Regional Welfare Research Articles

Exploring the interplay between religion, tolerance, fundamentalism, and attitudes towards immigrants: a semi-automatic literature review

ABSTRACT Migration has profoundly impacted national political agendas and public perceptions of immigrants. Many factors, such as the perceived threat to the residents’ economic stability and cultural integration, affect the attitudes toward immigrants. Academics have explored the influence of some socioeconomic and political factors, regional welfare programs, and support for right-wing parties in shaping these perceptions. The study reviews specifically the importance of the role of religion in shaping attitudes towards immigrants. Through a semi-automatic literature extraction, the study aims to explore the intersectionality of religious tolerance with fundamentalism and attitudes towards immigrants. The study aims to shed light on the underlying grounded theories and suggest future studies in the field. Bibliometric analysis of a database of selected studies reveals strong associations between words such as ‘Muslims,’ ‘integration,’ ‘attitudes,’ and ‘immigrants,’ underscoring their interconnectedness in scholarly analysis. Thus, the study provides a general overview and understanding of the complex relationship between religion and three connected variables: religious tolerance, fundamentalism and attitudes towards immigrants.

A nexus between regional welfare and sustainable development: A conceptual model

The relevance of the research stems from the nature of the approaches to the definition and measurement of regional welfare still debated in the extant research. Particular importance attached to this problem is related to the concept of sustainable development, which centres on promoting prosperity while protecting the planet. The paper aims to form an original theoretical model depicting the mutual influence of sustainable regional development and regional welfare. The fundamental propositions of the concept of sustainable development and welfare economics, as well as regional and spatial development theories constitute the methodological basis of the study. The methods used are comparative analysis, synthesis, and conceptual modelling. The findings confirm that regional welfare acts simultaneously as a target due to having the elements identical to the spheres of sustainable development in its struc ture, and as the key factor in the sustainable regional development due to incorporat ing a set of material and non-material, economic and non-economic goods, which build up the economic, social, environmental, and institutional elements ensuring an incessant process of changes in the regional socio-ecological-economic system impacted by interregional, national and international factors of external environment of a region. The proposed conceptual model advances scientific ideas about the main tenance of sustainable regional development, contributes to the theory of welfare, and creates a basis for devising a method to measure regional welfare.

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Research Involving Animal Subjects in Indonesia

Advances in science often benefit human health but can also involve sacrifices, particularly when animals are used as research subjects. This study explores the ethical and legal aspects of using animals in research, focusing on improving understanding and compliance with animal welfare regulations in Indonesia. The research aims to analyze laws and ethical principles such as the 3R and 5F to ensure humane treatment of animals. Utilizing a normative legal approach and library research methodology, this study evaluates various regulations, including laws, government policies, and institutional guidelines concerning animal welfare in research. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive analysis of how legal requirements intersect with ethical considerations, underscoring the need for ethics committees to oversee research practices. The findings emphasize that while animal research is essential for scientific progress, strict adherence to regulations is necessary to protect animals from abuse and ensure ethical research practices.

Effects of stock rebuilding – A computable general equilibrium analysis for a mackerel fishery in Korea

We evaluate the effects of rebuilding a mackerel fishery in Korea using a bioeconomic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. The effects include three different measures of the benefits of the stock rebuilding—the fishing sector’s rent, its value-added, and the aggregate regional welfare. In the baseline simulation, we run 20 scenarios over 30 years, depending on the magnitude of the annual percentage reduction in the harvest required to recover the stock to the target level (Bmsy). We find that the percentage reductions that yield the largest increase in the three measures of the benefits are 70% (yielding the largest rent increase), 35% (yielding the largest value-added increase), and 20% (yielding the largest aggregate welfare gain), respectively, to rebuild the stock to the target level. Results shed some light on which measure the policymakers should use when implementing a stock rebuilding policy.

