Shaping Policy Research Articles

Strengths and weaknesses of food eco-labeling: a review.

Food labeling is increasingly expanding and adding more information to the food package. There is strong evidence about nutrition labeling effectiveness in driving food choice, especially if displayed in the front of package (FoP). Despite the growing attention to nutrition and sustainable diets, few countries have implemented sustainable labels or eco-labels that could address economic, social and/or environmental concerns. Implementing new techniques of eco-labeling emerges as a consumer-focused solution. However, evidence of the effectiveness of eco-labeling in driving consumers' choices is heterogeneous and not univocal. Thus, this review aims to summarize the evidence about the effectiveness of FoP eco-labeling in driving food choice and provide a reference framework of the eco-labeling initiatives relative to food package labeling. This narrative review addresses both the potential benefits as well as the main concerns that arise from the use of eco-labels. Although eco-labeling seems to provide a series of sustainability benefits for producers and consumers, the implementation of such policies should take into consideration potential trade-offs and inter-sectorial coordination to obtain bigger impacts, assuming that a policy itself cannot transform the whole food system. Eco-labeling could be encouraged and implemented within a set of policies shaping sustainable food systems.

An evaluation of a speech and language therapy eating, drinking and swallowing service for adults with intellectual disability

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the quality of a speech and language therapy (SLT) swallow service provided to adults with intellectual disability (ID) by exploring the process and outcome factors; to explore the process of what is done to and for the patient including identifying dysphagia, choking and pneumonia risk, typical interventions and management; examine clinical outcomes; and explore the relationship of outcomes with risk factors, satisfaction with the service and the impact of the service on the number of choking incidents and admissions to acute hospital with swallow concerns.Design/methodology/approachThere were three specific work packages: (1) collecting and scrutinising patient data from the clinical record for adults with ID referred to the SLT swallow service over a six-month period. The researcher created aims, defined the limits to achieve the aims, designed a standardised data collection form, set out where data was in the clinical record, piloted, set limits for collection and trained reviewers; (2) gathering experience and satisfaction surveys from patients, caregivers and referrers over the six-month study period; and (3) monitoring choking adverse incident reports and hospital admission with swallow concerns for the whole ID population.FindingsChoking and hospital admission were the main reasons for referral, and pneumonia risk significantly predicted dysphagia impairment. The research highlighted common dysphagia risk factors, interventions and recommendations for this population. The SLT swallow service is a quality service that is highly valued by patients, their caregivers and referrers. The service achieves significant clinical improvements, helps identify dysphagia and provides management to reduce associated risks.Research limitations/implicationsThis study found common dysphagia risk factors, interventions and recommendations; it also found that the therapy outcome measures/Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy online outcome tool was a meaningful outcome measure, and that pneumonia risk significantly predicted dysphagia impairment, all of which could inform the identified dysphagia research priorities for this population.Practical implicationsNaming usual care in treatment and recommendations could help ensure a fair service and could help form quality indicators. People with ID, their caregivers and staff generated valuable ideas for improvement, and further involvement work could create a logic model for the service. Other future work could explore the use of screening tools, increase multidisciplinary team working, improve access to instrumental assessments, raise awareness of swallowing and promote important oral health and medication reviews. By using this information to shape quality improvement work and policies, one can work toward addressing high health-related inequalities and preventable deaths associated with dysphagia in this vulnerable population.Social implicationsIt may be useful to raise awareness that adults with ID age earlier and that one should not exclude them from older people’s services because of an age threshold, often set higher than their life expectancy. This study highlighted a possible inequality of access issue for adults with ID who do not have direct care or day care staff. There is a need to increase access to awareness training so caregivers and general practitioners can recognise swallow difficulties and know how to make a referral for a swallow assessment.Originality/valueOverall, the evaluation of the swallow service to adults with ID suggests that SLT have a quality service for adults with ID that is highly valued and provides significant clinical improvements. By building on these strengths, SLT could extend the reach, influence and impact of their services to help those adults with ID who have emerging swallow difficulties or who do not access the service.

