Evolution of cities in Borneo: a kaleidoscope of urban landscapes for planning future resilient cities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Kozlowski ◽  
Rahinah Ibrahim ◽  
Khairul Hazmi Zaini
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Cultural Tradition ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Central State ◽  
Unique Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
State And Local

PurposeThis study aims to examine the trajectory of the urban growth of Borneo by portraying its resilient settlements in the pre-colonial times, tropical sensitive colonial architecture, the built environment of the post–independence period and finally the contemporary city image. This is followed by a comparative study of its major urban centres and determining how globalisation and neoliberalism impact the traditional urban settlements of this island and poses a threat to its rich biodiversity.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses case study research methodology involving selected cities on the Island of Borneo including Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Miri and Kuching (Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), and major cities of the state of Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data collection includes a literature review, content analysis, field assessment and observations. The major research objectives would address past and current issues in the selected urban environment of Borneo. They address the historical evolution of major cities of Borneo, current urban development trends, the deterioration of the traditional urban fabric as a result of post–independence development and later globalisation.FindingsThis study found that the rich cultural tradition and climate-responsive architecture from the past have been discontinued to pave way for fast track and often speculative development. The results contribute in the convergence of existing shortcomings of cities from three nations on Borneo Island in guiding future sustainable urban planning agenda for achieving a resilient city status while reinstating the character and the sense of place. The study expects the recommendations to become prerequisites for future urban planning in sensitive tropical regions.Originality/valueThis research identified a new “Borneo approach” to urban development. The study strongly recommends top priorities for the central, state and local governments of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia allowing the planners and decision-makers to establish a new tropical urban planning initiative with the ample design practice for this unique region in Southeast Asia. The results of this study can serve as the guiding principles for other urban environments in fragile and sensitive tropical regions.

E-Governance vs. E-Readiness in Urban Municipal Governments in Tamil Nadu, India

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Abdul Razak Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
World Order ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Central State ◽  
Municipal Governments ◽  
Service Delivery Systems ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Government ◽  
Planning Development

The fast growing information and communication technology (ICT) sector brought in the use of computers, internet and mobile phones not only by the technocrats but also by the general public to receive and send communication faster, cheaper and easier. This situation brought out visible changes in people life, government function and cities spatial form and structure. Globally, the e-Governance system approach attempts to change the government-centered planning and delivery of civic services to people-centered planning and execution of development. It is also evident that the transformation is prominent not only in the planning and production of services but also in terms of urban local government system. This is to state that there are two noticeable visible changes in the government system such as (a) Government to Governance, and (b) Governance to e-Governance. These changes make the central, state and local governments more responsible, transparent, and participatory in terms of planning, development and management of towns and cities. But due to the urgency and cope with the World order the central, state and local governments in India introduce e-Governance without looking into the concept of e-Readiness. This chapter attempts to explore the basic question such as how the application of e-Governance system to be considered as an important means towards improvement in the service delivery systems of urban local governments within the perspective of e-Readiness.

Mexico's June elections face serious crime risk

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The Political ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Physical Attack ◽  
Serious Crime ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Crime Risk

Subject The weakness of state and local level institutions is encouraging more intervention from Mexico City. Significance With twelve Mexican states set to go to the polls on June 5, and a thirteenth holding elections on July 3, longstanding concerns regarding the risk of criminal infiltration in local governments have returned to the fore. Beyond the political manipulation of alleged political-criminal links, political actors appear increasingly aware of their vulnerability to threats, intimidation and physical attack. Impacts How federal and local authorities manage criminal threats will be central to the outcome of the forthcoming elections. Candidate screening will be ineffective as long as federal authorities and political parties are both reluctant to lead the process. Politically motivated intervention will worsen, with all parties using criminal accusations to smear or disqualify other candidates.

Administrative reforms and performance of local public policies

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 462-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Santos Curto ◽  
Álvaro Dias
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Administrative Reforms ◽  
State And Local

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between administrative reform in Portugal and the impacts on the dependence of local governments in the face of budgetary resources of state and local municipal revenue collection, which is understood as a form, among others, participation civil society in local public policies. Design/methodology/approach – The study opts for an exploratory analysis using the grounded theory approach, including the use of data relating to local government structures and partnerships with the private sector, based on the main lines of the public administration reform. The data were supplemented by documentary analysis, including legislative documents and papers in specialized area of administrative decentralization and civil society participation in local public policies. Findings – The paper provides empirical insights about how the increased participation of civil society in local public policies is associated with less reliance on state budgets and a greater number of local managerial structures. Research limitations/implications – Due to the chosen research approach, the results cannot be generalized. A comparative study between several countries could bring several interesting insights. Social implications – The paper includes implications for economic and social development of new public policies in the context of administrative reforms. Originality/value – This paper makes several theoretical and empirical contributions on this research field specially about local public manager's decisions for financial resources transfers within the active policy of sustainable local development.

