Equity Issues Research Articles

Troubled waters? The disproportionate impact of lead water pollution: Evidence from three American communities

<p>Although water is considered essential to life and an important natural resource, disadvantaged communities, such as low-income and minority communities, are disproportionately burdened by lead exposure in drinking water. In this paper, we highlight case studies that have received national press coverage as well as recent examples of community lead poisoning hazards that are still ongoing across various regions of the US. We show through these three case studies of Flint, Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Birmingham, Alabama, that the severity and frequency of this pervasive public health problem are highly concentrated in minority and low-income populations, and thus they bear the brunt of the socio-economic impacts. We identify the use of sensors to improve detection of hazardous materials and decrease inequities in drinking water contamination. To address water-related equity issues, we call for a sustainable community capacity approach that consists of shared governance between those who live in a community and stakeholders, such as businesses and health services, who have vested interests in it. We conclude by highlighting ways that a community could build collective social capital, safeguarding its environment from lead poisoning through health literacy education. Promoting water literacy is highly significant since water knowledge is crucial towards achieving water sustainability and equity.</p>

Lassoed boosting and linear prediction in the equities market

We consider a two-stage estimation method for linear regression. First, it uses the lasso in Tibshirani to screen variables and, second, re-estimates the coefficients using the least-squares boosting method in Friedman on every set of selected variables. Based on the large-scale simulation experiment in Hastie, Tibshirani, and Tibshirani, lassoed boosting performs as well as the relaxed lasso in Meinshausen and, under certain scenarios, can yield a sparser model. Applied to predicting equity returns, lassoed boosting gives the smallest mean-squared prediction error compared to several other methods.

The Impact and Reconstruction of Computational Thinking on Educational Models in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This paper explores the impact and reconstruction of computational thinking on educational models in the era of artificial intelligence. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, the importance of computational thinking in the field of education is becoming increasingly prominent. The paper first introduces the concept of computational thinking and its significance in the era of artificial intelligence, then discusses the evolution of traditional educational models in the context of artificial intelligence and the need for adaptation. It further analyzes the influence of computational thinking on education, including integrating computational thinking into the curriculum, developing problem-solving skills, and fostering creativity and innovation. Lastly, strategies for restructuring educational models are proposed, such as promoting technology-driven learning, encouraging collaborative and project-based learning, and enhancing teacher training and professional development. The paper also discusses challenges and considerations, such as addressing equity and access issues and ensuring ethical use of artificial intelligence in education. Finally, future prospects and recommendations are provided, emphasizing leveraging computational thinking for enhanced educational outcomes and advocating for a holistic approach to educational transformation.

Usability Testing of a Web Tool for Dissemination and Implementation Science Models

Dissemination and Implementation science is dedicated to increasing the speed of evidence-based research translated into practice as guided by one or multiple D&I theories, models, and frameworks. The Dissemination and Implementation Models in Health Research and Practice web tool guides users on how to plan, select, combine, adapt, use, and assess theories, models, and frameworks. This paper describes usability testing to update the web tool. Iterative user testing was conducted with implementation science research and clinical participants to facilitate updates and optimize the functionality of the tool. A multi-step protocol involved quantitative and qualitative data collection including a survey, interviews, and a usability testing session. Data from the pre-testing surveys were summarized as frequencies. Data from the usability testing sessions were analyzed using a hybrid adapted deductive rapid matrix qualitative analysis. Data from the interviews were analyzed by deductive a priori coding. Fifteen interviewees represented different research and clinical groups and levels of expertise utilizing D&I TMFs. Participants were purposively selected to represent a range of disciplines and D&I expertise, all invited via one-time email. The 847 total interview comments were reduced by similarity to 259 comments, and 142 were feasible changes fitting the priorities of the web tool. Changes to content, format, and functionality are described in this paper. The iterative usability testing elicited improvements to the web tool including adding more examples, definitions, visuals, and tutorials and simplifying the written content. The web tool remains flexible for additions concerning health equity, de-implementation, and other issues.

