Supply-side Dynamics Research Articles

Identifying vulnerabilities in essential health services: Analysing the effects of system shocks on childhood vaccination delivery in Lebanon

Shocks effects are under-theorised in the growing literature on health system resilience. Existing work has focused on the effects of single shocks on discrete elements within the health system, typically at national level. Using qualitative system dynamics, we explored how effects of multiple shocks interacted across system levels and combined with existing vulnerabilities to produce effects on essential health services delivery, through the prism of a case study on childhood vaccination in Lebanon. Lebanon has experienced a series of shocks in recent years, including large-scale refugee arrivals from neighbouring Syria, the COVID-19 pandemic and a political-economic crisis. We developed a causal loop diagram (CLD) to explore the effects of each shock individually, and in combination. The CLD was developed and validated using qualitative data from interviews with 38 stakeholders working in Lebanon's vaccination delivery system, in roles ranging from national level policy to facility-level service delivery, conducted between February 2020 and January 2022.We found that each of the shocks had different effects on service demand- and supply-side dynamics. These effects cascaded from national through to local levels. Both Syrian refugee movement and the COVID-19 pandemic primarily exposed vulnerabilities in service demand, mainly through slowly emerging knock-on effects on vaccination uptake behaviour among host communities, and fear of contracting infection in crowded health facilities respectively. The economic crisis exposed wider system vulnerabilities, including demand for vaccination as household income collapsed, and supply-side effects such as reduced clinic time for vaccination, declining workforce retention, and reduced availability of viable vaccine doses, among others. Finally, important pathways of interaction between shocks were identified, particularly affecting the balance between demand for vaccination through publicly supported facilities and private clinics. Future research should incorporate dynamic approaches to identifying within-system vulnerabilities and their potential impacts under different scenarios, as a precursor to improved resilience measurement, system preparedness, and intervention targeting.

Generations of pride? LGBTQ+ rights, sexuality, and voting behaviour in Spain

ABSTRACT This study investigates the enduring presence of a sexuality gap in political behaviour within the unique context of Spain – an early-mover country in the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights. First, analysing supply-side dynamics, we demonstrate that political parties in Spain remain markedly polarised on LGBTQ+ rights. Second, utilising original survey data, we observe a more pronounced sexuality gap among younger generations: the youngest LGB voters demonstrate notably greater support for left-wing parties, particularly emergent progressive parties to the left of the social democrats than their older counterparts, while rejecting right-wing alternatives. These results underscore the enduring significance of sexual identity in shaping political behaviours, even in a nation celebrated for its strides in the advancement LGBTQ+ rights.

Weather shocks and movie recreation demand in China

Understanding the impacts of weather shocks on various economic sectors is crucial for designing effective climate policies. While previous studies have focused mainly on the agricultural and industrial sectors, there has been limited exploration of weather effects on the service sector, particularly in emerging economies. This study addresses this research gap by analyzing high-frequency movie-viewing records of 49 major cities in China between 2015 and 2017 to examine the effects of weather shocks on in-theater movie recreation. The findings reveal that both extreme temperatures and pouring rains significantly reduce movie demand. We also investigate the relationship between weather and movie supply at both extensive and intensive margins, and confirm the weather-movie demand results are not driven by supply-side dynamics. The back-of-the-envelope calculation indicates that extreme temperatures led to a loss of 5.14 million moviegoers and a 311.32 million Chinese Yuan loss in box office revenue for the Chinese film market in 2017, while losses due to pouring rains amounted to 1.28 million audiences and 69.16 million Chinese Yuan in revenues. This paper highlights the significant damage caused by current extreme weather conditions to China's film market and emphasizes that such damage is expected to worsen in the future with the intensification of climate change.

The influence of global and domestic uncertainty on electricity supply: A study of Swedish power sources

Developing sustainable energy systems through system integration and sector coupling may involve permeating previous isolated and idiosyncratic reactions through the whole system. This study examines supply side dynamics of how uncertainty and spot prices influence electric power supply in an internationally connected electricity system. By applying quantile methods, the study reveals highly nonlinear and asymmetric responses in supplied electricity given a change in uncertainty or system spot prices. The findings show that while the total supply of electricity is largely unaffected by uncertainty and spot price, both supply level and changes in power supply for specific dispatchable power sources are influenced differently depending on the type of uncertainty (domestic or global). The findings also show that the response structure induced by uncertainty and spot price seems to be largely uniform and power source specific. This has implications for creating, amongst other things, integrated systems, and sector coupling, where there is a need for inexpensive excess power supply.

