Incentive Programs Research Articles

Can the new model of shared property rights promote better corporate financial performance in China?

Scientific research and technological innovation are driving modern economies; however, a new form of property rights is required to compensate knowledge workers for their contributions. In 1994, the Science and Technology Bureau of Shenzhen, China implemented a policy to encourage scientists and engineers to develop innovative technologies that would provide them a share of the profits earned from their innovations. This created a new “shared property rights” system. China’s shared property model is so new that the conditions under which it can improve enterprise profits remain unclear. To answer this question, we obtained data from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research database for 904 Chinese enterprises that had implemented shared property rights for the first time between 2009 and 2021 and used a propensity score matching method and econometric models to evaluate their performance. The results indicated that shared property incentives improved corporate financial performance and that benefits increased gradually over time. The new approach showed a stronger positive effect than restricted stock options during the study period. The strength of the incentive was greater for core technical staff than for senior executives, suggesting that scientists, engineers, and computer programmers should be the targets of a shared property rights incentive program. To take full advantage of the new shared property rights institution, enterprise managers should set the implementation period at a reasonable length (5 to 10 years, based on our study results). Enterprises can also test two or more simultaneous approaches that account for the specific needs of each category of workers, based on a careful examination of their current situation and expected or desired future situations.

Nutrition Education Across Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Programs: A Landscape Analysis.

To characterize the nutrition education landscape among Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) projects to inform future evaluations of GusNIP. Nutrition education activities provided by GusNIP-affiliated project sites were collected through annual data reports submitted via a secure web portal. A descriptive analysis was used to calculate frequencies and percentages for all variables (e.g., project site, nutrition education activities) to explore and compare nutrition education provided by GusNIP projects and sites (n = 93). Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program projects employed diverse nutrition education opportunities, including various venues, unique partnerships, and educational strategies, which differed across project and site types. This paper characterizes the frequency and intensity of nutrition education offered within GusNIP and is an important step toward understanding, improving, and expanding nutrition education opportunities. Findings inform a future comprehensive evaluation across projects to understand the impact of reach, dose, and participant engagement in nutrition education and reveal important opportunities for program improvement.

Analysis of the Impact of SMEs’ Production Output on Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth Using the ARDL Method

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are an essential subject of economic activity in any country because, without their participation, the development and formation of the very structure of the economy are almost impossible. The role of SMEs is significant since these businesses allow for an increase in the number of jobs, develop competition, and, as a result, improve the quality of goods, creating different price segments. More than 4 million people are employed in this sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and their share of GDP is 36.7%. The accelerated contribution of the SME sector to Kazakhstan’s GDP has led to the need to conduct a study in this area. This study analyzes the impact of SME production output on Kazakhstan’s economic growth by considering some macroeconomic variables using the ARDL model. The study’s findings confirm that SME output positively and significantly impacts economic growth. The government of Kazakhstan has been implementing a series of policies and incentive programs to increase the contribution of the SME sector to economic growth since the years of independence. However, SMEs are not able to reach their full potential due to various restrictions that limit their expansion. This study offers some suggestions for the development of the SME sector. In order to ensure SME concentration in the economy, investment in R&D should be a priority incentive. On the other hand, we should recognize the shadow economy problem in the country.

The Impact of Educational Economic Factors on Institutional Sustainability Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Management Practices

This study investigates the relationship between educational economic factors and institutional sustainability performance in Saudi public universities, examining the mediating role of green management practices. Using data from 168 respondents across three Saudi public universities, we employed a quantitative approach through structured questionnaires measuring educational economic factors, green management practices, and institutional sustainability performance. PLS-SEM analysis revealed significant direct effects of educational economic factors on sustainability performance, with economic incentive programs demonstrating the strongest influence (β = 0.465, p < 0.001). Green management practices exhibited significant mediating effects, notably between financial resource allocation and sustainability performance (β = 0.191, p < 0.001). The model explains 61.6% of the variance in sustainability performance. The findings provide insights into the dynamics of sustainability implementation in Saudi higher education institutions, particularly highlighting the crucial mediating role of green management practices in translating economic initiatives into sustainability outcomes. While the study’s focus on three Saudi public universities may limit generalizability, it contributes to understanding sustainability implementation within Saudi Vision 2030’s environmental framework. Future research opportunities include expanding to private institutions, incorporating additional geographical regions, and implementing longitudinal studies to track sustainability performance evolution.

