Public Policy Objectives Research Articles

NAVIGATING THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE OF VOLUNTARY SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS IN INTERNATIONAL FOOD TRADE: A MULTILATERAL INTERPLAY - DOI: 10.12818/P.0304-2340.2024v85p171

Voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) are non-mandatory criteria designed to foster sustainable practices throughout the global supply chain. These standards are particularly prevalent in the agri-food sector, where they aim to support wider public policy objectives such as sustainable food production, animal welfare, healthy lifestyle, and labour conditions. Significant challenges arises from the fact that VSSs, despite their voluntary nature, they often impose mandatory effect in the global supply chain. They also often lack easily-identifiable features of the product themselves. These creates systematic problems for the global food trade system, where conventional regulation address governmental measures on goods with specific inherent characteristics that can be clearly identified in the final product. This article explored the interrelationship among private VSSs, national regulations and international treaties within the agri-food industry. It highlights ambiguity surrounding the regulatory framework for VSSs under the WTO law, noting the absence of a consensus on how relevant provisions should be interpreted. Despite the diversity among various VSSs, VSSs, this article argues for the potential for harmonization and equivalence among VSSs. By aligning various VSSs and with technical regulations, it is possible to strike a balance between trade liberalization and promotion of sustainable practices.

From petroleum to power sources: Big Oil and the technopolitics of energy conversion

ABSTRACT This paper explores spillover into advanced energy conversion technologies as an oil industry response to US energy and environmental policies from the last third of the twentieth century. These policies initiated the ‘quasi-planned’ renovation of energy infrastructure through an uncoordinated mixture of regulation and innovation/industrial stimulus intended to develop all forms of primary energy and the technologies that could efficiently and cleanly convert that energy. Influenced by this sweeping public policy objective as well as the global consumer electronic industry’s increasing demand for petroleum-derived inputs from the late 1970s, Western oil interests doing business in the US engaged the technoscience of advanced energy conversion. Big Oil researched, developed, and in some cases manufactured materials and components associated with power sources including fuel cells, galvanic batteries, and photovoltaic arrays in projects that illustrate the affinities and antagonisms between enterprises of naturally stored primary energy, energy conversion, and flows and carriers of energy. Case studies of Big Oil’s involvement with these technologies illustrate how public policies supporting all-of-the-above energy and energy conversion limited the extent of oil spillover into advanced energy conversion systems and complicated the transition to a fossil fuel-free future.

Selectivity as discrimination: lessons from the case law on fiscal measures for identifying State aid

Abstract Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union was originally designed to regulate the grant of subsidies by Member States, but it has been applied increasingly in recent years to regulate tax measures. Attempts to apply the State aid rules in this way have been met with controversy as they have been applied in unpredictable ways that have introduced significant changes to the existing tests in the case law for identifying State aid. These changes include a broader interpretation of the concept of selectivity, one of the criteria used to identify aid, which has been reoriented around the discrimination standard, whereby a measure is selective if it differentiates between categories of undertakings without being capable of justification by some legitimate public policy objective. Most controversially, this has facilitated the enforcement of the State aid rules against a wider range of State interventions. This article argues that the discrimination standard represents the most plausible and effective way of understanding selectivity among the alternative tests which have been proposed in the case law and academic literature. However, it goes on to identify a significant deficiency in the discrimination standard in the manner in which it is currently applied by the Union courts. The test inevitably requires certain value judgments to be made, but these are not made explicit by the existing case law. This article then proceeds to give further reflections on options for the refinement of the framework for assessing selectivity based on the discrimination standard and the existing logic of the case law and the objectives of the State aid control regime, which indicates how principled and coherent boundaries to the notion of State aid might be assessed in an individual case.

Data Protection Considerations in Competition Law Assessments: A Qualitative Document Analysis of EU Decision Texts

