scholarly journals Does Changing Electoral Systems Affect (Corrupt) Particularistic Exchanges? Evidence from the Italian Case

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Piattoni ◽  
Matteo Fabio Nels Giglioli

The literature on forms of particularism explores the impact of institutional variables on what is denoted, alternatively, as constituency service, pork-barrel politics, or corruption. Attention has mostly been given to electoral systems, but other institutional provisions and political factors, such as party strength, are also relevant. The present contribution investigates the likely effects of electoral reforms on corruption control and seeks confirmation of the hypothesis that single member plurality (even within mixed member) systems are conducive to a type of particularism that might help fight corruption, taking Italy as a case. We test the impact of two electoral reforms and three electoral systems enacted in Italy between 1996 and 2016, whose primary aim was bolstering enfeebled party leaderships and facilitating the formation of durable governments, and we compare the effort at corruption control of the Italian governments born under these different electoral systems with those of other European democracies.

2021 ◽  
pp. 0160323X2110092
Author(s):  
Laura A. Reese ◽  
Xiaomeng Li

This research focuses on change within informal service provision networks, specifically examining the impact that changes within a key organization can have on the larger network. Employing a before and after survey design with a treatment at the midpoint and participant observation, it asks: What is the impact of a major change within one organization on the larger external network? What is the nature of the organizational ties? and, How do political factors exogenous to the network impact the network evolution process? The findings suggest that internal change within a focal actor can have ripple effects throughout the network increasing density. Public service provision at the local level can be enhanced through an increase in partnerships between the public and nonprofit sectors. However, network evolution can be limited by the larger political environment and lack of a coordinating role on the part of local government.


2021 ◽  
pp. 223386592110117
Author(s):  
Robert Davidson ◽  
Alexander Pacek ◽  
Benjamin Radcliff

While a growing literature within the study of subjective well-being demonstrates the impact of socio-political factors on subjective well-being, scholars have conspicuously failed to consider the role of the size and scope of government as determinants of well-being. Where such studies exist, the focus is largely on the advanced industrial democracies of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. In this study, we examine the size of the public sector as a determinant of cross-national variation in life satisfaction across a worldwide sample. Our findings strongly suggest that as the public sector grows, subjective well-being increases as well, conditional on the extent of quality of government. Using cross-sectional data on 84 countries, we show this relationship has an independent and separable impact from other economic and political factors.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 890
Author(s):  
Paolo Di Giamberardino ◽  
Rita Caldarella ◽  
Daniela Iacoviello

This paper addresses the problem of describing the spread of COVID-19 by a mathematical model introducing all the possible control actions as prevention (informative campaign, use of masks, social distancing, vaccination) and medication. The model adopted is similar to SEIQR, with the infected patients split into groups of asymptomatic subjects and isolated ones. This distinction is particularly important in the current pandemic, due to the fundamental the role of asymptomatic subjects in the virus diffusion. The influence of the control actions is considered in analysing the model, from the calculus of the equilibrium points to the determination of the reproduction number. This choice is motivated by the fact that the available organised data have been collected since from the end of February 2020, and almost simultaneously containment measures, increasing in typology and effectiveness, have been applied. The characteristics of COVID-19, not fully understood yet, suggest an asymmetric diffusion among countries and among categories of subjects. Referring to the Italian situation, the containment measures, as applied by the population, have been identified, showing their relation with the government's decisions; this allows the study of possible scenarios, comparing the impact of different possible choices.


