Non-private Sector Research Articles

Workers’ income risk and the evolution of income inequality in China

We estimate the labor income process faced by Chinese workers in three distinct sectors. Agricultural workers experience the highest level of income risk and the lowest average income, whereas those in the private sector face significantly greater risk and lower average income compared to their non-private sector counterparts. We find a substantial increase in inequality across sectors, instead of increasing risk within sectors.

Does employment protection unprotect workers? The labor market effects of job reinstatements in Peru

We investigate the labor market effects of the reestablishment of workers’ right to reinstatement for unfair dismissals, which occurred in 2002 in Peru. Using data from Household Surveys from 2004 to 2015, and the Specialized Employment Survey 1998–2001, we estimate a series of quasi-experimental difference-in-difference models for permanent and temporary hiring. We evaluate the potential effects of reinstatement rights on the private sector with respect to the non-private sector. We find that reinstatement rights are associated with increases in the hiring of temporary workers and reductions in wages. However, further tests indicate that none of these associations is a causal effect, with a remarkable exception: we find that the right to reinstatement increases private permanent hiring by 2.5 percentage points relative to non-private hiring. These effects hold under a battery of alternative specifications and are robust to placebo tests. Our findings call into question the effectiveness of removing reinstatement laws as a policy to increase permanent hiring and wages.

Effects of green energy development on population growth and employment: Evidence from shale gas exploitation in Chongqing, China

With the maturity of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies, countries rich in shale gas have begun to promote the development of the shale gas industry. The impact of the booming shale gas industry on the regional economy has also become a main focus. Shale gas’ exploration and extraction may have positive spillover effects on other sectors, resulting in population growth and job creation. However, negative spillover effects can occur through rising local goods prices and its adverse effects on the local quality of life, which in turn could harm population growth and employment. By using the synthetic control method, we investigates the shale gas fields in Chongqing to reveal the relationship between population growth, employment and shale gas development in Fuling, Nanchuan and Wulong districts. Our results indicate that due to the development of the shale gas industry, the number of urban non-private sector employees in three districts and counties has decreased. From 2017 to 2018, this decline had gradually weakened and the population growth had been negatively affected.

Analysis of human activities and socioeconomic development on the marine ecological carrying capacity (mecc) evaluation index to climate change adaptation in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, Indonesia

Research on human activities and socioeconomic development analysis on the Marine Ecological Carrying Capacity (MECC) evaluation index to climate change adaptation at the Sentra Kelautan dan Perikanan Terpadu (SKPT) Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan in 2015-2019 has been carried out. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in human activity and socioeconomic development of MECC as an evaluation of adaptation and mitigation to climate change. The method using in this research is an approach to the concept of Integrated Ocean Management (IOM) in the form of MECC. MECC can be used as a tool to see the effectiveness and efficiency of a policy on the environment. MECC consists of two components, namely carrying object (OI) and carrier resilience (RI). Carrying object analysis was performed to determine changes in the value of the human activity index and socio-economic development. The value of the carrying index which consists of human activities (HI) and socio-economic development (SI) activities in Nunukan Regency shows a decline during 2015-2019. The value of HI decreased by 82% from 0.19 in 2015 to 0.03 in 2019 due to increased activity in the fisheries and marine transportation sectors. Meanwhile, the SI value in 2014 was 0.25, down 57% to 0.11 in 2019. This was due to the increase in socio-economic activities in Nunukan Regency. Adaptive capacity can be the main key in preventing a decrease in the carrying index. The form of adaptive capacity carried out by utilizing information, building partnerships among the private and non-private sectors, strengthening stakeholder involvement and control, growing capacity constructing, enforcing regulatory frameworks, and protecting weather change and different environmental adjustments in adaptive management structures.

