Policy Problems Research Articles

Dynamic Routing Policies for Multi-Skill Call Centers Using Deep Q Network

When the call center queuing system becomes complex, it turns out that the static routing policy is not optimal. This paper considers the problem of the dynamic routing policy for call centers with multiple skill types and agent groups. A state-dependent routing policy based on the Deep Q Network (DQN) is proposed, and a reinforcement learning algorithm is applied to optimize the routing. A simulation algorithm is designed to help customers and agents interact with the external environment to learn the optimal strategy. The performance evaluation considered in this paper is the service level/abandon rate. Experiments show that the DQN-based dynamic routing policy performs better than the common static policy Global First Come First Serve (FCFS) and the dynamic policy Priorities with Idle Agent Thresholds and Weight-Based Routing in various examples. On the other hand, the training time of the routing policy model based on the DQN is much faster than routing optimization based on simulation and a genetic algorithm.

How do local government strategies advance social accountability? The challenges from environmental management of Slaughterhouse in Semarang City, Indonesia

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze local government strategies in advancing social accountability regarding the environmental impact of Slaughterhouses in Semarang City, Indonesia. It also highlighted the significant challenges experienced by managers in fulfilling social accountability. This social accountability is necessary because it relates to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which have become a global commitment, with a particular focus on point 11 concerning sustainable cities and communities. The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, observation, scientific literature, government official reports, and actual news using a qualitative approach case study. This study identified several policy problems, including the technical requirements for a hygienic, clean, and healthy environment that had not been met at the Semarang City Slaughterhouse. In addition, there was no preventive mechanism from the manager to identify diseases in animals before being slaughtered. The institutional changes of the slaughterhouse, through several regional regulations, had also not succeeded in realising social accountability due to the negative environmental aspects caused. The community lacked a bargaining value and the right channel to pressure the slaughterhouse to carry out social accountability for environmental management. Therefore, this study suggested that the institutional approach and emphasis from CSOs/NGOs will have more impact in realising social accountability for environmental management in public organisations.

“Are we there yet?” 25 years of reform (and reform, and reform, and reform) of teacher education in Australia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the reform of initial teacher education (ITE) policy in Australia over a 25-year period from 1998 to 2023. It examines policy shifts and movements over this timeframe and aims to better understand the ongoing reforms in the changing contexts of their times.Design/methodology/approachThe paper engages a critical policy historiography approach, focusing on four “policy moments” each linked to a review commissioned by the Commonwealth government of the day. It draws upon the reports and government responses themselves, along with media reports, extracts from Hansard, and ministerial speeches, press releases and interviews related to each of the four policy moments, asking critical questions about the “public issues” and “private troubles” (Gale, 2001) of each moment and aiming to shed light on the complexities of these accounts of policy and the trajectory they represent.FindingsThe paper charts the construction of the problem of ITE in Australia over time, highlighting the discursive continuities and shifts since 1998. It traces the constitution of both policy problems and solutions to explain the current policy settlement using a historical lens.Originality/valueIts value lies in offering a reading of the current policy settlement, based on a close and systematic historical analysis. Where previous research has focused either on particular moments or concepts in ITE reform, this analysis seeks to understand the current policy settlement by taking a longer, contextualised view.

