Structural Adjustment Research Articles

Improving Human Resource Quality as a Key to Harmonizing Law Enforcement in Military Judicial Environment

Law enforcement in the military justice environment in Indonesia faces unique challenges, including legal gaps and inadequate quality of human resources (HR). This impacts the effectiveness of law enforcement and justice for members of the TNI. This research aims to explore the barriers to law enforcement in military courts and provide recommendations to improve the quality of human resources and the effectiveness of law enforcement. The research method used is normative legal research with statutory and conceptual approaches. Data collection was conducted through literature study and analysis of relevant legal documents. The results showed that there were several obstacles, including the lack of clear regulations, lack of qualified human resources, and disharmony between the military and general courts. Although legal procedures exist, their implementation is often hampered by lengthy bureaucracy and a lack of training for military legal personnel. This research recommends improved education and training, competency-based recruitment, and the development of an information management system for law enforcement efficiency. To improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in military courts, structural and substantial reforms need to be carried out, including improving the quality of human resources and harmonization between the military and general justice systems. These efforts are expected to create a justice system that is more responsive and accountable to the needs of society.

BOARD ATTRIBUTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING: THE INFLUENCE OF OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE

This study aims to investigate the influence of ownership structure on the extent to which the board attributes in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) promote environmental Sustainability Reporting. Using the dynamic panel-data estimation method, the paper uses 1,970 firm-year observations manually extracted from publicly listed non-financial firms' financial reports in SSA from 2012 to 2021. The paper finds that the block ownership structure does not significantly moderate board attributes and environmental sustainability reporting in publicly listed SSA forms. Also, Government-owned firms moderate board independence and environmental sustainability reporting. The paper further finds that foreign ownership structure influences the relationship between board gender diversity and environmental sustainability reporting in SSA. The paper finds that the relationship between board attributes and ecological sustainability reporting differs and depends on the ownership structure type. These findings imply that corporate governance reforms in the ownership structure should be implemented to improve environmental reporting in SSA. To strengthen sustainability reporting, policymakers in SSA should prioritize the development of robust regulatory frameworks and consider the nature of ownership structure since the influence of corporate governance characteristics depends on the type of ownership structure. The paper presents a new perspective on board attributes and environmental sustainability literature by uncovering the influence of ownership structure on board attributes and environmental sustainability reporting in SSA. The paper contributes to board attributes and environmental sustainability literature and holds significant theoretical, conceptual, and practical implications.

The vertical curriculum in the lifelong learning perspective

The paper considers the concept of the vertical curriculum in the lifelong learning conception. The concept of vertical curriculum introduces an issue that marks a discontinuity with transformative values in pedagogical debate and teaching practice. The perspective of lifelong learning modifies and integrates the educational project precisely on the basis of a different temporal conception, not only on the adjustment of organizational structures but on the ecology of development and learning understood as a vital process. In this sense, schools must confront the scientifically proven thesis that people continue to learn and transform throughout their lives and must at the same time make this idea pedagogically sustainable. From this point of view, the reference map comes to be supplemented with the concepts of mental plasticity and pervasiveness of knowledge, from which some key criteria for learning-to-learn-oriented design, among others, can be derived. The vertical curriculum represents a cultural artifact, progressive and recursive, capable of promoting training in complexity, understood in this part as a process that is related to the dimension of reflexivity and strategic competencies: a process that lasts throughout the life cycle and allows for the construction of meanings from experience, in a perspective of critical consciousness, global citizenship and planetary responsibility.

