Subsidy System Research Articles

An Evolutionary Game Study of Consumers' Low‐Carbon Travel Behavior Under Carbon‐Inclusive Policy

ABSTRACTCarbon‐inclusive policy is regarded as an incentive measure to personal low‐carbon actions. However, its impacts are various for different parties under the government‐led (including government and consumer) mode and the enterprise‐led (including government, consumer and the enterprise) mode, while few studies reveal their difference and give reasonable implications. To fill these gaps, taking consumer's low‐carbon travel as an example, this study develops two evolutionary game models—a two‐party model (based on government‐led adoption) and a tripartite model (based on enterprise‐led adoption)—to investigate the effects of carbon‐inclusive policy. The findings show that (1) the policy benefits all parties in both models, but the participation of the enterprise enhances the effectiveness of the policy; (2) the enterprise‐led mode, that is, the operation of the carbon‐inclusive platform by the enterprise is preferred because all parties have higher payoff, compared with the government‐led mode; and (3) subsidies from the government has a greater impact for consumers' low‐carbon behaviours. However, it has a less impact for the enterprise, which indicates the strategic action of the government is to establish a reasonable consumer subsidy system while reducing subsidies for the enterprise. This study offers a novel perspective on the effects of the carbon‐inclusive policy on consumers' low‐carbon behaviour, and enriches the practice of personal carbon trading.

Distinguishing factors in regional variations of TAVI in Japan: the unique role of administrative facility standards compared to other procedures in a high-cost medical care subsidy system

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is less invasive than surgical aortic valve replacement and is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, particularly among patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) due to aging. However, regional differences are expected to exist not only between countries but also within a single country. Reports from Western countries indicate the presence of regional differences in TAVI and the reasons for these differences, which include differences in medical infrastructure, economic resources, health insurance systems and policies, geographic factors, and availability of specialized medical personnel. TAVI is expensive, but in Japan, the economic aspect is relatively unimportant due to the high-cost medical assistance system. Furthermore, there is little socioeconomic disparity between regions. In such a society, we have reported that the number of specialists and resources for PCI can explain regional differences in ablation and endovascular treatment (EVT). However, unlike those other cardiovascular procedures, there are specific requirements for facilities to perform TAVI, such as the number of transesophageal echocardiographies, as well as cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, and the equipment itself, such as hybrid operating rooms. We examined how these facility requirements, which are thought to be controlled by the government, are related to regional differences in TAVI implementation. Methods and Results We used the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare national database to determine the rate of TAVI for patients with AS performed per 100,000 population aged ≥40 years in all 47 prefectures in 2022. A linear regression model was developed to assess factors contributing to the regional medical supply, including the rates of PCI per 100,000 population aged ≥40 years and the numbers of cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, cardiovascular intervention and therapy training facilities, cardiovascular surgery base facilities, and TAVI facilities. The numbers in the highest and lowest regions were 26.6 and 3.9 (a 6.8-fold difference) for TAVI number. The number of TAVI facilities contributed most significantly to the TAVI volumes (P = 0.0105), while the rates of PCI and other factors did not contribute significantly. The number of TAVI facilities was positively correlated with the number of transesophageal echocardiographies the most (r = 0.353). Conclusion This study revealed large regional variations in TAVI volumes in Japan, of which administrative facility standards were a major determinant.

Estimates of multidimensional poverty and its determinants among older people in rural China: evidence from a multicenter cross-sectional survey

