Soft Regulation Research Articles

Soft magnetic properties regulation of FeSiBC amorphous powders/CIP magnetic powder core with single and double-layer core–shell structure

In this study, an equal proportion of carbonyl iron powder (CIP) was added to the FeSiBC amorphous powders, then three kinds of composite powders, namely Powder@EP(epoxy resin) with a single-layer core–shell structure, Powder@SiO2(silica powder)@EP and Powder@SI(silicone resin)@EP with a double-layer core–shell structure, were synthesized and prepared into corresponding SMPCs (soft magnetic powder cores). The results show that the FeSiBC amorphous powders exhibit good sphericity, a high saturation magnetization (153.534 emu∙g−1), and a wide undercooled liquid region (△T = 51 K). When mixed with CIP, its saturation magnetization increased from 153.534 emu∙g−1 to 189.875 emu∙g−1, which is an ideal raw material for preparing SMPCs. The three SMPCs after insulation coating treatment have high permeability (29.3 ∼ 34.2), high DC bias performance (76.26 ∼ 84.11, 100 Oe), and low core loss (762.66 ∼ 902.69 mW·cm−3, 200 Gs, 1000 kHz), and excellent overall soft magnetic performance. Finally, the loss separation analysis of the magnetic core loss of SMPCs shows that the loss of Powder@SI@EP soft magnetic powder cores with a double-layer organic core–shell structure is only 762.66 mW·cm−3 at 200 Gs and 1 MHz, which is much lower than that of SMPCs with a single-layer core–shell structure (902.69 mW·cm−3, 200 Gs, 1000 kHz). At the same time, the permeability of SMPCs (31.0) is relatively high, and the comprehensive performance is good in the high-frequency range.

Corporate governance and anti-corruption disclosure

PurposeIn recent years, the role of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure has become crucial. The aim of this paper is to study how corporate governance affects one part of ESG disclosure: anti-corruption disclosure.Design/methodology/approachThis study examined 140 corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports from companies listed on the Italian stock markets and 50 CSR reports from other companies, then this study analysed the adoption of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard no. 205.FindingsThe results show a low level of disclosure, and that corporate governance issues matter. In particular, the analysis found a positive relationship between the presence of female and outside members, the number of board members and the level of anti-corruption disclosure.Research limitations/implicationsThis study acknowledges some limitations. Firstly, the research is based on a one-year sample. Secondly, the research hypotheses are confirmed only when considered in relation to a single section of the GRI standards. Thirdly, this study has a bias towards relatively large enterprises.Practical implicationsIt could be worthwhile introducing a soft regulation regarding the composition of the board of directors that requires a certain quantitative and qualitative composition.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few studies, the first in Italy, that sheds light on anti-corruption disclosure and its determinants.

The proposal of the european regulation on artificial intelligence

On 21 April 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for regulating AI (Artificial Intelligence Act - AIA. It is a pioneering legislative proposal that will undoubtedly influence other countries to follow the same path. This study aims to highlight the fundamental characteristics of the AIA to enable an overview and optimize aspects of the law. We used the descriptive exploratory method, based on bibliographic research, where we sought, from the database of the "Portal Periódicos Capes/MEC” and "Google Scholar", to make a comprehensive research of scientific articles that brought in their titles the terms Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence Act, AI regulation, data governance, hard regulation, and soft regulation. From the literature review analysis, it can be seen that the European Commission has made an option for hard regulation and that the AIA proposes a risk-based approach, imposing regulatory burdens only when an AI system is likely to pose high risks to fundamental rights. It was also concluded that the AIA seeks to prevent the suffocation of technology by allowing the development of an AI ecosystem in the European Union.

Transforming Russia's participation in the global financial architecture in the face of geopolitical challenges

Subject. This article examines the evolution of the global financial architecture. Objectives. The article aims to analyze the opportunities of Russia in the context of globalization of the financial system. Methods. For the study, I used general scientific research methods. Results. The article substantiates the narrative of creating a parallel management circuit, namely, informal financial institutions (forums) operating in close coordination with international financial structures and providing soft regulation of financial relations on the basis of standards and codes. The article finds that Russia takes second place within the framework of the international financial architecture. Conclusions. Resuming the discussion on securing the status of international means of payment for certain currencies, including the ruble, is in Russia's interest. New instruments of international settlement should be independent of issuers of reserve currencies.

