Policy Development Research Articles

Does Reduced Space Result in Fewer Rights? Controlled Shrinking in the Urban Renewal of Genoa

This article explores three examples of urban design initiatives in Genoa in an attempt to highlight the potential and possible contradictions that controlled shrinking projects pose for the future of contemporary cities. Genoa, a symbol of Italian shrinking cities, has been strongly defined over the years by post-industrialisation transformations and by long-standing conditions of urban shrinkage. Despite facing continuous shrinkage, local urban development policies have historically focused exclusively on urban growth and expansion. Only recently have some areas in Genoa started to adopt spatial planning experiences that actively pursue degrowth policies, aiming to reduce existing urban fabric and decrease urban density. These initiatives are adopted in specific areas affected by demographic decline, hydrogeological risks, pollution, or catastrophic events. These spatial strategies justify their existence by invoking concepts like smart shrinkage and degrowth, promising improvements in both environmental and social conditions. However, this article notes how these concepts in Genoa are not aligned with the actual social and environmental challenges that these considerations and positions pose. In fact, the urban renewal initiatives introduced by institutions, in reality, lean towards a strategy of shrinkage and demolition of residential complexes, transportation infrastructure, and productive spaces, with diverse and conflicting results. The observed controlled shrinking projects neglect the synthesis of the territory as a palimpsest, ignore new ecological sensitivities, and lack awareness of the social implications associated with the concepts of smart shrinkage and degrowth. Instead, the three instances introduce a spatial project that still adheres to the underlying principles of growth and exploitation, presenting a shrinkage of the existing urban fabric that is mere illusion. It involves clearing out the deteriorated spaces only to fill them with capitalist rhetoric and models that, instead of creating space, undermine fundamental rights. Nonetheless, a closer examination of these three missed opportunities sheds light on the necessary knowledge, actions, and design approaches for a city to navigate urban shrinkage adeptly. This exploration also reveals the potential for the city to transform into a framework and platform, inspiring and guiding new urban planning paradigms for sustainable development.

Holly Doel-Mackaway, Indigenous Children’s Right to Participate in Law and Policy Development.

Holly Doel-Mackaway, Indigenous Children’s Right to Participate in Law and Policy Development.

Mangroves as Natural Shields: A Comprehensive Review of Their Role in Mitigating Natural Disasters and Conservation Strategies

Mangrove ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of natural disasters on coastal regions worldwide. This comprehensive review paper synthesizes multidisciplinary studies to explore the contribution of mangroves in reducing the risk of catastrophes such as storm surges, tsunamis, hurricanes, and coastal erosion. By analysing the complex relationships between mangroves and natural disasters, we delve into factors such as species composition, forest structure, hydrological regimes, and coastal geomorphology. Additionally, we investigate the socioeconomic implications of mangrove conservation and restoration efforts, highlighting their potential to enhance resilience and sustainable development in coastal communities. The paper presents a detailed examination of wave characteristics, types, and attenuation mechanisms, focusing on how mangrove features such as prop roots, knee roots, and pneumatophores influence wave dissipation. We discuss various numerical and statistical models used to predict wave attenuation through mangroves, providing insights into their strengths and limitations. Furthermore, we explore global and India-specific mangrove cover status, important species, and conservation measures, including legal frameworks and initiatives by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Finally, the review underscores the urgency of conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems to safeguard both human well-being and ecological integrity in the face of escalating climate-related threats. It advocates for evidence-based decision-making and policy development in disaster risk management and climate adaptation, emphasizing the pivotal role of mangroves as natural shields against natural calamities. Overall, this paper contributes to the understanding of mangrove-mediated hazard reduction and provides guidance for maximizing the resilience of coastal communities in an increasingly volatile world.

Identification of the needs and priorities of older people and stakeholders in rural and urban areas of Santo Andre, Brazil.

