Public Policy Support Research Articles

What makes a liberal feminist? Identifying predictors of heterosexual women and men's liberal feminist ideology

AbstractIn the wake of the #MeToo movement, liberal feminism has garnered the spotlight on equal rights for women. However, what factors contribute to men and women developing liberal feminist ideologies? This is important to understand as this ideology is predictive of support for political and social policies that are currently under debate in the United States. In this survey study (149 heterosexual men and 233 heterosexual women) we examined attitudinal and ideological variables that underlie liberal feminist ideology. The results of this study indicate that heterosexual men scored significantly lower on liberal feminist ideology and significantly higher on traditional attitudes toward women, hostile and benevolent sexism, gender‐specific justification, rape myths, and conservative political affiliation compared to heterosexual women. Furthermore, traditional attitudes toward women, hostile and benevolent sexism, gender‐specific justification, rape myths, political leanings, and gender accounted for almost 70% of the variance in liberal feminist ideology. Participant gender did not moderate the regression analyses, suggesting that men and women are influenced similarly in determining what attitudes predict liberal feminist ideologies. Implications for support for public policy are addressed.

Examining the effects of gasoline prices on public support for climate policies

Examining the effects of gasoline prices on public support for climate policies

Understanding Public Support for Policies Aimed at Gender Parity in Politics: A Cross-National Experimental Study

Abstract Across the globe, women are underrepresented in elected politics. The study's case countries of Australia (ranked 33), Canada (61) and the United States (66) rank poorly for women's political representation. Drawing on role strain and gender-mainstreaming theories and applying large-scale survey experiments, we examine public opinion on non-quota mechanisms to bolster women's political participation. The experimental design manipulates the politician's gender and level of government (federal/local) before asking about non-quota supports to help the politician. We find public support for policies aimed at lessening work–family role strain is higher for a woman politician; these include a pay raise, childcare subsidies and housework allowances. This support is amplified among women who are presented with a woman politician in our experiment, providing evidence of a gender-affinity effect. The study's findings contribute to scholarship on gender equality and point to gender-mainstreaming mechanisms to help mitigate the gender gap in politics.

Public support for more stringent vaccine policies increases with vaccine effectiveness

Under what conditions do citizens support coercive public policies? Although recent research suggests that people prefer policies that preserve freedom of choice, such as behavioural nudges, many citizens accepted stringent policy interventions like fines and mandates to promote vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic—a pattern that may be linked to the unusually high effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. We conducted a large online survey experiment (N = 42,417) in the Group of Seven (G-7) countries investigating the relationship between a policy’s effectiveness and public support for stringent policies. Our results indicate that public support for stringent vaccination policies increases as vaccine effectiveness increases, but at a modest scale. This relationship flattens at higher levels of vaccine effectiveness. These results suggest that intervention effectiveness can be a significant predictor of support for coercive policies but only up to some threshold of effectiveness.

Public support for smoke-free private indoor and public outdoor areas in the Netherlands: A trend analysis from 2018-2022.

In addition to smoke-free policies in indoor public and workplaces, governments increasingly implement smoke-free policies at beaches, in parks, playgrounds and private cars ('novel smoke-free policies'). An important element in the implementation of such policies is public support. In the context of the ambition of the Netherlands to reach a smoke-free generation by 2040, we investigated temporal changes in public support for novel smoke-free policies. We analyzed annual cross-sectional questionnaires in a representative sample of the Dutch population from 2018 to 2022. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to model public support for each smoke-free policy area as a function of time (calendar year), smoking status, gender, and socioeconomic status. Interaction terms were added for time with smoking status and with socioeconomic status. A total of 5582 participant responses were included. Between 2018 and 2022, support increased most for smoke-free policies regarding train platforms (+16%), theme parks (+12%), beaches (+10%), and terraces (+10%). In 2022, average support was higher than 65% for all categories of smoke-free places and highest for private cars with children (91%). Regression analyses indicated significant increases in support over time within each category of smoke-free places (adjusted odds ratio, AOR between 1.09 and 1.17 per year), except smoke-free private cars with children (AOR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.89-1.05). Regardless of smoking status, support was high for places where children often go. Support for novel smoke-free places in the Netherlands is high and increasing, in particular for places frequented by children. This indicates the potential to implement such measures in the Netherlands.