Stakeholders’ perception of a total market approach to HIV self-testing (HIVST) for the private sector in Nigeria

BackgroundThe continuous supply of affordable and quality HIV self-test (HIVST) is a key pillar toward achieving the global HIV 95–95-95 target in Nigeria. This was a descriptive qualitative study that explored private sector stakeholders’ perceptions of the enablers and barriers of the HIVST market in Nigeria.MethodsA total of 29 In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with HIVST supply chain stakeholders and private sector providers (PPMVs and Community Pharmacies). Responses were analyzed using Nvivo software and we systematically developed a total market approach analysis for supply chain stakeholders and archetypes for community Pharmacies and PPMVs based on insights gathered from their journey map.ResultsChallenges to the supply side dynamics include forecasting, point of care service delivery, the availability of free and subsidized HIVST kits in the market, neglect of private sector providers (Community Pharmacists and PPMVs) in the healthcare delivery system, limited demand for HIVST, and regulatory bottlenecks influences the overall market dynamics. High cost of the HIVST kit, which triggers low availability, accessibility and affordability from the demand side, depicts the need to understand the market dynamics. Addressing the barriers and optimizing the enablers of the three-model pharmacist and PPMV’s will change the market dynamic and service delivery to generate demand.ConclusionTo address challenges which already exist, the government need to revise the process guidelines for introducing new HIVST products in the Nigerian market, developing contingency plans to ensure the supply of HIVST remains sufficient when experiencing economic shocks, and create a sustainable roadmap toward optimizing the market for HIVST kits.

Post-Soviet Suburbanization as Part of Broader Metropolitan Change: A Comparative Analysis of Saint Petersburg and Riga

Studies on post-socialist suburbanization, which originally focused on demand side dynamics and linear narratives of modernization, have progressively adopted more holistic approaches that consider the various dimensions and factors behind the phenomenon. However, there are still significant gaps and shortcomings affecting this research domain; studies encompassing demand side and supply side dynamics are rare, and so are comparative perspectives. The phenomenon has rarely been analyzed in the context of broader metropolitan change, together with other dynamics such as inner-city gentrification, degradation, or maintenance/regeneration of socialist era residential neighborhoods. This study addresses the mentioned gaps through a multi-dimensional comparative pilot analysis of suburban dynamics in Saint Petersburg and Riga. The analysis encompasses the spatial extent of demographic, socioeconomic, and housing market dynamics within the broader context of metropolitan change. The findings reveal a picture of a demographically and economically significant phenomenon with remarkable implications for macro- and micro-level socio-spatial segmentation; the distinctive features between the two cases are primarily due to migration dynamics and the short/medium term effects of the 2008 financial crisis on the real estate market and industry. Overall, the suburban option appears to be an attractive option for the demand side (in terms of an economic trade-off or societal aspiration) as well as a safe and profitable option for developers.

Innovation systems for technology diffusion: An analytical framework and two case studies

Existing theories on the diffusion of innovations fail to sufficiently account for contextual factors such as institutions, infrastructure, and supply-side dynamics. This paper presents a novel framework to analyse technology diffusion from a sociotechnical systems perspective, intended as an analytical tool to identify and assess drivers and barriers to diffusion that could be addressed through policy or business strategy. This framework, referred to as the diffusion innovation system (DIS) approach, is positioned within the innovation systems literature. The framework is applied to two empirical cases of renewable energy technology diffusion in Sweden: solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind power. The cases illustrate how key factors related to institutions, infrastructure, adopters, and supply co-develop over time as the technologies diffuse, hence demonstrating the merits of the framework. As these changes are both a reaction to and a cause of diffusion, the sociotechnical diffusion system develops through positive feedback loops. Although the systems' development is largely conducive of diffusion, some remaining and potential barriers are identified.

Explaining expedited energy transition toward renewables by COVID-19 in India

Energy transition toward renewables, mainly wind and solar, has gained momentum in the past decade. Although the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented, multi-faceted challenges and uncertainties, India witnessed an expedited energy transition in 2020. With our newly constructed Electric System Dispatch Model for India (ESDMI), this study aims to provide an explanation of the underlining mechanisms. The Janta Curfew (7am-9pm) in India was observed on March 22, 2020 followed by a 21-day complete lockdown starting March 25, 2020 to control the spread of the virus. Electricity demand in India dropped by nearly a quarter. We model the supply-side dynamics prior to and during the pandemic response as well as in a counterfactual scenario in the pandemic's absence. We find that the expedited energy transition could be explained by (i) the higher priority of a large renewables fleet to access electric grid either through stipulations and the merit order effect, and (ii) coal-fired electricity generation is less flexible than natural gas and hydropower units. A substantial amount of coal-fired power plants in India are still far from reaching their designed lifetimes. Their low resilience in such crises could exacerbate the problem of stranded assets.