There are few data reporting the needs and priorities of older adults in Brazil. This hampers the development and/or implementation of policies aimed at older adults to help them age well. The aim of this study was to understand areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing as identified by older adults and key stakeholders in both urban and rural environments. Two locations were selected, one urban and one rural in the municipality of Santo André, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (SP). Workshops for older adults (>60 y) and stakeholders were conducted separately in each location. The workshops incorporated an iterative process of discussion, prioritisation and ranking of responses, in roundtable groups and in plenary. Areas of commonality and differences between older adult and stakeholder responses were identified by comparing responses between groups as well as mapping obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing identified by older adults, to the priorities identified by stakeholder groups. The socio-ecologic model was used to categorise responses. There were few shared responses between stakeholders and older adults and little overlap between the top ranked responses of urban and rural groups. With respect to areas of importance, both stakeholder groups ranked policies for older people within their top five reponses. Both older adult groups ranked keeping physically and mentally active, and nurturing spirituality. There was a marked lack of congruence between older adults' obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing and stakeholder priorities, in both urban and rural settings. Most responses were located within the Society domain of the socio-ecologic model, although older adults also responded within the Individual/ Relationships domains, particularly in ranking areas of most importance for healthy ageing. Our results highlight substantial differences between older adults and stakeholders with respect to areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing, and point to the need for more engagement between those in advocacy and policymaking roles and the older people whose needs they serve.

Social capital, government guidance and contract choice in agricultural land transfer.

This study explores the impact of farm households' social capital characteristics and local government policies on the selection of farmland transfer contracts in China's rural industrial revitalization context. Utilizing field research data from 1,979 households in ethnic areas of Hunan Province, this paper constructs an econometric model to assess how farm households' social capital and local governments' involvement in rural industrial revitalization influence farmland transfer contract selections. The findings indicate that, lacking government program support, farmers' social capital significantly affects contract type and duration, but not the rent. Specifically, farmers possessing extensive social capital prefer verbal and short-term contracts (coefficients of 0.525 and 0.643, significant at the 5% level), whereas their influence on rent (coefficient of 2.418, significant at the 5% level) manifests under government program support. These results challenge the conventional theory of farmland transfer contracts and offer substantial empirical support for the development of local government policies in rural industrial revitalization, underlining the critical role of government guidance and social capital in enhancing farmland transfer.

Improved urbanization-vegetation cover coordination associated with economic level in port cities along the Maritime Silk Road

The sustainability of port cities affects the competitiveness of their hinterland in international shipping and maritime trade, however, the coordinated relationship between urbanization and ecological environment in port cities has received less attention. In this study, we quantitatively analyzed the urban expansion process and vegetation cover changes in 44 port cities along the Maritime Silk Road during 2000–2020 based on multi-source remote sensing data. Adopting the urbanization-vegetation cover index (UVCI), we measured the coordination relationship between urban expansion and vegetation cover and the dynamics during 2000–2020. The results found that all port cities experienced dramatic development from 2000 to 2020, with an average increase in artificial surface area of 127.81%. The 63.64% of port cities experienced increased vegetation cover, thus the overall UVCI in the port city moved toward a more coordinated and sustainable pattern with significant heterogeneity at the economic levels. High-economy port cities have generally become more coordinated, while most low- and medium-economy cities still face challenges of conflicting urban expansion and ecological preservation. This study contributes to the development of government policies that support green and sustainable urban development in port cities, and provides insights for rationalizing development policies in port cities worldwide.

Association between mukbang and cookbang viewing and body image perception and BMI in adolescents

