scholarly journals Social Policy Transformation and Business Environment Improvement: a Comparative Analysis Based on China and Russia

2020 ◽  
pp. 83-98
Author(s):  
Deyou Xu
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
The Government ◽  
Policy Transformation ◽  
The Relationship

Over the past four decades, the economy and society of China and Russia have undergone transformation. Relevant social policies and business environments have constantly changed. So have the ways of interaction among governments, enterprises and citizens. In the relationship between government and citizen, China and Russia have walked different paths in choosing and adjusting social policies, but both have steadily improved people’s well-being. In the relationship between government and business, both countries have achieved significant improvements in business environment through supply-side reforms of public goods and institutions. The theoretical relationship between government and citizen and that between government and business are embodied in social policy and business environment in reality. However, the two are not parallel, but interact with each other and are nested in each other. The government plays a leading role, and its interaction with enterprise and citizen tests the governance systems and capabilities of Beijing and Moscow.

scholarly journals Benevolent Policies: Bureaucratic Politics and the International Dimensions of Social Policy Expansion

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
CARMEN JACQUELINE HO
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Political Incentives ◽  
International Pressure ◽  
Nutrition Policies ◽  
Government Bureaucracy ◽  
Micronutrient Malnutrition ◽  
The Government

Research on the welfare state has devoted considerable attention to social policy expansion. However, little is known about why governments expand social policies serving groups with limited power on issues with low visibility. I call these “benevolent policies.” This class of social policies improves population well-being but produces minimal political gains for the governments enacting them. Why do governments expand benevolent policies if political incentives for reform are weak? I investigate this question by focusing on government responses to malnutrition. Drawing on nine months of fieldwork, including 71 interviews, I argue that the origins of policy expansion can be found in the government bureaucracy. Bureaucrats with technical expertise—technocrats—can play a defining role, deploying international pressure to court executive support and orchestrate policy change. Their actions help explain the Indonesian government’s unexpected expansion of nutrition policies, which serve low-income women and children and address micronutrient malnutrition.

scholarly journals Comment: American Civilization, Catholic Social Thought, and the Populist-Oriented Social Policy of President Donald J. Trump

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 255-263
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Varacalli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Thought ◽  
Tea Party ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Catholic Social Thought ◽  
The Social ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
The Relationship

This Comment concerns itself with the relationship between the social policies of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and, respectively, American civilization and Catholic social thought. Also included are discussions of two recent American populist social movements, the Tea Party and that one generated by a commitment to the Trump Presidency, insofar as the latter relates to the primary focus of this Comment.

scholarly journals A longitudinal analysis of the association between the living arrangements and psychological well-being of older Chinese adults: the role of income sources

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Zhou ◽  
Lun Cai ◽  
Meilan Zhuang ◽  
Y. Alicia Hong ◽  
Ya Fang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Understanding how living arrangements may affect psychological well-being (PWB) is critical in China, a society with the largest older population in the world. However, few studies have examined the moderating effect of income sources on the relationship between living arrangements and PWB. Our aim was to examine whether living arrangements are associated with PWB and whether income sources moderate this association. Methods The data were drawn from the third (2002) to sixth (2011/2012) waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Six questions reflecting older adults’ well-being were used to measure PWB. Living arrangements were classified as follows: living alone, living with family and living in an institution. Income sources were categorized into financially independent, supported by children, and governmental support. We performed random-effects ordinal probit models to examine the association of living arrangements with PWB and the moderating effect of income sources on this relationship. Results We included a total sample of 30,899 observations for 16,020 respondents aged 65 and over during 9-year follow-up. Older adults living with family (β = .29, p < .001) and those living in an institution (β = .34, p < .001) had stronger PWB than those living alone; moreover, support from children (β= −.24, p < .001) or from the government (β= −.08, p < .05) has a negative effect on PWB compared to the effect of financial self-support. Living in an institution with support from children (β= −.22, p < .05) led to lower PWB than living alone with financial self-support. The opposite result was observed for older adults living with their family and supported by the government (β = .16, p < .05). Conclusions Our analysis provides a significant contribution to the existing literature on the relationship between living arrangements and PWB in China. We recognize that living with family or in an institution leads to better PWB than does living alone. In addition, financial support from the government can moderate this association.

