Policy Reform Research Articles

Examining the Smart-Prepaid Metering Systems in Ghana: Implications for Policy Reform

This study examined Smart-Prepaid Metering System deployed by ECG and NEDCo from the technical point of view. The analysis revealed that smart meters are far advantageous compared to traditional postpaid meters that are error prone- reading errors, generate a lot of system losses, and can be bypassed by power theft. The high losses that utility companies make because of non- payment of bills could be reduced to the barest minimum. The resistance to smart-prepaid meter adoption is due to the high bills consumers are experiencing. The rising bills were caused by the use of energy consuming appliances like electric stove, dryers, washers coupled with rise in tariff. The study recommends mass education using various fora like community engagement and electronic media to teach consumers the added values of the new meters and how to use them efficiently. Also, these meters should installed at all government institutions and private industries that have been persistently defaulting in bill payment.

From local networks to national reform? Programmatic groups in the regionalization of German health policy

AbstractBefore policy reform initiatives reach the agenda of national decision makers, such initiatives often start at a small‐scale, local level. The Programmatic Action Framework (PAF) emphasizes the importance of biographical connections to understand how a group of policy actors forms, and how it develops programs that may lead to decade‐long policy change. This article applies the PAF to study the emergence of a programmatic group behind initiatives on regionalization in German health policy through discourse analysis and expert interviews. The study contributes to understanding social networks behind policy programs and social‐psychological, partly informal drivers of policy change. The results show that many PAF conditions have already been met in the German health policy subsystem. We describe a network of policy actors with local and organizational drivers that has led to nationwide cooperation on regionalization.Related ArticlesCaliskan, Cantay. 2020. “The Influence of Elite Networks on Green Policy Making.” Politics & Policy 48(6): 1104–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12382.Petridou, Evangelia, Per Becker, and Jörgen Sparf. “Policy Entrepreneurs in Public Administration: A Social Network Analysis.” Politics & Policy 49(2): 414–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12400.Svallfors, Stefan, Erica Falkenström, Corrie Hammar, and Anna T. Höglund. 2022. “Networked Reports: Commissioning and Production of Expert Reports on Swedish Health Care Governance.” Politics & Policy 50(3): 580–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12462.

Tackling Corruption in the Public Sector: Innovative Approaches and Policy Reforms

Corruption in the public sector remains a significant challenge that undermines governance, economic growth, and public trust. This paper examines innovative approaches and policy reforms aimed at addressing corruption in public institutions. By exploring case studies from various countries, the research identifies successful strategies that incorporate technology, transparency, and accountability. Digital solutions such as blockchain, e-governance systems, and data analytics have emerged as effective tools in reducing corrupt practices by improving transparency in public procurement, financial transactions, and service delivery. Additionally, the paper highlights the importance of fostering a culture of integrity within public institutions through ethical leadership, whistleblower protections, and comprehensive legal frameworks. Policy reforms, including the implementation of anti-corruption agencies, stronger regulatory oversight, and international cooperation, are also discussed as essential components in the fight against corruption. The findings suggest that a multi-faceted approach combining technological innovations, institutional reforms, and public participation is critical to curbing corruption in the public sector. This study contributes to the broader discourse on governance and offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to implement effective anti-corruption measures.

Key stakeholders’ perspectives of illicit drug use and associated harms in the Northern Territory of Australia