Engaging faith-based communities in pro-environmental behavior using soft regulations: The case of single-use plastics

The consumption of single-use plastics, such as disposable tableware (DTW), conveys a high benefit-cost ratio for consumers while having large environmental externalities. To encourage consumers to reduce their use of DTWs, governments could use small and non-coercive changes in people’s decision-making environments (nudges). This study focuses on the Israeli ultra-Orthodox communities a secluded population group that grows much faster- and consumes much more DTW than the rest of the Israeli population. Employing a quasi-representative sample (N = 450) of this population, this study conducted a discrete-choice experiment that presents the respondent with alternative options to reduce DTW. Two kinds of Nudges–framing and social norms–were utilized. The effectiveness of these Nudges in promoting PEB among faith-based communities has received little attention in previous studies. As another contribution to the literature, this paper also integrates latent constructs such as the respondents’ environmental attitudes and level of conservativeness. 46% of the respondents chose to opt-out whereas 29%, 14%, and 11% chose ‘1-day’, ‘2-days’, and ‘3-days’ per week avoiding DTW, respectively. Social norms, framings, and environmental attitudes had a significant mediating effect, with framing being associated with the highest effect on intentions to reduce DTW, i.e., a willingness to give up 0.31 USD per family member per month, compared to 0.07 USD for an increase in the description of the social norm. The results suggest that Nudges can enhance policies aimed at encouraging pro-environmental behavior among faith-based communities.

Due Diligence in the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ESG Agenda: the Balance of Soft and "Hard" Regulations

The subject of the study is the due diligence of the company, which can manifest itself to it in corporate governance. Due diligence in corporate governance, considered in the context of the implementation of the sustainable development goals and the ESG agenda, differs significantly from the understanding adopted in Russia from the position of the highest courts in the field of detection and prevention of tax abuses. Both approaches, as well as the definition under consideration, are not normatively fixed, and the first, in accordance with world tradition and practice, is implemented through soft regulation. In an environment of uncertainty and risk diversification, there is a growing trend to make SDG and ESG prudence mandatory. In Russia, such a transition is being discussed, but there is no readiness for it, and references to European experience in the current conditions are problematic. The existing ones in this area have not yet been studied, which hinders the choice of ways and mechanisms for their regulation. The novelty of the study is to identify the need to monitor the effectiveness of soft regulation and the actual activities of Russian companies in the context of the SDGs and the ESG agenda.

ИНСТИТУТ СПОРТА В СИСТЕМЕ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ИНТЕГРАЦИИ МИГРАНТОВ РОССИИ

The article is devoted to the sociological substantiation of the Institute of Sports as a regulator in the system of social integration of migrants in Russia. The purpose of the study is to identify real sports practices of migrants, as well as scientific evidence of the consideration of the Institute of sports as a regulator in the system of social integration of migrants in Russia. The study was conducted in 2022 in the Belgorod region by the method of a questionnaire survey of grants (multi-stage sampling). As a result of the study, it was revealed that the social institute of sports does not realize its social integration resource in practice, although it has great potential. The components of the function of the Institute of sports in the system of social integration of migrants in Russia are found: recreational, socio-psychological, unifying, health-improving, aesthetic. Migrants are dominated by passive, rather than active ways of spending their free time. At the same time, sports are in the last positions among other leisure activities. In modern Russian conditions, it seems expedient to include the Institute of Sports in a single interinstitutional system that performs the function of long-term soft and effective regulation of the system of social integration of migrants. It is advisable to include state, municipal, private, as well as public sports organizations in this activity.

