Reform Proposals Research Articles

Social Co-governance of the Safety of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in China

IntroductionIntrinsic toxicities and severe exogenous pollution have adversely affected the safety of Chinese medicinal herbs and clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the means of improving the social co-governance system for the safety of Chinese medicinal herbs. MethodsThis study analysed Chinese legislation to understand the legal attributes of Chinese medicinal herbs and used secondary data to show the seriousness of the safety issues of Chinese medicinal herbs. Then, based on the social co-governance theory, this study used causal analysis to probe the reasons for safety issues of Chinese medicinal herbs and suggest reform proposals to solve the problem. In the study process, an unstructured interview approach was adopted to discuss local protectionism and fragmented governance. ResultsChinese medicinal herbs have the dual attributes of medicines and agricultural products and are affected by intrinsic toxicities and severe exogenous pollution. This is due to an unestablished long-term transdepartmental cooperative governance system and the existence of local protectionism. Furthermore, the role of the public and trade associations in social co-governance has been dysfunctional. ConclusionsChina should construct an improved social co-governance system that includes collaboration between various government departments and the effective participation of trade associations and the public.

The Poet, the Law and the Protection of Individual Rights: An EU Reform Proposal from Literature

The Poet, the Law and the Protection of Individual Rights: An EU Reform Proposal from Literature

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Taxation of Individuals in Africa: Proposals for Reform

COVID-19 had a huge effect on African countries. It revealed how vulnerable African tax systems are to a massive global economic shock. This article explores what made the tax systems for individuals in African countries more vulnerable than other jurisdictions, and what reforms should be made to address such vulnerabilities.

International economic law and the reinvention of industrial policy: Opportunities, limitations and risks

BACKGROUND: Many studies are focused on traditional (old) or modern (new) industrial policy. There are insufficient studies linking the emergence of the knowledge economy and the institutional requirements to underpin inclusive social and economic development in developed or developing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the characteristics of the knowledge economy and the institutional requirements for more inclusive and sustainable socio-economic developments. Constraints of the international economic law in its current form for more inclusive and sustainable industrial policy in developed and developing countries will be put forward. The inclusive knowledge economy requires not only innovative advanced firms but also innovative and creative public sector employees capable of supporting and disseminating opportunities of the knowledge economy to the entire society. Moreover, the inclusive knowledge economy requires lifelong learning processes of the workforce in developed and developing economies. Therefore, a human dimension, broad participation, and shaping of modern development strategies a key to developing an inclusive and sustainable knowledge economy. Institutional constraints of the international economic framework are currently not adequately supportive of such a structural shift. The objective of this study is to show the possible adjustments at the international and national levels to support the development of an inclusive knowledge economy. The human dimension (participation, creativity, imagination) of the public and private sector goes hand in hand with institutional innovations. METHODS: The normative and institutional analysis, embedded in the historical context of industrialization patterns in the selected countries, will provide insights into the institutional requirements for an inclusive knowledge economy. RESULTS: The result of the conceptual and normative as well as empirical comparative analysis will provide insights into the possibilities and needs for institutional innovations at the regional, national, and supranational levels of polity while embracing the need for a more supportive international normative context. Several possible institutional innovations at the national levels, such as regional public venture funds, decentralized support, and training centers, are provided. A reform of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures to better delineate between potentially productive and harmful subsidies at the international level can be seen as a reform proposal at the international level. CONCLUSIONS: Industrial policies in developed and developing countries will not be able to address the social and economic divides between advanced and stagnating sectors of the economy without addressing the requirements for institutional innovations at all levels of the international polity.

THE WORK OF ASPAZIJA AND RAINIS IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

The article looks at how Aspazija and Rainis reacted in the Constitutional Assembly on the political and cultural challenges of the time, and what is the importance of culture in their view. Aspazija and Rainis were members of the social democratic faction in the Constitutional Assembly. During the Constitutional Assembly, the adoption of the amnesty law and agrarian reform, as well as questions about the referendum and the place of the president in Latvia, were important. Rainis spoke in a debate here. Rainis’ speeches always reflected his legal education His example of democracy in politics was Switzerland, while in culture (and in politics) – Greece. As a member of the Latvian Social Democratic Party (LSDSP) Rainis defended the most radical agrarian reform proposal, which radically transformed Latvian agriculture. Rainis consistently defended the establishment of the Culture Fund and participated in various discussions on the financing of culture, emphasizing that culture is one of the foundations of the state. Aspazija spoke less at the Constituent Assembly, her focus was on the importance of women in the new Latvia, as well as reducing social inequality. Also, the poet strongly defended the cultural field.

Perspectives or Misperceptions? Why Better Land-Use Data Are Critical to Housing Policy Debates

Research correlating stringency in land-use regulation to low housing supply, high housing costs, and segregation relies on surveys of planners about land-use regulation. Housing policy reform proposals rely on much of this same research. We assess the reliability and validity of questions from three surveys using objective data on land-use regulation and its application. Response errors indicate that planners systematically underestimate the stringency effects of local regulation while overestimating the impact of state law. This signals potential bias that may skew some analysis. Scholars should account for this potential bias when analyzing survey data to inform land-use policy debates.