Dental practice closure during the first wave of COVID-19 and associated professional, practice and structural determinants: a multi-country survey

BackgroundThe coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in China has influenced every aspect of life worldwide. Given the unique characteristics of the dental setting, the risk of cross-infection between dental practitioners and patients is high in the absence of adequate protective measures, and dentists may develop severe anxiety in relation to the current pandemic. The limited provision of services and widespread closure of dental practices have raised concerns among dental professionals about the financial impact. The present study assessed the frequency of dental practice closure during the pandemic’s first wave in several countries and whether closures and their associated factors differ between the private and non-private sectors.MethodsAn electronic cross-sectional survey questionnaire was sent to dentists in several countries, from April to May 2020. The survey assessed professional, practice related and country-level structural factors elucidating the reason for practice closure. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the association between practice closure and these factors, and differences were evaluated by sector type.ResultsDentists from 29 countries (n = 3243) participated in this study. Most of the participants (75.9%) reported practice closure with significantly higher percentage in the private sector than the non-private sector. Greater pandemic-related fears were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of practice closure in the private (odds ratio [OR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24, 1.92) and non-private (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.04, 1.82) sectors. Dentists in non-private rural areas (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.42, 0.81), and those in hospitals (overall OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.36, 0.99) reported a low likelihood of closure. A high likelihood of closure was reported by dentists in the academia (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.23, 3.71). More hospital beds at the country-level were associated with a lower likelihood of closure in the non-private sector (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.46, 0.91). Private- sector dentists in high- income countries (HICs) reported fewer closures than those in non-HICs (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.15, 1.93).ConclusionsMost dentists reported practice closure because of COVID-19, and greater impacts were reported in the private sector than in the non-private sector. Closure was associated with professional, practice, and country-levels factors.

Entrepreneurial Cooperation Model between University and SMEs: A Case Study in Iran

The purpose of this research is to design and explain an entrepreneurial cooperation model between a university and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The main research question is as follows: What are the elements and conditions of development for entrepreneurial cooperation between the university and SMEs? In this study, a qualitative research method called grounded theory has been used. Data collection was conducted through a semi-structured interview, observation and, afterwards, library studies. The number of interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached and, in each interview, the coding was modified and edited compared to the previous interview. Based on this model, the goals and motivations of entrepreneurial cooperation were introduced as the causal conditions, entrepreneurial cooperation between the university and SMEs was introduced as the main phenomenon, environmental issues and the entrepreneurship cooperation ecosystem were introduced as the background conditions, the context and infrastructure of entrepreneurial cooperation were introduced as the mediator condition and entrepreneurial cooperation consequence was introduced as the model consequence. The strategies of the entrepreneurship cooperation model between the university and SMEs are as follows: strategies related to the private sector and strategies related to the non-private sector.

Plan to Budget and Cash Management in Uasin Gishu County Government, Kenya

Techniques and systems to improve and modernize cash management in the non-private sectors are increasingly being explored by governments in less developed countries. Efficient management of public funds mainly focuses on budgeting, procurement and reporting. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of plan to budget module of Integrated Financial Management Information System and cash management in Uasin Gishu County Government. Government policy was the moderating variable. This was necessitated by the fact that the Kenyan government has experienced consistent misappropriation of public funds in county governments despite the introduction of Integrated Financial Management Information System as an appropriate modern accounting system for efficient public cash management. The study was based on systems theory. The target population of the study was 185 employees from sections using Integrated Financial Management Information System. A sample size of 177 respondents was drawn from the population by use of stratified random sampling method. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Construct validity of the research instruments was determined using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett's tests with values of above 0.5 and probability values less than 0.05 considered valid. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach’s alpha with alpha coefficient of above 0.70 being considered reliable. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. Multiple regression and Pearson correlation were used for inferential statistics. Data results and findings were displayed in tables, figures, graphs and pie chart. The study findings revealed that plan to budget module had statistically significant influence on Cash Management in Uasin Gishu County Government by explaining 12.9% of the variation in Cash Management [Adjusted R Square = 0.129, F (1, 172) = 26.577, Prob. = 0.000 < 0.05]. The null hypothesis of the study was rejected since there was a significant positive relationship between plan to budget and cash management. The study recommends that same study to be done in other remaining county governments. This study informed the executive management of Uasin Gishu County Government on how to improve management of cash by using IFMIS. Keywords: Misappropriation, Efficient, Cash management, Integrated Financial Management. DOI : 10.7176/RJFA/10-18-12 Publication date :September 30 th 2019