The Upper Secondary School Act as legal violence in the Swedish welfare state: ‘I came to Sweden just so I could live’

In this article we investigate the harmful effects of the 2018 Upper Secondary School Act (the ‘Study Law’) upon young people in Sweden who have sought to regularise their stay with the help of this law. We analyse these harmful impacts as ‘legal violence’: structural and symbolic violence embedded in or intensified by law (Menjívar and Abrego, 2012), in the context of Swedish welfare regulation. The Study Law was ostensibly enacted to provide a new opportunity for some 7,000 young people, the majority of whom had fled Afghanistan. These young people had sought asylum in Sweden in 2015, but had not had their needs for protection recognised, instead being subjected to exclusionary laws, policies and growing racism. The Study Law substituted the possibility of protection with strict requirements of study, work and conduct, while the social and material support needed to fulfil these requirements largely was withheld. In our analysis, we draw upon interviews with young people collected as part of a doctoral research project, legal materials, and our own, earlier joint experiences as legal practitioners working with those affected by this law. The legal violence of the Study Law, we argue, has produced individual and social harms, particularly impacting the lives of young people seeking asylum. The law has created a complex and hard-to-navigate, legally-violent regime that, directly and indirectly, has exacerbated hardships and facilitated suffering and even death.

The Creation of new autnonomous regions: Is this a solution for regional welfare ?

This research analyzes whether expansion is a solution based on a competitive perspective, with a focus on the Nagari expansion in West Pasaman Regency. We collected data for this research using a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with key informants from the Nagari government and local communities. The findings indicate that a nagari's expansion does not necessarily lead to its advancement. Many new nagari have not been optimal in managing resources, and there are ownership conflicts and competition between the parent region and newly emerging nagari, as well as the political transition process, which is hampering sustainable development. Therefore, while regional expansion offers new opportunities, the obstacles encountered underscore the necessity of assessing and enhancing policies to ensure the community's sustainable benefits and the attainment of Nagari autonomy.

Comparison of the Competitiveness for Danish, Dutch, and German Piglet Producers under Consideration of Country-Specific Methods of Piglet Castration with Anesthesia

Pig producers in Europe adopt different production methods for male pig fattening. More than half of the animals are surgically castrated. The different interpretations of animal welfare in different countries lead to market differentiation and economically different production conditions, which do not restrict trade, but economically lead to drastic competitive changes for local producers. While the Netherlands has already implemented surgical castration for the export market, using CO2 narcosis (NL), Denmark and Germany are each introducing their strategies with local anesthesia (DK) and isoflurane anesthesia (DE), respectively. Using typical pig farms from the agri benchmark Pig Network, the additional costs and economic impacts of animal welfare regulations are calculated. In Germany, isoflurane anesthesia increases costs by EUR 28.54 to EUR 49.86 per sow, or EUR 1.93 to EUR 3.81 per male piglet. This corresponds to a cost increase of around 5% per piglet. In Denmark, the costs of local anesthesia with procaine increase more moderately by EUR 3.55 to EUR 5.05 per sow, or around EUR 0.30 per male piglet. The cost increase here is less than 1% per piglet. The additional costs are leading to a loss of competitiveness for Denmark and Germany compared to the Netherlands. However, Germany is also losing profit significantly compared to Denmark. This study highlights that animal welfare regulations can negatively impact the competitiveness of the pig sector. It emphasizes the need for countries to implement such regulations carefully, ensuring that they do not lead to the loss of production or international competitiveness. A balanced approach that supports both animal welfare and economic sustainability is essential.

Animal Welfare or Own Welfare: What Motivates Consumers’ Choice of Cage‐Free Products?

ABSTRACTThis study addresses the puzzle of animal welfare regulations consistently passing by majority votes, despite potential welfare losses evident in market data. To understand this phenomenon, we propose a conceptual framework that considers two possibilities: first, animal welfare might not be valued in the market, as suggested by classical externality analysis, and second, it could be valued due to altruistic motivations. To illustrate the framework, we uncover the motives driving consumers’ demand for animal welfare products jointly utilizing the results of a discrete choice experiment and respondents’ perception data obtained in China. Our findings align with the predictions made by classical externality analysis, indicating that the public good aspect of animal welfare is not valued in this market and thereby challenging the existence of altruistic behavior. Moreover, our analysis of consumer heterogeneity reveals that as consumers’ knowledge increases, they exhibit a decreased inclination to prioritize the animal welfare attribute for fulfilling their private needs, and may raise concerns about the safety of animal welfare‐friendly products.

Provider Perspectives, Barriers, and Improvement Strategies for Hospital Discharge Support Programs: A Focus Group Interview Study in Korea.

