long-term needs for energy policy as much as they could.

Does subsidizing the private for-profit sector benefit the poor? Evidence from national antimalarial subsidies in Nigeria and Uganda.

Subsidising quality-assured artemisinin combination therapies (QAACTs) for distribution in the for-profit sector is a controversial strategy for improving access. The Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) was the largest initiative of this kind. We assessed the equity of AMFm in two ways using nationally representative household survey data on care seeking for children from Nigeria and Uganda. First, the delivery of subsidized drugs through the for-profit sector via AMFm was compared with two alternative mechanisms: subsidized delivery in public health facilities and unsubsidized delivery in the for-profit sector. Second, we developed a novel extension of benefit incidence analysis (BIA) methods based on the concept of pass-through, and applied them to Uganda. In Nigeria, the use of subsidized QAACTs from both public health facilities and for-profit outlets was concentrated among the rich, while in Uganda, the use of QAACTs from both sources was concentrated among the poor. Similarly, the BIA of AMFm found that the intervention was pro-poor in Uganda. Unsubsidized antimalarials from for-profit outlets were distributed equally across wealth quintiles in both countries. Private sector subsidies may have a role in bolstering access to effective malaria treatments, including among the poor, but the equity impact of subsidies may depend on context.

Ten Years of GIAHS Development in Japan

Approximately ten years have passed since Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) was introduced to Japan in 2011, with 11 GIAHS sites designated so far. The Japan Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (J-NIAHS), which considers resilience, multi-stakeholder participation and sixth industrialization, was subsequently established in 2016, and has designated 15 J-NIAHS sites. GIAHS sites can be classified into three major types: Landscape, farming method, and genetic resource conservation types, and most Japanese GIAHS sites are of the landscape type. Since there is almost no national subsidy for GIAHS or J-NIAHS, designated sites are expected to secure funding for conservation from their own efforts. For this reason, a voluntary network of the Japanese GIAHS sites has been active in promoting cooperation on GIAHS conservation. The priorities of the Japanese GIAHS have focused on raising public awareness about GIAHS and J-NIAHS, improving livelihoods, as well as fostering the international exchange of experience and knowledge regarding Agricultural Heritage Systems, especially among Japan, China and Korea.

A STUDY ON CRITERIA FOR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT INSPECTION FOR WOODEN DETACHED HOUSES, PART 1 : COMPARISON OF PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE ARCHITECTURAL SCHOOLS

There is no definition of criteria for the performance improvement inspection. This study researches the public sector, which includes national subsidies and financial loans for housing renovation with performance improvement, and private training sessions of six architectural schools with four examples of survey reports. The public sector requires inspection of seven criteria. The private groups educate architects on inspection methods for the performance improvement beyond the public sector. They educate about inspection method of deterioration status and performance improvement, and legal integrity before renovation. Moreover, the preparation of those renovation plans is taught.

What is the optimal subsidy for residential solar?

How do we design clean energy subsidies to deliver greater benefits to society? Analytical answers to this question are scarce. Modeling should address both direct benefits from stimulating consumer adoption the year the subsidy is paid as well as indirect benefits from lowering future technology costs. We develop a benefit-cost analysis of residential solar subsidies in the US, disaggregated by state, accounting for technological progress, consumer adoption, and carbon and criteria emission reductions. We assess existing solar subsidies and also find the optimal subsidy schedule that maximizes net benefits starting in the year 2018. In the base case the national flexible optimal subsidy schedule begins at $585/kW and declines to zero in 14 years. The optimal subsidy starts higher and falls more quickly than the current federal tax credit, due to long-term benefits from early cost reductions and the need to reduce subsidies as a technology becomes cheaper. We also estimate state-by-state flexible subsidies which result in higher net benefits compared to a homogenous national subsidy ($2.8 billion versus $1.0 billion). Neglecting criteria pollution benefits, optimal subsidies accounting for technological progress and consumer behavior cost the government $45–49 per ton of carbon abated, much lower than the total abatement cost.

