scholarly journals Smart and inclusive environments for all - SHAFE explained

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 630-638
Author(s):  
Carina Dantas ◽  
Willeke Van Staalduinen ◽  
Maddalena Illario ◽  
Luiza Spiru
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Demographic Change ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Individual Interest ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Independent Life

The meaning and notion of Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) as a holistic approach that promotes the alignment of policies and strategies across domains is a unique roadmap for the implementation of inclusive communities in and across Europe, improving and supporting independent life throughout its entire course, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences and personal choices. When we acknowledge the serious challenges especially those related to demographic change and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not possible anymore to still work in silos or to keep positions for individual interest. Before any other role, we all are citizens and we have a duty as researchers, academics, policy makers, practitioners, industry and business to work together for a better world. In this paper, the SHAFE concept is explained and an overview of running initiatives is presented. Also the alignment within current policy initiatives of the European Commission is explored and the recognition of SHAFE implemented through NET4Age-Friendly addressed.

Tourism Productivity Theory and Measurement for Policy Implications: The Case of Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-266
Author(s):  
Tien Duc Pham
Keyword(s):  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Multifactor Productivity ◽  
Capital Productivity ◽  
Productivity Theory

Tourism productivity measures are quite diverse, not always compatible and usually based partly on labor productivity for hotels and restaurants. This article develops a holistic approach that integrates the principles of the growth accounting framework and tourism satellite account to measure multifactor productivity, labor productivity and capital productivity for the Australian tourism industry. This study shows that tourism has been identified as a reservoir for other industries through the ebbs and flows of labor demands. Compared with the rest of the economy, the average growth of labor productivity—that is, income per unit of labor—for tourism is stagnant, and has reached an unprecedented low, six times below the market sector average, mainly because of low multifactor productivity. The results are valuable for policy makers and the lobbying groups wanting to identify areas of need for policy changes to ensure the healthy long-term growth of tourism.

Measures of success for self-employed mothers in Spain

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Gabaldon ◽  
Celia De Anca ◽  
Concepcion Galdón
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Employed Mothers ◽  
Time Use Survey ◽  
Alternative Measures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate alternative measures to better understand and measure success for self-employed mothers in addition to the usual financial indicators. Design/methodology/approach – The present study is a comparative analysis of time spent at work and undertaking childcare by female workers with children in Spain between 2009 and 2010, using a combination of descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis based on the Time-Use Survey 2009-2010. Findings – The results of the paper indicate that self-employed working mothers tend to spend more time with their children when these are under the age of ten, and that they work longer hours than salaried mothers. Research limitations/implications – This paper has some limitations due to the quantitative approach to secondary data. Further qualitative research could clarify some of the findings; moreover the study is based on Spain, so extending to other countries would help validate the results. Social implications – Policy makers, in general – but more specifically in high unemployment scenarios – can facilitate self-employment for both men and women to reduce unemployment and to offer workers the prospect of a more balanced life. Originality/value – This research contributes to the existing literature, which fosters a more holistic approach to the analysis of female-run ventures by measuring performance using not only economic indicators, but also personal achievements.

La politica dei Cluster in Europa: tendenze e criticitŕ emergenti

ARGOMENTI ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 99-122
Author(s):  
Alessandro Minello
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Triple Helix ◽  
Cluster Policy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Complex Adaptive

- Cluster policy today represent one of the main elements of the European agenda, both for policy makers and for practitioners. In the last decade an extensive-type cluster policy has produced a proliferation of clusters all over the Europe, but the generated quality of clusters created has not always been quite satisfactory. Following the input by the European commission, currently is underway a qualitative review of the goals and processes of European cluster policy. This paper aims at presenting such changes in the European cluster policy, beside the main lessons that can be learned. The analysis emphasizes some critical elements of the current process of "clustering" and highlights the role of the institutions, besides the market, in the planning of new clusters and the strengthening of those existing. The final message is that Europe needs a better cluster policy, rather than more clusters, according to the growing complexity and dynamism of clusters.Parole chiave: cluster, politica dei cluster, approccio triple-helix, sistemi adattivi complessi.Keywords: cluster, cluster policy, triple helix approach, complex adaptive systems.

scholarly journals Upholding the EU's Commitment to ‘Animal Testing as a Last Resort' Under REACH Requires a Paradigm Shift in How We Assess Chemical Safety to Close the Gap Between Regulatory Testing and Modern Safety Science

2021 ◽  
pp. 026119292110408
Author(s):  
Julia Fentem ◽  
Ian Malcomber ◽  
Gavin Maxwell ◽  
Carl Westmoreland
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Animal Testing ◽  
Chemical Safety ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Safety Science ◽  
Animal Safety

Animal use for testing chemicals under REACH continues to increase, despite advances in non-animal safety science during the past 15 years. The application of modern science and technology, and the use of ‘next generation’ weight-of-evidence assessment approaches, are embedded in EU guidance for establishing the safety of cosmetics and foods – and of the ingredients used in these products. However, this is still not the case for the regulation of chemicals. Under the new Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, thought leaders in human health and environmental protection are calling on the European Commission to quickly embrace the benefits of modern and innovative non-animal safety science, in place of outdated animal testing, if the EU is to be a leader in safe and sustainable innovation under the European Green Deal transformational change ambitions. The European Commission also needs to enable companies to meet their legal obligation to only conduct animal testing as a last resort, by providing a more flexible, science-based and consistent regulatory framework for assuring chemical safety, which supports the integration of data from different sources. We are at a tipping point for closing the gap between regulatory chemicals testing and modern safety science. It is time to join forces, across policy makers, scientists, regulators and lawyers, to lead the paradigm shift needed to deliver what EU citizens want – namely, chemicals and products that are safe and sustainable, without resorting to animal testing.

