Relational ontology and the politics of boundary-making: East Asian financial regionalism

Politics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Wook Lee
Keyword(s):  
East Asian ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chiang Mai ◽  
Relational Ontology ◽  
Boundary Making ◽  
Analytical Utility

In this article, I seek to demonstrate the analytical utility and value-added of ‘relational ontology’ for studying region-making and regional institutional developments. Relational ontology stands in sharp contrast to the dominant individualistic ontology found in mainstream theories of regionalism. I make the case theoretically and empirically that relational ontology offers a better analytical fit with the investigation of regionalism. Analytically, the crux of relational ontology is the notion that the structure of identity and interests emerges and develops relationally in the process of one’s making contact with and subsequently marking boundary with others in relevant contexts. More concretely, I develop a three-stage analytics of boundary-making. The analytical framework proposes three sequential stages of ‘proto-boundary’, ‘yoking’, and ‘rationalization’ towards the making of a boundary that creates ‘inside’ by defining ‘outside’. This boundary-making practice is empirically observable in the politics of membership when regional institutional buildings occur. I illustrate the validity of the relational analytical framework with a case of the exclusive East Asian financial regionalism. My empirical focus is on the institutional development of the Chiang Mai Initiative (the CMI/CMIM (Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization)) over the past 15 years, a regional financial safety net in East Asia. In terms of membership, the ASEAN plus Three (China, Japan, and Korea) developed it while excluding the United States from membership.

Assessing Mobile Value-Added Preference Structures

2014 ◽  
pp. 228-249
Author(s):  
Opal Donaldson ◽  
Evan W. Duggan
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Application ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Telecommunications Industry ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
The United States ◽  
Voice Communication ◽  
Data Services ◽  
Preference Structures

Globally, the telecommunications industry is transitioning from a business model that relied heavily on voice communication as the primary source of income to one in which data services provide the largest share of revenues. This trend is evident in Europe, the United States, India, and several other countries. However, while data services have been introduced widely, not all countries have experienced the same level of success. In this chapter, we posit that the differences in economic benefit are directly related to the cultural uniqueness of each mobile market and recommend a consumer-centric approach as a potential solution to successful market uptake. Cultural uniqueness is evident in the consumption of high levels of multimedia content in South Korea which is not enjoyed in other economies despite the push by telecommunication providers. It is also evident in the success of mobile banking for the unbanked poor in parts of Africa but western societies have not exploited its potential. In this research, we used Anckar and D’Incau’s (2002) analytical framework to assess consumer value-added preference structures by exploring the market preferences of a developing country which exhibits the characteristics of a telecommunication market that is saturated and poised for data services integration. The findings suggest that all value-added characteristics evaluated had a positive impact on consumer desirability for a mobile application. Most importantly, the findings highlighted that the inclusion of value-added features within a mobile application is not enough but optimizing the desired combination for a user group may be critical.

Assessing Mobile Value-Added Preference Structures

2013 ◽  
pp. 349-370
Author(s):  
Opal Donaldson ◽  
Evan W. Duggan
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Application ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Telecommunications Industry ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
The United States ◽  
Voice Communication ◽  
Data Services ◽  
Preference Structures

Globally, the telecommunications industry is transitioning from a business model that relied heavily on voice communication as the primary source of income to one in which data services provide the largest share of revenues. This trend is evident in Europe, the United States, India, and several other countries. However, while data services have been introduced widely, not all countries have experienced the same level of success. In this chapter, we posit that the differences in economic benefit are directly related to the cultural uniqueness of each mobile market and recommend a consumer-centric approach as a potential solution to successful market uptake. Cultural uniqueness is evident in the consumption of high levels of multimedia content in South Korea which is not enjoyed in other economies despite the push by telecommunication providers. It is also evident in the success of mobile banking for the unbanked poor in parts of Africa but western societies have not exploited its potential. In this research, we used Anckar and D’Incau’s (2002) analytical framework to assess consumer value-added preference structures by exploring the market preferences of a developing country which exhibits the characteristics of a telecommunication market that is saturated and poised for data services integration. The findings suggest that all value-added characteristics evaluated had a positive impact on consumer desirability for a mobile application. Most importantly, the findings highlighted that the inclusion of value-added features within a mobile application is not enough but optimizing the desired combination for a user group may be critical.