Funding the pandemic response for Indigenous Peoples: an equity-based analysis of COVID-19 using a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) Indigenous lens tool

ABSTRACT This study examines the allocation of COVID-19 funding for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States during the pandemic’s first wave. Indigenous communities, already facing health disparities, systemic discrimination, and historical forces of colonisation, found themselves further vulnerable to the virus. Analysing the funding policies of these countries, we employed a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool and an Indigenous Lens Tool supplement to evaluate potential impacts. Our results identify three major funding equity issues: unique health and service needs, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to community and culturally safe health services. Despite efforts for equitable funding, a lack of meaningful consultation led to shortcomings, as seen in Canada’s state of emergency declaration and legal disputes in the United States. New Zealand stood out for integrating Māori perspectives, showcasing the importance of consultation. The study calls for a reconciliation-minded path, aligning with Truth and Reconciliation principles, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and evolving government support. The paper concludes that co-creating equitable funding policies grounded in Indigenous knowledge requires partnership, meaningful consultation, and organisational cultural humility. Even in emergencies, these measures ensure responsiveness and respect for Indigenous self-determination.

Working capital balances and financial policy

A firm's working-capital account balances demonstrate substantial connections with its financial policy. Receivables and inventories are associated with lower asset volatility and higher future cash flow, and correlate with increased leverage. Conversely, payables show a positive association with shareholder return volatility and a negative correlation with future cash flow and are linked to decreased debt levels. In dynamic panel regressions estimated with system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), a one standard-deviation increase in payables (receivables) is associated with a 0.42 (0.66) standard-deviation decrease (increase) in leverage. Furthermore, higher levels of inventories and receivables are linked with higher firm credit ratings, along with a preference for debt financing over equity issuance, while increased payables are linked with lower credit ratings and a tendency to favor equity financing over debt financing. The QuickPay regulatory shock, expediting payments and reducing receivables' volume and quality, diminished their collateral role and lowered debt sensitivity to receivables.

Are Pre-clerkship Remediation, Grading, and Reporting Practices Equitable in the U.S.? A National Survey

Phenomenon: With the proliferation of pass/fail grading practices in the pre-clerkship phase of undergraduate medical education, questions arise about the transparency and variability of grading and grade reporting practices, raising issues of equity in assessment, particularly regarding residency matching. The purpose of this survey was to determine the remediation and academic performance reporting practices of United States (U.S.) allopathic medical schools in the pre-clerkship phase of their curricula. Approach: After an extensive literature search and feedback from curriculum deans and learning experts, we developed a survey that we sent in the Spring of 2022 to pre-clerkship curriculum officials at all 154 accredited U.S. allopathic medical schools. It addressed curriculum content and structure; pre-clerkship remediation (e.g., course retakes) and reporting (e.g., permanency of transcript notation) practices; documentation and reporting of nonacademic competencies; and participant opinions and recommendations regarding reporting, transparency, and equity. We generated descriptive statistics and did manifest coding of open-ended responses. Findings: We had a response rate of 40% (62/155), with over 71% indicating mainly organ systems-based curricula. Depending on the situation, there were a wide range of remediation approaches for single- and multiple-course failures, including tutoring or learning support, re-exams, and referrals to a promotion board. Professionalism concerns were a top priority to report to residency directors, with significant variability in respondent opinions and practices in reporting remedial activities. Respondents were concerned about equity, both in terms of flexible grading practices and transparency of reporting practices. Insights: The variability in reporting practices across schools, while allowing holistic and individualized approaches to academic support, also creates potential inequities. More work is needed to understand how different reporting practices across institutions may disadvantage marginalized and minoritized student groups at different points in their preparation.