Polic(y)ing time and curriculum: how teachers critically negotiate restrictive policies

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy Wessel-Powell ◽  
Beth Anne Buchholz ◽  
Cassie J. Brownell
Keyword(s):  
Personal Growth ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Elementary Classrooms ◽  
Teacher Agency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Interpretive Inquiry ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Problems Of Practice

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to theorize teacher agency as enacted through a P/policymaking lens in three elementary classrooms. Big-P Policies are formal, top-down school reform policies legislated, created, implemented and regulated by national, state and local governments. Yet, Big-P policies are not the only policies enacted in literacies classrooms. Rather, little-p policies or teachers’ local, personal and creative enactments of their values and expertise are also in play in daily classroom decisions. Little p-policies are teachers doing their best in response to their students and school contexts. Design/methodology/approach Adapting elements of discursive analysis, this interpretive inquiry is designed to examine textual artifacts, situated alongside classroom events and particular local practices, to explicate what teachers’ policymaking enactments regarding time and curriculum look like across three distinct contexts. Using three elementary classrooms as examples, this paper provides analytic snapshots illustrating teachers’ policymaking to solve problems of practice posed by state and school policies for curriculum, and for use of time at school. Findings The findings suggest that teachers ration (aliz)ed use of time in ways that enacted personal politics, to prioritize children’s personal growth and well-being alongside teachers’ values, even when use of time became “inefficient.” An artifact from three focal classrooms illustrates particular practices – scheduling, connecting and modeling – teachers leveraged to enact little p-policy. Teachers’ little p-policy enactment is teacher agency, used to disrupt temporal and curricular policies. Originality/value This framing is valuable because little-p policymaking works to disrupt and negotiate temporal and curricular mandates imposed on classrooms from the outside.

scholarly journals Minimum wage change effects on restaurant pricing and employment

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 1545-1562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Repetti ◽  
Susan Roe
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Wage Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Wage Increases ◽  
Relative Change ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Restaurant Owners

Purpose State and local governments are considering large increases to the minimum wage. As restaurants employ many individuals paid at or below minimum wage, these changes may affect their businesses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anticipated effects of minimum wage growth on employment and pricing in US food and beverage operations. Design/methodology/approach The study utilizes an experimental design where restaurant owners and managers are presented with scenarios of differing levels of potential minimum wage increases and are asked to anticipate changes to employment and pricing. Findings Restaurant owners and managers involved in the study indicate the level of the minimum wage increase will significantly affect changes in pricing and employment levels. Results also show that restaurant demographics such as type of restaurant and average check do not significantly affect the relative change operators anticipate implementing. Specific ways participants plan to make adjustments are also presented. Originality/value The anticipated impact of minimum wage increases at the restaurant level is examined, which differs from previous studies that determine the impact at the industry level. This study evaluates large minimum wage increases of up to 100 per cent, which have previously not been studied.

Determinants of information disclosure by Spanish state-owned enterprises in accordance with legal requirements

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 616-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Andrades ◽  
Domingo Martinez-Martinez ◽  
Manuel Larrán ◽  
Jesus Herrera
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Central State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Amount Of Information ◽  
Spanish Law ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Private And Public

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how different variables can affect the amount of information reported by Spanish enterprises owned by the central state as well as by local and regional governments, all categorized as state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Design/methodology/approach Using, as a reference, the obligations of information disclosure contained in the Spanish Law 19/2013 on Transparency and Good Governance, the authors performed a web-content analysis of web pages of all Spanish SOEs and the authors examined a sample of Spanish enterprises owned by regional and local governments. Findings The results show that the amount of information reported by Spanish SOEs is quite reduced and limited. Among the variables examined, the most influential ones for explaining the amount of information reported are the nature of public ownership and the institutional size. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by exploring the potential determinants of the online disclosure of mandatory information reported by enterprises whose ownership is shared by private and public organizations. Thus, this research could help public managers make decisions and improve public confidence.