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for establishing healthy eating habits and weight management, essential for preventing obesity and promoting overall health. This study investigates the impact of mukbang and cookbang—popular online broadcasts in Korea that feature excessive consumption of food—on the dietary habits and body image perception of Korean adolescents. With digital media, especially platforms like YouTube, becoming an integral part of daily life, these broadcasts have the potential to significantly influence adolescent health behaviors.MethodsEmploying data from the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2022), this descriptive survey research explores the relationship between watching mukbang and cookbang and various health-related factors among adolescents. The survey’s comprehensive dataset provided a unique opportunity to examine this association in a population that is increasingly exposed to digital media content. The analysis focused on the frequency of watching mukbang and cookbang, their impact on eating habits, body mass index (BMI), body shape perception, and body image distortion among adolescents.ResultsThe results revealed a significant engagement with mukbang and cookbang among adolescents, with notable gender differences in viewing habits and effects. Increased frequency of viewing was associated with negative impacts on eating habits and body image perception. Furthermore, psychological factors such as stress levels and sleep quality emerged as significant predictors of the frequency of watching these broadcasts.ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for further investigation into the causal relationships between mukbang and cookbang viewership and adolescent health outcomes. The findings suggest the importance of developing targeted interventions to mitigate the negative influences of such content on adolescents’ eating habits and body perceptions. Given the widespread popularity of these broadcasts, it is crucial to address their potential health implications through public health strategies, educational content, and policy development aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles among adolescents.

Barriers and facilitators to satisfaction with diabetes care: The perspectives of patients attending public diabetic clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Background The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing steadily over the past decade in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with about three-quarters of people living with the disease globally residing in these countries. Patient satisfaction can be used as a proxy measure of overall facility performance, and its use has been recommended for determining the quality of services provided by healthcare centres and organizations. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators towards satisfaction with diabetes care among patients attending public diabetic clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was carried out among people with diabetes attending public diabetic clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Using a purposeful sampling technique, 35 people with diabetes were interviewed from May 2023 to July 2023 with the principles of saturation guiding sample size determination. A semi-structured face-to-face interview guide was employed in data collection. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a conventional content analysis approach after translation. NVivo 12.0 computer software was employed to organize and code the data. Results A total of 35 participants were enrolled in this study with a mean (±SD) age of 58.5 (±13.76) years. Four predominant themes and 12 categories were identified after data analysis including two barriers and two facilitators toward patients’ satisfaction with diabetes care. Financial constraints and unfavourable clinic environments were identified as barriers. Furthermore, good provider-patient relationships and continuity of care emerged as facilitators. Conclusion Barriers and facilitators to patients’ satisfaction with diabetes identified in this study are greatly determined by socio-economic and cultural conditions, highlighting the role of the healthcare delivery systems and allied stakeholders in regulatory and policy development to address the existing barriers and consolidate the proven facilitators.

Human Trafficking Hotline Analysis: Insights from the State of Tennessee

ABSTRACT This exploratory study underscores the value of human trafficking hotlines as an important data source for understanding and responding to trafficking at the micro level. Drawing on data from the Tennessee Statewide Human Trafficking Hotline between 2017 and 2021, 2,316 tips were analyzed and revealed a 219% tip increase over five years, with minimal impact noted due to COVID-19. The most common trafficking tips relate to minors (57%), adult sex trafficking (21%), and labor trafficking (4%). Women and minor victims were overrepresented in tips, and only 3% of victims self-reported to the hotline. Tips were concentrated in counties with larger populations; however, tips also indicated human trafficking presence in rural areas. Multiple victims and trafficking suspects were described in 11.5% of cases, and as the number of victims increased, so did the number of suspected traffickers. When suspects operated together, there tended to be one male and one female in the reported trafficking operations. The findings of this study provide insight into the landscape of human trafficking in Tennessee and can inform policy development and enhanced responses by law enforcement and service providers to human trafficking.

Developing Policy Infrastructure to Guide Genomics-Informed Oncology Nursing in Canada: An Interpretive Descriptive Study.

Genomic technologies such as genetic testing and precision treatments are rapidly becoming routine in oncology care, and nurses play an increasingly important role in supporting the growing demands for genomics-informed healthcare. Policy infrastructure such as competencies, standards, scope of practice statements, and education and curriculum frameworks are urgently needed to guide these practice and education changes. This study is part of a larger three-phase project to develop recommendations and catalyze action for genomics-informed oncology nursing education and practice for the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology and the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. This phase aimed to enhance understanding of policy needs and action drivers for genomics-informed oncology nursing education and practice through the perspectives of Canadian oncology nurses and patient partners. Interpretive description methodology guided the study. Twenty semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted; 17 with oncology nurses in various domains of practice, and three with patient partner representatives. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. Our analysis identified three themes: 1) nurses and patients recognize that it is time for action, 2) nurses and patients see advantages to executing intentional, strategic, and collaborative policy development, and 3) leadership and advocacy are required to drive action. Nursing policy infrastructure is required to increase genomic literacy, support nurses in providing safe patient care, and establish clear roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities within the interdisciplinary team. Strong leadership and advocacy at the practice, organizational, and systems levels are vital to accelerating action.

