Policy Implications Of Studies Research Articles

A systems‐theoretical exploration for understanding and enhancing policy design: Expanding an analytical locus with implications for policy studies

AbstractPolicy design has two analytical domains, policy design‐as‐formulation and policy design‐as‐content. The latter study policies as codified and constructed output of the formulation process, which is an activity directed to the process. The analytical concept ‘structural logic’ emerged as an internal property of policy text and has been understudied, perhaps because of the lack of methods and understanding. The paper is a systems‐theoretic exploration of systems assumptions and policy designs. The paper contributes to the theoretical underpinnings of the nature of policy design (as conceptual systems) and how systems‐based assumptions can help understand structural logic by providing a locus for studying and measuring policy element interaction. Findings suggest that it is in the interactions of those elements and connections (policy statements/propositions/directives), corresponding to the causal relations in the real world wherein the effectiveness of policy designs lies (level of structure). The exploration posits that the deep structural similarities between the domains of systems are so ecologically parallel that the insights from one system allows for similarities to be exploited and transferred to understanding the other. The paper provides insights for overcoming policy design limitations and a new way for studying policy element interaction for improving its effects in policy implementation.

Impact Execution of Social-Media for Promoting e-Governance for Tribal Development: A Data-Driven Analysis

This study investigates the impact of Social Media execution on promoting e-Governance for Tribal Development in five tribal districts of Rajasthan: Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Pratapgarh, and Sirohi. Utilizing a sample size of 360 participants, the research employs Smart-PLS for data analysis to assess the relationships among Social Media usage, e-Governance practices, and Tribal Development outcomes. The findings reveal a significant positive influence of social media on both e-Governance and Tribal Development, underscoring the role of digital platforms in enhancing governmental transparency and community engagement. Specifically, social media facilitates improved access to government services and promotes active participation in developmental initiatives. Moreover, e-Governance is a crucial mediator in enhancing Tribal Development, highlighting the transformative potential of digital governance in marginalized communities. The study's policy implications suggest the need for targeted strategies to leverage social media for effective e-Governance, aiming to boost developmental outcomes in tribal regions. This research contributes to understanding digital tools in promoting sustainable development and offers practical insights for policymakers to enhance tribal welfare through innovative governance solutions.

Gender dynamics of the impact of cash transfer on female educational expenditure of informal settlements in Bangladesh

Gender-biased educational investment remains a critical issue for vulnerable households. Despite increased female enrolment in the past decade, motivation to invest on female education remains low. Resource scarcity and low woman empowerment are two major reasons of low educational expenditure on female children of a vulnerable household. As the most vulnerable households in a society, informal settlers (slum households) are supposed to spend less on female children. However, whether there is any gender bias in informally settled households’ spending on education remains a question. Further, Cash Transfer (CT) programs provide resources to vulnerable households for investing on human capital elements like education. This study aims to examine three research questions: whether a informally settled household’s spending on education is gender biased, whether the households in which women receive CT spend more for female education than those in which women do not receive CT, and finally whether the impact of female receipt of CT differs from that of male receipt of CT in terms of female education expenditure. As the assignment of female access to CT is not randomized, the simple comparison between the treated and untreated suffers from selection bias. We employ propensity score matching (PSM) as an identification strategy to address selection bias. Inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) has been applied as a robustness check. The study's policy implications highlight the significance for policymakers in the domains of women's education, empowerment, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Unveiling health dynamics: Exploring the impact of CO2 emissions, urbanization, and renewable energy on life expectancy and infant mortality in SAARC countries (1990–2022)

AbstractThis study examines the intensifying threat to public health caused by increased CO2 emissions from energy and modern urbanization. In this connection, we focused on SAARC countries from 1990 to 2022. The study explores the dynamic association among urbanization, CO2 emissions, renewable energy, and key health indicators, namely life expectancy and infant mortality. It offers nuanced insights by highlighting the requirement for sustainable policies to meet health challenges associated with CO2 emissions and urban development in SAARC economies. To achieve the study objectives, the authors utilized panel auto regressive distributed lag for assessing short‐term and long‐run effects, and the method of moments quantile regressions to check these effects across different quantiles. The empirical results underscore the positive impact of renewable energy, urbanization, GDP, and industrialization on life expectancy. Conversely, CO2 emissions exhibit a detrimental impact on life expectancy, leading towards numerous diseases in both the short and long term. Notably, in the case of infant mortality, the study discloses that renewable energy, urbanization, GDP, and industrialization negatively affect infant mortality, while CO2 emissions positively impact infant mortality in both short and long‐run scenarios. Fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares further fortified our findings, supporting the results derived from panel auto regressive distributed lag and method of moments quantile regressions. The study's policy implications highlight the imperative for governments and policymakers to prioritize renewable energy and sustainable urbanization, mitigating the adverse health effects of CO2 emissions from non‐renewable energy sources. The study's findings further endorse a strategic shift towards renewable energy sources, positioning them as substitutes for conventional forms such as fossil fuels. Additionally, the emphasis is on planned and sustainable urbanization, facilitating improved access to health facilities and overall public health.

