Push or Pull? Policy Barriers and Incentives to the Development and Deployment of CO2 Utilization, in Particular CO2 Mineralization

Like other hard-to-abate sectors, the cement and concrete industry is facing growing pressure to reduce CO2 emissions. In this context, the carbonation of minerals or industrial wastes with CO2 (CO2 mineralization) is attracting growing interest in research and industry as well as among policy makers. Despite their technical feasibility, few of these innovative carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies have so far reached the commercialization stage. Due to their low maturity and potentially higher market prices, these technologies presently require policy support in order to realize their full sustainability potentials. This paper elucidates which policies are considered appropriate, in the literature, for fostering the further development and implementation of CCU technologies and thus achieving the sustainability potential of CO2 mineralization applications. First, we performed a meta-analysis of recent literature in order to identify policies and measures that potentially represent barriers or incentives to the development and deployment of CO2 mineralization technologies, and categorized them as technology-push or market-pull policies. As a second step, we conducted an online survey of policy-making priorities among experts in the field. This identified numerous relevant policies, of which the majority are market-oriented. While most existing market-pull policies do currently not support CCU technologies and would require adaptation to do so, technology-push policies already provide support for their development. However, while the need for technology-push support in the early development phases is still continued, the broad spectrum of market-pull policies that are considered relevant shows that a shifting focus of policy support is required to better address the current state of development of CO2 mineralization technologies and their upcoming market entry.

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Small firms and the COVID-19 insolvency gap

Small Business Economics ◽

10.1007/s11187-021-00514-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julian Oliver Dörr ◽

Georg Licht ◽

Simona Murmann

Keyword(s):

Financial Distress ◽

Small Firms ◽

English Summary ◽

Policy Support ◽

Policy Response ◽

Special Role ◽

Current Crisis ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Large Wave ◽

Using Data

AbstractCOVID-19 placed a special role on fiscal policy in rescuing companies short of liquidity from insolvency. In the first months of the crisis, SMEs as the backbone of Germany’s economy benefited from large and mainly indiscriminate aid measures. Avoiding business failures in a whatever-it-takes fashion contrasts, however, with the cleansing mechanism of economic crises: a mechanism which forces unviable firms out of the market, thereby reallocating resources efficiently. By focusing on firms’ pre-crisis financial standing, we estimate the extent to which the policy response induced an insolvency gap and analyze whether the gap is characterized by firms which were already struggling before the pandemic. With the policy measures being focused on smaller firms, we also examine whether this insolvency gap differs with respect to firm size. Our results show that the COVID-19 policy response in Germany has triggered a backlog of insolvencies that is particularly pronounced among financially weak, small firms, having potential long-term implications on entrepreneurship and economic recovery.Plain English Summary This study analyzes the extent to which the strong policy support to companies in the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis has prevented a large wave of corporate insolvencies. Using data of about 1.5 million German companies, it is shown that it was mainly smaller firms that experienced strong financial distress and would have gone bankrupt without policy assistance. In times of crises, insolvencies usually allow for a reallocation of employees and capital to more efficient firms. However, the analysis reveals that this ‘cleansing effect’ is hampered in the current crisis as the largely indiscriminate granting of liquidity subsidies and the temporary suspension of the duty to file for insolvency have caused an insolvency gap that is driven by firms which were already in a weak financial position before the crisis. Overall, the insolvency gap is estimated to affect around 25,000 companies, a substantial number compared to the around 16,300 actual insolvencies in 2020. In the ongoing crisis, policy makers should prefer instruments favoring entrepreneurs who respond innovatively to the pandemic instead of prolonging the survival of near-insolvent firms.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Working Conditions, Employment, Career Development and Well-Being of Refugee Researchers

Societies ◽

10.3390/soc11030071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 71

Author(s):

Ourania Tzoraki ◽

Svetlana Dimitrova ◽

Marin Barzakov ◽

Saad Yaseen ◽

Vasilis Gavalas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Appropriate Technology ◽

Public Authorities ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Home Setting ◽

