Public Provision Research Articles

Spatio-temporal variability of public water supply characteristics and associated health hazards for children and adults in selected locations of Ambala, India.

The contamination of public water supply and groundwater resources is a major concern in many parts of developing nations. Polluted water poses serious health risks to humans and the environment. This research was conducted to investigate the seasonal variations of the water quality parameters in the public water supply. To assess the supply water quality in different blocks of Ambala District, hydro-chemical analysis was conducted after a series of systematic sampling in various locations. The statistical tools for water quality indexing including water quality indexing (WQI), heavy metal pollution indexing (HMPI), pollution indexing (PI), overall pollution indexing (OPI), metal indexing (MI), and hazard indexing (HI) were used for data as well as the health hazard analysis through water pathway. Overall, 40 water samples were taken from the public water supply systems covering winter and summer seasons, and the levels of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), EC, F- , Cl- , NO3 - , SO4 2- , HCO3 - , As, B, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, Cr, Fe, and Mn were investigated. The weight arithmetic index method was used for WQI, and water pollution indices such as HMPI, PI, OPI, and MI were calculated using different models to check the severity of contamination. The mean hazard quotient and hazard index values calculated using the concentration levels of As, B, Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, F- , and NO3 - reveal that supply water may pose a significant health risk to both adults and children that further varies with temporal and spatial changes. During both seasons, a high carcinogenic risk for both adults and children was observed in the studied area because of high levels of As, Pb, Cd, and NO3 - . PRACTITIONER POINTS: The quality of public supply water was assessed at the selected sites of Ambala, India. High levels of NO3 - , As, Cd, and Pb were observed posing a health risk to adults and children via water pathway. 95% of the samples qualified for the excellent water quality category with respect to the levels of F- , Cl- , NO3 - , SO4 2- , HCO3 - , pH, EC, and TDS. Statistical analysis (HMPI, PI, MI, OPI, HI) using different models revealed water contamination with reference to the levels of NO3 - , As, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd. Immediate measures are needed to uphold the safety and health of the natives.

Dynamics of regionalization and repercussions of gaps in care on health marketing in remote rural municipalities

This article analyzed the dynamics of regionalization in municipalities within hinterlands and the possible implications of gaps in care for the marketing of health. This is a multiple case study with a qualitative approach, involving 76 semi-structured interviews with municipal, regional, and state managers. The results show that, particularly in the Northern states, the regional scheme did not reflect the social dynamics of the populations and created inadequate flows and unwanted routes. The municipal political agenda often prioritized interests other than that of regionalization, and rural problems did not mobilize managers to build specific regional planning. Parliamentary amendments were essential for investment in healthcare and the managers pointed to clientelistic relationships to obtain such resources, often conditioned by political-ideological alignment. The scarcity of public services favored dependence on the private sector and the commercialization of health in different situations. The great distances and the lack of public services in municipalities in the hinterland made the local public health system offer eminently dependent on contracts with private providers who negotiated on a retail basis or via service packages. Lastly, in the wake of unmet needs and gaps in care in remote rural municipalities, players in the healthcare market ₋ companies supplying inputs, consultants, healthcare professionals, and transportation services ₋ filled the gaps in public provision, sometimes controlling prices, supply and availability of services.

Providing public services in the context of digital transformation from the theory of the citizen-centered local governance model

The article research article on the citizen-centered governance model, proposed by Anwar Shah and his colleagues, is focused on analyzing the current state of local governance in developing countries. The author emphasizes the importance of public sector reform to solve problems and "diseases" in the government apparatus. By proposing a citizen-centered governance model, Shah and his colleagues emphasize people's participation and supervision in public management. In this way, they believe that the problems of weak capacity of civil servants, centralized and rigid apparatus, monopoly in public service delivery and lack of people's participation and supervision can be minimized. Combining public service provision in a citizen-centered governance model is considered an effective approach to improve the performance and transparency of local governance. In this way, we can build a local governance system that responds more quickly and effectively to community needs, while promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life for the people.