American Perceptions and Attitudes about Domestic Climate Migrants and Migration

Abstract Domestic climate migration is likely to increase in the future, but we know little about public perceptions and attitudes about climate migrants and migration. Understanding how perceptions and attitudes are formed is a critical task in assessing public support for assistance policies and developing effective messaging campaigns. In this paper, we aim to better understand how the U.S. public perceives domestic climate migrants. We use novel survey data to identify the relationship between climate change risk perceptions and awareness of “climate migrants,” belief that domestic climate migration is currently happening in the United States, perceived voluntariness of domestic climate migrant relocation, and support for the development of assistance programs for domestic climate migrants. We utilize a large, nationally representative panel of U.S. adults (N = 4074) collected over three waves in 2022. We find that climate change risk perceptions and perceptions of whether migration is voluntary are key drivers of perceptions and attitudes toward domestic climate migrants. We provide key suggestions to policy makers and decision-makers to improve outcomes for host and migrant communities. Significance Statement This study illuminates factors that influence the how the public forms perceptions and attitudes about domestic climate migrants in the United States. For the first time, we offer insight into the drivers of public opinion toward domestic climate migrants and migration. Our results indicate that the various perceptions of climate migrants are largely driven by preexisting climate change risk perceptions and respondent characteristics. Our findings create a new connection with the existing literature on climate change risk perceptions and offer an opportunity for decision-makers and policy makers to create effective messaging campaigns on topics related to domestic climate migration in the United States.

Средства массовой информации и технологии влияния на электоральное поведение граждан

The issue of the instrumental use of state media to secure public support for government policies remains relevant for Russia. The article analyzes the activities of the online version of the state publication Rossiyskaya Gazeta in covering the topic of voting on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, with the aim of identifying the main techniques used to influence citizens’ electoral behavior. The empirical basis of the study, conducted using content analysis, consists of 471 materials related to the topic of voting on constitutional amendments, published on the RG.RU website from June 1, 2020, to July 1, 2020. The research hypothesis assumed that state publications influence audiences toward conformity in electoral behavior by utilizing informational and normative influence techniques. Among the methods of informational influence, the study identified adherence to the official agenda, the predominant use of informational genres to cover events, and fragmented presentation of information. Normative influence, according to the results, was realized by Rossiyskaya Gazeta through the selection of speakers, the spiral of silence, and stereotyping.

Citizen attitudes towards the environment and association with perceived threats to the countryside: Evidence from countries in five European biogeographic zones.

Citizens play a crucial role in attaining the United Nations 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs). There is growing awareness of the importance of understanding citizen perspectives on environmental issues, in relation to developing and maintaining sustainable lifestyles, and in addressing perceived threats to protection and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity. This analysis sought to understand people's attitudes towards environmental conservation, how they relate to perceived threats to the countryside, and to determine how attitudes and perceived threats vary demographically and between countries. A survey was administered to citizens (quota sampled on age, gender, education, and split between rural and urban residency) across five countries representative of differing biogeographical regions (N = 3,190): Czech Republic (n = 649) (Continental); Spain (Mediterranean) (n = 623); Sweden (Boreal) (n = 645); Switzerland (Alpine) (n = 641); United Kingdom (UK) (Atlantic) (n = 632). Attitudes were measured using the Environmental Attitudes Inventory (EAI-24) on 2 factors (utilization; preservation) and perceived threat to the countryside on 1-factor (15 items). Multigroup regression analysis indicated that preservationist attitudes were associated with greater perceived threat to the countryside in all five countries. Higher perceived threat was associated with activities linked to environmental degradation, socio-economic uncertainty and risks in agri-food supply chains in all countries. The "bad behaviour of visitors" was the greatest perceived threat in the Czech Republic, Switzerland and the UK, while "lack of young farmers taking over farming" was the greatest perceived threat in Spain and Sweden. To promote pro-environmental attitudes and obtain greater public support for policies and interventions targeting environmental conservation, communication about environmental threats is needed, together with threat mitigation measures. Raising peoples' awareness of threats to the countryside through targeted communications could promote pro-environment attitudes and potentially result in pro-environmental behaviours.