Using policy codesign to achieve multi-sector alignment in adolescent behavioral health: a study protocol

BackgroundPolicymaking is quickly gaining focus in the field of implementation science as a potential opportunity for aligning cross-sector systems and introducing incentives to promote population health, including substance use disorders (SUD) and their prevention in adolescents. Policymakers are seen as holding the necessary levers for realigning service infrastructure to more rapidly and effectively address adolescent behavioral health across the continuum of need (prevention through crisis care, mental health, and SUD) and in multiple locations (schools, primary care, community settings). The difficulty of aligning policy intent, policy design, and successful policy implementation is a well-known challenge in the broader public policy and public administration literature that also affects local behavioral health policymaking. This study will examine a blended approach of coproduction and codesign (i.e., Policy Codesign), iteratively developed over multiple years to address problems in policy formation that often lead to poor implementation outcomes. The current study evaluates this scalable approach using reproducible measures to grow the knowledge base in this field of study.MethodsThis is a single-arm, longitudinal, staggered implementation study to examine the acceptability and short-term impacts of Policy Codesign in resolving critical challenges in behavioral health policy formation. The aims are to (1) examine the acceptability, feasibility, and reach of Policy Codesign within two geographically distinct counties in Washington state, USA; (2) examine the impact of Policy Codesign on multisector policy development within these counties using social network analysis; and (3) assess the perceived replicability of Policy Codesign among leaders and other staff of policy-oriented state behavioral health intermediary organizations across the USA.DiscussionThis study will assess the feasibility of a specific approach to collaborative policy development, Policy Codesign, in two diverse regions. Results will inform a subsequent multi-state study measuring the impact and effectiveness of this approach for achieving multi-sector and evidence informed policy development in adolescent SUD prevention and treatment.

The developmental activities of women’s professional pathway cricketers

ABSTRACT The growth of investment in women’s cricket has led to the development of new professional pathways. However, there is lack of specific evidence to support the development of these athletes. This study aimed to take a first step in understanding the participation histories of female cricketers selected into English women’s professional academies. 84 players completed the Participation History Questionnaire (PHQ) to capture details of activities engaged in across development, including milestones, cricket activity, and engagement in other sport activities. There were relative age effects where players' birthdate distributions differed from national norms (X 2 = 8.451, p = .003, V = 0.227), and more players than expected attended independent schools (X 2 = 7.980, p = .005, V = 0.232). Participants engaged in cricket informally before coach led training, have siblings (particularly brothers) interested in cricket and often played boy’s cricket before engaging in the girl’s or women’s game. Developmental activities were characterised by early engagement, high levels of diversification, and very low levels of play compared to high levels of formal practice and match play. These findings have implications for the advancement of talent identification and development policies and processes in women’s cricket.

Editorial: The politics of sustainable development in cultural policies

Editorial: The politics of sustainable development in cultural policies

The Principal-Agent Theoretical Ramifications on Digital Transformation of Ports in Emerging Economies

Background: Scholarly literature indicates a slow pace at which maritime ports fully embrace digital transformation (DT). The reasons to this are largely anecdotal and lack solid empirical grounding. This inhibits an overall understanding of DT’s tenets and the development of evidence-based policies and targeted actions. Methods: This study deployed a qualitative case study strategy to unpack the challenges of undertaking DT through the lens of principal-agent theory (PAT). Results: Analysis of data collected through 13 semi-structured interviews from a port’s value chain stakeholders revealed five thematic challenges that contradict successful implementation of DT. These included interagency constraints and system ownership tussles; system sabotage and prevalent corruption; prevalent human agency in port operations; cultural constraints; and political influence on port governance. Conclusions: To address these challenges, the study proposes a four-stage empirically grounded DT strategy framework that guides both practitioners and policymakers through DT endeavors. The framework includes: (1) the port’s value chain mapping, (2) stakeholder engagement, (3) resource mobilization, and (4) effective monitoring. For scholars, we provide an avenue for testing statistical significance of association and causality among the identified challenges.