Towards Progressive Multilateralism: Decoding the Trilemma of State, Democracy, and Globalisation

Institutions have long been influenced by their idiographic milieu. Western liberal institutions, grounded in liberal internationalism, often negate the institutional epistemology that advocates for diversity in the structural reform of Multilateral Institutions. Neo-liberal institutions, however, promote ontological tendencies in multilateral institutions. Decoding the functioning of the state, democracy and globalisation offers insights into restructuring the multilateral institutions (MIs). The study uses regression analysis to know the functioning of the state, democracy and globalisation in the countries of the global South and global North. Social determinism helps recognise and deconstruct ontological MIs. G-20, a conglomeration of developing and developed countries, is better positioned to make consensus through consultative, collaborative and decisive processes amid competing interests and ideologies. The study finds the variables of political trilemma vary contrary to neo-liberal prescriptions of reducing government size to encourage trade openness & liberal democracy. Moreover, the study refuted the notion that democracy leads to trade openness and the concurrent relationship between government size and democracy. These findings present a strong case to rethink and restructure multilateralism and MIs.

Ideologies that South Africa can borrow from selected high-growth nations in efforts to re-establish its developmental state model

This article examines the philosophies that South Africa can adopt from specific high-growth nations to reinstate its "developmental state" paradigm. In the post-Apartheid period, following South Africa's liberation from the governing National Party, numerous initiatives were suggested to rejuvenate the nation and enhance its presence on both national and global stages. The newly established ANC government, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, formulated and implemented several people-centric policies and strategic initiatives. The administration embraced "developmental state" ideals, believing that state economic engagement may improve its ability to address the legacy of apartheid, especially the challenges of poverty, unemployment, and widespread inequalities. Nevertheless, despite three decades of democracy, the purported "developmental state" continues to exhibit numerous governance and socioeconomic issues, including elevated poverty rates, social inequality, disparate land access, unemployment, and disparities in public service availability. The discourse on South Africa's status as a "developmental state" persists, along with enquiries into how the nation may realign itself to achieve its goal of being a "developmental state." This document seeks to compile methods that South Africa could use based on examples from selected high-growth nations. This paper will examine how South Africa might reverse its economic decline, the necessary institutional and structural reforms, and the social and political contexts required to establish itself as a more credible "developmental state". This research utilises a qualitative secondary analysis of existing textual data regarding the relationship between South Africa, the "developmental state," and the chosen high-growth countries.

Green Transformation of Industrial Structure of Jiaxing City Driven by Synergizing the Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions

The "Implementation Plan for Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions" emphasizes the need to explore mechanisms for pollution and carbon emission reductions, strengthen efforts for synergistic reduction, and accelerate the green and low-carbon development in different types of cities. Thus, this study established a multi-objective optimization model for the industrial structure of the city based on green total factor productivity （GTFP）, which was applied to Jiaxing, an emerging coastal city. The results indicated an overall 8% increase in GTFP across various industries in Jiaxing from 2016 to 2019. The top three economic sectors - chemical products； electricity and thermal production and supply； and communication equipment, computers, and other electronic devices-ranked 12th, 15th, and 5th in GTFP, respectively. Conversely, industries with the top three GTFP rankings-other manufacturing products, specialized equipment, food, and tobacco-ranked 19th, 12th, and 14th in GDP, respectively. Given the mismatch between economic output and environmental benefits among different industries, deepening industrial structure adjustment and promoting synergistic pollution reduction and carbon reduction are imperative. The chemical industry （decreasing by 2%） and the electricity and thermal production and supply industry （decreasing by 1%） crucially need industrial transformation. This can be achieved by setting higher environmental thresholds, reducing the growth rate of fixed asset investment, and curbing the final consumption of these industries to enhance the efficiency of existing facilities. Meanwhile, the service industry （increasing by 5%） should be rapidly developed, while other industries can continue to grow at their current pace. The city-level industrial structure optimization model established in this study can effectively support future decision-making for the dual control of total carbon emissions and intensity, foster new-quality productivity, and promote carbon peaking and green low-carbon high-quality development in different cities.