Europeanization of Corruption Prevention Policies in Spain

Discussions on how to prevent corruption are now at the heart of the most influential international organizations and research centers. The best ideas in this field are spreading rapidly through all organizations. This fact has combined with the European response to the economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 to generate a new process of change in Spanish anti-corruption policies. The European Union has created the Next Generation Funds (NGEU) to help the member states hardest hit by the pandemic-related crisis not only to recover from it, but also to put in place the necessary reforms to strengthen their resilience to face similar crises in the future. Given that the management of these funds, according to European regulations, is strongly conditioned not only to ensure their effective and efficient use, but also to avoid any risk of corruption, fraud and conflict of interest, all organizations (public and private) that will have any responsibility in the use of this money are obliged to develop solid control schemes that minimize such risks. This fact represents a unique opportunity for the Europeanization and improvement of Spanish anti-corruption policies. This work analyzes, comparatively with previous anti-corruption reforms, the model of change that this reform represents. It also describes the general lines of hard and soft regulation approved on this matter in Spain, as well as the implementation that the ministries most affected by the management of NGEU are carrying out of the control systems promoted by the EU. This work evaluates its positive, but also the negative ones derived from a vertical, abrupt, and accelerated model of change.

Legal Risk in Insurance Intermediarys Activity in Poland

The aim of the article is to identify legal risk and key areas and factors to determine the activity of insurance intermediaries in Poland, who conduct their activity in conditions defined by both hard and soft law regulations. The author mainly focuses on such activities of insurance intermediaries that are directly related to insurance distribution. Legal risks cover events that create uncertainty about the realization of hazards resulting from legal environment in a broad sense, which constitute a threat to the entity conducting activities aimed at achieving concrete economic targets. From the point of view of an insurance intermediary acting as an insurance distributor, legal risks together with compliance risk seem to be crucial from the perspective of the threat level and possible consequences thereof. The protection against the effects of these risks requires taking appropriate steps in the risk management process adopted by individual companies. These activities are hindered by a variety of negative phenomena occurring on the insurance market, including the overregulation and legal instability. The implementation of the compliance idea and the legal risk management program by an entity conducting brokerage and agency activities mitigates the risk of illegal practices, and consequently reduces threats arising from areas generating legal risks.

Co-produced or co-opted? Reflections on the “movement” to promote good employment in Greater Manchester

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the development of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter – a top-down soft regulation initiative that has been framed as a “movement” to promote good employment across the local area.Design/methodology/approachThe research draws on 24 semi-structured interviews with policy officers, trade unions, employers and civil society actors and various professional and employer bodies who have been involved in the charter since its inception. The interview data are complemented by documentary analysis.FindingsThe findings underline the importance of institutional factors such as political access points and the mobilising structures of the state in creating a space for progressive employment policies such as charters to emerge. We also find that the framing of the charter as a mechanism to achieve both social justice and improved productivity allows diverse actors to engage, but at the same time this results in a degree of ambiguity over the normative and substantive reference points for “good employment”.Originality/valueThe article contributes to our understanding of the changing nature of top-down political initiatives that seek to change business practices by engaging a wide range of stakeholders as Allies not adversaries. We argue that while charters are a potentially useful demand side intervention, in the absence of significant workplace or grassroots engagement and without coordinated mechanisms of monitoring and enforcement, their effects on low wage labour markets will be limited.

The limits of soft safety regulation: Does successful work with safety culture require SMS implementation?

The Swedish Transport Agency defined contributing to a high safety culture in transport companies as a key element in its regulatory strategy. This study examines how the safety culture strategy was received and enacted by regulators and companies within each transport sector, and factors influencing this. We discuss what a regulatory agency can accomplish through a safety culture strategy, and the extent to which it is bounded by the safety management maturity level in each sector. A key question is whether safety management requires a sequential, or evolutionary development, where companies must implement well-functioning safety management systems (SMS) before being organisationally mature enough to work successfully with safety culture. Our results seem to support this assertion, as we find that transport sectors with legal SMS requirements focus on safety culture, and work with safety culture elements (e.g. reporting/just culture, continuous improvement, involvement) to ensure that the SMS is a living system. Sectors without SMS requirements (i.e. road) do not focus on safety culture. Without SMS, it seems that safety culture work equals focusing on safety commitment among managers and employees. We identify additional factors influencing organisational maturity level and safety culture focus, limiting soft safety regulation, e.g. business structure, maintaining equal conditions for competition.