The Public ◽

Work From Home ◽

The Impact

The ongoing ‘refugee crisis’ of the past years has led to the migration of refugee researchers (RRs) to European countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RRs often had to work from home and/or to continue their social, cultural and economic integration process under new conditions. An online survey carried out to explore the impact of the pandemic on the refugee researchers showed that RRs found it difficult to adapt their everyday working life to the ‘home’ setting. The majority have had neither a suitable work environment at home nor the appropriate technology. Although they stated that they are rather pleased with the measures taken by the public authorities, they expressed concern about their vulnerability due to their precarious contracts and the bureaucratic asylum procedures, as the pandemic has had a negative impact on these major issues. The majority of RRs working in academia seem not to have been affected at all as far as their income is concerned, while the majority of those employed in other sectors became unemployed during the pandemic (58%). Recommendations are provided to the public authorities and policy makers to assist RRs to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic on their life.

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How Spatially Concentrated Are Industrial Clusters?: A Meta-analysis

Journal of Planning Literature ◽

10.1177/08854122211012921 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088541222110129

Author(s):

Li Fang ◽

Joshua Drucker

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scale ◽

Knowledge Spillovers ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Industrial Clusters ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Unit Of Analysis ◽

Industry Sector

This study conducts a meta-analysis of empirical studies that have measured the spatial scale of industrial clustering. Two types of scales are examined: the peak scale (at which cluster effects are maximized) and the maximum reach (beyond which cluster effects are undetectable). We find that the scale varies significantly by the unit of analysis, industry sector, country of study, and the sources of cluster effects examined (e.g., knowledge spillovers, localization, and urbanization). Planners and policy makers should tailor the geographies embodied in cluster strategies to match the specific local needs and circumstances.

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Prevalence, incidence and bothersomeness of urinary incontinence in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Urogynecology Journal ◽

10.1007/s00192-020-04636-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Heidi F. A. Moossdorff-Steinhauser ◽

Bary C. M. Berghmans ◽

Marc E. A. Spaanderman ◽

Esther M. J. Bols

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Urinary Incontinence ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Care Providers ◽

Case Definitions ◽

Monthly Basis ◽

Policy Makers ◽

In Pregnancy

Abstract Introduction and hypothesis Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and embarrassing complaint for pregnant women. Reported prevalence and incidence figures show a large range, due to varying case definitions, recruited population and study methodology. Precise prevalence and incidence figures on (bothersome) UI are of relevance for health care providers, policy makers and researchers. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence and incidence of UI in pregnancy in the general population for relevant subgroups and assessed experienced bother. Methods All observational studies published between January 1998 and October 2018 reporting on prevalence and/or incidence of UI during pregnancy were included. All women, regardless of weeks of gestation and type of UI presented in all settings, were of interest. A random-effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were conducted by parity, trimester and subtype of UI. Results The mean (weighted) prevalence based on 44 included studies, containing a total of 88.305 women, was 41.0% (range of 9–75%). Stress urinary incontinence (63%) is the most prevalent type of UI; 26% of the women reported daily loss, whereas 40% reported loss on a monthly basis. Bother was experienced as mild to moderate. Conclusions UI is very prevalent and rising with the weeks of gestation in pregnancy. SUI is the most common type and in most cases it was a small amount. Bother for UI is heterogeneously assessed and experienced as mild to moderate by pregnant women.

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Cohort profile: the Men and Parenting Pathways (MAPP) Study: a longitudinal Australian cohort study of men’s mental health and well-being at the normative age for first-time fatherhood

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047909 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e047909

Author(s):

Jacqui A Macdonald ◽

Lauren M Francis ◽

Helen Skouteris ◽

George J Youssef ◽

Liam G Graeme ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Data Collection ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Work And Family ◽

