Policy Shift Research Articles

China: the state and the economy under Xi Jinping

How does the Chinese Communist Party navigate its way through the contradictions and tensions of managing a capitalist economy? This article traces the dynamics of recent developments within the Chinese economy and state, particularly the period of President Xi Jinping’s dominance. It explores the paradox of the juxtaposition of Communist Party rule with capitalist economic development. The resulting tensions are evident in the state’s successive changes of strategy, in its efforts to reconcile the antagonistic forces that have arisen during China’s extremely rapid industrialisation. An elite party is ruling without any functional or democratic means of negotiating between such antagonisms. China’s economy is currently shifting to a new phase, away from its emphasis on cheap labour from the rural areas and towards becoming a high‐tech economy. The current plan for growth rests upon a quest for greater self-reliance and vast investment in new technologies. Xi’s regime is attempting this while simultaneously seeking to strengthen its control over capital, labour and civil society. The article discusses recent shifts of policy resulting from Xi’s need to maintain the party’s authority following the financial crisis and the Covid pandemic: including the u-turn over Covid restrictions at the beginning of 2023, and the clampdown on companies such as Evergrande following the property crash.

New York City Catholic Schools Operating in the Public Space in a Post-Makin World

ABSTRACT Given recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, specifically Carson v. Makin, which permit public funding for religious schools, we examine how Catholic diocese and school leaders interpret these legal shifts for Catholic education. We utilize the Catholic education sector in New York City as a case study to examine how Catholic school leaders interpret local, state, and national policy shifts in funding for Catholic education. Specifically, we examine how Catholic school leaders currently navigate public–private partnerships and how they think Makin will affect future funding of Catholic education in New York City. We find that Catholic school leaders are already participating in limited public–private partnerships and are enthusiastic about potential policy windows for opportunities such as tax-credits and religious charter schools. However, Catholic school leaders in New York face challenges in terms of state politics, Catholic identity of schools, and other school-choice advocates including public charter schools.

The Transformation of NATO-Russia Relations under the Context of NATO Expansion: From Post-Cold War to the 2014 Crimea Crisis

This paper will examine the transformation of NATO-Russia relations from the post-Cold War stage to the 2014 Crimea crisis. It will specify how NATO's several eastward expansions contributed to the shift of Russia's foreign policy and their bilateral relationship. The analysis will begin with the optimism the Russian side held after the Cold War and the establishment of bilateral cooperation acts such as the Basic Act and the Partnership for Peace. The paper will also analyze the color revolutions that occurred in Ukraine and Georgia, as well as the subsequent 2008 Russo-Georgian War, to examine how Russia's foreign policy has shifted during the 2000s. The paper will then shed light on the Ukrainian crisis in 2014, which ultimately ended the cooperation between Russia and NATO. Through case studies, this paper will examine the shift of Russias foreign policy in the context of NATO's eastward expansion, which has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe in the past decades.

Private Tutoring as a Relief or Burden? Changes in Parental Beliefs About Young Children's English Learning in China

AbstractThe increasing trend of early English education has promoted the rapid growth of English private tutoring (EPT) for children, which garners attention in research as a global educational phenomenon. In China, EPT for children experienced a fervent expansion under neoliberalism. However, a recent policy (Double‐Reduction Policy) has banned EPT for preschoolers (age 3–6), creating a unique context where state‐led neoliberalism prevails. This study employs narrative inquiry to investigate the changes in beliefs about young children's English learning among three Chinese parents who enrolled their children in EPT. Data were gleaned through interviews, observations, informal conversations, and collection of parent‐recorded videos and artifacts over a year of fieldwork. The findings reveal that parents hold contradictory beliefs at different times, and the belief changes were interacted inextricably with the tensions experienced by these parents, including pressure from EPT and challenges from the policy. EPT was initially perceived as relief but eventually became burdensome. This study sheds light on the dynamic and intricate nature of parental beliefs, as well as the tensions arising from the interplay between neoliberalism and policy shifts in China. The findings have implications for parents, TESOL practitioners, and policymakers who involved in English education decisions for young children.

Le futur du métier de traducteur face à la révolution numérique : préoccupations et perspectives pour les bilingues

The Future of The Translation Profession in The Age of Digital Revolution: Concerns and perspectives for bilingual professionals The digital revolution has caused a significant shift in labour market policies across all sectors. The rapid advancement and widespread adoption of software and IT tools have led to an increased risk of job displacement for skilled professionals, as these tools enable even non-experts to perform tasks traditionally handled by specialists. This study explores the potential threat to employment faced by professional translators due to these technological advancements. The rise of artificial intelligence and machine translation (MT) has encouraged many bilingual individuals to enter the translation field, a trend that has raised concerns among linguistic researchers. These technological developments have also cast doubt on the value of language experts. This research addresses key questions: To what extent is the future of professional translators at risk? Do professional translators face significant competition in the Information Age? To answer these questions, this study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including field data collection from bilinguals and professional translators. Questionnaires were administered first to bilinguals to gauge their motivations and then to professional translators to understand their concerns and perspectives. The data analysis provided clear insights that supported the study's hypotheses. The research suggests that professional translators may face substantial unemployment risks in the future. This is largely attributed to the increasing involvement of bilinguals in the field, driven by the proliferation of machine translation tools. The study highlights the relevance of connectivism and job prospection theories in understanding the challenges faced by professional translators and in addressing the rise of bilinguals in the workforce.

