Policy Coordination Mechanism Research Articles

North Korea's Nuclear Risk Management and Transformation of the ‘International Security Regime’ : Focusing on Korea-U.S.-Japan ‘Linked Politics’ and Policy Coordination Mechanisms

North Korea's Nuclear Risk Management and Transformation of the ‘International Security Regime’ : Focusing on Korea-U.S.-Japan ‘Linked Politics’ and Policy Coordination Mechanisms

Policy Coordination Mechanisms in the Integration of the Yangtze River Delta Region

Policy Coordination Mechanisms in the Integration of the Yangtze River Delta Region

The Impact of Public Policies on Return Migration and Human Capital Development in the Republic of Moldova

The article addresses the issues related to migration and reintegration of migrants in the Republic of Moldova in the last decade. The Government of the Republic of Moldova has shown an increased interest in diaspora and migration policies, developing strategies and policies on migration. However, it is noted that they are mainly focused on actual migrants, neglecting potential migrants and optimizing the migration process. It is also mentioned that the reintegration policies of migrants in the Republic of Moldova were mostly informative, focusing on the individual level and providing reintegration services and tools for citizens, but not for communities. The article mentions the institutionalization of the State Policy Coordination Mechanism in the field of Diaspora, Migration and Development in the Republic of Moldova and the inclusion of the reintegration of migrants on the government’s agenda as a priority.

Are there financial stability gains from international macroprudential policy coordination?

AbstractWe construct a core‐periphery theoretical model based on the cross‐border spillover effects of macroprudential policies, to calculate the financial stability gains from macroprudential policy coordination between the two countries. Numerical simulation results show that the gains from coordination between the core and the periphery are zero when facing reverse monetary policy shocks, when macroprudential policy coordination is not needed; however, in the case of high simultaneous loosening (tightening) of monetary policies in both countries, the macroprudential policy coordination mechanism can reduce the negative externalities of cross‐border financial spillovers and increase the total gains from financial stability; the total gains from macroprudential policy coordination increase as the peripheral macroprudential policy operating space decreases, the degree of cross‐border financial spillovers increases, and the degree of cross‐border spillovers from core monetary policy increases. Therefore, the international coordination of macroprudential policies has certain possibilities and necessities.

Evolution of biogas policies in China (2001–2019): Dynamics of policy instruments towards energy transitions

China has emerged as global significant producer of biogas during the last two decades. The Chinese government promoted various types of policy instruments to facilitate the emergence and further development of biogas. This article used the method of content analysis to study the transitions of biogas policy instruments in China. The article in sum surveyed 108 policy documents issued by the central government of China from 2001 to 2019. The article analyzed the number, stringency, forms and institutions of these biogas policies and compared the evolution of different types of policy instruments in the different periods of time. The results showed that the Chinese government continuously prioritized Environmental-type instruments, while Supply and Demand types of instruments have been supplementary. The actual implementation of policy instruments remained gaps with the ideal policy promotion. A balance of different types of policy instruments and mechanisms for policy coordination should be strengthened to constantly support biogas production in the country.

Beyond the European Semester: The supranational evaluation cycle for pensions

Pensions at the European level have been, since the sovereign debt crisis, affected by several decision-making innovations. Retirement policy has been embedded in the European Semester, which strengthened the hitherto inadequate European socioeconomic policy coordination mechanisms. Given that the additional powers bestowed upon the Commission were qualified, a supranational response followed. With the effect of strengthening its rational-legal authority, in line with neo-functionalist spillover assumptions, evidence-based standards have been progressively applied to EU retirement policy formation. This innovative turn warrants the employment of a policy analysis theoretical framework. In particular, the article applies the concepts underpinning policy evaluation to the study of pensions within the Semester. Using a mixed-methods approach, which combines case study with statistical analysis, and following a novel in-depth coding of country-specific recommendations and Country Reports, this article argues that member states’ pensions are now assessed within a structured, formal and polycentric evaluation cycle. This has been gradually constructed by increasing the coherence between the yearly interim ex post evaluations of pension policy output (the Country Reports) and the final ex post evaluations of pension policy outcomes (the Ageing and Pension Adequacy Reports) that are published every 3 years. The result is a streamlined, technocratic, knowledge-based approach to retirement policy at the supranational level. Even though the generation of technical knowledge is no substitute for toothless conditionality, greater reliance on evidence is aimed at socializing national decision-makers and may eventually influence their policy choices. The unconventional pension evaluation cycle that sprung up around the Semester may, hence, serve as a model applicable to other socioeconomic policy domains.