Depressive Symptom Severity ◽

Health And Well Being

PurposeThe Men and Parenting Pathways (MAPP) Study is a prospective investigation of men’s mental health and well-being across the normative age for transitioning to fatherhood. This includes trajectories and outcomes for men who do and do not become fathers across five annual waves of the study.ParticipantsAustralian resident, English-speaking men aged 28–32 years at baseline were eligible. Recruitment was over a 2-year period (2015–2017) via social and traditional media and through engagement with study partners. Eight hundred and eighteen eligible men consented to participate. Of these, 664 men completed the first online survey of whom 608 consented to ongoing participation. Of the ongoing sample, 83% have participated in at least two of the first three annual online surveys.Findings to dateThree waves of data collection are complete. The first longitudinal analysis of MAPP data, published in 2020, identified five profiles that characterise men’s patterns of depressive symptom severity and presentations of anger. Profiles indicating pronounced anger and depressive symptoms were associated with fathers’ lack of perceived social support, and problems with coparenting and bonding with infants. In a second study, MAPP data were combined with three other Australian cohorts in a meta-analysis of associations between fathers’ self-reported sleep problems up to 3 years postpartum and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Adjusted meta-analytic associations between paternal sleep and mental health risk ranged from 0.25 to 0.37.Future plansMAPP is an ongoing cohort study. Waves 4 and 5 data will be ready for analyses at the end of 2021. Future investigations will include crossed-lagged and trajectory analyses that assess inter-relatedness and changing social networks, mental health, work and family life. A nested study of COVID-19 pandemic-related mental health and coping will add two further waves of data collection in a subsample of MAPP participants.

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Health literacy and health-promoting behaviours among Australian-Singaporean communities living in Sydney metropolitan area

Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare ◽

10.1177/2010105817741906 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 125-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tze Gek Ho ◽

Hassan Hosseinzadeh ◽

Bayzidur Rahman ◽

Mohamud Sheikh

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Migrant Populations ◽

South Wales ◽

Health Promoting ◽

Smoking And Health

Background: Health literacy affects how individuals navigate and make decisions within the healthcare system and has been recognized to influence health behaviours. However, less is known about its associations with health-promoting behaviours amongst Australian migrant populations. This study is an attempt to fill this gap by investigating the level of health literacy and its associations with physical activity, healthy diet, smoking and health services utilization among Australian-Singaporean communities. Methods: A total of 157 participants were recruited from Singaporean communities living in Sydney metropolitan areas, New South Wales, Australia. Data was collected through a cross-sectional online survey from January 2016 to August 2016. Results: Most of the respondents were female (56.1%), employed (70.7%) and had lived in Sydney for >5 years (80.3%). About 60% of the participants were inadequately health-literate (Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool score ≤ 16). The level of health literacy varied significantly based on participants’ socioeconomic status. Regression analysis indicated that health literacy was a reliable predictor of health-promoting behaviours including diet, body mass index, smoking and alcohol consumption, physical activity and having a medical check-up. Conclusions: This study’s findings have significant implications for health policy makers and suggest that health literacy should be encouraged and included in any health-promoting behaviour interventions amongst migrant populations.

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Agricultural Technology in the Developing World: A Meta-Analysis of the Adoption Literature

Volume 2B: 44th Design Automation Conference ◽

10.1115/detc2018-86343 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sacha W. Ruzzante ◽

Amy M. Bilton

Keyword(s):

Developing World ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Agricultural Technology ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Adoption Studies ◽

Agricultural Technologies ◽

Extension Services ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

Cast Doubt

Agricultural technology transfer to people in the developing world is a potentially powerful tool to raise productivity and improve livelihoods. Despite this, many technologies are not adopted by their intended beneficiaries. Qualitative studies have identified guidelines to follow in the design and dissemination of agricultural technology, but there has been comparatively little synthesis of quantitative studies of adoption. This study presents a meta-analysis of adoption studies of agricultural technologies in the developing world. The results confirm most earlier findings, but cast doubt on the importance of some classic predictors of adoption, such as education and landholding size. Contact with extension services and membership in farming associations are found to be the most important variables in predicting adoption. Attributes of the technologies are found to modify the relationships of predictor variables to adoption. Membership in farming associations and farmer experience are found to be positively linked to adoption in general, but for technologies that reduce labour the effect is amplified. The findings have potential implications for researchers, extension workers, and policy makers.