Offshoring and Trade in East Asia: A Statistical Analysis

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryuhei Wakasugi ◽  
Banri Ito ◽  
Eiichi Tomiura
Keyword(s):  
East Asian ◽  
Value Added ◽  
The United States ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Japanese Firms ◽  
International Distribution ◽  
National Production ◽  
Original Survey

Japanese shares of export and manufacturing value-added in the global market have declined significantly, whereas those in China have risen sharply. This paper examines how recent increases in offshoring by Japanese firms relates to the changes in the composition of export, the structure of national production, and the international distribution of manufacturing value-added in Japan, China, East Asian countries, the United States, and European countries, on the basis of our original survey of Japanese firm's offshoring and the statistics of export and manufacturing production of these countries. It also discusses how the net cost saving of offshoring due to wage differentials and institutional factors will affect the sustainability of Japanese offshoring.

Religion, Race, and Humanism

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony B. Pinn
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Richard Wright ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Unitarian Universalist ◽  
Racial Injustice ◽  
History Of ◽  
Lorraine Hansberry

This chapter explores the history of humanism within African American communities. It positions humanist thinking and humanism-inspired activism as a significant way in which people of African descent in the United States have addressed issues of racial injustice. Beginning with critiques of theism found within the blues, moving through developments such as the literature produced by Richard Wright, Lorraine Hansberry, and others, to political activists such as W. E. B. DuBois and A. Philip Randolph, to organized humanism in the form of African American involvement in the Unitarian Universalist Association, African Americans for Humanism, and so on, this chapter presents the historical and institutional development of African American humanism.

scholarly journals Home food procurement impacts food security and diet quality during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith T. Niles ◽  
Kristen Brassard Wirkkala ◽  
Emily H. Belarmino ◽  
Farryl Bertmann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Home Food ◽  
Food Procurement ◽  
Food Insecure Households

Abstract Background Home food procurement (HFP) (i.e. gardening, fishing, foraging, hunting, backyard livestock and canning) have historically been important ways that people obtain food. Recently, some HFP activities have grown (e.g. gardening), while other activities (e.g. hunting) have become less common in the United States. Anecdotally, COVID-19 has sparked an increase in HFP evidenced by increased hunting licenses and shortages in seeds and canning supplies. HFP may have positive benefits for food security and diet quality, though research beyond gardening is especially limited in high-income countries. Methods We examine HFP activities since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and their relationship to food security and dietary quality using multivariable logit models and matching analysis with a statewide representative survey (n = 600) of residents of Vermont, United States. Results We find 29% of respondent households classified as food insecure since COVID-19, and higher prevalence of food insecurity among those experiencing a negative job change since COVID-19, households earning less than $50,000 annually, Hispanic and multi-race respondents. Nearly 35% of respondents engaged in HFP activities since the COVID-19 pandemic began; the majority of those gardened, and more than half pursued HFP activities more intensely than before the pandemic or for the first time. Food insecure households were more likely to pursue HFP more intensely, including more gardening, fishing, foraging, and hunting. Respondents who were food insecure, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, those with a negative job disruption, and larger households all had greater odds of increased intensity of HFP during the COVID-19 pandemic. HFP was significantly associated with eating greater amounts of fruits and vegetables; however, this effect was only significant for food secure households. Conclusion Overall, these results suggest that HFP activities have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and may be an important safety net for food insecure households. However, HFP for food insecure households does not translate into the same higher fruit and vegetable intake as found among food secure HFP households, suggesting this population may be trying to maintain intake, or that they may have potential important resource or technical assistance needs. Long-term, HFP activities may have important food security and diet quality impacts, as well as conservation implications, which should be more thoroughly explored. Regardless, the increased interest and intensity of HFP demonstrates opportunities for educational and outreach efforts.

scholarly journals Quantifying Road-Network Robustness toward Flood-Resilient Transportation Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3172
Author(s):  
Suchat Tachaudomdach ◽  
Auttawit Upayokin ◽  
Nopadon Kronprasert ◽  
Kriangkrai Arunotayanun
Keyword(s):  
Road Network ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Network Robustness ◽  
System Response ◽  
Chiang Mai ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Response And Recovery

Amidst sudden and unprecedented increases in the severity and frequency of climate-change-induced natural disasters, building critical infrastructure resilience has become a prominent policy issue globally for reducing disaster risks. Sustainable measures and procedures to strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery of infrastructures are urgently needed, but the standard for measuring such resilient elements has yet to be consensually developed. This study was undertaken with an aim to quantitatively measure transportation infrastructure robustness, a proactive dimension of resilience capacities and capabilities to withstand disasters; in this case, floods. A four-stage analytical framework was empirically implemented: 1) specifying the system and disturbance (i.e., road network and flood risks in Chiang Mai, Thailand), 2) illustrating the system response using the damaged area as a function of floodwater levels and protection measures, 3) determining recovery thresholds based on land use and system functionality, and 4) quantifying robustness through the application of edge- and node-betweenness centrality models. Various quantifiable indicators of transportation robustness can be revealed; not only flood-damaged areas commonly considered in flood-risk management and spatial planning, but also the numbers of affected traffic links, nodes, and cars are highly valuable for transportation planning in achieving sustainable flood-resilient transportation systems.

