Policy Support Research Articles

Stakeholder perspectives on the scale-up of green hydrogen and electrolyzers

Green hydrogen is a promising alternative to fossil fuels. However, current production capacities for electrolyzers and green hydrogen are not in line with national political goals and projected demand. Considering these issues, we conducted semi-structured interviews to determine the narratives of different stakeholders during this transformation as well as challenges and opportunities for the green hydrogen value chain. We interviewed eight experts with different roles along the green hydrogen value chain, ranging from producers and consumers of green hydrogen to electrolyzer manufacturers and consultants as well as experts from the political sphere. Most experts see the government as necessary for scale-up, by setting national capacity targets, policy support and providing subsidies. However, the experts also accuse the governments of delaying development through overregulation and long implementation times for regulations. The main challenges that were identified are the current lack of renewable electricity and demand for green hydrogen. Demand for green hydrogen is influenced by supply costs, which partly depend on prices for electrolyzers. However, one key takeaway of the interviews is the skeptical assessments by the experts on the currently discussed estimates for price reduction potential of electrolyzers. While demand, supply, and prices are all factors that influence each other, they result in feedback loops in investment decisions for the energy and manufacturing industries. A second key takeaway is, that according to the experts, current investment decisions in new production capacities are not solely dependent on short-term financial gains, but also based on expected first mover advantages. These include experience and market share which are seen as factors for opportunities for future financial gains.Summarized, the results present several challenges and opportunities for green hydrogen and electrolyzers, and how to address them effectively. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the emerging green hydrogen value chain.

Black people in Ukraine: A content analysis of TikTok videos documenting discrimination against Black people attempting to flee at the onset of the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war

This cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted on in June 2022 reviewed 100 TikTok videos using the hashtag #africansinukriane that depicted discrimination against Black people attempting to flee Ukraine at the onset of the war in February 2022. Two of the 16 themes were significant and present in over 50% of videos: raising awareness (67%) and racial discrimination (64%). Videos with elements of physical contact (N = 16, 76.2%), violence (N = 12, 75%), and dehumanization (N = 11, 68.8%) had higher shares than overall media shares. Less than 10% of the videos included dark humor (8%), sharing helpful resources (7%), and appreciation of countries that offered support (5%). Results indicate that videos that include raising awareness (p = .02), racial discrimination (p = .001), on-scene clips or war scenes (p = .007), physical contact (p = .006), and denied entry (p = .022). Their estimated differences in locations indicate that all of these themes were related to higher median shares of the videos. This study supports that TikTok is a place where marginalized groups can raise awareness about injustice and create counternarratives. This study exemplifies international anti-blackness, with implications for health marketing and communication, human rights efforts, refugee health, and targeted mental health and policy support for those displaced by war.

This is our Pearl Harbor: effects of a targeted solidarity call in Ukraine’s public diplomacy

PurposeThis experiment examines targeted public diplomacy message effects during a crisis, focusing on effects of whether such messages provide a targeted solidarity call that build a sense of common purpose by comparing the other country’s past crises to Ukraine’s current crisis.Design/methodology/approachUsing an experiment, this study investigates whether such targeting in Zelensky’s speeches increased foreign public policy support for Ukraine, the perceived agenda importance of the war and Ukraine’s legitimacy.FindingsThe results found that a targeted solidarity call in public diplomacy messages during an international crisis helps gain foreign public policy support. However, it does not significantly impact the perceived agenda importance and the country’s legitimacy.Originality/valueThere has been a lack of studies on whether targeted messaging is more effective than nontargeted one in public diplomacy literature. The study’s result implies that the inclusion of a solidarity call in public diplomacy messaging is more effective in achieving its strategic goal of receiving aid. This study, therefore, empirically answers the remaining question about the effectiveness of targeted messaging in public diplomacy and advances. It also advances theoretical connections among solidarity, targeted messaging and public diplomacy.