Analysis of EU’s Coupled Carbon and Electricity Market Development Based on Generative Pre-Trained Transformer Large Model and Implications in China

With increasing global attention on carbon emission control and sustainable development, the carbon market has become an important tool for promoting environmental sustainability and carbon emission regulation. As an important part of energy trading, the electricity market is closely related to the carbon market and their effective coupling is critical for achieving sustainable energy transitions. Power generation can effectively link carbon prices and electricity prices. Through the promulgation of reasonable policies, we can promote the coupling of the carbon market and the electricity market, and then, through macro-control, promote the steady and joint development of the carbon and electricity markets, improve the construction of the carbon rights market, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a sustainable future for humanity. Given the relative maturity of the EU carbon market and electricity market, this paper identifies key points of market volatility through the coupling coordination model analysis and uses the GPT large model analysis to analyze policy factors that have a greater impact on carbon market and electricity market transactions. The research results show that market-regulating policies and expectation management policies have the greatest impact on the degree of coupling between the carbon and electricity markets. The impact of secondary policies such as international cooperation policies and structural adjustment policies is relatively insignificant. Although the development of China’s carbon market faces many challenges, reasonable policy interventions are expected to achieve significant results in the domestic carbon market. Finally, this paper also draws on analogy analysis to draw corresponding implications for China from the EU’s carbon–electricity coupling policy promulgation.

What Is the Effect of China’s Renewable Energy Market-Based Coupling Policy?—A System Dynamics Analysis Based on the Coupling of Electricity Market, Green Certificate Market and Carbon Market

In the context of China’s electricity market reform, green certificate trading and carbon trading, as important policy tools to promote the development of renewable energy and energy conservation and emission reduction in the power industry, will inevitably be coupled with the electricity market. In order to study whether the coupled market can successfully achieve the goals of power supply structure adjustment and carbon emission reduction, this paper establishes a system dynamics (SD) model, analyzes the correlation and coordination mechanism among the green certificate market (TGC), carbon market (ET) and electricity market, including generation right trading, and simulates the changes of market price and power supply structure. The results show that (1) the power price under the coupling of three markets includes the TGC price and the ET price, so it is influenced by the ratio of renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and carbon reduction policy; (2) the combination of the TGC mechanism and the ET mechanism will be conducive to the optimization of long-term market power supply structure, so as to promote the realization of emission reduction targets; and (3) power generation rights trading, as a carbon reduction policy, will reduce the power generation of fossil energy in the short-term market, but in the long run, it will lead to the loss of momentum for the development of renewable energy. Therefore, regulators need to reasonably adjust different policies in order to give full play to the comprehensive regulatory role and help the energy and power industry and the low-carbon transformation of society.

Research on the development path of Chengdu as a low-carbon city under the dual constraints of carbon emission and economic growth

As the proportion of carbon emissions from urban areas rises, cities like Chengdu have become critical frontiers for emission reduction in China. Consequently, constructing low-carbon cities has emerged as the primary strategy for mitigating carbon emissions. According to the LMDI additive decomposition analysis, Chengdu’s carbon emissions increased by 4,397,700 tons during the 13th Five-Year Plan, primarily due to economic expansion, which alone accounted for an increase of 8,078,200 tons. Meanwhile, shifts in industrial structure and reductions in energy intensity contributed to declines of 657,700 tons and 3,016,500 tons, respectively, while changes in energy structure resulted in a marginal decrease of 640 tons. The LMDI multiplicative decomposition indicates a 10.3% growth in carbon emissions, with economic size amplifying emissions by 1.197 times, while enhanced energy intensity mitigated growth, reducing emissions to 0.935 times 2016 levels. Adjustments in industrial and energy structures exerted minimal impact on emission reductions. By developing a decomposition model for carbon emission influencing factors across various industries, this study identifies challenges to economic growth within the context of carbon reduction constraints and proposes pathways for low-carbon city development, including industrial restructuring, urban optimization, green building initiatives, and comprehensive transportation systems, thereby offering valuable insights for national low-carbon city initiatives.

