Policy Deliberations Research Articles

The role of discretion and street‐level deliberative practices in the COVID‐19 crisis response: Lessons from the Philippines

AbstractThis study investigates the role of frontline workers, such as the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) in the Philippines, as street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) in implementing COVID‐19 community quarantine policies. Drawing from SLB theory and deliberative policy analysis (DPA), I explore how SLBs adapted to rapidly changing conditions by exercising discretion in interpreting and adapting the implementation of nationally formulated pandemic management policies to meet local realities. I argue that SLBs functioned as deliberative practitioners, mediating between national policies and local realities while engaging in deliberative practices with their clients. Using the experience of BHERTs in Palompon, Leyte in the Philippines as an illustrative case, I identified the policy mandates (policy‐as‐written) of the BHERTs; the challenges and constraints they faced in implementing community quarantine policies; and the discretion they exercised in implementing community quarantine policies (policy‐as‐practiced). The findings reveal that, to meet their policy mandates and address the challenges they faced, they engaged in deliberative practices and collaborated with citizens in implementing context‐specific and creative strategies. Insights from this study highlight the adaptive and deliberative potential of SLBs in crisis situations and the value of a DPA in understanding SLB theory and research. By examining SLBs’ experiences during the pandemic, this study contributes to the SLB literature and offers practical lessons to policy practitioners in facilitating deliberation and developing context‐specific solutions in times of crisis.Points for practitioners The COVID‐19 pandemic and the subsequent government response in the Philippines have increased the challenges faced by street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs), including resource scarcity, organisational and political pressure, public resistance, and the risk of exposure to the virus. SLBs have shown their capacity to apply discretion and collaborate with their clients to resolve their own and the client's challenges and limitations through negotiation, mediation, conflict management, and active listening. This cooperative approach empowers them to resolve common issues and together formulate effective strategies that are beneficial to all parties involved. Relationships outside of SLBs’ duties as state agents (i.e. socio‐cultural relationships) can be a viable pathway for SLBs to implement alternative policy strategies to meet their policy mandates and address the challenges they face as they implement their mandates. Competing value systems, knowledge claims, and emotional narratives, compounded by a governance crisis, define the complex and informal nature of the policy process in the context of a crisis like the pandemic. Although SLBs demonstrate their capacity to creatively solve the challenges they encounter through deliberative practices, this should not serve as a justification for the government's lack of action in prioritising, safeguarding, and preserving their welfare.

Deliberative Democracy and Pragma-Dialectics Related

AbstractThis paper adopts a pragma-dialectic approach to explore inclusion in real-world argumentation. Having outlined theories of deliberative democracy—focussing on Habermas’s discourse model—and pragma-dialectic methods for analysing argumentative exchanges in the real world, we then relate them. From this we identify the potential for using the enhanced detail of pragma-dialectic analysis to constructively understand dynamics of inclusion in the political decision processes of central concern to deliberative democratic theories.In the remainder of the article we illustrate this potential with our own pragma-dialectic analysis of an instance of real-world argumentation in a political policymaking process—a deliberative forum in the contentious field of mental health. The detail afforded by the pragma-dialectic method allows us to more clearly identify the complex layers and dynamics of argument involved in these policy deliberations, allowing insights into mechanisms for inclusion in deliberations, relative to the parties to such deliberations, their roles and competing interests and perspectives.By relating the two fields of deliberative democratic theory and pragma-dialectics this article aims to develop their complementary potential—in particular by suggesting, and briefly illustrating—how pragma-dialectic methods might enhance analysis of the dynamics of argumentation in political policymaking processes, in particular as an aid to constructive reflection on those processes by theorists and participants together.

The Land and its People: The South African ‘Land Question’ and the Post-Apartheid Political Order

Why is it that South Africa’s ‘land question’ is so stubbornly resistant to resolution? This think piece re-examines 30 years of debate, concentrating on the disjuncture between the discourses of policy deliberation and those of contentious politics in debates about land in South Africa. It argues that the South African land debate as it unfolds in the public realm is best understood as a displaced discourse indirectly addressing the terms of political belonging and the nature of the post-apartheid political order. Far from being a distraction, this is a challenge that urgently needs to be confronted in its own terms. Drawing on the work of Ivor Chipkin, the paper argues that confronting the crisis of the post-apartheid political order requires a rethinking of the terms in which national identity is conceived. The paper explores the possibilities and challenges facing a politics of belonging centred on the Constitutional invocation of a political community ‘for all who live in it’ and what this might imply for a more constructive and productive engagement with land struggles in urban and rural South Africa.