BackgroundIn 2020, China declared that the absolute poverty in the country had been eradicated, but older people in rural areas are deprived in multiple domains. Poverty is multidimensional and involves deprivations in health, social welfare, living standards, and income. This study focused on assessing the poverty status of rural older persons and providing a basis for decision-making at all levels of government in China.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted in four rural areas of China. Individuals aged 60 years and older were selected through stratified sampling. People with aphasia and severe cognitive impairment were excluded. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect older people’s information, including basic demographics, major illnesses, disabilities, chronic diseases, functional disorders, and ability to perform activities of daily living. It also asked about the medical, financial, and social security assistance that respondents received, food and clothing standards, safe housing, clean energy, safe drinking water, and reliable electricity. Specific questions were asked regarding income sufficiency, financial support from children, and pension income. Multidimensional poverty measurements were used to compare regional disparities and indicators differences. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors influencing poverty.ResultsA total of 1272 older people were analyzed. Of them, 704 (55.35%) were women and 652 (51.26%) were aged between 60 and 69 years. The most frequently mentioned causes of poverty were illness, a lack of employment, inadequate technology, and poor transportation. We found that as multidimensional poverty indicators increased (from 6 to 10), the number of poor older people decreased (from 1218 to 437), as did the poverty incidence (from 95.75 to 34.36%) and multifaceted poverty index (from 53.41 to 25.06%). Xuanwei had the highest incidence of poverty (66.61%) and multidimensional poverty index (0.66) among the four provinces studied. Regarding the contribution of indicators, financial alleviation made the greatest contribution to multidimensional poverty among rural older adults (up to 70.51%). Age, marital status, education level, awareness of poverty alleviation policies, and region were significant predictors of multidimensional poverty among older rural residents(P < 0.05).ConclusionsChina’s subsidy system and financial support must be enhanced. Particular attention should be given to the re-education of rural older individuals, basic vocational education should be strengthened in rural areas, and social participation should be encouraged.

Identification of optimal waste-to-energy strategies for sustainable development in Iran: SWOT analysis, hybrid MCDM methods, and game theory

The growing global focus on environmental sustainability and the pressing need for efficient waste management and energy crisis mitigation have prompted extensive investigations into sustainable waste management strategies. Given Iran's economic development and population growth, the country faces challenges in energy supply and waste management, making waste-to-energy (WtE) applications a promising solution for sustainable waste management. This study employs a combination of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approaches, and game theory to explore WtE technologies and processes, evaluate their applicability within Iran's context, and identify the most effective WtE strategies for the country. Furthermore, game theory and fuzzy Shapley value analysis were utilized to determine the optimal combination of WtE development strategies. The strategy player “SO” held the highest position of power, with a fuzzy Shapley value of (0.391, 1.744, 3.264), resulting in the identification of the optimal strategy combination of SO2ST2WO1WT2, with a value of (0.429, 0.679, 0.893). The recommended combination emphasizes landfill with gas capture, development of incineration power plants, and integrated resource recovery through residue-derived fuel (RDF) implementation. Achieving these objectives necessitates energy policy reforms, pricing adjustments, improvements in the energy subsidy system, and infrastructure and market development.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING SUBSIDIES FOR CERTIFIED SEED MATERIAL USED FOR SOWING OR PLANTING

The work aims to assess the effectiveness of the subsidy system for purchasing certified seed material. The assessment was made based on data from the Statistics Poland on the sown area, data from the State Plant Protection Inspectorate on seed trade, and data from the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture on the amount of support provided to farmers, the analyzed changes in the amount of subsidies and the supply of certified seeds. Analyzing the motivation of farmers buying seeds was based on surveys conducted on farms in 2023 – the research concerned species covered by the subsidy system for cereals, potatoes, and large-seeded legumes. In total, the results were collected from 1,008 farms. A stimulating effect of subsidies in the initial period of their application and an improvement in the supply of certified seed material to farms was demonstrated. Maintaining the subsidies unchanged, and later, even at a nominally lower level, resulted in the disappearance of their stimulating effect. The main factors limiting farmers’ motivation to purchase certified seed material were indicated: the high prices of seed material, a lack of knowledge about the benefits of using certified seed material, low subsidy amounts, the exhaustion of the de minimis limit, and thus the possibility of using subsidies as well as an overly complicated subsidy system.