scholarly journals Students' Beliefs about Willingness to Access Complementary and Alternative Therapies (CAT) Training for Future Integration into Psychology Practice

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee-Ann M. Wilson ◽  
Kyra Hamilton ◽  
Katherine M. White
Keyword(s):  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Alternative Therapies ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Therapies ◽  
Important Others ◽  
Future Practice ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

It is suggested that all psychologists gain basic training in the types of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) their clients may be using. As psychology students are the next cohort of health professionals who will inform future initiatives in the field, it is important to understand the factors which influence their decisions about CAT integration. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, we investigated the beliefs that differentiate between psychology students who are high or low on willingness to access training in CAT for future practice use. Undergraduate psychology students () completed a questionnaire assessing the likelihood of positive and negative consequences of accessing training and utilizing CAT within a psychological practice, important others’ approval, and barriers preventing them from this integration behavior. Those students higher on willingness were more likely to endorse positive outcomes (e.g., offering a more holistic approach to therapy) of accessing CAT training for future practice use and to believe that important others (e.g., clients) would support this behavior. A regression analysis examining the relative importance of these belief sets broadly supported the belief-based analyses. These beliefs of student psychologists can inform educators and policy makers about CAT training and integration in psychology practice.

The Challenges of Implementing e-Government Interoperability in Thailand

2011 ◽  
pp. 40-61
Author(s):  
Apitep Saekow ◽  
Choompol Boonmee
Keyword(s):  
Data Exchange ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Technical Standards ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Thai Government ◽  
Collaborative Activities

In November 2006, Thai Government announced Thailand electronic government interoperability framework (TH e-GIF) as a collection of technical standards, methodologies, guidelines and policies to enable electronic data exchange across government agencies. The first challenging project was to implement the semantic interoperability for exchanging official electronic letters across 29 government agencies using 15 heterogeneous software systems developed by different vendors. To achieve the project goal, a holistic approach was designed in which many policy-makers and practitioners had to involve in collaborative activities. This chapter explores the approach in details. It includes the process of data harmonization, modeling and standardizations using a number of UN/CEFACT specifications, UMM, CCTS and XML NDR, and other international standards. From this project the first national XML schema standard was produced. This chapter also introduces a methodology of extending the interoperability to legacy systems based on web services technology. Finally, it describes risk managements with the key success factors for the electronic interoperability development in Thailand.

scholarly journals The effects of alcohol pricing policies on consumption, health, social and economic outcomes, and health inequality in Australia: a protocol of an epidemiological modelling study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e029918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Jiang ◽  
Robin Room ◽  
Michael Livingston ◽  
Sarah Callinan ◽  
Alan Brennan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Price Policy ◽  
Unit Price ◽  
Risky Drinking ◽  
Pricing Policy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Pricing Policies ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionAlcohol use and misuse are associated with substantial health and social issues in Australia and internationally. Pricing policy is considered as one of the most effective means to reduce risky drinking and related harms. This protocol paper describes a study that will model and estimate the effects, effectiveness and cost–benefit of alcohol pricing policy initiatives in reducing risky drinking, health and social harms, and health inequalities among subpopulations in Australia.Methods and analysisThe study is a modelling and epidemiological study using data from various resources, such as survey, previous literatures and response agencies. A number of statistical procedures will be undertaken to evaluate the impact of different alcohol pricing policy initiatives on various outcomes, including alcohol consumption in population subgroups, and health and social problems, and to measure health inequalities and cost-effectiveness of those proposed pricing policies, such as a 10% tax increase on all alcohol beverages or introduction of a minimum unit price.Ethics and disseminationThe ethics approval of this study was obtained from the College Human Ethics Sub-Committee of the La Trobe University on 9 November 2017 (Ref: S17-206). While examining the heterogeneous effects of price policy across population subgroups, this study will provide the first comprehensive estimates of the likely impacts of alcohol price changes on health inequalities. The study will also provide sophisticated economic analyses of the impact of price policy changes, which is critical information for policy makers and will assist policy makers in directing resources to a more efficient alcohol strategy. Results will be made available to communities and societies, health departments and other researchers.

A new approach to the Scoreboard

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-688
Author(s):  
Cosimo Magazzino ◽  
Francesco Felici ◽  
Vanja Bozic
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the information content of the variables that can help detecting external and internal imbalances in an early stage. The starting point is the Scoreboard, where nine indicators are chosen in order to increase macroeconomic surveillance of all member states. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides an overview of the variables that could be informative for imbalances by focusing on EU-27 countries over the period 1960-2010. The number of chosen variables is 28, and they are aggregated in six macro-areas. Therefore, once an imbalance is observed in any of those areas, it is possible to detect in a simple way which specific variable is determining such outcome. Findings – In general, this approach provides reliable signal to the policy-makers about the indicators that can drive imbalances within the area, shedding light on the relationship among the variables included in the analysis, too. Research limitations/implications – In fact, the empirical results underline some well-known critical issue for several countries, and is largely in line with results obtained in a variety of EC and OECD studies. Originality/value – The main added value of the approach adopted in this paper is the introduction of more variables than those initially proposed by the European Commission in the construction of the Scoreboard. This provides more information about the macroeconomic situation in each country, preserving, however, the simplicity of the analysis as the variables are aggregated by homogeneous areas.

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