Health impact, budget impact, and price threshold for cost-effectiveness of lenacapavir for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in eastern and southern Africa: a modelling analysis

Injectable lenacapavir administered every 6 months is a promising product for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We aimed to estimate the health and budget impacts and threshold price at which lenacapavir could be cost-effective in eastern and southern Africa. We adapted an agent-based network model, EMOD-HIV, to simulate lenacapavir scale-up in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and western Kenya from 2026 to 2035. Uptake assumptions were informed by a literature review of PrEP product preferences. In the main analysis, we varied lenacapavir coverage by subgroup: female sex workers (40% coverage); male clients of female sex workers (40%); adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years with more than one sexual partner (32%); women aged 25 years and older with more than one sexual partner (36%); and males with more than one sexual partner (32%). We also assessed a higher coverage scenario (64-76% across subgroups) and scenarios of expanding lenacapavir use, varying from concentrated among those at highest HIV risk to broader coverage including those at medium HIV risk. We estimated the maximum per-dose lenacapavir price that achieved cost-effectiveness (<US$500 per disability-adjusted life-year averted), infections averted, and 5-year budget impact, compared with daily oral PrEP only. In the main analysis, lenacapavir was projected to achieve from 1·6% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·5-1·8) to 4·0% (3·4-5·1) population coverage across settings and to avert from 12·3% (5·4-19·5) to 18·0% (11·0-22·9) of infections over 10 years. The maximum price per dose was highest in South Africa ($106·28 [95% UI 95·72-115·87]), followed by Zimbabwe ($21·15 [17·70-24·89]), and lowest in western Kenya ($16·58 [15·44-17·70]). The 5-year budget impact was US$507·25 million (95% UI 436·14-585·42) in South Africa, $16·80 million (13·95-22·64) in Zimbabwe, and $4·09 million (3·86-4·30) in western Kenya. In the higher coverage scenario, lenacapavir distribution was projected to reach from 3·2% (95% UI 2·9-3·6) to 8·1% (6·8-10·5) population coverage and to avert from 21·2% (95% UI 14·7-18·5) to 33·3% (28·5-36·9) of HIV infections across settings over 10 years. Price thresholds were lower than in the main analysis: $88·34 (95% UI 83·02-94·19) in South Africa, $17·71 (15·61-20·05) in Zimbabwe, and $14·78 (14·33-15·30) in western Kenya. The 5-year budget impact was higher than the main analysis: $835·29 million (95% UI 736·98-962·98) in South Africa, $29·50 million (24·62-39·52) in Zimbabwe, and $7·45 million (7·11-7·85) in western Kenya. Expanding lenacapavir coverage resulted in higher HIV infections averted but lower price thresholds than scenarios of concentrated use among those with highest HIV risk. Our findings suggest that lenacapavir could avert substantial HIV incidence and that price thresholds and budget impacts vary by setting and coverage. These results could inform policy deliberations regarding lenacapavir pricing and resource planning. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Status and barriers to circular bio-based building material adoption in developed economies: The case of Flanders, Belgium

Circular bio-based building materials (CBBMs) provide a potential solution to reduce the climate impacts of buildings and offer opportunities to transition the construction industry to a circular model. Promoting the use of these materials can also bring economic, environmental, and social benefits from valorising biowaste and by-products from other sectors. Despite their potential, CBBMs have not received sufficient attention globally, and their adoption is hindered by various barriers. However, it is unclear what the CBBMs' use status is, what adoption barriers exist, how these barriers interact, and what should be done to address them. This study addresses these knowledge gaps through a systematic study using mixed methods to investigate the adoption status and barriers to these materials in developed economies by using a specific case analysis in Flanders. The data analysis results show that hemp-based, cork-based, and straw-based materials are the most used, while the market for CBBMs is very limited in the region. Twenty-three potential adoption barriers were identified and selected from the existing literature, then ranked based on their mean scores. The t-test analysis helps to identify 13 critical barriers, which are grouped into five categories, including cost and risk-related barriers, technical and cultural-related barriers, the government's role-related barriers, information and quality-related barriers, and market-related barriers. Among them, cost and risk-related barriers, including “concern about the high initial cost”, “risks and uncertainties involved in adopting new materials”, and “perception of the extra cost being incurred”, are the three most critical barriers to CBBM adoption in Flanders. Kendall's W test shows good consensus among the two expert groups—with and without hands-on experience in utilising CBBMs—in their rankings of the barriers. Meanwhile, the Mann-Whitney U test indicates no statistically significant differences in the ranks of barriers between the two expert groups. The interview results confirm almost all survey results and provide deeper insights into the status and barriers to adopting these materials. Practical and policy implications are discussed based on these findings to inform policy deliberations on promoting CBBMs. This study may also be a good reference for scholars and industry practitioners to better understand issues impacting decision-making towards the adoption of CBBMs in the construction industry.

