Political Economy Theory Research Articles

Port Harcourt residents’ response to NPC’s campaign against inaccurate and malicious news publications

In its effort to ensure that media contents are not slanted to misinform the public, the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) leaves a window for members of the public to lodge complaints about perceived inaccuracies and malicious publications with the Council for proper investigation and action. Notwithstanding this window, which also offers the public an opportunity to entrench responsible journalism, it appears that many Nigerian citizens do not take advantage of the directive. This study investigated Port Harcourt residents’ response to NPC’s directive against inaccurate and malicious news reports. Among other objectives, the study investigated Port Harcourt residents’ response to the directive. The critical political-economy theory provided theoretical cornerstone to the study. Using the survey research design, a sample size of 384 respondents was drawn from a population of 205,507. Findings of the study showed that many residents of Port Harcourt had observed inaccurate and malicious news reports but failed to report to the NPC due to fear of being victimized. The study recommended, among other measures, that NPC should assure Nigerian citizens that complaints arising from perceived inaccurate news publications would be treated as confidential.

Green New Deals in comparative perspective

AbstractIn February 2019, Representative Alexandria Ocasio‐Cortez and Senator Ed Markey introduced into the US Congress a non‐binding resolution for a Green New Deal, with the aim to catalyze policies and programs to rapidly decarbonize the US economy while achieving wider progressive economic, social and environmental goals. This motion sparked widespread interest, in and beyond the US, in the potential for more ambitious and solidaristic climate policy under the banner of a Green New Deal (GND). This Overview, after introducing the history of the GND concept and exploring its dimensions in theory, provides a snapshot of GNDs proposed (or adopted/enacted) by politicians, candidates for political office, political parties and governments around the world in the period 2019–2022. Drawing on theories of comparative politics and comparative political economy, the Overview illuminates key patterns in the prevalence and content of this set of GND proposals, as well as their ideological underpinnings and implicit “theories of change.” Specifically, it ventures that: GND policies are more commonly proposed in high‐income, industrialized democracies; variation in GNDs' prevalence and content are associated with varieties of capitalism and electoral institutions; GND policies are more commonly proposed by left‐of‐center parties and candidates; and GNDs are being proposed at all levels of government, but their content is shaped by constraints on government powers. On the basis of this analysis, the concluding section proposes a detailed research agenda on GNDs, with an emphasis on comparative research.This article is categorized under: The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Benefits of Mitigation Policy and Governance > National Climate Change Policy Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance

Trade Policies and Livestock Exports

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to examine the trade policies and livestock exports.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to trade policies and livestock exports. Key findings emphasize the significance of trade agreements and regional integration initiatives in boosting livestock exports, with participating countries benefiting from increased trade volumes and streamlined regulatory standards. Additionally, the study highlights the impact of non-tariff measures, particularly stringent sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, on market access, underscoring the need for capacity-building and regulatory harmonization efforts. Moreover, trade disputes and policy uncertainties are identified as disruptors, necessitating transparent policy frameworks and risk management strategies to mitigate market volatility. Overall, the study underscores the importance of coordinated efforts to address trade barriers and enhance market access, paving the way for sustainable development and economic growth in the livestock sector.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Theory of Comparative Advantage, Political Economy theory and Institutional theory may be used to anchor future studies on trade policies and livestock exports. One key recommendation was to diversify export markets for livestock products, aiming to reduce dependence on specific markets and mitigate trade disruptions. This strategy involved proactive market research, targeted marketing campaigns, and strategic alliances with trading partners to access new markets. Another recommendation was to invest in quality assurance systems and standards compliance to meet sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, crucial for enhancing the credibility of livestock exports. Promoting sustainable production practices was also advised, aligning livestock production with sustainability goals to enhance market competitiveness. Improving trade facilitation measures, strengthening policy coordination and stakeholder engagement, and developing risk management strategies were highlighted to safeguard the stability and competitiveness of livestock export sectors in a volatile global economy.