RELAÇÃO PROFESSOR-ALUNO E O DRAMA DA PSIQUIATRIZAÇÃO DOCENTE: UM ESTUDO A PARTIR DE DADOS DO MUNICÍPIO DE GOIÂNIA

ABSTRACT: This paper reports an investigation on the drama of teachers’ psychiatrization in the teacher-student relationship in the municipal educational system of Goiânia, Brazil, which is linked to the Project “Medicalization in Goiás: critical investigations in the history and contemporaneity of biopsychosocial practices and discourses”. The sick leave of elementary education teachers for medical reasons under code F index of the ICD-10 shows a framework of precariousness and alienation of work in capitalism, with impacts on the social relationship between teachers and students. We discuss the characteristics pointed out in this interaction that reveals the dialectical complexity of the drama of psychiatric illness and the material conditions of work experience. This result was based on a qualitative data analysis entered in summary cards, based on medical sick leave records made available by the Municipal Medical Board. Our reference was the Cultural-Historical Psychology as interpreted by Yves Clot's Clinic of Activity. We considered 35 cards - out of 109 summary cards reviewed that refer to the teacher-student relationship during the process of teacher’s psychiatrization. Subsequently, we set categories, labeled complaints and developments, which reveal common processes in the suffering of those teachers. We observed that the presence of occupational psychopathologies is associated with the workers’ activity precariousness and expropriation of reality. We consider that this disease is a socially constituted process at the heart of a dialectical social-historical framework, and we conclude our investigation with emphasis on collective intervention as a resource to face psychiatrization, as well as offering support for public policies that aim to face precariousness.

Optimization of the Credit Portfolio and Methodology for Evaluating a Public Support Policy: Case of the Support Fund for Large Ivorian Enterprises (FSGE)

Optimization of the Credit Portfolio and Methodology for Evaluating a Public Support Policy: Case of the Support Fund for Large Ivorian Enterprises (FSGE)

Formation of competitiveness of agricultural enterprises of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article presents a comprehensive study aimed at analyzing key trends and factors affecting the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in the Kyrgyz Republic, with an emphasis on their adaptation to changing economic conditions. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze internal and external factors that determine the efficiency and strategic development of the agricultural sector, as well as to formulate recommendations for the formation of supportive public policies. Research methods include an analytical review of statistical data, comparative analysis and synthesis, which made it possible to comprehensively consider the current state of the agricultural sector. Key findings identified significant challenges and problems facing the agricultural sector, including the need to adapt to economic changes and improve international competitiveness. Particular attention is paid to the importance of monitoring and analyzing both internal and external factors to ensure strategic planning and effective decision making. The findings highlight the need to develop and implement comprehensive public policies to support and stimulate sustainable development of the agricultural sector, suggesting specific directions for improving its economic stability and growth.

AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF WORK LIFE BALANCE IN DUAL CAREER COUPLES IN PAKISTAN: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

This study examine the issues of work life balance in dual career couples in the selected universities of Peshawar city of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. For this purpose, qualitative research protocol was used while interviewing 22 purposely selected dual career couples in the targeted locales. The selected participants were interviewed through Semi Structured Interviewed (SSI) in the participant setting, their narratives were documented, and thematic analysis were subsequently performed. The extracted themes were including role overload and role conflict, couples with children, spousal relations and interaction, and balancing work and family domain. The study reveals that dual career couples were experiencing role overload, role conflict and stressor while managing the multiple demands of occupational and family domain. Further, it was found that that the reported issues were heightened in the case of the couples with children. It is concluded from the study that dual career couples are experiencing significant role overload and stressor because of the lack of organizational support and absence of a viable public policy in the academic institutes of Pakistan. Keywords: Dual career couples, Family, Conflict, Role, Support

Clearing the air: Public health concerns and support for natural gas restrictions in the United States

Earlier policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. have often treated natural gas as a clean fuel due to its higher energy output per unit of carbon dioxide emitted compared to other fuels. However, recent local decarbonization initiatives seek to restrict residential uses of natural gas. Public support for such policies could be a key factor in determining whether local governments implement natural gas restrictions. It may also indicate the potential for state and federal governments to adopt similar measures. In this study, we conduct an online survey with 2623 U.S. adults to demonstrate how public support for natural gas restrictions varies based on policy framing. These framings include (1) household economic costs, (2) industry positions, (3) health impacts, (4) contribution to climate change, and (5) political support. Our results show that public support for policies to ban natural gas in new construction is significantly influenced by the health impact of these policies. This finding suggests that U.S. citizens are sensitive to non-economic health frames when evaluating a policy proposal to phase out natural gas use. Meanwhile, factors such as monthly energy costs, industry support, climate effects, and political backing show only a weak influence on public opinion regarding these policies.

