Distribution Of Welfare Research Articles

Schools of AI in the Public Sector: Fairness and Accountability Concerns

As decision-making algorithms become more prevalent in society, the importance efficiency and problem-solving abilities come into question when predictions impact individuals’ lives. High-risk applications require trusted AI systems to be designed with fairness and accountability; such trust and consideration is essential for public acceptance and successful deployment. Despite growing advocacy for ethical and trustworthy AI, along with the emergence of guidelines like the EU AI Act, controversies surrounding AI persist in the media. Public sector AI systems are being implemented haphazardly, whether in judicial decision-making, healthcare diagnostics, or social welfare distribution. These high-risk applications directly affect citizens’ quality of life, highlighting the need for a critical assessment of how AI are being designed and deployed in the public sector. My thesis explores the integration of fairness, accountability, and uncertainty in public sector AI to assess whether these systems are appropriately designed, effectively adapted, and capable of enhancing societal well-being. The research aims to provide actionable insights for designing AI systems that align with public sector needs and maximize societal benefits.

The influencing factors and regional heterogeneity of county-level public services quality in China

ABSTRACT Enhancing the equity of public services is a strategic objective for China's socio-economic development during the 14th Five-Year Plan. However, existing research primarily focuses on urban areas, neglecting peripheral regions like counties. This article aims to address this research gap by exploring the development level and influencing factors of public services in county areas. Using the entropy weight TOPSIS method and Dagum's Gini coefficient, this article assesses the quality and equity of public services in 632 counties across four regions of China and employs spatial models to identify influencing factors. The findings indicate a general improvement in public service quality across counties, with persistent regional disparities. The eastern region demonstrates the highest quality, followed by the western, northeastern, and central regions. Per capita GDP, per capita deposits, and the tertiary industry employment ratio positively influence public services and exhibit spatial spillover effects. Conversely, the financial self-sufficiency rate negatively impacts public services. This article recommends increasing financial support for underdeveloped counties, promoting industrialization and upgrading, and strategically formulating fiscal expenditure structures. The theoretical contribution lies in integrating theories of welfare distribution, equalization, and spatial equity to deepen the understanding of regional disparities in public services. Highlights Assessed public service quality in 632 counties using entropy TOPSIS and Dagum’s Gini coefficient. Found persistent regional disparities, with eastern counties having the highest service quality. Identified spatial spillover effects of GDP, deposits, and tertiary industry employment rates. Revealed negative impacts of financial self-sufficiency rates on public service quality. Recommended fiscal support and industrial upgrading for underdeveloped counties.

Predicting social welfare in Madrid neighbourhoods using machine learning

ABSTRACT This research aimed to identify the principal factors predicting social welfare and inequality in the neighbourhoods of Madrid city. A comprehensive dataset representing various socioeconomic metrics of Madrid’s neighbourhoods is analysed utilising different linear regression models and the XGBoost machine learning algorithm. The findings indicate that demographic variables play a crucial role in shaping social welfare and inequality in Madrid's neighbourhoods, with the percentage of women, and the percentage of children under 14 years old and adults over 65 years old being the most important variables for predicting social welfare and inequality in the studied neighbourhoods. Contrary to expectations, the average net income per household does not emerge as a significant predictor. Policymakers and urban planners should consider these factors to ensure equitable development and welfare distribution. The low impact of average net income per household on social welfare and inequality observed in this study should be regarded with some caution, but our findings certainly underline the need for a deeper understanding of socioeconomic dynamics in urban settings.

Enhancing Public Administration

Public Administration in India has undergone significant transformations in recent years, driven by technological advancements, policy reforms and citizen-centric governance models. The methods used are literature review, text synthesis, and description of current best practices. This short review highlights e.g., key best practices that are shaping the landscape of public administration in current India. Notable initiatives include the integration of digital platforms and enhancing transparency and accessibility for citizens. Additional programs have streamlined welfare distribution and financial inclusion in this South Asian Country. The focus on data-driven decision-making, capacity-building programs for civil servants, and public-private partnerships have further optimized public service delivery. By doing so, India is setting benchmarks for innovation and efficiency in public administration in South Asia Region.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GREEN ECONOMY POLICIES IN SMELTER FACTORY AREA: QUADRUPLE HELIX PERSPECTIVE