Comparative Research on River Basin Management in the Sagami River Basin (Japan) and the Muda River Basin (Malaysia)

In the world, river basins often interwoven into two or more states or prefectures and because of that, disputes over water are common. Nevertheless, not all shared river basins are associated with water conflicts. Rivers in Japan and Malaysia play a significant role in regional economic development. They also play a significant role as water sources for industrial, domestic, agricultural, aquaculture, hydroelectric power generation, and the environment. The research aim is to determine the similarities and differences between the Sagami and Muda River Basins in order to have a better understanding of the governance needed for effectively implementing the lessons drawn from the Sagami River Basin for improving the management of the Muda River Basin in Malaysia. This research adopts qualitative and quantitative approaches. Semi-structured interviews were held with the key stakeholders from both basins and show that Japan has endeavored to present policy efforts to accommodate the innovative approaches in the management of their water resources, including the establishment of a river basin council. In Malaysia, there is little or no stakeholder involvement in the Muda River Basin, and the water resource management is not holistic and is not integrated as it should be. Besides that, there is little or no Integrated Resources Water Management, a pre-requisite for sustainable water resources. The results from this comparative study concluded that full support and participation from public stakeholders (meaning the non-government and non-private sector stakeholders) is vital for achieving sustainable water use in the Muda River Basin. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approaches such as the introduction of payments for ecosystems services and the development of river basin organization in the Muda River Basin should take place in the spirit of political willingness.

Deliverables and pledges under Ethiopian Trade Competition Law: the need for private sector empowerment and enablement

This article examines whether Ethiopia’s Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Proclamation enacted in 2014 can deliver its pledges toward ensuring fair trade practices. Trade competition envisages viable competitors in the context equal opportunities in operation and access to factors of production of goods and services. It is under such setting that the production and distribution of goods and services can match the level of consumer demand and choice (in kind, quantity, quality and price) envisaged in the law. On the contrary, private economic actors cannot be protected from unfair business practices in the context of pressures from non-private sector economic hegemony and politically affiliated oligopolistic entities. It is argued that a broad-based private sector and its enablement including the need to address gaps in Ethiopia’s land laws, an enhanced autonomy of the Trade Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (TCCPA) in the context of good governance (which includes rule of law and independent judiciary), representation of stakeholders in the Authority, and the empowerment of civil society organizations are crucial to deliver the pledges embodied in Ethiopia’s competition law. Keywords: Trade competition, consumer welfare, private sector empowerment, land policy, oligopolistic pressures, Ethiopia

Dental hygienists' self-reported performance of tobacco cessation activities

Tobacco use is a major risk factor in oral and systemic diseases. Current national guidelines outline activities that positively contribute towards tobacco cessation. Little is known about dental hygienists' role in tobacco cessation activities. This study investigates dental hygienists' performance of tobacco cessation activities in the dental surgery and explores factors associated with this performance. Dental hygienists in south-east England on the register of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy completed a postal questionnaire survey in 2008. A total of 439 (61%) questionnaires were returned, representing both part-time (66.7%) and full-time (33.3%) hygienists working in the private (69.5%) and non-private sectors (30.5%). Most hygienists recorded positive attitudes towards tobacco cessation. Overall, 162 (41.9%) reported performing four or more tobacco cessation activities. The less-commonly performed activities indicated to patients the value of attending NHS Stop Smoking Services for specialised help, with hygienists referring patients to the NHS Stop Smoking Services and offering assistance to those who do not wish to attend NHS stop Smoking Services. Higher reported numbers of tobacco cessation activities performed were statistically significantly associated with a higher number of positive attitudes held (P = 0.004), while socio-demographic and professional attributes were not. Tobacco cessation activities, as recommended by national guidelines, are not always performed by dental hygienists. Efforts are needed to promote the dental hygienist's role in tobacco cessation, especially in relation to referring patients to NHS Stop Smoking services. These efforts should focus on changing the attitudes of dental hygienists, especially on their effectiveness in promoting tobacco cessation.