The Mutual Reinforcement of Hard and Soft Regulation

The Mutual Reinforcement of Hard and Soft Regulation

Hard Law and Soft Law Regulations of Artificial Intelligence in Investment Management

AbstractArtificial Intelligence (‘AI’) technologies present great opportunities for the investment management industry (as well as broader financial services). However, there are presently no regulations specifically aiming at AI in investment management. Does this mean that AI is currently unregulated? If not, which hard and soft law rules apply?Investments are a heavily regulated industry (MIFID II, UCITS IV and V, SM&CR, GDPR etc). Most regulations are intentionally technology-neutral. These regulations are legally binding (hard law). Recent years saw the emergence of regulatory and industry publications (soft laws) focusing specifically on AI. In this Article we analyse both hard law and soft law instruments.The contributions of this work are: first, a review of key regulations applicable to AI in investment management (and oftentimes by extension to banking as well) from multiple jurisdictions; second, a framework and an analysis of key regulatory themes for AI.

Soft regulation of women on boards: Evidence from Canada

AbstractIn this study, I examine the effectiveness of a national board gender diversity disclosure requirement, which is, arguably, on the “soft” end of the continuum of boardroom interventions. Using a panel dataset of 1847 hand‐collected corporate disclosures from 2015 to 2018, I perform a post‐event, historical trend analysis of the efficacy of Canada's 2014 intervention. I find evidence of real progress in the 4 years following intervention against several benchmarks. Specifically, improvements in critical mass are documented, with the proportion of boards with three of more women reaching 18.8% in 2018. Tokenism remains an issue with very little change in the number of Canadian boards with only one woman. Further analyses using a sorting methodology and panel regression analysis reveal that progress toward board gender diversity is achieved by those with board gender targets, board seat renewal policies, and written board diversity policies. In addition, I find that larger companies achieve greater progress and that progress is clustered by industry.

Are the Companies Prepared for Sustainability Reporting under the ED IFRS S1 and S2? Evidence from Poland

This article aimed to determine the implications of the Exposure Drafts (ED) IFRS S1 and S2, especially for financial reporting. The novelty of these sustainability standards is the attempt to regulate sustainability and climate-related financial information. Therefore, the article first presents the key aspects of the ED IFRS S1 and S2, and their practical implications. As both EDs represent an ambitious proposal of standard-setters, the author attempted to determine whether companies in Poland are prepared for these changes. For this reason, the EDs were confronted with (1) Poland’s legal and soft sustainability regulations, and (2) empirical research results. An empirical part was performed based on the selection of 177 companies, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). The evidence represents the collection of their responses to the selected ESG sections of “The Best Practice 2021” WSE Code. The study provides numerous conclusions and observations. ESG undoubtedly became a factor considered by multiple companies in their businesses. However, preparing for the ED IFRS S1 and S2 means a complete ESG integration into a business strategy, processes, and reporting. Only sixty companies (34%) in the examined sample declare ESG integration into a business strategy, and thirty-two companies (18%) claim they disclose the strategic data, including defined goals, measures, and progress (also ESG-related). Considering the progress of the ESG revolution, it will mean reporting transformation for most companies, i.e., building sustainability-related financial reporting from scratch. The biggest challenge will be quantifying the impact of sustainability and climate-related risks and opportunities on financial statements. Such quantification will require advanced risk management tools and the building of an integrated reporting system. The article, with its findings, may be of high interest to standard-setters, companies, and other researchers contributing to ESG and financial reporting.

The Government as Institutional Entrepreneur in Corporate Governance Reform

Governments around the world have become prolific issuers of soft law regulation in the form of corporate governance codes. However, the strategies that governments pursue to ensure the diffusion of the codes have remained unexplored in the literature. Drawing from institutional and sociopolitical perspectives, I hypothesize that governments pursue a combination of different intervention strategies to bring the corporate governance arrangements of firms in line with the issued code. These strategies focus on the mobilization of material resources, the dissemination of rationales and legitimating accounts for corporate governance change, interventions in social structure and the establishment of new social relations. I test my hypotheses in the context of the issuance of the national corporate governance code in Germany and find general support for my hypotheses.