Mass Media in the State Information Resources System of Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the issue related to the activities of domestic mass media as components of the State information resources of Ukraine, which together form the State information policy. Objectives of the article. The article is aimed at highlighting the problematic issue raised, which, due to the goal and objectives set out, will provide an opportunity to conduct a systematic analysis of the activities of the mass media as components of the State information resources of Ukraine. The presentation of the proposed material in the scientific article is aimed at solving the following tasks: − to outline the general approaches of the State information policy of Ukraine in the field of mass media; − to reflect the current state of activity of the national mass media with certain parallels with foreign analogues in the field of mass media; − to determine the range of problematic issues that currently exist in our country in the field of the information industry; − to formulate proposals for solving problematic aspects in the activities of the national mass media. Research methods. Given the purpose and objectives of the research, general scientific methods were used, in particular, systematic analysis and synthesis, which made it possible to comprehensively consider the issues raised. Some special methods were used, such as observation, description, comparison, modelling, etc., which served to specify the coverage of the problematic aspects of the national information policy and the place of the mass media, in particular the mass press, in it. The method of generalisation made it possible to systematically, consistently and reasonably formulate the conclusions of the research. It is determined that the methodological toolkit in shaping the foundations of the State information policy is the development of clear and transparent rules that are understandable to all subjects of public relations in building information interaction between the public and the authorities. Such communication can build a specific strategic goal aimed at promoting and establishing a democratic government with the development of a highly organized society as a subject of legal relations and at the same time a consumer of information services. The scientific novelty lies in the theoretical generalisation of the problems of the modern domestic state information policy, which is partially implemented through the mass media based on its priorities’ analysis, as well as the study of the essence and methods of organizing various forms of public communications. The author emphasizes that the mass media are a certain component of the general state policy of Ukraine as a well-coordinated, stable, well-organised activity of public authorities on a particular issue or set of tasks which it provides directly or indirectly, influencing the life of Ukrainian society. Conclusions. The conducted systematic analysis of the research problem allows us to formulate conclusions that the national information policy serves as a systemically formative element between the activities of the state and its government institutions, as well as society in the form of a public dialogue between the authorities through the media. The correct construction of the national information policy in general allows our state to successfully promote its information and political projects, providing competitive advantages over the projects of other political forces and actors involved in this social process. It is emphasised that the problems of various aspects of the activities faced by the domestic media significantly complicate their effective work. Specific ways of solving these problematic issues are proposed to raise the prestige of our country in the international arena with its entry into the global information space.

ЛУЧШИЕ МУНИЦИПАЛЬНЫЕ ПРАКТИКИ В СФЕРЕ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ НАЦИОНАЛЬНОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ ПО ИТОГАМ ВСЕРОССИЙСКИХ КОНКУРСОВ 2018–2022 гг.

The article concerns the study of municipal practices of the winners of the All-Russian competition “Best Municipal Practice” 2018–2022 in the category “Strengthening of international peace and harmony, implementation of other activities in the fi eld of national policy at the municipal level”. This question is of both scientifi c and practical interest, as it makes it possible to use this experience to harmonize international and interreligious relations in municipalities. Th e process of growth of competition participants in this nomination, which indicates the interest of the population and local governments in the development of this type of activity, is considered. Based on the study of the practices of the competition winners, the main areas of practical activity of municipal authorities, which are the most significant for the effective solution of problems of state national policy, are identified. Examples of successful implementation of practices in all identified areas, which can be used for replication by other municipalities of the country, are given.

THE UNIFIED FINANCIAL POLICY OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD DURING RUSSIA’S MILITARY AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE

Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, Georgia and the whole world is not only a military-war problem, but also a problem for the financial-tax policy of the world. Individual countries alone cannot address this problem effectively. Instead, the unified financial policy of the civilized world is required to tackle with Russia’s military ag-gression in Ukraine, which will be oriented not only to protect the interests of one country, but also to protect the existing world civi-lization, which is threatened with serious destruction by the above-mentioned aggression in the long term. Keywords: Unified Financial Policy, Total Militarism, Annexation.

New regional industrial policy and environmental problems

Aim. The need to accelerate the transition to "green" and digital technologies leads to a more active participation of the state in the economy, including through an active industrial policy. In this regard, the main attention should be paid to the development and use of modern methodological approaches to the formation of a new regional industrial policy, taking into account the environmental aspect.Discussion. One of the main sources of pollutant emissions is industrial production. The article analyses the level of emissions of pollutants from industrial enterprises into the atmosphere in Russia as a whole, as well as for the regions that are leading in the growth of emissions into the atmosphere of industrial enterprises and in the growth in the number of polluting enterprises. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that in many regions of Russia industrial policy is carried out inefficiently. The growth of industrial production occurs extensively by increasing the number of enterprises or industries without taking into account environmental consequences and without the use of modern technologies that reduce the negative impact on the environment. An analysis of methodological approaches to the definition of the "new" industrial policy has been carried out and its general principles have been identified.Conclusion. To date, there is no clear definition of the "new" industrial policy, however, in modern scientific literature there are various methodological approaches that differ from the "old" type of industrial policy. The approaches discussed above differ in the emphasis either on the choice of specialisation – what to produce – or on the process by which prioritization and implementation occurs – how to produce.