Operating leverage and the cost of debt in European agri-food firms

Aim of study: To analyse the effect that operating leverage exerts on the cost of debt of agri-food firms in Europe, both in isolation and indirectly through its other risk factors.Area of study: We used panel data made up of 18,360 European firms from 2009 to 2016 (146,880 observations).Material and methods: The data were extracted from the ORBIS database and EUROSTAT. The econometric approach was estimated by the Generalized Method of Moments.Main results: The results obtained confirm that operating leverage or cost structure, in addition to affecting the cost of debt, also affects the relationship between that cost and other sources of risk. More specifically, indebtedness, size, specificity and age all affect the cost of debt to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the level of operating leverage of the company.Research highlights: The main contribution was the study of the cost of external financing as a function of the cost structure, because this directly influences the competitiveness of companies in a key sector of the European economy. We also demonstrated the country effect, taking into account the different policies and practices regarding the assumption of risk by firms. The agri-food sector has been subject to special aid programs of research &amp; development distributed unevenly across countries. If we add to this the national subsidy programs, the level of indebtedness is not a clear determinant of the cost of debt. The main determinant of that cost is the operating leverage.

OncoArendi Therapeutics as Platform-based Polish Biotech Company – A Case Study

OncoArendi Therapeutics SA (OAT) has been founded in 2012 as USstyle biotech operating in Poland. From the beginning, OAT has been focused on first-in-class or best-in-class programs involving interactions with novel targets with no clinical validation. The experienced group of founders thought that Poland offered an abundance of young talent and non-dilutive financing from European and national grants and subsidies, newly established research infrastructure and relatively little competition, as the biotech sector was still in its infancy. With strong proprietary IP, they thought, an experienced group of medicinal chemists could launch a competitive small molecule discovery business. Furthermore, the net cost of developing small molecules in Poland was several-fold lower than in the US or in western European countries. Based on these competitive factors, one could develop several programs in parallel with limited private investment, thus diversifying the high scientific and technological risk and increasing chances of long-term success. This case study shows how this strategy played out for OncoArendi over the last 7 years and how OncoArendi positions itself within the Polish biotech sector and on the increasingly competitive global biopharmaceutical scene.

Támogatni vagy nem támogatni? Filmtámogatási rendszerek kritikai megközelítése: az amerikai és az európai modell

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Jelen tanulmány célja, hogy a filmtámogatási rendszerek eredetét ismertesse, összehasonlítva az amerikai és európai fejlődés eltérő mozgatórugóit, amelyek az egyre erősödő filmtámogatási verseny globalizációjához vezettek. Az Európai Unió szabályai a filmgyártás területén az Európai Unió Működéséről Szóló Szerződés (EUMSZ) állami támogatási szabályait szabályozó cikkeinek fényében, valamint az Európai Bizottság Filmművészeti Közleménye támogatási szabályainak figyelembevételével kerültek rögzítésre.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Optimal range of plug-in electric vehicles in Beijing and Shanghai

Both China’s national subsidy policies for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) purchasers and passenger cars corporate average fuel consumption and new vehicle credit regulation (dual-credit policy) favor long-range 300+ km battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 80+ km plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). However, these electric vehicles tend to have lower energy efficiency and higher purchase and operation costs. Vehicle with larger batteries can also be less equitable because the subsidies are often provided to more expensive vehicles and wealthier owners. This study takes advantage of a novel dataset of daily driving data from 39,854 conventional gasoline vehicles in Beijing and 4999 PHEVs in Shanghai to determine the optimal range of BEVs and PHEVs within their respective cities. We simulate a model to explore ranges with which PEVs emit less GHGs than that of a baseline hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicle while ensuring that all daily travel demands are met. Our findings indicate that in both cities, the optimal ranges to balance cost and travel demand for BEVs are 350 km or less and for PHEVs are 60 km or less in Beijing and 80 km or less in Shanghai. We also find that to minimize carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the ranges are even lower 10 km in Beijing and 30 km in Shanghai. Our study suggests that instead of encouraging long-range PEVs, governments should subsidize PEV models with shorter ranges. Parallel efforts should also be made to both increase renewable energy over fossil fuels and expand charging facilities. Although individual mobility demand varies, the government could reduce occasional long-distance driving by subsidizing alternative transportation choices. Providing week-long driving trials to consumers before their purchases may help decrease the demand of very long range PEVs by alleviating the range anxiety through a learning process.