Implementation of Distribution Non-Cash Food Aid (BPNT) in Reducing The Expenditure Burden of Poor Families Based on an Islamic Perspective

Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) is a central government program to help the poor who are food insecure. The purpose of this study is the implementation of non-cash food assistance expenditures in reducing the expenditure burden of poor families. This research uses a qualitative approach that produces descriptive data, by interviewing two poor people and one government. The data collection techniques applied are interviews, observation and documentation. The results of this study indicate that poverty reduction so far has only changed from the food subsidy system (Raskin / Rastra) with an in-kind scheme to the BPNT food assistance system with a non-cash scheme. each poor family receives assistance of Rp. 200,000, -. The implementation of the assistance program in reducing the expenditure burden of poor families reaches an effectiveness level of 66.57%, this shows "good enough" and can reduce the expenditure burden of poor families by 55%. This is in accordance with Islamic values, namely Nafs (soul), Maal (property), Nasab (offspring) in sharia. The implementation of the BPNT program in various regions has been quite effective but the implementation has not met the 6 Target principle (right target, quantity, time, price, quality, and administration). The main obstacle related to the achievement of the program's target is that the data on Beneficiary Families (KPM) has not been updated properly. In terms of food groups, the food assistance received by poor families classified as KPM participants is quite diverse but with a decreasing quantity over time.

Kyrgyz Republic production-resource and export potential state regulation mechanism

The study addressed the mechanism of state regulation of the production, resource and export potential of the Kyrgyz Republic. The study aimed to improve the system of state regulation of the agricultural sector to increase national food security. The analysis revealed a steady increase in production of the main types of agricultural products over the period 2014-2024: cereals by 11.6%, potatoes by 12.5%, vegetables by 18.2%, meat by 24.5% and milk by 17.1%. However, the study also showed uneven levels of self-sufficiency across different types of products: the high levels of self-sufficiency in potatoes (167.4%), vegetables (164.5%) and milk (116.5%) contrast with the low levels of self-sufficiency in fruit and berries (18.2%), vegetable oil (44%) and sugar (69%). An analysis of the existing state regulatory mechanisms revealed a comprehensive legal framework, including the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 320 “On Food Security” and the “Food Security and Nutrition Programme for 2019-2023”, but their implementation is limited by insufficient funding and administrative barriers. Based on the analysis, recommendations were developed to optimise the state regulatory mechanism, including the introduction of a differentiated subsidy system, optimisation of the structure of exports and imports of agricultural products, increasing the efficiency of agricultural production, development of agricultural processing and improving the food quality control system. Proposed measures include the creation of the brand “Ecologically clean products of Kyrgyzstan”, the introduction of the Global G.A.P. certification system, the creation of a network of regional agricultural-consulting centres, the development of agro-industrial parks and the modernisation of quality control laboratories. The implementation of these measures aims to overcome the identified problems create more favourable conditions for the development of agriculture and ensure food security in the Kyrgyz Republic

Balancing Quality and Equity in Education: Finnish Education Experience and Implications

In the 21st century, rapid technological development and changes in the times have made international competition increasingly fierce. The Finnish education system has been highly regarded for its excellent quality of teaching, unique education concepts, and innovative education policies. Through comparative analyses of the Finnish education system, this study finds that the key to its success lies in its unique 'all-inclusive' education system, flexible and reasonable education policies, and comprehensive financial aid system. Compared with Finland, China's education is developing continuously, but there are still many problems. For example, unequal distribution of education resources, uneven quality of education, and poor implementation of education policies are still prevalent. Therefore, this study needs to draw inspiration from Finland's successful experience to further improve China's education system and policies. Taking into account the Finnish experience in reforming the education system, China can carry out education reform by upgrading the links between vocational and academic education, formulating reasonable and flexible education policies, and establishing a sound system of relevant student subsidies.