Paternalism and Social Policy

1978 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Weale
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
The State ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
The Government ◽  
Other Regarding

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the notion of paternalism, and its application to the evaluation of social policies. It attempts first to define the concept, using Mill's distinction between self- and other-regarding actions. A paternalistic policy is one in which the government renders a self-regarding action less eligible for a citizen, with the intention of benefiting the citizen in question. This concept is then applied to the analysis of redistribution by means of social policy measures. Two questions are discussed: (a) whether any redistribution must be paternalist, and (b) whether redistribution in kind is more paternalist than redistribution in cash. It is argued that paternalism need not be the explanation for the policy in either case. Finally three criteria are specified in terms of which paternalistic interventions by the state might be assessed as justified or not.

scholarly journals Deciphering the Link Between Mental Health and Green Space in Shenzhen, China: The Mediating Impact of Residents' Satisfaction

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhan Qiao ◽  
Zini Chen ◽  
Yuqing Chen ◽  
Tianxiang Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Rapid urbanization and increasing urban density in China threaten residents' mental health. As a vital component of built environments, green space plays a key role in individuals' psychological well-being; however, the mediating effect of residents' satisfaction with the green space environment on the relationship between urban greening and residents' mental health in Chinese contexts has yet to be thoroughly explored. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper attempts to reveal the internal logic and mechanism underlying the linkages between green space, residents' mental health, and their satisfaction with green space in Shenzhen, China. Specifically, this paper explores the mediating role of residents' satisfaction with a green space environment using questionnaire survey data, “Quick Bird-2” high-resolution remote sensing image data, and a multilevel regression model. Our empirical findings indicate that the relative range of neighboring green spaces can directly improve residents' mental health. More importantly, the relationship between the relative scope of green space and residents' mental health is mediated by residents' satisfaction with the green space environment rather than its direct health effects. Given the influence of green space on residents' satisfaction with the environment, green space indirectly affects mental health. These findings should provide the government useful guidance for considering the spatial distribution and quantity of green space. Our results should also help residents improve their actual experiences and subjective satisfaction with the green space environment.

scholarly journals Influence of electronic commerce on business performance: Evidence from e-commerce organisations in Harare, Zimbabwe

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (6(J)) ◽  
pp. 146-152
Author(s):  
Christine Ivy Hurasha, ◽  
Tafara Chiremba
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Commerce ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Service Operations ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to explore the impact of electronic commerce on business performance with specific focus on business organisations in Harare, Zimbabwe. This was achieved through investigating the relationship between e-commerce investment and indicators of business performance such as cost operations, service operations and profit levels. A structured questionnaire was developed and administered to 40 respondents from 10 e-commerce organisations. The study revealed that there was a positive relationship between e-commerce investment and business performance. It was revealed that an investment in e-commerce by organisations in Zimbabwe would increase profit levels, improve service operations and reduce transaction costs. The researchers recommended that organisations that have already adopted e-commerce should raise customer awareness and interest in e-commerce and promote the usage of the technology. They also recommended that policy makers such as the Government must take a leading role in the funding of education and the development of infrastructure in order to encourage more organizations and consumers to participate in e-commerce.Keywords: E-commerce, Business performance, Business organisations, Service operations, Cost operations

Evaluating the regional economic security by the efficiency of public procurement

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2086-2102
Author(s):  
V.V. Kravchenko ◽  
T.Yu. Kudryavtseva
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Russian Regions ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
The Government ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Subject. In Russia, public procurement serves as a mechanism for the government to regulate the economy. Currently, there are diverse views on its efficiency. However, neither efficiency evaluation methods shed the light on the relationship of important indicators, such as competition and economy, which shape the regional economic security. Objectives. We herein evaluate the competition and budgetary savings, assessing metrics of the average number of participants and a median drop in the price for a purchase in the region with reference to the regional economic security. Methods. The study relies upon general scientific and mathematical-statistical methods. Results. A growth in the average number of participants per a purchase is showed to have a positive impact on the median drop in the price, that is, the competition contributes to savings. Based on Tenderplan data, the Russian regions were dynamically analyzed from 2014 through 2018 in terms of public procurement efficiency. There are sustainably well-being regions and those that threaten to the economic security or simply demonstrating inefficient operations. Conclusions. Controllers of public procurement in regions should especially monitor suspicious regions, thus contributing to possible improvements in the area. The findings will help further research to evaluate the relationship of public procurement indicators and find ways for regulating them.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT FACTORS ON SELF-EMPLOYMENT DURATION IN THE COUNTRY WITH TRANSITION ECONOMY: A LITHUANIAN CASE