Supported decision-making and the Disability Royal Commission

Throughout its proceedings and in its Final Report, the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability gave considerable prominence to supported decision-making as a means for achieving the human rights of people with disabilities. It sought input on supported decision-making from people with lived experience, roundtables, public hearings, and commissioned independent research on supported decision-making and proposals for reform. Practical challenges raised at the roundtables and by witnesses included the resources needed for education, training, and capacity building, and the challenge of finding supporters for people who were isolated. Evidence was given that legal reform was only one aspect of what was needed to embed supported decision-making into sectors and services to improve the lives of people with cognitive disabilities. The Commission’s Final Report endorsed a set of national supported decision-making principles, with many of these principles underpinned by the evidence received and commissioned research. However, overall, the Commission’s recommendations were overly focused on reform of guardianship and administration systems, and implementation guidance was lacking. The Commission also missed an opportunity to recommend legislative and practice reform beyond guardianship systems, into multiple services and sectors including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the health system, and the public sector more widely.

SLAPPs: What are they? And how should defamation law be reformed to address them?

ABSTRACT This article examines the need for legislative reform to address the problem of strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), with a focus on defamation law as the most common action for such claims. It draws upon legislative and judicial approaches from a range of different jurisdictions to define the problem of SLAPPs and examines whether the existing law in England and Wales provides an adequate solution to the problem of SLAPPs. This analysis indicates some important recent developments in the law that are relevant to SLAPPs but concludes that legislative reform is necessary to address the problem of SLAPPs. In contrast to the current proposals for reform, the article proposes an anti-SLAPP provision that crystallizes and builds upon recent developments in the law, to effectively address the problem of SLAPPs without posing an unnecessary risk of the denial of innocent claims.

Mexican Money Laundering in the United States: Analysis and Proposals for Reform

Mexican Money Laundering in the United States: Analysis and Proposals for Reform

Reform and Effectiveness Assessment of Accounting Teaching in Colleges and Universities Based on Multi-source Data Mining

Abstract The growing discrepancy between the supply and demand of new accounting professionals underscores an urgent need for reform in the educational paradigms within higher education accounting programs. This paper introduces a comprehensive proposal for educational reform in accounting at the collegiate level, using ‘A school’ as a pilot site for our experimental teaching reform. Central to our methodology is the design of a multi-source data mining process, utilizing characteristics of educational information data. Employing the K-means clustering algorithm as a foundation, we further develop a Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering algorithm to evaluate the impact of these pedagogical reforms. Subsequent to the reform, we collected and analyzed teaching data, establishing specific assessment metrics. The analysis, conducted via clustering, revealed significant improvements. Prior to the reform, the experimental class scored an average of 62.89, compared to the control class’s 63.05. Post-reform, the experimental class’s performance elevated to 74.57, while the control class saw a more modest increase to 65.14. This marked enhancement in the experimental class’s performance underscores the efficacy of the reform, aligning with our educational objectives, which anticipate an 80% qualification rate and a 42% excellence rate among accounting majors. This study not only advances the theoretical framework but also refines the practical approaches to cultivating accounting talent in collegiate settings. It offers valuable insights and serves as a reference for future reforms in accounting education at universities.

Policy Forum: The Registered Charity Appeals Process—More Reasons (and a Few Proposals) for Reform

Policy Forum: The Registered Charity Appeals Process—More Reasons (and a Few Proposals) for Reform

The Registered Charity Appeals Process: More Reasons (and a few Proposals) for Reform (pre-publication version of (2024) Canadian Tax Journal (forthcoming))

The Registered Charity Appeals Process: More Reasons (and a few Proposals) for Reform (pre-publication version of (2024) Canadian Tax Journal (forthcoming))

ФОРМУЛЬНОЕ РАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ: ВОПРОСЫ ТЕОРИИ

The current international tax system, which is based on separate accounting for corporate affiliates trading at arm’s length prices, is increasingly viewed as prone to abuse. Multinational enterprises have become adept at manipulating the rules of the current system to shift profits from high-tax to low-tax (or no-tax) jurisdictions. At the same time, each country’s law sets corporate income tax rates as well as bases, which may be eroded by tax incentives provided via legislation or ministerial discretion. These laws are further overlaid by a network of bilateral tax treaties, which alter the tax treatment of investment depending on the particular source and residence countries involved. This makes administration and enforcement of the corporate income tax costly, especially for developing country governments. Corporate compliance costs also increase with complexity. One fundamental reform proposal is to replace the current system of separate accounting by formulary apportionment.