Designing and Implementing Experiments within Local Bureaucratic Systems: A Cautionary Tale from an Educator Incentive Program

Abstract Partnering with governments to co-design pilot interventions and embed them in local bureaucratic systems is increasingly seen as “best practice” on grounds of scalability and sustainability. This paper reports on a pilot program that was co-designed with, and embedded within, the Elementary and Secondary Education Department in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that offers a cautionary tale. The over-arching desire to work within existing bureaucratic systems, while laudable, constrained the design of the randomized controlled trial. This paper presents findings on some of the institutional factors which resulted in failed implementation of the randomized controlled trial and a lost opportunity to learn about the efficacy of key design features. The paper briefly outlines the design of the pilot—promotion-based incentives for educators—and summarizes the largely null results. It then turns to implementation, discussing what went wrong, how this was uncovered, and lessons learned for co-designing and embedding future pilot studies with(in) government.

Driving against the clock: Investigating the impacts of time pressure on taxi and non-professional drivers’ safety and compliance

Drivers often encounter time pressure, which can lead to riskier driving habits, decreased safety margins, and a higher chance of accidents. Given that taxi drivers frequently experience these conditions, this study examines how time pressure impacts the driving behaviors of both taxi and non-professional drivers. In this regard, a driving simulator experiment was carried out to assess the driving behaviors of both groups under time pressure. The simulation drive included different scenarios such as a stop sign, a pedestrian crosswalk, four intersections, a school zone, a slow bus and a drop-off location. The study recruited 55 taxi drivers and 55 non-professional drivers to take part in the experiment. Each participant completed the simulation drive twice, with the second drive conducted after they were informed that a reward would be given for finishing the trip more quickly. The findings reveal that drivers exhibited significantly riskier behaviors under time pressure, including higher speeds and reduced adherence to traffic rules. When comparing both groups, non-professional drivers displayed higher speeds and riskier behaviors across various scenarios, whereas taxi drivers were more likely to commit violations associated with drop-offs. These findings call for targeted awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement to reduce risky behaviors under time pressure. Flexible scheduling for non-professional drivers and incentive programs for taxi drivers can further promote safer practices. Policymakers can use these insights to design strategies that address the risks associated with time pressure.

Optimizing a link-based travel incentive scheme integrating personal carbon trading for low-carbon commuting.

The pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize traffic demand underlines the importance of effective travel demand management. Previous studies have explored budget-based and aggregated incentive programs, which diminish a heavy financial burden on governments and tend to be limited in contributing to effective behavior change in practice due to budget issues. This study proposes a personal carbon trading travel incentive (PCTTI) mechanism, to encourage private car commuters using low-carbon travel routes. The revenue obtained from the sale of carbon emission reductions, resulting from changes in commuter routes, serves as a partial budget for the incentives under PCTTI. To determine the optimal incentives, we developed an incentive scheme optimization model based on a bi-level programing model. Numerical analysis reveals the substantial potential of PCTTI to reduce carbon emissions and travel costs in the road traffic system, but also highlights the sensitivity of these results to the carbon trading price and the commuters' value of time. Specifically, the effectiveness of PCTTI diminishes when the carbon price drops below $6.494 per ton or when commuters' value of time exceeds $3.99 per hour. These results indicate that the PCTTI mechanism offers a scalable and economically sustainable approach to enhance travel demand management and achieve environmental benefits.

Human–wildlife coexistence needs more evidence‐based interventions to reduce the losses of crops, livestock and fishery catches

Abstract Evidence‐based interventions designed to reduce wildlife‐caused losses are essential for human–wildlife coexistence. The lack of systematic summarization of research effort and evidence makes it challenging for researchers, managers and policymakers to prioritize interventions for evaluation and implementation. Here, we compiled experimental case studies of nonlethal technical interventions designed to reduce the losses of crops, livestock and fishery catches caused by terrestrial carnivores, elephants, farmland birds and marine fauna worldwide. Then, we summarized the research effort and the performance of interventions by their sensory stimuli and target animals. We found that: (i) 54 of 88 interventions included in this study had statistically effective evidence, where only 39% (21/54) were evaluated with more than three experiments; (ii) physical‐, sound‐, chemical‐ and light (or visual) ‐based interventions were the most in numbers and their performance varied greatly; (iii) farmland birds, seabirds and cetaceans were the most studied animal groups while there are only a few experiments for elephants; and (iv) the interventions for marine fauna generally had no impact on the target catch of fisheries. Syntheses and applications: Our results indicated that collective effort is needed to further evaluate interventions using various sensory stimuli and launch incentive programs to motivate the implementation of interventions, particularly related to marine fauna conservation. Our synthesis could be helpful for stakeholders to tackle the negative human‐wildlife interactions outlined as Target 4 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Removal of turfgrass for water supply resilience