Last year of life care transitions between long-term care insurance services in Japan: Analysis of long-term care insurance claims data.

We determined the number of care transitions in the year before death among older adults requiring long-term care (LTC) and those receiving public LTC insurance (LTCI) services in Japan, along with care transition pathways and factors associated with the number of care transitions. This study used data from the Japanese LTCI claims, which store national information on certification of needed LTC and LTCI claims data. Services received in the year before death were classified as in-home, facility, mixture of in-home and facility, and not using LTCI services. The transition count is presented, and Sankey diagrams are produced to visualize care transition pathways. We used a multivariable analysis to identify factors associated with the number of care transitions. Of the participants, 276 896 (65.2%) experienced at least one transition in LTCI care settings in the year before death. Further, 72.0% of those requiring mild LTC underwent one or more transitions. Participants who were 75-84 years old (vs. 65-74 years old), male, without medical care needs, with symptoms of dementia, and with changes in LTC needs in the year before death were more likely to require care transitions. Moreover, participants with higher baseline LTC needs were less likely to require transitions. Over half the participants requiring LTC underwent one or more care transitions in the year before death. Policy deliberations regarding enhancing care under the LTCI system at the end of life and optimizing care transitions are necessary. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

‘It depends on where you were born…here in the North East, there’s not really many job opportunities compared to in the South’: young people’s perspectives on a North-South health divide and its drivers in England, UK

BackgroundImproving the public’s understanding of how regional and socioeconomic inequalities create and perpetuate inequalities in health, is argued to be necessary for building support for policies geared towards creating a more equal society. However, research exploring public perceptions of health inequalities, and how they are generated, is limited. This is particularly so for young people. Our study sought to explore young people’s lived experiences and understandings of health inequalities.MethodsWe carried out focus group discussions (n = 18) with 42 young people, aged 13–21, recruited from six youth organisations in England in 2021. The organisations were located in areas of high deprivation in South Yorkshire, the North East and London. Young people from each organisation took part in three interlinked focus group discussions designed to explore their (i) perceptions of factors impacting their health in their local area, (ii) understandings of health inequalities and (iii) priorities for change. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most discussions took place online (n = 15). However, with one group in the North East, we carried out discussions face-to-face (n = 3). Data were analysed thematically and we used NVivo-12 software to facilitate data management.ResultsYoung people from all groups demonstrated an awareness of a North-South divide in England, UK. They described how disparities in local economies and employment landscapes between the North and the South led to tangible differences in everyday living and working conditions. They clearly articulated how these differences ultimately led to inequalities in people’s health and wellbeing, such as linking poverty and employment precarity to chronic stress. Young people did not believe these inequalities were inevitable. They described the Conservative government as prioritising the South and thus perpetuating inequalities through uneven investment.ConclusionsOur study affords important insights into young people’s perceptions of how wider determinants can help explain the North-South health divide in England. It demonstrates young people’s contextualised understandings of the interplay between spatial, social and health inequalities. Our findings support calls for pro-equity policies to address the structural causes of regional divides in health. Further research, engaging young people in deliberative policy analysis, could build on this work.

Molecular Hosts for the Sensing and Separation of 99TcO4.

In recent years, European Union member states have hastened energy policy deliberations to address supply and sustainability concerns, placing a significant emphasis on nuclear energy as a means to achieve decarbonization goals. However, despite its significant role in power generation, nuclear energy faces significant challenges linked to fuel reprocessing and waste disposal, that hinder its broader expansion. In this context, the separation of technetium represents a concerning issue. Indeed, technetium's catalytic activity can impede the extraction of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium, affecting waste reprocessing efficiency. Additionally, the stable form of technetium in aerobic conditions, pertechnetate (TcO4 -), poses risks of groundwater contamination due to its mobility and solubility. Hence, sensing and separation of TcO4 - is imperative for both nuclear fuel processing and minimising radioactive contamination in the environment. However, the binding of TcO4 - and its separation from contaminated solutions present challenges due to the acidic (or basic) waste components and the high ionic strength in real matrices. Supramolecular chemists have addressed these issues by designing receptors inspired by molecular recognition principles. This article explores recent advancements and future directions in TcO4 - sensing and separation (using extraction and sorption) with a focus on molecular hosts. Metal-organic receptors will also be discussed.