Evaluation of Firms Supports Policies

Purpose: This study evaluates, analyzes, and measures support policy for small and medium enterprises in Hanoi to propose some recommendations to help small and medium enterprises improve business performance and expand scale. Theoretical Framework: In terms of scale, among the SMEs operating in the area, SMEs in the non-state sector account for the largest proportion, estimated at about 97.2%. This shows that SMEs in the non-state sector contribute an important part to Hanoi's economy. The average production and business capital of non-state-owned SMEs increased by 10.2%. This may represent the development and performance enhancement of firms in this area. Method/Design/Approach: A survey was conducted with the participation of 210 employees of SMEs in Hanoi, including the board of directors and sales department heads. Analytical methods such as descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and ANOVA analyses are used to test and measure the scales. Results and Conclusion: Research results show that support policies for small and medium enterprises in Hanoi are highly appreciated. There is no statistically significant difference in the support policy for small and medium enterprises in Hanoi between these different genders, ages, job positions, business operating times, and business sectors. Research Implications: This research uses the contents of the support policy for small and medium enterprises in Hanoi and the business performance of SMEs in Hanoi based on prior studies in the realm of firms. Within the context of the digital transformation of the entire society and industrial revolution 4.0, these variables are useful solutions for SMEs. Originality/Value: This study uses a new research methodology to evaluate and measure the support policy for small and medium enterprises in Hanoi. The paper's primary contribution is findings that benefit the SMEs in Hanoi in the improvement of their scale expansion and business performance.

A Quantitative Model to Measure the Level of Culture and Tourism Integration Based on a Spatial Perspective: A Case Study of Beijing from 2000 to 2022

The integration of culture and tourism has become an important factor in the development of the cultural tourism industry, and a quantitative measure of the degree of integration is important for understanding and promoting the high-quality development of the global cultural tourism industry. This study aims to put forward a comprehensive analysis model to show the development trend of cultural and tourism integration, measure the degree of cultural and tourism integration, and analyze the factors affecting the regional heterogeneity of cultural and tourism integration. Using the spatial quantification method of entropy, the spatial coupling coordination degree model, and the geographical weighting model, this paper analyzes the effect and influencing factors of cultural and tourism integration in various districts and counties in Beijing. The results show that the cultural tourism resource endowment of Beijing presents an upward trend and a gradual spillover trend, with obvious spillover to the east and north. The effect of district integration in Beijing has gradually weakened from the city center to the outside, but there is still a serious phenomenon of two levels of differentiation. Factors such as the economic development level, tourism output, cultural output, policy support, and consumption level have spatial heterogeneity on the effect of cultural and tourism integration in each district of Beijing, but the degree of influence is small.

Mapping citizens, voters, and parties’ preferences on European solidarity across EU member states

ABSTRACT Since 2008, the European Union (EU) witnessed a growing tension between the social and economic dimensions of integration as a consequence of the ‘polycrisis’. The increasing politicisation of EU issues in national political arenas that led to the rise of Eurosceptic parties mostly revolved around the issue of European solidarity. Against this background, this study investigates the congruence between voters and incumbent members of national parliaments on the highly contentious aspects of EU solidarity. First, the article maps the extent to which national political elites share similar views on EU solidarity with their voters. Secondly, we assess members of parliaments (MPs)-voters’ congruence at the party level. Employing original data from an elite and a mass survey conducted in six EU countries between 2017 and 2018, we find that both voters and MPs expressed a high level of support for policies strengthening European solidarity in the Eurozone periphery. Instead, voters in Northern and Eastern EU member states shared more positive preferences than their national representatives. Furthermore, the party-voter distance was higher for radical-right Eurosceptic MPs, especially in Northern Europe, than for other parties.

System justification drives Latino support for nativist policies

Since Donald Trump’s presidency (2016–2020), political observers have rushed to explain why some Latinos support nativist policies that harm members of their own ethnic group. One hypothesis predicts that Latinos who value their American identity endorse policies that denigrate non-Americans, such as unauthorized immigrants. We propose system justification as an additional motive. Study 1 draws on a representative Latino oversample ( N = 3,950) in the 2020 Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey (CMPS). We show that higher system justification levels are substantively associated with support for harsher policies toward unauthorized immigrants, independently of American identity, partisanship, and other key covariates. Study 2 refines these results through a preregistered experiment with Latino adults ( N = 1,230). We evaluated system justification and American identity as mediators of support for anti-Latino policies in the domains of unauthorized immigration and affirmative action. Assignment to read about the vibrancy of the American dream (versus control) increased system justification motives, which then strongly boosted support for nativist policies. American identity played no meaningful role. Moreover, the mediated results for nativist policies were large and robust, but small and brittle for affirmative action. We discuss our results’ implications for the political psychology of Latinos—America’s largest ethnic group.