The high demand for mining products and the need to increase economic value have led the government to build mineral processing plants (smelters) so that local residents can have opportunities to work and increase government revenue from the tax sector. However, few studies discuss the impact of smelter construction in Indonesia, especially from the perspectives of the government, society, employees, and academics. This aligns with the 2019-2024 Indonesia’s government national research priorities (PRN), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Ministry of Education and Culture's vision, which includes the flagship concept of independent learning (MBKM) and the Green Economy program. The urgency of this research stems from the conflicting interests of stakeholders, which can result in suboptimal implementation of the green economy. This can lead to issues such as economic disparities between employees and local communities, environmental damage, and uneven welfare levels. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the green economy model in the smelter areas from a quadruple helix perspective. The study employs a qualitative research method. The stages of this research are as follows: (i) observation and identification of potential respondents; (ii) preparing participant criteria and research indicators; (iii) data collection; (iv) identification and collection of qualitative data using an ethnographic approach; (v) compiling research results; (vi) compiling research outputs; (vii) reporting and monitoring and evaluation. The results show that the presence of PT Bumi Mineral Sulawesi has had a positive impact on creating jobs and reducing unemployment, as well as improving the local economy and the welfare of the community. However, to achieve inclusive sustainable development, we must address the challenges of equitable welfare distribution and environmental impacts.

Peran Ijarah dalam Meningkatkan Akses Pembiayaan Mikro Syariah

Sharia Micro Enterprises are one of the main pillars of the national economy. Micro businesses must receive protection as a form of government support for the community. However, there are several obstacles for people in developing their businesses, one of which is capital. The aim of this research is to facilitate access for micro business actors to finance with ijarah contracts. namely an alternative solution to a source of financing for Micro Businesses that is easily accessible, especially for the Indonesian people who are predominantly Muslim, namely financing with an ijarah agreement. The problem discussed in this research is what is the role of the ijarah contract in increasing access to sharia micro financing. It can be seen that the ijarah contract plays a very important role in supporting business development for micro business actors and providing easy access to financing services so that it can help the development of business actors. The method used in this research is a qualitative descriptive research method. The data sources used in this research are secondary and primary data. The data collection technique used in this research is literature study. . The results of this research are that the ijarah contract plays a very important role in the development of sharia micro businesses. The Al-Qur'an and Hadith also emphasize that the good practice of the ijarah contract is very easy and provides easy access for business actors to carry out financing for the development of a business, besides that it also aims to support implementation of national development in order to increase the distribution of social welfare. Therefore, for the Indonesian people who are predominantly Muslim, the ijarah contract is an alternative source of financing and easy access in developing their business in accordance with Islamic law.

Analisis pengaruh nilai ekspor dan investasi bagi pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia dalam perspektif syariah

This research examines the impact of export value and investment on Indonesia's economic growth from 2013 to 2022 from an Islamic perspective. Using secondary data from the Central Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank, the Error Correction Model method is applied to analyze the long-term and short-term relationships between variables. Stationarity Test, R-Square Test, F Test, and T Test are used to ensure the model's validity. The research results show that export value and investment significantly affect long-term economic growth. In the short term, exports are significant at the 5 percent significance level, and investment is significant at the 10 percent significance level for economic growth. From the Islamic perspective, the economic growth resulting from increased exports and investment positively impacts the economic and social dynamics of society, ensuring a fair distribution of welfare. By applying Sharia principles, the benefits of economic growth can be felt evenly, avoiding unethical practices. Exports and investment are crucial factors in driving Indonesia's economic growth, while Sharia principles provide a strong foundation for economic justice and sustainability.

Algorithmic bias and racial inequality: a critical review

Abstract Most definitions of algorithmic bias and fairness encode decision-maker interests, such as profits, rather than the interests of disadvantaged groups (e.g. racial minorities): bias is defined as a deviation from profit maximization. Future research should instead focus on the causal effect of automated decisions on the distribution of welfare, both across and within groups. The literature emphasizes some apparent contradictions between different notions of fairness, and between fairness and profits. These contradictions vanish, however, when profits are maximized. Existing work involves conceptual slippages between statistical notions of bias and misclassification errors, economic notions of profit, and normative notions of bias and fairness. Notions of bias nonetheless carry some interest within the welfare paradigm that I advocate for, if we understand bias and discrimination as mechanisms and potential points of intervention.