The impact of Zika on local businesses

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy F. Page ◽  
Mark L. Williams ◽  
Graziana Cassella ◽  
Jessica L. Adler ◽  
Benjamin C. Amick, III
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Impact ◽  
Outbreak Areas ◽  
The Usa ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose In June 2016, the first cases of Zika were reported in the USA in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey of Wynwood businesses about their perceptions of their financial well-being and the government and media’s responses to the Zika outbreak. Design/methodology/approach A survey instrument was developed, and 44 owners/managers of Wynwood businesses were interviewed by telephone or in-person during the period when the outbreak was being managed. Findings Businesses reported downturns in revenues, profits, and customer traffic following the Zika outbreak. Believing that the downturn would be temporary, few businesses laid off workers or reduced prices. All businesses reported dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the outbreak. Originality/value This is the first study to document the impact of Zika on businesses located in outbreak areas. The findings highlight the business impact of Zika outbreaks and suggest a need for improved communication and response from state and local governments to business concerns when future outbreaks occur.

The Neglected Epidemic: Road Traffic Crashes in India

Metamorphosis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Seat Belts ◽  
Central State ◽  
Traffic Crashes ◽  
Road Traffic Crashes ◽  
State And Local

Deaths and injuries resulting from road traffic crashes are a major and growing public health problem in India. Every week nearly 2,500 people get killed and 9,000 get injured due to traffic accidents. Traffic accidents have now earned India a dubious distinction; with nearly 127,000 deaths annually, the country has overtaken China to top the world in road fatalities. While in many developed and developing countries including China, the situation is generally improving, India faces a worsening situation. Road traffic collisions on the nation's roads claim five times more lives now than they did three decades ago. Without increased efforts and new initiatives, the total number of road traffic deaths in India is likely to cross the mark of 250,000 by 2025. There is thus an urgent need to recognize the worsening situation in road deaths and injuries and to take appropriate action. Certain interventions such as enforcement of legislation to control vehicle speed and alcohol consumption, mandating the use of seat-belts and helmets, and safer design and use of roads and vehicles have huge potential to reduce the incidence and impact of road traffic crashes. The time has come for the central, state, and local governments to act now. Acting now will save thousands of lives.

scholarly journals One metropolis, two scenarios. Sustainable urban development contraddictions in the metropolitan area of Lima

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Torres ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Collaborative Governance ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Trade Offs

Despite the new urban planning thinking and legislation evolution since 2016 towards sustainable development, in practice, there is a limited legal framework for planning which makes it more challenging for local governments. As a result, two main scenarios have taken place in the Metropolitan Area of Lima: the unsustainable urban growth at the metropolitan level, and sustainable urban development building at the local level. In an attempt to contextualize the current state of Lima’s territorial planning, the research captures the nature and trajectory of this contradiction to conduct the various trade-offs inherent in sustainable urban development. The results show that urban planning unawareness, and fragmented governance without continuity across government periods, have led to distrust at the metropolitan level diminishing its urban development towards social and environmentally sustainable development. However, integrated planning and collaborative governance with stakeholders enabled the strengthening of resilience with risk mitigation in informal urban settlements at the local level. The research concludes that new transformations call for new behaviors. Consequently, appropriate collaborative governance becomes a collective power for sustainable urban development growth.

Why does decomposed audit proposal readability differ by audit firm size? A Coh-Metrix approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 895-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Tzu Chang ◽  
Dan N. Stone
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Narrative Structure ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Service Contracts ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Text Cohesion

Purpose This paper aims to introduce the emerging artificial-intelligence-based readability metrics (Coh-Metrix) to examine the effects of firm size on audit proposal readability. Design/methodology/approach Coh-Metrix readability measures use emerging computation linguistics technology to better assess document readability. These metrics measure co-relations of words, sentences and paragraphs on multi-dimensions rather than adopting the unidimensional “bag of words” approach that examines words in isolation. Using eight Coh-Metrix orthogonal principal component factors, the authors analyze the Chang and Stone (2019) data set comprised of 370 hand-collected audit proposals submitted by audit firms for the US state and local governments’ audit service contracts. Findings Audit firm size has a significant impact on the readability of audit proposals. Specifically, as measured by the traditional readability metric, the proposals from smaller firms are more readable than those submitted by larger firms. Furthermore, decomposed readability metrics indicate that smaller firm proposals evidence stronger (deep) text cohesion, whereas larger firm proposals evidence a stronger narrative structure and higher connectivity (relational indicators) among proposal elements. Unlike the traditional readability metric, however, the emergent readability metrics are uncorrelated with auditor selection. Research limitations/implications Work remains to develop and validate Coh-Metrix measures that are specific to the context of accounting and auditing practice. Future research can use emerging readability measures to examine various textual features (e.g. text cohesion) in finance or accounting related documents. Practical implications The results provide practitioners with insight into the proposal writing strategies and practices of larger and smaller firms. In addition, the results highlight the differing audit firm selection outcomes from traditional and Coh-Metrix readability metrics. Originality/value This study introduces new data and holistic readability measures to the auditing literature.

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