The Psychosocial Considerations for Behaviour Change, Mental Health, and Work-Related Satisfaction in Preregistration Nurses, during Coronavirus Pandemic

The mental health of healthcare workers was affected by physical and psychological challenges during the pandemic. The aim was to study how psychosocial considerations can help manage behaviour change, mental health, and work satisfaction of nurse trainees in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. This cross-sectional study involved ninety-nine students. Participants’ anxiety, fear of the coronavirus, and perceived work satisfaction were measured by GAD-7, FCV19S, and COM-B scales and assessed using descriptive, correlational, and linear regression analysis. The significant zero-order correlations between job satisfaction and fear, anxiety, and psychosocial considerations were significant. They indicated moderate strength that allowed for further inferential development to find the best predictors of job satisfaction. The findings suggested that 50% of trainees showed anxiety above the suggested ≥8 cut-off on GAD-7, and 48% scored high for fear on FCV19S. There was a significant effect between year groups (F (2, 99) = 4.25, p=0.02, η2 = 0.081), with a Tukey post hoc test showing a significant difference between training years 1 and 2 with a p=0.015. A significant linear regression found that psychosocial variables in behaviour change (p≤0.001) and anxiety (p=0.011) were significant factors in job satisfaction, explaining 53.4% of the variance. Conclusion. Satisfaction was associated with higher levels of psychosocial considerations and low levels of anxiety and fear, which adds to previous literature on job satisfaction in nurse education. Future implications must examine ways to alleviate mental health effects and support policies and curricula to address this need.

Food Waste and Loss Management - Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions from A Nigeria Context

Food waste and loss present significant challenges globally, with Nigeria being particularly affected. This study comprehensively analyzes the causes, effects, and potential solutions to food waste within the Nigerian context. Drawing on extensive research and secondary data sources, the study highlights the pervasive nature of food waste, focusing on key sectors such as tomato, onion, and chili production. It identifies critical factors contributing to food waste, including inadequate infrastructure, pests and diseases, transportation constraints, and policy gaps. The socioeconomic impacts of food waste, such as increased food prices, exacerbated poverty, and environmental degradation, underscore the urgency of addressing this issue. However, amidst these challenges lie opportunities for intervention. Nigeria can significantly reduce food waste, enhance food security, and promote economic development by implementing a holistic approach that encompasses infrastructure development, sustainable agricultural practices, and supportive policies. Additionally, individual actions, such as meal planning and supporting local farmers, play a crucial role in mitigating food waste at the grassroots level. Through collaborative efforts involving governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals, Nigeria can pave the way towards a more resilient and sustainable food system, ensuring equitable access to nutritious food while preserving the environment for future generations. The methodology employed in this study entailed data collection primarily from prior research and secondary sources such as published studies, newspapers, articles, and relevant materials. The study’s focal point centered on food waste and loss, with a specific focus on vegetable waste within the Nigerian context.

The Effects of Wage Information on Support for Redistributive Spending

Public support for redistributive policies (e.g., Medicaid) depends in part on the perceived need and deservingness of beneficiaries. However, the average citizen is not well informed about the economic conditions of their fellow citizens. In this article, we explore how information about average earnings of the working poor (a group generally seen as deserving) influences support for redistributive spending. Two survey experiments test whether support for such spending is affected by information about the average incomes of low-wage occupations (e.g., home health aides and retail sales workers). We additionally explore potential mechanisms for this effect, including empathy. An exploratory study finds an effect, but a pre-registered confirmatory study yields substantively small findings with inconsistent significance. Even when participants both receive detailed information about low-wage occupations’ salaries and are encouraged to recall people who they know in those jobs, the treatment has no substantial effect. Given the strength of this treatment and the lack of consistent effects, we conclude that interventions providing information about low-income salaries (e.g., in news coverage or interpersonal conversation) are unlikely to have a substantive effect on support for redistribution.