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Essential components in natriuretic peptide-guided management of heart failure: an intervention synthesis

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2018-000826 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. e000826 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jason Oke ◽

Alison Clements ◽

Julie McLellan ◽

Clare Bankhead ◽

Clare J Taylor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Natriuretic Peptide ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Treatment Protocol ◽

Credible Interval ◽

Treatment Interventions ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Essential Components ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

Regression Techniques

AimTo identify the key components of natriuretic peptide (NP)-guided treatment interventions which reduced hospitalisation in patients with heart failure (HF).Methods and resultsWe extracted detailed information on the components of interventions from studies of NP-guided treatment of HF identified in a previous systematic review. We used meta-regression techniques to assess univariate associations between components and the strength of the reduction in HF hospitalisations and all-cause mortality. A Bayesian meta-analysis approach was used to re-estimate study-level effects in order to identify the study with the most effective NP-guided monitoring intervention. Finally, we examined the intervention options common to the studies in which the 95% credible interval excluded no effect. We identified eight components of NP-guided treatment from ten studies. Univariate comparisons produced mainly equivocal results, but single trial choice and common components analysis led to similar conclusions. Using a predefined treatment protocol, setting a stringent NP target (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide of 1000 pg/mL or B-type natriuretic peptide 100 pg/mL) and including a relative targetwere potential key components to reducing HF hospitalisations using NP-guided therapy.ConclusionThis analysis provides a description of the key components of NP-guided treatment which could help policy makers develop specific recommendations for HF management. Our research suggests that NP-guided interventions could be simplified, but more research in relevant health settings, such as primary care, is required.

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Lessons from Thailand: universal healthcare achievements and challenges

International Journal of Social Economics ◽

10.1108/ijse-03-2017-0107 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 387-401

Author(s):

Ravikan Nonkhuntod ◽

Suchuan Yu

Keyword(s):

Healthcare System ◽

Healthcare Utilization ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Selection Criterion ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Content Type ◽

Universal Healthcare ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Small Positive Effect

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the successes of Thailand’s healthcare system along with challenges it is facing, examining documents and policies used by those charged with developing and implementing health services. Design/methodology/approach The search pool comprised PubMed and Google Scholar from the period 2001-2015. Selection criterion for inclusion was sources dealing with out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure and healthcare utilization in Thailand. In total, 33 studies met the criterion of containing sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis. Findings The authors found a small positive effect size on OOP expenditure and healthcare utilization, obtaining values of 0.1604 (95% CI 0.1320-0.1888, p<0.0001) and 0.2788 (95% CI 0.0917-0.4659, p=0.0035), respectively. Originality/value To review and meta-analyze the literature dealing with the outcomes of Thailand’s healthcare system to understand whether Thailand’s healthcare system is achieving its mandate or not. The results of this paper can help policy makers to understand and evaluate Thailand’s healthcare system.

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Modelling crop pattern changes and water resources exploitation: a case study

10.20944/preprints201706.0133.v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Donato Zingaro ◽

Ivan Portoghese ◽

Giacomo Giannoccaro

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Regression Models ◽

Policy Support ◽

Market Prices ◽

Environmental Threats ◽

Land And Water Management ◽

Irrigated Crops ◽

Direct Payments ◽

Resources Exploitation

Agriculture and farming worldwide are responsible for numerous environmental threats, including degradation of land and water resources depletion. Underlining the dynamic interaction between bio-physical and socio-economic drivers is the key towards a more sustainable land and water management. With regard to a highly developed agricultural area in southern Italy, multi-regression models were developed to interpret the observed inter-annual variability of cropped land. Main drivers related to Common Agricultural Policy support, product market prices, crop yield and irrigation water availability were investigated. The adopted models revealed the different weighs of each driver. The findings reported the role that direct payments played in supporting the extension of irrigated crops, such as processing tomato. Likewise, the models pointed to decoupled payment scheme as the most important driver of change in the crop pattern over the last years.

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