COVID-19 contact tracing apps and the governance of collective action: social nudges, deliberation, and solidarity in Europe and beyond

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 pandemic, Digital Contact Tracing (DCT) tools were deployed by governments in Europe and beyond as a novel mobile technology to assist traditional manual contact tracing to track individuals who have come in close contact with an infected person. The public debate on this topic focused strongly on the protection of individual privacy. While this debate is important, it fails to address important governance questions – such as, for example, that DCT tools took on the role of social nudges, namely, tools of soft regulation that calibrate information flows so as to “push” people to act in ways that promote collective purposes. Social nudges include a range of norms and values that, however, are built into the technological and social features of the nudge, rather than rendering them open to public scrutiny and debate. Although the use of contact tracing apps is being phased out, the digitization of contact tracing can be seen as a case study of the broader trend towards digitization of the provision of health services. Debates of their governance thus have broader implications for the governance of data driven tools deployed for public health purposes in times of crisis.

An Exploratory Study of Beryllium and UK Soft Touch Regulation: An Enduring Example of Weaknesses of UK Occupational Health and Safety Governance.

Smart regulation, better regulation, responsive regulation, business-friendly regulation and voluntary ‘self-regulation’ have their origins deeply embedded in UK policies in the 20th century. Their aim generally is to reduce workplace regulatory obligations on employers. This can overtly or covertly undermine efforts to improve working conditions. In the UK, the historical control and regulation of beryllium (a toxic metal used in industry) illustrates this problem, and as we illustrate through an exploratory analysis of original archival material and official publications. Soft touch regulation of the metal beryllium was developed within the UK semiconductor industry when tighter controls were proposed in the 1960s and 1970s. Historical industry, government and science responses to health and safety information about beryllium provide important lessons for current debates on occupational health and safety.

Controlling Soft Fluidic Actuators Using Soft DEA-Based Valves

Fluidic soft actuators have been widely used for applications where compliance is desirable – such as in delicate robotic manipulation. As their operation is based on pressurization, fluidic actuators typically rely on bulky, rigid pumps, valves, and pressure regulators for control. This dependence on rigid components hinders the development of compact and fully-soft robots. Soft regulation systems designed for control of these actuators have been recently developed based on soft valves using dielectric elastomer actuators, but precise control has not been achieved. In this work, we leverage these valves to introduce a soft regulation system capable of precise closed-loop position control of a soft hydraulic actuator with multiple controllers. We also achieve open-loop trajectory tracking based on a data-driven model of the fluidic system. Finally, we combine the valve system with wearable strain sensors to create the first teleoperated fluidic circuit where the sensor, actuator, and regulation system are all soft. This work presents control strategies for fluid-driven actuators with soft sensors and regulation systems, showing the potential for future all-soft motion control of soft hydraulic robots.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of WRKY family genes under soft rot in Chinese cabbage.

Complex transcriptional networks regulate plant defense against pathogen attack, and plant transcription factors act as key regulators of the plant immune responses. The differences between transcription factor expression and regulation in Chinese cabbage soft rot (Pectobacterium carotovorum; Pc) have not been revealed. In this study, a total of 148 putative Chinese cabbage WRKY genes (BrWRKYs) were identified from the Chinese cabbage genome (v3.0). These genes were divided into seven subgroups (groups I, IIa–e, and III) based on phylogenomic analysis, with distinct motif compositions in each subgroup. Time-series RNA-seq was carried out to elucidate the dynamic expression patterns of the BrWRKYs on the resistant mutant (sr) and the susceptible wild-type (inbred WT) challenged by Pc. Transcriptional analysis showed that 48 WRKY transcription genes at 0–24 hpi were significantly upregulated in sr under soft rot stress. At the 12-h post-inoculation critical time point, we identified three specifically upregulated genes and two downregulated genes in the resistant mutant, which may provide potential applications for genetic improvement against soft rot. The findings improved our understanding of the WRKY-mediated soft rot stress response regulation in Chinese cabbage. The study thus lays a foundation for the genetic improvement of soft rot resistance.