Role of Microfinance in Promoting Financial Inclusion and Financial Capability in Rural Areas of Rajasthan

This quantitative study explores the pivotal role of microfinance in fostering financial inclusion and enhancing financial capability in rural areas of Rajasthan. Utilizing a structured questionnaire administered through Google Form, data will be collected from a convenient sample of 480 rural respondents with prior experience in microfinance programs. The study, conducted over a six-month period, incorporates data filtering techniques to ensure the relevance and reliability of responses. Employing the Smart-PLS statistical tool, the research will analyze the relationships between microfinance engagement and financial inclusion and capability variables. The findings aim to provide nuanced insights into the efficacy of microfinance interventions in rural Rajasthan, contributing to both academic discourse and practical implications. The study's policy implications suggest that energy professionals should consider incorporating microfinance strategies to enhance financial inclusion and capability in their sustainable energy initiatives, fostering a holistic approach to rural development.

Has FinTech changed the sensitivity of corporate investment to interest rates?—Evidence from China

Taking into account the differences in the capabilities of FinTech to process standardized and non-standardized information within the credit market, this study introduces a novel perspective: FinTech has dual opposing effects on the interest rate sensitivity of corporate investment. Utilizing data from 2010Q1 to 2020Q4 of China, we empirically test this new viewpoint using the system-GMM and dynamic panel quantile regression methods. The results indicate that, overall, FinTech enhances banks' abilities to process standardized information but does not significantly weaken their capacity to handle non-standardized information. Consequently, banking FinTech amplifies the impact of interest rates on investment. However, further heterogeneity analysis reveals that FinTech does not have a significant impact on the interest rate sensitivity of investment for state-owned enterprises. Contrary to the prevalent belief that FinTech has inclusive benefits, its positive effects on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are noticeably diminished in regions with lower degrees of marketization, where non-standardized information dominates the credit market. The study's policy implications indicate that the impact of FinTech on alleviating SMEs financing constraints in developing countries may be overstated. Effective FinTech implementation necessitates synergies with market-oriented reforms. Government focus should pivot towards market-driven institutional changes, as relying solely on technological advancements for a 'leapfrog' strategy is likely to prove challenging.

The impact of foreign direct investment on stock market growth: Evidence from Pakistan

This paper aims to investigate the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on stock market growth in Pakistan from 1990 to 2020. The study aims to evaluate the impact of FDI on stock market growth in both the short and long term, as well as examine the impact of economic growth on stock market growth. The study uses an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze the long-term impacts of FDI on the stock market and an Error Correction Model (ECM) to evaluate the short-term impact. The study reveals a substantively significant and positive influence of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the growth of the stock market, observed from both a short-term and long-term perspective. Gross National Income (GNI) and Exchange Rate (ER) also have a significant bearing on stock market growth, while Interest Rate (IR) is found to have a negative impact but is statistically insignificant. The findings also confirm the impact of economic growth on stock market development, establishing a triangular relationship between FDI, Economic Growth, and Stock Market Growth. The study concludes that FDI has a significant positive impact on stock market growth in Pakistan in both the short and long term. It further suggests that macroeconomic policies should be developed and a tax-free market environment should be created to stimulate and encourage foreign direct investment for economic growth and stock market growth. The study's policy implications suggest that government officials should implement viable macroeconomic policies and create a tax-free market environment to encourage foreign direct investment for economic and stock market growth in Pakistan.

Effects of Financial Inclusion on the Economic Growth of Developing Countries: An Empirical Analysis of the Bangladesh Economy

Financial inclusion in its widest meaning refers to inexpensive access to an extensive variety of financial facilities. These include banking products, insurance, stock investments, and other financial services. Financial inclusion helps economic development by widening the financial system's resource base and encouraging rural residents to save. It also helps the rural economy grow. In this study, from 2011 to 2020, the connection between financial inclusion and economic development is examined. Financial inclusion is assessed by the number of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and the credit-deposit ratio (CDR), among other factors. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze secondary data, along with other approaches. Before analysis, the data were checked for completeness and correctness. VIF and Durbin-Watson tests examined multicollinearity and autocorrelation in the data. The study's policy implications include that financial inclusion, in all of its forms, is determined to be one of the most important components of economic development. The study focuses that the government and other policymakers must strive to preserve and promote sustainable and inclusive growth, which may be achieved via the expansion of financial inclusion. Furthermore, the results provide support to the government of Bangladesh’s social banking initiatives, which are being carried out in order to promote financial inclusion. The research found that ATMs significantly boost the country's GDP. Nonetheless, the CDR has a little beneficial influence on the GDP.

