Policy Lessons Research Articles

Insurance and climate risks: Policy lessons from three bounding scenarios

Climate change poses complex risks without precedent that challenge established planning and risk management tools, including property insurance. The nature and timing of transitions in markets and institutions in response to growing climate risks will shape prospects for future socioeconomic well-being. As property insurance markets in the United States face higher levels of turmoil, policymakers are weighing various interventions to stabilize not only insurance but also housing and mortgage markets. We identify policy lessons based on the investigation of three bounding scenarios designed to address the question of how near-term (1 to 3 y) policy and regulatory choices surrounding insurance markets in Florida could influence medium-term (3 to 15 y) risk levels, disaster recovery, housing markets, and local economic outcomes. Since our policy choices today have a profound impact on future outcomes, careful consideration of the longer-term impacts of today’s policy choices is required to secure more effective and equitable adaptation decisions and pathways.

Data Integration of Health Financing Systems as a Critical Enabler for Objective-Oriented Health System Reform: A Scoping Review from India

ABSTRACT Health financing fragmentation poses a challenge to reforms intended to address system-wide objectives vis-à-vis universal health coverage (UHC). India’s experience with publicly subsidized health insurance schemes (PSHIs), such as Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and its state adaptations, testify to the challenges inherent in effecting objective-oriented health systems reforms, particularly owing to wide variation in programmatic and operational design. Recent efforts to defragment PSHIs under the aegis of a new government initiative called Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) using, inter alia, a unified information and communication technology (ICT) interface provide important policy lessons. This paper presents a theory of change for the role that ICT systems can play in promoting the objectives of UHC and highlights the early effects of ICT reforms in India on UHC. Holistic and defragmented ICT systems have a positive effect on the processes and operations of government health programs, according to the literature reviewed. Streamlined ICT systems promote equity through the introduction of portability modules, which increase access to services and facilitate stronger transparency and accountability measures by using big data and machine learning for fraud detection. Although reliability issues persist on certain fronts, India’s experience with homegrown, incremental reforms to defragment ICT systems for health financing have proven of paramount importance for progressing toward UHC.

Adaptive governance and evolution of a groundwater-based resilient city: a case study of Kure City, Japan

ABSTRACT Discussion on adaptive governance is criticized for being overly conceptual and limited in application beyond environmental issues. To fill this gap, this paper examines how adaptive governance functions in specific contexts, such as addressing post-disaster water supply cut-offs. In Kure City, Japan, different levels of government and NGOs helped local well owners emerge as informal water suppliers after the 2018 flood. This research identifies four elements of adaptive governance (polycentricity, participation, self-organization, social learning) underpinning this initiative. Furthermore, it reveals the importance of financial incentives for well owners and pre-registration of local wells as policy lessons for emergent groundwater utilization.

Navigating bank risk-taking under excess liquidity: the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty and lessons from the Global Financial Crisis

Navigating bank risk-taking under excess liquidity: the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty and lessons from the Global Financial Crisis

Assessment of energy security in West Africa: A case study of three countries

The study draws key energy policy lessons by assessing and comparing the energy security performance of Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana. The Energy Security Index with application to West Africa is created from eight dimensions and 24 indicators using a simple additive method and non-statistical induced weights. Study results show that the main energy security challenges in West Africa are low public investment in energy infrastructure (including renewable energy), high energy prices, low electricity access, high energy system inefficiencies, armed attacks on energy infrastructure and deteriorating energy sector governance. The study recommends prioritising investment in electricity sector infrastructure in West Africa.

Understanding technology transfer effectiveness in emerging economies: policy lessons for India