The roles of big businesses and institutions in entrepreneurship: A cross-country panel analysis

This study aims to determine whether big business or institutions comprise a more significant entrepreneurship determinant. In addition, we have three subobjectives: We examine (1) how the relationship between big businesses and entrepreneurship changes according to the economic development stage; (2) if big businesses affect the two different entrepreneurship types, namely, opportunity- and necessity-driven entrepreneurship, differently; and (3) which institutional factors are effective for these two different entrepreneurship types. To this end, we compare the effects of big businesses and institutions on entrepreneurship among 33 countries covering lower-middle-, upper-middle-, and high-income countries during the 2001–2015 period. Among the various determinants of entrepreneurship, we focus on two key factors that affect entrepreneurship, namely, big businesses and institutions while controlling for the demand- and supply-side factors that influence entrepreneurship. This study conducts fixed-effect estimations. We find that the relationship among entrepreneurship, big businesses, and economic development is “N-shaped.” In particular, there is a positive relationship between big businesses and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship in high-income countries. Moreover, among the various institutional factors, only supportive public policies toward new firms and positive social perceptions toward entrepreneurs are effective for opportunity-driven entrepreneurs, whereas none of the institutional factors are effective for necessity-driven entrepreneurs.

Application of Fuzzy Topsis for Prioritizing Barriers to Circular Economy Adoption in the Automotive Sector: A Study in an Emerging Country

Acknowledging the substantial economic, social, and environmental impacts of sustainability and circular economy (CE) practices, their imperative role in the automotive industry cannot be overstated. Despite this significance, there is a lack of studies addressing these critical themes within the automotive sector. This paper aims to bridge this gap by providing an examination of the barriers hindering the adoption of CE principles, with a specific focus on the Brazilian automotive industry. A survey, involving 41 experts comprising 21 academics specializing in sustainability and CE, 16 experienced managers, and 4 directors with substantial automotive industry expertise, was conducted. The study identified and evaluated 12 barriers to CE adoption in the automotive sector based on the experts’ assessment using Fuzzy TOPSIS. The study's findings underscore the scarcity of professionals with sufficient knowledge and expertise), the absence of supportive public policies, and the inadequate commitment from leadership as the top three priority barriers. The research recommends targeted actions for companies, policymakers, and universities to collaboratively contribute towards overcoming these identified barriers and fostering a sustainable and circular trajectory for the automotive industry.

The Experience of the “Muravyov System” in the Domestic Politics of Russia at the End of the 19th – Beginning of the 20th Centuries

The article examines the issue of the “Muravyov system” (the political course of the Governor- General of the North-Western region M.N. Muravyov-Vilensky, 1863–1865) and its infl uence on the internal policy of the Russian Empire in the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries. The author comes to the conclusion that the basic principles of Muravyov-Vilensky were later implemented at the all-Russian level. It was planned to combine anti-crisis repressive (administrative and police) measures with certain reforms. The reforms were intended to gain public support for government policy as only on that condition they could have the desired long-term effect. The policy of Muravyov-Vilensky was supported by the progressive bureaucracy, that developed the course of the Great Reforms of Emperor Alexander II, – N.A. Milyutin, Minister of Internal Affairs M.T. Loris-Melikov (1880–1881) and Prime Minister P.A. Stolypin (1906–1911). All of them also combined in their policy certain measures of revolutionary forces suppression with reform projects.

How modelling can better support public health policy making: the Lancet Commission on Strengthening the Use of Epidemiological Modelling of Emerging and Pandemic Infectious Diseases

How modelling can better support public health policy making: the Lancet Commission on Strengthening the Use of Epidemiological Modelling of Emerging and Pandemic Infectious Diseases