Intragroup communication in social dilemmas: An artefactual public good field experiment in small-scale communities

Abstract Communication is well-known to increase cooperation rates in social dilemma situations, but the exact mechanisms behind this remain largely unclear. This study examines the impact of communication on public good provisioning in an artefactual field experiment conducted with 216 villagers from small, rural communities in northern Namibia. In line with previous experimental findings, we observe a strong increase in cooperation when face-to-face communication is allowed before decision-making. We additionally introduce a condition in which participants cannot discuss the dilemma but talk to their group members about an unrelated topic prior to learning about the public good game. It turns out that this condition already leads to higher cooperation rates, albeit not as high as in the condition in which discussions about the social dilemma are possible. The setting in small communities also allows investigating the effects of pre-existing social relationships between group members and their interaction with communication. We find that both types of communication are primarily effective among socially more distant group members, which suggests that communication and social ties work as substitutes in increasing cooperation. Further analyses rule out better comprehension of the game and increased mutual expectations of one’s group members’ contributions as drivers for the communication effect. Finally, we discuss the role of personal and injunctive norms to keep commitments made during discussions.

Principles of public service provision: system and content.

The principles on which the public sphere is based are of great importance in terms of the legitimacy and effectiveness of government. The article examines the principles underlying public activities in the provision of state and municipal services to citizens and organizations. The purpose of the study is to define a public service, characterize the principles established by law for the provision of public services and analyze their content. The principles of providing public services are an important independent part of government activity and are directly related to the observance of the rights of citizens in relations with the state. The implementation of the principles affects the quality of relations between the state and the individual and, ultimately, trust in government. When highlighting the general and special principles of the type of activity under consideration, the article presents their relationship, interdependence and influence. The article achieved the following results: the concept of public service was formulated; the difference between a public function and a public service is defined; the content of the principles for the provision of public services established by law analyzed; principles have been proposed that can be supplemented with legislation in order to improve the provision of public services; The interaction of the principles of providing public services with the general legal principles of public activity and with each other has been identified. The article establishes measures that promote the efficiency of the provision of public services and respect for the rights of citizens: standardization and regulation of services, the introduction of multifunctional centers operating on the “one-stop” principle, and the use of electronic forms of service provision.

Spaces, Places, and Migration: Understanding and Strengthening Public Health-Care Provision in South Africa

Given South Africa’s historical and contemporary realities of both internal mobility and migration from other countries, this paper argues that engaging with space, place, and migration is pivotal to understanding and strengthening public health-care provision in South Africa. This paper views place as emerging from and relating to space. A mutually reinforcing and reciprocal relationship between people and place over time shapes health-care delivery and health outcomes in South Africa. Therefore, this paper argues that engaging with a place-based approach is required to understand the local context in which diverse groups are situated. There is, however, a lacuna in studies situating South(ern) African public health-care challenges within such a place-based approach. This paper presents findings from a mixed-methods study that was designed to fill this gap. The research team conducted fieldwork in six health-care facilities across two provinces in South Africa – four in Gauteng and two in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province – representing urban, peri-urban, and rural settings. The study included exploratory in-depth interviews with 77 health-care providers (including nursing and administrative staff), a survey conducted with 229 health-care users, and site visits. The findings show how diverse spaces shape and are shaped by different migrant profiles, producing diverse places, which in turn present particular demands to the public-health system. It is crucial to understand the pathways, behaviors, and meanings associated with such mobility if we are to strengthen the provision of health-care services in South Africa.

Angelo 1563. City of the Council. A Public History Project in Sixteenth-Century Trento

This article describes the walking tours realized for the app Hidden Trento within the project Public Renaissance: Urban Cultures of Public Space between Early Modern Europe and the Present (PURE, 2019-2022). The app, free of charge and available at www.hiddencities.eu, offers four different urban walks through the lesser-known places of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Trento. One of these is set in December 1563 during the final days of the Council of Trent and is narrated by Angelo Massarelli, bishop and secretary of the assembly. The storyboard and thematic insights are based on what Massarelli wrote in his Diari during his almost 20-year stay in Trento. In addition to personal comments on the political situation and the work of the Council, this source offers much information on the city's social and cultural life. Through the app tour, Angelo provides the main elements of the Council's institutional and doctrinal history while drawing the user's attention to aspects of everyday urban life, such as street fighting and public order, hospitality and supplies, public factions, festivals, the production and selling of press prints and the repression of unorthodox religious ideals. The paper discusses the realization of this digital itinerary, presenting its methods of dissemination, highlighting its educational and didactic applications, and describing its uses in a museum context.