Journey to Smart City: The Case of Smart City Development in Karanganyar Regency

A smart city is a modern and advanced city that is integrated with digital systems that support convenience and comfort for its residents. Initially, the smart city concept was aimed at developed countries that have adequate infrastructure, but in Indonesia, district or city governments can improvise in its implementation according to the needs and capabilities of local governments. The aim of this research is to analyze the obstacles and strategies for implementing smart cities that are adapted based on the conditions of the Karanganyar Regency area. The research method uses descriptive-qualitative research, which is linked to empirical reality with applicable theory. Data is obtained from journal references, regional regulations, the Karanganyar Regency smart city master plan book, etc. The results show that the journey towards a smart city in Karanganyar Regency has been documented in the 2018–2023 RPJMD, but its implementation is faced with infrastructure (technology), structural (HR and budget), and superstructure (institution and policy) problems.

Contribution of agroforestry practice in reducing deforestation and improving livelihood of household in Ethiopia

Agroforestry practice produces different benefits and products, which enhance household incomes and sources of wood products. This review was aimed to review the contribution of agroforestry practice for reducing deforestation and improving livelihood in Ethiopia. Agroforestry also plays a significant role in reducing pressure on the natural forests and shrub lands by providing fuel and construction wood as well as other forest products. Agroforestry practices also contributing to ecological benefits, such as woody plant species conservation, carbon sequestration, soil nutrient improvement and reducing pressure on natural forest through provision of wood and non-wood products. However, due to so many factors such as social factors, institutional factors, policy problem, extension gap, infrastructure and the like agroforestry practices are not fully adopted in all parts of the country. Therefore, for further adoption of the agroforestry practices it is necessary to create better awareness for society and formulate clear policy.

Deliberative Democracy Innovations at Citizen Level: Challenges of Local Government in Indonesia

This paper examined the roadmap for deliberative democracy development through village-level regional development planning forums in Indonesia and connected it with the strength of traditions and local values of a region. Roadmap innovations can solve problems and increase governance capacity. This study aimed to identify innovation challenges & factors affecting the innovation environment; using a qualitative method with a case study design. As a result, innovation is able to increase interaction and agreement on solving public policy problems and improve local government governance capacity. The challenge was determined by the open leadership, responsive village leadership behavior. Forums transform as a formal dialogue space and media for the contestation of knowledge with informal meetings in the community. The community traditions are present, recognized, valued through institutionalizing local institutions, local actors, and features that drive democracy in community consultation and cooperation. Several factors affecting the innovation environment included legal culture and policy, political& administrative environment, government & civil servant traditions. The government needs to carry out institutional conversions along with changes from the government, deliberation spaces, &communities to achieve these two goals.

Essential or excluded? Union pressures and state responses to platform work in three liberal market economies

The COVID-19 pandemic led to renewed discussion of decent work for people at the margins of the labour market. This article explores public policy on platform workers across three liberal market economies, namely the United Kingdom, Canada and Ireland, taking the pandemic as a focal point. Liberal market economies are generally difficult environments for unions, and we examine the nature of union political pressure on the state to enhance protections for platform workers and the extent to which policy has changed in each state. We find uneven levels of such union pressure, with the most limited attention afforded by Irish unions. In the United Kingdom, the unions did exert some influence through strategic litigation, creating a policy problem for the government. More progressive policies are evident in Canada, where the government recognises that platform workers’ precarious position has undesirable consequences for the state.

Deep Reinforcement Learning-Driven Mitigation of Adverse Effects of Cyber-Attacks on Electric Vehicle Charging Station

An electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) infrastructure is the backbone of transportation electrification; however, the EVCS has various vulnerabilities in software, hardware, supply chain, and incumbent legacy technologies such as network, communication, and control. These standalone or networked EVCSs open up large attack surfaces for local or state-funded adversaries. The state-of-the-art approaches are not agile and intelligent enough to defend against and mitigate advanced persistent threats (APT). We propose data-driven model-free digital clones based on multiple independent agents deep reinforcement learning (IADRL) that uses the Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3) to efficiently learn the control policy to mitigate the cyberattacks on the controllers of EVCS. Also, the proposed digital clones trained with TD3 are compared against the benchmark Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) agent. The attack model considers the APT designed to malfunction the duty cycles of the EVCS controllers with Type-I low-frequency attacks and Type-II constant attacks. The proposed model restores the EVCS operation under threat incidence in any/all controllers by correcting the control signals generated by the legacy controllers. Our experiments verify the superior control policies and actions of TD3-based clones compared to the DDPG-based clones. Also, the TD3-based controller clones solve the problem of incremental bias, suboptimal policy, and hyperparameter sensitivity of the benchmark DDPG-based digital clones, enforcing the efficient mitigation of the impact of cyberattacks on EVCS controllers.

