Whether the Agricultural Insurance Policy Achieves Green Income Growth—Evidence from the Implementation of China’s Total Cost Insurance Pilot Program

With the rise and popularization of the concept of green sustainable development, green income growth of agricultural insurance policies has attracted wide attention. Whether green income growth can be achieved has become an important criterion for measuring an agricultural insurance policy. In this context, this paper attempts to test whether the agricultural insurance policy achieves green income growth. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces (the research sample of this paper selects 31 provincial-level units (province for short) in China, including 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities directly under the central government. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Province are not included in the research sample) from 2009 to 2020 in China, this paper empirically evaluates the triple-effect of total cost insurance pilot program (TCI) on farmers’ income, environment and public health by employing a difference-in-difference model (DID). The results show that TCI increases farmers’ income, but deteriorates the environment and residents’ health without achieving green income growth. In the analysis of heterogeneity, compared with central and western regions, farmers’ income is more likely to increase in the eastern regions. However, environmental pollution is more severe, and residents’ health deteriorates more, in eastern regions. In addition, the positive effect of TCI on farmers’ income and the deterioration of residents’ health is more obvious in areas with a higher degree of damage, while the negative effect of TCI on the environment is more obvious in areas with a lower degree of damage. Furthermore, the mechanism analysis shows that TCI not only promotes the increase in farmers’ income through insurance density, but also affects the environment and residents’ health through straw burning. Therefore, the government should raise the subsidy standard for farmers to use straw-processing equipment and also to implement differentiated subsidies in regions with different levels of economic development and areas with different degrees of damage.

The relationship between night-time light and socioeconomic factors in China and India

This paper re-examines the relationships between night-time light (NTL) and gross domestic product (GDP), population, road networks, and carbon emissions in China and India. Two treatments are carried out to those factors and NTL, which include simple summation in each administrative region (total data), and summation normalized by region area (density data). A series of univariate regression and multiple regression experiments are conducted in different countries and at different scales, in order to find the changes in the relationship between NTL and every parameter in different situations. Several statistical metrics, such as R2, Mean Relative Error (MRE), multiple regression weight coefficient, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient are given special attention. We found that GDP, as a comprehensive indicator, is more representative of NTL when the administrative region is relatively comprehensive or highly developed. However, when these regions are unbalanced or undeveloped, the representation of GDP becomes weak and other factors can have a more important influence on the multiple regression. Differences in the relationship between NTL and GDP in China and India can also be reflected in some other factors. In many cases, regression after normalization with the administrative area has a higher R2 value than the total regression. But it is highly influenced by a few highly developed regions like Beijing in China or Chandigarh in India. After the scale of the administrative region becomes fragmented, it is necessary to adjust the model to make the regression more meaningful. The relationship between NTL and carbon emissions shows obvious difference between China and India, and among provinces and counties in China, which may be caused by the different electric power generation and transmission in China and India. From these results, we can know how the NTL is reflected by GDP and other factors in different situations, and then we can make some adjustments.

"Patriots Governing Hong Kong" and the Innovation of Practice Path to Cultivate the Chinese National Community Consciousness

The basic meaning of "patriots ruling Hong Kong" is that Hong Kong people who love China and love Hong Kong govern Hong Kong society to ensure the smooth implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" system and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Hong Kong and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong society.

Post/Colonial Bach

This chapter contributes a new post-European perspective to Bach studies, re-examining J. S. Bach as a colonial import in Hong Kong in relation to its post/colonial condition across a British colony (1842–1997) and a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (1997–present). Based on its proposition of rethinking Europe “after Europe,” the chapter considers post/colonial Bach across three specific institutions: The Helena May, a colonial club originally for women members; the Anglican St John’s Cathedral in the early 1900s and “landmark churches” (i.e., declared monuments or listed buildings) in the 2010s; and the City Hall in the later decades of the twentieth century. The chapter concludes with some further thoughts on the symbolism of post/colonial Bach, extending from its significance for Bach studies to related matters of historiography.

Efektivitas Proses Rekrutmen Pegawai Negeri Sipil di Sekretariat Pendidikan Wilayah Administratif Khusus Oekusi Ambeno – Timor Leste

This research focuses on the process of recruitment of civil servants, referring to the effectiveness that must be carried out properly, provide useful results and achieve goals. Secretariat of Education, Special Administrative Region of Oecusi, Timor Leste conducts recruitment to find, find applicants and produce civil servants who have the quality, ability, competence and knowledge as needed. In examining the effectiveness of the recruitment process, qualitative research types are used which are defined in various ways according to the viewpoints used by experts. There are three findings found in this study, namely a) violations of administrative requirements, b) the recruitment process is ineffective and does not meet recruitment standards, and c) there is compromise and political intervention. Closing the results of the research, this article in addition to providing informative contributions but also as a reference material in conducting or improving an effective recruitment process in the future.

Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Implementasi Kebijakan Desentralisasi Administratif di Sub Distrik Pante-Makassar

This research focuses on the Implementation of Administrative Decentralization Policy in the Pante Makassar Sub-District, Oe-Cusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the administrative decentralization policy in the Pante-Makassar sub-district, the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno, Timor Leste and the factors that influence the implementation of the administrative decentralization policy. The approach used by the researcher is to use a qualitative approach or method with the research location in the Pante Makassar Sub-District Government, Oe-Cusse Ambeno Special Administrative Region. Primary data is obtained by conducting direct research on the object of research using observation, interview or interview data collection techniques. Secondary data is obtained through literature study to collect data through books, regulations, and documents that are relevant to the research. The respondents of this study were the entire community of the Pante Makassar District as the target of the implementation of Administrative decentralization. Accidental sampling technique. The results showed that the implementation of the Administrative Decentralization Policy showed that the people of the Pante Makassar Sub-district participated in decision making. The community also participates in the implementation of the decentralization policy, the people of the Sub-district of Pante Makassar also take advantage of the results of the implementation of the decentralization policy, but in evaluating the policy, the community does not participate in evaluating the policies that have been implemented.

The National Security Law: political and social effects on the governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the major political and social effects of the Hong Kong National Security Law on Hong Kong. It is argued that the enactment of this Law allows Hong Kong not only to end its protracted political turmoil since its return to China in 1997, but also will generate the favorable conditions for long-term stability and effective governance in the territory.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on the author’s close observation of what had happened in Hong Kong in the year since the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect on 1 July 2020.FindingsThe Hong Kong National Security Law has brought about significant changes in the political psychology of Hongkongers, the balance of power among different political forces, the ability of external forces to interfere in Hong Kong politics, the way Hong Kong is governed, the relationship between the government and the legislature, the activities in the educational and cultural sectors, and the behavior of the judiciary.Originality/valueThis paper would be of interest to scholars and people who are interested in the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) as well as Beijing’s new policy towards Hong Kong in the aftermath of Hong Kong’s unprecedented riots and violence.