Breaking the Curse of “the Last Generation”: Employment Structure and China’s Population Crisis

It is widely acknowledged that the dangerously low birth rate threatens China’s future socio-economic stability. The existing literature typically regards China’s population crisis as a natural development trend, attributes it to family planning policies, or associates it with particular social, economic, and cultural conditions. Drawing from the social reproduction theory of feminist political economy, we develop a more encompassing analytical framework for China’s population crisis. We contend that the overarching context of China’s population crisis is the institutional transition from a balanced socialist social reproduction regime to an unsustainable developmentalist one. China’s employment structure is crucial to the structure of its social reproduction regime. Specifically, the formal economic sector facilitates a more accessible distribution of social reproduction cost for working-class families that maintains their willingness and ability to have children. Using provincial-level panel data from 1990 to 2021 and the General Method of Moments regression technique, we find positive, significant, and robust correlations between China’s formal sector employment and birth rate. These findings suggest that effective policies addressing China’s population crisis should focus on expanding the formal sector employment, expanding the social welfare system, and regulating the informal sectors.

Rationalization, privatization and sustainability: debates and reforms involving management of the Lombard forests in the 18th century

This work examines the changes that took place in the management of forest commons in eighteenth-century Austrian Lombardy. During that period, fiscal and administrative reforms facilitated greater knowledge of the territory and the relationships between communities and wood merchants-entrepreneurs. Conflicting views arose when the Viennese government, aware that vast forest resources were being badly managed, took inspiration from modern theories of political economy and decided to privatize all forest commons. However, after careful research some enlightened Milanese officials began to consider mountain forests as part of a complex ecological system and question the environmental sustainability of the policies implemented.

The Political Economy of Ethnic Politics in Nigeria

Ethnicity is not evil; neither is ethnic politics generally bad, but it possesses elements that can hinder development in states with low national integration and political bias. This paper examined the impact of ethnic politics on the Nigerian political economy, considering the practices of ethnic interest that have tended to relegate the national interest to sub-ethnic interest, thus hindering the Nigerian state's growth and development. The Marxian political economy theory was adopted to understand the political economy of the ethnic political game playing out as a class of the politicians and the masses. The qualitative research method was used, and data were analysed using the content analysis method based on secondary data. The finding showed that what gave rise to and fueled ethnic bias politics in Nigeria are imbalanced structure and absence of good governance. This further created polarisation and problems of trust among ethnic groups. The paper recommended inclusiveness and fairness in formulating policies and allocating political cum economic values/resources among ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Relationship between Tax Incentives and Corporate Tax Avoidance Strategies in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between tax incentives and corporate tax avoidance strategies in Kenya.
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: The relationship between Tax Incentives and Corporate Tax Avoidance Strategies in Kenya has been a subject of research. Findings indicate that while tax incentives are intended to promote economic growth and investment, they can also create opportunities for corporate tax avoidance. Companies in Kenya have sometimes leveraged these incentives to reduce their tax liabilities through legal but aggressive tax planning strategies, potentially leading to reduced government revenue.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Agency theory, resource dependence theory and political economy theory may be use to anchor future studies on assessing relationship between tax incentives and corporate tax avoidance strategies in Kenya. For practitioners, understanding how tax incentives and avoidance strategies vary across industries is essential. Policymakers should actively engage in global collaboration to address tax avoidance by multinational corporations. International tax policy reforms and coordinated efforts are needed to create a fair and transparent global tax environment that discourages aggressive tax avoidance.

A Sociology of Real Estate: Polanyi, Du Bois, and the Relational Study of Commodified Land in a Climate-Changed Future

Real estate plays an essential part in various sociological theories of political economy, state capacity, racecraft, stratification, and urbanization. However, since foundational insights about the novelty of commodified, emplaced private property from theorists like Du Bois and Polanyi, these disparate threads have not been tied together into a coherent field of study. Here, we review three areas of recent scholarship relevant to understanding real estate—the political economy of place, property rights, and financialization—in order to draw out key insights from each. Overall, the political-economic and socio-legal aspects of real estate have been well-studied, but contemporary research has been limited by its parochialism. We argue that for a sociology of real estate to move forward, it must take a broader, more relational perspective; must become more international; and must confront the climate crisis—and that Polanyi's and Du Bois's contributions can be effectively mobilized toward these ends.