The effect of environmentally oriented leadership and public sector management quality on supply chain performance: The moderating role of public sector environmental policy

This study examines the complex relationship between environmentally oriented leadership, public sector management quality, environmental policies, and supply chain performance within the public sector context in Indonesia. The research combines quantitative analysis and qualitative insights from key stakeholders to explore these dynamics comprehensively. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of supply chain performance optimization, where environmentally oriented leadership demonstrates a nuanced connection to performance outcomes. Public sector management quality significantly enhances efficiency and overall supply chain performance. Notably, well-structured environmental policies positively impact supply chain performance and contribute to organizational sustainability. However, a weak policy framework can dilute the positive influence of leadership. The moderating effect of environmental policies on the relationship between management quality and supply chain performance might be less pronounced. The implications of this study offer both theoretical and managerial insights. The findings emphasize the need for holistic supply chain management strategies that integrate leadership styles, management practices, and policy frameworks to achieve sustainable performance outcomes. The study acknowledges limitations related to the specific context and variables studied. Future research can explore broader variables, diverse sectors, and regions by enhancing the understanding of these complex interactions. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of the intricate relationship between leadership, management quality, policies, and supply chain performance within the public sector context, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in this vital area.

Psychoactive substance consumption after the Fundão dam mine tailing disaster in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Disasters cause changes in morbidity, mortality, and medicine use. Brazil is one of the main producers of mineral ores at great environmental cost. Mine tailings are stored in dams and ruptures have led to major disasters. We investigated the consumption of psychoactive medicines in the municipalities affected by the Fundão dam disaster in Minas Gerais State. An ecological study was carried out on drug consumption, estimated using public purchases in Minas Gerais and dispensing data from private retail pharmacies. Consumption (in number of defined daily doses/100,000 inhabitants per day) was analyzed descriptively in eight municipalities, stratified according to consumption level during a 25-month period. Six comparisons of mean consumption values for both data sets were done for pre- and post-disaster periods. The means of medicine consumption before and after the event were plotted and linear trends were added. Public purchase data evinced high consumption levels. Only pharmaceutical retail showed significant differences between the strata in the pre-disaster versus two post-disaster periods. Smaller municipalities showed an increase in consumption 15 months after the disaster. Clonazepam led the way in pharmaceutical retail consumption, followed by fluoxetine. Medicines showed an upward trend after the disaster. The high public provision may have stifled significant consumption patterns of psychoactive drugs; however, peak consumption were observed in private retail, suggesting a modification in use patterns after the disaster. The decrease in consumption immediately after the event was probably related to lower care-seeking behavior on the part of the population, and significant peaks after the disaster may reflect economic consequences of it.

Key Determinants of for-Profit Micro Finance Institutions Credit: A Study on Rural Manufacturing Households

The pathetic condition of Indian agriculture speaks volumes about the distress in its rural economy. Manufacturing activity, though providing hope, is constrained by the availability of credit. From social banking to for-profit micro finance institutions (MFIs), the rural economy has witnessed a sea change in the public provisioning of credit. The phenomenal growth of for-profit MFIs in recent years is associated with growing concerns over their unethical practices and exploitation of the rural poor. The present study attempts to trace the factors that influence rural households’ dependence on forprofit MFI credit, despite the abovementioned concerns. The study is based on a primary survey and uses logit and probit models. The estimated results suggest that the factors like access to bank credit and household poverty factors—such as per capita income, number of male workers, and the existence of wage labour—significantly influence the probability of accessing for-profit MFI credit. Accordingly, the present study proposes remedial policies like the expansion of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) and not-forprofit MFIs, apart from strict regulation of for-profit MFIs.