Australian cultural policy studies, South African exceptionalism

ABSTRACT This retrospective examines Tom O’Regan’s influence on South African cultural policy studies in light of the post-apartheid political transition, corruption and fallism. Implications for policy studies are discussed with regard to a recently liberated state that first, adopted Australian cultural policy precepts, and then closed them out 23 years later in response to the Rhodes Must Fall movement. Explanation is found not just in corruption and fallism, but in an inability to be outward-looking. The dialectical implications for policy studies are discussed.

From Social Investment to Investing in the Social: Insiders’ Perceptions, Experiences, and Expectations

AbstractSocial investment is a policy approach intended to promote the social inclusion of excluded individuals and groups, mainly through labour market participation and long-term human capital development. Since the 1980’s this approach has spread from Europe worldwide and is now regarded as the latest shift from both ‘traditional’ welfare and the unrestrained neoliberal policy implemented under the austerity regime of the last decades. Most social investment studies focus on the social and economic impacts of policy at the macro-level. This article takes a different perspective to examine how members of excluded communities experience social investment policy in their daily lives. The study analyzes qualitative data collected from a purposive sample of 96 participants from excluded communities in the North of Israel. Findings indicate that participants strongly support social investment ideas of inclusion via human capital development and the labour market. However, their experiences in both areas point to continued struggles with social mechanisms that marginalize them and reinforce multigenerational exclusion. Findings affirm critique of social investment when implemented without major structural changes. The study implications for policy suggest that, without such changes, the paradigmatic promises of social investment may further entrench social exclusion by replicating discriminatory and oppressive practices.

A Micro Model of Problem Definition and Policy Choice: Issue Image, Issue Association, and Policy Support of Power Plants

Past research on problem definition and public policy primarily focuses on the macro‐system level. In this study, we propose a micro model of problem definition and policy choice at the individual level. We argue that while individual citizens' problem definitions and policy preferences are rooted in and filtered through their predisposition characteristics (such as socioeconomic status, political orientation, and informational base), their policy choices also strongly depend on how they define public issues, particularly how they perceive the image of an issue at hand and how they associate the issue with other public issues. Our empirical analyses, based on data from a national public survey on energy and power plant issues, support the key propositions derived from our theoretical model. Key contributions to and implications for policy studies are discussed in conclusion.

Different Contexts and Trends: Latina Immigrant Fertility in the US and Spain

AbstractThis article provides the first cross‐national assessment of Latina immigrant fertility trends. Specifically, we compare Ecuadorian women in Spain (EiS) to Mexican women in the United States (MiUS). We focus on these two groups because they (1) have similar socio‐economic profiles and (2) are the largest Latina subgroups in their respective host countries. We show that since 2001, the fertility rate of EiS has declined substantially more than the fertility rate of MiUS has. Drawing on census and administrative data in both countries, we assess four factors that might explain this difference: economic cycles, linguistic affinity, labor market participation, and education. We argue that labor market and education factors can best help to explain Latina fertility patterns. We conclude by discussing the findings with regard to contemporary arguments about Latino culture and immigrant fertility, and by describing the study's policy implications.

A Study on Visible Minority Immigrant Women’s Experiences with Domestic Violence

The purpose of this exploratory and qualitative research was to better understand the personal experiences of visible minority immigrant women seeking help with domestic violence (DV) in Southern Ontario, Canada. In-depth interviews were carried out with two survivors of DV and three DV professionals: their personal and professional experiences with DV as it affects visible minority immigrant women were explored. A gender-based analysis of the participants’ narratives revealed that a number of diversity-related axis such as, gender, visible minority, immigrant status and economic status influenced women’s experiences with abuse. The results indicate the various barriers visible minority immigrant women who are experiencing DV, may face when they try to seek help and support. Specifically, challenges include recognition of foreign credentials and employment, language, culture, isolation, and shelters. Police responses, court proceedings, spousal sponsorship policies, legal status and fear of deportation/breakdown of sponsorship contribute to structural barriers. Study implications for policy and practice are discussed and recommendations provided.