Energy Cooperatives and Municipalities in Local Energy Governance Arrangements in Switzerland and Germany

Participation of citizens in local energy decisions is increasingly recognized as helpful for a successful decentralized energy transition. In this article, we focus on energy cooperatives in which private individuals jointly develop facilities to generate energy from renewable sources, thus involving citizens both politically and economically. Focusing on Switzerland and Germany, we show that there is a strong linkage between such cooperatives and municipalities, characterized by collaboration and support, and that the cooperatives are well suited as collaborating partners. We also show that federalist structures are most suited for such local arrangements as municipalities must have leeway to support cooperatives in a targeted manner and to compensate for shortcomings in the energy policy of superordinate governmental levels. Based on these results, we suggest that local governments should be given sufficient financial capacities and autonomy to strengthen implementation of a decentralized energy transition that involves citizens. However, we also recognize that municipal structures alone are often insufficient and that superordinate policies, especially national subsidies, remain essential. Hence, policies at the municipal and national levels should take greater account of citizen initiatives, such as energy cooperatives, which exhibit various noncommodifiable advantages relevant to the energy transition.

Effectiveness of carbon pricing policies for promoting urban freight electrification: analysis of last mile delivery in Madrid

This research analyzes the effect of carbon pricing policies in transport electrification. It combines a heuristic algorithm to solve the Green Vehicle Routing Problem with Multiple Technologies and Partial Recharges with an economic Total Cost of Ownership model. The paper compares the performance of battery electric (BEV) and internal combustion vehicles (ICEV) for last mile delivery, using real data of Madrid (Spain). The results show that carbon pricing is scarcely effective when daily mileage is low (precisely when BEVs require incentives), and its effectivity increases as mileage increases (precisely when it is not so necessary to incentivize BEVs). Hence, carbon pricing is not an effective tool for promoting electric vehicles in the short term, and as a result, any political decision to fix CO2 prices must be adopted with a long-term view in mind. Specifically for the case of Spain, this research shows that current aids to BEVs are insufficient, with the exception of some regions like Madrid, which complement national subsidies with regional ones.

Investigating the Impact of Dissuasive Factors of the Fuel and Oil Products Smuggling in the Customs of Iran

The huge difference in the price of Iran's fuel across borders due to national subsidies to oil products and the fuel crisis in neighboring countries has caused smuggling of heavy goods to account for the highest rates of trafficking in goods from inside the country. Increasing fuel trafficking from the borders of the country is due to the huge difference in fuel prices in Iran with neighboring countries. In addition to the severe blows that the smuggling of these drugs causes on the economy of the region and the country, it leads to a false crisis and its dangers. Different perceptions of existing laws are different and various from the laws on similar issues, including the problems faced by the judiciary and government departments in counteracting the violations of fuel products. This study, considering the shortcomings and shortcomings of the smuggling of gas in the Iranian customs as well as the manner in which services are provided by customs, is to investigate the deterrent factors of smuggling fuel and oil products. For this purpose, a research was carried out at the customs level of the Mahirood border zone. Keywords: Smuggling, Iran Customs, Border Areas, Oil Products, Customs Rules. DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/9-12-08 Publication date :June 30 th 2019

Quality Label in Buildings and Construction – a Green Label Supporting the Sustainability of Buildings in Slovenia

Sustainable actions in the building sector need to be supported by appropriate quality assurance (QA) and control protocols and tools. In late 1990s the first – and to this date the only comprehensive – quality label for construction products and services was established in Slovenia: the Quality Label in Buildings and Construction (ZKG). It is a voluntary green label addressing not only the specific technical characteristics of products and services, but among other also the production process quality, internal QA schemes, regular training and education of staff, innovation and development activities, economic aspects, the impact of the activities on the environment, and the social role of the company in the local area. In this way it addresses the three core pillars of sustainability. The label has gained a prominent status and is being referred to in calls for tenders both in public and private sectors and in national subsidy schemes. The paper presents the structure and content of the assessment scheme and ranking system exposing their core elements. A more detailed approach is presented on the case of a window as a construction product and on the case of installation of windows as a service, underlining the positive role of the label with regard to raising the quality standards in the building sector on the national level.