AbstractLandscape plant palettes are changing due to water supply pressure. Turfgrass area is being replaced with alternative ground covers, other non‐irrigated plants or hardscapes. Mechanisms range from incentive programs sometimes called “cash for grass” to outright bans on the use of turfgrass in “nonfunctional” areas or areas otherwise considered unnecessary. Despite evidence that shifts in landscape plants such as turf removal can save water, questions remain about the long‐term impact of such programs as well as the high cost. This shift in plant palettes will need to be accompanied by development of new groundcovers. In addition, there is opportunity for turfgrass breeding and development for cultivars that require no irrigation in humid climates.

Impact of Leadership Style on Employee Green Behavior: The Mediating Role of Employee Over-Qualification Perception

This study examines the impact of Leadership Style on Employee Green Behavior and the mediating role of Employee Over-Qualification Perception. The findings reveal that Transformational Leadership significantly enhances Employee Green Behavior, while leadership support reduces Employee Over-Qualification Perception, thereby promoting pro-environmental actions. It is recommended that organizations focus on developing leadership capabilities and creating supportive environments to encourage Employee Green Behavior. The effect of leadership style is more pronounced for employees with high self-efficacy, indicating that companies should design incentive programs tailored to individual employee characteristics. The study also identifies that the influence of leadership style on pro-environmental behavior varies by company size, with larger enterprises needing to adjust strategies to effectively promote green behavior. Continuous training and cultural development are essential for building sustainable green organizations. Companies should establish dynamic evaluation systems to regularly update strategies and ensure the sustainability of pro-environmental behavior. Leaders should act as role models for green behavior, enhancing employees’ sense of belonging and fostering a culture of environmental participation across the organization. Evaluation systems should include multiple indicators to ensure the effectiveness and specificity of strategies. Through diversified training and cultural initiatives, companies can strengthen environmental awareness, maintain the continuity and stability of green behavior, and ultimately achieve harmony between corporate development and environmental sustainability.

Contextual Factors that Influence Antibiotic Prescribing: A Discrete Choice Experiment of GP Registrars.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global emergency related to overprescribing of antibiotics. Few studies have explored how prescribing behaviours may change as the consequence of changing resistance. Understanding how contextual factors influence antibiotic prescribing will facilitate improved communication strategies to promote appropriate antibiotic prescribing. We aimed to develop and conduct a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to measure how contextual factors influence intended antibiotic prescribing of general practitioner (GP) registrars. Factors included as attributes in the DCE were level of antibiotic resistance, requirement for an authority to prescribe, existence of a Practice Incentives Program (PIP) for low prescribing and supervisor support for low prescribing. The survey was administered in an online format for GP registrars undergoing training between 2020 and 2021. Regression analysis using a conditional logit model with interaction effects was used on the basis of the assumptions of independence of irrelevant alternatives, independence of error terms and no preference heterogeneity. In total, 617 unique respondents answered at least one choice set question. Respondents showed significant preference for avoiding prescribing antibiotics when antibiotic resistance was 25-35% or 40-60% compared with 5-8%. There was also a significant preference for avoiding prescribing when an authority to prescribe was required, or when there was supervisory support of low antibiotic prescribing. In the main effects analysis, respondents were significantly less likely to choose a prescribing option if there was a PIP; however, when interaction effects were included in the regression analysis there was a significant interaction between PIP and resistance rates, but the preference weights for PIP was no longer significant. Knowledge about community resistance impacts the stated intention of GP registrars to prescribe antibiotics. The use of the DCE may have made it possible to determine factors influencing prescribing that would not be detected using other survey methods. These findings provide guidance for producing, explaining and communicating issues regarding antibiotic prescribing to GP registrars.

Closing the gap on vaccine uptake in developing countries: Is there a role for cash incentives?

Vaccination saves lives, yet vaccine uptake remains insufficient particularly in developing countries. While various approaches have been used to improve vaccine uptake, this review focuses on the potential of cash incentives to address this issue in developing countries. We examine the role and criticism of cash incentives and offer suggestions for reducing health disparities through targeting. We also explore potential bottleneck for scaling up the incentive program. The review concludes with recommendations for future steps.

The cost-effectiveness of vaccination against COVID-19 illness during the initial year of vaccination.