Divide et Impera in the Banten Sultanate: The Political Succession of Sultan Haji and VOC's Pepper Monopoly in the 17th and 18th Centuries

Nusantara's spice commodities became one of the determining factors of the global spice trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. There were three types of superior spices produced by the Nusantara such as cloves, nutmeg, and pepper. In the 17th century AD, Banten Sultanate was known as a pepper producer, and its pepper trade significantly influenced the economic and political development of the region. Apart from improving the economy, this commodity was also used to establish diplomatic relations between foreign nations. However, the pepper trade also became one of the factors that caused conflict in the Banten Sultanate. The implementation of the divide et impera strategy by the VOC caused an internal conflict between Sultan Haji and Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. The conflict occurred when Sultan Haji allied with the VOC to succeed his father, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. Sultan Haji made an agreement with the VOC in 1684, allowing the company to monopolize the pepper trade. This research examines this issue by looking at the overall condition of the pepper trade before and after the VOC's presence in the Banten Sultanate and the succession of Sultan Haji through the 1684 pepper trade agreement. This qualitative research uses historical research methods with a political approach. The theory used in this research is political economy theory, which includes understanding power, economic system, and public policy. The historical research method comprises heuristics, verification, interpretation, and historiography stages. The analysis using a political approach reveals the extent to which the Banten Sultanate's pepper trade policy influenced the succession of Sultan Haji and the monopolization of the pepper trade by the VOC.

Between maintenance and transformation: Reading for difference in agricultural extension

Agricultural extension has long been the subject of scholarly critiques for its hierarchical approach to knowledge transfer and its complicity in promoting agricultural intensification and farm sector consolidation. Here, however, we suggest that there are already-existing examples of different kinds of agricultural extension practices, ones that challenge the capitalist—understood here as synonymous with racial capitalist—paradigm that dominates in California’s agricultural landscapes and elsewhere. We discuss one such example, providing a case study of Diana’s efforts to support Spanish-speaking, small-scale, Latine farmers in California. Drawing from feminist political economic theory, we argue that extension is a site of heterogeneity, where existing power asymmetries are both maintained and transformed. Diana’s efforts to transform such power asymmetries illustrate the labor that some extensionists mobilize to support small-scale Latine farmers and other farmers of color in the context of U.S. agri-capitalism. We highlight 4 ways in which Diana’s labor disrupts extension norms, including (1) filling gaps in state programs with invisible labor, (2) building mutual trust through social relationships beyond work, (3) blurring distinctions between extension work and farm work, and (4) broadening definitions of “farmers” beyond business ownership and land tenure. In doing so, we advocate for a critical understanding of heterogeneity among extension practices, as extensionists both contribute to and challenge racial-economic inequalities in the agri-food system. With this approach, we hope to identify and better understand how contestations of dominant power arrangements can and do occur in extension contexts in the hopes of supporting these efforts.

The tragedy of the commodity and the state: a comparative case study of the Atlantic bluefin tuna and Newfoundland cod fishery collapses

The world’s oceans face total ecological collapse by 2048 if the fishing industries’ extraction is not reined in. At the helm of the ocean crisis have been fisheries management regimes built upon the logic of the tragedy of the commons, which interpret resource depletion as being driven by human self-interest, and then ­propose market-based policy solutions. This comparative case study tests the generalizability of the tragedy of the commodity, a political economic theory of fishery collapse that challenges the tragedy of the commons by applying it to the case of the 1992 Newfoundland cod fishery collapse. A model for incorporating a distinct analysis of state structures, actions, and interests is then proposed.

The commercialization of thumbnail update in the Ajwa TV Indonesia Muslim broadcasting on Youtube Canal

Religion is an ideology, not a good or service, but rather an attraction used to draw in the audience. Ajwa TV Indonesia is an illustration of the critical media political economy theory of how religious content has become commodified because of the transformation of religion's initial use value as a way of life and a source of belief into an exchange value. One of the media's mediators for boosting viewership is YouTube update thumbnails. The research included qualitative descriptive techniques. The practice of commodification of religious content emerged as a response to these negative effects and as a rule for Indonesian Muslims' daily life. Additionally, YouTube plays a significant role in enhancing the performance and visibility of devoted Ajwa TV viewers. The purpose of a thumbnail update is to make information about shows on Ajwa TV more widely known by releasing and sharing it. A device's thumbnails serve many functions, one of which is to display a preview of a digital image. A device's thumbnails serve many functions, one of which is to display a preview of a digital image. Ajwa TV Indonesia is anticipated to continue producing current programming including music, lifestyle, news, and Islamic studies to expand the discussion.