Transitional periods, such as patient discharge, are notably challenging. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of providers involved in hospital discharge support programs, identify the primary obstacles, and propose strategies for improvement. In this qualitative cross-sectional study, we interviewed 49 healthcare professionals, comprising doctors, nurses, and social workers, who participated in two pilot programs. We organized focus group interviews with 3-6 participants per group, segmented by the type of discharge support program and profession. For data analysis, we employed phenomenological analysis, a qualitative method. Participants recognized the importance of the discharge support program and anticipated its benefits. The Rehabilitation Hospital Discharge Patient Support program saw more active involvement from doctors than the Establishment of a Public Health-Medical Collaboration System program. Both programs highlighted the critical need for more staff and better compensation, as identified by the doctors. Nurses and social workers cited the heavy documentation burden, uncooperative attitudes from patients and local governments, and other issues. They also anticipated that program improvements could be achieved through the standardization of regional welfare services and better coordination by local governments serving as welfare service regulators. All groups-doctors, nurses, and social workers-underscored the significance of promoting these programs. Discharge support programs are crucial for patients with functional impairments and severe illnesses, particularly in ensuring continuity of care. Policy support is essential for the successful implementation of these programs in Korea.

Increasing access to justice for families through preventive legal advocacy

AbstractWhat is the role of preventive legal advocacy in promoting justice for families and redefining child welfare to focus on family and community‐based systems which prioritize community‐based support and to forego government oversight, regulation and punishment? Given the timeline for systemic reforms and the necessity of providing access to justice for families presently struggling to protect their family autonomy, preventive legal advocacy is a critical piece of reform efforts and scholarly attention. This article advocates for the expansion of existing preventive legal advocacy models and legislation codifying early access to counsel with the goal of disrupting the traditional pathways into the child welfare and family regulation system, enforcing the rights of parents and children to their family autonomy and meaningfully supporting families to thrive.

Climate change stands as the new challenge for whale watching and North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico, after their recovery from overexploitation

IntroductionSocial-ecological systems (SES) recognize the intricate relationship between human activities and the environment and advocate for comprehensive approaches to address complex environmental issues. This study investigates the factors influencing whale watching, particularly the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in northern Mexico, after significant recovery following overexploitation. Despite reaching a peak in 2015, the eastern North Pacific gray whales experienced unusual mortality events (UME), the most recent from 2019 to 2023, leading to a population decline and historically low calf production in 2022. This decline is evident in the reduced presence of whales and calves in winter breeding lagoons. Concurrently, whale watching has become a significant tourist attraction in these areas.MethodsOur objective was to develop a mental model of the SES of gray whale watching, integrating ecological and socioeconomic data to identify key variables and interactions that support system resilience. From an ecological perspective, we analyzed the long-term temporal trends of eight years of gray whale counts in the southernmost breeding and nursing lagoons within the Bahía Magdalena–Bahía Almejas Complex, Mexico. Additionally, we incorporated the current discussion in the literature about the potential impact of global climate change on gray whale populations. In the socioeconomic subsystem, we used participatory methods, including interviews, surveys, and workshops with government officials, tourism operators, and visitors. We also added on-site assessments of compliance with welfare regulations to understand tourism dynamics. ResultsOur findings identified as main external stressors the changes in ice levels in feeding areas and sea warming in breeding areas, and as internal stressors the compliance with official regulations and the number of vessels observing whales at the same time. The key socioeconomic factor of the system was tourist satisfaction, influenced by factors such as the quality of the information provided by operators. DiscussionUltimately, our mental model provides a framework for further exploration of relevant interactions and trajectories, offering insights for developing effective management strategies.

Effects of single housing on behavior, corticosterone level and body weight in male and female mice

BackgroundExperimental mice are often single-housed either for an individual analysis (feeding behavior, imaging, calorimetry) or as a stress paradigm (social isolation) in translational biomedical research. Reports of the influence of single housing in rodents are conflicting and may depend on age and duration of isolation. Sex is often not included as a factor. In this study we investigated the effects of 4-week single housing in male and female mice on behavior, body weight, and serum corticosterone levels.ResultsBehavioral tests showed no effect on anhedonia and stress coping, anxiety and motor exploration. Social avoidance occurred in both males and females. Regarding physiological effects, single housing did not induce changes in serum corticosterone levels, but reduced body weight gain.ConclusionsWhile some mouse studies of chronic social isolation reported depression-related disturbances, our data suggest that single housing might be not necessarily be too stressful. This is important for animal welfare regulations and experiments in life science research.