Abstract Personal data are both protected by a fundamental right and serves as a source of market power. As such, a complex interplay between data protection and competition law arises, sparking debate among policymakers and scholars on whether to incorporate data protection considerations (DPCs) in competition law assessments. Proponents argue that competition cases involving such an interplay require a normative contribution from data protection law, while opponents emphasize the practical challenges of considering data protection as a non-economic public policy objective. We identify nine ways in which data protection might ultimately surface in competition law assessments, categorized into five areas: (i) competition enforcement actions, (ii) existing legal and regulatory framework, (iii) personal data collection, (iv) exclusionary abuses, and (v) alleviation of competition concerns. Using a multiple-step approach for qualitative document analysis, we explore how these considerations have surfaced in the European Commission’s decisional practice through a dataset of 2.041 EU competition decision texts based on articles 101 TFEU and 102 TFEU and the EU Merger Regulation. We identify 53 decisions where DPCs have surfaced, especially in the information and communication industry, where they are more frequently subjected to commitments. In line with the evolving literature, we observe an increasingly integrationist trend as these considerations surface more frequently, particularly since the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation in 2016 and the Digital Markets Act proposal in 2020. We also find a pattern where data protection provisions are included in commitments as a ‘tick-the-box’ exercise. Several influential alleviations of competition concerns suggest that the Commission is more comfortable using data protection to approve transactions unconditionally rather than as a substantive argument for commitments. We conclude by making a case for a more collaborative approach based on the European Court of Justice’s recent Meta Platforms (2023) judgment. Data protection should be considered in competition law assessments if its normative contribution is required. Such a stance would simply align with the internal logic of competition law without unlawfully expanding its material scope.

Exploring workplace well-being strategies in Iranian public organizations: a mixed methods study

PurposeTo ensure effective national governance, it is essential to enhance employees' well-being in the workplace. Employees with good mental and physical health are more likely to demonstrate a high level of commitment and engagement in advancing public policy objectives, which serve as instruments of public will. A comprehensive understanding of the various effective strategies to improve workplace well-being is indispensable to formulating human resource management policies within the public sector. Therefore, this study aims to uncover and prioritize the key strategies, programs and actions that contribute to enhancing the workplace well-being of public employees in Iran, drawing from their perspectives and experiences.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a mixed-method study incorporating both qualitative and quantitative phases to recognize and measure these strategies. In the first phase, a qualitative content analysis was carried out based on the perspectives of Iranian public sector employees. In the subsequent phase, a questionnaire derived from the qualitative findings was randomly distributed to 374 employees from 14 public organizations. FindingsWorkplace well-being strategies can be summarized according to the level of their importance as follows: employees' well-being through “inter-personal relationship,” “systems,” “technologies,” “structure,” “culture” and “environment” within the organization. These strategies as six themes divided into 13 categories and 60 subcategories of programs and actions to promote employee well-being in the work setting.Originality/valueThe importance of considering employees' perspectives on workplace well-being is highlighted as a crucial aspect, rather than depending exclusively on managerial viewpoints for the implementation of well-being initiatives. Adopting an integrated and holistic approach to workplace well-being through strategies, programs and actions is another significant contribution of this study.

The regulator’s trilemma: On the limits of technocratic governance in digital markets

Policymakers increasingly recognise the need for regulatory intervention in the digital economy to promote competition, privacy and innovation, among other policy objectives. Much policy-focused literature presents regulation as a technical puzzle to be ‘solved’ through identification of the appropriate intervention in a particular context, though there is persistent disagreement among experts about what remedies are preferable in different digital markets. At the same time, many external observers emphasise the sheer multiplicity of public policy objectives that regulatory interventions might fulfil, claiming that conflicts between these objectives are inevitable and thus require political rather than technocratic solutions. This article attempts to bridge the gap between these perspectives through a novel theoretical analysis of digital markets characterised by strong network effects, conceptualising different markets in terms of common underlying structural characteristics. The resulting framework helps policymakers to anticipate which remedies will safeguard competition, privacy and innovation/efficiency under what circumstances, both in well-established digital markets and with respect to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In so doing, it also highlights limits to the technocratic governance of digital markets, identifying circumstances in which conflicts between competing public values cannot be neatly resolved through technocratic regulatory intervention alone.

Issues in China's Alignment with DEPA Data Cross-Border Regulation

In the global digital governance game, the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) features innovative designs for digital trade, aligning with China's goals of internal data sharing openness and external breaking of "rule locks". However, China currently exhibits significant legislative differences in the "Data Issues" section of DEPA's fourth module, adopting stricter regulatory measures for cross-border data flow and data localization. Addressing DEPA's "principle & exception" regulatory standards, this paper argues that legitimate public policy objectives can be aligned with DEPA through proportionality principles, WTO general exception clauses, etc. By innovating customs supervision methods and following the path of the Hainan Free Trade Port trial, connecting international trade new rules, orderly implementing law enforcement systems and supporting mechanisms to ensure data security and orderly flow, China can gradually align with DEPA.