Contribution of Millets in food and nutritional security to human being: Current status and future perspectives

Globally food and nutrition insecurity remain a serious challenge however the situation is more sever to the groups of people living under marginal and disadvantaged society. The causes of food and nutrition insecurity are multifaceted and complex, and influenced by a range of factors including high poverty, natural resource degradation, climate change, low level of market development, uncertain food support, and inadequate policy and institutional support. Considering the acute shortage of food and nutrition facing by global population, strengthening food and nutritional security is crucial in order to feed the ever-growing world population. One of the promising approaches of promoting millets, which requires low external inputs, a novel candidate for nutrients and adapted to thrive in harsh and dry environment. These crops play an important role in global food and nutrition security, and may have potential to contribute to sustainable food systems under changing climatic conditions. Keeping in view the importance of the millets in diversifying diet as well as a source of rich nutrition, we conducted an analysis by reviewing the research articles/reports/books as well as online databases to identify the prospects of millets crops crucial for continuous supply of food and nutrition, traditionally managed genetic resources for future crop improvement and making agricultural system resilient under changing climatic conditions. Evidences suggested from the meta-analysis that as a product of generations of agricultural landrace, there are range of millet crops are rich in nutrients, resilient, and adapted to location specific agricultural environments. Such millet crops in the existing cropping systems could support diverse food systems and nutrient suppliers and represent a broad gene pool to improving crops with suitable genetic interventions in the future. The study advocates for advancement in genomics coupled with molecular breeding for improving the genetic potential of millet crops and open avenues for developing sustainable food systems. The study also emphasis on developing strategies and roadmap for future research engagement and a policy interface to facilitate conservation and management of traditional landraces and associated indigenous knowledge of cultivation and consumption while adopting sustainable production of millet crops under marginal environmental conditions.

A qualitative exploration of challenges and factors in research data management across Indonesian research institutes

This research investigates the challenges and factors that influence the implementation of research data management (RDM) in Indonesian research institutes. This study conducted in-depth interviews with six data managers from five Indonesian research institutions using a qualitative research approach. The interview data were analyzed using NVivo software, and the TOPE framework guided the identification of factors and challenges in (RDM) implementation. Critical aspects in RDM implementation are applications, hardware, culture, organizational units, institutional policies, leadership support, awareness, knowledge, education, skills, funder regulations, and government policies. Challenges in RDM implementation encompass access control, data quality, ease of use, building trust, availability of responsible staff, user understanding, researchers’ resistance, awareness, and inter-institutional relations. Research on data management, especially in developing countries like Indonesia, is limited. This study contributes by providing a high-level overview of research institutions in Indonesia, enhancing their understanding of the challenges and critical aspects involved in establishing effective RDM within their institutions.

Exploring Factors That Obstacle the Gender Equality Education of Asian Society

Within the past decades, research has been increasingly drawn toward understanding the factors that obstacle the gender equality education of Asian society. However, to examine the hindering factors requires research of its breath and underlying mechanisms from an interdisciplinary approach. This paper begins by reviewing the gender education in relation to its concept and significances. The main influencing factors are then explored from a macro-environmental perspective, including supportive policies, economic conditions, and relevant talents. Research shows that the significant considerations should be given to lack of top-level policy support, high learning stress on learners, insufficient distribution of economic funds, current situation of gender opposition, and stereotypes and the solidification of Feudal ideas. For suggestions related to gender equality education, in addition to improving sex education, from the perspective of women of all ages, Asian fertility policies and corporate maternity leave policies need to be further optimized. The specific implementation of gender equality education courses can refer to examples from other developed regions outside East Asia, while encouraging the development of peoples thinking and creating an open, equal, and free new society.