Purpose Despite technology transfer being emphasised in most public policy documents globally, it is not always clear how its effectiveness plays out in developing and emerging economies. This paper aims to bridge this gap by providing a systematic understanding of the processes of technology transfer, the antecedents and determinants, and finally how to measure its effectiveness, particularly in technologically dependent and emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach The paper puts forward a modified contingent effectiveness model of technology transfer based on Bozeman (2000) and Bozeman et al. (2015) and adapts it to incorporate the characteristics of emerging economies. Four major elements of technology transfer are discussed, namely, transfer object, actor characteristics, transfer environment, local environment and how they interact to determine effectiveness. Thereafter, the study shifts its focus to India’s evolving science technology and innovation (STI) ecosystem and discuss the current status, structure and major stakeholders associated with technology transfer. The study also reflects upon the challenges that inhibit effective technology transfer in India. In the last part, the study offers policy recommendations for improving the effectiveness of technology transfer, keeping in view India’s sustainable developmental goals. Findings A significant distinction of the conceptual model from its predecessors lies in its examination of the four dimensions of technology transfer effectiveness through the lens of developing and emerging economies, keeping in mind the inherent strengths, weaknesses and STI practices of the attendant local economy. As a novel contribution, the paper also discusses India’s evolving STI ecosystem backed by recent policy initiatives on technology transfer and the major stakeholders involved. Originality/value The paper constructs a modified contingent effectiveness model of technology transfer with particular emphasis on emerging economies. It also provides a comprehensive overview of India’s complex STI and technology transfer ecosystem, the challenges involved and offers recommendations for policy intervention.

Decades of Land and Agrarian Reform in Zimbabwe: a Review of Transformative Social Policy Lessons for Other African Countries

Abstract Land is an enabler and guarantor of people’s socioeconomic wellbeing. As Africa grapples with enduring multiple human development challenges, though not the sole pathway nor a panacea, reforming land tenure, agrarian structures, and agrarian relations has immense capacity to address the structural causes of poverty, inequality and marginalisation. Yet, the corpus of scholarly literature that consciously centres the transformative social policy lessons of land and agrarian reform is paltry. The article uses Zimbabwe and Transformative Social Policy as the evaluative case study and lens respectively, to navigate the lessons of transformative social policy that are pertinent to other African countries. If appropriately designed and supported, land and agrarian reforms are core social policy instruments with multiple transformative functions – redistributive, productive, protective, reproductive and social compact. Nevertheless, these reforms are not the sole approach for transforming and guaranteeing people’s socioeconomic wellbeing in Africa.

Firm Heterogeneity and India’s Manufacturing Exports: Lessons on Protection and Trade Theory

ABSTRACT Empirical examinations of heterogeneity among Indian manufacturing firms provide helpful lessons for trade theories and policies. Using descriptive statistics of cross-section data for 2011, 2015, and 2019, the asymptotic Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, and regression analysis, the study reveals that firms are heterogeneous within each 4-digit National Industrial Classification (NIC) category, exporting firms are more productive than non-exporters, and exporter premia decline with trading activities. The study concludes that recent protectionist policies reduced extensive trade margins, firm heterogeneity, and productivity in the Indian manufacturing sector.

From Theory to Policy in Resilient Health Care: Policy Recommendations and Lessons Learnt From the Resilience in Health Care Research Program.

From Theory to Policy in Resilient Health Care: Policy Recommendations and Lessons Learnt From the Resilience in Health Care Research Program.

Participatory Democracy in Southern Africa: Explaining Botswana’s Exceptionalism

Botswana has had fair and stable elections since its independence in 1966. It has a relatively high standard of living, a relatively well-functioning welfare state, and relatively low levels of government corruption. Voter participation is among the highest in the world, topping 80 percent in the past elections. Access to education and healthcare is free to all citizens. How can we best explain Botswana’s exceptionalism in the political, economic, and social realms, and what policy lessons does the case of Botswana contain? This article shows that it is Botswana’s millennial tradition of direct village democracy, kgotla, that best explains its exceptional performance. I visited Botswana in May of 2023 to evaluate the importance of participatory democracy in Botswana and assess its explanatory power. When comparing local participation to other, potentially relevant causal factors, I find that local political participation provides the most robust explanation for good governance in Botswana. In Botswana, citizens are able to hold their elected officials accountable, learn how politics works by acquiring the necessary technical knowledge (techne) through participating in regular, monthly public assemblies, and, as a result, make better-informed political decisions.