ეკონომიკური პოლიტიკის როლი „მწვანე ენერგეტიკაზე“ გადასვლის პროცესში

Energy plays an important role in the economic and social development of the world. Moreover, the history of economic and social development can be considered as the history of energy development (Li N..., 2021). After the Industrial Revolution, use of fossil fuel-based energy (coal, oil, and gas) greatly increased productivity. However, environmental pollution caused by these kinds of energies has gradually become a challenge of the modern world. Recent studies confirm that the consumption of fossil fuels causes negative effects on the environment (Wu MR..., 2018). In order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, in various international negotiations, including the Paris Agreement, the replacement of traditional fossil fuels with renewable - green energy resources, is considered. Including solar, wind, hydrogen, hydro energies and etc; which does not cause harmful effects on the environment. Also, the transition to green energy is considered a necessary condition for sustainable development. Since the 1980s, despite various global climate policies, carbon dioxide emission levels have been steadily increasing; Excluding the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (BP..., 2022). It is a significant fact that emission reduction obligations are voluntary and self-fulfilling, without any legal penalties (Ganda, 2019). Consequently, these policies have neither brought significant benefits to countries nor any punitive measures for their violations. Based on this, it is necessary to investigate the contributing factors at the local level and ensure an effective economic policy. To analyze this issue, this paper reviews economic theory, several market failures, namely: environmental and knowledge spilover "externalities” and practical ways to overcome these failures. Most of the policy instruments used to drive the green energy transition, such as regulations, subsidies and tax incentives, have been known from industrial policy. However, for the green transformation to be real and effective, the dose of government intervention needs to exceed the norms imposed by "traditional" industrial policy. Supportive public policies can encourage change by shifting profit opportunities from polluting investments to green investments. However, these changes always involve "losing" parties who will try to lobby their interests in government forces; This will create a risk for both political and economic stability. These interests need to be well studied and managed. However, given the complexity of the green transformation, it is unrealistic to expect that government policy alone will be able to achieve this. In addition to the involvement of the government, there is a need to develop a policy that will unite non-state forces as well. For example, environmental non-governmental organizations and consumer associations, as well as other forces operating in the economy, including firms, investors and households.

Factors and framing effects in support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom.

Achieving ambitious carbon reduction targets requires transformative change to society, with behaviour change playing an important role. Climate change mitigation ('net zero') policies are needed to accelerate and support such behaviour change. This study examined factors and framing effects in public support for net zero policies in the United Kingdom (UK), making use of a large probability sample (ntotal = 5,665) survey conducted in August 2021. It found that net zero policies are widely supported, with only taxes on red meat and dairy products being supported by less than half of the UK public. Climate worry and perceived fairness were the strongest and most consistent predictors of policy support for net zero policies. The results further suggest that support for net zero policies can be increased by emphasising the co-benefits of the policies, in particular where they are beneficial for health. However, the framing effects were very small. In contrast, public support for net zero policies is lower when potential lifestyle and financial costs are mentioned. This suggests that perceived fairness of the distribution of costs and lifestyle implications of policies are crucial for building and maintaining support for net zero.

Effects of communicating the rise of climate migration on public perceptions of climate change and migration

Climate change-induced migration is a rapidly increasing phenomenon estimated to affect millions of people in the coming decades. With increasing media coverage of climate migration, including within the United States, it is critical to understand how to effectively communicate about this issue. In two high-powered experiments of U.S. Democrats and Republicans (& leaners; Study 1: N = 1452; Study 2: N = 1873), we test the effects of fictional news coverage about domestic and international climate-induced migration on climate change and migration risk perceptions, warmth toward migrants, and policy support. We also tested whether including a personal story about a specific migrant alongside numerical trends could increase support for climate change mitigation and aiding potential migrants. Impacts on climate outcomes were minimal: in Study 1, those exposed to different message frames reported similar climate policy support and risk perception in Study 1, and, in Study 2, domestic (but not international) climate migration coverage slightly increased climate risk perceptions and marginally increased mitigation policy support compared to a no-message baseline. In both studies, international migration was perceived as riskier to Americans than domestic migration, and coverage of international migration heighted this perceived risk. Coverage of domestic climate migration, on the other hand, did not boost risk perceptions of that type of migration. Furthermore, coverage of international climate migration led to greater support for adaptation infrastructure to help potential migrants stay home but did not affect support for policies to help migration. Contrary to expectations, the inclusion of personal stories did not affect warmth toward migrants in either study. Political affiliation dominated associations with all climate change and migration outcomes, likely obscuring potential framing effects. These results suggest that coverage about climate-induced migration may face challenges in shifting entrenched public opinion and policy support. Communicators should be aware of the limitations of using this type of coverage to promote constructive actions to address climate change and migration.