Ekonomika APK ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 321 (7) ◽  
pp. 16-27
Author(s):  
Mykola Pugachov ◽  
Olha Khodakivska ◽  
Oleksandr Shpykuliak ◽  
Nataliia Patyka ◽  
Olena Hryschenko

The purpose of the article is to carry out an analytical assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of food security in Ukraine. Research methods. The research was based on general scientific and economic methods, the creative heritage of the founders of economic science, publications of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the impact of quarantine restrictions related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of food security of the country, regulatory legal acts, data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, electronic resources and other sources. The monographic approach is used to analyze the dynamics of the actual consumption of agri-food products and the level of food independence for individual agri-food products. Normative and positive approaches are used to highlight real risks and threats to food security. A number of techniques of abstract-logical tools made it possible to make a scientific and applied generalization of the material presented, to formulate intermediate and final conclusions and proposals. Research results. An analytical assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of agri-food products and the level of food independence for individual agri-food products has been carried out. It has been proven that Ukraine produces enough food to ensure healthy nutrition for citizens. It has been determined that due to the low purchasing power of the population, groups of citizens with low incomes have limited access to essential agricultural and food products. In the medium and long term, there will be a shortage of food resources and global food inflation, the situation in agricultural markets will remain unstable, and trade will continue to develop under the influence of not only competition, but also political factors. Scientific novelty. The theoretical and methodological provisions, scientific, methodological and practical approaches to determining the factors of influence of quarantine measures and the spread of COVID-19 to the level of food security of the state have been substantiated. Assessing the impact of quarantine measures and the spread of COVID-19 on food security made it possible to identify the main risks of ensuring the country's food security. Practical significance. The applied aspects of the study can be taken into account in the formation of programs for the socio-economic development of the agri-food sector of Ukraine, which will increase the effectiveness of state initiatives aimed at ensuring food security of the state and increase the country's readiness for force majeure threats. Tabl.: 7. Figs.: 3. Refs.: 17.


Author(s):  
Stephen Quinlan

Most literature on special elections has focused on first-past-the-post contests and on the performance of governments. Turnout, candidates, and how the electoral system impacts the result have received less attention. This contribution fills these voids by exploring special elections in Ireland, elections conducted under the alternative vote system. Taking a multifaceted approach, it investigates the correlates of turnout, the impact of candidates and the decisive effect of lower preferences, while also testing multiple explanations of government performance. I find Irish special elections live up to the by-election truisms of lower turnout and government loss. Government performance is associated with national economic conditions. By-election victory is more likely among candidates with familial lineage and former members of parliament. Where they come into play, one in five candidates owe their victory to lower preferences.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. 379-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank C. Thames

The study of electoral systems is a key area of research within political science. In part, the attention paid to electoral systems reflects their importance to democratic political systems. Electoral systems define “what constitutes” a vote, establish “a rule for how votes are totaled,” and create a mechanism for “translating vote share into seat allocations” for representative institutions (Bawn 1993, 966). These roles mean that electoral systems impact not only how interests are represented, but also how accountability is structured.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Rahim , Dr. Adil Zaman Kasi

This research paper discusses the reciprocal relationship of Pakistan and United States. Pakistan and United States are engaged in transactional relationship for gaining the credibility of through securing their national interest which bought distractive approaches in bilateral relationship. Historically, Pakistan-United States have been supporting each other against the terrorism as had strong diplomatic alignment in countering terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism. The distrust prevailed and occupied which dismantle the international move to dismantle the terror. The uncertainty of relationship causes a cataclysmic events which provides distrust as well as dismantle the international coalition for the peace establishment. This paper includes the diplomatic ties between Pakistan and United States specially post 9/11. The diplomatic successful alignment for the international peace brought effective orientation thereafter the impact factors of diverse misunderstanding which were mismanaged diplomatically as cases of Raymond Davis, Salala Check post, nuclear proliferation, Osama Bin Laden, Drone Attacks, and Memogate. Their diplopic move is essential to be revamped for the social, economic and political factors which sources the regional peace of South and Central Asia.  