A new look at the distributive incidence of Chile’s means-tested water subsidy scheme

ABSTRACT Chile employs subsidies to reduce the bill paid by lower-income households for piped water and sanitation. Previous research has concluded that this system has a lower Gini coefficient (0.29) than expected, meaning it is not appropriately targeted to low-income households. This paper takes a new approach to assessing the subsidy system, taking advantage of Chile’s 2016 adoption of a new means-test instrument in the welfare system. We refine the analysis by (1) discarding data arising from rural unconnected households, on the theory that they cannot feasibly be connected to piped water systems and thus cannot use the subsidy; (2) recognizing Chile’s use of an equivalence scale to adjust household incomes for household size and relative disadvantage, and (3) adjusting the analysis to reflect the different tariff levels across the country. With these adjustments, the Gini coefficient of benefits increases to 0.47, meaning that the Chilean subsidy program is in fact meeting its goal of targeting assistance to those who need it. In other words, previous research has underestimated the targeting progressivity of the Chilean subsidy scheme. We also use the Shapley value to apportion the improvement from 2015 to 2022 among the various changes introduced in the analysis.

Research on the Fiscal and Tax Subsidy System of Family Birth in China under the Background of Three Children

With the rapid development of China's socialist market economy, the trend of population aging is obvious, the "three children policy" is timely introduced, and the problem of resident fertility has risen to the level of national strategy. In 2021, the state actively implemented the "three-child" policy, which provided institutional guidance for solving the problem of population aging. In this context, how China should give full play to the economic leverage effect of fiscal and tax law, and guide and encourage the masses to respond to the national call to give birth to three children by economic means, is a very meaningful realistic topic. To study the optimization of the "fertility friendly" fiscal and tax subsidy policy, explore the optimization of the population structure, timely solve the practical problems for the stable development of the population, the fiscal and tax subsidy policy provides corresponding positive supporting measures to encourage fertility. It establishes the policy, delay and reverse the trend of low population growth of China, and facilitate the implementation of the "comprehensive three child" policy. Current our country to encourage fertility fiscal subsidy policy lack of stable source of income, encourage family fertility fiscal subsidy policy function object is not extensive, encourage family fertility fiscal subsidy policy each link imbalance, encourage family fertility tax single, personal income tax lack of family declaration unit, can through to encourage birth to provide adequate subsidies support, in the family for the tax collection, the implementation of differentiated tax incentive rules to change the current situation. Therefore, from the perspective of fiscal and tax law, it is of certain practical significance to improve the fertility incentive mechanism to stimulate the recovery of fertility rate.

Preparatory study for carbon sequestration modelling of agroforestry systems in Hungary: The assessment of the yield class distribution of windbreaks

The escalating carbon dioxide emissions leading to global climate change are acknowledged as a paramount environmental challenge in the twenty-first century. The significance of land use systems in stabilising carbon dioxide levels and enhancing carbon sink potential has gained noteworthy attention from both the scientific and political communities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasises that agroforestry systems present vital prospects for synergising climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, offering substantial technical mitigation potential. Windbreaks are well-known agroforestry systems in Hungary and form an important part of agricultural landscapes. The improved agroforestry subsidy system in our country makes it relevant to model the carbon sequestration potential of windbreaks. In the framework of the ForestLab project we plan to develop a carbon sequestration model specific for Hungarian agroforestry systems. In this study, as a preparatory step of the model development, we assessed the yield class distribution of Hungarian windbreaks by tree species group and identified variables that had significant effect on yield class based on the data of the National Forestry Database. Our results show that among the examined effects the most important predictor of the yield class of windbreaks was the tree species group, followed by the thickness of the productive soil layer and the hydrology of the site.