Analysis of the Theories and Scope of International Political Economy

This study aims to describe the application of international political economy theories, and analyze the scope of international political economy and its influence on the country's economy. The method used in this study is a qualitative method and a descriptive approach which produces a study of a phenomenon and describes it based on literature studies by utilizing various references from previous research. In this study, international political economy theories reveal the weaknesses of other theories, so that we can see and differentiate the extent of the strengths of these theories in explaining global economic trends. This illustrates how International Political Economy discusses the problem of development and change in statehood and the national economy is a very basic resource for the state and nation.

CROWD ECONOMY AS A SOCIAL WELFARE CATALYST: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

In the context of a post-industrial economy and global socio-economic challenges, the crowd economy plays a crucial role in shaping new approaches to social welfare. The relevance of this topic lies in the need to understand how digital technologies and collaborative initiatives can contribute to a fairer distribution of resources and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged groups. The subject of the study is the crowd economy and its various forms, including crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, collaborative consumption, open innovation, etc., with a focus on their impact on social welfare and living standards in society. The aim is to analyse the mechanisms and forms of the crowd economy and to assess its impact on social welfare, taking into account the opportunities and challenges it presents to contemporary society. Methodology. The research takes an integrated approach, incorporating theories of political economy and social innovation. The methodological framework includes a review of academic literature and case studies to synthesise researchers' findings on different forms of crowd economy. The types of crowd economy studied include popular forms such as crowdfunding, crowdinvesting, crowdsourcing, crowdstaffing, resource sharing, open innovation and decentralised production, among others. Main reasons. Empirical evidence confirms that the crowd economy offers new opportunities to improve the effectiveness of social initiatives, ensure the availability and rational use of resources, stimulate citizen participation and volunteering, and improve living conditions. However, it also poses regulatory challenges and raises concerns about participants' rights, unequal access to digital platforms and limited resources. A balanced approach is therefore essential to integrate crowd economy practices into the broader context of socio-economic development. Conclusion. The crowd economy is driving contemporary economic development and offers an alternative way to address economic and social inequality. However, it is crucial to take pragmatic steps to create national policies and legislative programmes that encourage and protect its participants. By highlighting the potential of the crowd sector to improve social welfare, particularly in countries with unstable economies, the study underscores the importance of a holistic approach that includes robust legal regulation and public awareness.

Application of Media Political Economic Theory in The Kick Andy Program on Metro TV with Childfree Theme

The phenomenon regarding Childfree has now become a Viral and Trending Topic on social media. Childfree itself is a decision for married couples who decide not to have children in their household. This decision is being widely discussed so that when this issue is broadcast on television media it has the opportunity to get high ratings. This research aims to analyze editorial in commodifying the content (commodification of content) of an event into an interesting show that is worth broadcasting and worth selling to produce a profit for the company. This research method uses a qualitative approach, with a constructivist paradigm and uses data collection methods through observation. The findings from this research are the commodification of content or issues regarding childfree. There are political economic interests carried out by capital owners so if we look at it from this point of view, it can be seen as something that was born because of the domination of one group over another group in the form of control for profit and being a capitalist agent. It is hoped that the implications of this research can enrich case studies regarding the political economy of the media. Thus, in the future the viewing public will be "media aware" and the media can be utilized as fully as possible, not only from a commercial perspective.

Welfare regimes in Asia: convergent or divergent?

While existing scholarship predominantly focuses on the evolution of welfare regimes in advanced Western economies, there has been limited investigation into the trajectories of such systems in the Asia-Pacific region. This study presents a nuanced analysis of welfare regimes in 20 Asian countries, examining their transformation since the 2000s through principle component analysis and clustering algorithms. Contrary to the predictions of comparative political economy and international political economy theories, the findings reveal that these nations neither exhibit a strict divergence in welfare patterns nor converge strictly towards market-driven commodification. Instead, they adopt a balanced approach, harmonizing elements of both commodification and decommodification. This flexibility allows them to navigate complex challenges, including productivity competition, external shocks, and internal inequality. The study suggests that this balanced approach may act as a positive feedback mechanism, enabling these countries to adapt to both global economic pressures and domestic social imperatives.