Training Architects as Activists: Social Sustainably in the Studio

This paper discusses the application of social sustainability to architecture through a second-year graduate architecture studio focused on urban buildings. I designed the Urban Design Studio in such a way that future faculty could choose assignments between five socially sustainable equity issues: housing, food insecurity, transportation equity, access to opportunities, and environmental health. This supports the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) graduate curriculum by focusing on sustainable practices, including activism in architecture. Using the built environment as a platform, the students learn to promote equity, especially in the urban environment. The students research on equity topics, adopt a position on a selected issue, and begin to develop a site, program, and building form around their issue. Architecture has a unique ability to influence social sustainability through equity, especially if we shift our design practices to support disenfranchised populations. Buildings can provide more than social markers. They can create locations that empower local communities. The question is, how do we teach a process that instills this as foundational to quality design? My studio’s process not only establishes a foundational knowledge of building within an urban context, but also provides a firm grounding of activism as central to architectural practice.

Throughput rates and time to completion of health science students of rural origin in South Africa

Background. There is a shortage of qualified healthcare workers in South Africa (SA), as well as a maldistribution between urban and rural areas. Research has shown that health professionals of rural origin are more likely to live and work in rural areas than their urban colleagues. It has been recommended that student selection policies of higher education institutions should prioritise applicants from rural and remote areas to address the urban-rural maldistribution of graduates and to redress historical equity issues. However, university students in SA have high attrition and low graduation rates. The Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) recruits and supports rural-origin health science students, who completed Grade 12 at a rural school, to address staff shortages in rural areas. Objectives. To report on the throughput rates (percentage of cohort who graduate) and time to completion (number of years taken to graduate) of eight cohorts of UYDF-supported rural-origin health science students. Methods. A total of 388 student records from the 2008 - 2015 cohorts, covering 17 different health science disciplines, were analysed, and throughput rates and time to completion for the different cohorts and health science disciplines were calculated. Throughput rates and time to completion were also calculated for 3-year, 4-year and 6-year qualifications. Results. Throughput for the 2008 - 2015 cohorts ranged between 82% (2010 cohort) and 100% (2009 cohort). For 3-year qualifications, five cohorts had 100% throughput and one cohort 50% throughput. For 4-year qualifications, throughput ranged from 75% (2010 cohort) to 100% (2009 cohort). For medical students (6-year qualification), throughput ranged from a low of 81% (2014 cohort) to 100% in two cohorts (2008 and 2009). More female students (n=29) were excluded than male students (n=14). With regard to time to completion, over the eight cohorts 68% of students completed in the minimum time, 23% needed 1 additional year, 6% an additional 2 years, 2% an additional 3 years, and 1% an additional 4 years. For 4-year qualifications, 58% of students completed in the minimum time, 28% needed 1 additional year, 9% needed 2 additional years, 4% needed 3 additional years, and 1% needed an additional 4 years. Of medical students, 76% completed in the minimum time, 19% needed 1 additional year, and 98% had completed after 2 additional years. Discussion. The UYDF students studying for 3-year and 4-year qualifications exceeded the national throughput rates in seven of eight cohorts. UYDF medical students exceeded the national statistics in four cohorts, had similar throughputs in two cohorts, and had lower throughputs than the national statistics in two cohorts. Overall, 91% of UYDF students across the eight cohorts completed in the minimum time plus 1 additional year, exceeding national statistics. Conclusion. The relatively high throughput rates compared with the national statistics highlight the academic ability of rural-origin health science students and provide hope that national shortages of healthcare workers may be addressed if there is an investment in such students..

How could the Library and Information Studies curriculum better prepare graduates to address equity, diversity and inclusion issues in their workplace?

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practices in the library and information professions can be linked to the curriculum of the professional qualification, which plays an important role in preparing students for practice. The aim of this small, non-generalisable survey of recent graduates at one UK library school, a collaboration between two academic staff and two current and recent students, was to identify how the curriculum could better prepare graduates to address EDI issues in their workplace. Approaches for cultivating effective pedagogical strategies included the importance of recognising and exploring personal identity; group work and community building and embedding an EDI ethos, approach and method within the curriculum. Important gaps relating to the preparation of students for EDI practices that were noted included management and leadership; fostering learner positionality and addressing the broad scope of EDI work including all protected and other characteristics, alongside tensions between individual and structural approaches to change.