Epistemic injustice in educational policy: an account of structural contributory injustice

Abstract In this paper, I introduce a special case of epistemic injustice that I call ‘structural contributory injustice’. This conception aims to capture some dimensions of how policy—separately from individual agential interactions—can generate epistemic injustice at a group level. I first locate the case within Kristie Dotson’s original conception of contributory injustice. I then consider one potential case of structural contributory injustice—namely, the policy problem of significant financial risk burden on students considering university in the USA. Finally, I consider potential policy reforms in response to this injustice.

Dark Sky Parks: public policy that turns off the lights

Dark skies are culturally, ecologically, and economically valuable natural resources but little has been written on how dark sky conservation is being enacted through environmental policy and legislation. Using the Multiple Streams Framework and qualitative data from over 300 policy documents, we characterize the problems, policy solutions, and politics around protecting night sky resources. We find that the core public policy problem of diminishing night skies is perceived by stakeholders to be light pollution produced from surrounding urban development. To address this problem, decision-makers enact policy solutions of creating Dark Sky Parks on protected landscapes with rigorous and scientific processes. These technical ideas for creating Dark Sky Parks are transmitted to decision-makers at park and landscape scales. Dark sky conservation is a political process as well, which attracts bipartisan support from policy-makers from different political parties due to the economic potential of astrotourism. Our work has general applications for the role of managers and NGOs in creating science policy, engaging the public, and enacting policy change, as was seen in the context of the International Dark Sky Association providing resources, technical information, and support for managers and other stakeholders to encourage actions at various scales to protect rapidly-disappearing dark skies.

Wicked policy problems and COVID‐19 in small island developing states: The cases of Mauritius and Seychelles

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic represented one of the most significant wicked policy problems in modern history. Global policy efforts to combat the pandemic reflect a diverse set of approaches, with varying underlying goals and values driving the policy choices. This article studies the pandemic response of two small island developing states, Mauritius and Seychelles, to better understand the policy landscape in this understudied African region. Evidence from these two island nations provides important insights into the opportunities and constraints faced by island developing states. Using in‐depth qualitative interviews with policy actors and reviews of official policy documents, this article studies the policy landscape of these two small island developing states. Findings from this research offer insights for scholars and practitioners interested in the intersection of wicked problems and policy.Related ArticlesOnyango, Gedion, and Japheth Otieno Ondiek. 2022. “Open Innovation during the COVID‐19 Pandemic Policy Responses in South Africa and Kenya.” Politics & Policy 50(5): 1008–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12490.Vince, Joanna. 2023. “A Creeping Crisis When an Urgent Crisis Arises: The Reprioritization of Plastic Pollution Issues during COVID‐19.” Politics & Policy 51(1): 26–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12512.Kinyondo, Abel, and Riccardo Pelizzo. 2013. “Strengthening Legislatures: Some Lessons from the Pacific Region.” Politics & Policy 41(3): 420–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12020.

Optimal order-[formula omitted] routing policy for adaptive routing in real road networks

In uncertain traffic networks, adaptive routing mechanism is essential in adapting to dynamic traffic changes and making effective routing decisions. Most previous work on adaptive routing commonly ignores the realistic requirement of drivers to select and enter a right lane before intersections, and this would lead to urgent lane changing at intersections that not only violates traffic rules but even causes traffic accidents. This paper redefines the adaptive routing problem in real road networks as an optimal order-k routing policy problem by proposing a novel order-k routing policy. It is a routing mechanism that selects the next k arcs at each decision intersection and the first m arcs are the same with the last m arcs of the k arcs selected at the last decision intersection, which are defined as an m-arc-constrained order-k link. This routing mechanism gives sufficient preparation time for lane changing. We develop a two-phase methodology to handle this problem. To address complex spatio-temporal correlations in real road networks, instead of using the random sampling method, we use a copula-based scenario generation method to generate high-quality scenarios for improving solution performances. A two-stage algorithm integrating the enumeration of m-arc-constrained order-k links and the construction of the optimal routing policy is developed to find the optimal order-k routing policy based on the scenarios generated. Extensive numerical experiments demonstrate the superiority of the optimal order-k routing policy to simultaneously obtain good performances and meet the realistic requirement of drivers’ lane changing.