Life-course and Cohort Impacts in Women’s Pathways to Politics: Post-active Motherhood as a Time of Political Possibility in India

Women’s gendered responsibilities of caring for children and the home is persistently identified as a barrier to gender-equal representation in political office. Rather than solely seeking to help women overcome what are often insurmountable barriers, we argue that we also need to align our strategies with women’s culturally specific life-courses, and the socio-historical conditions of particular cohorts. Drawing upon the experiences of women political actors in Dehradun, North India, we identify post-active motherhood – the stage of life after children are independent but prior to old-age – as an under-recognised moment of political possibility. While women in middle-age have the motivation, time and experience to contest elections (supply-side dynamics), the political environment remains hostile to their political advancement (demand-side dynamics). Further, the socio-historical conditions of the next cohort of women political actors, now approaching post-active motherhood are indicative of limited opportunities for political apprenticeship compared to their seniors. We argue for a far-sighted approach to research and practice aimed at increasing women’s political leadership that analyses and works with culturally and historically specific life-courses for each incoming generation of women political actors.

A Literature Synthesis of Actions to Tackle Illegal Parrot Trade

The order Psittaciformes is one of the most prevalent groups in the illegal wildlife trade. Efforts to understand this threat have focused on describing the elements of the trade itself: actors, extraction rates, and routes. However, the development of policy-oriented interventions also requires an understanding of how research aims and actions are distributed across the trade chain, regions, and species. We used an action-based approach to review documents published on illegal Psittaciformes trade at a global scale to analyze patterns in research aims and actions. Research increased exponentially in recent decades, recording 165 species from 46 genera, with an over representation of American and Australasian genera. Most of the research provided basic knowledge for the intermediary side of the trade chain. Aims such as the identification of network actors, zoonosis control, and aiding physical detection had numerous but scarcely cited documents (low growth rate), while behavior change had the highest growth rate. The Americas had the highest diversity of research aims, contributing with basic knowledge, implementation, and monitoring across the whole trade chain. Better understanding of the supply side dynamics in local markets, actor typology, and actor interactions are needed. Protecting areas, livelihood incentives, and legal substitutes are actions under-explored in parrots, while behavior change is emerging.

Learning from unexpected technological success: an extended model of supply-side diffusion

ABSTRACT Researchers have studied the diffusion of information technology (IT) mainly as a process of adoption. However, the practices of supply-side agents of diffusion are just as critical to guaranteeing the adaptation of technology to the changing needs of the adopters. The execution of these practices over time and across multiple supply-side agents is both complex and understudied. Therefore, this study investigates IT diffusion practices from the perspective of supply-side agents. Drawing from a longitudinal case of development, sale, and institutionalisation of a healthcare information system, this article proposes a model of the supply side of technology diffusion. The model shows that diffusion depends on supply-side agents engaging in practices that are both demanding and possibly misaligned with traditional agent practices. Accordingly, the study provides an additional explanation for the complexity of technological diffusion and extends the theoretical framework of technology diffusion by adding supply-side dynamics.

Framing headship: a demand-side analysis of how the headteacher role is articulated in job descriptions

ABSTRACT The majority of studies into recruitment to the headship role have focused on supply-side dynamics and teachers’ own accounts of the factors that (dis)incentivize them from aspiring or progressing to headship. Significantly less work has been done in analyzing demand-side factors. This paper addresses the gap by presenting findings from a mixed-methods analysis of headteacher job descriptions (n = 67) published in a complete school year within Wales – one of the UK’s devolved education systems. A discourse analysis was conducted, based on organizational and occupational conceptions of professional work, which informed a subsequent content analysis of the job descriptions. Our findings identified a dominance of articulations that privileged organizationally-orientated understandings of headship and evidence of a lack of contextualization and agency by stakeholders responsible for recruitment. Such ‘demand-side’ analysis offers scope for examining and understanding the way in which headship is framed and aligns with policy within a variety of international educational contexts and jurisdictions.