Is the age pension in Australia sustainable and fair? Evidence from forecasting the old-age dependency ratio using the Hamilton-Perry model

The age pension aims to assist eligible elderly Australians who meet specific age and residency criteria in maintaining basic living standards. In designing efficient pension systems, government policymakers seek to satisfy the expectations of the overall aging population in Australia. However, the population’s unique demographic characteristics at the state and territory level are often overlooked due to the lack of available data. We use the Hamilton-Perry model, which requires minimum input, to model and forecast the evolution of age-specific populations at the state and territory level. We also integrate the obtained sub-national demographic information to determine sustainable pension ages up to 2051. We also investigate pension welfare distribution in all states and territories to identify the disadvantaged residents under the current pension system. Using the sub-national mortality data for Australia from 1971 to 2021 obtained from AHMD (2023), we implement the Hamilton-Perry model with the help of functional time series forecasting techniques. With the forecasts of age-specific population sizes for each state and territory, we compute the old age dependency ratio to determine the nationwide sustainable pension age.

Optimization Of The Authority Of Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) In The Directorate General Of Taxes (DGT) Bangka Belitung Region In The Seizure And Blocking Of Suspect Assets For The Recovery Of State Revenue Losses

Tax crimes have become a significant issue in Indonesia, as taxes are vital for the government's development efforts. Failure to comply with tax obligations not only impacts the state's revenue but also hinders the equitable distribution of welfare to society. The purpose to be achieved in this study is to find out related to the authority of PPNS in the seizure and blocking of suspect assets in order to recover losses in state revenue. The method used in this study is empirical juridical where the data obtained through primary data by interviewing the DGT Bangka Belitung region. In addition, secondary data is also used to add information and strengthen the analysis related to the research topic. The results showed that the recovery of State losses can be done by the DGT where the authority can be done by confiscation and blocking of assets. This mechanism is carried out with the aim that the country does not suffer considerable losses. Tax investigation collection is one of the actions that can reduce tax crimes so that the activities carried out must be carried out efficiently in accordance with applicable regulations

BloFoPASS: A blockchain food palliatives tracer support system for resolving welfare distribution crisis in Nigeria

With population rising to approximately 200 million Nigerians – fast-paced, urbanization has continued to advent food insecurity with maladministration, corruption, internal rife, and starvation. These, threatened the nation's unity with the lockdown of 2020; and consequently, have now become the trend. Nigeria must as a nation, re-examine her methods in the administration of palliatives (in lieu of food and relief) distribution – as the above-listed issues have become of critical need in the equitable distribution of reliefs, both from the humanitarian agency view, and the Government (State and Federal). They have noticed non-transparency, corruption, and data inadequacies, as major drawbacks in its management. Our study presents a blockchain ensemble for the administration of food palliatives distribution in Nigeria that first ensures, that all beneficiaries be registered, and the food palliatives are sensor-tagged and recorded on the blockchain. Results show the number of transactions per second and page retrieval abilities for the proposed chain were quite low with 30-TPS and 0.38seconds respectively – as compared to public blockchain. Proposed ensemble eliminates fraud that is herein rippled across the existing system, minimizes corrupt practices via sensor-based model, provides insight for stakeholders, and minimize the error in reported data on the supply chain.

Manajemen Filantropi

Islamic philanthropy management plays an important role in managing zakat, infaq, alms and waqf funds in a structured and accountable manner. The aim is to achieve social justice and equal distribution of welfare, help the poor, support social development, and strengthen the Islamic brotherhood. The basic principles of Islamic philanthropy management include sincerity, justice, target accuracy, efficiency and accountability. In its implementation, professional philanthropic institutions are established, effective fund collection systems, use of information technology, development of human resources, and development of innovative philanthropy programs. With effective management of Islamic philanthropy, it is hoped that it can create a just, prosperous and noble society.