Investigation of Water Quality in Aizawl City, Mizoram, India

Water derived from various sources may differ greatly in quality and suitability for domestic use. Ideally, water intended for human consumption must be free from organisms and from concentration of chemical substances that may be hazardous to health. In addition, supplies of drinking water should be as pleasant to drink as circumstances permit. Coolness, absence of turbidity and colour and absence of any disagreeable taste or smell are of the utmost importance in public supplies of drinking water. Drinking water or potable water is water of sufficiently high quality that it can be consumed or used without risk of immediate or long-term harm to human health. Water samples from different water sources were collected for testing the quality. Fifteen samples each from tuikhur and hand pumps, one sample each from River Tlawng and Serlui, one sample each from three springs located outside the residential area from where water tankers collect water, five samples of rainwater, and five samples from piped water supply. All together forty-five water samples were collected and tested for physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters.

MONITORAMENTO DE TRIHALOMETANOS (THMs) E DA QUALIDADE DA ÁGUA PARA ABASTECIMENTO PÚBLICO DA CIDADE DE CAVALCANTE, GOIÁS

MONITORING OF TRIHALOMETHANES (THMs) AND WATER QUALITY FOR PUBLIC SUPPLY IN THE CITY OF CAVALCANTE, GOIÁS. Trihalomethanes (THMs) are organohalogens compounds formed from the reaction between free residual chlorine and natural matter organic (humic substances) present in raw water from surface sources. This study aimed to evaluate the formation of THMs resulting from the application of chlorine for disinfection, in the water treating process for public supply in the city of Cavalcante, GO, located in the region of Chapada dos Veadeiros (Brazil). The results of physical-chemical analyses apparent color, turbidity, pH, free residual chlorine, consumed oxygen, hardness, total alkalinity and THMs demonstrated a positive and strong correlation between the formation of THMs and the hardness of treated water, as well as the chlorine consumed during disinfection process. It was observed an increase in apparent color, turbidity and consumed oxygen in the rainy season. These parameters indicate the presence of organic matter and that present a positive and moderate correlation with the formation of THMs.

The research On Illegality and Medical Fault Presumption: On the Application of the Article 1222 Paragraph 1of the Civil Code of the PRC

Fault determination has always been a difficult and controversial issue in the determination of medical tort liability. Article 1222 of the Civil Code stipulates three situations for medical fault estimation and establishes objective standards for medical fault estimation, which has positive significance in overcoming the abstraction and uncertainty of the fault determination standard for “medical level” in Article 1221.
 In judicial practice, Article 1222 (1) of the Civil Code can simplify the difficulty of determining the fault of medical torts, but there are also some problems. The judgment standards for medical violations of “duty of care” and “illegality” are often confused, the administrative and civil legal liabilities arising from medical violations are often confused, and the legal responsibilities of medical institutions and medical personnel in medical torts are not distinguished, There is even a trend of ‘illegal is wrong’.
 This article analyzes the nature and circumstances of illegal medical behavior, and demonstrates the relationship between violating diagnostic and treatment norms and illegal behavior. It further suggests establishing a presumption rule of “illegal” and “fault”, limiting the presumption of “illegal” medical behavior to “fault” in private language and excluding public law provisions; Establish hierarchical application rules when violating the “diagnostic and treatment norms” to presume “fault”, thereby reducing the impact of the current confusion of diagnostic and treatment norms on the presumption of fault; The presumption principle of “illegality is fault” applies to violations of licensing laws and regulations; Violating the legal provisions of diagnosis and treatment and applying the principle of “proximate cause” presumption; The rule of presumption of evidence applies to violations of medical record laws and regulations. Through the above rules, objective evaluation of medical behavior and fair division of medical damage liability can be achieved.

Retrofitting Public Space

Public space is critical for urban life to thrive. Yet, a global deficiency exists in available public space, particularly in the cities of the global south, but affecting cities in the global north as well. While much attention has been paid to upgrading existing public spaces, the thorny problem of retrofitting additional public spaces in existing urban fabrics has been under researched. Grounded in a review of the value and costs of public space, it is argued that there is no ‘ideal’ amount of public space that applies universally, and that public space supply should be allowed to change over time as urban and social conditions change. Public space suffers from a directionality problem in which adding public space is much harder than subtracting public space, such as through encroachment or sale of public land. Through a comparative case study approach, this paper responds to this problem by articulating the solution space to retrofit public spaces in existing neighbourhoods through five distinct pathways, namely ‘acupuncture’, ‘superimposition’, ‘marketplace’, ‘reblocking’ and ‘plot subdivision’. It explores the particular characteristics of each approach in varied urban contexts and provides a cross-cutting typology that connects practices across a global north and south context. The five pathways are offered as a practice-oriented typology to empower planners and policymakers to make more informed urban planning and design choices.