Relevance and ethical issues of diversity equity and inclusion programs, circa 2024-2025

A recent resolution with approximately 100 signatories entitled “Sunsetting All Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs” administered by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) sparked controversial debate within the field. Despite the AAD voting against the proposal to eliminate DEI initiatives, many underrepresented medical groups wondered how to move forward and create safe spaces for everyone. We discuss the relevance of DEI programs in today's society and the ethical challenges that may arise. We conclude with actionable recommendations on how organizations can improve their current DEI strategies to ensure they are more inclusive and not perceived as discriminatory.

Navigating the Digital Frontier: A Comprehensive Examination of Romanian Public Administration Digitization and Its Perceptual Implications

Abstract As societies increasingly embrace digital transformations, public administration is confronted with the imperative to adapt and innovate in the face of evolving technological landscapes. This article delves into the multifaceted realm of digitization within public administration, focusing on the perceptual dimensions that shape the adoption and efficacy of digital solutions. By synthesizing empirical studies, case analyses, and theoretical frameworks, this research offers a comprehensive exploration of how digitization influences the perception of stakeholders, including citizens, public servants, and policymakers. The study investigates the impact of digitization on efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in public services, aiming to unravel the complexities of the interplay between technology and public administration. Special attention is given to the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics. Through a comparative analysis of digitization initiatives across diverse administrative contexts, the article seeks to identify best practices and lessons learned, providing insights into the factors that contribute to successful digital transitions. Furthermore, the research examines the societal and organizational factors influencing the perception of digitization in public administration, shedding light on issues of trust, privacy, and equity. By considering the perspectives of various stakeholders, this article aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the socio-political dynamics surrounding the digital transformation of public services. Ultimately, this article not only contributes to the academic discourse on public administration and technology but also provides practical insights for policymakers and public administrators seeking to navigate the digital frontier effectively. The findings presented herein serve as a roadmap for harnessing the full potential of digitization while mitigating challenges and fostering a positive perception of technological advancements in public administration.

A critical discourse analysis of NAEYC's developmentally appropriate practice texts: Shifting rhetoric and implications for advancing equity in family-school partnerships

ABSTRACT The most recent iteration of NAEYC’s key Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) texts (the 2020 Position Statement and the fourth edition of the DAP book) reflect a more robust stance on family educator-relationships and attention to issues of equity as reflected in linguistic shifts. This article analyses NAEYC’s rhetorical moves between the 2009 texts and the present versions, presenting a mixed-methods critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the changes in the texts drawing on critical theory, Doucet’s framework for anti-racist practice, discourse theory and critical linguistics. The findings reveal meaningful changes in the language and framing of family-educator relationships, highlighting a move towards more inclusive, reciprocal partnerships. And while the current editions of NAEYC’s key DAP texts show greater attention to cultural inclusivity and anti-bias approaches, we make a case to push for explicitly anti-racist reciprocal partnerships with families and communities within the DAP texts. We discuss the implications of these changes for policy and practice in early childhood education, as well as suggestions for future research in diverse cultural contexts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This analysis contributes to the ongoing conversation about equity and social justice in educational partnerships and practices.

Firm connection and equity return predictability – Graph-based machine learning methods

We develop a unified measure of firm linkage from popular linkage indicators in the literature via graph-based machine learning methods and investigate its asset pricing implication. Using all A-shares listed in the Chinese stock market from 2003 to 2022, we reveal a widespread momentum spillover in the cross section of stock returns based on our linkage measure. In particular, a long-short trading strategy for portfolios sorted by our measure generates significant risk-adjusted returns of 0.83% on a monthly basis. We show that our measure contains incremental information on firm fundamental connections relative to well-documented alternative measures, and its predictive ability can be rationalized by the investor inattention hypothesis. Our study contributes to the literature which explores economic linkages that generate lead-lag predictability and sheds new light on the interconnected nature of companies in an economy via advanced machine learning techniques.