BackgroundIn the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, there are significant evidence gaps about illicit drug use and harms, despite having established monitoring and reporting systems. This paper reports on illicit drug use, associated harms, contributing factors, service needs and priorities in the NT from the perspective and experiences of key stakeholders engaged in providing services for, or advocating on behalf of, people who use illicit drugs in the NT.MethodsFace-to-face and online qualitative interviews were conducted with stakeholders across urban and remote locations in the NT. Key stakeholders were service providers, including acute and primary care clinicians, representatives of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations, lived experience advocates, peak body representatives and public health executives. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.ResultsFour researchers interviewed 21 participants across urban (62%), and remote areas (38%) of the NT. Themes identified were: (1) Illicit drug use and harms are diverse and distinct; (2) Client support needs are complex and influenced by co-morbidities, socio-demographic and cultural factors; (3) Priority population sub-groups need targeted strategies; (4) Local service strengths can be further developed and enhanced; (5) Local services need better resourcing; (6) Invest in progressive legislative and policy reforms; and (7) Improve routine monitoring and evaluation.ConclusionsKey stakeholders described illicit drug use, harms and contributing factors, which provided insights into the local challenges. Participants emphasised that clients have complex care needs, and further investment into targeted strategies are required to improve service engagement with priority groups. Service needs included greater understanding the role of dual diagnosis and its implementation and enhancing integrated and collaborative care in both primary health and acute care contexts. The voices of people with lived experience captured in this paper must inform local strategy and policy development relating to illicit drug use, in alignment with national strategy.

A Dynamic Analysis of Sustainable Economic Growth and FDI Inflow in Saudi Arabia Using ARDL Approach and VECM Technique

This study investigates the relationship between sustainable economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia from 1980 to 2023. The ARDL approach and VECM technique are employed to analyze the short-run and long-run dynamics. The short-run results show mixed effects. Sustainable economic growth has a positive impact on current and one-period lagged FDI but a negative impact on the two periods lagged. Trade openness and infrastructure negatively affect FDI in the short run. Interestingly, oil rents and real economic growth also have negative short-run impacts on FDI, but these effects become positive with a longer lag. Long-run analysis reveals a negative relationship between trade openness, infrastructure, and oil rents with FDI, suggesting a potential crowding-out effect. Trade openness has a positive long-run impact on most variables, including sustainable growth, FDI, real growth, and CO2 emissions. Oil rents also have a positive long-run impact on these variables. This study finds six bidirectional causal relationships in the short run, primarily between trade openness, infrastructure, oil rents, and FDI. Unidirectional causality runs from oil rents, trade openness, exchange rate, sustainable growth, and real growth to FDI and infrastructure. Additionally, CO2 emissions cause FDI, and trade openness causes sustainable growth. While sustainable economic growth benefits FDI in the long run, short-term policies regarding trade openness and infrastructure require reevaluation. Oil revenue and real economic growth may initially deter FDI, but this reverses in the long term. To attract sustainable FDI, policymakers should focus on long-term economic growth strategies and consider reforms in trade and infrastructure policies. A comprehensive FDI strategy that moves beyond oil dependence and leverages trade openness is crucial to long-term economic diversification.

Policy amnesia and the promise of housing cooperatives: Finnish housing cooperativism from 1920 to 2020

Finland seems to suffer from a kind of ‘policy amnesia’ when it comes to the topic of housing cooperatives. Tracing back from 1920 to 2020, this article analyses waves of experimentation and political debate with housing cooperativism across both housing production and consumption. Supplementing a document analysis with expert interviews, it investigates which cooperatively-organized modes of housing provision were able to institutionalize in the Finnish housing system, when, and why this did (or did not) happen, and what roles they have played in the broader housing regime. It argues that, whilst building cooperatives grew into large and powerful actors in the Finnish housing system, cooperative tenure has never managed to expand beyond a niche mode of housing provision. This article investigates why, and suggests three interrelated factors: the relationship between housing cooperatives and Finland’s ideologically fragmented cooperative movement, the pragmatic and piecemeal reform of Finnish housing policy and politics, and the co-optation and ‘companization’ of cooperative identity.

Digital Transformation for Educational Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Digital transformation holds significant promise for revolutionizing education in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines the challenges of digital transformation in education in the SSA region. We observed that the challenges are multifaced, including infrastructure deficits, access and equity barriers, digital literacy gaps, financial constraints, policy challenges, and regulatory barriers. To overcome these challenges, the paper offers some recommendations that can help the SSA countries to unlock the transformative power of digital technologies to advance education, empower learners, and build a brighter future. Amongst other, the paper suggests that stakeholders must adopt an integrated approach to infrastructure development, promote equitable access and inclusion, invest in capacity building and skills development, localize educational content, mobilize financial resources, enact policy and regulatory reforms, and foster collaborative partnerships.