Healthcare Access and Financing: A Legal and Public Health Perspective

The welfare provisions of the current Constitution centre on healthcare. The Indian Constitution's Article 42 declares that the state has an obligation to take all reasonable steps to promote public health. Additionally, Article 47 of the Indian Constitution, another article containing Directive Principles of State Policy, mandates that the state carry out its primary duties to improve public health by raising the standard of living, improving nutrition, and improving public health. In particular, the state must work to outlaw the use of drugs and alcohol, unless prescribed, as these substances are harmful to health. It follows that welfare regulations clearly place an obligation on the state to increase its assistance in promoting the health of those individuals who are unable to pay for the expensive medical care needed to treat their illnesses. In light of the urgency and importance of the issue, the World Health Organisation designated Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as its top goal. Ensuring that everyone has access to necessary health services of adequate quality and is shielded from the financial burden of medical expenses is the goal of universal health coverage. In underdeveloped nations, financial security against medical expenses is just as important as access to healthcare.

Comparative Analysis of Animal Welfare in Three Broiler Slaughterhouses and Associated Farms with Unsatisfactory Slaughterhouse Results.

The objective of this study was to assess the health and welfare of 70 commercial broiler flocks (transport batches) in three distinct slaughterhouses based on various indicators including emaciation, dirty feathers (DFs), footpad dermatitis (FPD), hock burn (HB), breast burn (BB), breast blister, breast ulcer, ascites, septicemia/abnormal color, cellulitis, extensive traumatisms, dead on arrival (DoA) and condemnation rate. Assessment scales ranging from 0 (absence) to 2 (severe) were used for DFs, FPD, and HB, while a 0 (absence) to 1 (present) scale was applied to BB, breast blisters, and breast ulcers. The prevalence of total condemnation causes (emaciation, ascites, septicemia/abnormal color, cellulitis, and extensive traumatism) and DoA were recorded and presented in percentages. Three flocks presented condemnation rates higher than 4% and 11 flocks presented DoA rates higher than 0.5%. Twenty-one flocks achieved grade 1 (warning) for FPD and 14 achieved grade 2 for FPD (alarm). Extensive trauma was observed in 0.01% of the slaughtered animals, and no flock reached the threshold of 2%. Breast blisters and breast ulcers lesions were not observed in the studied flocks. The significant positive associations observed for the presence of severe footpad dermatitis (FPD2), severe hock burns (HB2), and breast burns (BB1) indicate simultaneous occurrences. Absences of hock burns (HB0) and breast burns (BB0) were also associated. Eleven houses that obtained the worst results for welfare indicators at slaughterhouses were audited. FPD, HB, DoA, and the condemnation rate were the most crucial indicators for identifying farms with inadequate welfare conditions. These indicators should be systematically integrated into the welfare monitoring of broilers in slaughterhouses. Audits conducted on farms detected some noncompliance with regulatory welfare standards and suggested improvements in environmental and structural conditions, as well as the reduction in stocking densities and improvements in the water systems.

KAJIAN YURIDIS TERHADAP PERATURAN BUPATI NOMOR 40 TAHUN 2014 TENTANG PEDOMAN PENANGANAN GELANDANGAN DAN PENGEMIS KABUPATEN JEMBER

Poverty remains a persistent challenge for developing countries, including Indonesia. Poverty is classified into two types: structural poverty, caused by government policies, and cultural poverty, stemming from societal habits. One manifestation of poverty is the existence of beggars and homeless individuals (Gepeng), which arises from both internal factors such as poverty and lack of skills, and external factors like unfavorable environmental conditions. This study focuses on the implementation of Jember Regent Regulation No. 40 of 2014 concerning the Guidelines for Handling Beggars and Homeless People in Lojejer Village, Jember Regency. The aim of this research is to examine the role of the government in addressing the issue of Gepeng in Lojejer Village. The research employs a legal and conceptual approach with a normative juridical type of research. The findings of this study are expected to provide theoretical contributions as references for academics and practical benefits for policymakers in addressing social issues related to beggars and homeless people in Jember Regency. It is hoped that this research will enhance social welfare in line with the mandate of Law No. 11 of 2009 on Social Welfare and Jember Regent Regulation No. 40 of 2014.