Economic recovery through the money supply and public spending in Morocco: an empirical investigation

PurposeThe present article aims to estimate an autoregressive vector model covering the period of 1990–2021 to analyze the effect of public spending and monetary supply increases in economic activity in Morocco.Design/methodology/approachA literature review on the policy of recovery with fiscal and monetary tools and its theoretical foundations was established. Then, an empirical study on the Moroccan context was executed to study the effectiveness of these instruments in Morocco from 1990 to 2021, using autoregressive vector modeling.FindingsThe results present a state of a positive relationship and statistical significance of public spending, money supply and economic growth. The impulse response function analysis and the forecast error variance decomposition showed that public spending does not have a large impact on gross domestic product, while the money supply has a real power to stimulate the growth of economic activity in Morocco.Originality/valueThis study aims to demonstrate the positive effect of the coordination of public spending and monetary supply increases on gross domestic product in Morocco. Additionally, the analysis using vector autoregressive modeling, impulse response functions, variance decomposition techniques and causality tests, provides crucial insights to guide researchers, practitioners and policymakers in developing more effective and resilient economic strategies. The findings from this study not only illuminate immediate recovery strategies but also contribute to strengthening the resilience of economies against potential future shocks.

Impact of digital transformation on public services: experience of the European Union

Based on the methodology of complex system analysis, the article examines the impact of digital transformation on public services in the context of the experience of the European Union. The purpose of the study is to analyze the constructive processes of transformation of the public administration system with electronic and digital technologies as a key factor in providing public services to the population and business. In the course of the study, methods of system analysis, methods of generalization, classification, system and structural- functional approaches, and others were used. The directions of the digital transformation of the public service provision system in the European Union have been determined: expanding the use of single electronic portals that ensure the establishment of direct connections on matters of public service provision; simplification of the procedure for using information technologies due to the development of mobile means of transmission and its processing; development of a general list of digital products as part of the provision of public services with the possibility of accelerated search for the required product; creation of experimental platforms and pilot areas for the implementation of digital technologies for the provision of public services. The prerequisites for the digital transformation of public services based on platforms are systematized, which is understood as the process of changing the institutional organization of markets under the influence of the spread of modular digital platforms and the application of platform technologies. These prerequisites include the growth of data quality and the specialization of interaction between participants. This makes it possible to consider platforms as centers for the provision of a wide range of digital services and to ensure the effectiveness of the platform implementation process by providing traditional goods with service properties, which are expressed in the involvement of the consumer in the production process and the accounting of his individual requests. Further research on the problems of digitization and digital transformation of socio-economic systems should cover the direction of expanding the use of digital platform services provided by the service integrator and the development of management methods for promising forms of organization of economic activity in the field of public services.

Administrative and economic sanctions under French commercial law

The publication examines the provisions on administrative and economic sanctions of the French Commercial Code and other acts of French legislation. It was concluded that the French experience of regulation of commercial relations is based on complex solutions involving a combination of private-law and public-law regulation.
 It is substantiated that during the last century the commercial legislation of France was saturated with public legal provisions. The new French Commercial Code of 2000 incorporated a significant number of provisions that are public law, including administrative and criminal sanctions.
 The presence of provisions in the French Commercial legislation, which by nature of administrative influence on business entities can be recognized as administrative and economic sanctions, is established in many spheres of relations. These sanctions include typical penalties imposed on economic entities for antitrust violations, violations of reporting and other rules of conducting commercial activities, as well as other numerous sanctions of an organizational nature. It is substantiated that the disciplinary responsibility of certain professions in commerce defined in the FCC can be qualified as a type of administrative and economic sanctions relevant to the Ukrainian legal sense.
 Taking into account the experience of French commercial law, it was concluded that the ideas of reducing the discretion of state bodies when applying sanctions to business to eliminate the risks of corruption and abuse are not confirmed in modern European legislation. It is obvious that this follows from the quite reasonable assumption that the fight against corruption should affect the specific offender, and not destroy the effectiveness of the state's response to offenses, including in the business sphere.
 Several trends in the legislative regulation of administrative and economic sanctions in France have been identified, including attempts to solve the problems of the ratio of administrative sanctions and criminal penalties on legal entities, the expansion of judges' approaches to the assessment of administrative sanctions imposed on merchants from the point of view of compliance with procedural provisions and respect for human rights.
 It was concluded that the introduction of criminal liability of legal entities into national law cannot take place without an analysis of the problems caused by relevant institutions in foreign countries, in particular in France.