A Nemzeti Együttműködési Alap (NEA) és előzményének támogatási rendszere - különös tekintettel a sportcivilek támogatására

Of the democratic political system, plural profile civic organizations are essential components. A special feature of the bottom up organized civic organizations, with increasing number after the change of regime in Hungary, is the strong correlation with/dependency from the subsidies. In 2003 a comprehensive, application based subsidy system was introduced (National Cooperation Fund (NCF) in English, Nemzeti Civil Alap, NCA,in Hungarian)), and this one now called Nemzeti Együttműködési Alap (NEA) provides support for approximately 10% of the organizations of the civic sphere by providing finance for operational and program-related costs. From the beginning the system has changed considerably, and currently, it provides even pre-financed subsidy for the prepared organizations. Through the available, related statistics our study aims to highlight some specialities of the subsidy system in a way which is different from the usual program calls. The essay revals that currently available data, sources can only be assessed with considerable cautiousness, and it also details that although reqirements of the access did not really change, still the year of 2024 without the compensation will have an impact on the predictability of this subsidy form.

Article-Processing Fees and Subsidies: The Colonial Entanglement of Knowledge Production in South Africa—The Case of Gender-Based Violence Research

In this article, we studied the contribution of the current South African publishing ecosystem to the hierarchisation, elitism and monopolisation of knowledge production in social-justice studies, taking as an example the research area of gender-based violence (GBV). We examined the Sabinet database of articles published in South African journals on GBV between 2018 and 2022, and reviewed the pre- and post-production value chain related to the publication of these articles (especially the article page-fee structure and the governmental subsidy system). In addition, we couched this discussion in feminist decolonial critique. We conclude that the current publishing ecosystem—with the more or less active involvement and/or support of the government, journals and academics—greatly limits the diversity of voices able to contribute to the production of knowledge on GBV. This ecosystem hampers, minimises or even excludes the first-hand knowledge and experiences of those located outside of academic institutions (particularly, local researchers unaffiliated with South African universities, grassroot activists and members of non-governmental organisations). It conversely renders academics and the tertiary educational institutions which employ them as the only actors capable of benefiting financially from or contributing to the knowledge-production chain and, in return, feeding it. This cycle seems to propel the creation of an echo chamber of views, perspectives and opinions with academics and their tertiary educational institutions de facto acting as the only knowledge producers in the country. We propose that the solution to such an unjust situation is a radical decolonisation of the deeply epi-colonial South African publishing ecosystem.

Policy-driven food security: investigating the impact of China’s maize subsidy policy reform on farmer’ productivity

IntroductionChina is the largest producer, consumer, and trader of grain. Changes in China’s agricultural policies will affect global food trade and thus impact food security. In this paper, we use China’s maize subsidy system reform (MSSR) as a quasi-natural experiment to investigate the impact of market-oriented reforms in price support policy on the productivity of grain.MethodsWe use official Chinese government panel data on farm households and a PSM-DID model to overcome the endogeneity problem of policy change.Results and discussionThe empirical results show that MSSR can increase maize productivity. The MSSR is divided into two phases: eliminating the maize purchase price and implementing maize producer subsidies. The policy effect of eliminating the purchase price exceeds the implementation of producer subsidies. Further analysis reveals that for farmers with a larger scale of cultivation, higher level of specialization, and higher degree of part-time employment, the MSSR enhances their productivity more significantly. In the high quartile, the MSSR reduces farmers’ productivity. In the low quartile, the MSSR raises farmers’ productivity, suggesting that the MSSR reduces the productivity differences among farmers. The results of our study suggest that market-based reform of price subsidies is an effective institutional arrangement to mitigate resource mismatch and increase food productivity, and point to the need to continue to improve the MSSR, explore diversified maize producer subsidy policies, and take into account the impact of other subsidies on farmers’ maize production behavior.

Development of service technological services for rural producers in modern economic conditions

The priority strategic direction of technical service in the agro-industrial complex remains to ensure and maintain the machine and tractor fleet in working condition by increasing the resource of repaired equipment based on the use of modern repair technologies, maximum use of used complex agricultural machinery, modernization of machines in operation, and others . In this regard, it is interesting to consider the functioning of agricultural production nd national and supranational markets food products in the West, where they are mainly included in the system of state regulation, subsidies and foreign trade restrictions. The protection of the domestic market and the equalization of production conditions are inevitable components of the economic policy of each State, and the agricultural sector is almost an obligatory zone of a relatively high level of protection. These protective measures, in addition to import tariffs, include compensatory fees, excise taxes, various kinds of taxes and non-tax restrictions in the form of quotas, administrative regulation.