England's food policy coordination and the Covid-19 response.

The impact of the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the response of government and non-government actors, from February-September 2020, offers critical insights into the current state of England’s food policy processes and operations, and in particular the coordination of national food policy approaches. This study aims to clarify and solidify the discourse around food policy coordination by differentiating between routine coordination of the activities of government, and strategic coordination of such policy activities with higher-level strategic goals, such as those associated with a healthy and sustainable food system. This framework is applied to the case study based on documentary analysis. In detailing the evidence of coordination in the response, including examples of cross-government working, and collaboration across the public, private and third sectors, the findings illustrate the breadth of actors which constituted the policy and governance response. These included public policymakers in national and local governments, and from a range of different government departments; private sector food businesses; and third sector organisations. There was a high level of routine coordination, but also instances of disconnection and delay. A lack of strategic coordination provides an explanatory device for several instances of disconnection and incoherence, including interventions which failed to prioritise nutrition-related health, and the working conditions of those employed in the food sector. The routine-strategic distinction can be deployed to inform discussions on the types of policy coordination mechanisms, such as cross–cutting taskforces or bodies, which might be instituted to support connected working on food.

Persistent Developmental Limits to Devising Policy Innovation for Innovation Policies in Emerging Economies

Promising industrial profiles of Southeast Asian emerging economies have met their developmental limits in the face of the Asian Financial Crisis in the late 1990s. However, following the crisis, they have not been successful in upscaling the technological competitiveness of their industries. By applying the national innovation system approach originally developed in advanced western economies as an institutional mechanism of policy innovation in light of developmentalism, I seek to explain these persistent developmental limits in Malaysia and Indonesia. My qualitative research examines literature discussing policy coordination mechanisms in innovation policies and policy documents containing coordination mechanisms involving firms, universities, and government agencies; then, how these issues implicate innovation policies in the two countries. I employ a comparative institutional analysis between them focusing on institutional characteristics of the national innovation systems, specifically their institutional obstacles occurring within development paths amidst prevailing political environments. I suggest that persistent developmental limits in Malaysia and Indonesia result from systemic failures of achieving developmental aims regardless of their politico-administrative regimes. Existing institutional frameworks of the national innovation systems, entrenched in the socio-economic prevalence of the two countries, have not fit the nations’ developmental aims pursued upon innovation upgrading.

The evolutionary characteristics, driving mechanism, and optimization path of China’s tourism support policies under COVID-19: a quantitative analysis based on policy texts

ABSTRACT Tourism support policies are an important issue in managing a public health crisis. This research examines 136 tourism support policy texts issued by central and local governments in China from 22 January to 31 December 2020. The policy evolution is divided into three phases: suspension of business activities of tourism enterprises (22 January–24 February 2020), orderly resumption of tourism production (25 February–28 April 2020), and regular pandemic prevention and control (29 April 2020–present). NetDraw and the qualitative analysis software NVivo were used to conduct a content analysis and co-word analysis, and to objectively analyse the structure, content, and evolution of the policy texts. We apply the PSR (pressure-state-response) model, which considers policy changes driven by reforms, innovations, the market, consumption, technology, governance, and other factors. The findings indicate that the policy content varies from decentralized to temporary, systematic, and standardized. Major policymaking gradually became coordinated, and the policy value orientation has been embodied in the transformation of science and technology information services. Finally, countermeasures and suggestions are offered with the goal of perfecting the policy coordination mechanism, improving policy implementation and ‘directness’, strengthening the foresight and comprehensiveness of the policymaking process, and strengthening policy innovation and production.

European Health Care Systems and the Emerging Influence of European Union Competition Policy.

Since the 1990s, the EU's influence over national health care policy has been limited to European internal market law or social policy coordination mechanisms. The introduction of EU competition law into health care is more recent and underdeveloped; however, its introduction would potentially be much more far-reaching and disruptive. Three EU competition law (state-aid) cases are used and comprise both Court of Justice and European Commission decisions. One is from Ireland, one is from the Netherlands, and the third is from Belgium. The Belgian (Iris-H) case sees EU institutions scrutinize a clearly "social" (nonmarket) health care model with EU competition law for the first time. This is a highly significant development. It is clear, however, that the European Commission is more reluctant to use EU competition law to scrutinize health care systems than the European courts are. This intent on the part of EU institutions will have to be assessed in future cases, as considerable uncertainty about its shape and outer contours remains. However, EU competition law, and the EU's state-aid investigation apparatus, encroaching into the national health care systems for the first time is highly significant.