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haifa Saadaoui

Abstract This study focuses on the role of institutional factors as well as financial development in renewable energy transition in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 1990-2018 using the ARDL PMG method. The investigation of long-run and short-run analysis confirms that institutional and political factors play a key role in promoting the transition to renewable energy, and shows that improving these factors can lead to decarbonization of the energy sector in the long run. Another important finding is that global financial development does not have a significant effect on the transition process in the long run, implying that the whole financial system needs a fundamental structural change to accelerate the substitution between polluting and clean energies. However, in the short term, the impact appears to be negative and significant, highlighting the inadequacy of financial institutions and financial markets in promoting the region’s sustainable path. Moreover, income drives the transition to renewable energy in both short and long term. The causality results show that both financial development and institutional quality lead to renewable energy transition, while there is a bidirectional link between income and renewable energy.This study can provide a very useful recommendation to promote a clean transition in the MENA region.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-481
Author(s):  
Anne Heinze

A look at entrepreneurship education research shows that there are basically two types of entrepreneurship courses: First, courses for entrepreneurship and second, courses about entrepreneurship such as lectures, formal seminars, individual essays etc. Most of the latter courses can be characterized as teacher-centric where the student involvement is passive. From a more modern perspective and in order to train entrepreneurs trying, experimenting and learning about one's own experience is crucial. More innovative approaches, such as project-based learning, action-based learning and experiential learning, therefore, are gradually appearing on the scene In this context, within the last few years some universities have introduced training firms, mostly for students of economics and business. In Germany, due to a lack of legal possibilities training firms at public universities are still a rarity and therefore under-researched. Thus, the research question for the present contribution is how informal learning can be structured using training firms, and what effects this has on the preparation of learners for later professional practice and / or self-employment. Therefore, the methodology for this paper is first to review the literature related to entrepreneurial learning in order to better understand the informal learning experience in training firms. Second, the case of a communication design agency for students around HTW Berlin, a public university for applied sciences, is analyzed to gain insight into the impact that practice firms can have on entrepreneurship education in general, and in particular in non-business subjects. For this purpose, a case study has been developed based on interviews, which include both the perspective of the students and of the trainer. Overall, the results will show a best practice example of entrepreneurial training and learning in a university context, which can be useful for those involved in the development of course concepts for entrepreneurship education.


Bioethica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Γεωργία-Μάρθα Γκότση (Georgia-Martha Gkotsi)

In recent years, an explosion of interest in neuroscience has led to the development of "Neuro-law," a new multidisciplinary field of knowledge whose aim is to examine the impact and role of neuroscientific findings in legal proceedings. Neuroscientific evidence is increasingly being used in US and European courts in criminal trials, as part of psychiatric testimony, nourishing the debate about the legal implications of brain research in psychiatric-legal settings.In this paper, we aim to examine the impact of Neuroscientific evidence in the assessment of criminal responsibility. We start with a brief historical survey of the relation between brain sciences and criminal law. We then present two criminal cases in the context of which neuroimaging techniques were introduced as evidence of diminished responsibility or irresponsibility and continue with a presentation of some significant limitations and difficulties that neuroscience faces in the assessment of penal responsibility. These limitations are scientific, legal but also of philosophical and conceptual nature.We conclude that addressing moral or legal responsibility might depend on scientific data, but requires entry to very different conceptual domains. The legal system cannot delegate to another field, scientific or otherwise, the ascription of legal meaning. Neuroscientific data, however accurate and reliable they may become in the future, cannot contribute to the assessment of criminal responsibility, unless they are contextualised and completed -or even confronted- with data collected on other levels of analysis, in particular on a psychological, anamnestic, sociological and economic level. Neurosciences, as sciences, can offer functioning and biological models of behaviours, while the assignment of responsibility is a normative issue. Although neuroscientific evidence can provide assistance in the evaluation of penal responsibility by introducing new determinisms in the behavioural analysis of offenders with mental disturbances, it does not dispense with the need to define the limits of responsibility and irresponsibility of the accused. This analysis, while it needs to take account of social, moral and political factors - in addition to elements contributed by experts - ultimately belongs to the legal sphere.


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