Breaking All the Rules: Information Technology Procurement in the Government of Canada

AbstractThe Government of Canada has recently faced intense parliamentary and public scrutiny of the role played by private contractors in its information technology (IT) projects, most notably in the case of the ArriveCAN application. With these ongoing investigations as its backdrop, this article analyzes patterns in federal government IT procurement between 2017 and 2022, drawing on a comprehensive analysis of the federal contracting open dataset. We reveal that the federal government betrays accepted best practice in modern government IT procurement on several key dimensions, including on contract values and lengths; on the diversity of suppliers; on the source of IT expertise; and in the management of intellectual property. We argue that the Canadian approach to IT procurement is an historically overlooked but crucial driver of its failing digital reform efforts. We conclude by turning to IT procurement policy reforms gaining traction outside Canada that may help the Government of Canada improve how it buys and deploys IT going forward—a task we argue is essential if the government wants to avoid future IT contracting scandals and deliver on its long‐standing promise of digital era modernization.

Evaluating the Sustainability of Incentive-based Conservation: A Case Study of the Taungya System in the Mount Elgon Conservation Area, Uganda

This study evaluates the sustainability of the Taungya system, an incentive-based conservation approach implemented in the Mount Elgon Conservation Area, Uganda. The system integrates reforestation with agricultural practices, aiming to balance biodiversity conservation and local community livelihoods. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data from structured surveys of 240 program participants were analyzed using SPSS, while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative insights from key informant interviews. The findings show a 68% increase in vegetation cover, demonstrating the system’s positive environmental impact. However, socio-economic benefits were uneven, with 86% of participants both consuming and selling crops, yet 93% reported that the benefits were insufficient to sustain them year-round. Key challenges included insecure land tenure, limited land size, and restrictions on agricultural practices like pruning and spraying. Despite these obstacles, the Taungya system fostered reforestation and community livelihoods, though unresolved land disputes and wildlife interactions contributed to negative perceptions of conservation efforts. These findings highlight important considerations for improving incentive-based conservation models, including the need for policy reforms that secure land tenure, expand land allocations, and support sustainable agricultural practices. The broader implications suggest that similar models in tropical regions can benefit from incorporating local needs into conservation goals to ensure long-term success.

Legal Implementation of Domestic Violence: A Case Study of Military Justice and Social Issues in Ambon, Indonesia

Law enforcement of domestic violence (DV) cases involving members of the military in Indonesia presents unique and complex challenges, particularly as it involves the overlap between general criminal law and military criminal law. This study analyses the relevant legal foundations, namely the Military Criminal Code (KUHPM) and Law No. 23/2004 on the Elimination of Domestic Violence (PKDRT Law), in the context of handling domestic violence cases committed by members of the military. Using a case study method and interviews with victim-witnesses, this research reveals that the application of the law against domestic violence in the military often faces obstacles due to the military hierarchy and strict corps values. The research findings suggest the need for stronger integration between military and civilian legal frameworks, as well as policy reforms in the procedures for handling domestic violence cases in the military to ensure fairer and more transparent justice. In addition, the study also proposes the establishment of a special unit to handle domestic violence in the military, improved gender-sensitive training, and stricter implementation of a "Zero Tolerance" policy to prevent and effectively handle domestic violence cases. These reforms are expected to strengthen military integrity and discipline and protect the rights of victims of domestic violence in Indonesia.