Multiple-case Research on University: Enterprise Innovation Chain ‘Fractures Repair’ in China

University-enterprise (U-E) innovation chain fractures hinder the commercialisation of knowledge. However, few contributions in the academic field have uncovered how certain mechanisms repair U-E innovation fractures and commercialise their research results. In order to bridge the research gap in the repair mechanism of U-E innovation chain fractures, a multiple-case study of U-E innovation fractures was conducted by proposing a ‘behaviour-process-outcomes’ repair model. The results are as follows: motivation coordination mechanism is the driving force that converges the goals of different organisations; organisation coordination mechanism is the platform that provides the basic support for the weak links and makes up for the defects of a single organisation; capability development and coordination is the element of U-E cooperation through a combination of basic and applied research capability, technological innovation capability and product commercialisation capability; policy coordination mechanism is the vehicle of U-E innovation chain that strengthens U-E cooperation with various preferential policies. The conclusion shows the ‘coordinated innovation’ repair model for U-E innovation chain fractures provides important insights for practitioners and policymakers involved in developing an innovation chain in U-E cooperation.

Energy and Mineral Resources Mining Contradictions in Coal-Uranium Coexisting Basin and the Countermeasure Suggestions

It is common that sandstone-type uranium deposits co-exist with coal and oil & gas in the same sedimentary basin, and the output of uranium deposits is closely related to the coal seam or oil & gas reservoir. An “upper uranium and lower coal” ore-bearing pattern is formed in Ordos Basin and Erlian Basin in China. Due to the absence of unified resource mining plan and policy coordination mechanism, the coal-uranium resource mining contradictions have become increasingly prominent in coal-uranium coexisting areas in recent years. It is difficult to realize in-situ leaching exploitation of the coal-uranium resources in the Ordos coal-uranium coexisting area because of disorderly mineral resource mining, radioactive contamination risks are posed to the ambient environment of the mining area, and consequently, coal mine enterprises have to stop work and production, which gives rise to huge economic loss. Given this, the current resource contradictions in this area and their influence paths were comprehensively expounded through a systematic survey on a coal-uranium superposition area, and then the corresponding countermeasure suggestions were proposed.

Does green industrial policy promote the sustainable growth of polluting firms? Evidences from China

In this research, the impact of municipal green industry policies in 15 cities on the economic and environmental performance of local companies was evaluated, and the policy coordination mechanism was studied. As a dual-goal policy mix, the green industrial policy has been used by Chinese municipal governments to solve the dilemma between the economic growth and environmental mitigation. However, the quantitative evaluation of these green industrial policy trials remains limited. To address this issue, the policy evaluation in this research applied sewage discharge data and operation data of 22,670 Chinese textile firms from 1998 to 2013 from Chinese Environmental Statistics Database. Fixed-effect regression analysis and dynamic difference-in-differences (DID) approach were used to assess the dual-faceted impacts of green industrial policies and their subtypes, as well as the continuity of these impacts. The findings suggest that adopting a dual-objective green industrial policy is an effective approach to encourage heavy-polluting firms to develop in a more balanced and sustainable way. From dynamic DID analysis, these green industrial policies have continuity effects on both chemical oxygen demand discharge intensity and annual revenue of firms after implementation and the general impacts can last for at least 4 years. The study also reveals the heterogeneity in the impacts of three different subtypes of green industrial policy. The technology-push policy subtype can quickly reduce environmental discharge without compromising economic development, while demand-pull policy subtype has a slow effect on the improvement of environmental performance. The balanced policy subtype can promote enterprises to achieve both optimal performance of economy and environment, although the efficiency of balanced policy subtype is between two subtypes. Generally, this research provides reliable basis for the implementation of green industrial policies in developing countries and provides certain inspiration for the enriching of green industry policy theory.