The 4 P’s of Enactment: Purpose, Praxis, Problems, and Policy Lessons from a Framework on Ethos

ABSTRACT The integration of values into education is a recognized priority globally, with educational systems seeking effective methods to instill and uphold these principles. In the Irish context, the 1998 Education Act mandates that school patrons uphold the ethos, or “characteristic spirit,” synonymous with values. Recently, publicly managed schools in collaboration with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) embarked on developing a framework to embody sectoral values, outlined in the ETBI Patrons’ Framework on Ethos (2022). To facilitate the enactment of these values, a national community of practice (CoP) network comprising ethos coordinators was established. This paper investigates the experiences of this network, tasked with enacting a value-based framework in Irish publicly managed schools. Through thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with ethos coordinators (n = 15), we identified interconnected themes emphasizing Purpose, Praxis, Problems, and Policy (the 4 P’s). Focusing on ethos coordinators experiences, the research delves into their purpose, practical aspects, and challenges. Two discussion themes emerge: Leadership Dynamics in Policy Enactment: Navigating Purpose, Praxis, Problems and Policy and Facilitating Policy Enactment and Strategies for Integration in School Contexts. This study outlines the pivotal role of strategic leadership in linking policy to practice.

Policy lessons from green gdp convergence over five decades: Enhancing sustainability and economic outcomes

This study analyzes the convergence of Green GDP among 160 countries from 1970 to 2019, emphasizing the pivotal role of environmental policies in shaping sustainable economic outcomes. By comparing traditional and Green GDP (includes environmental degradation), this paper identifies distinct economic clusters or “convergence clubs” and reveals how policy-driven changes influence these classifications. The findings highlight the significant impact of environmental policies on economic convergence and propose applicative policy recommendations to foster sustainable growth, making this study essential for policymakers engaged in economic and environmental planning. This study demonstrates the long-term convergence of the selected countries' economic growth, influenced by their disparate commitments to sustainable practices and regulatory frameworks that govern environmental protection. Thus, regardless of the variations across countries and their environmental policies, diverse economic strategies tend to produce similar outcomes in the long term.

Growing community-based composting programs in China: Implementation and policy lessons from eight cases

Localised processing of waste into resources is a prime target towards circular economy, yet community-led composting programs have reported significant implementation challenges. There are no implementation process models or guidelines for programs spanning community, waste, governance, legislation domains: each community learns anew. Here we report a multi-case study of community-led composting program implementations in eight urban sites in China. In-depth key-informant interview information was analysed as cycles of activity towards increasingly-complex needs/targets (like simple recycling; complex composting). Cross-community comparisons suggest transferable implementation lessons: delegation of certain roles is more effective than simply involving stakeholders; enthusiasts can significantly mobilize stakeholders but cannot replace them; paperwork burden could negate funding availability benefits; access to specific expertise (technical, legal, operational) at crucial moments was key; stakeholder learning was most effective via personal meetings and introductions. City policies incorporating these implementation lessons could facilitate scaling-up in China. Future studies can investigate generalizability.

Integrating Maternity Care Through Bundled Payments In The Netherlands: Early Results And Policy Lessons.

Bundled payments are increasingly used globally to move health care delivery in a value-based direction. However, evidence remains scant in key clinical areas. We evaluated bundled payments for maternity care in the Netherlands during the period 2016-18. We used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design to measure the association between the bundled payment model and changes in key clinical and economic outcomes. Bundled payments were associated with an increase in outpatient, midwife-led births and a reduction in in-hospital, obstetrician-led births, along with changes in the use of labor inductions and planned versus emergency cesarean deliveries. Total spending on maternity care decreased by US$328 (5percent) per pregnancy. No changes in maternal or neonatal health outcomes were observed. Several policy lessons emerged. First, bundled payments appeared to help affect providers' behavior in the maternity care setting. Second, bundled payments seemed to exert heterogeneous effects across participating maternity care networks, as the same financial incentive translated into different changes in clinical practices and outcomes. Third, alternative payment models should be designed with clear goals and definitions of success to guide evaluation and implementation.

Mobile manufacturing path for India: Lessons from other Asian countries

For almost two decades now Government of India has tried out numerous policies for establishing mobile manufacturing in the country. Though mobile production facilities started their operations in India in 2005, studies have shown that it is only low value assembly that is carried out in the country. In this paper, we infer a few policy lessons for India from the experiences of four Asian countries – South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Vietnam – that have walked down this path. We argue that for India to attain its goal, increasing public investment in mobile technology research will help. Our paper suggests that government should incentivise local firms to establish linkages with mobile manufacturing multinational firms. To capture more value, domestic firms that manufacture mobiles need to focus on R&D, marketing and branding activities.