Grandstanding Instead of Deliberative Policy-Making: Transitional Justice, Publicness and Parliamentary Questions in the Croatian Parliament

ABSTRACT Addressing the legacy of human rights violations in public can benefit victims, post-conflict societies and democracy building. But publicness of transitional justice (TJ) processes can also have opposite effects. We assess the relationship between publicness and TJ by leveraging the democratic deliberation theory concerned with the impact of publicness on the quality of policy-making. A comparative analysis of oral and written questions about TJ in the Croatian parliament (2004–20) shows that members of parliament use oral questions for nationalist grandstanding and written questions for substantive TJ policy deliberation. We demonstrate how publicness afforded by parliaments stymies TJ’s normative goals.

Towards an Inclusive Education Policy for Sustainability: Advancing the ‘Educating for Gross National Happiness’ Initiative in Bhutan

Education policies are often critiqued for short-sightedness and increasingly contended for their unsustainability. In the face of a bipolar characterisation of educational goals for economic utilitarianism and humanism with spiritual gratification, this study examines Bhutan’s Educating for Gross National Happiness (EGNH) as a policy tool. Aiming to understand whether EGNH is an inclusive, holistic, and sustainable policy instrument, this study pivots on coalesced methodological approaches of deliberative policy analysis, documentary policy reviews, and comparative policy analysis. The research design included examining the effectiveness and sustainability of the EGNH initiative through the lens of policy design. The main findings reveal that external and internal factors such as foreign policy influences, inconsistent internal policy interventions, interferences by party politics, weak policy coherence, and a lack of a comprehensive policy framework are the principal reasons for unsustainable policy gaps. This study offers valuable insights with a proposal for a comprehensive and dynamic framework to shape the future of education in the spirit of sustainability.

Slogans as a policy distractor: a case of ‘washback’ discourse in English language testing reforms in Japan

ABSTRACT This paper examines recent reforms in English-language testing in Japan using a policy distraction framework. We identify the term ‘washback (effect)’ and other related discourses as major distractors and investigate how ‘washback’ discourses have functioned as political slogans or catchphrases in policy deliberation processes and how they have diverted attention and resources from more essential issues. By analyzing advisory panel minutes and other policy documents, we demonstrate how policy distraction operates. Some committee members initially introduced ‘washback’ discourse in a deliberation meeting, citing studies on language testing. However, this discourse quickly became a political slogan, transforming into a dubious rationale for advocating the use of commercial four-skills English tests in university entrance exams. This ‘washback’ discourse led to policy distraction and the overlooking of more significant issues, such as class size reduction and the improvement of teachers’ working conditions. Additionally, our analysis reveals underlying factors triggering this distraction, including Japanese ideological views on English education and budgetary austerity in education. We discuss the political and pedagogical implications of these findings, particularly regarding the identification of political distractions, their potential threat to teacher agency, and strategies for addressing and correcting these distractions to facilitate social change.

Вариация оценок готовности платить в зависимости от величины снижения риска смерти от загрязнения воздуха

The present study endeavors to elucidate the variability in estimates of willingness-to-pay (WTP) concerning the mitigation of mortality risk attributable to air pollution, contingent upon the extent of the corresponding risk reduction. Through the lens of air pollution control projects, the research seeks to discern fluctuations in WTP estimates, thereby shedding light on the intricacies of decision-making processes surrounding environmental management initiatives. The salience of this inquiry stems from the escalating prevalence of methodologies employing willingness-to-pay assessments as a yardstick for evaluating the value of human life across diverse spheres of societal activity, thereby informing policy deliberations by regulatory authorities. Central to the research quandary is the recognition that alterations in the magnitude of risk reduction can engender disproportional shifts in WTP values, holding all other variables constant. This phenomenon engenders a profound reliance on the methodological framework employed, thereby exerting a substantial influence on the resultant cost-of-living appraisals. Employing the contingent valuation method grounded in stated preferences within a double dichotomous choice framework, empirical findings reveal that WTP for reducing mortality risk from air pollution escalates by 43.8 %, ascending from 11 713 to 16 839 rubles, concomitant with a twofold increase in the reduction rate, from 2.5 to 5.0 per 10,000 inhabitants. This equates to a reduction in mortality rates from 100.0 to 97.5 and 100.0 to 95.0 per 10,000 inhabitants, respectively, all else being equal. The implications drawn from these conclusions are pivotal in guiding the formulation, execution, and interpretation of research endeavors pertaining to cost-of-living assessments across diverse contexts. Furthermore, they furnish critical insights for substantiating policy decisions within regulatory bodies, thereby enhancing the efficacy and integrity of environmental management initiatives.