Deciphering Consistency and Coherence in U.S Foreign Policy: North Korea under Trump and Biden

Propose: This study investigated how consistent and coherent U.S. foreign policy toward North Korea was under President Trump and Biden. Methodology: Through qualitative analysis of policy shifts and diplomatic strategies, this paper explored how effectively both administrations advanced their policy objectives within the intricate dynamics of U.S.-North Korea relations. Data were collected from primary sources like official government documents and secondary sources like academic journal articles and media reports. Thematic and content analyses were employed to identify recurring motifs and evaluate the articulation and implementation of policy strategies. Findings: Findings indicated that Trump's untraditional approach of involving North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directly, alongside a "maximum pressure" campaign, yielded mixed outcomes. While it broke long-standing diplomatic deadlocks, it faced challenges such as inconsistencies and limited progress on denuclearization. In contrast, Biden's administration focused on multilateralism, alliance-building, and a structured policy framework. Nonetheless, it also encountered several challenges in making tangible progress toward denuclearization. The study underscored the importance of future U.S. administrations integrating the strengths of both approaches to enhance foreign policy effectiveness. Unique Contribution to Theory Practice and Policy: This study improved understanding of contemporary international relations by dissecting American interactions with North Korea under two different administrations. It provided crucial insights for policymakers, highlighting how maintaining consistency and coherence is pivotal in forming effective foreign policy.

Unpacking Challenges within South African Institutions of Higher Learning in Addressing Student Grievances: A Literature Review

The persistent episodes of violence have been a thorn in the flesh of many South African institutions of higher learning. This predicament has tarnished the reputation of these institutions and compromised the overall quality of education provided. Employing a qualitative narrative literature review as the methodology and the theory of anomie, this paper examines and delineates the challenges confronted by higher learning institutions in addressing student grievances. The findings reveal many factors motivating student grievances and subsequent campus protests. These factors encompass administrative and managerial deficiencies in handling student grievances, inadequacies in managing student financial challenges, distorted perceptions among students regarding their rights and responsibilities, and substandard student accommodation and learning facilities. The discourse presented herein aspires to influence a transformation in the operational frameworks of higher learning institutions. The researchers envisage that their insights will diminish instances of violence and catalyse policy shifts to mitigate student exclusion.

‘Crossed the line’: Sexuality discourses of motherhood under 15 years in Uganda

AbstractMotherhood under 15 years is constructed as having crossed the line of societal morals and this construction shapes the provision of sexual and reproductive health services (SRH) for mothers under 15 years in Uganda. Using collaborative ethnography and through the lens of discourses and governmentality, I established that adolescent pregnancy is constructed within normative discourses enshrouded in religious and cultural values. What is constructed as non‐normative is regulated through restrictive SRH policies and penalizing discourses which inhibit access to SRH services and care. A paradigm shift in adolescent SRH policies that are rooted in human rights and equity is one alternative required.

Neoliberal transformation through circulation of economic elites in times of critical junctures: the case of 1999–2001 economic crises in Turkey

ABSTRACT While it is well-established that exogenous shocks can trigger policy changes, political elites have often been depicted as the initiators of this process. This paper adopts an elite sociology perspective, extending beyond the exclusive focus on political elites, to uncover the pathway through which critical junctures foster policy changes. It employs a case study of the economic crises in Turkey spanning from 1999 to 2001 as an illustrative example. During this period, a significant shift occurred, moving from traditional statist economic policies to widespread neoliberal reforms. Our analysis reveals that this policy shift was not solely influenced by external factors, but facilitated by an intricate process of elite circulation within the economic bureaucracy. This process, which began in the 1980s and gained momentum in the 2000s, coincided with an influx of bureaucratic elites aligned with neoliberal principles and played a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of policy changes.

Impacts of urbanization on ecosystem carbon cycle: a case study of land use change in Tianjin metropolitan area.

For the sustainable development of the city, in a study of Tianjin's rapid urbanization, we explore the complex interplay between land use change and the ecosystem carbon cycle from 2000 to 2020. Spatial analysis and profit-loss matrix calculations reveal contrasting ecological impacts: expansion of woodlands and grasslands enhances Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and reduces carbon emissions, while urban construction shows the opposite effect. Over 20 years, Tianjin's urban transformation led to a 16.91 GgC decline in NPP amidst a construction boom. However, post-2015 ecological policy shifts resulted in a significant net carbon uptake of 0.85 Gt, demonstrating the potential of policy interventions in mitigating environmental impacts of urbanization. This study underscores the importance of sustainable urban planning and ecological conservation strategies in highly urbanized settings.