Community health action and COVID-19 in Barcelona neighbourhoods: responses and challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing social, economic and political inequalities. The evidence describes the use of community engagement approaches to support appropriate COVID-19 prevention and control measures. We aimed to delve deeper into the community response to COVID-19 in Barcelona neighbourhoods with different pre-existing levels of development of community health action (CHA). A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted in six Barcelona neighbourhoods with different types of CHAs. The sample included 37 in-depth interviews with community agents with good knowledge of the territory. The content analysis focused on three dimensions: symbolic (conceptions motivating action), substantive (the content and resources of the action) and operational (interactions between agents). Regardless of their CHA typology, all neighbourhoods responded to the needs generated by the pandemic. Symbolic: strong-CHA development, characterized by well-established participatory structures, facilitated responses to the crisis. In medium-CHA neighbourhoods, the emergency exacerbated previous tensions. In emerging-CHA neighbourhoods, previous participatory structures, although not health-specific, favoured the coordination of responses. Substantive: technology influenced the way CHA activities were conducted. Operative: in the strong-CHA neighbourhood, new participants were able to join previous participatory structures. In medium-CHA neighbourhoods, power dynamics hindered coordination. In conclusion, strong CHA can play a key role in addressing the adverse consequences of social and health crisis. Empowering citizens and communities should be a primary objective of public policy that integrates the 'health-in-all-policies' approach. This approach entails allocating public resources to strengthen the role of community action and power.

Reassessing environmental protection in international investment agreements: The case of Vietnam

AbstractThe proliferation of international investment agreements reflects the tireless efforts of many governments in the world to attract foreign investment and significantly improve their investment environment, including Vietnam. However, investment overshielding without regard to public policy objectives also has negative consequences, such as indirectly and directly causing environmental pollution at investment sites. Vedan Vietnam and Formosa Ha Tinh Steel are prime examples of ecological incidents with long‐term damage to the host State. Using critical and case study approaches, this article examines the reasons behind those incidents and analyses Vietnam's improper response to the cases. More importantly, the article criticises the lack of alignment of the domestic legal system and international investment law. Finally, the article suggests the interconnected relationship between domestic and international law and recommends treaty‐making directions to avoid the risk of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries becoming a ‘new haven’ of environmental pollution.

Sustainable Affordable Housing: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

Nowadays, there are many studies with a significant focus on affordable housing. The relevance of this theme, which is usually the central object of public housing policies, requires an updated review of the problems and challenges to be overcome, especially in terms of sustainability, in favor of an improvement in the quality of products delivered to beneficiaries. This research concentrates on applying the sustainability concept to affordable housing, emphasizing technical, social, and governance aspects. A novel classification framework is introduced, encompassing these aspects in the context of sustainability integrated with affordable housing. A systematic literature review is conducted and more than 100 articles are examined based on bibliometric and bibliographic analyses to highlight the main dimensions and topics involved in the housing public policy sphere. The study has been elaborated based on collecting relevant materials, building a descriptive analysis of the literature examined, highlighting the classification structure that categorizes the studies examined, and evaluating the material identified based on the classification structure. The outcomes aim to spotlight the diverse dimensions of sustainable affordable housing and associated research themes. Furthermore, the research outlines deficiencies in current approaches and outlines a future research agenda for implementing sustainability in affordable housing. It establishes a strong connection between technical, social, and governance aspects of affordable housing and sustainability, considering anticipated approaches, techniques, and challenges.

The Psychological Significance of the Social Services Situation on Improving Municipal Communication in Social Policy

The paper aimed to show the psychological significance of a functional social system at the local level in the context that a functional network of social services improves the quality of life in a community. The problem was discussed using the case of an analysis of social service providers in a particular municipality. Citizen satisfaction is a key objective of public policy and the goal of every human individual is to move towards satisfaction with his or her life. An accessible social network improves the subjective perception of their problems among residents who find themselves in a difficult social situation. The task of local government is then to provide sufficient social service options to communicate with its citizens. The analysis carried out showed the limits and challenges for the future direction of the social network. This must necessarily mean improving the communication strategy of the municipality as a guarantor of social policy. At the center of this effort is the user of social services or the citizen who is a potential future user.

Bicycle use in the university community: Empirical analysis using MobiCampus-UdL data (Lyon, France)