Perkembangan Ekonomi dan Keuangan dalam Islam: Inspirasi dari Khulafaur Rasyidin

Islamic economics is the response of Islamic scholars to the economic challenges of their time, which is closely related to the Koran and hadith. Islamic economics is also a social science whose Islamic values ​​influence all of society's economic activities. Islamic economics is part of every aspect of life which is based on four sciences, namely the Al-Quran, Sunnah, Ijma', and Qiyas. This discusses a very inclusive way of life. The aim of this research is to describe the history of public policy and the development of Islamic political economy during the time of Khurafaur Rasyidin. Based on the results of this research, Khulafaur Rasyidin's leadership period consisted of four levels of leadership. The first economic policies implemented during the Khurafaur Rasyidin era were during the Abu Bakr era, the second during the reign of Umar bin Khattab, and the third during the reign of Uthman bin Affan, and finally during the reign of Ali bin Talib. Regarding his leadership, several activities were carried out, namely establishing Baitul, shopping centers, distribution of welfare, pension funds, soldiers' salaries, as well as distribution and collection of zakat to Muslim and non-Muslim communities. All of these activities can help develop the country's economy and improve people's living standards. The method used in this research is the library research method. The data collection technique is to conduct a literature review study regarding the problem to be solved. Keywoards: Public Policy; Islamic Economics; Khulafaur Rasyidin

Development of an Index for Measuring Islamic Bank CSR Disclosures in Indonesia

Measuring the disclosure of social activities carried out by Islamic banks is very important. However, the results of measuring the disclosure of social activities of Islamic banks in Indonesia still need to be higher when measured by the current CSR disclosure measurement index. The CSR disclosure measurement index often used in related research comes from research results in various countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. This is one of the considerations that causes the level of CSR disclosure of Islamic banks in Indonesia to be relatively low. Studies on developing an index for measuring CSR disclosure of Islamic banks in Indonesia are based on Sharia enterprise theory (SET). Based on the results of literacy studies of related research conducted in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia, several assessment dimension criteria need to be developed, including those related to the obligation of Islamic banks to report their social activities from the start of their establishment, environmental awareness education for employees, use of environmentally friendly materials. to support operational activities and collaboration with social communities in order to achieve acceleration and equal distribution of community welfare.

Welfare state contract and family solidarity: Do informal carers prefer more welfare state support?

AbstractSince the late 20th century, a combination of sociodemographic changes and increasing costs of pensions, health and social care challenged the intergenerational welfare contract. Besides, governments have been substituting more parts of care services for informal care. Given this reality, little is known to what extent informal cares prefer a higher government responsibility. Nonetheless, they demonstrate solidarity towards other generations through their actions. In this article, we question whether the intensity of informal caregiving, expressed in hours a week, and age group affects preferences towards welfare distributions and policies supporting informal caregivers. To do so, we have used a unique dataset of stratified, representative data about intergenerational exchanges between individuals in Belgium. We only see a significant effect of high intensity caregiving on general welfare state support. For the policy that targets informal caregivers we see no differences between informal caregivers and non‐carers. We argue that informal care status or age cannot fully grasp people's preferences of welfare state support, but lies in the intersection of individual characteristics. A recent study about informal caregivers in Flanders highlighted significant differences in support needs across age groups. Notably, the persons at working age, would feel most helped by reconciliation measures such as paid informal care leave. Moreover, support needs correlated with the intensity of caregiving, as those providing 10 h or more expressed a greater need for financial support, work‐life balance policies and help from professional services (Bracke et al. Zorgenquête 2021: Inhoudelijk rapport, 2022). Recognizing the importance of different support needs of informal caregivers, underscores the necessity for comprehensive approaches in family and informal care policies to address both caregiver and recipient needs effectively.