Association of Hospital Safety Net Status With Outcomes and Resource Use for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 088506662110070
Author(s):  
Matthew Gandjian ◽  
Catherine Williamson ◽  
Yu Xia ◽  
Carlos Maturana ◽  
Nikhil Chervu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Infectious Complications ◽  
Membrane Oxygenation ◽  
Hospital Safety ◽  
Hospitalization Costs ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
Multivariable Regression

Purpose: Safety net hospitals (SNH) have been associated with inferior surgical outcomes and increased resource use. Utilization and outcomes for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a rescue modality for patients with respiratory or cardiac failure, may vary by safety net status. We hypothesized SNH to be associated with inferior outcomes and costs of ECMO in a national cohort. Materials and Methods: The 2008-2017 National Inpatient Sample was queried for ECMO hospitalizations and safety net hospitals were identified. Multivariable regression was used to perform risk-adjusted comparisons of mortality, complications and resource utilization at safety net and non-safety net hospitals. Results: Of 36,491 ECMO hospitalizations, 28.2% were at SNH. On adjusted comparison SNH was associated with increased odds of mortality (AOR: 1.23), tracheostomy use (AOR: 1.51), intracranial hemorrhage (AOR: 1.39), as well as infectious complications (AOR: 1.21, all P < .05), with NSNH as reference. SNH was also associated with increased hospitalization duration (β=+4.5 days) and hospitalization costs (β=+$32,880, all P < .01). Conclusions: We have found SNH to be associated with inferior survival, increased complications, and higher costs compared to NSNH. These disparate outcomes warrant further studies examining systemic and hospital-level factors that may impact outcomes and resource use of ECMO at SNH.

scholarly journals 1665. Using Electronic Health Records to Describe TB in Community Health Settings: a Cohort Analysis in a Large Safety-Net Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S819-S820
Author(s):  
Jonathan Todd ◽  
Jon Puro ◽  
Matthew Jones ◽  
Jee Oakley ◽  
Laura A Vonnahme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Electronic Health

Abstract Background Over 80% of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the United States are attributed to reactivation of latent TB infection (LTBI). Eliminating TB in the United States requires expanding identification and treatment of LTBI. Centralized electronic health records (EHRs) are an unexplored data source to identify persons with LTBI. We explored EHR data to evaluate TB and LTBI screening and diagnoses within OCHIN, Inc., a U.S. practice-based research network with a high proportion of Federally Qualified Health Centers. Methods From the EHRs of patients who had an encounter at an OCHIN member clinic between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016, we extracted demographic variables, TB risk factors, TB screening tests, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9 and 10 codes, and treatment regimens. Based on test results, ICD codes, and treatment regimens, we developed a novel algorithm to classify patient records into LTBI categories: definite, probable or possible. We used multivariable logistic regression, with a referent group of all cohort patients not classified as having LTBI or TB, to identify associations between TB risk factors and LTBI. Results Among 2,190,686 patients, 6.9% (n=151,195) had a TB screening test; among those, 8% tested positive. Non-U.S. –born or non-English–speaking persons comprised 24% of our cohort; 11% were tested for TB infection, and 14% had a positive test. Risk factors in the multivariable model significantly associated with being classified as having LTBI included preferring non-English language (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.09–4.32); non-Hispanic Asian (aOR 5.17, 95% CI 4.94–5.40), non-Hispanic black (aOR 3.02, 95% CI 2.91–3.13), or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander (aOR 3.35, 95% CI 2.92–3.84) race; and HIV infection (aOR 3.09, 95% CI 2.84–3.35). Conclusion This study demonstrates the utility of EHR data for understanding TB screening practices and as an important data source that can be used to enhance public health surveillance of LTBI prevalence. Increasing screening among high-risk populations remains an important step toward eliminating TB in the United States. These results underscore the importance of offering TB screening in non-U.S.–born populations. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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