Inequality and Informal Economy: The Moderating Role of Financial Technology

Abstract Increasing income distribution gaps have become a global socio-economic problem accentuating economic and social exclusion with a potential of generating declining social cohesion and political stability. This study examines the relationship between the informal economy and income inequality, alongside the moderating effect of financial technology (fintech). The persistent prevalence of informal economies in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDE) is often associated with elevated income inequalities. Utilizing data from 2012 to 2022 across 18 African countries, this study employs the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to address potential endogeneity biases and to robustly estimate the relationship between the size of the informal economy and income distribution. The results indicate that a larger informal economy correlates with reduced income inequalities, acting as a buffer for marginalized communities by providing economic opportunities. Conversely, fintech initially indicates an increase in income disparities due to skill and access discrepancies. However, when functioning as a moderating factor between informal economies and income inequality, fintech demonstrates a potential to reduce the inequality gap. This study suggests that policy interventions geared towards economic formalisation need to account for the dual role of financial technologies. Further research is required to explore other socio-economic factors, including political dynamics and labour market policies, which influence income inequalities. Prominent policy decision confronting African governments is the role of the informal economy. The findings of the study advocate for a nuanced approach to addressing structural reforms within informal sectors and carefully utilise fintech as a tool for promoting equitable income distribution

Japan's GDP Growth and Macro Policy Adjustments: Historical Review and Prospective Analysis

As a highly developed economy, Japan's economy has experienced years of rapid growth and structural adjustment. After entering the 21st century, Japan's economy is facing unprecedented challenges. From the historical development to the current situation, and then to the future prospect, this article analyzes the evolution process and challenges faced by Japan's economy. Firstly, the article reviews the historical development of Japan's economy and points out its rapid growth, structural adjustment and challenges in different stages. Subsequently, it analyzes the impact of macroeconomic policies on Japan's economy. On this basis, the future development trend of Japanese economy is further prospected, and it is pointed out that globalization, technological innovation, aging population and other factors will have a far-reaching impact on Japanese economy. Finally, it summarizes the experience and challenges of Japanese economy, and emphasizes the importance of deepening reform, optimizing industries and upgrading science and technology to steady growth.

Investing In High Technology: Strategies for International Financial Markets

With the development of the world, the connection between the international financial market and the high-tech industry is becoming increasingly close. The innovation and development of the high-tech industry has not only promoted the adjustment and upgrading of the global economic structure, but also injected new vitality and opportunities into the international financial market. The theme of the research is to explore investing strategies of the high technology industry in the international financial market. Through the collection and analysis of relevant literature, the selection of typical cases for in-depth research, the processing and analysis of the collected data. After research, we have come to the following main results, the development trend and prospects of the high-tech industry have great development potential. Changes in the international financial market will have an important impact on investment in the high-tech industry. Investors investing in high-tech industries in the international financial market need to develop effective investment strategies and methods. This study argues that investment in the high-tech industry is of great strategic significance in the context of the international financial market. Investors should pay close attention to the development trends and prospects of the high-tech industry, as well as the changes in the international financial market, and formulate effective investment strategies and methods.

Analysis of Existing Condition and Direction of Low-carbon Economy from the standpoint of Green Trade

Global environmental awareness has increased, and green trade between countries is frequent. From the viewpoint of green trade, China's low-carbon economic development is showing a good trend, and low-carbon economy has evolved into a recognized economic development direction by countries across the globe. To establish a low-carbon economy, China has carried out a great deal of initiatives to decrease emissions of carbon, including the establishment of revocable energy, the promotion of energy structural transformation, and the pursuit of green and low-carbon growth via innovative technology and advancement in industry. China's green trade cooperation with the rest of the world is expanding, accelerating the growth of low-carbon sectors. Nowadays, influenced by various factors, China's low-carbon economy still faces practical problems such as lack of technological innovation, irrational energy structure adjustment, and insufficient relevant laws and regulations. The establishment of an economy with low carbon footprint requires the combined efforts of the country, the government, and the people to promote it. In the future development trends, technological innovation will become an important factor to facilitate the formation of a free of carbon economy. Under the scope of green trade, China's low-carbon society has broad development prospects. The creation of a low-carbon economy will contribute significantly to China's green and low-carbon transition, along with the nation's social and economic growth over time.