WTO체제하의 중국 신재생 에너지 자동차 보조금 정책에 관한 연구

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to derive improvement measures for China's renewable energy vehicle subsidy policy under the WTO system. The parts of the new and renewable energy vehicle subsidy system enacted by China that are inconsistent with the WTO subsidy agreement are identified, and policy improvement measures are suggested. Design/Methodology/Approach - This study conducted existing literature studies and case analysis to derive improvement measures for China's renewable energy vehicle subsidy policy under the WTO system. First, the existing literature research analyzed previous studies on the renewable energy vehicle subsidy policy. Second, the case analysis identified the inconsistency of China's renewable energy vehicle subsidy policy with the WTO subsidy agreement based on the results determined in WTO-related dispute cases. Findings - Since it is stipulated that only renewable energy vehicle producers are eligible for subsidies under China's renewable energy vehicle subsidy policy, renewable energy vehicle subsidies establish the specificity specified in the WTO subsidy agreement. Local governments established factories locally and provided subsidies only to renewable energy companies using on-site facilities, which is a prohibited subsidy under the WTO subsidy agreement. Research Implications - First, prohibited subsidies must be removed by expanding the subject of subsidies or changing the payment method. Second, the central government should strengthen the supervisory capabilities of local governments. Third, it is necessary to encourage and expand the introduction of personal capital in the field of renewable energy infrastructure. Fourth, various support measures in addition to the subsidy policy should be added to reduce the suspicion of prohibited subsidies in other countries and promote industrial development.

Made and/or Invented in Hungary? The Transformation of the Hungarian Investment Promotion System from the Change of Regime to Our Days with Special Respect to the VIP Cash Subsidy system

Jelen tanulmány a hazai befektetésösztönzési rendszer, és azon belül kiemelten az egyedi kormánydöntés (EKD) alapján megítélhető vissza nem térítendő készpénz támogatások átalakulását mutatja be hazánkban a rendszerváltástól napjainkig, kiemelt tekintettel a 2010 utáni időszakra. A hangsúlyt a fő területi, ágazati és szabályozási változásokra helyezzük, mivel ezeknek a szempontoknak az eddigi kutatások kevés figyelmet szenteltek jelentős szakpolitikai relevanciájuk ellenére. Kutatási kérdéseink, hogy (1) lekövette-e a hazai befektetésösztönzési rendszer a fő globális tendenciákat, (2) a kettős dualitás csökkentéséhez hatékonyan hozzájárult-e, és (3) milyen jövőbeli irányok fogalmazhatók meg a közelmúlt és a jelen folyamatai alapján. A cikkben a legrelevánsabb adatok és szakirodalmi források elemzését követően – egyes esetekben azokat kiegészítve – egy sajátos szempontrendszerbe rendezve mutatjuk be a hazai EKD rendszer átalakulásának szakaszait és az egyes szakaszok főbb jellemzőit. Kiemelt figyelmet fordítunk az elmúlt évtized folyamataira, majd összegző megállapításokat teszünk és következtetéseket vonunk le a jelen és a jövő kapcsán. A tanulmány fő újdonságtartalma a hazai befektetésösztönzési rendszer (azon belül is az EKD támogatások) komplex, folyamatalapú, sajátos szempontrendszerű és a területiséget kiemelő elemzésében és korszakolásában nevesíthető a nemrégiben nyilvánosságra hozott adatbázis (2004-2023 közötti EKD döntések) elemzése mellett. A közelmúlt globális szintű, előre nem látott kihívásai (kiemelten az egészségügyi világjárvány és a szomszédunkban kialakult fegyveres konfliktus) és azok mai napig tartó hatásai (mint például az ellátási láncok akadozása, újraépülése és az energiaválság), valamint az azok kapcsán tett kormányzati intézkedések (a versenyképességnövelő támogatások és a Gyármentő Program) még jobban erősítik a kutatás időszerűségét és szakpolitikai relevanciáját. Reményeink szerint ez a hiánypótló összefoglalás hozzájárul a vizsgált téma és időszak jobb megértéséhez, az összefüggések feltárásához, a jelenlegi és a következő generációk tudásanyagának bővítéséhez és ezáltal további értékes kutatásokhoz és hatékony szakpolitikai beavatkozásokhoz a szakterületen.