Agents of platform governance: Analyzing U.S. civil society's role in contesting online content moderation

This paper examines the role of civil society in shaping content moderation governance arrangements in the United States. Drawing on prior research that recognizes the importance of civil society in shaping policy, this article analyzes the experiences of civil society practitioners engaged in content moderation activism. Based on in-depth original interviews with civil society practitioners, I demonstrate how civil society's activity in this space aligns with known regulatory standard-setting process competencies and suggest advocacy work benefits from the power of coalition lobbying and social capital. Moreover, I highlight the sense of frustration from some practitioners that they are not compensated by firms for their monitoring and reporting work that improves platforms' products, and I offer preliminary reasons for why practitioners contest moderation norms. The paper's insights contribute to the study of platform governance by illuminating informal mechanisms utilized by civil society, which holds broader implications for understanding the dynamics of non-state actors in shaping online platforms and their policies.

Significance of Uttar Prdesh in Indian Politics : A Study

ABSTRACT Uttar Pradesh's historical context highlights the state's crucial role in the political development of India. UP's rich historical tapestry highlights its lasting influence on Indian politics as the birthplace of notable leaders and the focal point of significant political movements. The political landscape of Uttar Pradesh has been influenced by many socio-economic causes, caste dynamics, and regional identities, ranging from the liberation fight to current electoral struggles. A multifaceted approach is required for a thorough examination of UP's political relevance. To understand the intricacies of UP's political dynamics, academics use a variety of approaches, such as historical study, electoral analysis, sociological studies, and policy evaluations. To provide a comprehensive picture of UP's place in Indian politics, quantitative techniques like election data analysis are used in conjunction with qualitative ones like ethnographic study. Uttar Pradesh becomes a pivotal point in Indian politics, shaping national narratives, election results, and policy agendas. By carefully analyzing its socio-political dynamics, historical legacy, and governance issues, academics illuminate UP's lasting importance in defining Indian democracy.

Exploring the role of psychological assistance hotlines in improving mental health problems among Chinese adult women: A perspective based on social expectations and gender roles

This paper looks at how social expectations and gender roles affect the mental health of Chinese women. Traditional Chinese culture, influenced by Confucianism and patriarchy, still has a negative impact on women's mental well-being, despite efforts for gender equality. Women's mental health is vital for both individuals and society, and this study aims to understand these issues better to help shape policies and interventions.

THE DYNAMICS OF POLICY CHANGE AND AGILE GOVERNANCE: HOW INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Indonesia and other countries must deal with the COVID-19 pandemic with limited information control amid uncertainty. Handling a pandemic that has become a crisis places great demands on the government to provide agile and dynamic policies. Variations of policies that the Indonesian government has issued raise doubts in the public sphere. The government changed several policies quickly and easily, giving the impression that they did not go through a thorough formulating process. It shows that the handling of COVID-19 requires a policy system that is quite complex due to the many interactions of various sectors. By using qualitative methods, this study attempts to discuss the dynamics of changing public policies by using the concept of incremental policy amid demands for agile governance implementation by looking at the cases of policies issued by the Indonesian government in response to COVID-19. The dynamic of the policy network will be explored further to dismantle the discussion of policies for handling COVID-19 in Indonesia. Therefore, the results of this research show the challenges in implementing agile principles simply by changing and adapting policies to empirical conditions. In its application, agile governance shows several dominant actors who gather resources and support, shape policy outcomes, and advance their interests.

Local Housing Policies and Corporate Social Financial Logics: Insights from the Financialization of Housing in Barcelona

ABSTRACT This article explores the way local states can challenge the process of housing financialization, by focusing on policy innovation for housing vulnerability. Building upon theoretical discourses that emphasize the influence of financial investors in shaping policy frameworks, we suggest that institutional settings that develop independently of financial logics and prioritize social policies can both incite shifts in financial investors’ strategies and change the dynamics in the financialization of housing. This is the case even within rental systems where local states demonstrate limited capacity to intervene in housing markets. Using desk-based research and interviews with expert informants, this study investigates the way new municipalism policies have addressed housing vulnerability in Barcelona. It considers investors’ responses to an institutional framework that prioritized social criteria, and interrogates the relation between housing policy and financial innovation. Key findings suggest that housing financialization is a dynamic process, contingent on the way different actors interrelate and mutually redefine power relations in housing affairs.