Commodification and Exploitation of Children in Television Content Programs and New Media Content (Case Study of Fajar Labatjo Alias Fajar Sadboy)

Cases of commodification of children are increasingly common, various television programs and online media have shown many children who are considered viral. The television and online industries take advantage of the child's virality value to be converted into exchange rates. Commodification, which is a term that refers to the practice of converting use value into exchange value, has been used in this context. One of the things that has recently become the object of commodification by television and online media is children. Children are considered attractive to advertisers because they are relatively malleable and influenced by their surroundings, and can be used as an attraction for audiences because of their innocence. This study aimed to explore forms of commodification of children, especially in the viral context of Farar Labadjo or who is known to the public as Fajar Sadboy. To understand this form of commodification, this research adopted the basic theory of media political economy proposed by Vincent Mosco. The research method used in this research was critical discourse analysis developed by Norman Firclough. A qualitative approach with descriptive research type was used in this research. The results of this study revealed various forms of commodification of children in television showed and online media based on the theory of media political economy. In this context, children were exploited and forced to perform various activities in order to fulfill the demand for content in the program. Besides that, Children are also used as a tool to increase advertising rates and get a share of the profits for program owners. One of the most striking forms of commodification is the large number of similar programs that invite children because there is an exchange value from the large number of viewers and increased content traffic. This study concludes that there are various forms of commodification in Television and Online Media programs effectively "commodifying" children's virility and even taking advantage of controversies and tragic incidents for profit.

Determinants of corporate disclosures: An empirical test of political economy theory

The principle objective of this study was to employ political economy theory in order to examine the determinants that impact the corporate disclosure of listed companies in Sri Lanka. Data was gathered from 122 companies over a period of eight years, from 2012 to 2019. Corporate disclosures of Sri Lankan listed corporations were analysed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Determinants of corporate disclosures have been examined in light of political economy theory, namely legitimacy, isomorphic effects, and stakeholder power. The amount of corporate disclosure was quantified using an unweighted index in this research. This study found that legitimacy, isomorphic influences, and stakeholder power are positively associated with the level of corporate disclosure. Findings suggest that managers use corporate disclosures as a strategy to legitimize themselves, manage stakeholder power, and cope with isomorphic influences. This is the first research so far to utilize the PLS-SEM to identify the determinants of corporate disclosures. Considering emerging economies across the globe, the findings of the study provide valuable insights for companies to understand how political economy theory affects the level of corporate disclosures.

COMMONSIM: Simulating the utopia of COMMONISM

This research article presents an agent-based simulation hereinafter called COMMONSIM. It builds on COMMONISM, i.e. a large-scale commons-based vision for a utopian society. In this society, production and distribution of means are not coordinated via markets, exchange and money, or a central polity, but via bottom-up signalling and polycentric networks, i.e. ex ante coordination via needs. Heterogeneous agents care for each other in life groups and produce in different groups care, environmental as well as intermediate and final means to satisfy sensual-vital needs. Productive needs decide on the magnitude of activity in groups for a common interest, e.g. the production of means in a multi-sectoral artificial economy. Agents share cultural traits identified by different behaviours: a propensity for egoism, leisure, environmentalism and productivity. The narrative of this utopian society follows principles of critical psychology and sociology, complexity and evolution, the theory of commons and critical political economy. The article presents the utopia and an agent-based study of it, with emphasis on culture-dependent allocation mechanisms and their social and economic implications for agents and groups.

Urban inequality revisited: Beyond city limits

Inequality is a pivotal concern for social scientists, manifest within and across communities globally. Geoffrey DeVerteuil provides a provocative discussion about the contours of inequality in the city and offers a heuristic framework aimed at its understanding. I focus on three aspects of DeVerteuil's arguments: the importance of reconsidering radical political economy theory to understand urban change and bridge disparate traditions; how the lopsidedness of the city is conceptualized; and whether and how his arguments can be extended to other contexts.