Balancing act: Examining the trade‐offs between regional convergence and economic growth in China's province managing county reform

AbstractThe study examines the relationship between regional convergence, economic growth and government hierarchies, with a specific focus on the province managing county (PMC) reform policy in China. The motivation for this research stems from the observation that a substantial portion of the increased inequality in China is attributable to disparities at the county level. This underscores the necessity for policies that address regional inequalities at the county level while simultaneously promoting sustained economic growth. We employ a time‐varying quasi‐natural experiment to explore how this reform has influenced regional convergence and economic growth within the sample period. The outcomes reveal that the PMC reform had a detrimental impact on regional convergence, hindering it by an average of 2.6%, while economic growth received a modest increase of 0.36%. The study also reveals notable heterogeneity in the effects of the reform, contracted disparities in western region, alongside exhibiting widened disparities and higher growth in eastern & central region. The study also investigates the underlying mechanisms, finding that expenditures on basic provisions reduced, while county revenue and investment expenditures increased following the policy change. It proposes that the increased investment in capital expenditures stimulated economic growth but came at the cost of hindering regional convergence.

A review of Indonesia's JETP through the dynamics of its policy regime

AbstractDuring its 2022 G20 presidency, Indonesia committed to reducing carbon emissions through the Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). In addition to other policies, the Partnership is designed to drive the country's broader energy transition and net‐zero aspirations for decades to come. In addition to technical challenges, the Partnership is expected to face social and political resistance. Considering its importance for Indonesia's sustainable development and gaining support from influential stakeholders, this paper examines the JETP through the lens of a policy regime framework, drawing on insights from the country's multi‐decade fossil fuel subsidy reforms (FFSR) – a comparable effort to drive significant changes in energy use. It highlights the critical role of navigating political, social, and regulatory realities that have contributed to the successes or failures of policy reforms. The policy appraisal suggests the need for significant reconsideration of its broader policy‐regime context, specifically political, social, and regulatory factors, to ensure the successful implementation of the JETP and Indonesia's energy transition in general. Furthermore, the paper offers relevant policy recommendations to assist advocates and administrations supporting the Partnership in broadening its appeal beyond environmental concerns to secure stronger social and political backing.

Dynamic Pricing and Energy Management of Virtual Power Plant Based on Source-Charge Uncertainty

With the intermittent, random and volatile distributed renewable energy mass influx into the grid and power market, the power system will face greater challenges. As a small energy autonomous system that integrates distributed generation, energy storage and load, virtual power plant connects the power market and end users, and it is also an important subject of power market reform. Its operating efficiency directly determines the effectiveness of market reform. However, virtual power plant faces the market risk of double uncertainty of internal renewable energy output and load demand during operation, so it needs to optimize the market behavior to protect its own interests. Therefore, the paper takes virtual power plant as the research object, and discusses the dynamic pricing strategy of virtual power plant considering the double uncertainty of source and charge and real-time market linkage from the aspects of theoretical analysis, modeling construction and simulation analysis, to provide reference for decision pricing of virtual power plant and formulation of electricity market reform policy.

From ‘Born’ Bilinguals to Monolinguals: Understanding Korean‐Chinese Bilingual Family Language Policy in China

ABSTRACTIn recent years, China has implemented a national language policy promoting the use of Putonghua (Standard Chinese) in ethnic minority schools. This study investigates how mesolevel institutions (i.e., schools) have responded to this macro‐level national language policy change, and how the institutional policy changes have affected Korean‐Chinese bilingual family language policies in Yanbian, China. Based on an analysis of the teaching and learning materials used in schools and data gathered through interviews with and observations of 16 Korean‐Chinese bilingual families, this study finds that schools have actively responded to macro‐level policy changes with organised, large‐scale language practice activities. As a result of factors such as educational pressure and broader societal ideologies, families have been pressured to align with the meso‐level language policy despite their desire to maintain their heritage language and culture. Consequently, it is likely that future generations of Korean‐Chinese individuals, who would previously have been ‘born’ bilinguals, may become monolinguals. This study contends that in countries with a unified language ideology and a dominant language, the impact of macro‐level policy reforms can restrict or promote micro‐level family language policies through the mediating influence of meso‐level institutions. Family language policy researchers may need to recognise that there is a one‐way, rather than two‐way, relationship between the aims of the state and the desires of families in such contexts.