Supporting Meaningful Implementation and Evaluation of Strengths-Based Approaches in Adult Social Care: A Theory of Change for The Three Conversations

Abstract There is much policy support internationally for ‘strengths-based approaches’ which work collaboratively with people seeking support. Such approaches aim to recognise the strengths in individuals, those around them, and their communities, to support people to be independent and focus services and support where most needed. However, there is little evidence of how such approaches work in practice or whether they are effective. The Three Conversations (3Cs) is one such approach. Development of practice and future evaluation requires that these approaches are better understood and articulated. To address this challenge, we worked collaboratively with three UK local authorities to understand how 3Cs is operating in practice, and how its evaluation could be considered. We used interviews and workshops with staff, carers and people receiving services, data collected by sites, and wider consultation to develop a theory of change setting out how 3Cs is thought to best operate and be implemented. We identified potential benefits and pitfalls when implementing 3Cs, and barriers to successfully incorporating 3Cs as ‘business as usual’. The theory of change, presented in this article, can be used to support implementation of strengths and relationship-based practice and its meaningful evaluation, and has relevance beyond The Three Conversations.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Government Policy on MSMEs Through Empirical Data Analysis in Lampung

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play an important role in the Indonesian economy, including in Lampung Province. Although the government has issued various policies to support the development of MSMEs, the effectiveness of these policies still needs to be evaluated in depth. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of government policies in supporting MSMEs in Lampung through empirical data analysis. The research uses an empirical data analysis approach to evaluate the effectiveness of MSME support policies in Lampung. The analytical method in this research uses literature study through collecting and analyzing secondary data in the form of journal articles, government documents, and other scientific articles about entrepreneurship and MSMEs sourced from libraries. It is hoped that the results of this research will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of government policies in supporting MSMEs in Lampung, as well as identifying supporting and inhibiting factors for policy success. This research found that government policy in supporting MSMEs in Lampung had a positive impact in encouraging the growth of the MSME sector in Lampung. However, there are still challenges that still need improvement, namely lack of socialization, and limited access for MSMEs in remote areas. Keywords: empirical analysis, government policy, MSMEs

Catch me if you can: how episodic and thematic multimodal news frames shape policy support by stimulating visual attention and responsibility attributions

Using media coverage of animal welfare as an example, this study examines how the perception of multimodal news frames shapes recipients’ visual attention, attributions of responsibility, emotions, and policy support. To investigate the mechanisms of multimodal-episodic versus thematic framing, we combined eye-tracking measurements with a pre-post survey experiment in which 143 participants were randomly assigned to an episodic or a thematic multimodal framing condition. The results show that episodic multimodal frames are viewed longer than thematic frames, elicit stronger individual and political responsibility attributions, and increase political support for stricter animal-welfare laws. Understanding multimodal framing as a multistep process, a serial mediation model reveals that episodic frames affect viewing time, which leads to stronger attributions of political responsibility and, in turn, stronger policy support. Our results support the idea of a complex interplay between subsequent stages of information perception and processing within a multimodal framing process.

Dollar store policy opportunities in Baltimore City: community member and policy maker perspectives

IntroductionThere are currently over 50 dollar stores in Baltimore City, Maryland. Community perceptions of over-saturation and resulting neighborhood impacts have garnered recent attention. A Maryland State Senate Bill required further study of dollar stores in Baltimore City to inform future policy. Therefore, the over-arching goal of this study was to generate community-informed policy recommendations for the Baltimore City Council.MethodsThree methods of data collection were used: (1) in-depth interviews with community members, retail staff/owners, dollar store staff, and policy makers; (2) an online survey of Baltimore City residents; and (3) workshop with community members and one with policy makers. Triangulation across data sources, discussion amongst the research team, and member checking were used to generate the top four policy options: a conditional use ordinance, a community benefits agreements, a dispersal ordinance, and a staple foods ordinance.ResultsThere was strong support for policies that encourage dollar stores to better align with community priorities (e.g., improving store cleanliness and appearance, increasing availability of healthy foods), as opposed to closing or banning dollar stores entirely. There was also strong support for policies that would empower communities to participate in determining the role of dollar stores in their neighborhoods, for example through a conditional use ordinance or community benefits agreement. Key concerns included policy enforcement, given the additional funding required, and current limited capacity at the city government level. Strategies to address such challenges were generated including implementing business licenses at the city level, linking new ordinances to dollar store leases and permits, and encouraging dollar store participation in federal and local programs to more feasibly stock healthier food items (e.g., fresh produce). Dissatisfaction was expressed regarding a lack of policy options to address the existing dollar stores, not just new dollar stores entering the City.DiscussionThis study is the first of its kind to assess community support for dollar store policies at the local level, and serves to inform policies that improve dollar stores. A report of these findings was provided to Baltimore City Council to inform new, community-supported dollar store policies.