Microbiological identification of some culturable native strains associated with the digestive tract in Panaque cochliodon

Objective. To characterize by microbiology the native strains associated to the intestinal tract of the species Panaque cochliodon. Materials and methods. Three adult specimens captured in the Magdalena River that were transported and sacrificed under animal welfare regulations were used. Dissection of the intestinal tract was performed, obtaining samples for microbiological isolation, using culture media, purifying the microorganisms, performing metabolic biochemical tests and API 20E (Biomeriux) tests for their identification. Results. Information on the microbial population structure was obtained, reporting the phylum Proteobacteria with the species: Pantoea sp, Erwinia sp, Providencia stuarti, Providencia alcalifaciens, Serratia ficaria, Citrobacter koseri and the phylum Firmicutes with the species: Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thurigiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus circulans. Conclusion. The predominant culturable microorganisms in P. cohliodon belong to the phylum Proteobacteria and the phylum Firmicutes.

Industrialization, environmental externality, and climate mitigation strategies

This study proposes a 12-region global modeling framework that integrates industrialization into climate–economy interactions and applies it to explore national strategic interactions and long-term policy outcomes. In this regard, three policy regimes are considered: a non-cooperative Nash equilibrium and two cooperative regimes that maximize the weighted sum of regional welfare. Negishi weights, ensuring uniform carbon price, and equal weights are applied in cooperative setting. Based on the results, global unmitigated emissions will peak around 2040. Given the future industrialization process, developing countries will make greater mitigation efforts under all regimes, whereas the strategies of developed countries will only be affected under the uniform carbon price regime. In the two cooperative regimes, a clear separation of mitigation efforts is observed between developed and developing countries. Moreover, when accounting for industrialization, the global averaged carbon price should grow faster in the first half-century, followed by a period of slower growth. Sensitivity analysis implies that with the support from developed countries, accelerated industrialization in the developing world can help alleviate its environmental strain.

Analysis of Distribution and Consumption Patterns in Pangkalpinang City

The food industry not only fulfils basic human needs for survival, but is also one of the vital economic sectors for a region. It creates jobs, from farmers to distributors, and drives various related industries such as packaging and transportation. Furthermore, the export of food products can be a significant source of foreign exchange. Thus, the healthy and sustainable development of the food industry not only ensures the food security of the community, but also contributes to economic growth and overall regional welfare. The purpose of this study is to analyze distribution and consumption patterns in Pangkalpinang City, using analysis of market structure detection, and analysis of trade and transport margins. The data from this study uses primary data, the results show that the distribution pattern of cooking oil and chicken eggs has the longest path and the pattern of consumption of food commodities contributing to the highest deflation is rice

China’s Efforts to Bring Political Stability and Economic Prosperity in the Middle East: The Case of Mending the Saudi-Iran Ties

The history of international relations reveals that the security of the geostrategic interests of major powers had been associated with the stability of the concerned region. Almost the whole current political scenario of the world reflects the same views. However, the case of the United States (US) is quite the opposite as it seems to secure its interests but not pay attention to the welfare of the concerned regions. This research presents an innovative model in this connection in which an attempt has been made to explore the strategies of one of the major powers i.e. China that has strived to restore political stability to gain economic prosperity in the Middle East. The research emphasizes China’s strategy for mending the Saudi-Iran ties that have widened its opportunities to build cordial relations with the regional states, especially concerning ensuring peace activities in the region. It has elaborated on China’s strategic partnership initiative through which it has minimized the non-productive US influence in the Middle East and has cashed countless opportunities to enhance its economic and political support. Specifically, after the recent Saudi-Iran rapprochement, China can now build diplomatic capitals on both sides of the Persian Gulf. Anyhow, after ensuring a peaceful environment in the Middle East, China has emerged as the most influential power that can guarantee regional security along with the security of its geostrategic interests as well. The research suggests that the deal will be helpful for the regional states to get themselves out of the longer period of instability and economic exploitation at the hands of the United States (US).

303 What’s next for animal welfare from a legal perspective?

Abstract California’s “Prop 12” indicated a significant change for animal agriculture generally, but for legally mandated animal welfare standards more specifically. This presentation will outline the general requirements of the law and aspects of the United States Supreme Court opinion finding it to be constitutional. It will also discuss the longer term and more widespread effects of the Supreme Court opinion on potential legislation in the United States. Finally, it will preview another Supreme Court case, heard this year and not yet decided, that may have an impact on the regulation of animal welfare.