Gateways and Anchor Points: The Use of Frames to Amplify Marginalized Voices in Disability Policy Deliberations

This essay analyzes the rhetorical framing tactics of a group of disability activists to understand how they use key words, topic shifts, and other framing maneuvers to amplify marginalized voices in public debates. Focusing on a town hall meeting and a legislator update meeting between activists and lawmakers, the author uses stasis theory to analyze how these maneuvers (1) create gateways for marginalized voices to enter the discussion and (2) anchor deliberations around topics of importance to the disabled community. This suggests a more complex role for framing in face-to-face deliberative contexts than studies of framing strategies in written texts have traditionally considered. I argue that a multidimensional view of framing uniting consideration of word choice with attention to interactive dynamics is necessary to appreciate how framing maneuvers can not only shape the content of debates but amplify the voices of people excluded by the tacit rules of democratic deliberation.

Where’s the beef?: the politics of health care reform in South Korea

Background: In February 2024, the South Korean government released a policy proposal for healthcare reform, with one of the main pillars being increased medical school admissions. This policy has sparked intense opposition from the physicians’ top association. Most importantly, interns and residents—the bedrock of the medical workforce in Korean hospitals—began to leave en masse. Consequently, a medical crisis emerged, in which many medical and surgical procedures were delayed.Current Concepts: According to studies on comparative health policy and systems, the crisis could be attributed to the unique characteristics of the Korean healthcare system, in which the administration and doctors have failed to establish a substantive dialogue through which policy options are examined and deliberated. These dynamics necessitated the establishment of an institutional space for interest group politics, causing both to suffer from a lack of action repertoires. The stalemate we witness reflects the enduring patterns of the same issue.Discussion and Conclusion: To ensure the success of the current initiative, institutional arrangements must be established in which policymakers and physicians make a credible commitment to each other. Alternatives, for instance, include reactivating and regularizing the Health and Medical Services Policy Deliberation Committee, which could pave the way for establishing a venue where key stakeholders can discuss future agendas, such as how to ensure improved accessibility to “essential” care and mitigate its subnational variation, thereby creating a long-term vision for new health system governance in South Korea.

Beyond Bias: Aggregate Approaches to Conflicts of Interest Research and Policy in Biomedical Research.

Considerable efforts have been devoted to addressing the problem of conflicts of interest (COI) in health research, policy, education, and practice. An overwhelming body of evidence demonstrates that conflicts associate with deleterious outcomes for the biomedical research enterprise. Nevertheless, little has changed for research, specifically, since the Institute of Medicine's landmark Conflicts of Interest in Medical Research, Practice, and Education was published over a decade ago. In this article, we draw on interdisciplinary research on manufactured controversies in science-policy deliberation to argue that the development of meaningful COI policy has been stymied through argumentative "wedges" designed to delay consensus and policy formation. Argumentative wedges disrupt policy formation by mischaracterizing the evidence base, continuously redefining the terms of the debate and/or recommending overly narrow criteria for who should be allowed to participate in policy deliberation. In this article, we argue researchers and policymakers interested in better addressing the harmful effects of COI can improve their efforts through strategic efforts designed to disrupt the wedges of manufactured controversy. Additionally, we argue that efforts to address COI can be further enhanced through embracing a broader framework for COI inquiry. Specifically, we argue that aggregate approaches to COI can help to disrupt these wedges and provide a strong foundation for future policy.

What Justifies Electoral Voice? J. S. Mill on Voting

Abstract Mill advocates plural voting on instrumentalist grounds: the more competent are to have more votes. At the same time, he regards it as a ‘personal injustice’ to withhold from anyone ‘the ordinary privilege of having his voice reckoned in the disposal of affairs in which he has the same interest as other people’ (Mill 1861a, p. 469). But if electoral voice is justified by its contribution to good governance, why would it be an injustice to deny the vote to those whose use of it would disserve this end? I propose the dual justification view to resolve this tension. Mill holds that electoral voice is to be justified in two complementary ways: both as communicating a person’s interests and perspective in order that they be accommodated in policy deliberations, and as advancing a vision of the common good and influencing the policy of the legislature.