The Pillars of Power and Policy of Social Policymaking in Authoritarian Regimes

This article addresses the puzzle of the politics of social policy formation by two post-communist authoritarian regimes in China and Russia. It argues that two interrelated dimensions—which we term the pillars of power and policy—shape social policymaking and change in authoritarian regimes and support authoritarian regime stability. The pillar of power involves autocrats’ bargains with the public and elites, while the policy pillar includes bureaucratic and ideational processes. The latter are understood as the way policy actors perceive problems, choose solutions, and frame their policy choices. To demonstrate this empirically, the article analyzes and compares Chinese and Russian housing policies between 1990 and 2020. We find that despite bureaucratic competition within the policy pillar, neoliberal policy beliefs have guided policy while statist measures served to support—in China—and deepen—in Russia—the neoliberal approach focused on private homeownership. Yet, neoliberal measures have been channeled in ways that underpinned and adjusted the authoritarian regime bargains with different segments of the public and the elite within the pillar of power. Policy framing to match social cultural ideas was used in both countries to support public acceptance of the neoliberal measures while underlining the state’s care for people’s housing needs.

Building Cybersecurity Capacities in Zambia’s Business Sector: Guideline for SMEs

This research explores cybersecurity awareness and implementation within Zambia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a sector increasingly targeted by cyberattacks that lead to substantial financial losses. The study’s primary aim was to enhance cyber awareness and develop actionable guidelines for SMEs in Zambia. Utilising an interpretivist philosophy and inductive approach, the methodology encompassed semi-structured interviews, cross-sectional analysis, and a comprehensive review of CISA, ENISA guidelines, and Zambia’s Data Protection Act. Findings indicate a notable deficit in cybersecurity training and awareness among SMEs. Key concerns include inadequate data security measures, a lack of formal cybersecurity policies, and a reliance on basic tools like antivirus software. In response, the study formulated targeted guidelines, emphasising the integration of cyber awareness into SME governance and risk management. These guidelines have garnered significant interest from Zambian government entities, highlighting their potential influence on national cybersecurity policy. The study contributes theoretically by contextualising international cybersecurity standards within Zambia’s unique SME landscape. Methodologically, it pioneers a Cyber Awareness Framework tailored to Zambian SMEs, underscoring the critical role of human factors in cybersecurity. Practically, the research has sparked engagement among SMEs and government bodies, demonstrating its applicability and potential for shaping policy. However, limitations include reliance on outdated demographic data and a focus on digitally enabled SMEs, potentially overlooking broader IT governance aspects and less digitized businesses. Future research should aim for comprehensive, up-to-date analysis across all SME sectors, contributing to a more inclusive and resilient cybersecurity landscape in Zambia.

Energy Lobbying in the Decision-Making Process of the European Union

Lobbying is part of social life and constitutes an informal path of influencing politics at the national and international levels. The EU is a prime example of an organisation wherein Member States act as lobbyists trying to influence EU policy. The energy transformation that has begun is a process that is particularly dependent on the shaping of climate and energy policy at the European Union level should one compare it to previous socio-technical transformations, with interest advocacy playing an important role in this process. This article aims at examining and explaining the activities and influence of Germany’s lobbying on the shaping of energy policy in the European Union (EU). The subject of the research is Germany’s lobbying strategy based on the Europeanisation of the country’s energy transition (in German, Energiewende). The research shows that lobbying activities have had the intended effect of Europeanising Germany’s Energiewende, which has allowed for increased innovation in technology and as well as increased production of products from the broader environmental sector. Furthermore, these activities have created new jobs in the sector, which has kick-started and strengthened the German economy. In conclusion, the more resources a Member State has and the longer it has been a member of the EU, the better the conditions are for effective lobbying.

Short-term gains versus long-term strains: productivist policies and family resilience in China

This article studies the intricate dynamics of family resilience within the Chinese productivist regime over the course of seven decades, emphasizing the instrumental role of public policy in shaping this resilience. Drawing on a dynamic approach, the research demonstrates how, across distinct periods of central planning and economic reform, policies have persistently harnessed families to advance economic objectives. Showing that the productivist regime’s double-edged role on family resilience emerged while public policies bolstered short-term family resilience in times of sustained economic growth and favorable demographics, and signs of family sector downturn—declining fertility rates, family dysfunctions—became evident, the current article underscores the challenges of a model that primarily perceives families as economic instruments. Advocating for a policy paradigm shift that harmonizes economic ambitions with family well-being, this study offers valuable insights for policy-makers and lays the groundwork for future research in comparative welfare systems.