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gražina Startienė ◽  
Rita Remeikienė
Keyword(s):  
Transition Economy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Employment Factors ◽  
Employment Duration ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

The focus of this article is the factors of self-employment duration having the bidirectional effect (positive or negative) on a self-employed person. The research of the impact of bidirectional self-employment factors on self-employment direction has been encouraged by several reasons. Firstly, the scientific literature lacks of the research to focus on the factors motivating self-employment sustainability. The more abilities a person has to sustain self-employment activity, the more benefits he brings to the country (GDP creation, increase of employment, taxes paid) and his personal environment (ensured material well-being, good psychological state, realized objectives). Secondly, realising the impact of self-employment factors on self-employment duration, the government of the country can start application of the targeted business regulation measures that can help to increase the employment rate in the country. Using the methods of expert evaluation and correlation analysis, the impact of the highlighted self-employment factors on self-employment duration in the country with transition economy (Lithuanian case) has been evaluated: self-employment development is positively influenced by financial and non-financial business promotion measures, decreasing gross domestic product (GDP), extraversion, low level of neuroticism, openness, younger people, education andmarital status defined by having older children; it is negatively influenced by inflexible labour market, high unemployment rate, high income taxes and the immigrants. The article highlights the specificity of the country with transition economy considering the fact that business environment conditions in such countries are more difficult than in industrial countries.

scholarly journals The Moral Foundations of Child Health and Social Policies: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Avram E. Denburg ◽  
Mita Giacomini ◽  
Wendy J. Ungar ◽  
Julia Abelson
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Critical Interpretive Synthesis

Background: Allusions to the uniqueness and value of childhood abound in academic, lay, and policy discourse. However, little clarity exists on the values that guide child health and social policy-making. We review extant academic literature on the normative dimensions of child health and social policy to provide foundations for the development of child-focused public policies. Methods: We conducted a critical interpretive synthesis of academic literature on the normative dimensions of child health and social policy-making. We employed a social constructivist lens to interpret emergent themes. Political theory on the social construction of target populations served as a bridge between sociologies of childhood and public policy analysis. Results: Our database searches returned 14,658 unique articles; full text review yielded 72 relevant articles. Purposive sampling of relevant literature complemented our electronic searches, adding 51 original articles, for a total of 123 articles. Our analysis of the literature reveals three central themes: potential, rights, and risk. These themes retain relevance in diverse policy domains. A core set of foundational concepts also cuts across disciplines: well-being, participation, and best interests of the child inform debate on the moral and legal dimensions of a gamut of child social policies. Finally, a meta-theme of embedding encompasses the pervasive issue of a child’s place, in the family and in society, which is at the heart of much social theory and applied analysis on children and childhood. Conclusions: Foundational understanding of the moral language and dominant policy frames applied to children can enrich analyses of social policies for children. Most societies paint children as potent, vulnerable, entitled, and embedded. It is the admixture of these elements in particular policy spheres, across distinct places and times, that often determines the form of a given policy and societal reactions to it. Subsequent work in this area will need to detail the degree and impact of variance in the values mix attached to children across sociocultural contexts and investigate tensions between what are and what ought to be the values that guide social policy development for children.

scholarly journals Ageing and social policies in times of crisis

1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Capucha
Keyword(s):  
Age Structure ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
The State ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
Pension Systems ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
The Relationship

The ageing of the populations at the top of the age structure is a result of the relationship between social policies and longevity, and is posing new challenges to the sustainability of health and pension systems. The response to these challenges has been taking the shape of austerity policies that are not sparing the elderly. This backwards step in the quality of social policies has been degrading people’s living conditions and harming their rights, without resolving the problem of how to finance the state. An alternative may entail reforms that see the state as an investment and a factor for growth and well-being.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document