3.B. Round table: Learning from the pandemic and implementing lessons learned: moving past the rhetoric

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic put enormous pressure on our health systems, revealing how we were unprepared for such a global threat. We have gained many insights and learned valuable lessons about what went wrong and how we should prepare for the next pandemic. These lessons are set out in a series on national and international reports. Building Back Better is a concept at the core of many of these recommendations, arguing that we should make our health systems strong, sustainable and resilient. Although calls to learn from the past are commendable and a prerequisite for transparent and evidence-informed health policymaking, we run the risk of them becoming no more than good intentions and rhetoric. It is quite astounding to see how quickly we seem to have forgotten the profound impact of the pandemic on our societies. This does not only apply to citizens, but also to policymakers. There are many other complex and urgent policy problems that require attention - including climate change, migration, the war in Ukraine, and the cost-of-living crisis. It is therefore not difficult to imagine policymakers getting distracted by the immediate political pressures, paying less attention to - seemingly - less pressing issues that require a longer-term strategy, such as implementing the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, building back better may be a catchy phrase, but as with many things, it is easier said than done, as there are huge societal challenges that need to be overcome when we want to really strengthen our health systems. Think, for example, about shortages of health workers, which will only increase due to ageing populations. Or competing budgetary pressures, with healthcare only one of many policy areas in dire need of investment. All in all, we have seen the paramount importance of building back better, but there are many challenges in practice. This roundtable will focus on how we can make sure that these lessons learned from the pandemic are actually implemented in our public health and wider health systems. The panelists will represent different perspectives and reflect on: what does the evidence tell us and what is needed at the system-level, the policy-level, and the level of the public health professional? Workshop participants will gain an understanding of what it will take to move from mere buzzwords to action, creating more resilient health systems, a fit-for-purpose and flexible health workforce, and equal access to vaccines and medicines, and what the role of different stakeholders in this could and should be. Key messages • Although we have seen the paramount importance of building our health systems back better, there are many challenges in practice. • Public health leadership, a longer-term vision and an evidence-informed approach are indispensable for realizing strong and resilient health systems. Speakers/Panelists Martin McKee LSHTM, London, UK Natasha Azzopardi Muscat WHO, Copenhagen, Denmark Dineke Zeegers Paget EUPHA Ton Coenen GGD GHOR Nederland, Utrecht, Netherlands

Like high cholesterol, population decline is a problem, but not in the way you might think...

The prospect of population decline in Europe is commonly understood to be an important policy problem. Discussions and research typically focus on the level and the trend of demographic indicators. Can policies be designed which, by targeting the constrained optimisation of rational individuals, cause the indicators to change in the right direction? In this intervention, I argue that like a surrogate marker in medicine, a demographic indicator is not a meaningful endpoint: something that is a direct measure of health or, analogously, a healthy society. Treating population indicators as meaningful endpoints can, as history has shown, lead to great harm. In my view, it is this misconception that makes population decline a truly serious and terrifying problem. So yes, population decline is a problem, but not in the way you, or the people who pose this sort of question, might think.

«Green» function of tax law

The article discusses the ecological functions of tax law and the “green” possibilities of legal regulation. Particular attention is paid to the problems of state policy in the field of environmental development of the Russian Federation and the issues of “greening” of Russian legislation on taxes and fees. The author notes that the greening of legislation is a long-established trend in the development of the Russian legal system. Its main directions are the active use of various tax instruments, including incentive tax benefits. The article shows that tax benefits are the basic tools for greening tax law and therefore act as the main way of influencing tax law to ensure environmental safety. They are aimed at encouraging the taxpayer to environmentally responsible lawful behavior. It is noted that the environmental function of taxation is implemented, as a rule, within the framework of the regulatory function of law. The article examines the environmental potential of some taxes and fees, presents the main tools for greening legislation on taxes and fees.

People in the North: Guidelines for Social Policy of the Soviet State in the Arctic (1920s — 1930s)

The article examines the social problems of the development of the Arctic in the early Soviet period. The features of the social policy of the Soviet state in relation to the indigenous peoples of the northern territories are shown. The contradiction between the desire of the Soviet state to introduce the principles of socialism into the daily life of aborigines and the real level of socio-economic development of the indigenous peoples of the North is revealed. The living conditions of the non-indigenous population in the territories adjacent to the Northern Sea Route are considered. It is concluded that the solution of the problems of the social policy of the Soviet state in the process of developing the Arctic was subordinated to the main task of launching and operating the Northern Sea Route.