Role of household energy efficiency in shaping policy directives toward clean electricity transition in the United States: A nonparametric multivariate QQR approach

Despite the growing interest in energy transition policies, electricity generation in the U.S. remains heavily dependent on natural gas and coal. In this paper, we investigate the role of household energy efficiency in shaping policy directives toward a clean electricity transition in the U.S. through the use of a novel nonparametric multivariate quantile on quantile regression (M−QQR) over the period 1970 to 2040. The empirical results reveal that household energy-related efficiency has a positive effect on clean electricity transition across quantiles. This implies that household energy efficiency promotes clean electricity transition in the U.S. The results also show that energy expenditure and intensity of energy-related CO2 emissions are negatively related to clean electricity transition. However, the role of energy expenditures in the higher quantiles is positive. These findings align with the sensitivity and robustness analyses. This study offers significant contributions: First, the recently extended bivariate quantile-on-quantile regression to a multivariate case is applied. Second, we use historical and forecast datasets that span over seven decades. Overall, this study suggests the need for policymakers to utilize energy efficiency measures to stimulate transition towards clean electricity.

Tail risk spillovers among Chinese stock market sectors

This study employs a combination of the CAViaR model and the TVP-VAR-based connectedness approach to investigate tail risk spillovers among Chinese stock sectors. Using daily data on ten sector indices from January 5, 2006, to September 28, 2023, the empirical findings reveal significant time-varying tail risk spillovers among sectors, with heightened spillovers observed during extreme events. Moreover, the industrials, materials, and consumer discretionary sectors are found to be the senders of tail risk spillovers, while the energy, estate, and finance sectors are receivers during the sample period. The findings carry substantial implications for policy shaping and investment decision-making.

Scale development for measuring sustainability of urban destinations from the perspectives of residents, tourists, businesses and government

This study develops four subjective scales to measure a destination’s sustainability from the perspectives of residents, tourists, businesses and government agencies. Using the expert opinion survey, participants were asked to evaluate the initial list of indicators based on five aspects of sustainability, including economic, socio-cultural, environmental, political and technological sustainability for each stakeholder group. Then, the scales were validated using partial least squares - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and confirmatory composite analysis (CCA). This article has a unique theoretical contribution by developing four scales to measure the sustainability of destinations from the perspective of four main stakeholders. Moreover, this article provides practical implications and can assist tourism providers and governments in better understanding sustainable urban tourism development and shaping policy.

Bibliometric Analysis: The Evolution of Entrepreneurship among Islamic Boarding School Students from an Islamic Economic Law Perspective

The increasing interest in entrepreneurship among students of Islamic boarding schools within the framework of Islamic economics has garnered significant scholarly attention. This research employs bibliometric analysis by accessing the Scopus database to examine research trends related to entrepreneurship among Islamic boarding school students from 1996 to 2024. The aim is to identify research trends related to entrepreneurship among students. The research results indicate a growing interest in student entrepreneurship in Islamic boarding schools, particularly in 2019 and 2022. The focus is on entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management, innovation, implementation strategies, and organizational performance. Visualization network analysis is highly relevant to the Islamic Economic Law Perspective and efforts to combine religious values with modern business principles in the context of Islamic boarding schools. This research has broad implications, not only for developing theory and understanding of Islamic entrepreneurship but also for shaping practices and policies that support entrepreneurship development based on Islamic values in Islamic boarding schools and the general public.

Research data management competencies of researchers in selected public universities in South Africa

PurposeIn today's global and competitive corporate environment characterised by rapidly changing information, knowledge and technology (IKT), researchers must be upskilled in all aspects of research data management (RDM). This study investigates a set of capabilities and competencies required by researchers at selected South African public universities, using the community capability model framework (CCMF) in conjunction with the digital curation centre (DCC) lifecycle model.Design/methodology/approachThe post-positivist paradigm was used in the study, which used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Case studies, both qualitative and quantitative, were used as research methods. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic rules and regulations, semi-structured interviews with 23 study participants were conducted online via Microsoft Teams to collect qualitative data, and questionnaires were converted into Google Forms and emailed to 30 National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researchers to collect quantitative data.FindingsParticipating institutions are still in the initial stages of providing RDM services. Most researchers are unaware of how long their institutions retain research data, and they store and backup their research data on personal computers, emails and external storage devices. Data management, research methodology, data curation, metadata skills and technical skills are critically important RDM competency requirements for both staff and researchers. Adequate infrastructure, as well as human resources and capital, are in short supply. There are no specific capacity-building programmes or strategies for developing RDM skills at the moment, and a lack of data curation skills is a major challenge in providing RDM.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study can be applied widely in research, teaching and learning. Furthermore, the research could help shape RDM strategy and policy in South Africa and elsewhere.Originality/valueThe scope, subject matter and application of this study contribute to its originality and novelty.