The contested value of parklets

ABSTRACT This paper examines the different values that stakeholders associate with parklets: small open spaces temporarily installed onto curbside car-parking spaces. It explores the growing debate in policy, research and the media around parklets’ value for the public and for the hospitality businesses that host most of them. The paper aims to inform policy deliberations around parklets by identifying and analyzing the diverse values that have been associated with them. It locates these values within the key policy concerns that shape the broader practices of temporary and tactical urbanism: urban intensity, community engagement, innovation, resilience and place identity. It evaluates whether parklets can have detectable and achievable impacts on different policy aims associated with them: whether the various specified policy values are strong, weak, wishful or hidden. The findings illuminate the contours of policy debates around parklets and indicate why certain policy objectives have been better served by parklets than others.

Deliberative Policy Analysis of Green Open Spaces in Lebak Regency Banten Province

Deliberative Policy Analysis of Green Open Spaces in Lebak Regency Banten Province

The Socio-Economic Impact of Judicial Verdicts

The socio-economic impact of judicial verdicts is a critical area of inquiry within contemporary legal scholarship and governance discourse. This research paper delves into the intricate dynamics surrounding judicial decisions, aiming to unravel their implications for economic development, social cohesion, and democratic governance. Grounded in interdisciplinary dialogue and empirical analysis, the study offers insights that extend beyond academic inquiry to inform policy deliberations and practical interventions.&#x0D; Against the backdrop of rapid globalization and evolving legal frameworks, understanding the complexities of judicial verdicts assumes paramount importance. This research endeavors to comprehensively explore the socio-economic dimensions underpinning judicial decisions, shedding light on disparities in access to justice, economic repercussions, and societal implications. Through a systematic examination of diverse legal systems and socio-cultural contexts, the study elucidates the multi-faceted nature of judicial impact on society.&#x0D; The objectives of the research are structured to address critical gaps in understanding the socio-economic impact of judicial verdicts and to contribute meaningfully to scholarly discourse and policy deliberations in the field of law and governance. These objectives encompass examining socio-economic dimensions, identifying disparities in access to justice, assessing economic consequences, exploring social dynamics and public perceptions, and providing actionable policy recommendations and implications.&#x0D; The significance of this research lies in its potential to generate knowledge, inform policy change, and foster inclusive governance practices that uphold principles of justice, equity, and human rights. By advancing interdisciplinary dialogue, empirical rigor, and policy relevance, the study serves as a catalyst for positive transformation within legal systems and societal institutions, contributing to the advancement of a more just, equitable, and democratic world.&#x0D; While the research acknowledges certain limitations, including geographical and jurisdictional constraints, data availability and reliability, interdisciplinary complexity, and temporal constraints, it seeks to provide valuable insights and contributions to scholarly discourse and policy deliberations. Through rigorous analysis and engagement with international standards of scholarly inquiry, the research aims to foster informed decision-making and inclusive governance practices at the intersection of law, society, and governance.

Economic comparison of loblolly pine and solar power in South Georgia, United States

In the face of deforestation from urbanization and population growth, there is a potential for an additional loss of forests from solar power generation as forest landowners may look to alternative sources of income. We compare the profitability of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations and solar power generation in South Georgia. The analysis was completed at two different scales, one acre (0.405 ha) and five acres (2.02 ha), based on the large number of small acreage forest landowners in the state. The Land Expectation Values (LEVs over 25 years project cycle) for a 350 kW (occupying one acre or 0.405 ha) and a 1 MW (occupying five acres or 2.02 ha) solar power systems are -$30,183 and $29,607 at an 8 % interest rate, respectively. In comparison, LEVs for one acre (0.405 ha) and five acre (2.02 ha) loblolly pine stands (at the site index 80 ft/24.4 m) for the same rotation cycle are $1,380 and $6,900 at a 6 % interest rate and $611 and $3,055 at an 8 % interest rate, respectively. The potential profitability of solar power systems varies, depending on whether the solar generation and pricing are high enough to overcome the significant installation, upkeep, and recycling costs. Since the potential profitability of the larger-scale solar power systems is significantly higher than loblolly pine stands at around five acres, there is a chance that small family forest landowners could convert their forestlands into solar farms, especially if their forestlands are close to a high-capacity power transmission line. This information could feed into ongoing policy deliberations on promoting conservation and renewable energy generation at the state level and beyond.