Comparing the Collaboration of Smallholder Farmers through Participatory Guarantee System Practices in Northeastern Thailand

Organic agriculture based on the participatory guarantee system (PGS) is frequently touted as a tool for improving ecosystem sustainability and self-reliance and for alleviating the poverty of smallholder farmers in Thailand. However, specific criteria must be fulfilled for products to be certified organic. In this paper, we investigate the similarities and differences between three cases of organic agricultural production (based on the participatory guarantee system) in four provinces in northeastern Thailand: Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, and Nakhon Ratchasima. A total of 135 smallholder farmers were selected to act as informants, and semi-structured interviews were held. The participatory guarantee system was utilized, considering the farmers’ diverse agricultural backgrounds and socio-economic conditions. For agriculture to be adapted with the ultimate aim of sustainability, policy support will be necessary in the form of financial measures and capacity building.

Satisfaction with Government Recommended Pre-Procedural Mouth Rinses in the Mitigation of Covid-19 in Hong Kong SAR: A Triple Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

To evaluate satisfaction and acceptability with three pre-procedural mouthrinses recommended by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A triple-blind parallel-arm randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted. Following eligibility assessment, participants were block-randomised to the three intervention pre-procedural mouthrinses groups: Povidone-iodine, Hydrogen Peroxide and Chlorhexidine Digluconate. Participants rinsed with one of the mouthrinses assigned prior to any dental treatment. Participants, operators and assessors were blind to the assigned mouthrinses (triple blind). Satisfaction ratings were assessed on a 10cm visual analogue scale (VAS) and acceptability of the mouthrinses were determined. Following clinical screening, 228 participants were involved in the trial. The mean overall VAS satisfaction was 7.35 (SD 1.68). There was no significant difference in VAS satisfaction ratings among the three groups (p>0.05) nor in between groups. Acceptability of the mouthrinses was high with the vast majority (89.5%, 204) willing to use the mouthrinses again if pre-procedural mouthrinsing is required. There was no significant difference in acceptability ratings (p>0.05). There were some aspects such as taste and smell that participants commented on (on average, 24.6%, 56), although no significant difference in prevalence of reports among groups (p>0.05). There were high rates of satisfaction and acceptability of the HKSAR Government recommended pre-procedural mouthrinses for the mitigation of COVID-19 transmission in the dental setting. There was no significant difference in satisfaction and acceptability rates among the three recommended pre-procedural mouthrinses. The high satisfaction and acceptability rates of the HKSAR Government recommended pre-procedural mouthrinses in the mitigation of COVID-19 in this clinical trial lends support for the HKSAR's policy on pre-procedural mouthrinses in the dental setting and this has implications for practice and policy during pandemics.

Driving Climate Action via Government Public Relations: The Role of Government-Citizen Relationships and Situational Perceptions

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to predict the active communication behaviors and their Behavioral Intentions to Support Federal Climate Policies from the view of government public relations. Using data from an online survey of 548 adults living in the United States, this study investigated the roles of Government-Citizen Relationships (GCR) and situational perceptions (i.e. Problem Recognition, Constraint Recognition, and Involvement Recognition) in predicting active communication behaviors (i.e. information seeking, forefending, and forwarding) and federal climate policies in the framework of situational theory of problem solving (STOPS). The results of this study indicate that GCR is critical in predicting active communication behaviors and public support. While Involvement Recognition among situational perceptions is significant to predict active communication behaviors and public support, program recognition and Constraint Recognition are partially significant. The results highlight the pivotal mediating roles of situational perceptions – Problem Recognition, Constraint Recognition, and Involvement Recognition – in the link between GCR and public support for federal climate policies.