Shaping the Future of Environmental Economics: A Bibliometric Review of Current Trends and Future Directions

Environmental economics is increasingly pivotal in addressing global environmental challenges. This study aims to elucidate the research landscape in this field, focusing on prevalent themes such as climate change, carbon emissions, sustainable development, and environmental policy. Employing a bibliometric analysis, we analyzed a substantial corpus of literature from Scopus. We applied Lotka's Law to assess author productivity and distribution and conducted institutional and country-level analyses to map the geographical spread and institutional affiliations in environmental economics research. Our analysis highlights a significant growth in the environmental economics literature, with a notable focus on climate change and sustainability. A concentration of publications among a few authors was observed, indicating influential researchers and potential for increased collaboration. The rise in publications, particularly in China and leading journals like 'The Journal of Cleaner Production,' reflects a global upsurge in environmental economics research. Distinct clusters were identified, covering diverse topics from climate change economics to environmental policy. The study acknowledges limitations due to exclusive reliance on Scopus data, suggesting future research to include other databases like the Web of Science for a more comprehensive analysis. Considering the evolving nature of environmental challenges, we advocate for interdisciplinary approaches and continual updates in research to address emergent trends in this critical field.

Aging in Indigenous Communities: Perspective from Two Ancestral Communities in the Colombian Andean-Amazon Region.

The phenomenon of world aging is not foreign to indigenous communities. In the last few years, research about these communities around the world has increased, but aging in indigenous towns still has not been studied widely. The purpose of this research is to interpret the meaning of old age in two indigenous communities from the Colombian Andean-Amazon region (the Inga and Kamëntsa) to reinforce the relevance of the local sociocultural context within the configuration of the meaning of old age and to emphasize the importance of considering particular regional characteristics for the design of policies and interventions aiming to recognize and integrate indigenous populations. This is a qualitative study with an interactionism-symbolism approach. In total, six indigenous people older than 60 years from two ancestral communities from the Colombian Andean-Amazon region participated in the in-depth interviews. Data analysis was carried out in three moments: discovery, coding, and relativization of the information. The results show that old age means wisdom, "I am wise," which is supported in the cosmology and the trajectory of life, reinforces the identity and autonomy, and allows them to be agents in the dynamics of their communities from the "I do," in other words, their roles as builders of the family-society and as guards of ancestral knowledge. The loss of this knowledge and the elements that it is composed of uproot them and put them at risk of disappearing as individuals and as a collective. In conclusion, the meaning of old age in these communities is not centered on a determinate age; you are not old, you are wise, and as such, they play a central role in their communities. Moreover, wisdom is built in parallel with their cosmology and assigns them the task of safekeeping ancestral knowledge. In order to do this, they use oral tradition as a tool, words that are born in their territories, travel in a nonlinear timeline, and get strengthened by the community while also protecting it and building it. Knowing what aging means for Indigenous communities can facilitate to the development of policies and initiatives and to provide culturally appropriate and effective programs.