Electron modulation strategy of heterogeneous Ni2P/FeP coupled with CeO2 for efficient overall water splitting

Interface engineering presents a promising avenue for elucidating the electronic structure of an electrocatalyst to enhance the ad/desorption process of intermediate substances (H2O*, H*, OH*). This study used a strategy guided by interface engineering optimization to design a heterostructure electrocatalyst (CeO2-Ni2P/FeP/NF). In alkaline media, heterostructure electrocatalyst requires only 103 mV and 189 mV to drive the HER and OER at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2. As a dual-function electrode, CeO2-Ni2P/FeP/NF electrocatalysts require only 1.53, 1.76, and 1.85 V cell voltage to provide 10, 50, and 100 mA·cm−2 current densities. Experiments and DFT calculations reveal that CeO2 can promote electronic reconstruction at heterogeneous interfaces, enhancing the activity of Ni, Fe, and P sites. More importantly, the CeO2-Ni2P/FeP/NF heterojunction exhibits great synergistic effects, optimizing the ad/desorption of H2O* and H*, consequently inducing a substantial increase in the electronic energy at the Fermi level. This work presents a promising electronic structure adjustment strategy to fabricate highly active and durable electrocatalysts for efficient energy conversion.

Resilient health reforms in times of permacrisis: the Greek citizens’ perspective

This study investigates Greek citizens’ attitudes toward the current healthcare system and their perspectives on healthcare reforms. Additionally, it explores the role of both endogenous and exogenous crises in accelerating the implementation of long-overdue structural reforms that might otherwise be challenging to achieve. To this end, the research examines the level of trust in institutions and the implementation of healthcare reforms following the fiscal crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that while most Greek citizens recognize the necessity of structural reforms within the healthcare system, approximately half of the population views these changes negatively. The primary obstacles to successful reform are identified as a lack of political will and resistance from specific interest groups. The contradiction within Greek society concerning healthcare reform is largely driven by low levels of institutional trust and social capital. Although there is a clear need for radical reforms, public perception tends to be negative when these changes are framed within political discourse. However, when reforms align with the actual needs of society, citizens’ trust in institutions increases, thereby improving the likelihood of successful policy implementation. This underscores the critical role of institutional trust in facilitating significant healthcare policy transformations.

“The most important research project”: the World Bank and the commodity problem of international development in the 1960s

This article reconstructs the brief but intense involvement of the World Bank with the commodity problem in the 1960s. It argues that the rise of economic expertise at the Bank brought the institution to the debates on stabilising international commodity prices, creating international buffer stocks, and engaging in export diversification projects. The article shows that the Bank was much closer to proposals usually associated with organisations like UNCTAD and CEPAL and emphasised macroeconomic adjustment before Robert McNamara’s presidency and the advent of structural adjustment lending. It thus offers a revisionist analysis of the Bank’s political economy in the 1960s.

Rethinking Climate Justice: Insights from Environmental Sociology

This paper reexamines climate justice through the framework of environmental sociology, offering fresh perspectives on the intersection of social and ecological systems in the face of escalating global climate crises. It emphasizes that inequality lies at the heart of global climate politics, often obstructing pathways toward achieving a true climate solution. Drawing from established traditions within environmental sociology—such as the new ecological paradigm, the post-growth society, and the environmental justice paradigm—the paper advocates for profound systemic and structural reforms in political and economic systems to tackle entrenched inequalities. By integrating these frameworks, the paper proposes a comprehensive model of climate justice, encompassing material, procedural, compensatory, and transformative dimensions of justice. This holistic approach not only addresses environmental sustainability but also prioritizes social equity, ensuring that marginalized communities are included in the global response to climate change. The paper thus positions this model as a critical component of broader environmental and social transformation.