Promoting sustainable mobility systems by encouraging the use of the bicycle as a transport mode is now a public policy objective. This political will is also pursued in France where the modal share of cycling is relatively low. However, young people and those with a high level of human capital, such as members of the university community, are observed to be more advanced in their adoption of cycling. An understanding of how cycling is used by university students and staff would therefore help to inform public decision-making and support more efficient targeted policies to develop this mode of transport. Using original data from the MobiCampus-UdL project, the aim of this article is to analyze the determinants of bicycle use by the university community at the University of Lyon, France. Two multivariate logistic regression models are estimated on the subsamples of students and staff: one explaining the probability of using the bicycle as an exclusive mode of transport to get to the campus and the other explaining the probability of using the bicycle in combination with other modes. Our results suggest that while socio-demographic characteristics have little influence within our two relatively homogeneous subsamples, access to mobility resources and the spatial characteristics of the campus and place of residence are crucial. We also find that access to bicycles is an important determinant of the utilization of cycling. Given that the adoption of cycling is still very low, our findings justify policies to increase the availability of bicycles and subsidize their purchase. More specifically, our results suggest that access to a shared bike station on campus encourages the exclusive use of bicycles by students and staff but has no effect when used in combination with other modes. On the other hand, good accessibility to public transport, whether from home or from campus, does not reduce the use of bicycles by either sub-population, either exclusively or in combination. Furthermore, while living far from the city center is an obstacle to the exclusive use of the bicycles, especially for staff, it does not in any way prevent their use in combination with other modes, such as the train. These results open up new avenues for anticipating the development of intermodality between public transport and cycling.

ASSESSMENT OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORKS IN INDIAN STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES

SOEs are a crucial part of India's economic landscape, playing a vital role in various sectors. The governance frameworks within these entities are multifaceted, encompassing legislative provisions, regulatory directives, and oversight mechanisms. The Companies Act of 2013 lays down foundational principles, supplemented by guidelines from regulatory bodies like SEBI and DPE. Compliance with these frameworks is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within SOEs. However, Indian SOEs face challenges such as government interference in board decisions, lack of board autonomy, non-compliance with regulatory requirements, and the need to balance diverse stakeholder interests. These challenges often stem from the unique ownership structures of SOEs and their role in serving broader public policy objectives. Addressing these governance deficits requires concerted efforts from stakeholders, including the government, regulatory bodies, boards of directors, and management teams. Enhancing board independence, ensuring compliance with regulatory norms, and promoting transparency and accountability are essential steps towards strengthening corporate governance in Indian SOEs. Keywords: State-owned enterprises, corporate governance, India, Challenges, PSUs

Monitoring and Evaluation for Improving Academic Services and Teacher Performance

Efforts to achieve the goals of the program implemented in an organization must always be made by the management of the organization. Efforts to prepare a strategic plan are a commitment from the organization to realize the strategic plan . that monitoring has objectives, namely: (1) conformity or compliance according to predetermined standards and procedures, (2) inspection to determine sources of services to target groups, (3) accounting to determine social changes and economics that occur after the implementation of a number of public policies from time to time, (4) the explanation of the results of public policy is different from the objectives of public policy. The importance of monitoring and evaluation for the Learning Technology Study Program that in management evaluation isbcrucial stage in preparationbdevelopment program. Thereforebhow to carry out an evaluation comprehensive, structured and systematic must be understood correctly, so the resultscan be used as a basis for the process planning to achieve that goal the desired form of quality improvement sustainable.

Access to Innovative Medicines: Regulation Change and Factors Associated with Drug Approval Lag in Malaysia.

Drug approval lag is the time difference for new medicine to obtain marketing authorization approval in the study country compared to the first global approval. Drug approval lag delays the availability of innovative medicine to patients. This may lead to delay in treatment and severe public health implications. The study aimed to determine drug approval lag in Malaysia, the factors associated with drug approval lag (drug characteristics, regulatory factors and applicant type) and the association of the submission lag and review time with the regulation change. All new pharmaceutical products approved between January 2015 and March 2021 were examined (n = 136) using publicly available information. Factors associated with drug approval lag were determined using multiple linear regression. The median drug approval lag was 855days. Drug approval lag was associated with drug characteristics and regulatory factors. Median submission lag and median review time for products which fulfilled the requirement for the new regulations (Conditional Registration/ Facilitated Registration Pathway) were shorter compared to products which did not fulfil the requirement. Drug approval lag may delay the access of innovative medicine to patients, and this may lead to an increase in morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Good Regulatory Practices ensure efficient and transparent regulatory system which support the public health policy objectives in the most efficient way. The new regulations in Malaysia reduced the median submission lag and review time. The findings may be useful for regulators to consider for future policy development for medication access.