Substantial investments by government programs and private health plans subsidized the costs of COVID-19 vaccine doses and vaccine administration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of vaccination against COVID-19 illness during the initial year of COVID-19 vaccination (2021). Using a simulation model, we projected outcomes for hypothetical cohorts of US adults aged 18 and older, stratified by age and risk status for complications, comparing vaccination and no vaccination in the context of recommended concomitant prevention strategies (e.g., masking, social distancing). Vaccination against COVID-19 illness and complications used a pooled vaccination strategy for the 3 products available in 2021. Primary outcome measures included incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), projected costs, and projected quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The model was parameterized using US epidemiologic, clinical, and cost data and the analysis used the healthcare and societal perspectives. For vaccination against COVID-19 illness compared with no vaccination, vaccination yielded cost savings and QALY gains for all adult age and risk groups using the societal perspective. Using a healthcare sector perspective, ages 18-39years required a net investment with ICERs ranging from $8400 to $15,000/QALY. Scenarios evaluating vaccine incentive programs mostly yielded ICERs <$100,000/QALY except for worker bonuses of $500 which yielded ICERs of $22,000 to $134,000/QALY. Results were most sensitive to costs of vaccination (dose cost, administration cost, travel and vaccination time costs) across uncertainty analyses. Investment in the 2021 vaccination program was attractive from an economic perspective even when using a very conservative approach to the analysis. Future vaccination programs in the US, with different associated cost structures, should be assessed to ensure ongoing value for COVID-19 vaccination.

Mitigating Structural Inequities in U.S. Agricultural Risk Management

Abstract The USDA has implemented policies to address inequities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. This research examines agricultural risk inequities and the impact of 2018 Farm Bill programs on crop insurance use among minority and veteran farmers. Results indicate that minority and veteran farmers are disproportionately located in regions of the U.S. with higher risks of drought and excess precipitation. Yet, these producer groups had lower use of crop insurance prior to the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. However, the incentive programs created under the 2018 Farm Bill have increased use of federal crop insurance among these vulnerable populations.

Eco-Drive: Leveraging Gamification and Community Engagement for Carbon Footprint Reduction through Smart Mobility Solutions

This research is based on the Eco-Drive app application that integrates automatic travel detection, gamification, and social engagement as a mobile platform to reduce individual and community-level carbon footprints. The application encourages sustainable commuting behaviours. An engaging interface with advanced analytics aligns with global sustainability goals through vehicular emission reduction. Preliminary results indicate that the app can contribute considerably toward increasing environmental awareness and action. This is just one of the major challenge’s environmental experts face: vehicle emissions and air quality, and this is what the Eco-Drive project is for. It's an automated carbon footprint tracking within a gamified incentive program with community involvement to empower the users to make responsible decisions that lead to commuting sustainably. Using smartphone sensors and frameworks, it identifies the mode of travel and travel time to show live information with a nudge to carpool, bicycle, or travel by public transport. Gamification supports behaviour change through friendly competitions and virtual rewards. This awareness and sense of community responsibility make Eco Drive work for the global sustainability goal through a scalable and user-centered approach to reducing emissions in the urban environment. Keywords—Carbon FootPrint,gamification,sustainability,carpooling,community engagement

If You Build It, They Will Get a Tote Bag: Reimagining a University Library's Workshops Through a Collaborative Incentive Program

abstract: Three Yale University librarians from different departments collaborated on a Workshop Incentive Program to increase library workshop attendance, streamline outreach, and strengthen partnerships. While badging and gamification initiatives are widely used in academic libraries for outreach purposes, there are few examples of incentive programs for optional library workshops, including those that are cumulative and material. This article presents a case study example of an academic library that incentivized workshop participation through low-cost prizes, aiming to fill this gap. The authors of the study share the challenges and successes of the program as well as recommendations for libraries that are considering a similar initiative.