Access to care for blood cancer: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant caregiver requirements.

e13515 Background: Caregiver requirements can be a major barrier to treatment access for many patients with cancer, especially those patients with blood cancer when alloHCT is a potential cure. This can be illustrated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT). Patients are generally required to have a caregiver to proceed with alloHCT, often for at least 100 days. However, as different family and social structures evolve, the availability of a caregiver may lead to more access barriers. The aim of this study was to learn more about caregiver requirements and perspectives on those requirements from social workers, patients, and caregivers. Methods: We conducted interviews and focus groups from May 2022-February 2023 with 50 stakeholders, including social workers (n = 22), patients (n = 12), and caregivers (n = 16) in the United States (U.S.). Focus groups and interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis by two independent reviewers. Results: All 22 social workers said their transplant center (TC) required a patient to have a caregiver to proceed to HCT; though requirements varied from 60 to 100 days post-HCT. One participant noted, “ I do have worries that patients aren't being referred who don't have caregivers and we just don't know about them and they're falling through the cracks.” Most patients and caregivers said their TC required a caregiver to proceed to alloHCT, but the length of time varied (from no requirement up to 180 days post-HCT). All patients who participated had a caregiver. Patients and caregivers had differing perspectives on the requirements, with some saying it was too short and they needed more time, and others saying it was too long and they could have used less time. Many said the amount of time a caregiver was needed depended on the patient’s recovery. All participants identified several solutions to help patients who did not have a caregiver; including a volunteer caregiver registry, having the patient stay in the hospital, using technology solutions (e.g., telehealth visits), changing/removing the requirements, having a shared caregiver in a community setting, having funding available for patients and caregivers, and/or home visits and checks. Conclusions: Patients with cancer face many barriers to treatment; for alloHCT and many other treatments, the need to have a caregiver is one of those barriers. This study found variation across TCs, suggesting a lack of evidence informing the requirements. These requirements can also lead to equity issues. This study was limited to patients who received an alloHCT; further research is needed to learn about the perspectives of patients who are unable to receive an alloHCT due to not having a caregiver available.

An overview of dynamic pricing toll roads in the United States: Pricing algorithms, operation strategies, equity concerns, and funding mechanism

Toll roads with fully dynamic pricing schemes could play a key role in addressing the economic and environmental tolls imposed by increasing congestion levels in major metropolitan areas. Transportation professionals usually argue that they could provide additional revenue streams to accelerate the delivery of much-needed highway projects and serve as a tool for travel demand management. However, the number of dynamic pricing toll roads only increased recently in the U.S., and their performance has not been empirically evaluated systematically. This study provides a comprehensive review of U.S. dynamic pricing toll roads. Pricing is reactive to demand, and additional travel demand management strategies such as incentives for high occupancy vehicles, clean vehicles, and transit are commonly included. Both conventional project delivery methods and private–public partnerships have been used for such projects. Financial statements from a few P3 dynamic toll road projects suggest they are taking full advantage of TIFIA loans and are performing well during their short history. Equity issues are commonly raised, and many projects address them specifically through subsidies to vulnerable groups or re-investment in the community. Further quantitative analyses are needed to test if dynamic toll roads are an efficient tool to address the financial, economic, and environmental challenges major metropolitan areas face.

Flavored Tobacco Sales Restrictions and Youth E-cigarette Behavior: Impact by Tobacco Retailer Density in Diverse Communities in California.