Resisting practice to impact policy: A case for moving toward an ESL/bilingual teacher education initiative

While it is nationally recognized that there is a high need for teachers, particularly those of diverse backgrounds and with ESL/bilingual certifications, barriers to certification continue to exist for undocumented individuals. Within the state of New Jersey, these barriers mirror the national limitations. Although New Jersey has made efforts to address citizenship and reform policies, some barriers persist, hindering these candidates from making a positive impact on students' lives through a teaching career. This policy piece aims to shed light on the barriers to teacher certification faced by undocumented individuals and outlines measures taken by the Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) Department of Urban Education to address these challenges.

Neoliberalism in South African higher education language policy: A decolonial perspective

The global spread and hegemony of English as a medium of teaching, learning and research has come to be closely associated with neoliberalisation of higher education in the universities across the world, and has negatively impacted on epistemic issues, especially in Global South universities. No permanent solution has been found on challenges of English hegemony, particularly in African higher education. This article adds to the advancement of neoliberal discourse in higher education in South Africa by analysing neoliberal manifestations in its higher education language policy agenda. The article used desktop analysis to assess relevant literature on mainstream neoliberal ideologies and manifestations in the language policy reform post-apartheid. Drawing on relevant literature and through critical discourse analysis, it integrated evidence from the selected sources associated with mainstream neoliberal ideologies and then analysed the neoliberal manifestations in the language policy reforms pursued in South African post-apartheid context to bring out how the neoliberal actors in the higher education sector have reconfigured neoliberal principles. The decolonial perspective premised on concepts such as coloniality of being, power and knowledge was used to critique the neoliberal manifestations in South African higher education language policy directives. The paper presents the argument that universities in the country are deeply entrenched in linguistic hierarchisation which perpetuates epistemic injustices in teaching and learning. The African higher education should endeavour to underpin its language policies in indigenous knowledge systems to help harness the African content while existing in a global space where all knowledges should be regarded as equally relevant.Contribution: This article contributes to the emerging discourse of neoliberalism in higher education in the Global South and its impact on language policy formulation and implementation.

Fostering Inclusive and Effective Education: Insights from Bangladesh

The inaugural issue of the 50th volume of Teacher's World: Journal of Education and Research features a collection of eight scholarly articles that explore the challenges and opportunities within Bangladesh's education sector. These articles address various facets of education, such as the struggles of marginalized communities, digital learning, and pedagogical advancements. The thematic synthesis of these articles offers significant insights into the diverse dimensions of education, encompassing issues from the obstacles faced by marginalized groups to the impacts of digital learning and innovative teaching methods. Bangladesh confronts numerous challenges in promoting inclusive and practical education due to its diverse socio-economic landscape. Economic inequalities, gender disparities, infrastructure deficiencies, and technological gaps impede students' access to quality education. The analysis of the selected articles highlights that government initiatives aimed at equitable resource allocation and inclusive education can bridge existing gaps. Strengthening community engagement can address local educational needs, ensuring accessibility and tailored support. Additionally, innovative teaching methods, such as the flipped classroom model and experiential learning, can enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The role of public-private partnerships in mobilizing resources, expertise, and technology is crucial for improving educational infrastructure and quality. Collaborations between the government, private sector, and NGOs can create comprehensive solutions to educational challenges. Addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities requires a multifaceted approach involving policy reform, community engagement, innovative teaching methods, and strategic partnerships. By fostering inclusive and practical education, Bangladesh can pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future for its students. Furthermore, participation in global educational initiatives and networks can introduce new perspectives, resources, and best practices, enriching the local education system and fostering continuous improvement. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Res arch, 50(1): 1-5