Schumpeterian economic dynamics of greening: propagation of green eco-platforms

The greening of business is now widely recognized as firms take the lead from reluctant governments in making sustainable operations profitable. The greening of business may be contrasted with the “business of greening” – in the sense that greening may be associated with the emergence of smart green platforms that propagate and expand as they creatively destroy industries that are rooted in a fossil fuelled past. Such considerations bring into focus the evolutionary economic dynamics of greening, involving business concepts like emergence of platforms and networks, the capture of increasing returns, the role of manufacturing, mass production and learning curves, which help to account for green innovation and green growth as drivers of the global green shift. This is a perspective that is distinguished from “zero growth” and “natural capitalism” approaches to greening; and it is one that is as applicable as much to China and emerging industrial powers as to advanced industrial countries. Fundamentally, greening is characterized as the emergence of green business platforms which create new possibilities for green growth as they propagate, driven by supply-side dynamics as much as by demand-side dynamics involving changed consumer behavior, as in the rise of the sharing economy. Fundamentally it is cost reduction (via learning curves) and capture of increasing returns that open up opportunities for new business strategies that creatively destroy the old business models associated with fossil fuels and resource wastage.

EHealth technologies and the know-do gap: exploring the role of knowledge mobilisation

Background: eHealth technologies are widely believed to contribute to improving health and patients’ experience of care and reducing health system costs. While many studies explore barriers to and facilitators of eHealth innovation, we lack understanding of how this knowledge can be translated into workable, practicable and properly resourced knowledge mobilisation (KM) strategies. Aims and objectives: This paper describes the aims, methods and outputs of a large European Union funded project (eHealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (EPIC)) to support the development of a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, in order to explore how knowledge mobilisation activities can help bridge the know-do gap in eHealth. Conclusions: Preparatory knowledge sharing, linkage making and capacity building are necessary preliminaries to co-production, with an emphasis on capturing the uses to which patients, carers and health workers want to put new technologies rather than promoting new technology for its own sake. Financial support can play a key role in supply-side dynamics, although the contextual and organisational barriers to eHealth innovation in England should not be underestimated.

Mismatch? Comparing elite and citizen polarisation on EU issues across four countries

ABSTRACTNational politicisation of European Union issues has risen following events such as the economic crisis and the refugee influx. This has led to changes at the party (rising Eurosceptic parties) and the voter level (increasing public Euroscepticism). EU politicisation is thus assumed to influence the overall distribution of EU positions in terms of EU polarisation. This raises the question to what extent there is a (mis)match between polarisation at the party and voter level, and its dependence on structural and supply-side dynamics. Using CHES 2017 data and survey data across four EU countries (Germany, Spain, Hungary and the Netherlands) this paper compares elite- and citizen-level EU polarisation. The results show a strong association of party- and citizen-level EU polarisation – for both general and policy-specific EU positions – with higher polarisation among citizens than among parties. Country-specific patterns are due to different political competition on the supply side.

Servitization in Support of Sustainable Cities: What Are Steel’s Contributions and Challenges?

In the pursuit of eco-efficiency, resilience, and self-sufficiency, sustainable cities focus on long-term environmental goals instead of only short-term economic ones. To do so, many of them rely on servitization, the practice of replacing tangible solutions for intangible ones. Considering steel’s wide range of applications and its pervasive presence, this article’s goal was twofold: Not only to understand how servitization helps sustainable cities, but also the contributions and challenges of the steel present in service-providing. To do so, the criteria of sustainable urban metabolism and circles of sustainability were used to analyze three case studies of servitization: energy, housing, and mobility. The results showed that servitization can provide significant benefits to sustainable cities, while also being able to substantially alter the supply-side dynamics of steelmaking by affecting, most notably, demand. This brought to light how important it is for steelmakers to pay close attention to the service-providing initiatives that may concern their clients and products. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to fully understand all of the effects that servitization can have on all of the commodities involved in its implementation.