Organisational learning through public-private partnerships: a human resource management perspective

This paper aims to investigate the nature and location of organisational learning in the public sector from the perspective of human resource management (HRM). The research examines how the quality of social interaction in public-private joint programs affects knowledge flow and the dynamics of organisational learning. To explore this theoretical argument, an empirical analysis of five public-private partnerships (PPP) across different social welfare policy domains is conducted in Taipei, Taiwan. The contributions of this research are fourfold. First, it is one of the few studies to expand HRM to the non-private sector and, especially, to cross-sectoral collaboration. Second, the study views PPP as a potential expansion of governments HR structure and an opportunity to promote organisational learning. Third, this work demonstrates how organisational learning is dependent on social relations between actors. Last, a fundamental distinction between a public and a private organisation is made to suggest that different HRM strategy is required for each.

Burden of Stroke in Egypt: Current Status and Opportunities

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries have a diversity of populations with similar life style, dietary habits, and vascular risk factors that may influence stroke risk, prevalence, types, and disease burden. Egypt is the most populated nation in the Middle East with an estimated 85.5 million people. In Egypt, according to recent estimates, the overall prevalence rate of stroke is high with a crude prevalence rate of 963/100,000 inhabitants. In spite of disease burden, yet there is a huge evidence practice gap. The recommended treatments for ischemic stroke that are guideline include systematic supportive care in a stroke unit or stroke center is still deficient. In addition, the frequency of thrombolysis in Egypt is very low for many reasons; the major one is that the health insurance system is not covering thrombolysis therapy in nonprivate sectors so patients must cover the costs using their own personal savings; otherwise, they will not receive treatment. Another important factor is the pronounced delay in prehospital and in hospital management of acute stroke. Improvement of stroke care in Egypt should be achieved through multi and interdisciplinary approach including public awareness, physicians' education, and synergistic approach to stroke care with Emergency Medical System.

Minerals sustainability, emerging economies, the developing world and the ‘truth’ behind the rhetoric

This paper reviews the principles and applications of sustainable development as applied to minerals (sustainable minerals). The key pillars of sustainable minerals are well known and include economic, community, environmental, and political considerations. The ideal solution is one that finds a balance between community benefit, economic development, profit, and minimal negative environmental and political impacts. This is, of course, fine in theory but in the ‘real world’ difficult to achieve. From a geoscience perspective this paper argues that non-private sector geoscientists have a crucial role to play in developing the sustainable minerals paradigm to an intellectually mature and usable form. The geoscience approach includes re-interpreting the rich legacy of geoscience data and acquisition of new data (geological mapping, 3 and 4D modelling, geophysical and geo­chemical information) and contextualizing this information with socio-economic and environmental data (e.g. ethnicity, social mix, wealth indicators, environmental sensitivity indicators) to assist with strategic and localized decision-making, maximizing benefits, and minimizing adverse impacts. This approach also involves modelling the full lifecycle of minerals, mines, mineral commodities, and mineral-bearing land in an attempt to quantify benefits and disbenefits of mineral extraction. One crucial key element of a sustainable minerals approach is a mix between ‘hard’ science and social science and genuine inclusion and consultation with stakeholders, especially impacted communities. As geoscientists we are in a position to explain clearly the benefits of mineral development to society and the disbenefits of ‘nimbyism’ (e.g. exporting problems to countries less able to manage mineral extraction) and promote a ‘custodianship’ ethos of mineral development that is the only way to realizing the key principle of sustainability, i.e. leaving the planet in a state that our grandchildren can enjoy.

SOCIAL LIFE IN THE PUBLIC REALM

The public realm is defined as those nonprivate sectors or areas of urban settlements in which individuals in co-presence tend to be personally unknown or only categorically known to one another. Through a review of the largely ethnographic literature on the public realm, this article details the relationship between it and other types of social space, argues for the thoroughly social character of what occurs there, and describes some of its characteristic rules and relationships. A concluding section speculates on the possible functions or social uses of the public realm.