Exploring excitement counterbalanced by concerns towards AI technology using a descriptive-prescriptive data processing method

Given the current pace of technological advancement and its pervasive impact on society, understanding public sentiment is essential. The usage of AI in social media, facial recognition, and driverless cars has been scrutinized using the data collected by a complex survey. To extract insights from data, a descriptive-prescriptive hybrid data processing method is proposed. It includes graphical visualization, cross-tabulation to identify patterns and correlations, clustering using K-means, principal component analysis (PCA) enabling 3D cluster representation, analysis of variance (ANOVA) of clusters, and forecasting potential leveraged by Random Forest to predict clusters. Three well-separated clusters with a silhouette score of 0.828 provide the profile of the respondents. The affiliation of a respondent to a particular cluster is assessed by an F1 score of 0.99 for the test set and 0.98 for the out-of-sample set. With over 5000 respondents answering over 120 questions, the dataset reveals interesting opinions and concerns regarding AI technologies that have to be handled to facilitate AI acceptance and adoption. Its findings have the potential to shape meaningful dialog and policy, ensuring that the evolution of technology aligns with the values and needs of the people.

Joint effects of Medicaid eligibility and fees on recession-linked declines in healthcare access and health status.

Whether Medicaid can function as a safety net to offset health risks created by health insurance coverage losses due to job loss is conditional on (1) the eligibility guidelines shaping the pathway for households to access the program for temporary relief, and (2) Medicaid reimbursement policies affecting the value of the program for both the newly and previously enrolled. We find states with more expansive eligibility guidelines lowered the healthcare access and health risk of coverage loss associated with rising unemployment during the 2007-2009 Great Recession. Rises in cost-related barriers to care associated with unemployment were smallest in states with expansive eligibility guidelines and higher Medicaid-to-Medicare fee ratios. Similarly, states whose Medicaid programs had expansive eligibility guidelines and higher fees saw the smallest recession-linked declines in self-reported good health. Medicaid can work to stabilize access to health care during periods of joblessness. Our findings yield important insights into the alignment of at least two Medicaid policies (i.e., eligibility and payment) shaping Medicaid's viability as a safety net.

Australia’s university Generation Z and its concerns about climate change

Despite scientific evidence about the imminent threat of climate change, people and governments around the world are slow in taking sufficient action. Against these bleak outlooks, Generation Z (Gen Z) born 1995–2010 will inherit the consequences of prolonged inaction. This research delves into the climate change concerns of Australia’s university Gen Z. A representative survey of 446 Australian university students conducted between September 2021 and April 2022 revealed that climate change is the top environmental concern for Gen Z with 81% of these young people being significantly concerned and many experiencing serious climate anxiety. Despite this pervasive concern, 65% of Australia’s university Gen Z is not engaged in traditional climate activism; however, these young people are using technology to voice their concerns. As the future decision-makers of the world, it is crucial for Gen Z to accelerate climate action in all of its forms, including engaging with scientific knowledge and other generations to shape policies and safeguard a liveable planet for all.

Introducing ‘ministerial politics’: Analyzing the role and crucial redistributive impact of individual ministries in policy‐making

AbstractPolicy‐making is a complex business. While scholars have studied the politics of policy‐making for decades, we know surprisingly little about the role of individual ministries. We argue that and why individual ministries crucially shape policies' content, particularly their distributive profiles. We explain that it matters whether for example, a Ministry of Labor, of Finance, or of Home Affairs designs a policy. First, we systematically review existing literature on the factors that influence preferences of ministries and their power in policy‐making. Second, we develop a theory explaining that and why ministries have substantive policy impact and introducing a typology of three different ministerial ideal‐types: ministries follow a “social logic”, an “efficiency logic”, or a “law‐and‐order logic”. Third, we offer systematic empirical evidence: Using the least likely case of Germany, we introduce a novel content‐coded dataset on all social policies in the Bundestag since 1969, showing that ministries shape policies' distributive profiles, even when controlling for rival explanations, such as the partisan affiliation of ministers, the policy field, or cabinet type. We conclude by developing a research agenda on ministerial politics and highlight important implications for representation and responsiveness.