Degrees of vulnerability to poverty: a low-income dynamics approach for Chile

AbstractI propose an empirical framework to identify different degrees of vulnerability to poverty using two vulnerability lines that classify currently non-poor people into risk groups: high, moderate and low risk of falling into poverty in the next period. The latter corresponds to the income secure middle class. My approach makes two contributions. First, it extends recent research that defines the middle class using a vulnerability threshold by introducing a new subdivision of the vulnerable group that would be useful in practice for public policy objectives. Second, it uses two models to predict both the probability of entering poverty and household income as part of the estimation procedures. The former controls for initial conditions effects and attrition bias, and the latter addresses the retransformation problem. I apply my approach to Chile using longitudinal data from the P-CASEN 2006–2009. The resulting vulnerability cut-offs (using the upper-middle-income country poverty line) are $20.0 per person per day for the low vulnerability line and $9.9 pppd for the high vulnerability line (both in 2011 PPP). My vulnerability lines differ significantly from those estimated in previous research on vulnerability and the middle class in Latin America. I argue that previous research has underestimated the size of the population at risk of falling into poverty and overestimated the growth of the middle class. Misclassifying the vulnerable as middle class limits their access to anti-poverty policies.

Balancing control and legitimacy in higher education policy implementation

A key policy challenge in establishing new universities is the potential risk of lower academic standards and mission drift, which can affect policy effectiveness and outcomes. While regulation and funding tend to be preferred policy instruments for securing control of higher education expansion and achieving policy objectives, this article reports on a nation-wide reform in which various forms of legitimacy and control were actively used as measures in the design and establishment of almost one hundred new elite universities – the Institutes of National Importance (INIs) – in India. Our theoretical framework is based on the need for reinvention in policy design in higher education, that is based on the possible cross-fertilisation between the field of public administration and organisational theory. Through a mixed-method research design that included archival documents related to higher education reform and case studies of seven new INIs, this article demonstrates how ‘soft instruments’ based on legitimacy may align public policy objectives and stakeholder expectations ensuring quality and mission sustainability of new universities. We suggest that institutional and instrumental dimensions related to legitimacy and control can be integrated into a joint theoretical framework for policy implementation in higher education. We inform higher education policy by uncovering a range of legitimacy-based policy options in higher education, including the significance of reputation, national classification schemes, and organisational archetypes, that can be operationalised to minimise mission divergence.

Calibrating De Novo: Judicial Review of Arbitral Jurisdiction

De novo review of arbitral jurisdiction at the post-award stage that typically involves full, independent assessment of arbitrators’ findings with respect to questions of law and fact has become the norm under most legal regimes. This approach is geared towards legitimacy of the arbitral process and ensures that a party contesting jurisdiction has full opportunity to do so before the courts. However, while seeking to preserve important public policy objectives, de novo review may sometimes lead to inefficiencies and unfairness in the process, contrary to arbitration’s stated goals of obtaining the fair resolution of disputes without unnecessary delay or expense. This article thus calls for a critical evaluation of the de novo standard with a view to developing a more balanced system that would pay due regard to the competing goals of efficiency and legitimacy of the arbitral process. arbitral jurisdiction, jurisdiction of arbitrators, control of jurisdiction, review of jurisdiction, standard of review, de novo review, full review, rehearing of jurisdiction, deference to arbitrators, jurisdiction and admissibility

Integrating Shariah Principles with ESG for Sustainable Finance: A Comprehensive Framework

In this paper, we explore how economic policy to support sustainability can coordinate efforts to tackle climate risk, overcome environmental challenges and ensure human security. The financial system faces very significant risks posed by climate change, as well as the transition to a low carbon economy. As such, the ESG framework as it is needs to be enhanced in order to be itself effective and sustainable. Hence, we propose an enhanced ESG framework that is grounded in strong Islamic fundamentals to anticipate gaps that can be exploited. Considering human relationships with the natural world from the perspective of Islamic teachings holds great promise for rethinking resource management and preservation. A fundamental role of humans in Islam is that of trustees of creation. The need to achieve sustainable economic development globally and its transition to a low-carbon economy requires strong policies and initiatives to drive green and sustainable finance for the purpose of achieving public policy objectives effectively.

Research on the Logic of Local Government Policy Implementation-Case Analysis Based on the Performance of the New Coronavirus Pneumonia Policy

Realizing public policy objectives requires cooperation between the higher and lower levels of government or different departments of the same level of government. However, in the process of public policy implementation, it often occurs that some implementing entities adopt the method of " policy on the top, countermeasure on the bottom " to selectively implement or flexibly implement the policy, which eventually leads to " collective action difficulties " and the implementation effect deviates from the original intention of the policy. This paper takes the implementation effect of epidemic prevention policies in various places since the outbreak of COVID-19 as a case to study and analyze the logic of policy implementation of some implementing entities. Research has found that the behaviour of various entities in policy implementation is influenced by multiple logic, which ultimately points to the maintenance of departmental interests. In the implementation of public policy to prevent the implementation of public policy from falling into the departmental interest, relevant means such as coordination, trust, cooperation, integration, etc., can be used to solve the problem of policy implementation deviation.