Education for profit in the era of Xi: biopower, resistance and China’s double reduction policy

ABSTRACT This study aims to advance the understanding of for-profit Chinese education during the tenure of Chairman Xi Jinping. Notably, Xi has recently targeted the privately operated, for-profit before-and-after school supplementary tutoring industry, commonly referred to as “Shadow Education”. In 2021, the introduction of the Double Reduction policy abruptly prohibited most SE businesses. Our research seeks to elucidate the impacts of this sudden policy shift on Chinese parents’ perceptions and decision-making regarding their children’s education and supplementary learning opportunities. Conducted in 2022 across mainland China, our study engaged 195 parents through an online survey followed by two focus group interviews. The investigation was driven by the primary research question: How did Chinese parents, whose children previously participated in SE, respond to the 2021 Double Reduction policy? The analysis is framed with Foucault’s theory of biopower, which envisions power as permeating all spheres of human life. This theoretical framework is particularly relevant as Chinese education under Xi Jinping’s government is increasingly exemplifies the pervasive influence of biopolitics across all facets of society and learning. We aim to address a critical gap in the study of Chinese education, focusing on the intricate interplay of policy analysis amidst broader social and economic forces.

Identifying the influence of climate policy uncertainty and oil prices on modern renewable energies: novel evidence from the United States

Abstract The policy uncertainty surrounding climate change can intensify the urgency of implementing climate policies and influence investment decisions, thereby serving as a catalyst for policy transformation. In this context, given its withdrawal from and subsequent re-commitment to the Paris Agreement, the United States (US) may experience policy uncertainty over climate change. Given this backdrop, it is of paramount importance to explore how the uncertainties caused by shifts in climate policy affect clean energy. This study delves into the impact of climate policy uncertainty and oil prices on modern renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. The most recent monthly data from 1989 to 2023 are used by conducting the Residual Augmented Least Squares (RALS) methodology. The empirical findings show that the uncertainty surrounding climate policy is leading to a shift in the US energy composition, with a focus on solar energy, wind energy, and biofuels. Moreover, the fluctuation in oil prices has a significant effect on the deployment of wind and biofuels, but no discernible effect on solar power. These findings provide significant insights for aligning climate policy in the US with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, highlighting the crucial importance of encouraging investments in solar energy, wind energy, and biofuels. Graphical abstract

Post-pandemic: Innovations in Remote Education and Adjustments in Public Policy

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a significant shift towards remote education, necessitating rapid innovations in educational technologies and methodologies, alongside substantial adjustments in public policy. This article explores the evolution of remote education during the post-pandemic period, highlighting technological advances, pedagogical changes, and increased efforts to improve accessibility. It also examines the corresponding shifts in public policy aimed at supporting these developments, including reforms in funding, data security, and regulatory adjustments. By analyzing challenges such as the digital divide, engagement issues, and policy alignment, the article provides insight into both successful implementations and areas requiring further improvement. Case studies illustrate how different regions have navigated these changes, offering lessons that can inform future strategies. The conclusion discusses the ongoing impact of these innovations and the crucial role of policy in shaping the future landscape of education.

Institutional flexibility in tax law and enforcement

This paper examines how governments can optimally audit to discourage tax avoidance. We assume that an accounting firm designs and promotes strategies for tax avoidance. This firm adapts the quality and diversity of these strategies in response to shifts in government policies. We investigate when it is more effective to approve some methods while cracking down on others, rather than targeting all tax-avoidance activities uniformly. We find that selectively enforcing against specific methods can be optimal. This approach not only reduces the quality but also limits the variety of tax avoidance activities in the market and positively impacts the government’s tax revenue collection. Our analysis provides practical insights, linking the costs of auditing with the interaction between enforcement, the quality of tax avoidance methods, and tax revenue outcomes.

Monetary policy and heterogeneous price effects in the United Kingdom

AbstractThis paper examines the heterogeneous effects of monetary policy on consumer prices in the United Kingdom. We estimate a proxy Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model, using extended high‐frequency monetary surprises from Cesa‐Bianchi et al. (European Economic Review, 123, 2020, 103375) to instrument shifts in UK monetary policy. We then analyze the impulse responses for various components of the UK Consumer Price Index. Our findings reveal that while monetary policy tightening leads to a persistent decline in aggregate consumer prices, the impact on disaggregated components is highly heterogeneous. Notably, we observe that energy price changes offset movements in food, beverage, and tobacco prices, resulting in identical responses of core and headline consumer CPIH inflation measures. The contrasting effects across different CPI components highlight the importance of examining disaggregated data when assessing the transmission of monetary policy to consumer prices.