Lessons from European transformative policies

In order to reach climate neutrality by 2050 the EU needs to overcome challenges relating to accelerating innovation, creating infrastructure, redirecting investments, and fostering cross-sectoral integration. In this policy brief, we present key policy lessons relating to these four challenges based on seven case studies on transformative policies from the period 2005–2022 in different EU countries. Two themes reappear in many of our lessons. First, policies could be improved if a holistic approach to innovation was taken, with policymakers considering how new (innovative) technologies substitute (or phaseout) old technologies. Second, rather than trying to incentivize firms or citizens through monetary returns, governments could make progress towards climate neutrality by reducing the efforts required from firms and citizens to participate in the carbon neutrality transition, e.g., reducing administrative burdens.

Coca-Cola Transfer Pricing Dispute: United States Case Analysis and Tax Policy Lessons for Indonesia

Decision of the Coca-Cola transfer pricing dispute in the United States Tax Court, which resulted in tax underpayment, can be used as a lesson for Indonesia. This research method is doctrinal, with a law, case, concept and interpretation approach. The data studied is secondary data in the form of laws, cases and relevant references, which are analyzed to obtain conclusions and recommendations. Research shows that the court considered using the Comparable Profits Method by tax authorities to evaluate the profitability of The Coca-Cola Company's supply points, given the difficulty of valuing intangible assets directly and the need for disproportionate profit adjustments. To avoid similar problems, companies in Indonesia must use transfer pricing methods that are reliable and appropriate to local conditions, as well as ensure good intellectual property management and documentation transparency, while tax authorities must monitor transactions between affiliated entities by international standards and the Arm's Length Principle.

Eliminating Health Care Access and Quality Inequities in Sickle Cell Disease: Policy Lessons from the End Sepsis Initiative

Abstract: Sickle cell disease is a prime example of the devastating impact of healthcare inequities. The End Sepsis Initiative developed after a tragic death due to sepsis, provides a powerful model for the sickle cell community. This model recognizes the importance of evidence-based protocols and policy recommendations/mandates to drive transformative systems change. We propose that the sickle cell community mirror this approach. We propose that hospital systems, healthcare organizations, and insurers implement evidence-based protocols, including personalized pain plans, stigma reduction through staff training, vaccinations, preventative screening, disease-modifying therapies, pediatric to adult transition, and connecting unaffiliated SCD patients to a medical home. We recommend state-level interventions, such as using SCD navigator in electronic health records for quality reporting, supporting community health workers' use, and ensuring rural hospitals have access to SCD specialists.

Lessons for Future Vaccination Policies: COVID-19 Vaccination Intention in People With and Without Chronic Diseases

PurposeThis study compared COVID-19 vaccination intentions in those with and without chronic diseases (CDs and non-CDs) in South Korea. We hypothesized that the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions would differ between CDs and non-CDs in South Korea. MethodUsing survey data collected through a Korean online panel in June 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional secondary data analysis. Of the 2,292 participants, 411 had at least one chronic disease. To construct a comparable dataset, we selected non-CDs via a 1:1 case-control matching for age and gender. We then utilized a multivariable binary logistic regression model to explore the factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccination intentions in CDs and non-CDs. ResultsAll told, 75% of participants in both groups indicated that they intended to vaccinate against COVID-19. In both groups, those who mistrusted general vaccine benefits reported significantly lower COVID-19 vaccination intentions. Regarding factors associated with vaccination intentions, CDs identified anxiety regarding coronavirus and exposure to COVID-19 vaccination promotions at the community level, while non-CDs highlighted hesitancy regarding vaccines and confidence in government/health services. ConclusionImproving vaccination acceptance will require the development and implementation of tailored approaches for CDs and non-CDs and efforts to minimize general vaccine mistrust.

Contribution of Rice in virtual water trade within countries: lessons for agriculture policy

Contribution of Rice in virtual water trade within countries: lessons for agriculture policy