The Social Dimension of EU State Aid Law and Policy

AbstractTraditionally, EU state aid law has been attached to the goals of maintaining free competition and preventing the distortionary effects of Member States’ economic intervention, while social considerations have been considered immaterial to state aid control. However, in more recent years, EU state aid law has acquired a clearer ‘social dimension’, indirectly streamlining national subsidies towards social goals. The entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, and particularly of Articles 3(3) TEU and 9 TFEU, has had an impact on the way in which social goals have been taken into account in the application of the state aid provisions. In the last decade, the European Commission has sought out a more appropriate balance between the main objective of preserving competition in the internal market on the one hand, and social objectives, also enshrined nowadays in the Treaties, on the other. This ‘social dimension’ is still underdeveloped, but emerges to varying degrees when looking respectively at the definition of state aid under Article 107(1) TFEU, at the scope of the derogations under Articles 107(2) and 107(3) TFEU and at the secondary legislation adopted for their implementation.

DECIDE: a cluster-randomized controlled trial to reduce unnecessary caesarean deliveries in Burkina Faso

BackgroundIn Burkina Faso, facility-based caesarean delivery rates have markedly increased since the national subsidy policy for deliveries and emergency obstetric care was implemented in 2006. Effective and safe strategies are needed to prevent unnecessary caesarean deliveries.MethodsWe conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial of a multifaceted intervention at 22 referral hospitals in Burkina Faso. The evidence-based intervention was designed to promote the use of clinical algorithms for caesarean decision-making using in-site training, audits and feedback of caesarean indications and SMS reminders. The primary outcome was the change in the percentage of unnecessary caesarean deliveries. Unnecessary caesareans were defined on the basis of the literature review and expert consensus. Data were collected daily using a standardized questionnaire, in the same way at both the intervention and control hospitals. Caesareans were classified as necessary or unnecessary in the same way, in both arms of the trial using a standardized computer algorithm.ResultsA total of 2138 and 2036 women who delivered by caesarean section were analysed in the pre and post-intervention periods, respectively. A significant reduction in the percentage of unnecessary caesarean deliveries was evident from the pre- to post-intervention period in the intervention group compared with the control group (18.96 to 6.56% and 18.27 to 23.30% in the intervention and control groups, respectively; odds ratio [OR] for incremental change over time, adjusted for hospital and patient characteristics, 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14 to 0.34; P < 0.001; adjusted risk difference, − 17.02%; 95% CI, − 19.20 to − 13.20%).The intervention did not significantly affect the rate of maternal death (0.75 to 0.19% and 0.92 to 0.40% in the intervention and control groups, respectively; adjusted OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.04 to 2.23; P = 0.253) or intrapartum-related neonatal death (4.95 to 6.32% and 5.80 to 4.29% in the intervention and control groups, respectively, adjusted OR 1.73; 95% CI 0.82 to 3.66; P = 0.149). The overall perinatal mortality data were not available.ConclusionPromotion and training on clinical algorithms for decision-making, audit and feedback and SMS reminders reduced unnecessary caesarean deliveries, compared with usual care in a low-resource setting.Trial registrationThe DECIDE trial is registered on the Current Controlled Trials website: ISRCTN48510263.

Technological direction prediction for battery electric bus under influence of China's new subsidy scheme

Battery electric buses (BEBs) play a very important role of reducing urban tailpipe emissions in transportation sector for China. The national strong incentive policies place China at the forefront of the BEBs' market in the world. However, challenges are even more severe owing to the negative effects of national subsidies on the BEBs industry and technologies’ option. The abovementioned problems indicate that the subsidy mechanism is not scientific and systematic. Therefore, this research focus on the comprehensive evaluating method of addressing the inner influencing principle of technological specification mentioned in new subsidy scheme on the technological development direction of BEBs. The evaluation indicators in the method include cost-benefit and electricity consumption rate and for different size BEBs. The scenario of maximum subsidy obtaining target based on the optimal install battery estimation is set up; then, the potential direction of the BEBs market penetration was investigated. The cost-benefit and energy consumption estimating models are set up to examine the economics of all size BEBs and the difference between BEBs and equivalent conventional bus. Furthermore, the potential positive and negative effects of the technological requirements in the subsidy scheme are investigated The results show that normal-charging BEBs, the market for light-duty BEBs will shrink greatly owing to significant reduction in the subsidy amounts. However, the market penetration of 12 m BEB will increase significantly. LFP batteries will dominate the normal-charging heavy-duty BEB market in near and medium term, but NCM–type traction batteries will gradually be dominating the energy storage market for normal-charging BEBs owing to increasing demands in terms of the energy density of traction batteries. However, the market penetration of fast-charging-type BEBs will growth more rapidly than ever before due to the great increasing in its cost-benefit.