Green Marketing and Its Influence on Consumer Purchasing Decisions in the Indian Market

Green marketing is a vital business strategy to attract eco-conscious consumers and promote sustainable practices. This study examines how green marketing influences purchasing decisions among Indian consumers using data from a stratified random sample of 500 respondents. It evaluates the efficacy of green marketing tactics, key drivers of green purchasing behaviour, and the role of socio-demographic factors through quantitative and qualitative methods. Statistical results indicate that environmental awareness (β = 0.55, p &lt; 0.01), perceived product effectiveness (β = 0.65, p &lt; 0.01), and brand trust (β = 0.70, p &lt; 0.01) are significant predictors of green purchasing intentions. While few respondents expressed willingness to pay a premium for eco-friendly products, most reported scepticism about the authenticity of green claims. Socio-demographic factors, such as income and education, showed a moderating effect F(3, 496) = 202.67, p &lt; 0.001, emphasising disparities between urban and rural segments. Key challenges include price sensitivity and limited product availability, which hinder green adoption. Despite these barriers, the findings highlight opportunities for businesses to build consumer trust through transparency, eco-labelling practices, and sustainability certifications. Policymakers can leverage these insights to develop regulatory frameworks, incentive programs, and awareness campaigns encouraging sustainable consumption. This study offers a strategic roadmap for promoting environmentally conscious advertising in India, providing practical guidelines for businesses and policy interventions to foster sustainable development.

Infection Control and Incentive Program for Long-Term Care Facilities

&lt;p&gt;新冠疫情對全球醫療體系和長期照護機構造成深遠影響，尤其在長期照護機構，住民多為老年人、共病或免疫力低下的群體，感染風險相對顯著增加。且近年長照機構迅速增加，現行醫療相關指引、政策又多從急性醫療開始規範、執行，但在長期照護機構執行上會有些困難，亦曾發生多起機構內群聚感染事件（如流感、COVID-19或是疥瘡）。故如何具備快速應對突發疫情的能力及工作負擔的同時，又能維持基本感染控制，便成為挑戰。感染管制是長期照護機構保障住民健康與機構穩定運營的基石，建議未來深化跨機構合作模式，以促進感染管制措施的全面落實，提升感染管制效能、減少群聚感染事件的潛在因子，實現更高的照護品質。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global healthcare systems, particularly longterm care facilities. Residents inlong-term care facilities are predominantly elderly individuals, those with comorbidities or compromised immune systems, face heightened infection risks. With the rapid expansion of long-term care facilities in recent years, existing healthcare guidelines and policies, originally designed for acute care settings, often pose challenges for implementation in long-term care contexts. Several outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as influenza, COVID-19, and scabies, have been reported within these facilities.&lt;br /&gt;As result,developing the capacity to swiftly respond to emergent epidemic while managing high workload and maintaining baseline infection control practices has thus become challenging. Infection control serves as the cornerstone for safeguarding resident health and ensuring the stable operation of long-term care facilities. Future efforts should focus on enhancing inter-institutional collaboration to facilitate comprehensive implementation of infection control measures, improve efficacy, and reduce outbreak risks, ultimately achieving higher care quality.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

기업에서의 칭찬이 인센티브를 매개로 판매성과에 미치는 영향

In the contemporary business landscape, sales performance is a pivotal factor in ensuring an organization's long-term growth and profitability. To enhance sales performance, many organizations have implemented incentive programs aimed at strengthening employee motivation. Previous research identifies motivational factors as verbal praise, tangible praise, and institutional praise [1], with each type having potentially distinct effects on employee motivation. This study examines the influence of incentives on sales performance, focusing on the three types of praise identified in prior studies. It further analyzes the mediating effects of individual and group incentives on sales performance. Data were collected through a survey administered to LG Electronics sales representatives. Hypotheses were tested using PLS 4.0 (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling). The empirical findings are as follows: First, verbal praise does not have a significant impact on individual incentives, leading to the rejection of H1-1-1. Institutional praise does not significantly affect group incentives, resulting in the rejection of H1-3-2. Thus, H1 was partially supported. Second, individual incentives were found to have a significant positive impact on sales performance, supporting H2-1. Similarly, group incentives significantly and positively influenced sales performance, supporting H2-2. Consequently, H2 was fully supported.

KAJIAN PEMANFAATAN DIGITAL MARKETING DALAM MENINGKATKAN PENJUALAN UMKM DI KOTA KENDARI

The purpose of this study is to determine and analyze the impact of the use of Digital Marketing on increasing sales of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Kendari City. The method used in this study is a descriptive research method (single variable data analysis). After the data is collected, the data is grouped numerically, processed using a frequency table, and supplemented with a description of additional information related to the challenges faced by MSMEs in Kendari City. The criteria are MSMEs that use Digital Marketing &gt; 1 year and MSMEs that specifically sell food and clothing. The results of the study show that the use of digital marketing in increasing MSME sales in Kendari City shows that digital marketing strategies have a significant impact on MSME sales growth. The indicators used, namely transaction costs, interactivity, incentive programs, and website design, make an important contribution to creating a positive user experience and encouraging increased sales.