"Rather Than Talking in Tamil, They Should Be Talking to Tamils": Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee Readiness for Repatriation

Following the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India are being expected to repatriate to their home country. Although voluntary repatriation has long been seen as the most effective and durable response to forced displacement, it can only be carried out by obtaining informed consent from refugees. This study examined Sri Lankan Tamil refugees’ readiness, support, concerns, resources, and strategies for repatriation. We found that participants were appreciative of the Indian Government’s support, but the Sri Lankan Government’s lack of a concrete repatriation plan was concerning. Lack of resources and infrastructure development, and lack of interventions to address intergenerational conflict are the main repatriation challenges identified by participants. Study implications for policy, practice, and research are also discussed. The study recommends an enhanced effort to restore the trust between State and citizens which is vital for a successful implementation of repatriation to Sri Lanka.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in a Rural Canadian Community: Client Characteristics, Client Satisfaction, and Service Effectiveness

This study describes an assertive community treatment (ACT) model in a rural Canadian location and examines characteristics of ACT service users, their degree of satisfaction with ACT, and whether their engagement with ACT resulted in reduced reliance on acute psychiatric services and hospital emergency room use. Chart audits were used to collect demographic and clinical participant data, including days of psychiatric admission and emergency room (ER) visits. Twenty-nine ACT clients agreed to participate. The majority of participants (82.8%) were male and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia or a schizoaffective disorder (65.5%). There was a high rate of concurrent substance abuse (75.9%). The average number of readmission days was reduced from 14 to 0 (p < 0.05) following engagement with ACT, and the average number of visits to ER s was reduced from 3 to 1 (p < 0.05). Participants reported overall high satisfaction with ACT services. Study implications for policy and practice are discussed along with future research recommendations.

The replication problem and its implications for policy studies

In this article we re-examine the epistemological basis for claims to ‘best evidence’ and ‘best practice’ in policy studies by tracing these to a Popperian model of theory development and testing. This model outlines how only scientific explanations that survive repeated testing count as good theory. Yet repeated testing (replication) is scarce across the social sciences – this is the ‘replication problem’. More specifically, the lack of replications in policy studies undermines the epistemological basis for policy transfer based on ‘best practice’ and ‘best evidence’. To resolve this, we offer an innovative explanation of the replication problem drawing on Foucault's concept of Episteme. In doing so, we outline two respectively different accounts of replication: ‘scientific project,’ and ‘aesthetic object.’ The latter offers alternative bases from which to pursue ‘best practice’ and ‘best evidence’.

INR and clinical articles: the case of cervical cancer

INR's Aims and Scope are designed to ‘forward ICN's mission worldwide by representing nursing, advancing the profession and shaping health policy’, and ‘authors are encouraged to explore beyond local or national interests to the more general, global application of the principles underlying their work’.1 These terms of reference can make for difficult editorial decisions regarding nurses' accounts of their local clinical research. A decision to accept a clinical article, along with satisfactory peer review, usually considers the burden of disease represented by the clinical condition described; and also the author's ability to engage in a wider discussion of the study's policy implications. Two very different articles in this issue, each with cervical cancer as their core theme, illustrate the point. With the Papanicolaou (Pap) Smear screening test widely available in the developed world, it had generally been assumed that the fight against cervical cancer had been won. In the United Kingdom this assumption was dispelled when Reality TV star Jade Goody died from the disease at age 27, leaving two sons aged five and four years.2 It has been reported that in medically advanced countries between 30% – 40% of women do not take advantage of available cervical screening.3 Globally, the statistics are awesome. A complication of the Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) ‘cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, with 500 000 new cases each year, 80% of which occur in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. More than half the women with cervical cancer will die, with deaths projected to rise by 25% over the next ten years’.4 In Botswana, where the first article originates, the Standardized Mortality Ratio is 275 per 100 000 women.5 The article explores women's beliefs about the causes of cervical cancer, and demonstrates the vital importance of nurses' health education with vulnerable women. Irrespective of the availability of cervical screening, or the question of whether less developed countries will in future be able to afford immunization against carcinogenetic HPV strains, this study found that some women engage in vaginal hygiene practices that may aggressively damage the cervical mucosa and provide a perfect medium for HPV growth. The second article, from Israel, explores the uptake of Pap smear tests amongst a group of lesbian women. Despite being undertaken in a developed country with a relatively low incidence of cervical cancer (28 per million population), the authors' research found that only 22.2% of women had undergone the Pap smear test in the past. Yet, they cite evidence from earlier research that the proportion of lesbian women who contract the HPV virus may reach 13% or even 21%, even among those who have never had sexual intercourse with a man. Here then are two clinically-related articles about a major public health issue with important messages for nurses in both the developed and less-developed world. Constant vigilance is needed to identify vulnerable groups in any society, and the need for health education by nurses, routinely on a day-by-day basis, never goes away.

Tracking changes in research priorities in physics: A macro level analysis

This paper attempts to monitor the changes in research priorities in Physics by analyzing the research profile of thirty three countries in major fields of Physics as classified under PACS (Physics and Astronomy Classification scheme). Data is taken from INSPEC (CD-ROM) version under two different time periods—1990 & 1995. Priority Index (PI) is used to understand the priorities of countries in major fields and shifts in their priorities during these two time periods. Correspondence analysis is applied to the matrices of research priorities to understand the multivariate relationships between countries and fields and reveal the dynamics of changes taking place in two time periods. The results and its implications for policy studies are discussed.