The UK’s banking FDI flows and Total British FDI: a dynamic BREXIT analysis

The City of London has been the global leader for the provision of international banking services since the 1980s when Thatcher-era deregulation, followed by the EU single market program, stimulated big international FDI inflows – mainly of US banks – into the UK. The “single passport” rule allowed international banks in the UK to serve the whole of the EU28 market from London whose supply-side dynamics contributed to economic growth in the UK and a rising output share of the UK banking system in British GDP. With the expected BREXIT, there are serious challenges for the City since the passporting of banks will end and the regulatory framework will be adjusted; EU equivalence rules for UK banks that might be valid after the implementation of BREXIT cannot be a substitute for passporting so that lower FDI inflows and higher FDI outflows in the banking sector should be expected; inflow dynamics should also be shaped by international MA as regards the latter, quasi-tariff-jumping FDI outflows from the UK can be expected where the FDI of City of London banks could go primarily to the EU27/Eurozone or the US. The empirical findings confirm the expected FDI pattern for the UK banking sector – overall FDI inflows in the wake of the BREXIT referendum have increased, in line with the Froot-Stein effect, while FDI inflows to the UK banking sector have declined.

Bittersweet? Urban proximity and wine tourism in the Swan Valley Region

Proximity to the target market is deemed desirable for tourism destinations, including wine-tourism. Yet, it also translates into a range of problems. While research into wine regions has exponentially grown over the last two decades, the majority of research in wine tourism focuses on the demand side with little attention to supply side dynamics that impact development. This paper considers the realities of the supply side of a wine tourism region, i.e. the perspectives of business owners, service providers and authorities, and reports on the perceptions and challenges as noted by a range of stakeholders in the Swan Valley in Western Australia as a distinct wine tourism area. The study highlights how proximity to an urban market can be a major challenge for an industry based on agri-business in a rural setting. The research has policy implications for local and state authorities, particularly in terms of alignment relating to land-use and infrastructure.

Nevertheless They Persisted: Gendered Frameworks and Socialization Advantages in Indian Professional Service Firms.

This article uses the Indian case to offer nuance to narratives about the gendered experience of professional work. I find that while gendered constructs certainly infiltrate all workspaces, there remain occupational and organizational differences in the ways in which women experience their environments. Particularly, while Indian women lawyers overall are more disadvantaged than their international counterparts, the experience of women lawyers in very elite law firms is more favorable than both their local and global peers. A confluence of factors might be responsible for this unusual experience of professional work, but this article highlights the importance of one set of supply side dynamics: the variations in socializing experiences and expectations before entry into these firms. In doing so, it adds to the literature that suggests the importance of not just enrollment parity, but also early training and institutional socialization for gender egalitarian professional outcomes.

Almost like being there? A conceptualisation of live-streaming theatre

PurposeThe live streaming of theatrical performances to cinemas has become increasingly common in recent years. The practice offers potentially positive returns for audience reach, audience development, revenue streams and global cultural exchange (Cochrane and Bonner, 2014; Nesta, 2011; King, 2016). However, the conceptualisation of live performance transmissions remains under-explored. The purpose of this paper is to review critically selected literature on event experience and apply it to the growing practice of live-streaming theatre (LST). In doing so, the paper develops a new conceptual model that can be used to guide future research on audience expectations, motivations and experience of LST.Design/methodology/approachA comparative historic case study approach combines a structured review of relevant academic literature and industry sources. Theories of live cultural experience and authenticity are critically reviewed. The opportunities and threats of LST to performing arts companies are summarised. The approach considers cognitive, affective and behavioural factors in probing themes of audience awareness, perceptions, expectations and experience of LST. The paper uses these factors to develop an original conceptual model for LST.FindingsThe research finds that the practice of cinematic live transmission of performing arts challenges existing conceptual categories and marketing strategies. Fundamental events studies factors such as “attendance”, “authenticity” and “experience” are re-evaluated. The model suggests that despite improvements in digital technology traditional theatre and broadcasted theatre are two different experiences, not substitutes.Research limitations/implicationsAs a conceptual paper, the results are subject to being tested in the field. The findings reveal implications for the evolving future of hybrid and mixed event experiences. The potential for LST screenings to attract new audiences requires further study.Practical implicationsThe implications of the research reflect the changing business models and supply side dynamics of theatre production and touring. The results suggest that live streaming is of limited effectiveness in addressing the capacity limits of Baumol and Bowen’s (1966) “cost disease” in live arts performance. LST allows major brands to penetrate regional markets thereby potentially squeezing out smaller touring companies and restricting innovation.Social implicationsThe findings reveal implications for the evolving future of hybrid and mixed event experiences.Originality/valueThe influence of digital technology on live arts experience is currently under-explored and under-theorised. This paper develops a new conceptual model that captures in greater detail than previously the various factors that may determine audience engagement with, and experience of, LST. The paper contributes to knowledge by expanding the discourse on the gaps between the competing aims of access and authenticity. The analysis expands the academic understanding of hybrid and virtual event experiences.