Unlocking the Potential of the Financial Intermediary System in Development Policy: A Focus on Regional Development

The purpose of this study is to shed light on the possibilities of higher-level development policy involvement of the financial intermediary institutional system, with particular regard to regional development. The investigation was primarily based on the analysis of the Hungarian financial intermediary system of refundable subsidies from the European Union that operated from 2007 through 2013. The reason for this is that, in terms of the diversity of the institutional system, both concerning the preceding and the 2014-2020 development cycle, this period had the highest diversity of institutions mediating subsidies, which plays a crucial role in the development of solutions that are more precisely suited to the financing needs of the final beneficiaries. After reviewing the available literature and development policy documents, I applied a research method based on a Delphi analysis. The investigation revealed a new finding: the market experience of the institutions' experts was the key factor in the successful placement of intermediary institutions' resources. This aspect had not been previously highlighted in evaluations or literature findings. In addition, the research pointed out, among other things, that for more optimal use of financial instruments for cohesion purposes, an integrated policy mix should be created at a higher level, including primarily the social and financial sectors, as well as the territorial development policy. All this would enable the introduction of combined support products at the implementation level, linking financial instruments with other non-financial types of support. For example, loan or guarantee products could be supplemented with consultancy, education, or mentoring support (especially concerning management, organization development, and strategic planning).

How can public policies facilitate local cooperation? insights from the EU’s wine policy

ABSTRACT Decentralised cooperation is key for achieving a range of policy goals, but we still know relatively little about how to create it in low-trust, institutionally weak settings. This article develops an account of Facilitative Overarching Institutional Frameworks (FOIFs) as macro-level institutions that abate the obstacles to local cooperation. Through qualitative evidence collected via fieldwork, it is shown that the EU’s wine policy is a good example of a FOIF, and that it has crucially contributed to the puzzling emergence of demanding forms of local cooperation in the Greek wine sector. When combined with favourable local conditions, and particularly with local leadership, as in Santorini, a FOIF can have transformative implications for local cooperation. When local leadership is absent, as in Lemnos, the final degree of local cooperation will be more limited. While the rareness of embedded policymaking in Greece inhibits the adoption of public policies that favour decentralised cooperation, in the wine sector the EU’s system of subsidies and geographical indications partially compensates for these for domestic institutional deficiencies. The article contributes to our knowledge about the emergence of decentralised cooperation in adverse circumstances and improves our understanding of the effects of transnational integration regimes on local governance arrangements.

Housing as a human right, rent supplements and the new Canada Housing Benefit

‘Demand-side’ approaches to housing affordability—including rent supplements and housing allowances—are used to address housing precarity in many countries. A core program of Canada’s new National Housing Strategy is the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB), an allowance co-designed and co-funded by provinces and territories alongside the federal government. We explore the implementation of the CHB in one province (Nova Scotia) through the experiences of those receiving rental assistance and non-profit staff supporting them. First, we ask whether the provision of rent subsidies meets a rights-based approach to housing, focusing on affordability, habitability, and security of tenure. Second, we ask whether the transition from the former rent supplement system to the new CHB facilitates or inhibits a rights-based approach. We find that tenants on either subsidy live in housing which is unaffordable, of poor quality, and may lack security of tenure; secondly, the introduction of the new CHB has largely left tenants worse off than under the previous rent subsidy system.