Examining the Nexus Between Renewable Energy, CO2 Emissions, and Economic Factors: Implications for Countries Marked by High Rates of Coronary Heart Disease

This study investigates the complex interconnections between renewable energy adoption, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and economic factors in 50 countries marked by high rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) between 2000 and 2020. Utilizing a sophisticated two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator and panel data method, our analysis reveals a significant negative impact of renewable energy on greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the role of sustainable energy sources in mitigating environmental and quality of life degradation. Additionally, our findings support the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), demonstrating an inverted U-shaped relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and CO2 emissions. In line with nascent studies, the EKC for CO2 emissions suggests that as a country’s GDP per capita increases, the CO2 emissions initially rise but eventually decline after reaching a certain level of economic development, forming an inverted U-shaped relationship. Specifically, nations facing high cardiovascular heart disease mortality rates display an important link between renewable energy integration and improved environmental quality. These insights underscore the urgency for countries to transition rapidly to green energy, advocating for policies that promote renewable technologies through partnerships between the public, private sector, and government entities. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the necessity of innovative structural reforms in developing countries to stimulate economic growth beyond the EKC turning point, ensuring sustainable development while curbing their carbon footprint resulting from economic activities. Future research should explore the broader global contexts, considering variables like social capital and globalization to inform targeted policies aimed at safeguarding public health and the environment.

Green and efficient fine control of regional irrigation water use coupled with crop growth-carbon emission processes

The effective, environmentally friendly, and optimally deployed management of regional agricultural water resources is crucial to ensuring food security and the sustainable use of water resources in the face of challenging agricultural issues, such as increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water scarcity, and rapid population and economic growth. In this study, a multiobjective model for the optimal distribution of regional agricultural water resources was built, using the GIS-DSSAT and GIS-DNDC models, to simulate the regional spatial raster crop growth process and carbon emission process. The model allowed for the creation of synergies in both crop production and emission reduction. The model was solved using a fuzzy planning algorithm, and applied to the main Sanjiang Plain grain production area in Heilongjiang Province, yielding the best water allocation scheme and a set of planting structure adjustment schemes for the main grain crops of rice, maize, and soybeans in 1074 Sanjiang Plain response units. In contrast to the current method, which relies heavily on soil and water resources, the model developed in this paper reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10 %, energy consumption by 14.4 %, and regional irrigation water use by 34.48 %. It achieved the dual goal of reducing GHG emissions and conserving water, while increasing the synergy between increased regional food production and decreased emissions by 21 % compared to the status quo. Climate change will pose series of challenges to agricultural production, particularly the arable land and water resource usage. By optimizing cropping structures and irrigation systems, climate-adaptive management can not only reduce the area of arable land and water consumption, but also decrease carbon emissions; for the SSP2–4.5 and SSP3–7.0 scenarios, this trend resulted in increases in economic benefits of 2.4 % and 3.3 %, respectively, and decreases in carbon emission scenarios of 14.6 % and 20.7 %, respectively. The yields and GHG emissions of the response units were sensitive to these changes. This study offers decision-making support for the intense, effective, and low-carbon management of water resources.

Tradeoffs When Building and Running Cohort and Patient-Level Markov Simulation Models

The choice of health care modeling approaches is driven by trade-offs between various modeling techniques. This study evaluates cohort (CH) versus patient-level (PL) Markov modeling techniques within a cost-effectiveness analysis framework to understand the practical decisions analysts face. Both the CH and PL models were constructed using identical datasets and similar assumptions. Each model included eight health states to capture disease severity and symptom types and allowed switching from first-line to second-line treatment. We assessed model outcomes and performance using various quantitative and qualitative techniques. The CH and PL models yielded very similar base case results; only minor differences in functionality and outcome consistency were detected. The CH model offered greater stability and easier parameter testing, while the PL model provided superior flexibility for structural adjustments and detailed patient pathway and subgroup analysis. However, the PL model required substantially more computational time for sensitivity analyses and more technical skills to understand and interpret patient pathways and model results. CH modeling faced more challenges when extensive structural changes were initiated. Choosing between CH and PL modeling techniques involves the careful assessment of trade-offs between the need for a flexible and informed model and the optimization of human and computational resources.