Trends in child support receipt and regularity in the United States, 1996–2018

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined trends in child support receipt and regularity in the U.S. from 1996 to 2018, as well as whether inequality in these child support outcomes has grown by mothers' education, marital status, and race.BackgroundChild support from noncustodial fathers is an important income source for custodial mothers. Yet, many custodial mothers do not receive any child support or receive irregular payments. Demographic, economic, and policy changes over the past 20 years suggest custodial mothers' child support receipt, and especially regular receipt, may be declining, particularly among socioeconomically‐disadvantaged mothers.MethodUsing nationally‐representative data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this study describes trends in child support receipt and regularity among custodial mothers (N = 11,456). Regression models were used to examine maternal and household characteristics associated with child support receipt and regularity and to examine how gaps in child support receipt and regularity by maternal characteristics have changed over time.ResultsChild support receipt and regularity declined by nearly 30% between 1996 and 2018. Any receipt, and especially regular receipt, declined by a larger margin for less‐educated and never married mothers relative to higher‐educated and married mothers, respectively.ConclusionGrowing gaps in child support receipt and regularity by mothers' education and marital status likely contribute to economic inequality, highlighting the need for reforms in child support policy and the social safety net.

Behavioural patterns and dangers: a mixed-methods exploration of simultaneous polysubstance use and intervention strategies among Swiss adolescents.

Recent trends in Switzerland indicate a concerning rise in simultaneous polysubstance use among adolescents, a practice marked by the concurrent or sequential consumption of multiple psychoactive substances, notably alcohol and cannabis, alongside prescription medications (e.g. benzodiazepines) and illicit drugs, resulting in dozens of fatal outcomes. However, data on simultaneous polysubstance use and evidence-based approaches to effective prevention is lacking. The study aimed to explore and gain insights into use patterns, use settings, use motives, harm-reduction strategies, concerns associated with substance use, and support and counselling services from the point of view of adolescents practicing simultaneous polysubstance use in Switzerland. An exploratory study was conducted via an online survey (n = 116) and two focus group discussions with affected Swiss adolescents aged 14 to 20. A mixed-methods approach was applied to gain insights and better understand the phenomenon of simultaneous polysubstance use among Swiss adolescents. Quantitative survey data obtained between November 2021 and March 2023 by means of convenience sampling - organised by distributing flyers (in three national languages) among several project partners, on the internet, over social media and by word of mouth - was analysed descriptively, whereas qualitative survey data and focus group data were thematically explored. A concurrent nested design was employed, utilising quantitative findings as a core foundation for addressing research questions, while qualitative findings were instrumental in validating and providing contextual depth to the results. Our findings reveal a preference of the sample for combining alcohol with cannabis and/or other substances (e.g. benzodiazepines or hard drugs) in social settings, driven by diverse motives, including enhancement of experiences and partly maladaptive coping mechanisms leading to self-medication. Despite some awareness of the potential harms, there is a significant reliance on peer-shared strategies for harm reduction, highlighting a gap in formal support and counselling services, some of which are perceived by adolescents as lacking empathy and relevance. This study underscores the urgency of developing targeted, youth-centred interventions that resonate with the lived realities of adolescents, aiming not only to reduce substance use but also to address the broader psychosocial factors contributing to simultaneous polysubstance use. By shedding light on the complex dynamics of adolescent polysubstance use, our research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on effective prevention strategies, advocating for a holistic approach encompassing education, policy reform and community support to tackle this multifaceted public health challenge.

Fiscal Incidence of the Property Tax

We use data from Florida spanning a decade (2010–2019) to empirically revisit the topic of fiscal incidence, the difference between benefits received and taxes paid, as it applies to property taxation. We first estimate demand equations in order to calculate the Lindahl tax share, or price the median voter would be willing to pay for public goods. Our measure of fiscal incidence is the difference between the Lindahl tax share and the actual tax share. With the exception of police and fire expenditures, benefits tend to outweigh costs for those with higher incomes, a pattern we attribute to public goods being valued more by high-income residents who pay a modestly progressive property tax. Controlling for income, Hispanic and black residents have higher levels of fiscal incidence. We explore how policy reforms, including equitable property assessment, affects fiscal incidence.