Predicting Indian GDP with Machine Learning: A Comparison of Regression Models

In recent years, the application of machine learning algorithms in economic forecasting has gained significant traction. This study focuses on predicting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India by harnessing advanced machine learning techniques. We assembled a comprehensive dataset incorporating time series analysis and inflation rates from diverse sources. Our investigation involved a comparative analysis employing both linear and polynomial regression methods to discern the most accurate predictive model. Our findings underscore the superiority of the polynomial regression model, which excelled in capturing non-linear relationships between independent variables and GDP. Specifically, the polynomial regression model achieved an impressive prediction accuracy rate of surpassing the accuracy achieved by the linear regression model. This study underscores the critical role of advanced machine learning algorithms in economic forecasting. By emphasizing the significance of high-quality datasets and the application of techniques like polynomial regression, we illustrate how these factors can substantially enhance the precision of economic forecasts. These insights hold substantial implications for policy makers and businesses alike, aiding informed decision-making and effective economic policy development. This study serves as a valuable reference for future research, highlighting the importance of advanced machine learning methods and robust data sources in economic forecasting.

Green intent or black smoke: Exploring investor sentiment on sustainable development

AbstractThe connections among fossil fuels, green bonds, and investors have undergone a substantial alteration due to the daunting difficulties posed by climate change risks and energy problems. This study employs quantile connection approaches to the dynamic spillover. The results indicate that extreme quantiles exhibit a higher degree of connectivity compared to the average quantile. In severe circumstances, risk spillover primarily emanates from fossil fuels, whereas investor sentiment (IS) is more vulnerable to the impact of related market hazards. The green bond (GBI) experiences a transition in its function, alternating between being a transmitter and a receiver. To summarise, comprehending the interrelation among these variables offers fresh perspectives for investment decision‐making and policy development to facilitate the shift towards sustainable energy and tackle the climate emergency.

Oil Price Fluctuation and their Impact on the Macroeconomic Variables: The Case of Kuwait

The fluctuations in the international prices of crude oil have been a major concern for many economies who depend mainly on oil exports. Oil price shocks are a major disturbance for the economies of oil producing countries. This study investigates the impact of oil price shocks on selected macroeconomic variables in Kuwait using secondary data covering the period of 2001 to 2022. The study adopted the Vector autoregression (VAR) method to analyze the response of Kuwait macroeconomic variables to shocks in oil prices. Oil price in the study is considered in 2 categories: the linear oil price and the non-linear oil price (positive and negative changes in oil price). Based on the findings, it is observed that oil price shocks significantly impact macroeconomic variables in Kuwait. It is found that positive changes in oil prices have a more positive and significant impact on the macroeconomic variables compared to the negative changes in oil price. It is however concluded that there is a need for more policy developments to better harness periods of positive oil price experiences, and develop hedging risk framework for periods of negative changes in oil price in order to curb the impact of oil price shocks on Kuwait’s macroeconomy.

Assessing long run asymmetric effect of urbanization, fossil energy consumption and regulatory quality on environmental degradation in the Black Sea Region: A dynamic analysis

Sustainable development policies of the Black Sea Region is vital to European Union given increasing environmental disturbances by dynamic and heterogenous factors across the enclave beginning from 1990s. This study assesses long run asymmetric effect of urbanization, energy consumption and regulatory quality on environmental degradation, with data from 1998Q1 to 2017Q4. First pooled mean group (PMG) estimates suggest short-run nonlinear and asymmetric effects of the independent variables on carbons emissions. Second, (i) long-run PMG estimates indicate improvements in regulatory quality reduces carbon dioxide emissions; (ii) increases in both urbanization and fossil energy consumption lead to corresponding rise in carbon dioxide emissions. Third, outcomes of Dumitrescu Hurlin causality estimates indicate (i) both fossil energy consumption and urbanization have unidirectional causal effects on carbon dioxide emissions; and (ii) increases in both urbanization and carbon dioxide emissions cause changes in regulations quality. These findings provide environmental regulatory insights for the Black Sea regions, especially to the European Union. Towards the future, the EU could ensure increased funding, research and policy inter-linking. Cooperation and formal exchanges among the economies in implementation of Danube River and Black Sea Conventions could be strengthened to preserve commercial marine resources; biodiversity and Habitat resources and reduce eutrophication. Additionally, fossil energy-guzzling industries could be regulated by the EU to use efficient technologies toward saving energy. To address urban-driven carbons emission across the region, economies across the region could invest in natural gas; while heavy investments are made in energy productivity.