The impact of tax competition on urban-rural income gap: a local governance perspective

ABSTRACT In China, the regional economic development model affected by government competition is an important factor leading to the income inequality of urban and rural residents. This paper aims to study the influence mechanism of tax competition among local governments on urban-rural income gap from the perspective of government intervention and tries to explain the reasons for the gradual narrowing of urban-rural income disparity since 2010. Using a dynamic panel data of 30 provinces, this study reveals that tax competition has alleviated the urban-rural income gap, and this effect shows temporal extensibility and spatial correlation. It is more obvious in eastern and central China and consistent in different local tax categories. Although tax competition has narrowed the overall income gap, the wage income inequality has been exacerbated. In addition, local fiscal autonomy, urbanization, public service provision and industrial structure are the important influencing channels of the mechanism.

Equity Evaluation of Elderly-Care Institutions Based on Ga2SFCA: The Case Study of Jinan, China

With the deepening trend of aging, the issue of elderly care for the aging population has become a matter of concern for all sectors of society. Elderly-care services have become increasingly vital. Elderly-care institutions, a major component of the elderly-care system, are an important part of public facility resource provision; the spatial distribution of elderly-care institutions (ECIs) directly affects the equitable access of the elderly to public resources. To cope with the current pressure of population aging and limited resources for the elderly, this study aims to explore the relationship between population aging and the supply of ECIs in Jinan, China. Using the ArcGIS platform, this study analyzes the spatial allocation of ECIs, provides improved supply capacity modelling of ECIs based on the Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Approach (Ga2SFCA), and evaluates the equity of ECIs in terms of accessibility, supply–demand equity, and spatial equity. The results show that there are large differences in spatial accessibility between different levels of ECIs, there is a mismatch of supply and demand, the number and size of existing ECIs do not meet the needs of the elderly, and the distribution of resources in small ECIs is highly inequitable. These results can provide a guiding direction for optimizing ECIs and urban road network planning and can also provide new insights for urban planners to assess the equity of public service facilities.

POST-WAR RECOVERY OF UKRAINE: REFORMS AND PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES

The article analyses the main directions of formation of the State policy on post-war re­construction of Ukraine, which consists in timely implementation of reforms and creation of conditions for their effective implementation. The author analyses the proposals for priority reforms and strategic initiatives reflected in the action plan for post-war recovery and develop­ment of Ukraine. It is established that the Recovery Plan in the field of European integration and public administration reform are cross-cutting, as they serve as the foundation and contrib­ute to the further promotion and implementation of all reforms in the country. It is established that among the problems that arise today within the framework of the European integration process are the following: policy development system - the lack of a legal framework that would regulate the entire process of policy analysis and development, and a prescribed strategy for its development. It is determined that the main aspects of public admin­istration reform should be the creation of a modern model of public authority to help ensure state security and law and order, territorial development in accordance with the principles of EU regional policy and the development of sectoral management mechanisms in accordance with the European principle of freedom, management of public affairs and provision of pub­lic services. It is noted that in order to implement the anti-corruption policy, it is appropriate not only to strengthen the regulatory and legal component, but also to involve civil society institutions in combating corruption, since they are mediated by the purpose of mediation be­tween the population and the State. Among the functions that civil society should perform in anti-corruption activities are: control of access to information, its truthfulness and openness, protection of the rights of certain social groups, and active interference in the activities of state bodies to stop corruption.