Public investment, factor income taxation, and intergenerational welfare distribution in an overlapping generations model

Public investment, factor income taxation, and intergenerational welfare distribution in an overlapping generations model

Embedded but overlooked values: Ethical aspects of absolute environmental sustainability assessments

AbstractCurrently used sharing principles (grandfathering and final consumption expenditure) do not align with the purpose of Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessments (AESAs)—enabling all to meet basic needs within the planetary limits. This discrepancy, though niche within life cycle engineering, demands attention due to the integration of the sharing principles in the widely adopted Science Based Targets initiative, embraced by 4000+ companies, representing over a third of the global economy. This paper suggests operationalizing sufficientarianism as a fair sharing principle for AESAs guaranteeing a minimum threshold of well‐being for all. The theory of human needs is highlighted to distinguish luxuries from necessities. This is vital when assigning shares to products/companies, as there's no room for luxuries (products for someone which cause others to fall short), given the extremely limited individual safe operating space, regardless of the sharing approach. This paper argues that sufficientarian‐based sharing principles must overlook historically skewed material welfare distributions to ensure no one falls below the minimum threshold. It underscores the need for an interdisciplinary approach to sharing principles, acknowledging and discussing diverse value perspectives on equal grounds. The focus is to inform and discuss the development of new sharing principles, which introduces initial steps toward a sufficientarian‐based approach. The paper concludes that recognizing embedded values is paramount in sharing principle development. Failing to do so risks letting quantifiable metrics dictate the values integrated into AESAs without open discourse.

Comprehensive analysis of regional disparities in the distribution of income and welfare of the population in the Russian regions

The modern Russian economy is characterised by considerable regional disparities concerning distribution of incomes and well-being of the citizens. These imbalances can be especially noticeable when analysing various sectors which play an important role in the economic progress of the regions. Within the framework of this study, based on a comparative analysis, the degree of dependence of the living standard on the electromechanical industry is assessed. The hypothesis is advanced that the outstripping growth of this sector has a significant positive impact on indicators of employment, income, and quality of life. Testing this hypothesis will make it possible to create a state policy for equalising the socio-economic development of Russian regions with consideration to the industry specialisation of their economies. Statistical data on personal income, quality of life indices, as well as specific indicators of industry progress in different regions of the Federation were used for the study. The employed methods of correlation and regression analysis identified the links between the level of sectoral development and economic well-being of the territorial units. The analysis showed that such regions as Moscow, St. Petersburg, where an infrastructure sector leads, and a number of oil-producing Siberian regions demonstrate higher indicators of income and quality of life. At the same time, subjects with a less developed sector, for instance some areas of the North Caucasus and Siberia, are experiencing difficulties in achieving similar levels of welfare.

Consumer Behavior Assolo’ Pada Acara Pernikahan Suku Kajang Dalam Pesektif Maslahah

The purpose of this research is to describe, explain about consumer behavior assolo’ the wedding event in Suku Kajang in perspective maslahah. This research is qualitative research, the type of research is field research and using an ethnographic approach method. The data collection methods used were observation and interviews. The research results show that consumer behavior assolo' the wedding event in the Kajang Tribe in perspective maslahah namely: 1) pregnant maslahah in the form of maintaining honor and self-respect/say',2) pregnant Maslahah in the form of taawwun values ​​and the embodiment of friendship, and 3) containsThe Value of Maslahah as a Means of Transaction, Distribution of Wealth and Welfare of Property Ownership.So starting from the description above, it can be understood that consumer behavior assolo' the wedding event in the Kajang Tribe in perspective maslahah directly maintain the objectives of Sharia'. Because considering the benefit dimension, besides that assolo' People hold wedding ceremonies to make it easier for them to live their lives, and to keep them away from the negative stigma of society's views.

Juridical Review of Net Revenue Sharing and Profit Sharing Implementation In Islamic Bank

Islamic economic and financial systems are based on the achievement of justice and equitable distribution of economic welfare as well as universal ethical values that can be accepted by various parties. This study aims to determine the legal basis for the application of net revenue sharing and profit sharing methods in Islamic banks. The method used is normative juridical approach, data collection techniques using literature study and field study, data analysis using qualitative normative analysis. The results mentioned that the regulation of net revenue sharing and profit sharing of Islamic banks in Indonesia is contained in Article 26 of Law Number 21 of 2008 concerning Islamic Banking on the operational principles of Islamic banks, DSN MUI fatwa Number 15/DSN-MUI/IX/2000 on the principle of distribution of business results in Islamic financial institutions and PBI Number 7/46/PBI/2005 concerning the collection of funds and distribution of funds for parties carrying out business activities based on sharia principles.