Housebuilding Finance in the United States: From Budgeting to Funding

This article precisely identifies housebuilding finance in the United States as a complex procedure of primary concern to those who wish to become homeowners or builders, susceptible to the state of the economy and shifts in policies. Therefore, the purpose of this research will be to provide extensive coverage of the processes involved in budgeting right through to obtaining and directing funds. This study adopts a qualitative research method to ascertain budgeting techniques, sources of finance, means of obtaining loans, financial controls during construction through literature, industry, and documents. Discussions also focus on the governmental initiatives and economic environment stressing the need for money comprehension. Issues such as budgeting down to the last detail, variety of financial sources and methods of financial management are highlighted as important aspects. Some recommendation areas are improvement of budgeting, increasing the financing options’ awareness, and the optimization of the existing times of lending to boost housebuilding finance in the USA.

The effect of the US Child Tax Credit advance payments in 2021 on adolescent mental health: Changes in depression symptoms and suicidality

ObjectiveChild poverty is associated with poor adolescent mental health. Changes to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in 2021 in the U.S. were historic and introduced a new model of distributing the credit in advance of tax filing, providing families with stable, supplemental monthly income. This policy shift offers a unique opportunity to examine the mental health effects for adolescents. MethodsWe use electronic health record data from a large pediatric primary care network in Columbus, Ohio, which collected adolescent depression screening scores in real time as the CTC advance payments were introduced. We utilized differences in age of eligibility for the CTC to examine the changes in the probability of depression screening outcomes (positive depression screen, any depression symptom, any suicidal ideation), for adolescents eligible for the credit (turned 18 first quarter of 2022), relative to those not eligible (turned 18 last quarter of 2021) (n = 1,423). ResultsWe did not observe a significant association between the policy change and study outcomes in the overall sample. However, the percentage of adolescents with a positive depression screen significantly declined for Non-Hispanic Black (13.4 percentage point reduction, p = 0.01) and publicly insured (9.7 percentage point reduction, p = 0.04) adolescents. ConclusionsOur findings suggest reductions in depression symptoms for subgroups of adolescents who were age-eligible for the CTC compared to their counterparts who were not eligible. The CTC advance payments were a brief experiment in universal basic income and may offer a policy solution for addressing both poverty and a growing adolescent mental health crisis.

A moderated mediation model of the relationship between Indian elementary school teachers' autonomy and perceived ease of ICT use

AbstractIn the 21st century, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a critical component of innovative teaching and learning. This study looked at the impact of teachers' autonomy on their perceived ease of using ICT and the intricate relationship between the two, involving their self‐efficacy, job satisfaction, and perceived incentives to change. Using a descriptive survey approach, 311 (134 female) Indian elementary school teachers participated in the study and provided self‐reported data. A structural equation model was employed to test the mediating roles of self‐efficacy and job satisfaction, and the moderation of perceived incentives. The results affirmed that teacher autonomy had a direct and moderately positive effect on their perceived ease of ICT use. Self‐efficacy and job satisfaction significantly and partially mediated the indirect relationships between autonomy and ease of ICT use. In the three relationship paths the perceived incentive to change had a significantly positive moderation to catalyze the relationships. Considering Indian elementary school teachers' glaring lack of autonomy, this paper suggests a policy shift involving greater teacher autonomy and the use of incentives for improved efficacy, job satisfaction, and ICT use. The relationship matrix will serve as a reference for researchers and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of the role of teacher autonomy in addressing the global issue of limited adoption and integration of ICT by school teachers.

Strategizing in a turbulent world: Analyzing the effects of international sanctions and policy shifts on corporate innovation

This study examines the impact of international sanctions and policy shifts on the technological innovation of non-financial publicly listed companies in China from 2007 to 2022. It articulates the theoretical mechanisms through which international sanctions affect corporate technological innovation, considering aspects of international trade and capital flows. The findings indicate that international sanctions significantly inhibit corporate innovation, whereas policy shifts substantially foster it. Moreover, international sanctions can restrict corporate innovation through limitations on international trade and capital flows. Based on these findings, the study proposes relevant recommendations.

Shaping sustainable future: The role of central bank in galvanizing corporate ESG performance

In June 2018, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) adopted a groundbreaking initiative by including green assets as eligible collateral for the Medium-term Lending Facility (MLF). This paper utilizes this policy shift as a quasi-natural experiment to explore its effects on corporate ESG performance. Employing a difference-in-differences approach, our findings reveal a significant enhancement in the ESG scores of affected companies following the implementation of the policy. Further inquiry into the dynamics underlying this improvement suggests that the policy alleviates financing constraints and fosters green innovation and operational efficiency among these companies, thereby boosting their ESG performance.