Challenges to ASEAN centrality and hedging in connectivity governance—regional and national pressure points

Since 2010, ASEAN has made efforts to increase its coherence and visibility as an actor in regional infrastructure development, under the umbrella term of connectivity. Its most recent strategy, 2016’s Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, is notable for its more focused agenda as well as a tableau of institutional innovations, including new policy coordination mechanisms and a project preparation pipeline. Nonetheless, ASEAN struggles to maintain coherence in the implementation of its connectivity agenda, both internally as well as towards its dialogue partners. Utilizing the concepts of centrality and hedging as parts of a unified theoretical framework, this paper analyzes ASEAN’s efforts to mobilize and manage external resources in connectivity. ASEAN’s resource dependence and its failure to establish institutional centrality creates issues at the regional and the national levels. Regionally, ASEAN’s lack of centrality and its perpetuation of ASEAN+1 relations have contributed to the emergence of contesting agendas and institutional frameworks by external actors. Nationally, the hedging strategies of ASEAN member states are at odds with the regional vision, highlighting a lack of intra-ASEAN coherence. The perpetuation of contesting institutional frameworks by external actors at the national level solidifies existing incoherence in ASEAN’s connectivity governance, further undermining its centrality. ASEAN’s efforts to assert centrality and execute a hedging strategy in connectivity are emblematic of its attempts to extend its reach into new policy areas, but also of its persistent governance constraints.

Shaping the prospects for adequate pensions: the effect of policy guidelines under the European Semester

ABSTRACT This paper depicts the relationship between the EU and pensions by demonstrating the EU’s indirect pressure on pensions – spill-over from the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) – reflected through economic and fiscal policy coordination mechanism. Concretely, the paper examines how compliance with the fiscal and economic policy guidelines deriving from the European Semester shape prospects for pension adequacy in the euro area countries. Pension adequacy is understood as the ratio of available income in retirement relative to available income during employment. The results point to three empirically relevant economic-fiscal policy models/configurations under which adequate pensions are observed. The models are not universally based on compliance with the policy guidelines under the Semester and they differ in terms of the type of policy which is potentially conducive for adequate pensions. Diversity of the models thus implies that compliance with the guidelines works for some euro area countries whilst for others it does not. Consequently, the shaping prospects or the safeguarding capacity of the Semester’s policy guidelines in terms of adequate pensions are modest. The main method used in the paper is fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Neoliberalization, fast policy transfer and the management of labor market services

Neoliberalism has been a core concern for international political economy (IPE) for several decades, but is often ill-defined. Research offering greater definitional clarity stresses the role of contingent and local level factors in diverse processes of neoliberalization. This paper contributes to that literature, addressing a surprising gap in critical IPE knowledge; the management practices by which pressures to activate the unemployed and to make them more competitive, are implemented. The paper suggests that performance management is significant as both a depoliticizing policy coordination mechanism and a highly politicized policy implementation practice. The paper invokes a scalar-relational approach which sees the pressure to innovate and compete at lower scales as driven by the political economy of competitiveness at the system scale. The paper reports on research undertaken within the empirical frame of EU meta-governance, showing how performance management is part of lower-scale attempts to adapt to system-scale pressures. It is neoliberalizing in both form and content. It concludes by showing that while performance management may be a significant component of neoliberalization there is scope for engagement and contestation motivated by egalitarian ideals. Critical IPE scholars interested in contesting neoliberalization should therefore engage with the political economy of management practice as well as policy design.

International policy coordination and RMB internationalisation: theory and historical experience

Based on theoretical logics derived from the literature and the historical experience, we take a deep look at the relationship between international policy coordination and RMB internationalisation. International policy coordination and RMB internationalisation are complements. On the one hand, an effective policy coordination mechanism needs the support of an efficient international monetary system, thus calling for diversification of international vehicle currencies. RMB, supported by solid economic fundamentals, can be a good candidate as one of the international vehicle currencies in the diversified international monetary system. On the other hand, due to the existence of policy spill-over effects, an appropriate coordination mechanism improves policy effectiveness in China, which promotes RMB internationalisation by enhancing China’s economic and financial strength.

International policy coordination for financial regime stability under cross-border externalities

Abstract This paper examines the conditions for effective coordination in financial regulatory policy when banks are politically influential, considering cross-border externalities arising from multinational banking operation. We demonstrate that when banks are inefficient with high loan monitoring costs, regulatory effort is a strategic substitute so that each country's regulator tends to exert lower effort free-riding that of the other countries’ regulator. On the other hand, when banks are efficient with lower monitoring costs, regulatory effort is a strategic complement and regulators have lower incentives to free-ride. However, regulators face multiple equilibria and thus financial instability if each of them responds in an overly sensitive manner to another's strategy. In this case, introducing informational barriers can refine multiple equilibria into a unique equilibrium. The results suggest that cooperative financial policy coordination mechanism is more likely to be sustained among countries whose banking sectors’ political influence on regulators is smaller and more homogeneous.