Optimizing the lifeline: A comprehensive review and strategic reform proposals for the Polish State Emergency Medical System

Optimizing the lifeline: A comprehensive review and strategic reform proposals for the Polish State Emergency Medical System

Escola pública e discurso meritocrático: propostas da reforma do ensino médio e expectativas dos estudantes

Abstract This article discusses the reform proposals for secondary education, reflecting on the extent to which some of the proposed contents and practices converge with individualistic and meritocratic concepts and discourses already present in the public school environment, but now reinforced. Based on a broad set of surveys conducted between 2019 and 2022, it seeks to capture the meritocratic perceptions of public school students from Ceará. Reflexive data analysis allowed us to identify a considerable expectation among high school students for an educational and future life that provides stability and desirable social conditions. Such expectation, however, goes hand in hand with a mass adherence to meritocratic and individualistic discourse in general, with little reflection on social conditioning factors. The reports and data indicate that school agents—teachers and classmates—are significant players in the process of constructing this view. However, one must consider a possible mismatch between young people’s expectations and the educational reality provided by this new high school. At a time when higher education is expanding and knowledge-based economic dynamics are intensifying, schools play an increasingly key role in ensuring an adequate, complete education as to not produce even greater educational gaps between different social groups, especially in Brazil’s already serious context of social and educational inequalities.

The Current Situation of the Implementation of College Admission System and the Way of Reform in the Digital Age

Abstract With the progress of science and technology and social changes, higher education in China is experiencing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The digital era has not only changed teaching methods but has also profoundly affected the enrollment system of colleges and universities. The study uses a decision tree-based enrollment information mining algorithm and a gray prediction model to construct a data mining model of the current status of enrollment system implementation. Through the data mining model, the data mining and analysis of the student source status of college enrollment are used to propose targeted reform proposals. The number of female students in School Z has been increasing each year, while the number of male students has decreased significantly. The number of students with grades A and B is much lower than that of students with grades B and C. Among the special types of enrollment sources, the enrollment of national defense students and high-level athletes has decreased year by year, while the enrollment of the poverty special program has shown a yearly increasing trend. During the four years, the enrollment of national defense students was 61, 54, 46, and 39, and the enrollment of high-level athletes was 15, 14, 12, and 10. The enrollment in special programs for people experiencing poverty increased from 9 to 47 during the four years. The reform of the college enrollment system should focus on reforming the content of the examination, and government departments to do a good job of coordinating planning, improving laws and regulations, and putting an end to malpractice and irregularities.

Public schools and meritocratic discourse: high school reform proposals and student expectations

Resumo Este artigo propõe fazer uma discussão geral sobre a reforma do ensino médio, refletindo em que medida alguns conteúdos e algumas práticas propostas convergem para conceitos e discursos de base individualista e meritocrática, já presentes no ambiente da escola pública, mas reforçados por essas mudanças. A partir de um conjunto amplo de pesquisas realizadas entre 2019 e 2022, busca-se captar percepções meritocráticas para estudantes e egressos de escolas públicas cearenses. Os dados e a discussão sobre a reflexividade permitem verificar que há entre os jovens estudantes da escola média uma considerável expectativa por uma vida educacional e futura que proporcione estabilidade e condições sociais desejáveis. Essa expectativa, no entanto, caminha junto a uma massificada adesão ao discurso meritocrático e individualista em geral, com baixa reflexão sobre os condicionantes sociais. Os relatos e dados indicam que os agentes desse universo – professores e colegas – são atores significativos no processo de construção dessa visão. Contudo, faz-se necessário pensar sobre um possível descompasso entre expectativas dos jovens e realidade formativa proporcionada pelo novo ensino médio. Em um momento de expansão do ensino superior e da intensificação das dinâmicas econômicas baseadas no conhecimento, o papel da escola torna-se ainda mais central para garantir uma formação adequada, completa e que não produza ainda maiores distâncias educacionais entre diferentes grupos sociais, sobretudo no já grave contexto brasileiro de desigualdades sociais e educacionais.

Finanzierung von Staatsaufgaben: nachhaltige Finanzpolitik und Schuldenbremse

Abstract Multiple crises and ecological transformation are driving an intense debate about government credit financing and its restriction by the constitutional debt brake. The Board of Academic Advisors at the BMWK has presented a proposal on how more flexibility would be possible without undermining the indispensable disciplining function of the debt brake. The Board recommends a selective relaxation of the debt brake linked to conditions that are virtually impossible to fulfil (net investment, independent institution, no inflationary effects). Therefore, regarding the fact that the Board has formulated a justification for the debt brake: As long as there is no practicable reform proposal, there is no reason to change the constitution.

Urgent and long overdue: legal reform and drug decriminalization in Canada

The International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy recommend that states commit to adopting a balanced, integrated, and human rights-based approach to drug policy through a set of foundational human rights principles, obligations arising from human rights standards, and obligations arising from the human rights of particular groups. In respect of the Guidelines and standing obligations under UN Treaties, Canada must adopt stronger and more specific commitments for a human rights-based, people-centered, and public health approach. This approach must commit to the decriminalization of people who use drugs and include the decriminalization of possession, purchase, and cultivation for personal consumption. In this report, we will first turn to the legal background of Canada's drug laws. Next, we will provide an overview of ongoing law reform proposals from civil society groups, various levels of government, the House of Commons, and the Senate. We end with a three-staged approach to reform and a series of targeted recommendationscr.

Some Perspectives on the UN Security Council Reform Proposals

Some Perspectives on the UN Security Council Reform Proposals