Factors that impact flavored tobacco sales restriction (flavor restrictions) effectiveness on youth e-cigarette behavior are unclear. Tobacco retailer density (retailer density) is a health equity issue with greater retailer density in high-minority, low-income areas. We examined the association between flavor restrictions and youth e-cigarette behavior by retailer density across diverse communities in the California Bay Area. We analyzed data from the California Healthy Kids Survey using a difference-in-differences (DID) strategy. We compared pre- and post-policy changes in e-cigarette access and use one-year post-implementation among high school students in the Bay Area with a flavor restriction (n = 20 832) versus without (n = 66 126). Separate analyses were conducted for students in cities with low and high retailer density, with a median cutoff of 3.3 tobacco retailers/square mile. Students with high retailer density were more likely to identify as a minority and have parents with lower education. Among students with low retailer density, flavor restrictions were associated with 24% lower odds in the pre- to post-policy increase in ease of access relative to unexposed students (DID = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.99). Among students with high retailer density, flavor restrictions were associated with 26% higher odds in ease of access (DID: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.56) and 57% higher odds of current use (DID = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.87). Flavor restrictions had positive impacts on youth e-cigarette access in low, but not high retailer density cities. From a health equity perspective, our results underscore how flavor restrictions may have uneven effects among vulnerable groups. In diverse communities in the California Bay Area, our results suggest a protective association between flavored tobacco sales restrictions and youth access to e-cigarettes in low, but not high tobacco retailer density cities one-year post-implementation. These results underscore how flavor restrictions may have uneven effects, and when implemented in high retailer density areas, may disproportionately place already vulnerable groups at heightened exposure to e-cigarette use and access. In high retailer density areas, additional tobacco control efforts may need to be included with flavor restriction implementation, such as increased education, youth prevention and cessation programs, policies to reduce tobacco retailer density, or stronger tobacco retailer enforcement or compliance monitoring.

Building more epistemically inclusive and environmentally equitable universities

Higher educational institutions tend to draw from mainstream approaches to environmentalism that reinforce race, class, and gender hierarchies around who constitutes “an environmentalist” and what activities constitute “environmentalism.” As a result, students of color and students from other marginalized backgrounds who often experience environmental degradation and catastrophe firsthand do not often see their experiences reflected in universities’ environmental programming, curricula, or research. Furthermore, faculty and staff who center issues of race, equity, power, and justice when addressing environmental topics tend to work in isolation from one another and their efforts are not well-coordinated. In this paper, we draw from the concept of “epistemic exclusion” (Settles et al. J Divers High Educ 14:493, 2021; J High Educ 93:31–55, 2022) to explain hidden biases that systematically devalue scholarship that does not fit mainstream parameters. We describe a research project focused on building more equity-centered environmental efforts at the University of California, Santa Cruz. We find that faculty and staff across divisions want to engage in more epistemically inclusive and equity-centered environmental work, but lack the institutional support and resources (e.g., knowledge, funding, time, incentives) to do so. Interestingly, only a few responses focused on the barriers and biases related to epistemic exclusion. Our findings suggest that more awareness is needed to identify, analyze, and challenge these less visible barriers to substantively work towards greater inclusivity in environmentalism.

Does Financial Derivative Hedging Reduce Firms’ Financial Constraints?

This study examines the relationship between the firms’ derivative risk management and its financial constraints. Firms face a wedge between their internal and external financing for their investments. I test whether this wedge reduces firms’ financial constraints when they hedge using interest rate, foreign currency, and commodity derivatives. Using an event study and a difference-in-differences framework around implementing Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 123R, this study shows a strong causal relationship between derivative hedging and financial constraints. I find that net debt increases for the derivative hedging firms, on the other hand, cash holdings and net equity issuance decreases. When managers of non-financial corporations believe that their firm will face a liquidity shortage, they save more cash out of cash flow as a precautionary measure. Both cash flow-cash sensitivity and investment-cash flow sensitivity decrease. The analysis also shows that both the loan spread and the probability of covenant violation decrease after firms start derivative hedging. The main implication of the analysis is that risk management influences the asymmetric information between lenders and borrowers: the increase in risk management, the less the asymmetry.

An audit of commercialisation and outsourcing across the primary school curriculum

ABSTRACT Drawing on a qualitative case study of a New Zealand primary school, this paper provides an audit of commercialisation and outsourcing across the curriculum. Interviews were also conducted with teachers of specific Key Learning Areas (KLAs) to better understand their decision-making process in bringing externally provided products and services into their classrooms. Findings demonstrate that the procurement of external products and services is common across the curriculum. Teacher decision-making to commercialise and outsource curriculum is based on a multiplicity of personal, distributed and situational factors. We suggest that teachers are aware of and seeking to balance autonomy and responsibility in their decision-making, but there is room to improve how teachers understand and engage with ethical considerations of commercial procurement, supplier quality and systemic issues of equity and access to these services by all schools and teachers.