Does REDD+ Ensure Sectoral Coordination and Stakeholder Participation? A Comparative Analysis of REDD+ National Governance Structures in Countries of Asia-Pacific Region

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) requires harmonizing different policy sectors and interests that have impacts on forests. However, these elements have not been well-operationalized in environmental policy-making processes of most developing countries. Drawing on five cases—Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam, this article aims to determine whether emerging governance arrangements help REDD+ development by delivering participatory mechanisms for policy coordination. Building upon literature on environmental governance and stakeholder participation, the article examines national governance structures for REDD+ and identifies who participates where, and what decision-making powers they have. Despite structural differences between the countries, our analysis illustrates that REDD+ potentially encourages a new form of environmental governance promoting a cross-sectoral approach and stakeholder participation. Cohesiveness of the structures within a broader governance system is key to defining the capacity of REDD+ governance. The result also poses a question as to the inclusiveness of the state actors involved in order to tackle the different pressure on forests. Considering structural inequalities, the analysis further suggests a need of policy support for those who are affected by REDD+ to ensure that their voices could be heard in decision-making processes.

Sink or Swim: It is Time Ripe to Move in for an International Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Policy Coordination Mechanism

A new debate on revisiting global surveillance architecture follows every financial crisis. A new ‘system’ surfaces and fast transforms itself to a ‘non-system’ or even an ‘anti-system’ as it fails to pass the fundamental test of taking care of every sect - the powerful and the hapless. The mighty minority (the powerful and the rich), attempt to hijack the fate of the miserable majority at each turn. With the inherent resentment remaining within the whole of society, such ‘Top-Down’ approach of decision making is evidently not succeeding. It is hence time ripe as ever to test the efficacy of a newer configuration – the “Bottom-UP” structure of international policy making, in which the concept of hegemony – whether regional or global – benign or malign - would not have any place. It will be based on the emerging ideas of Financial Stability Councils being set up nationally, comprising of national authorities overseeing the Monetary Policy, Financial Sector regulation and Fiscal Policy. This ‘group’ would take a holistic view of issues of potential vulnerabilities and varying secondary and tertiary economic consequences which could be generated out of intra-sector, inter-sector and inter-economy connectedness. It would be macro-financial by nature and would rely on a ‘Committee Approach’ to address financial stability in a democratic, effective and legitimate manner. The idea would consider financial stability to be a ‘Public Good’ and its delivery being a sovereign responsibility. The national central bank supervenes as the pivot of this architecture which inspires confidence to be a possible solution to this ever-elusive problem of finding an appropriate design to address regional and international issues. Regional and Global Financial Stability Councils –a hierarchical enhancement over this ‘national system’ could be a possible solution for more coordinated global monetary policy and financial stability in the hope that it can reduce or even neutralize, the foreign externalities stemming from emerging markets in the regions. The idea here is a revised version of the concept of a Global Super Central Bank mooted by the Author in 2006 when the financial crisis was brewing in the US. The suggested ‘coordination mechanism’ remains bereft of hegemonic arrogance and would help improve mutual trust as a result, which is currently at a deficit. With ‘economic progress’ progressively replacing ‘political poles’ the idea sound very plausible. The World has no appetite for newer paper tigers. It is thus appropriate time to attempt a design of ‘new multilateralism’ backed by the notion that interconnection among nations will cure the evils to which it has given birth. However, the interconnection needs to be synergistically hierarchical in a ‘Bottom-Up’ manner. This is paramount. Nations may connect themselves as sub-regions, subregions as regions and eventually regions as global. US Fed tapering (instead of being seen or shown as a tantrum of a hegemon) could prove to be a facilitator of ushering in a decisive mandate generated out of collective wisdom of all. The “Chairs and Shares” mode of global governance should give way to a “CARE and SHARE” mode backed by the voice of all – of the majority and the minority alike. Let the chronology of monetary history (which has been) driven by “warfare” be steered in future by “welfare” of the human race.